Looking for A Weekend Netflix Binge? Try These 10 Limited Series

Looking to binge a Netflix series without committing months to get through multiple seasons? Think limited: with Netflix’s library of limited series, you can wrap up a series over just one weekend.

These limited series usually span 5–10 episodes, letting you watch an entire storyline without leaving you on a cliffhanger or anticipating a second season. Here are 10 Netflix Original limited series to save for your next weekend binge-watch.

11

Zero Day

If you’re into fast-paced political thrillers yet don’t have a long runtime, Zero Day is a miniseries you can binge on over one day. Starring Robert De Niro in the lead role, this series tells the story of George Mullen, a former President who has to lead a special commission after a “Zero Day” attack that killed more than 3,000 people. With the threat of another attack repeating itself looming over his head, Mullen, who has this responsibility passed to him by his successor (Angela Bassett), also has to battle criticism and resistance to his actions from the public and media.

Given its star-studded cast and plot, Zero Day achieved a #1 ranking in 43 countries after its release.

10

Echoes

Echoes is a mystery thriller with an eye-catching premise. The story revolves around two identical twin sisters, Leni and Gina, who have swapped lives secretly for years since their childhood, living a double life. Their secret is jeopardized when Leni goes missing from her ranch, with the horses being released and harmed. Since they swap identities so often, the case gets even more twisted when it is revealed that the missing Leni is the real Gina, with the real Leni having the “choice” between two identities and two lives. The story is made interesting by the fact that the twins have polar opposite personalities.

9

Apple Cider Vinegar

Based on the true story of Australian wellness influencer and fraudster Belle Gibson, Apple Cider Vinegar is a psychological rollercoaster with a twisted protagonist/antagonist. Gibson is an influencer who fakes having cancer and competes with her friend Milla, an actual cancer survivor, with both of them using their big platforms to promote alternative medicine as a means to a cure. Gibson also uses her app, “The Whole Pantry,” to embezzle money and publishes a book outlining her fake cancer survival journey, earning her fame, money, and sponsorships.

Apple Cider Vinegar takes the audience through different points in Gibson’s life, stitching together how her scams and lies build up and, eventually, break apart. The series has been praised for its coverage of snake oil influencers who skew public opinion and mislead people about scientific treatments.

8

Unbelievable

Unbelievable is a true-crime miniseries based on the Pulitzer-winning news article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” (as well as the book A False Report, written by the same authors), which was originally based on the Washington and Colorado serial rape cases. This story is about a woman (Marie) who is charged with an unbelievable crime: of reporting her rape. Unbelievable follows Marie’s story as two female detectives try to solve the case and identify the serial rapist responsible for the crime.

Unbelievable has been praised for its portrayal of victims and their stories, instead of sensationalizing the case as purely a true-crime case. The miniseries garnered over 32 million views within a month of its release on Netflix.

7

The Queen’s Gambit

Set in the 1950s-1960s, The Queen’s Gambit is a coming-of-age drama that tells the story of a gifted Beth Harmon, who realizes her hidden talent for chess. However, she has to cross several obstacles while nurturing her talent, including proving her talents in an age of sexism in the chess circuit and battling her dependency on drugs and alcohol.

Based on the 1983 novel of the same name (which refers to an opening move in chess) by Walter Tevis, The Queen’s Gambit is one of Netflix’s most popular shows to date, garnering over 60 million views within a month of its release.

One of Netflix’s best limited series, this show won 11 Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes, with lead actress Anya Taylor-Joy also winning a Screen Actors Guild award.

6

Bodies

Bodies is a mind-bending sci-fi mystery thriller that unfolds uniquely. Set in four different points of time (1890, 1941, 2023, 2053) in London, the series features four detectives solving the same murder when a body turns up at the same location. A mysterious symbol marks the body in each period. Bodies is an indulgent watch, with elements such as time loops, time travel, and the butterfly effect drawing you in within the interesting framing of the plot itself. This series is based on the comic book series of the same name, penned by Si Spencer.

5

One Day

Based on the 2009 novel of the same name (and a 2011 film adaptation), One Day is a romantic limited series that tells the love story of Emma and Dexter. After they meet on the night of their graduation, they must unfortunately go their separate ways the next day. The series follows their story over a 14-year relationship, with their ups and downs being intertwined with their own paths.

The show garnered nearly 10 million views within the week of its release, fetching an 8.1 rating on IMDb. One Day is a perfect combination of tooth-rotting sweet romance and heart-breaking tragedy, and has received critical acclaim for the way it has adapted the source material.

4

Behind Her Eyes

Behind Her Eyes is a supernatural psychological thriller based on a 2017 novel of the same name. The series revolves around the twisted love triangle and affair between a single mother, her boss, and his wife. The story soon takes a dark turn when the mother (Louise) and the wife (Adele) befriend each other, with their strange friendship turning stranger once they start bonding through lucid dreaming.

Behind Her Eyes is a good retelling of the book, with a plot twist that subverts all expectations that you might have about the plot and characters. It has one of those endings that you might absolutely love or utterly despise, but it proves to be a gripping story that is worth a watch if you love psychological dramas.

3

When They See Us

Based on the real events of the 1989 Central Park Five case, When They See Us is a four-part miniseries that sketches the events of a wrongful conviction involving five juvenile males of color. After a white female jogger is attacked and sexually assaulted in Central Park, the suspects are tried in court, and, despite being innocent, are sentenced to maximum terms. In the real-life case, the group was exonerated years later, when the real attacker was confirmed, after which they were able to sue the city for a wrongful conviction and win a settlement.

When They See Us received critical acclaim and overwhelming positive reviews from critics, winning 11 awards, including a Primetime Emmy. It has been praised for its focus on the individual stories of the boys and their families, instead of just the case.

2

Clickbait

Clickbait is a mystery thriller miniseries focusing on the dark parts of social media and consequent catfishing. The story kicks off with the kidnapping of Nick Brewer, which is revealed when video footage of him holding a sign saying “I abuse women,” followed by a sign saying he would die once the video reaches 5 million views is released. Nick’s family, with the help of the police, have to find Nick in a race against the clock, while facing harassment from the public and scoop-thirsty paparazzi.

Clickbait is a story full of twists and turns, with suspects popping up regularly throughout the series. Each episode also focuses on a specific character and gives their perspective on things. Upon its release, this series was the most-viewed series in the US for September 2021.

1

Honorable Mention: Beef

Although it is technically not a limited series (anymore), given Netflix’s announcement for a second, standalone season, Beef is one of the best could-have-been limited series on Netflix. Unlike most of the drama/crime recommendations on this list, Beef is a black comedy praised for its excellent writing and acting. This series outlines the domino effect caused by the co-protagonists (Steven Yeun and Ali Wong) getting involved in a road rage incident, and how their lives intertwine thereafter, leading to “beef” between them. The entire season showcases this prolonged grudge they hold against each other, and what extremes they go to one-up the other.

Beef bagged eight Emmy Awards and three Golden Globes, winning Best Limited or Anthology Series in both shows. A second season is in the works, featuring a new cast and a standalone story.

Limited series are a good way to finish a story arc and skip the hassle of cliffhangers, weekly episode releases, and a long break between seasons. You can type the Netflix code 4814 in your search bar to filter out Netflix’s limited series, and add them to your watchlist.