Summary
- Limited series offer complete stories in a season—ideal for binge-watching.
- Chernobyl is a somber, historically accurate portrayal of the nuclear disaster.
- The White Lotus, Dopesick, & Kidding offer unique and complete narratives in their limited series.
The great thing about limited series is that they have a very definitive start and end point, encapsulated in a single season. They are unlike traditional TV series, which will often run as long as their popularity allows, either being drawn out long past the point of interest or ending unceremoniously with plot points up in the air.
7 Best Crime Dramas To Binge-Watch, Ranked
Crime dramas deal with heavy subject matter and social issues, but these series strike a perfect balance that makes them all great binge-watch options
Of course, not all series fall into this trap, but with a limited series, fans know where they stand. They are getting the complete story, usually in around six episodes, which is ideal for binge-watching. For any self-respecting couch potatoes lucky enough to have a free weekend on the horizon, consider these, the best limited series to binge-watch over a weekend.
10 Chernobyl
Severe Nuclear Disaster
Chernobyl
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2019
WHERE TO WATCH
- Network
- HBO
- Cast
- Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, Adam Nagaitis, Sam Troughton, Robert Emms, James Cosmo, Kieran O'Brien, Tomas Žaibus, Con O'Neill, Adrian Rawlins, Alan Williams, David Dencik, Mark Lewis Jones, Ralph Ineson, Barry Keoghan, Alex Ferns, Fares Fares, Michael McElhatton, Laura Elphinstone, Nadia Clifford, Sam Strike, Sammy Hayman
- Showrunner
- Craig Mazin
Fair warning, nobody promised the viewing would necessarily be fun, and, in fact, a lot of these series are pretty dour stories based on real-world events. Chernobyl is the first of those on this list, based on Ukraine's nuclear disaster in 1986. This was one of only two nuclear accidents in global history listed as maximum severity, with the other being Japan's Fukushima disaster in 2011.
This miniseries was met with overwhelming acclaim upon release for its tense, somber mood and delicate handling of the subject matter. It's a largely historically accurate, horrific, and moving retelling of the events and aftermath, but it is something of a slow-burn thriller that will likely make it not for everyone.
9 The White Lotus
Light-Hearted Murder Mystery
The White Lotus
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2024
WHERE TO WATCH
- Network
- HBO
- Cast
- Jon Gries, Natasha Rothwell, Jennifer Coolidge, Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, F. Murray Abraham, Jolene Purdy, Murray Bartlett, Sabrina Impacciatore, Tom Hollander, Aubrey Plaza, Stefano Gianino, Connie Britton, Adam DiMarco, Meghann Fahy, Beatrice Grannò, Michael Imperioli, Alexandra Daddario, Theo James, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy, Haley Lu Richardson, Will Sharpe, Brittany O'Grady, Simona Tabasco, Leo Woodall, Sydney Sweeney
- Showrunner
- Mike White
The White Lotus is docked a few places because it only half meets the definition, given that there are now three full seasons of the show. That said, each season is a self-contained story, meaning each one essentially acts as its own limited series, with very minimal crossover.
TV enthusiasts looking to digest a whole season in a weekend could choose any one of the three without needing any prior insight, and the longest season is only eight episodes, making it a short commitment. Fans are sure to be divided on the disparate stories, but the first season is probably still the best and the shortest, making it the ideal choice for this list.
8 Dopesick
US Opioid Epidemic
Dopesick
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2021-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- John Hoogenakker, Will Poulter, Jake McDorman, Kaitlyn Dever, Phillipa Soo, Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Rosario Dawson
- Directors
- Danny Strong
Dopesick tells the sickening story of Perdue Pharma and the scandal the company was swept up in regarding its prescription painkiller, OxyContin. The issues were not regarding the efficacy of the drug, but rather how it was sold. Reps were given excessive sales incentives to push the product on doctors, which led to its being widely overprescribed.
To make matters worse, Perdue actively misrepresented and disguised key data surrounding the potency of the drug, dramatically underselling its addictive capabilities. Dopesick explores both the shady business practices and some heartbreaking accounts of people whose lives were ruined when they were incorrectly prescribed the drug after seeking medical attention.
7 WeCrashed
Pretentious Jargon
WeCrashed
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
- Cast
- Jared Leto, Anne Hathaway, Kyle Marvin, Anthony Edwards
Another story of shady business practices, this time with a very different angle that exposes some key flaws in a capitalist system. WeCrashed tells the story of the eccentric We Work founder and his frankly bonkers ascent to the pinnacle of business on a platform with incredibly flimsy foundations.
The company somehow succeeded despite an excessively unstable business model as the silver-tongued CEO manages to convince investor after investor to buy into his continually crumbling enterprise. Two great performances from the co-leads, Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway, really sell the baffling narrative of a power couple who somehow triumph on arrogance alone in the face of incompetence. Although it's fair to say they do have a few major missteps along the way.
6 Under The Banner Of Heaven
Mormon Religious Fundamentalism
Under the Banner of Heaven
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sam Worthington, Denise Gough, Wyatt Russell, Billy Howle, Chloe Pirrie, Seth Numrich
- Showrunner
- Dustin Lance Black
Under the Banner of Heaven tells the true story of the Lafferty brothers, who belong to a very influential family in their local Mormon community. As the brothers take over the patriarchal reigns of the family, they begin to be drawn in by radical interpretations of their faith and anti-government rhetoric.
