The Best Miniseries, TV Movies, and Specials of 2017

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 26, 2017

Above are the highest-scoring special TV programs—including "limited" series, made-for-TV-movies, and one-off specials—debuting in the United States between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017. Titles are ranked by Metascore (an average of grades from top professional critics on a 0-100 scale) prior to rounding, and any programs with fewer than 7 reviews are excluded. (Note that regular TV series will be ranked in a separate list coming later this week.)

12 of 16 photo by Agatha Christie Productions

79 Agatha Christie’s The Witness for the Prosecution (Acorn TV)

(#12) Acorn TV is probably the best streaming service you've never heard of, specializing in bringing PBS-worthy foreign productions (mostly from the UK) to American audiences. Set in 1920s London, this BBC-produced miniseries based on Christie's original short story (rather than her later theatrical adaptation) stars Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, and Kim Cattrall.

“[A] splendidly written work whose surprise ending is the kind worth waiting for.” —Dorothy Rabinowitz, The Wall Street Journal

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