Image via Eike Schroter, Netflix; Everett Collection
Published Aug 17, 2026, 11:56 PM EDT
Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.
Sign in to your Collider account
There's nothing better than coming home after a long day to enjoy a new episode of the TV show you are binging. However, some viewers don't have time for long-running productions such as Game of Thrones and would rather have something short and sweet, which is where miniseries come in. These digestible single seasons have a self-contained story that starts and ends without needlessly dragging on.
Some of the most critically acclaimed shows are miniseries, such as Band of Brothers and The Queen's Gambit. However, while most fans go back to the classics, the past half a decade has been home to some of the most underrated hits yet. That is why this list will rank the most perfect miniseries from the last five years based on consistency, lack of flaws, writing, directing, acting, originality, critical acclaim, fan opinion, and overall quality. For anyone looking for a quick watch to pass the day, these are the shows for them!
7 'Station Eleven' (2021–2022)
Image via HBO MaxCOVID-19 was half a decade ago, and while it still seems fresh in our minds, it was quite a ways back. However, the situation could have been a lot worse, because at least that isn't what happened in Station Eleven. The story takes place two decades after a pandemic has wiped out civilization, leaving only a handful of nomadic tribes, including a group of actors and musicians who wish to spread the tales of Shakespeare to the survivors, but this is threatened by a dangerous cult and its prophetic leader.
Adapted from the Emily St. John Mandel novel of the same name, Station Eleven is a brilliant subversion of the post-apocalyptic genre because of its optimistic focus. As opposed to doom and gloom with a side of bleakness, this miniseries is a testament to the human will to spread joy and bring good into the world. The uplifting nature alone will bring a tear to the viewers' eyes in a time when everyone needs a little bit of good in their life.
6 'Ripley' (2024)
There is a certain charm and elegant feeling about black-and-white television, which is why some shows use it for dramatic effect and aesthetic, such as Ripley. Based on the classic novels, this miniseries is set during the 1960s, following the titular character's struggle to pull off his scams. However, when a wealthy man mistakes Ripley (Andrew Scott) for a friend of his son, he sends him to Italy in order to bring him back home. However, getting used to the high life, Ripley thinks that this life suits him more, giving him the idea to steal the son's identity.
Not everyone can handle a slow-paced show, especially if it is a miniseries, but Ripley is a slow burn that rewards patience through its meticulously built suspense. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, highlighting the gorgeous country with sophisticated prestige. Ripley is unhurried in its pace, giving lots of time for the characters to breathe, also allowing Ripley to carefully plan his next steps with intricate precision. Ripley is a dazzling modern adaptation of the novel that feels classic and new at the same time, proving why it is a must-watch miniseries.
5 'Pluto' (2023)
Image via Studio M2Fans were probably expecting all live-action series, which is only natural, but for the open-minded, anime is a whole new world of miniseries that contains some masterpieces. Naoki Urasawa is a prolific manga author, and one of his best works is Pluto, which follows robot Detective Gesicht and his investigation of the murders of the most advanced androids in the world and robot rights activists. However, the deeper he dives into the case, the more personal it becomes, especially when it involves past scars and world wars.
Anime isn't for everyone, but for those skeptical about the medium, it is recommended to watch Pluto since it avoids a lot of the awkward tropes. It still feels like an anime, but it is vastly more mature and engaging than most shows. This two-headed dragon switches between gripping mystery and an emotional journey seamlessly, delivering both with incredible nuance. The winding plot and shocking twists add fuel to the burning questions that drive the mystery, while the themes of love, hate, and who has the right to them elevate the personal story and its emotional climax. Pluto isn't just a perfect modern miniseries; it is one of the best anime shows of all time.
4 'Mare of Easttown' (2021)
Image via HBOIt is strange that this is such a common theme, but many miniseries are bleak in nature. Maybe that is just because a full show of despair would be too much, because Mare of Easttown fits everything sad about it in seven perfect episodes. Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) is a detective in a small town investigating the murder of a teenage mother. But she has her own issues to deal with, from the suicide of her son to her custody battle and a divorce.
