Top 8 miniseries to watch on Netflix
In the golden age of series, keeping up with so many new releases can be challenging. For those who feel like they're running out of hours to watch it all, we compiled the best miniseries on Netflix that can be watched in one afternoon or weekend.
Halston (2021)
"Halston" brings to the screen the life of Roy Halston, one of America's most influential designers, with Jacky Kennedy, Bianca Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liza Minelli (who was also his friend and confidante) among his clients. Set in New York in the 1970s, the series follows Halston (played by Ewan McGregor) on his journey to the top, with its lights and shadows. The multi-faceted and award-winning Ryan Murphy ("Glee", "American Horror Story", "The Watcher") is the miniseries producer that has not made the fashion designer's family too happy but is proving to be a big hit with audiences.
Duration: 5 episodes of about 50 minutes.
You'll like it if you're interested in the fashion world or want to know more about the mythical New York of Studio 54.
Maniac (2018)
"Maniac" is a dark comedy set in the New York of the future. Annie (Emma Stone) and Owen (Jonah Hill) are two strangers with rather heavy emotional baggage who decide to participate in the final stages of a bizarre clinical trial: Dr. James K. Mantleray tests a pill treatment on them to repair any psychological trauma and (spoiler!) it all goes wrong. This original miniseries directed by Cary Fukunaga ("True Detective") mixes psychology, black humor, drama, and surrealism in equal parts.
Duration: Ten 40-minute episodes.
You'll like it if you enjoy psychological dystopias and retro-futuristic aesthetics, and/or you're a fan of the main couple because Stone and Hill are great.
The End of the F***ing World (2018)
"The End of the F***ing World" brings us closer to the particular love story of two troubled teenagers (one is a self-described psychopath; the other has a severe misanthropy problem). Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Charles S. Forsman, this British miniseries with an indie aesthetic rides between black comedy, thriller, and road movie, while twisting the teen genre. Its fast-paced monologues, which are pure British black humor, won't leave you indifferent.
Duration: Two seasons of eight 25-minute episodes.
You'll like it if you like snappy dialogues and if you are a nihilist who doesn't believe in love (although you'd love someone to make you believe).
The Serpent (2021)
"The Serpent" is a fast-paced action-thriller series that tells the story of Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer who, in the 1970s, killed several backpackers traveling through Southeast Asia to impersonate his identity. Co-produced by Netflix and the BBC, "The Serpent" has been successful on the streaming platform thanks to word of mouth. It stars Tahar Rahim and Jenna Coleman, who learned French specifically for this series in which she plays Sobrhaj's partner, Marie-Andrée Leclerc. This murderer and criminal became one of Interpol's most wanted, and "The Serpent" compactly tells his story in a display of good narrative and aesthetic resources. You won't be able to stop until the end.
Duration: 8 chapters of approximately one hour.
You'll like it if you're into serial killer stories and big-budget productions.
The Spy (2019)
Although Sacha Baron Cohen became famous for his portrayal of the cartoonish Borat, the British actor has shown that he has also mastered other more serious registers, as in his fantastic performance in "The Trial of the Chicago 7" and also in "The Spy". In this historical miniseries, Baron Cohen plays Israeli double agent Eli Cohen, born in Egypt to Syrian Jewish parents, who, in the 1950s and 1970s, helped Israel by infiltrating Syrian intelligence. The series is produced by Gideon Raff, creator of the series that inspired "Homeland". Get ready for a good dose of suspense, drama, and existential dilemmas.
Duration: 6 episodes of about 50 minutes.
You'll like it if you're a history and Middle East geek or you're into spy movies (even if you already know the ending).
When They See Us (2019)
"When They See Us" is an acclaimed series based on actual events that follow the case of five African-American boys falsely accused of rape after a brutal attack on a white woman in New York's Central Park. The series, directed by Ava DuVernay, exposes a broken police and justice system where racism and prejudice are rife: although the event occurred in 1989, it is clear to no viewer that similar episodes have been repeated much more recently. With little-known actors but impeccable performances, "When They See Us" was nominated 11 times for Emmys and won the award for Best Actor.
Duration: Four 70-minute episodes.
You'll like it if you're hooked on trial movies and are interested in social and anti-racist themes.
Tiger King (2020)
After its premiere on Netflix, "Tiger King" became a minor phenomenon in its own right: this documentary tells the unlikely story of Joe Exotic, an eccentric country singer and zoo manager in Oklahoma, USA. A polygamist with a passion for rifles and big cats, Joe lives a life of tawdry luxury until one day, a female activist crosses his path and wants to ruin his business. A true story much stranger than fiction.
Duration: 8 episodes of about 45 minutes.
You'll like it if you love surreal stories about characters with all the letters.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
Who doesn't know "The Queen's Gambit"? Named after a chess move and following the name of the novel on which it is based, this miniseries has been a real success even though the subject revolves around a sport usually considered boring (by those who don't know it, of course). Its creators do an impeccable job of hooking the viewer into the life of Beth Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who seems born for this role), an orphan and child prodigy, social misfit, and pill-addicted adult who ends up becoming one of the best chess players in the world. This show has achieved what no educational campaign has ever achieved: thousands of women in all the countries where it premiered have signed up to learn this activity, traditionally much more practiced by men. The costumes, art direction, and photography deserve a separate mention, as they elevate the aesthetics of the series to another level.
Duration: 7 episodes of about 50 minutes.
You'll like it if you love chess and if it bores you to tears. The story is perfectly spun, so you need to know what will happen in the next episode.