30 Best Limited Series on Max to Watch Right Now (2024)

Audiences are not as willing as they once were to sit through a three-hour film or a 23-episode season. Some stories, however, require a run-time that's longer than a movie, but shorter than a continuing series. This can be due to many things, from the content itself to the storytelling style of the filmmakers. Studios looking to avoid a larger-than-life screen time that risks annoying the movie-going audience, while of course still making a buck, have begun producing something that lies in between, leading to the cultural phenomenon known colloquially as the limited series. Limited series go by many other names, from miniseries to anthologies, to serial dramas.

Their story arcs begin and end on a limited run of episodes - if they are stretched for longer, it's with different characters, settings, or storylines. This format allows for studios and audiences to meet in the middle. If you're not a fan of long films or procedural slogs, then you may want to settle in with these shows instead. Some of the most elevated limited series appear on the one and only Max. Formerly known as HBO Max, the streamer has been a pioneer in this particular format for years. For this reason, we've handpicked a few limited series you can watch right now on Max.

Updated on July 29th, 2024 by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional information about binge-able limited series currently streaming on Max to keep the discussion fresh and relevant.

30 The Lady and the Dale (2021)

A four-part documentary miniseries, The Lady and the Dale tells the stunning story of Liz Carmichael, who rose to prominence in the 1970s after she invented ‘The Dale.’ A 3-wheeled, fuel-efficient vehicle, the creation led her to build her own auto company, which was called Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation. As her business boomed, Liz was questioned about the technique used in building the vehicle as well as her background and mysterious past.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Utterly compelling from the first frame, The Lady and the Dale is a must-watch real-life drama. Under the direction of Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker, the series creates a blend of historical footage, candid interviews with Carmichael’s children, former associates, as well as news reporters of the time, and deft animation. While no element was too bizarre to be dismissed, the mini-series still manages to leave a lingering taste of auto history and personal truths.

29 Elizabeth I (2005)

Elizabeth I is a two-episode historical drama miniseries starring Helen Mirren, Toby Jones, Hugh Dancy, and Patrick Malahide. It tells the story of Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. Apart from portraying the major political events that occurred in her 45-year-long reign, the two parts also explore her relationship with the Earl of Leicester, as well as her relationship with the Earl of Essex.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Mirren was a force to be reckoned with as a ferocious, powerful, and sentimental monarch standing tall and undeterred as the country underwent momentous change. Her phenomenal monologues were the heart of the limited series. From the costumes to the set pieces, the stirring personal drama to the meticulous perspectives, every aspect of the show has the ability to absorb you. Additionally, Elizabeth I also features political intrigue, where the shifting alliances and intimate relationships were tested by time.

28 The Outsider (2020)

The Outsider (2020)

Release Date

January 12, 2020

Cast

Ben Mendelsohn , Bill Camp , Mare Winningham , Paddy Considine , Julianne Nicholson , Yul Vazquez , Jeremy Bobb

Main Genre

Miniseries

Stephen King’s works have long been a source for the most thrilling tales. Continuing the same trend, Richard Price adapts King’s 2018 novel of the same name and tells the story of Terry Maitland, a Little League baseball coach and suburban parent who is accused of committing the murder of a student. Detective Ralph Anderson, a recovering alcoholic, is assigned to get to the bottom of this, and when Terry’s alibi looks unbelievable, more details surrounding the murder come to the surface.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

A slow-burn mystery that keeps viewers deeply invested with every passing minute, The Outsider is a must-watch for fans of murder mysteries. Standout performances from Jason Bateman, Ben Mendelsohn, and Bill Camp infuse the disturbing truth with the kind of humanity that makes every conflict and revelation more believable. The series also effortlessly shifts between elements of supernatural horror and procedural intrigue, which is an impressive nod to the source material.

27 We Are Who We Are (2020)

Directed by Luca Guadagnino for HBO, We Are Who We Are is a coming-of-age story about two 14-year-old American teenagers who live with their families on a military base in Italy. Fraser Wilson and Caitlin Poythress experience life outside the lenses of normal teenagehood, which is why their notions of friendship, love, and identity evolve at a different pace. However, the story depicts all the little struggles and mysteries of adolescence in an oddly relatable way.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Framed against the backdrop of an isolated military housing complex, We Are Who We Are is a sensitive and emotional story of self-discovery. The characters, played by Jack Dylan Grazer and Jordan Kristine Seamón feel wholly human and graceful. The subtlety in their performances matches the atmosphere of the narrative and resonates universally. The series is also lauded for its direction and portrayal of culture. In other words, through the stories of its young protagonists, “Luca Guadagnino creates small-screen poetry.”