Mare of Easttown isn't for the faint of heart, because this dark and depressing miniseries is all about personal struggle and unresolved grief. However, it is acclaimed for its realistic portrayal of suffering in a small town, which is highlighted by the outstanding performance from Winslet. Complex, authentic, and personal best describe this perfect miniseries that showcases the resilience people face in everyday life and the tragedies that fill them.
Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most? Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek
Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one.
🚀Star Wars
💍Lord of the Rings
🧙Harry Potter
👑Game of Thrones
🖖Star Trek
FIND YOUR UNIVERSE →
01
What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning? Every universe is built around a different answer to this question.
ABeing part of something larger than myself — a cause, a rebellion, a fight for freedom that outlasts me. BThe journey itself — the places I'll go, the companions beside me, the world I'll discover on the way. CLearning — unlocking what I'm capable of, understanding the world's hidden mechanics, growing into something more. DLegacy — the name I leave behind, the power I build, the mark I make before the world moves on without me. EUnderstanding — exploring what exists beyond the horizon and asking what it means to be alive in a universe this vast.
NEXT QUESTION →
02
Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit? The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully.
AA galaxy of planets, each with its own culture — connected by conflict, trade, and the Force. BAncient lands of breathtaking beauty, deep history, and a creeping darkness at the edges. CA world hidden inside our own — full of wonder, community, and magic waiting to be learned. DA brutal, beautiful continent where power is everything and every alliance is a calculation. EA future where humanity has reached the stars — and must decide what kind of species it wants to be.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
How do you prefer your conflicts resolved? The shape of a world's conflicts tells you everything about its soul.
AThrough sacrifice and courage — someone has to make the impossible choice so others don't have to. BThrough fellowship — the impossible becomes possible when the right people walk the same road. CThrough growth — confronting what you fear, understanding what you lack, and becoming equal to the challenge. DThrough strategy — outthinking, outmaneuvering, positioning yourself so the outcome was never in doubt. EThrough dialogue — finding the third option, the peaceful resolution, the answer that doesn't require a body count.
NEXT QUESTION →
04
Who do you want beside you when things get difficult? Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for.
AA small crew — a pilot, a rogue, a warrior — each broken in their own way, unbeatable together. BA fellowship of different kinds of people, bound by purpose and deepened by the long road. CFriends who grew up alongside me — who knew me before I knew myself, and stayed anyway. DAllies whose loyalty I've earned — and tested — and whose ambitions align with mine, for now. EA crew of brilliant, curious, principled people from every corner of known space.
NEXT QUESTION →
05
What is your relationship with power? How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are.
AI want to use it to protect — and I'm terrified of what I might become if I'm not careful. BI distrust it. The most important power in this story is the courage to give it up. CI want to earn it — through knowledge, through effort, through becoming someone worthy of it. DI want to wield it. Preferably before someone else decides to wield it against me. EI want to understand it — its structures, its limits, its ethical dimensions. Power without accountability is the real threat.
NEXT QUESTION →
06
How does your universe treat good and evil? A world's moral architecture tells you more about it than any map.
AThere is a dark side and a light side — and the choice between them is always present, always personal. BEvil is real and ancient and patient — and goodness, however small, is the only thing that can undo it. CGood and evil are real, but they live inside people — and people are complicated, always capable of both. DGood and evil are mostly a matter of perspective and proximity. Power is the only honest currency. EEvil is usually the result of ignorance, fear, or broken systems — and understanding it is the first step to solving it.
NEXT QUESTION →
07
What role would you naturally fall into? Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying?
AThe reluctant hero — ordinary origins, extraordinary moment, changed forever by the choice to act. BThe unlikely carrier — the one nobody expected to matter most, quietly bearing the weight of everything. CThe student — not yet who I'll become, learning through every mistake, growing into something the world needs. DThe player — sharp enough to see the game for what it is, ambitious enough to try to win it. EThe explorer — drawn to the unknown, driven by curiosity, most alive when standing somewhere no one has stood before.
