Best miniseries on Netflix: these titles you want to binge
Which series will fill your evenings in the coming time? That choice always depends on a few things: the genre, the storyline, but also how many episodes there are already. Starting a title with ten seasons feels a bit like signing a contract right away; and you don't always feel like that. Fortunately, there is the perfect solution: miniseries. Deliberately nice and short, ideal for a weekend binge. So, write along? Here are the best miniseries on Netflix that you simply must see.
Adolescence
When we talk about the best miniseries on Netflix, we can't skip ‘Adolescence’. This series is the hit of 2025. For weeks, the series couldn't be dethroned from the top position, and after the Emmys, it made a comeback. Lead actor Owen Cooper became the youngest male Emmy winner ever, without any real acting experience. And that doesn't just happen. The story follows 13-year-old Jamie (Cooper), who is accused of murdering a classmate. His family, psychologist, and the detective are left with big questions. What really happened? Is Jamie guilty? And if so, why did he do it? All episodes are shot in one take, pulling you completely into the story. Just like the characters, you as a viewer must have the answers. Not binge-watching is actually not an option. ‘Adolescence’ is an absolute must-see.
The Haunting of Hill House
In the spooky month of the year, a good horror miniseries cannot be missed. And ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ certainly provides the necessary heart palpitations. In the series, we follow the Crain family. In the summer of 1992, the family moves to Hill House, an old mansion they want to renovate and sell. But as it goes with renovations, everything takes a bit longer than expected. In the meantime, more and more strange things happen: paranormal apparitions wander through the house. Completely traumatized, the Crains flee. But 26 years later, a new tragedy forces them to return to Hill House. It then becomes clear that their time in the mansion has left deep scars. Believe me, the chills run down your spine. Even ‘our’ Michiel Huisman, who plays the eldest son Steven Crain, cannot reassure us.
Bodyguard
In need of some tension, but not in the mood for a scary evening? Then the political thriller ‘Bodyguard’ is your perfect miniseries. When war veteran and police officer David Budd (Richard Madden) accidentally prevents a terrorist attack, he is appointed as the bodyguard of Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes). But the longer he works for her, the more he discovers that he absolutely disagrees with her ideas. Budd faces a huge dilemma: can you really protect someone who represents everything you despise? Does he follow his duty as a bodyguard, or does he fight for his own principles? The opening scene immediately pulls you into the series, and then you just have to keep watching.
When They See Us
Okay, let's take a title with a slightly more serious tone. Don't worry, ‘When They See Us’ is anything but boring. This drama series will truly leave you speechless. The true story is about five teenage boys, four African American and one Latino, who are accused of the brutal rape of a white woman in Central Park. The boys are innocent, but they are manipulated into confessing. The statements sound unbelievable and there is actually no real evidence. Yet the teenagers are convicted. Donald Trump also played a significant role in the case and is even seen in the series. Not reenacted, but with the real footage. An extra reminder: this really happened. The series may be too intense for one binge night, but it is still important to see. There are very few titles that make such an impression.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Time for something light-hearted. An absolute must-watch for all my fellow Bridgerton fans. ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ is a prequel spin-off and takes place before our beloved costume drama. Especially for you, dearest readers, a little teaser: the miniseries revolves around young Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio). She is married off to George III, and she is not exactly thrilled about it. One: she has never seen him, and two: everyone is being mysterious about what he is really like. The marriage doesn't start off smoothly, but does it just remain a false start? Every now and then we also jump to the ‘present’ of ‘Bridgerton’. There, the queen, after the death of her only granddaughter, suddenly has to look for a new heir. And with 15 children, that of course becomes a big drama. Naturally, the beautiful dresses and romances are also not missing here, making this series truly delightful.
Baby Reindeer
Sometimes there are those series that everyone is talking about, and ‘Baby Reindeer’ is a perfect example of that. This miniseries is made by Scottish actor and comedian Richard Gadd, who tells his own experiences through the role of Donny Dunn, an aspiring comedian and bartender from London. During his shift, he gives a crying customer, Martha, a free cup of tea to cheer her up. An innocent gesture, you would think. Well, no. Martha (Jessica Gunning) starts stalking him both in real life and online, turning everything upside down. Donny feels fear and disgust for his stalker, but somehow also sympathy. And those mixed feelings seem to ruin his life even more. What makes the series even more interesting: the real ‘Martha’ has also spoken out about it, and she was not amused. Fiona Harvey claimed that Gadd had always harassed her. She took Netflix to court, and that case is still not fully resolved. Each episode gets just a bit more bizarre, even when you think it can't get any more so.
Ripley
A series that is completely black and white may not sound very appealing at first. Especially when it takes place in Italy, you want to see the colorful landscapes. Yet the miniseries ‘Ripley’ is an absolute must. It is precisely that black-and-white effect that makes the story just a bit darker. The series is based on the novel ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ which has also been adapted into a film. Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) is a simple con artist who is hired by a wealthy man to retrieve his lost son Dickie (Johnny Flynn) from Italy. Once there, Tom becomes increasingly obsessed with Dickie, especially with his carefree life. When their new bond seems to be in danger, it turns out that Tom is willing to go very far to maintain this newly discovered life. The first episode may take some getting used to, but thanks to lead actor Scott, that won't take long.
Unbelievable
Describing a series in one word is often impossible, but not with ‘Unbelievable’; there you only need to mention the title. This story is unbelievable, especially when you consider that it is based on true events. The miniseries tells two stories intertwined, and it is precisely that overlap that makes it extra painful. In story one, we follow 18-year-old Marie (Kaitlyn Dever). She reports a rape, but the male officers do not believe her. What starts as a victim story turns into a nightmare: Marie is accused of making a false report. Meanwhile, we follow female detectives Rasmussen (Toni Collette) and Duvall (Merritt Wever). Two years after Marie's case, they start their search for a serial rapist who seems to operate in the same way. They don't believe for a second that Marie made up her story and are determined to uncover the truth. Will they manage to find the perpetrator after all this time? Lead actress Kaitlyn Dever can be recognized from ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’; she was already fantastic there, but in ‘Unbelievable’ perhaps even a bit more.
The Queen’s Gambit
Chess was never really a hobby, and for a long time, I was fine with that. After watching ‘The Queen's Gambit’, not anymore; I wanted to be able to do that too. The series revolves around Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphan who accidentally discovers that she is very good at chess. And I mean really very good. Even blindfolded, Beth wins everything. The older she gets, the more she starts winning; and that becomes an obsession. Everything must give way to win the world title; Beth becomes increasingly dependent on alcohol and drugs. Those who want to reach the top pay a high price. Aside from the story, the outfits are also truly dreamy. Just for that reason, ‘The Queen's Gambit’ must not be missing from your watchlist.
From Scratch
We can't end this list without a good tearjerker. In ‘From Scratch’, Amy Wheeler (Zoe Saldana) travels to Italy to study. There, she falls in love not only with the food, but also with the chef Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea). They move to LA together, and their happiness can hardly be greater. But then Lino falls ill, and their dream future suddenly becomes one big uncertainty. The story is based on the real life of actress and writer Tembi Locke, who made the series together with her sister. Multiple shooting days left the cast and crew in tears; and as a viewer, that is almost impossible not to do. The series is quite an emotional rollercoaster, but one you don't want to miss.