8 Best TV Series to Watch If You Love American Manhunt
True crime fans who love American Manhunt will enjoy what these shows bring to the table.
Believing himself to be the new 'Lion of the Lord,' the eldest brother, Ron, takes on a messianic role among his direct followers, as rhetoric quickly turns to terror when the brothers turn to 'blood atoning' the unrighteous members of their community. The series explores the conflict between faith and law enforcement in these religious communities and the frightening consequences of authority going unchecked.
5 Unbelievable
Victim Blaming
Unbelievable
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2018
- Directors
- Michael Dinner
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Mike Merritt, Toni Collette, Kaitlyn Dever, Danielle Macdonald, Dale Dickey, Liza Lapira
Another solemn true account, this time regarding the failure of law enforcement to prosecute serious crimes against women. Unbelievable is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning article about a young woman who was pressured by law enforcement to recant her charge of rape. She was subsequently charged with submitting a false police report, facing professional and personal consequences.
When a series of similar incidents occurred in the area, it was later revealed that she was telling the truth. Not only did she suffer personal damage, but the rapist was free to offend a further five times as a result of the lack of trust and support she received.
4 Apple Cider Vinegar
Clickbait Healthcare
Apple Cider Vinegar
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Network
- Netflix
- Cast
- Kaitlyn Dever, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Aisha Dee, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Ashley Zukerman, Mark Coles Smith, Chai Hansen, Matt Nable
- Directors
- Jeffrey Walker
A third appearance on this list for actress Kaitlyn Dever, this time as the less sympathetic character of influencer Belle Gibson, who lied about having cancer to launch her social media empire of healthcare and nutrition advice. Followers were misled into believing that Belle's health methodology helped her maintain her glamorous demeanor despite her aggressive brain cancer.
Last of Us Season 2’s Kaitlyn Dever Discusses Abby Role and Taking on ‘Such a Large Fandom’
The Last of Us Season 2's Kaitlyn Dever opens up about her role as Abby Anderson in the upcoming series' return.
Apple Cider Vinegar tells the tandem stories of Belle and a composite rival based primarily on another influencer who tragically died of cancer, in part due to her belief in alternative treatments. The show actually provides a decent defense of Belle, plotting her problematic upbringing, but it's hard to stay on her side as she continuously lies to and swindles actual cancer patients for fame and money.
3 Kidding
The Tragic Tale Of Mr. Pickles
Kidding
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2020-00-00
- Cast
- Jim Carrey, Frank Langella, Catherine Keener, Cole Allen, Juliet Morris, Justin Kirk, Judy Greer, Rich Fulcher, Lexi Pearl, David Crespin, Bernard White, Coda Boesel, Dorien Davies, Mike Quinn, Juliocesar Chavez, Barry Rothbart, Nicole Marie Appleby, Frank Bond, Dick Van Dyke, Jaeden Bettencourt, Matt Gourley, Julitta Scheel, Marcelo Tubert, Myra Turley, Michael Yama, Adrian Snow, Megan Kathleen Duffy
- Creator(s)
- Dave Holstein
Kidding also needs to be docked a little because it did technically receive a second season, although it probably shouldn't have. The story is complete by the end of the first season, and fans wouldn't be missing much if they stopped there, with the subsequent season offering nothing new. Think of it more as a sequel, and the limited series banner just about applies.
The story tracks a staple children's TV host and the juxtaposition of his perky onscreen personality and his emotionally fraught off-screen life. Jeff is increasingly struggling to maintain his mild-mannered visage, and a quiet tension bubbles under the surface. With the crafted visual flair of Michel Gondry and an excellently layered lead performance from Jim Carey, Kidding a unique and moving series.
2 The Dropout
Empire Of Lies
The Dropout
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Amanda Seyfried, Naveen Andrews, Dylan Minnette, Ebon Moss-Bachrach
- Showrunner
- Elizabeth Meriwether
True stories, particularly those built on corporate lies and medical misdemeanours, seem to make excellent limited series, and The Dropout is the pinnacle of that. Elizabeth Holmes wanted so much to be the female Steve Jobs, and, in an emerging era of feminism, it made such a great story that the press and the public wanted it to be true.
Sadly, this likely gave her more rope than she should have been allowed, as the primary product produced by her company, Theranos, never worked, despite over a decade of testing and funding. She essentially patented an impossible science and refused to backtrack, instead allowing the unsafe medical product to be rolled out regardless.
1 The Sympathizer
Vietnamese Double Agent
The Sympathizer
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Kieu Chinh, Sandra Oh, Vy Le, Tom Dang, Phan Gia Nhat Linh, Tien Pham
- Showrunner
- Park Chan-wook, Don McKellar
The Sympathizer takes a very different look at the Vietnam War from the perspective of Vietnamese citizens who were forced to flee their homes when Saigon fell. It's based on a book of the same name, but the series also compiles several first-hand accounts to use as reference, some of which come from the actors who star in the series.
The story centers on a double agent working for the North but secretly embedded within the CIA in the South. He is forced to flee to the US to maintain his cover and finds himself torn between the conflicting ideals of the friends he lives with, the loyalty to his country, and the fear of being caught, having seen what the CIA does with political prisoners. The series takes some unexpected twists and turns, offering a compelling tale of espionage unlike anything else.
8 Dumbest Strategies Used In Squid Game
Squid Game requires its players to think carefully, but sometimes, its contestants' strategies are questionable at best.