26 The Regime (2024)

The Regime

4/5

Release Date

March 3, 2024

Cast

Kate Winslet , Andrea Riseborough , Hugh Grant , Martha Plimpton , Matthias Schoenaerts

Main Genre

Drama

Read Our Review

After showcasing his creativity in acclaimed shows like Veep and Succession, Frank Rich backs another political satire that takes place within a palace operating under a faulty authoritarian regime. Chancellor Elena Vernham, who often relies on and confides in an unstable and volatile soldier named Herbert Zubak, becomes more and more paranoid by the day. As people begin to point fingers at her and Elena’s obsession with Herbert grows, the palace around her begins to crumble.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Kate Winslet appears in a brand new authoritative light in The Regime, reigning supreme as an outstanding leading lady whose steady command and ability to demand sympathy leaves an indelible mark on the viewer. Her chemistry with Matthias Schoenaerts is understated at best. Actors like Hugh Grant and Pippa Haywood make superb guest appearances. With hints of a particular brand of humor and heavy satire, this political miniseries builds a pace that leads you to a nail-biting and satisfying finale.

25 Band of Brothers (2001)

Band of Brothers

Release Date

September 9, 2001

Cast

Damian Lewis , Donnie Wahlberg , Eion Bailey , Ron Livingston , Matthew Settle , Michael Cudlitz , Neal McDonough , Scott Grimes

Main Genre

Action

This Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks production is a classic on Max. Band of Brothers followed the WWII stories of the Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, from their training back in the United States until the end of the war. The story was gathered from interviews with former members. Attention to detail was of the utmost importance in this story.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

The all-star ensemble cast also featured Kirk Acevedo, Michael Cudlitz, Dale Dye, Rick Gomez, Scott Grimes, Frank John Hughes, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Neal McDonough, and David Schwimmer. This series brought cinematic value to television back in 2001, when the TV format was just on the verge of yet another explosive growth. For those wanting a look back at the days of HBO yore, this would be the first place to start.

24 The Pacific (2010)

The Pacific

Drama

War

Release Date

March 14, 2010

Cast

James Badge Dale , Jon Seda , Joseph Mazzello , Ashton Holmes , Jacob Pitts , Rami Malek , William Sadler , Jon Bernthal

Seasons

1

The Pacific is a war drama mini-series produced by HBO and DreamWorks Studios. It's a companion piece to Band of Brothers. The story recounts the Pacific Theater of Operations events based on the novels With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by Eugene Sledge and Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie. Most of the screenplays for the show are written by Bruce C. McKenna and Robert Schenkkan, with multiple directors across the ten episodes. The Pacific features the talents of Rami Malek, James Badge Dale, Jon Seda, and Joseph Mazzello, among many others.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Like Band of Brothers, The Pacific has a linear narrative of the conflict fought between 1941 and 1945. We follow three distinct surrogates and their views of the conflict. We get to see the lives of many of these soldiers and their deaths as well. The series also offers some insight into crucial events during the conflict, such as the battle for Iwo Jima, the impact of the Atomic bombs, and the Japanese surrender. The show had a large budget of nearly $200 million, and it shows in every aspect of its production values.

23 Station Eleven (2021)

Station Eleven

TV-MA

Adventure

Drama

Fantasy

Release Date

December 16, 2021

Cast

Mackenzie Davis , Himesh Patel , Matilda Lawler , David Wilmot

Station Eleven is a show that struck a nerve with audiences as its premise was closely tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. The dystopian drama is based on a novel of the same name written by Emily St. John Mandel. Most of the show was written by Patrick Somerville, who also worked as a showrunner. The excellent casting features talents such as Mackenzie Davis, Gale Garcia Bernal, Himesh Patel, and Matilda Lawler. The story is focused on a group of people making a living as entertainers after the fall of civilization when they suddenly find themselves at odds with a dangerous cult.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Station Eleven is a series that keeps everything quick and simple. At the same time, the show feels like a slow burn as the mystery about the cult unravels. The ten episodes are more than enough to allow audiences to soak in all nuances related to the story. The story has some heavy sci-fi undertones thanks to the exploration of multiple timelines, the events that led to the pandemic, and how it wiped out most of humanity. The story tracks the advance of humanity as some people try to rebuild what's been lost while others try to make things happen in different ways to avoid past mistakes.

