10 Near-Perfect Miniseries With 90% or Higher on Rotten Tomatoes

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You know, I’ve been thinking about TV lately, and it’s funny – everyone thinks TV is all about long, drawn-out shows, but I think it’s actually really good at telling stories concisely. Miniseries are the perfect example! They’re usually just six to eight episodes, and pack such a powerful punch. What I love is that they’re so focused – they know exactly where they’re going, build to a great climax, and then wrap things up nicely. It’s a much tighter, more satisfying experience than a show that just keeps going and going.

Miniseries are incredibly appealing because they feel like movies but still offer the close-up, personal feel of television. This format gives creators space to develop rich characters and complex ideas without dragging the story on for too long. They strike a perfect balance – offering more depth than a typical film, but without the huge time commitment of a very long series. Ultimately, they’re respectful of both the story being told and the viewer’s time.

Rotten Tomatoes, a popular site that collects reviews, clearly shows how great these shows are. A score of over 90% means critics and viewers overwhelmingly agree a show is exceptional – a prime example of excellent TV storytelling. This list highlights 10 miniseries that achieved that level of praise, all with Rotten Tomatoes scores of 90% or higher.

‘Watchmen’ (2019)


HBO

Thirty-four years after the original Watchmen story, this new series unfolds in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Masks and vigilantism are illegal, but simmering racial conflicts create a tense atmosphere. Detective Angela Abar, operating as the masked Sister Night, begins investigating a dangerous white supremacist group that’s been inspired by the writings of Rorschach.

The series tackles a wide range of topics, from the return of Doctor Manhattan and Ozymandias’ unusual life in exile to the deeply affecting history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Damon Lindelof brilliantly reinvents the original story while staying true to its core, creating a nine-episode run that many have praised as innovative, especially with the help of the powerful music composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

‘The Night Of’ (2016)


Craig Blankenhorn/©HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection

The HBO series The Night Of starts with Naz Khan, a college student in New York City, taking his father’s taxi for the evening. After a chance encounter with a woman, he wakes up to find her murdered and is immediately accused of the crime. The show carefully details the police investigation, the legal proceedings, and Naz’s difficult experiences in jail while awaiting trial.

Beyond Naz’s difficult experience, the series introduces John Stone, a world-weary lawyer struggling with both a skin condition and a loss of faith, who takes on Naz’s case. John Turturro delivers a fantastic performance, but Riz Ahmed truly shines as he convincingly portrays a young man’s devastating journey from innocent student to a toughened prisoner. With its slow burn, intense atmosphere, realistic depiction of prison and legal proceedings, The Night Of is a truly memorable and complete work of art.

‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)


HBO

Kate Winslet plays Mare Sheehan, a detective in the small town of Easttown, Pennsylvania, in the seven-part series Mare of Easttown. The show follows Mare as she investigates a murder while also dealing with her own difficult past, including the loss of her son, and the hidden secrets of the close-knit community she serves.

The disappearance of several girls, unsettling neighbors, and the arrival of detective Colin Zabel only add to the central mystery—and the dynamic between Zabel and Mare is a highlight of the show. The story truly comes alive through its strong atmosphere and well-developed characters. Kate Winslet’s performance received widespread praise and an Emmy award, and Jean Smart brought a welcome touch of humor as Mare’s mother. Evan Peters also earned an Emmy for his role as Zabel.

‘Dying For Sex’ (2025)


FX/Hulu

In the film Dying For Sex, Michelle Williams plays Molly, a woman with advanced breast cancer who decides to redefine her life after leaving her husband. The story follows her as she explores new relationships and discovers herself through intimacy, while also facing difficult experiences from her past.

The Wondery podcast, Dying For Sex, hosted by Nikki Boyer, openly discusses difficult topics like death alongside honest and sometimes challenging explorations of desire. This eight-part series is remarkably genuine, portraying Molly’s strength and fragility while tackling grief and trauma, all within the context of her determined search for happiness.

‘The Queen’s Gambit’ (2020)


Netflix

The Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit is set in the 1960s and centers on Beth Harmon, a remarkably talented chess player. Played by Anya Taylor-Joy, Beth battles addiction and isolation as she masters the game. After becoming an orphan at age nine, she learns chess from the orphanage’s janitor, Mr. Shaibel. Helped by tranquilizers she was given as a child, Beth quickly becomes a skilled competitor, playing against opponents throughout the U.S. and Europe.

