Have you ever wanted to start a new TV show but haven’t, because the thought of committing to 3 or 5 or 10 seasons is just too daunting? You’re certainly not alone. Sometimes you just want to put something on, binge a few episodes and be done with it by the end of the weekend! And that’s exactly what you can do with limited series. This list will go over the top new limited series to stream right now.
This list will be continuously updated as new limited series air to ensure you’re the first to know about the best content to watch.
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WHAT IS A LIMITED SERIES?
A limited series, also called a miniseries or mini-series, is a TV show with a predetermined number of episodes that tells a complete story. Instead of a typical TV series which ends seasons on cliffhangers, limited series start and complete its story in one full season.
THE BEST LIMITED SERIES TO WATCH NOW
If you’re looking for the next show to get obsessed with, you’re in the right place. This selection of new limited series has something for everyone. Find the best miniseries to check out below.
1. ‘The Penguin’ (2024)
Release Date: September 19, 2024
Genre: Crime; Drama; Fantasy
No. Of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Max
HBO’s The Penguin – a seriously exciting release for fans of Rob Pattinson’s The Batman – gives audiences a deeper look into one of the most infamous villains in the underworld of Gotham City: Oz Cobb a.k.a. The Penguin. Taking place shortly after the events of the feature film – including the death of Carmine Falcone – the series follows the Penguin as he attempts to take control of the criminal network acting as the invisible hand of Gotham City.
With stellar acting from the likes of Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Theo Rossi and others, this limited series has been a hit with fans new and old.
2. ‘Say Nothing’ (2024)
Release Date: November 14, 2024
Genre: Period Drama; History; Drama
No. Of Episodes: 9
Where to Watch: Hulu
Based off the critically acclaimed book by Patrick Radden Keefe, the newest Hulu limited series, Say Nothing is a thrilling exploration into the real-life impact of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The story follows several real people caught up in the conflict – from the experiences of the Price sisters and other IRA members to the disappearance of Jean McConville, single mother of ten, and far beyond.
The limited series has been applauded for its ability to capture the deep emotions, tensions and moral dilemmas of those living through the four decades of political turmoil.
Looking for more content about the Troubles? Add ‘Shadow Dancer’ to your movie watch list!
3. ‘Agatha All Along’ (2024)
Release Date: September 18, 2024
Genre: Fantasy; Drama; Action
No. Of Episodes: 9
Where to Watch: Disney+
Haven’t you heard? Revenge is a witch. At least it is in the latest Marvel TV limited series, Agatha All Along, and we are absolutely here for it. Taking place three years after the conclusion of highly watchable mini-series, WandaVision, the new show follows Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, a witch who has been trapped under a spell cast by Wanda Maximoff. When she gets the chance to escape the spellbound town with a goth teen, she takes it, not having much to lose.
Or so she thinks, until she realizes that she in fact, has lost something extremely valuable to her: her powers. And if that isn’t enough to get you intrigued about the new mini-series, a stellar cast consisting of Hahn, Patti LuPone, Debra Jo Rupp, Aubrey Plaza and others just might.
Looking for more supernatural excitement? Check out A Discovery of Witches on AMC!
4. ‘Sweetpea’ (2024)
Release Date: October 10, 2024
Genre: Drama; Mystery; Thriller
No. Of Episodes: 5
Where to Watch: STARZ
The talented Ella Purnell brings the latest STARZ limited series, Sweetpea, to life with her astonishing “good girl gone mad” performance. Purnell plays Rhiannon Lewis, a wallflower type of girl who feels more invisible with each passing day; that is, until enough is enough, and something snaps.
As Rhiannon falls further down the rabbit hole of rage, nothing can stop her from getting the revenge she deserves. Applauded for its sharp writing, unique cinematography and punk rock soundtrack, Sweetpea has audiences and critics alike raving. And trust us, once you start watching, you won’t be able to stop. Or take it from an online review that called it “the television equivalent of a page turner.”
5. ‘Lady in the Lake’ (2024)
Release Date: July 19, 2024
Genre: Drama; Mystery; Thriller
No. Of Episodes: 7
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
Based on Laura Lippman’s 2019 novel of the same name, Lady in the Lake is a gripping noir thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Set in 1966 Baltimore, the limited series follows the lives of two, seemingly very different women who converge on a fatal collision course after the disappearance of a young girl on Thanksgiving. One woman (Natalie Portman) attempting to leave her old life behind, while the other (Moses Ingram) works tirelessly to life her community up. What happens next though, is anything but predictable – and you won’t be able to stop watching until you get answers.
6. ‘Ripley’ (2024)
Release Date: April 4, 2024
Genre: Crime; Drama; Thriller
No. Of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Netflix
Not only is this Netflix limited series’ story completely engrossing but it is also a marvel to watch in terms of aesthetic choices and cinematography. Viewers are thrown back in time to 1961, when a small-time fraudster, Tom Ripley, is hired by a wealthy businessman to return his son from blowing his inheritance in Italy back to New York City.
