15 Hidden Gem Mini-Series Under Six Hours

Short limited series are perfect when you want a complete story without a long time commitment. Every pick here runs under six hours in total, so you can finish one in a single weekend or spread it across a few nights without losing the thread.

You will find a mix of true crime, historical drama, literary adaptations, and thrillers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond. For each one you will see the episode count and a clear overview of what it covers so you can match the story to the time you have.

‘Unorthodox’ (2020)

This four part series adapts Deborah Feldman’s memoir and follows a young woman who leaves an ultra Orthodox Jewish community in New York and starts over in Berlin. It features dialogue in Yiddish and English and was produced by German studio Studio Babelsberg along with Netflix. The lead role is played by Shira Haas and the creative team includes writer Anna Winger.

The running time is about 208 minutes across four episodes, which keeps the story focused on one arc from departure to new beginnings. The production filmed on location in Berlin and used consultants to ensure religious details and customs were portrayed with accuracy.

‘Patrick Melrose’ (2018)

This five episode limited series adapts Edward St Aubyn’s novels in a chronological run from childhood to adulthood. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch with supporting roles for Jennifer Jason Leigh and Hugo Weaving. Each episode covers a different period of the character’s life and was produced by Showtime and Sky.

The total runtime lands near five hours, which makes it possible to watch in one long sitting or split across a week. The production design recreates multiple decades and locations, including New York and the south of France, and the scripts keep the focus on family history, addiction, and recovery.

‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)

This three episode series dramatizes the 1970s Jeremy Thorpe affair involving a British Member of Parliament and a criminal trial that followed. It stars Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw and is based on the nonfiction book by John Preston. The director is Stephen Frears and the writer is Russell T Davies.

The show runs for about 168 minutes across three parts and was produced for the BBC and Amazon Prime Video. It uses period locations across England and includes courtroom sequences that follow the documented legal proceedings from the time.

‘National Treasure’ (2016)

This four part drama follows a veteran comedian who faces historic allegations while his family and colleagues respond to the investigation. It was written by Jack Thorne and stars Robbie Coltrane with Julie Walters and Andrea Riseborough in key roles. The production aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.

Across roughly 188 minutes the series tracks the police inquiry, media coverage, and legal steps through interviews and court appearances. It draws on the climate of real world investigations into British entertainment figures while presenting a self contained fictional case.

‘Thirteen’ (2016)

This five episode series centers on a woman who returns after thirteen years missing and tries to reconnect with family and friends. It stars Jodie Comer and was created by Marnie Dickens for BBC Three with episodes also shown on BBC Two. The story begins with the character escaping captivity and reporting to the police.

The total runtime is around 300 minutes, which allows time for the police investigation, media interest, and the family’s adjustment to unfold. Filmed in Bristol, the production uses both police procedural elements and personal flashbacks to develop the case timeline.

‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)

This six episode adaptation of the John le Carre novel follows an aspiring actor who becomes involved in an undercover operation in Europe and the Middle East. It stars Florence Pugh, Michael Shannon, and Alexander Skarsgard and was directed by Park Chan Wook. The series was produced by the BBC and AMC.

With a total of about 336 minutes, the story moves through training sequences, surveillance work, and staged performances that support the mission. Filming took place in locations including Prague, Greece, and the United Kingdom to match the international scope of the plot.

‘And Then There Were None’ (2015)

This three part adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel brings ten strangers to a remote island where a series of deaths follow a recorded accusation. The cast includes Aidan Turner, Charles Dance, and Maeve Dermody, and the series was produced by Mammoth Screen for the BBC. The setting is a 1930s coastal mansion with period detail throughout.

Running about 180 minutes, the production follows the order of the novel with careful attention to the sequence of events and clues. The limited length lets viewers track each character’s background while the script uses the original nursery rhyme structure to mark the countdown.

‘Olive Kitteridge’ (2014)

This four episode HBO adaptation of Elizabeth Strout’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel stars Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins. The series was directed by Lisa Cholodenko and written by Jane Anderson and covers multiple years in a small coastal town in Maine. The episodes focus on family relationships and the passage of time.

At roughly 240 minutes in total, the series presents a complete multi decade portrait within a concise runtime. The production was filmed in Massachusetts to stand in for the Maine setting and it received multiple Emmy Awards for performances and overall series.

‘The Lost Room’ (2006)

This three part series from the Sci Fi Channel follows a detective who discovers a motel room and everyday objects that have unusual properties. Peter Krause leads the cast with Elle Fanning and Julianna Margulies in supporting roles. The story begins with the key to Room 10 and expands to a network of collectors and rival groups.

Across about 270 minutes the narrative lays out rules for the objects and uses a case structure that ties into a family disappearance. The limited format gives a clear endpoint while leaving enough space to explain how the items interact and why the room matters.

‘The English’ (2022)

This six episode western drama stars Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer and was created by Hugo Blick. The story follows an Englishwoman who travels across the American plains in the 1890s and crosses paths with a former cavalry scout. The series was produced by the BBC and Amazon Studios.

The total runtime is close to 300 minutes, with episodes that move through towns, ranches, and open country. Production took place in Spain and the United Kingdom using wide landscape photography and period costumes to depict the late nineteenth century frontier.

‘The North Water’ (2021)

This five episode series adapts Ian McGuire’s novel and follows a nineteenth century whaling expedition in the Arctic. It stars Jack O Connell and Colin Farrell and was produced by the BBC and AMC. The narrative focuses on the crew of the ship Volunteer and the surgeon who signs on for the voyage.

With a total runtime near 300 minutes, the series shows the journey from port to the ice pack and back, including shipboard routines and hunting practices of the era. Production filmed scenes in Arctic waters above the Svalbard archipelago, which provided real polar conditions for the sailing sequences.

‘Scenes from a Marriage’ (2021)

This five episode HBO limited series reimagines Ingmar Bergman’s 1973 drama for a modern setting. It stars Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac as partners whose relationship is examined over several years. The episodes present conversations at home, at work, and during key life events.

The runtime is about 255 minutes, which allows each episode to cover one phase of the relationship. Filming took place in New York and the production uses long takes and interior sets to keep the focus on dialogue and character choices.

‘A Confession’ (2019)

This six episode true crime series from ITV follows Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher and the investigation into the disappearance of Sian O Callaghan in Swindon. It stars Martin Freeman and Imelda Staunton and was written by Jeff Pope. The story covers the police search and the legal consequences that followed.

At around 270 minutes in total, the show traces exact dates, interview procedures, and decisions that affected later court rulings. The production uses real locations in Wiltshire and includes reenactments of press conferences and search efforts documented at the time.

‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’ (2021)

This three part ITV series dramatizes the cold case inquiry that linked a Welsh burglar to unsolved murders from the 1980s. Luke Evans plays Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins and Keith Allen appears as John Cooper. The series covers the review of archived evidence and the use of modern forensic techniques.

With a runtime of about 141 minutes, the production moves through the reopening of the case, the gathering of new statements, and the trial that followed. It was filmed in southwest Wales and uses period photos and television footage to connect the original crimes to later breakthroughs.

‘Quiz’ (2020)

This three episode series tells the story of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire coughing trial in the United Kingdom. Matthew Macfadyen plays Charles Ingram with Sian Clifford as Diana Ingram and Michael Sheen as host Chris Tarrant. It is based on James Graham’s stage play and his earlier research.

The total runtime is approximately 168 minutes, which covers the development of the game show strategy, the studio taping, and the subsequent legal case. The production recreates the original studio set and intercuts courtroom scenes with the full money ladder format that viewers will recognize.

Share your favorite short limited series under six hours in the comments and let everyone know which one they should queue up next.