The series reaches its exciting climax in Moscow, where Beth faces off against world champion Vasily Borgov, a match that secures her place in history. Anya Taylor-Joy’s captivating performance is central to the show’s success, bringing Beth to life as a symbol of strength and intelligence. The final scene, with Beth confidently walking through Moscow, feels like a celebration of her triumph. Combined with impressive historical accuracy, a powerful score by Carlos Rafael Rivera, and skillful direction by Scott Frank, The Queen’s Gambit became Netflix’s most popular limited series when it premiered.

‘When They See Us’ (2019)


Netflix, 2019

Ava DuVernay’s powerful series, When They See Us, tells the true and disturbing story of the Central Park Five. The show follows five Black and Latino teenagers who were falsely accused and convicted of attacking a woman in New York City in 1989. Over four episodes, it depicts their experiences, from being pressured into false confessions, to spending years in prison, and ultimately, being proven innocent in 2002.

Each installment of the series tackles a different aspect of the case, from the first police interviews to the profound effect on the families involved, and finally, the pursuit of legal resolution. Ava DuVernay presents a vision that is both compassionate and unflinching, refusing to gloss over the harsh realities of systemic injustice and powerfully portraying the human toll of racism and corruption. Many consider it one of the most significant series ever created by Netflix, and it deeply affected viewers.

‘Baby Reindeer’ (2024)


Netflix

Richard Gadd’s miniseries, Baby Reindeer, is based on his own personal experiences as told in his one-man stage show. It tells the story of Donny Dunn (played by Gadd), a comedian trying to make it, whose simple act of kindness towards a woman named Martha (Jessica Gunning) unexpectedly leads to her becoming obsessed with him. She begins to stalk and harass him, all while Donny is also dealing with painful memories from his past.

This miniseries blends dark humor with suspense, offering a stark and honest look at abuse and resilience. The lead performances are exceptional: Gunning perfectly embodies Martha’s unsettling nature and deep sadness, and Gadd brings a remarkable realism to the character of Donny, likely because the role draws from personal experience. The series demonstrates that sharing difficult truths with bravery can deeply resonate with a wide audience.

‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ (2025)


Prime Video

Based on Richard Flanagan’s award-winning novel, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (soon to be a miniseries in 2025), the story follows Dorrigo Evans, an Australian army surgeon. His life is shaped by two major events: a secret love affair with his uncle’s wife, Amy, and the brutal experiences he endured as a prisoner of war during World War II.

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The show jumps between different time periods, contrasting the harsh realities of forced labor on the Burma Railway with a past love that continues to affect Dorrigo even years after the war. This approach effectively highlights both the grand scale of historical events and the impact of individual decisions. Jacob Elordi delivers a stunning performance as Dorrigo, the scenes in the POW camp are intensely realistic, and the flashbacks to happier times are beautifully tender. It’s no surprise that The Narrow Road to the Deep North has a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)


HBO

In April 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s Reactor Number 4 caused one of the worst disasters ever created by humans. The HBO miniseries Chernobyl tells the story of this event in five parts, showing the initial confusion, the urgent efforts to control the radiation, and the lasting consequences for the people affected.

Chernobyl tells the story of the 1986 nuclear disaster through the eyes of Valery Legasov, a scientist investigating the causes, and Boris Shcherbina, a government official who initially doubts the severity of the situation but eventually helps with the response. The series also honors the bravery of the firefighters, miners, and everyday people who put themselves in danger to contain the catastrophe. With its chilling depiction of the abandoned city of Pripyat and the stark images of the aftermath, Chernobyl powerfully conveyed the terror of the event and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series in 2019.

‘Adolescence’ (2025)


Netflix

Netflix’s Adolescence is a gripping four-part British crime drama centered around Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy accused of murder. The series follows the case of Katie Leonard’s death and is unique because each episode unfolds in real time, filmed in a single, unbroken shot. This creates a tense and unsettling viewing experience. Beyond the crime itself, the show examines how the event impacts Jamie’s family, the local community, and the police, specifically detectives Luke Bascombe and Misha Frank, as they investigate.

Adolescence powerfully explores difficult topics like harmful ideas about masculinity, feeling like an outsider, and the challenges of growing up. Owen Cooper gives a remarkably realistic performance, capturing the confusion and vulnerability of young people who are under scrutiny. The show is also greatly enhanced by Stephen Graham, who both co-created and stars in it. Its single-take filming style creates a sense of urgency and feels like a live performance, making it a nearly flawless series that works as both a gripping crime story and an insightful look into the human mind.

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2026-01-09 04:21