4 action-packed Netflix miniseries you can finish while working out

Published Nov 14, 2026, 6:00 PM EST T.M. Amrita is a writer and tech enthusiast with experience as a news reporter covering technology, artificial intelligence, and gadgets. A journalist at heart, she found a soft spot for technology reporting during her tenure as a reporter at The Hindu Businessline, where she covered topics like the economy, data, and personal finance. She has published more than 250 news stories, tech guides, and opinion articles. Outside of technology, she is a passionate poet and brings her interest in learning new things to her work as a writer. Amrita is also a student of design and interface development, and likes to take on passion projects in her free time. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Watching a show can make a long treadmill session easier to get through, especially when enough is happening to keep you from checking the elapsed time. A miniseries also gives you a complete story you can finish over a few workouts, without adding too much to your watch time. I’ve picked four action-packed short watches on Netflix to get you through every cardio session, with a mix of crime, mystery, and military drama. For those high-paced workouts, these can be your perfect companions. Here's all you need to know. Who is Erin Carter? The truth catches up fast Want a dose of mystery with your action? Who Is Erin Carter? is the perfect addition to your workout watchlist. This British action thriller follows Erin, a British-born substitute teacher living in Barcelona with her husband, Jordi, and daughter, Harper. Her family life changes when she gets caught up in a supermarket robbery and takes on the armed criminals all by herself. Her reaction, however, attracts attention, particularly when one of the robbers recognizes her. Soon, the police ask questions, and she doesn't answer, as keeping her past hidden becomes a difficult task. The seven-episode series unravels the mystery of Erin's identity as you gradually discover her secrets. Her attempts to protect her family also become harder to separate from the lies she’s told them. The fights keep the story moving fast, with Erin's family dynamics adding to the plot. I’d recommend this one if you enjoy an action thriller with a complex, unreliable lead character. Who Is Erin Carter? Release Date 2023 - 2023-00-00 Cast Evin Ahmad, Sean Teale, Douglas Henshall, Susannah Fielding, Charlotte Vega, Denise Gough, Pep Ambròs, Indica Watson Showrunner Jack Lothian Directors Ashley Way, Savina Dellicour, Bill Eagles Writers Jack Lothian Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Netflix The Liberator Courage is the bravest decision Its stunning animation is a good reason to give The Liberator a shot, especially if your watchlist mostly consists of live-action thrillers. This four-episode animated war drama combines live-action performances with computer animation, giving it the look of an illustrated war story. Based on Alex Kershaw’s book, it follows Felix Sparks, an American Army officer played by Bradley James, and a group of ragtag soldiers of the 157th Infantry Regiment during World War II. The diverse unit of soldiers fights their way through Italy, France, and Germany. As the casualties grow, Sparks has to make difficult decisions while trying to keep his surviving men together. The Liberator covers a considerable part of the war in its short run, with the soldiers’ relationships giving you something to look forward to between the tense battles. One of the most interesting parts about the show is that it was the first to use Trioscope Enhanced Hybrid Animation, a technique that blends live-action actors with CGI, similar to Rotoscoping technology. With episodes running between 45 and 60 minutes, it’s a manageable watch across a few workout sessions, particularly if you enjoy dramas based on real events. The Liberator Release Date 2020 - 2020-00-00 Network Netflix Cast Bradley James, Billy Breed, Finney Cassidy, Kiowa Gordon, Forrest Goodluck, Pedro Leandro, Matt Mercurio, Tatanka Means, Harrison Stone, Sam Gittins, Martin Sensmeier, Bryan Hibbard, Billy Rayner, Jose Miguel Vasquez, Michael Shaeffer Directors Grzegorz Jonkajtys