The Best Miniseries, TV Movies, and Specials of 2019

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 27, 2019

Above are the 15 highest-scoring special TV programs—including "limited" series, made-for-TV-movies, and one-off specials—debuting in the United States between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. 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 most Netflix and Amazon original films (such as The Irishman and Marriage Story) 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 2019 list instead.) But any streaming movies that bypass theatrical distribution are eligible here.

(Looking for the best regular TV series of 2019? Those will be ranked in a separate list coming in a few days.)

13 of 16 photo by Courtesy of BBC - Photographer: Laurence Cendrowicz

79 Les Miserables (PBS)

(#13) Airing in the U.S. as part of the PBS series Masterpiece, this six-part, non-musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic historical novel stars Dominic West, David Oyelowo, Lily Collins, and recent Oscar winner Olivia Colman. The BBC-produced adaptation comes from Andrew Davies (Bleak House, the original House of Cards, Mr. Selfridge), and it received positive reviews on both sides of the Atlantic, with West's performance as Jean Valjean singled out as a highlight.

“Les Misérables doesn’t mess with what works, and at six-plus hours, it has the space needed to do justice to its every incident and emotional upheaval. While a few minor elements are condensed or discarded, Davies’ script is true to Hugo’s tome in terms of basic plot particulars and rousing spirit.” —Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

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