NEXT QUESTION →
08
What do you ultimately believe about the future? The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you.
AThat hope is real — that even in the darkest galaxy, a new hope is always possible. CThat even the smallest person can change the course of the future, if they have the courage to try. CThat love and friendship and doing what's right will matter in the end, even when everything says otherwise. DThat the wheel keeps turning — that power shifts, winters end, and what endures is those willing to fight for it. EThat humanity — or whatever we become — is capable of extraordinary things, if we choose to be.
REVEAL MY UNIVERSE →
Your Universe Has Been Chosen You Belong In…
Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose.
Star Wars
You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast.
- You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance.
- You'd find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources.
- Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story.
- The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is.
Lord of the Rings
You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world's beauty is worth protecting even at great cost.
- Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate.
- You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival.
- Tolkien's universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance.
- Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world.
Harry Potter
You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what's right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise.
- The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle.
- You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete.
- Harry Potter's universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying.
- That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely.
Game of Thrones
You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it.
- Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation.
- You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don't confuse the world as it is with the world as you'd like it to be.
- Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer.
- Winter always comes. You are already prepared.
Star Trek
You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation.
- Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear.
- You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is.
- The Federation is the universe's most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better?
- You don't just hope that's possible. You think it's the only thing worth working toward.
↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ
3 'The Penguin' (2024)
Image via HBODC is in a weird spot in terms of film, but they have never been better for TV shows, because they delivered a masterful miniseries set in The Batman universe. The Penguin follows the titular character played by Colin Farrell and his rise to power. With the most powerful crime lord dead, a struggle for control takes over the streets of Gotham City, and the Penguin will do anything to be the head honcho, even if that means being the underdog in every turf war.
Some fans want these types of shows to be more comic-booky, but the grounded nature of The Penguin is what makes it so great. It also makes it more approachable to non-superhero fans, with some viewers not even realizing it is DC. This gangster drama transcends the superhero genre into a completely different beast, and that is because of its transformative acting and compelling plot. Oswald's rise to the top is rocky, engaging, and full of drama, highlighting why it is arguably the best superhero TV show ever.
2 'Midnight Mass' (2021)
Image via NetflixSpeaking of DC, Mike Flanagan is the writer for the upcoming Clayface movie, and that should get fans excited since he is the best in the business for horror. He has delivered multiple masterful miniseries, including one from the past five years, Midnight Mass. Father Paul (Hamish Linklater) is the young new priest of Crockett Island, and his arrival brings forth both miraculous events and frightening omens that could be the savior or destruction of the island.
Horror miniseries are the perfect form for the genre since they expand the story but don't go too far with extra seasons. Instead, series like Midnight Mass create a perfect environment for terror to thrive with the exploration of remarkable themes, such as faith, guilt, and religious fanaticism. Midnight Mass isn't just a terrifying experience; it is a wonderful character study that proves why Flanagan is the greatest horror mind of the past five years.
1 'Adolescence' (2025)
Image via NetflixThe past five years have spawned some fantastic miniseries, but the most recent, and most perfect, is arguably Adolescence, which became the biggest show of 2025. After a young boy is accused of murdering his girl classmate, the police open up an investigation that tears apart the family and destroys the world they once knew, with nothing but despair and grief filling the void.
Few miniseries have the same effect as Adolescence, which put the world at a standstill with its shocking story. It left many viewers feeling raw and emotional, achieving this through authentic storytelling and Emmy-worthy performances by the entire cast. The innovative narrative delivered the story in real time with an uninterrupted pace, giving a more personal view of the characters. Adolescence is a perfect miniseries not just from the past five years, but of all time.
Adolescence
Release Date March 13, 2025
Network Netflix
Directors Philip Barantini
English (US) ·