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.)

3 of 16 photo by Fisher Family Archives/courtesy of HBO

85 Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (HBO)

(#3) Debuting on HBO last January less than a month after the shocking back-to-back deaths of its two subjects, this documentary (directed by Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens) blends archival footage with material shot specifically for this film in 2015 to examine the professional and personal lives of the mother and daughter actresses.

“Part-Grey Gardens, part-Baby Jane without the malice, Bright Lights is endlessly charming and sometimes deeply moving.” —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic

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