22 Telemarketers (2023)

Telemarketers is a docuseries directed and produced by Adam Bhala Lough and Sam Lipman-Stern that tells the dark story behind an enormous scandal related to telemarketing centers in the USA. Although the show doesn't expand to other venues, the story focuses on the scam run by the Civic Development Group. This organization ran a fundraiser for firefighters and police charities but kept the money to themselves.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Telemarketers is not the first documentary to open the lid to the large can of worms represented by the telemarketing industry in the USA. Still, it's one of the most influential and well-documented stances of former employees going against their former bosses. The Civic Development Group is one of the many faceless organizations collecting money from well-meaning people with no intention of helping anyone. Lipman-Stern teamed up with Adam Bhala Lough and compiled enough evidence to cost the organization a fine of $18.8 million, a first in the American justice system.

21 We Own This City (2022)

We Own This City

Drama

Crime

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

April 25, 2022

Cast

Jon Bernthal , Josh Charles , Jamie Hector

Seasons

1

Read Our Review

We Own This City is a peculiar offering that feels like a follow-up to The Wire, one of the most revered shows ever produced for cable television. This crime drama is based on the book of the same name written by Justin Fenton and was developed by George Pelecanos and David Simon, with all episodes directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. The show stars Jon Bernthal, Wunmi Mosaku, and Jamie Hector, who fans of The Wire will recognize as deceased kingpin Marlon Stanfield, now playing the role of a cop.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

The show is based on the actual accounts that led to the downfall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force and all the shady deals surrounding it. The story is focused on Sergeant Wayne Jenkins, one of eight officers convicted of multiple corruption charges. The show has an excellent pace, but its non-linear narrative can be overwhelming if you're not used to paying full attention to your TV set. It's certainly a show that requires your attention, but it's so beautifully crafted we can't help but recommend it.

20 Irma Vep (2022)

Sometimes, a miniseries comes along, and it's so short and well-made we can't but hope we get to see these characters once again in the future. Such is the case with Irma Vep, the show Olivier Assayas created, wrote, and directed. The series is an expanded remake of a 1996 film of the same name starring Alicia Vikander and Vincent Macaigne. The story focuses on Mira, a struggling actress who moves to France to star in a show named Les Vampires, a remake of an old-school silent film serial. Things get blurry for Mira when she suddenly finds herself so immersed in her character she can't tell reality from fiction anymore.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Irma Vep is a deep character exploration filled with meta-commentaries about the entertainment industry. For eight episodes, we see Mira become disillusioned with Hollywood due to her lack of meaningful work and struggles after a bad breakup. Mira gets away from everything, seeking a much-needed change in scenery, only to find herself at the hands of René, a man who thinks himself the sharpest tool in the box when he's actually far from it. Irma Vep is an excellent story exploring the backstage of the entertainment industry and how it affects performers without grand status.

19 The Plot Against America (2020)

Charles Lindbergh: brilliant aviator, national hero... and Nazi sympathizer? Based on Phillip Roth's story of the same name, Max's The Plot Against America tells a tale of an alternate history in which Lindbergh's bid at the 1940 presidential election was successful. The story unfolds through the eyes of a Jewish family living in New Jersey.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

A terrific cast, including John Turturro and Winona Ryder, carries this series. Under the direction of both David Simon and Ed Burns (who also collaborated on Generation Kill), the series takes the time to outline what might have happened if this well-known xenophobic populist had risen to power instead.

18 White House Plumbers (2023)

White House Plumbers

Release Date

May 1, 2023

Cast

Woody Harrelson , Justin Theroux , Lena Headey , Kim Coates , Toby Huss

Main Genre

Biography

Read Our Review

Co-starring Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux, this series follows the criminal exploits of former president Richard Nixon's political entourage. Before the Watergate scandal would bring everything crashing down, E. Howard Hunt (Harrelson) and G. Gordon Liddy (Theroux) were tasked with plugging the various "leaks" in Nixon's presidency... hence their moniker being the "White House Plumbers."

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

The cast only serves to be further rounded out by the incomparable Kathleen Turner, Domhnall Gleeson, Kiernan Shipka, and Lena Headey. Political drama is on everyone's minds nowadays, so there's no better time than the present to check out Max's White House Plumbers.

17 Generation Kill (2008)

Generation Kill

Release Date

July 13, 2008

Cast

Alexander Skarsgard , James Ransone , Lee Tergesen , Jon Huertas , Stark Sands , Owain Yeoman , Billy Lush , Chance Kelly

Main Genre

Drama

Based on the titular book by Evan Wright, Generation Kill chronicles Wright's experiences as a Rolling Stone reporter during the first phase of the Iraq War. Set during the initial invasion between March and April 2003, the series paints a surprisingly human depiction of the Iraq War. ​​One of the actors, Rudy Reyes, who was formerly enlisted, plays himself in the series, and even top-billed Alexander Skarsgård is a former military vet.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Based on real veterans' experiences, the series saw high praise for its realistic production design and its authentic portrayals of military culture at the time. This miniseries never shied away from some of the less glamorous aspects associated with it. While the show was canceled before long, its legacy still lives on in the high Tomatometer ratings and the three Primetime Emmy Awards it garnered during its stay.

