Netflix has perfected the miniseries. These limited series bypass the fluff and go for the jugular—be it with white-knuckle suspense, emotional impact, or sleek storytelling. From spooky terrors to intense true crime and thought-provoking sci-fi, here are 15 of the top Netflix miniseries to watch now, listed by critical success, originality, and watchability.
1. The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) – 88% Rotten Tomatoes
Mike Flanagan’s follow-up to The Haunting of Hill House eschews jump scares for emotional resonance. Adapted from The Turn of the Screw, the series follows a young au pair (Victoria Pedretti) as she discovers supernatural secrets within a grand but foreboding countryside mansion. Melancholic and romantic, Bly Manor is a slow-burning tale of heartbreak and the supernatural.
2. Boy Swallows Universe (2024) – 87% Rotten Tomatoes
This coming-of-age crime drama set in Brisbane in the 1980s traces the life of a 13-year-old boy, Eli Bell, whose home life is marked by a drug-dealing stepfather and a mute older brother. Based on Trent Dalton’s award-winning novel, the show is notable for its emotional storytelling, with special performances from Felix Cameron and Phoebe Tonkin.
3. Midnight Mass (2021) – 87% Rotten Tomatoes
Another Flanagan production, Midnight Mass is set on a distant island where the arrival of a magnetic priest brings an outpouring of so-called miracles—and something much more sinister. A slow-burning, philosophical horror that delves into guilt, religion, and redemption, this is one of Netflix’s most intellectually stimulating limited series.
4. Ripley (2024) – 86% Rotten Tomatoes
Andrew Scott is unforgettable as the charming but chilling Tom Ripley in this black-and-white neo-noir adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel. With stunning visuals and a simmering sense of dread, Ripley offers a refined psychological thriller that keeps you guessing to the end.
5. Griselda (2024) – 86% Rotten Tomatoes
Sofía Vergara becomes Griselda Blanco, the notorious drug queenpin who created a narcotics empire during the 1970s and ’80s in Miami. From the producers of Narcos, this high-gloss, stylish show offers a high-stakes crime drama and a career-making performance by Vergara.
6. The Residence (2025) – 85% Rotten Tomatoes
Murder mystery and political thriller collide in this offbeat whodunit set in the White House. Uzo Aduba plays Cordelia Cupp, a socially awkward detective sorting out a state dinner that became a murder scene. Joined by Giancarlo Esposito and Randall Park, it’s a fun mix of oddball characters and political backroom dealing.
7. Maniac (2018) – 85% Rotten Tomatoes
This visually creative sci-fi drama traces two strangers (Emma Stone and Jonah Hill) who enroll in a pharmaceutical study promising to cure all their ills—only to be subjected to an otherworldly emotional odyssey. Cary Fukunaga directs the bold, surreal, and surprisingly moving Maniac.
8. The Brothers Sun (2024) – 84% Rotten Tomatoes
Following an attempt on the life of their patriarch, a son heads back from Taiwan to Los Angeles to defend his mom and brother. What ensues is a whip-savvy combination of action, comedy, and family drama. Michelle Yeoh shines as the no-nonsense matriarch in this high-energy genre-bender.
9. Apple Cider Vinegar (2025) – 83% Rotten Tomatoes
This gripping real-life crime drama follows Belle Gibson, a wellness influencer who posed as having cancer to sell her brand. Kaitlyn Dever is subtle in the portrayal, and the series’ probing of internet fame, manipulation, and responsibility is thrilling television.
10. Bodies (2023) – 82% Rotten Tomatoes
A corpse appears in four disparate eras, each with a detective attempting to crack the same case. This brain-twisting British thriller combines crime drama and sci-fi with historical fiction to deliver an intelligent, layered plot supported by solid performances by a top-tier ensemble cast.
11. Adolescence (2025)
Shot in lengthy, continuous takes, this four-part miniseries is a visceral deep dive into the consequences of a 13-year-old boy’s arrest for murder. Directed by Philip Barantini and starring Stephen Graham, Adolescence is raw, visceral, and emotionally captivating—episode 3 in particular is already being celebrated as one of the year’s standout episodes.
12. Black Rabbit (2025)
Based in the shiny mayhem of New York nightlife, Black Rabbit features Jason Bateman and Jude Law as estranged brothers who are embarking on a high-stakes return to the hospitality industry. The series, which is co-written with Cleopatra Coleman and Laura Linney, is full of character drama, secrets, and high-end tension.
13. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
The series that kicked off Mike Flanagan’s Netflix career, Hill House, is equal parts frightening and surprisingly sweet. An updated retelling of Shirley Jackson’s novel, it’s about a dysfunctional family and their struggle with the horrors of their supernatural past. A horror classic that haunts long after it finishes.
14. Unbelievable (2019)
Based on actual events, this tense miniseries tracks two detectives (Toni Collette and Merritt Wever) who pursue a series of sexual assaults that were initially ignored by law enforcement. Rooted in compassionate storytelling and superb performances, Unbelievable is must-watch television.
15. When They See Us (2019)
Ava DuVernay’s eloquent drama tells the real story of the wrongly accused five teenagers in the Central Park jogger case. Heart-wrenching, heartbreaking, and stunningly performed, this series is still one of Netflix’s most acclaimed and socially relevant originals.
Netflix’s miniseries game is stronger than ever. Whether you’re craving creepy mysteries, addictive true crime, or daring dramas with huge emotions, these limited series show you don’t need a long season to tell a great story—just the right cast, trenchant direction, and a binge-worthy plot.