Sounds like a pretty good gig, right? Maybe, but Ripley – played effortlessly by Andrew Scott – has other plans in mind. Plans that have more to do with traveling around Europe, jovially committing crimes and cons along the way. Over the course of the eight episodes, Ripley’s web of lies become more and more entangled, leaving you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Already ripped through Ripley? Check out the hit crime series, Barry next!
7. ‘Baby Reindeer’ (2024)
Release Date: April 11, 2024
Genre: Drama; Based on a true story
No. Of Episodes: 7
Where to Watch: Netflix
Richard Gadd stars as Donny Dunn, writer and performer of the one-man stage play, Baby Reindeer, in this gripping new limited series from Netflix. Taking from Gadd’s own real-life experience dealing with a stalker, this seven-episode drama isn’t the most lighthearted to watch, but it’s very well done. With impeccable acting, strong writing and plenty of surprising twists and turns throughout, you won’t know what to expect from this show, but you will be thinking about it long after it’s over.
8. ‘Shogun’ (2024)
Release Date: February 27
Genre: Historical Drama; Adventure
No. Of Episodes: 10
Where to Watch: FX; Hulu
This original adaptation of Jame Clavell’s bestselling novel takes audiences back to 1600 Japan, a time when whispers regarding a civil war are just starting to get louder. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Lord Yoshii Toranaga (producer Hiroyuki Sanada) tip the scales of power to beat their common enemy – the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants.
The powerful story is enhanced even more by the beautiful setting and authentic Japanese design touches. If there’s one show you invest yourself in this year, it might just be this one.
9. ‘Presumed Innocent’ (2024)
Release Date: June 12, 2024
Genre: Thriller; Legal Thriller; Mystery; Drama
No. Of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
The one and only Jake Gyllenhaal stars alongside Ruth Negga in the latest crime thriller on Apple TV+. Based on a 1987 novel of the same name, this cleverly reimagined legal limited series follows as the Chicago prosecutor’s office is upended after one of their own is brutally murdered – and another one of their own is suspected of the crime. The miniseries takes audiences down a dark and twisted path, exploring the intersection of love, politics, obsession and the limits one is willing to go to get what they want.
10. ‘Eric’ (2024)
Release Date: May 30, 2024
Genre: Drama; Psychological Thriller
No. Of Episodes: 6
Where to Watch: Netflix
Starring the one and only Benedict Cumberbatch as Vincent the puppeteer, Eric is a British psychological thriller limited series that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first episode up until the finale. Vincent, an unhappily married man living in 1980s New York City and working as a puppeteer, starts to crack after his nine-year-old son goes missing. With slim leads, no support and a substance abuse issue, Vincent continues spiraling out of control until the only person he can talk to is his seven-foot-tall puppet, Eric.
11. ‘Mary & George’
Release Date: April 5, 2024
Genre: Historical drama
No. Of Episodes: 7
Where to Watch: STARZ
We can almost assure you that you haven’t seen history retold like it is in STARZ’s newest limited series, Mary & George. The story follows the Countess of Buckingham, played by the iconic Julianne Moore, as she uses her son to infiltrate the British Monarchy to gain power, status and wealth. And clearly, she’s willing to do whatever it takes.
Her son, George Villiers, proceeds to seduce the one and only King James I as a means to this end, and what follows is an electrifying romance no one saw coming. If this fantastic storyline wasn’t enough to intrigue you, the fabulous period sets, costumes and art make the show worth watching all on their own.
12. ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’
Release Date: March 29, 2024
Genre: Historical Drama
No. of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
As so many limited series are, A Gentleman in Moscow is based off a novel of the same name and is set against the backdrop of 1920s post-Revolutionary Russia after Count Alexander Rostov is denounced of his title and sentenced to a life on house arrest … in a lavish hotel, that is. What follows is a surprisingly heartwarming transformation for the Court, as he begins to learn the true value of comradery and human connection.
With fabulous set design and a stellar cast including Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, this mini-series will draw you in and leave you wanting more.
13. ‘The Sympathizer’
Release Date: April 14, 2024
Genre: Drama; History; War
No. of Episodes: 7
Where to Watch: Max
Based on the bestselling novel and 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner of the same name, this HBO limited series takes viewers back in time to the conclusion of the Vietnam War and its aftermath. The plot follows a South Vietnamese captain acting as a double agent working for the Americans while spying for the Viet Cong, and his experiences after the war as a political refugee in the United States. A stunning blend of spy thriller, socio-political commentary and historical accuracies, The Sympathizer offers a in depth look into the complexities of war, cultural ties and loyalty. Not to mention, the dark humor and stellar acting take this story up a notch.
14. ‘3 Body Problem’
Release Date: March 21, 2024
Genre: Science Fiction; Drama
No. of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Netflix
From the creators of Game of Thrones comes a new sci-fi drama that has everyone talking: 3 Body Problem. Based on a widely successful book series by Chinese sci-fi author, Liu Cixin, the story follows a group attempting to solve a mystery – one that has caused many of the world’s scientists to commit suicide. Not to mention, science has simply, stopped working?