16 Full Circle (2023)

A miniseries directed by Steven Soderbergh (Contagion, Ocean's Eleven), Full Circle features an investigation into a kidnapping that doesn't go quite as planned. Throughout six episodes, we follow a cast made up of both established actors and impressive newcomers, including Dennis Quaid, Claire Danes, Timothy Olyphant, and Savitri Mahabir. Together they craft an engrossing mystery that's near impossible to turn away from.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Shot on location in New York City, it carries with it Soderbergh's flair for the cinematic in nearly every frame. Rounding out the A-list of talent, the creator of Full Circle, Ed Solomon, is a masterclass in screenwriting, having previously penned the Bill & Ted series of films in addition to the first Men in Black.

15 McMillions (2020)

McMillions

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

2020-00-00

Main Genre

Documentary

Seasons

1

Whatever happened to the McDonald's Monopoly promotion? As it turns out, the reason it's gone by the wayside is somewhat, shall we say, nefarious. McMillions is a documentary miniseries that unveils one of the most successful fraud schemes of the past few decades. The scam that led to this competition becoming rigged involved subcontracting companies, stolen game pieces, and even the Colombo crime family.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

This bizarrely fascinating story incorporates interviews with the FBI, along with multiple fraudulent winners, and even some facilitators of the fraud itself. Even non-traditional fans of true crime will find this story intriguing in its view of get-rich-quick schemes... or, at the very least, hunger-provoking.

14 Landscapers (2021)

Landscapers is a hidden gem on Max. The story itself is quite simple. It follows a married British couple with too many secrets to hide. Olivia Colman and David Thewlis play Susan and Christopher Edwards, a real-life couple who mysteriously killed and hid the corpses of Susan's parents back in 1998. To the rest of the world, they were seemingly mild-mannered. Needless to say, this news came as quite a shock.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

While utilizing a dramedy style of story-telling was risky, the risk paid off when it came to telling this story. While not as well viewed as other big-name titles, this series was released back in 2021. It takes a story ripped from the headlines, telling it in a captivating way that makes it a must-watch limited series.

13 I May Destroy You (2020)

I May Destroy You is all about a London-based writer trying to deal with the effects of being a victim of sexual assault. The aftermath has her reassessing everything in her life, from her friends and her family, to even her career. One little pill has changed the course of her life forever.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Michaela Coel is a multi-hyphenate tour de force in Max's I May Destroy You. She writes, directs, executive-produces, and stars in this timely limited series. This enticing comedy-drama is not for the faint of heart. Coel's mastery of this subject and impressive writing chops make this a series that just can't be missed.

12 Love & Death (2023)

Release Date

April 27, 2023

Cast

Elizabeth Olsen , Jesse Plemons , Patrick Fugit , Olivia Grace Applegate , Krysten Ritter , Lily Rabe

Main Genre

Biography

David E. Kelley's Love & Death tells the true-crime story of Candy Montgomery. Her crime spree takes after she becomes entangled in a devious relationship with a man whose wife she ends up hacking to pieces. Elizabeth Olsen is striking in her portrayal of Montgomery.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Not to be confused with Candy, another limited series released on Hulu just a short year earlier featuring Jessica Biel as Candy, this version of the story is steeped in all the stylized drama that Max has to offer. A story that can be told in a lot of different ways, this version focuses more on the shock of a horrific murder in suburban America.

11 Angels in America (2003)

Angels in America

Release Date

December 7, 2003

Cast

Al Pacino , Meryl Streep , Mary-Louise Parker , Jeffrey Wright , Emma Thompson , Patrick Wilson , Justin Kirk , Ben Shenkman

Main Genre

Drama

Based on Tony Kushner's 1991 play of the same name, Angels in America is an impressive limited series that perfectly depicts the social circ*mstances of the mid-80s, from the questionable politics of conservatives to the demonization of AIDS. The plot intersects the lives of six different New Yorkers during this time. Directed by Mike Nichols, this series features a powerhouse cast, to say the least.

Why Is It a Great Miniseries?

Credits go out to the likes of Al Pacino, Patrick Wilson, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson, and Meryl Streep, among others. Streep stars in one of her most underrated performances. Three short years later, the series broke the record for most Emmy nominations for a limited series, a trend that has seen a resurgence as of late. In the end, it walked away with 11 wins out of 21 nominations.