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50 Top-Ranking Miniseries and Limited-Run Shows

50 Top-Ranking Miniseries and Limited-Run Shows

50 Top-Ranking Miniseries and Limited-Run Shows
Courtesy of FX Network
50. Anne of Green Gables (1985)
Courtesy of Sullivan Entertainment
49. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011)
Courtesy of Starz
48. Watchmen (2008)
Courtesy of HBO Max
47. Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking (2010)
Courtesy of Discovery Channel
46. Brideshead Revisited (1981)
Courtesy of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
45. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994)
Courtesy of Granada Television International
44. Mr Bates vs. The Post Office (2024)
Courtesy of PBS Masterpiece
43. Long Way Round (2004)
Courtesy of Goldhil Entertainment
42. North & South (2004)
Courtesy of BBC One
41. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Courtesy of Netflix
40. Wild Pacific (2009)
Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
39. 1 Litre of Tears (2005)
Courtesy of Toei Company
38. Light & Magic (2022)
David Livingston / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
37. Heimat: A Chronicle of Germany (1984)
Courtesy of Artificial Eye
36. McCartney 3,2,1 (2021)
Courtesy of Hulu
35. The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed (1979)
Courtesy of FilmAnnex
34. Adventure Time: Distant Lands (2020)
Courtesy of Studio Distribution Services
33. One Strange Rock (2018)
Courtesy of National Geographic Channel
32. Greatest Events of WWII in Colour (2019)
Courtesy of Discovery
31. Scavengers Reign (2023)
Courtesy of HBO Max
30. 1883 (2021)
courtesy of Paramount Network
29. The New Edition Story (2017)
Courtesy of Black Entertainment Television (BET)
28. Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973)
Courtesy of Central Television USSR
27. Das Boot (1985)
Courtesy of NBC Universal Global Distribution
26. Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Courtesy of Cartoon Network
25. Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Courtesy of A&E Home Video
24. When They See Us (2019)
Courtesy of Netflix
23. The Life of Birds (1998)
Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
22. Nature's Great Events (2009)
Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
21. Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake (2023)
Courtesy of Cartoon Network
20. Africa (2013)
Courtesy of Discovery Channel
19. Okupas (2000)
Courtesy of Canal 7
18. Fanny and Alexander (1983)
Courtesy of The Criterion Channel
17. Cosmos: Possible Worlds (2020)
Courtesy of National Geographic Channel
16. Apocalypse: The Second World War (2009)
Courtesy of France 2
15. The Civil War (1990)
Courtesy of Direct Cinema Limited
14. Human Planet (2011)
Courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
13. Frozen Planet (2011)
Courtesy of Discovery Channel
12. The Blue Planet (2001)
Courtesy of BBC Worldwide Americas
11. Dynasties (2018)
Courtesy of BBC Worldwide
10. The Beatles Anthology (1995)
Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
9. The Vietnam War (2017)
Courtesy of PBS
8. Baseball (1994)
Courtesy of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
7. A Dog's Will (1999)
Courtesy of Rede Globo de Televisão
6.Shōgun(2024)
Courtesy of FX Network
5. Seven Worlds One Planet (2019)
Courtesy of BBC America
4. Cosmos (1980)
Courtesy of Public Broadcasting Service
3. Blue Planet II (2017)
Courtesy of BBC America
2. Band of Brothers (2001)
Courtesy of Home Box Office
1. Planet Earth II (2016)
Courtesy of BBC America
50 Top-Ranking Miniseries and Limited-Run Shows
50. Anne of Green Gables (1985)
49. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011)
48. Watchmen (2008)
47. Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking (2010)
46. Brideshead Revisited (1981)
45. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994)
44. Mr Bates vs. The Post Office (2024)
43. Long Way Round (2004)
42. North & South (2004)
41. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
40. Wild Pacific (2009)
39. 1 Litre of Tears (2005)
38. Light & Magic (2022)
37. Heimat: A Chronicle of Germany (1984)
36. McCartney 3,2,1 (2021)
35. The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed (1979)
34. Adventure Time: Distant Lands (2020)
33. One Strange Rock (2018)
32. Greatest Events of WWII in Colour (2019)
31. Scavengers Reign (2023)
30. 1883 (2021)
29. The New Edition Story (2017)
28. Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973)
27. Das Boot (1985)
26. Over the Garden Wall (2014)
25. Pride and Prejudice (1995)
24. When They See Us (2019)
23. The Life of Birds (1998)
22. Nature's Great Events (2009)
21. Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake (2023)
20. Africa (2013)
19. Okupas (2000)
18. Fanny and Alexander (1983)
17. Cosmos: Possible Worlds (2020)
16. Apocalypse: The Second World War (2009)
15. The Civil War (1990)
14. Human Planet (2011)
13. Frozen Planet (2011)
12. The Blue Planet (2001)
11. Dynasties (2018)
10. The Beatles Anthology (1995)
9. The Vietnam War (2017)
8. Baseball (1994)
7. A Dog's Will (1999)
6.Shōgun(2024)
5. Seven Worlds One Planet (2019)
4. Cosmos (1980)
3. Blue Planet II (2017)
2. Band of Brothers (2001)
1. Planet Earth II (2016)

50 Top-Ranking Miniseries and Limited-Run Shows

In a world overflowing with streaming platforms and never-ending TV shows, the miniseries continues to stand out. These limited-run gems deliver rich storytelling in a compact format, focusing on tight plots, standout production, and emotionally satisfying endings, something many long-running series struggle to achieve, no matter who's behind the camera.

Just like traditional TV, there's a miniseries for every taste. But unlike sprawling sagas, these short-format series are perfect for a weekend binge, offering all the depth and drama without the long-term commitment. That's why we've rounded up some of the most acclaimed and beloved miniseries of all time. Because when it comes to great storytelling, sometimes less really is more.

To compile this list, 24/7 Tempo analyzed IMDb user ratings for titles categorized as miniseries, each with a minimum of 2,500 user reviews. In the event of a tie, the show with more total votes ranked higher. Additional data came from IMDb, streaming service catalogs, and critical reception analysis.

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