The Best Miniseries, TV Movies, and Specials of 2018

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 29, 2018

Above are the 20 highest-scoring special TV programs—including "limited" series, made-for-TV-movies, and one-off specials—debuting in the United States between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. 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. (Looking for the best regular TV series of 2018? Those are ranked in a separate list.)

Note that Netflix original films (such as Roma and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs) generally open in at least a few theaters prior to (or in conjunction with) their streaming debuts, and are excluded here. (They will be eligible for our Best Movies of 2018 list instead.)

6 of 21 photo by Starz

86 #6: Howards End

Previously adapted into a widely acclaimed 1992 movie by the Merchant-Ivory team, E.M. Forster's novel worked just as well (if not better) on the small screen in this four-part Starz series written by Manchester by the Sea's Kenneth Lonergan and directed by Hettie Macdonald (Fortitude, Doctor Who). Hayley Atwell and Philippa Coulthard head the cast as sisters in early 20th century England, and they're joined by Matthew Macfadyen, Julia Ormond, Tracey Ullman, and Joseph Quinn.

“It turns out that there are now two extraordinary adaptations of Howards End in the world, each remarkable and distinct. The Starz production makes excellent use of the extra time that TV affords to add extra layers of detail--to the characterizations, to the relationships, to the dialogue, and to the larger social themes, which remain so relevant.” —Matthew Gilbert, Boston Globe

Where To Buy