Writers Jeb Stuart Number of Episodes 4 Seasons 1 Website https://www.netflix.com/title/81019775 Creator Jeb Stuart Distributor Netflix Main Characters Natalia Lacosta, Lukasz Dzieciol, Alex Kershaw Production Company A&E Studios, Trioscope Studios, Unique Features Story By Alex Kershaw My Name Revenge comes at a price An action-packed thriller doesn't mean you need to compromise on the plot or the character arcs, and that's what My Name, a South Korean action crime thriller, delivers. The story revolves around Yoon Ji-woo, a young woman whose life is flipped upside down after her father's murder. Determined to find the truth, she joins a powerful drug crime gang led by Choi Mu-jin, where she has to prove her worth to survive. Soon, she works for him as a mole by becoming a police officer, living a double life that constantly puts her in danger. Her morals and motives blur in the pursuit of truth, with her loyalty to Mu-jin being constantly tested. Their dynamic is definitely the core of the show, but that doesn't mean it discounts Ji-woo's past and motivations in her grand pursuit of revenge. My Name is a fast-paced, eight-episode watch with an addictive plot and strong lead performances. My favorite part of the limited series, aside from the perfectly choreographed action sequences, is how it still makes time to explore the characters and their dynamics. This is a must-watch if you are trying to explore more foreign titles and one of my personal favorite South Korean dramas on Netflix. My Name Release Date 2021 - 2021-00-00 Network Netflix Cast Park Hee-soon, Han So-hee, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kim Sang-ho, Lee Hak-ju, Chang Ryul, Yoon Kyung-ho, Hong Woo-jin, Back Joo-hee, Moon Sang-min, Kim In-woo, Han Dong-kyu, Kim Soo-ha, Cha Ji-hyun, Kim Jung-woo, Song Young-joo, Ahn Bok-ja, Kim Bi-bi, Kim Byung-cheol, Kwon Hyeok-beom, Shin Yeon-woo, Won Choon-gyu, Kim Chan-yi, Ri Woo-jin, Won Jin Directors Kim Jin-min Writers Kim Ba-da Main Genre K-Drama Creator(s) Kim Jin-min, Kim Ba-da Producers Yeom Jun-ho IMDb ID tt12940504 Seasons 1 TMDB User Rating 8 .224 Bodyguard Duty gets personal Bodyguard is a six-episode British political thriller starring Richard Madden. The story follows David Budd, a war veteran coping with PTSD who works as a protection officer with London’s Metropolitan Police Service. He is assigned to protect Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), the controversial Home Secretary whose political views he strongly opposes. Her plans to introduce invasive surveillance powers deepen that conflict, but Budd remains responsible for keeping her safe. As threats against her grow, he has to balance his professional responsibilities with his beliefs, while dealing with the lasting trauma of his military service. Bodyguard earned two Primetime Emmy nominations, while Madden won a Golden Globe for his performance. It also holds an 8/10 rating on IMDb and a 93% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a well-loved option for your next short binge. Plus, you can finish this miniseries in one weekend. Bodyguard Release Date 2018 - 2018-00-00 Network BBC One Cast Keeley Hawes, Richard Madden, Sophie Rundle, Gina McKee, Pippa Haywood, Stuart Bowman, Paul Ready, Ash Tandon, Nina Toussaint-White, Vincent Franklin, Michael Shaeffer, Richard Riddell, Claire-Louise Cordwell, Tom Brooke, Shubham Saraf, Nicholas Gleaves, Chike Chan, Matt Stokoe, Anjli Mohindra, Stephanie Hyam, Bella Padden, Jonathan Nyati, John Pienaar, Justin Webb, Robert Ryan Directors John Strickland, Thomas Vincent Writers Jed Mercurio Main Genre Crime Creator(s) Jed Mercurio Producers Eric Coulter, Priscilla Parish Seasons 1 Executive Producer(s) Elizabeth Kilgarriff, Jed Mercurio, Roderick Seligman, Simon Heath Go offline with your favorite shows If you’re planning to watch these at the gym, download an episode or two on the Netflix mobile app. It saves you from relying on the gym’s Wi-Fi or using mobile data during your workout, but it can also come in handy if you like to go offline when working out. Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams Two or four Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription. Live TV No Price Starting at $8/month