With strong performances from the cast and memorable moments throughout each episode, 3 Body Problem is a delight to watch for sci-fi fans or newbies alike. And despite the book – and the series – discussing some pretty heavy quantum mechanics, the story is much more engaging for its human elements.
15. ‘One Day’
Release Date: February 8, 2024
Genre: Drama; Romance
No. of Episodes: 14
Where to Watch: Netflix
It’s not every day a remake of a movie or TV show becomes a worldwide sensation, but it is that day for the newest Netflix limited series, One Day. Based on the same book as Anne Hathaway’s 2011 romcom of the same name, this British romantic drama has taken audiences by storm, and for good reason. One Day tells the decades-long love story between the two main characters, Em and Dex, as they make their way back to each other on the same day of each year.
Along with the heartwarming and nostalgia-inducing plot, the show’s format makes the story that much better. The miniseries is formatted so that each episode represents a new year, allowing the audience to come along the long-lasting love story that exists between the two characters. Get ready to laugh, sigh, cry and laugh some more – this 14-episode series is certainly worth watching.
Loved One Day? Watch Love Life next.
16. ‘Manhunt’
Release Date: March 15, 2024
Genre: Historical Drama; Conspiracy Thriller
No. of Episodes: 7
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
For those more interested in the past, rather than a fictional future, Manhunt may be the latest and greatest limited series for you. While we usually think of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln as that exact event, Manhunt takes audiences back to the aftermath of that fateful (and fatal) night at the theater.
In fact, the story mainly revolves around Lincoln’s Secretary of War and friend, Edwin Stanton, as he helps to track down John Wilkes Booth. The adrenaline-fueled action, plus the fantastical set and costume design make this historical lookback one to remember.
17. ‘GRISELDA’
Release Date: January 25, 2024
Genre: Crime Drama
No. of Episodes: 6
Where to Watch: Netflix
The immensely talented Sofia Vergara stars in Netflix’s latest crime drama as the ambitious Columbian drug lord (lady?), Griselda Blanco. Based loosely on the real-life experiences of one of the most profitable cartel leaders in history, Vergara stirs up the perfect amount of drama, grit and wit to engross viewers in the story of Blanco’s complex rise to power in the Miami cocaine business during the 70s and 80s. Complemented by performances from Karol G, Vanessa Ferlito and Martin Rodriguez as Rivi Ayala, this limited series is a must watch for any Narcos fans.
Looking for more shows like Griselda? Try Snowfall next.
18. ‘TED’
Release Date: January 11, 2024
Genre: Comedy
No. of Episodes: 7
Where to Watch: Peacock
The blockbuster franchise, Ted, is back, this time on the small screen. Viewers are sent back in time to 1993, just after high school-aged John wishes his teddy bear to life, where they get to watch the pair getting up to the same shenanigans seen in the original films. Unsurprisingly, both Ted and John are more innocent – and a lot less jaded – than in their adult years, but Seth MacFarlane’s comedy style continues to resonate with viewers in the school hallways as it always has.
19. ‘FELLOW TRAVELERS’
Release Date: October 29, 2023
Genre: Historical Romance; Political Thriller
No. of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
Limited series are the perfect medium for book adaptations, as seen from Fellow Travelers. Based on Thomas Mallon’s 2007 novel of the same name, the new miniseries follows the romantic relationship between two political staffers during an era where their love was outlawed. Spanning multiple decades, this unique love story has its fair share of twists and turns that have enthralled watchers from the very first episode. We wouldn’t be surprised if it is remembered as one of the most popular historical dramas of recent years.
20. ‘BODIES’
Release Date: October 19, 2023
Genre: Crime; Drama; Science Fiction
No. of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Netflix
Another exemplary use of the limited series format, Netflix’s Bodies is a unique and authentic story that has totally captivated audiences. Based on a comic series from 2014, this top tier drama interweaves four different timelines as they all attempt to solve the same murder in London. From the 1890s all the way to post-apocalyptic 2050, the show’s riveting storytelling has drawn audiences in, and for good reason. With stellar cast performances and just the right amount of mind-boggling time travel, this is one of the most binge worthy shows of 2023.
If you’re looking for something similar to Bodies – albeit not a limited series – try Fringe.
WATCH MINISERIES & MORE ON DIRECTV TODAY
As a DIRECTV customer, you can get access to many of these limited series right at the click of a button. And when you sign up today, you can get premium networks like SHOWTIME and Max free for three months! So, you can catch up on the limited series listed above plus even more great content.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a limited series?
A limited series is a TV show consisting of a single season with a set number of episodes that completes an entire story arc.
What is the difference between a limited series and a miniseries?
Both limited series and miniseries refer to a show with a set number of episodes that tells a complete story arc. While they are typically used interchangeably, they are sometimes differentiated by the series' length (limited series are longer than miniseries).
What are some of the best limited series to watch right now?
A few of the most popular new limited series to watch now include 'Fellow Travelers,' 'A Small Light' and 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
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