As one of the biggest and best streaming services around, Netflix is home to loads of great TV dramas, but if you want your next binge session with a side of real-deal history, then it's a historical drama you're after, the kind of watch that combines tried-and-true fact with some tension-building artistic license.
And one of the best ways to get your historical drama fix is via a miniseries, which allows you to be immersed in a setting and era across several episodes, letting the story have plenty of time and room to breathe. Fortunately, Netflix has a historical limited series for seemingly every kind of viewer, whether you're into learning about the origins of sports, old-school crimes, or most shocking of all, presidential assassinations.
Show title |
Vibe |
Runtime |
Why It's a Must-Watch |
"Alias Grace" |
True crime mystery |
4.5 hours |
A 99% RT rated Margaret Atwood masterpiece |
"Death by Lightning" |
Political thriller |
3.5 hours |
Matthew Macfadyen's best role since "Succession" |
"The English Game" |
Sports drama |
4.7 hours |
Julian Fellowes' gritty look at soccer's birth |
With just a handful of episodes each, these Netflix historical drama miniseries are easily watchable over the course of a single weekend. Here are three that you should check out next.
'Death by Lightning'
The vibe: A "masterclass in slimy desperation" and an AFI Program of the Year.
The story: Directed by Matt Ross ("Captain Fantastic") and written by Mike Makowsky ("Bad Education"), this four-part psychological drama stars Michael Shannon as President James Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau — the man who would assassinate him just three months into his term.
The expert verdict: Critics on Rotten Tomatoes praise the series for being "handsomely mounted and electrified" by Macfadyen’s performance, concisely dramatizing a fork in history while "wistfully hinting at what could’ve been."
Watch "Death by Lightning" on Netflix now
'Alias Grace'
The vibe: A "hypnotic" true-crime mystery with a stellar 99% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The story: Inspired by the notorious 1843 murders of Canadian farmer Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery, this Margaret Atwood adaptation follows Grace Marks (Sarah Gadon), a teenage immigrant accused of murdering her employer and a fellow maid (Anna Paquin).
The expert verdict: Critics at Rotten Tomatoes laud the Sarah Polley-penned program for its "biting social commentary" and Gadon’s standout performance, calling the six-episode miniseries a "worthy addition to the Atwood catalog."
Watch "Alias Grace" on Netflix now
'The English Game'
The vibe: A class-clashing sports drama from "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellow that's compelling even for the athletically uninclined (guilty!).
The story: This six-part drama tracks the 19th-century origins of modern football (soccer) and how the sport transitioned from an upper-class hobby to a global institution. Fergus Suter (Kevin Guthrie) becomes the first recognized pro footballer and challenges the elite reputation of the game with his revolutionary skills.
The expert verdict: While the miniseries wasn't well-received by critics, it won over viewers, landing a 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. One raved about the "great characters and fun plot."
Watch "The English Game" on Netflix now
