9 Netflix Masterpiece Miniseries With 8 Episodes Or Less

Image via MovieStillsDB Published Oct 19, 2026, 5:30 PM EDT Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Netflix now mostly stands out for its original content, and it has found great success with miniseries, with some of its best having only eight episodes or fewer. Although there are now plenty of options in the world of streaming to choose from, Netflix is still one of the most popular platforms with an extensive catalog of movies and TV shows. Netflix is home to some of the best TV shows of all time, some of which are the streamer’s original productions. Some of the best Netflix original TV shows to date are Ozark, Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Arcane, all of which are shows with more than one season. However, some of the best Netflix shows have also been miniseries, as is the case for The Haunting of Hill House and Maniac, but the number of episodes varies. Most Netflix miniseries have either eight or 10 episodes, but there are other great ones with fewer than eight. Making a miniseries is a tricky task, as writers have to fit a complete story, with character development and depth, into a limited number of episodes, and preferably without loose ends and cliffhangers. If the number of episodes is even more limited to fewer than eight, the challenge is even bigger, which makes these perfect miniseries even more impressive and incredible to watch and rewatch. Baby Reindeer Seven Episodes Baby Reindeer took Netflix and the world by surprise in 2024. Created by Richard Gadd and adapted from his autobiographical one-man show, Baby Reindeer follows Donny Dunn (Gadd), an aspiring comedian working as a bartender in London. One day, he offers a free cup of tea to a sad customer named Martha (Jessica Gunning) to cheer her up. However, Martha develops an unhealthy attachment and obsession with Donny, stalking him more and more and affecting all areas of his life. Baby Reindeer holds a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 99%, with critics praising its writing, performances, and tone, but definitely noting that it might not be an easy watch for some. In just seven episodes, Baby Reindeer takes viewers into an intense journey that goes beyond stalking and obsessing over someone. The Queen’s Gambit Seven Episodes One of the most acclaimed Netflix shows of all time is The Queen’s Gambit, based on Walter Tevis’ 1983 novel of the same name. The Queen’s Gambit takes viewers back to the 1950s and 1960s to meet Elizabeth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphan chess prodigy looking to become an elite chess player. However, Elizabeth is battling a personal fight as she struggles with substance-use disorder and unresolved trauma from her childhood. The Queen’s Gambit is widely regarded as not only one of the best Netflix original shows but also one of the best shows of the 2020s. The Queen’s Gambit has been praised for its performances (particularly that of Taylor-Joy), writing, direction, and adaptation of Tevis’ work, all of which contribute to it being regarded as a TV show that deserves to be watched more than once. Archive 81 Eight Episodes Archive 81 is a supernatural horror TV series based on the podcast of the same name by Daniel Powell and Marc Sollinger. Archive 81 follows Dan Turner (Mamoudou Athie), a media archivist whose latest project is restoring a collection of VHS tapes from 1994 damaged by a fire. The tapes were recorded by Melody Pendras (Dina Shihabi), who was doing a documentary project on an apartment building that burned down. Dan ends up making some disturbing discoveries, including that of a parallel dimension. Archive 81 was praised for its approach to horror, supernatural elements, and story, but unlike most entries on this list, it wasn’t planned as a miniseries. Archive 81 was canceled after just one season, which is why it, unfortunately, ends on a cliffhanger, but it has become one of Netflix’s most notable horror miniseries. Marianne Eight Episodes Marianne is a French supernatural horror TV series created by Samuel Bodin and now regarded as one of the best horror TV shows of all time. Marianne introduces the audience to Emma Larsimon (Victoire Du Bois), an author who announces she’s no longer writing horror and has killed off her main character. However, Emma is dragged into a real-life horror story when her childhood friend, Caroline, tells her that her mother believes she’s Marianne, the witch from Emma’s books. After Caroline kills herself, Emma returns to her hometown, where she confronts not just her past and Caroline’s mother, but also the witch herself. Marianne has a rare perfect Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 100% and has been praised for its unsettling vibe, story, and writing, being labeled one of the scariest horror TV shows in recent years. When They See Us Four Episodes When They See Us is a crime drama miniseries created by Ava DuVernay. When They See Us is based on the 1989 Central Park jogger case, and it explores the lives of the five men – Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse), Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome), and Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez) – who were prosecuted on charges related to the sexual assault of a woman. Their conviction was vacated in 2002 after another man confessed to the crime, and so the Central Park Five filed a suit against the city for wrongful conviction. When They See Us has been praised for its writing, direction, emotional depth, and exploration of this real-life case. As good as the show is, however, it’s a heavy watch due to its real-life background, but it’s also one of the most important shows in recent years. The Midnight Gospel Eight Episodes The Midnight Gospel is an adult animated TV series created by Pendleton Ward and Duncan Trussell. The Midnight Gospel follows Clancy Gilroy, a spacecaster living in a dimension known as the Chromatic Ribbon. Clancy owns an unlicensed multiverse simulator, with which he travels to bizarre worlds on the brink of disaster. There he interviews some of the residents for his spacecast, with those conversations taken from episodes of Trussell’s podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour. The Midnight Gospel is unlike any other animated show, not just due to its colorful and trippy animation, but due to its themes. The Midnight Gospel delves into complex and philosophical themes in each episode, which, accompanied by the show’s animation, makes the show a one-of-a-kind experience. The Midnight Gospel was canceled after just one season, turning it into a miniseries. Godless Seven Episodes Godless is a Western drama miniseries created by Scott Frank. Godless takes viewers back to 1884 to meet Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell), an outlaw and train robber who betrays his mentor, Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels), and goes on the run. Griffin and his gang are now going after Roy, who hides on a remote ranch owned by Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery). Godless was a critical success, with its Western style, performances, and female characters receiving the most praise, though some found its clichés to be a problem. Still, Godless is one of the most notable Western TV shows of the 2010s and a must-watch for fans of the genre. Midnight Mass Seven Episodes Midnight Mass is a supernatural horror TV show created by Mike Flanagan. Midnight Mass follows Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford), who, after serving four years in prison for killing a woman in a drunk-driving incident, returns to his hometown of Crockett Island. Things have changed a lot on the island, but Riley’s return coincides with the arrival of the mysterious but charismatic Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater), who revitalizes the town’s faith. However, mysterious events also begin to happen now that Riley and Father Hill are in town. Midnight Mass is a slow-burn type of horror show, especially when compared to the rest of Flanagan’s Netflix shows, but it’s worth every minute. Midnight Mass has been praised for its direction, concept, writing, performances, and approach to a classic horror character. Adolescence Four Episodes Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, Adolescence is a psychological crime drama TV series that quickly became one of the best TV shows of all time. Set in a town near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Adolescence follows the Miller family after their 13-year-old son, Jamie (Owen Cooper), is arrested on suspicion of the murder of his classmate, Katie Leonard. In just four episodes, Adolescence takes the audience into the investigation and questioning of Jamie, while also exploring the impact of Jamie’s arrest on his family. Adolescence was a hit with critics and general audiences, both pointing out its cinematography, performances, and writing as its biggest strengths. Adolescence isn’t an easy watch due to its themes and how heavy it gets, but it has definitely earned its spot among the best TV shows of all time. Release Date March 13, 2025 Network Netflix Directors Philip Barantini Writers Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne