Rufus-T favorite Mini-Series as of Feb 28, 2020
by Rufus-T | created - 29 Feb 2020 | updated - 01 Mar 2020 | Public- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Baseball (1994–2010)
1,140 min | Documentary, History, Sport
A documentary on the history of the sport with major topics including Afro-American players, player/team owner relations and the resilience of the game.
Stars: Daniel Okrent, George F. Will, John Chancellor, Doris Kearns Goodwin
Votes: 4,108
2. Cosmos (1980)
780 min | Documentary
Astronomer Carl Sagan leads us on an engaging guided tour of the various elements and cosmological theories of the universe.
Stars: Carl Sagan, Jaromír Hanzlík, Jonathan Fahn, Jean Charney
Votes: 39,188
3. I, Claudius (1976)
669 min | Biography, Drama, History
The history of the Roman Empire as experienced by one of its rulers.
Stars: Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, Siân Phillips, Brian Blessed
Votes: 16,777
4. New York: A Documentary Film (1999– )
600 min | Documentary, History
Exploration of New York City's rich history as a complex and dynamic city that has played an unparalleled role in shaping the nation and reflecting its ideals.
Stars: David Ogden Stiers, Kenneth Jackson, Mike Wallace, Mike Wallace
Votes: 963
5. The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011)
60 min | Documentary, History
A comprehensive history of the medium and art of motion pictures.
Stars: Mark Cousins, Juan Diego Botto, Aleksandr Sokurov, Norman Lloyd
Votes: 4,324
6. The Vietnam War (2017)
990 min | Documentary, History, War
A comprehensive history of the United States' involvement in the bitterly divisive armed conflict in Southeast Asia.
Stars: Peter Coyote, Huy Duc, James Willbanks, Duong Van Mai Elliott
Votes: 22,709
7. Band of Brothers (2001)
R | 594 min | Drama, History, War
The story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.
Stars: Scott Grimes, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Shane Taylor
Votes: 407,911
8. Roots (1977)
PG | 588 min | Biography, Drama, History
A dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation.
Stars: LeVar Burton, Robert Reed, John Amos, Louis Gossett Jr.
Votes: 17,000
9. The Godfather: A Novel for Television (1977)
434 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974) were re-edited together in chronological order with additional footage added.
Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan
Votes: 5,253
10. The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009)
120 min | Documentary, History
The history of the U.S. National Parks system, including the initial ideas which led to the world's first national parks and the expansion of the system over 150 years.
Stars: Peter Coyote, William Cronon, Dayton Duncan, Shelton Johnson
Votes: 1,727
11. A History of Britain (2000–2002)
60 min | Documentary, History
A comprehensive historical survey of the British Isles.
Stars: Simon Schama, Michael Kitchen, Samuel West, Lindsay Duncan
Votes: 829
12. O.J.: Made in America (2016)
467 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A chronicle of the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, whose high-profile murder trial exposed the extent of American racial tensions, revealing a fractured and divided nation.
Director: Ezra Edelman | Stars: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mike Albanese, Muhammad Ali, Marcus Allen
Votes: 18,980
13. Holocaust (1978)
14A | 475 min | Drama, History, Romance
The saga of a Jewish family's struggle to survive the horror of Nazi Germany's systematic marginalization and extermination of their community.
Stars: Joseph Bottoms, Tovah Feldshuh, Rosemary Harris, Tony Haygarth
Votes: 4,839
14. Shogun (1980)
547 min | Adventure, Drama, History
An English navigator becomes both a player and pawn in the complex political games in feudal Japan.
Stars: Richard Chamberlain, Toshirô Mifune, Yôko Shimada, Furankî Sakai
Votes: 12,246
15. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (2014)
795 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A documentary that weaves together the stories of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of one of the most prominent and influential families in American politics.
Stars: Peter Coyote, George F. Will, Geoffrey C. Ward, Doris Kearns Goodwin
Votes: 2,321
16. The Martian Chronicles (1980)
360 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
In the 21st century, Earth begins the colonization of Mars. However, things do not go as planned, at first due to the hostile Martian natives and later because of the self-destructive Earthmen.
Stars: Rock Hudson, Gayle Hunnicutt, Bernie Casey, Christopher Connelly
Votes: 2,226
17. The Civil War (1990)
680 min | Documentary, History, War
A comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.
Stars: David McCullough, Sam Waterston, Julie Harris, Jason Robards
Votes: 15,301
18. Becoming American: The Chinese Experience (2003– )
Documentary
An epic history of Chinese immigration to the United States.
Star: Bill Moyers
Votes: 24
19. The Beatles Anthology (1995–1996)
600 min | Documentary, Music
An autobiographical documentary of the greatest of the rock bands.
Stars: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, George Martin
Votes: 8,801
20. Dekalog (1989–1990)
572 min | Drama
Ten television drama films, each one based on one of the Ten Commandments.
Stars: Artur Barcis, Olgierd Lukaszewicz, Olaf Lubaszenko, Aleksander Bardini
Votes: 23,998 | Gross: $0.10M
21. The Drug Years (2006– )
Documentary
A look at the rise of illicit drug use and its cultural influence in the second half of the last century.
Stars: Anthony DeCurtis, Martin Torgoff, John Leland, Corey Feldman
Votes: 330
22. The Dust Bowl (2012– )
229 min | Documentary, History
A documentary about the 1930s drought of North American prairie farm land, and its consequences during the great depression.
Stars: Dorothy Williamson, Donald Worster, Timothy Egan, Calvin Crabill
Votes: 1,785
23. Prohibition (2011)
360 min | Documentary, History
The story of the American activist struggle against the influence of alcohol, climaxing in the failed early 20th century nationwide era when it was banned.
Stars: Peter Coyote, Pete Hamill, Catherine Gilbert Murdock, Michael Lerner
Votes: 3,067
24. Jazz (2001)
114 min | Documentary, History, Music
A survey of the musical form's history and major talents.
Stars: Keith David, Wynton Marsalis, Gary Giddins, Kevin Conway
Votes: 2,199
25. A Decade Under the Influence (2003)
R | 138 min | Documentary
A documentary examining the decade of the 1970s as a turning point in American cinema. Some of today's best filmmakers interview the influential directors of that time.
Directors: Ted Demme, Richard LaGravenese | Stars: Francis Ford Coppola, William Friedkin, Robert Altman, John G. Avildsen
Votes: 2,687 | Gross: $0.03M
26. The American Revolution (1994)
50 min | Documentary, History, War
Thorough documentary of how the American Colonies rebelled against England and the personalities involved in the creation of a new nation.
Stars: William Daniels, Charles Durning, Kelsey Grammer, Michael Learned
Votes: 95
27. China: A Century of Revolution (1997)
360 min | Documentary
CHINA: A CENTURY OF REVOLUTION is a six-hour tour de force journey through the country's most tumultuous period. First televised on PBS, this award-winning documentary series presents an ... See full summary »
Director: Sue Williams | Stars: Kai-Shek Chiang, Xiaoping Deng, Mao Zedong
Votes: 69
28. Ten Days That Unexpectedly Changed America (2006)
441 min | Documentary, History
Ten acclaimed documentary filmmakers offer a fresh, compelling look at 10 pivotal moments in American history and their often unforeseen repercussions.
Stars: Mark Riccadonna, David Nasaw, Geoffrey Roecker, Michael L. Colosimo
Votes: 43
29.
Century of Cinema (1995–1998)
Episode:
A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
(1995)
225 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Martin Scorsese describes his initial and growing obsession with films from the 1940s and 50s as the art form developed and grew with clips from classics and cult classics.
Directors: Martin Scorsese, Michael Henry Wilson | Stars: Martin Scorsese, Allison Anders, Kathryn Bigelow, Francis Ford Coppola
Votes: 4,864
30. Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth (1988– )
360 min | Documentary
Mythologist Joseph Campbell presents his ideas about comparative mythology and the ongoing role of myth in human society.
Stars: Joseph Campbell, Bill Moyers, George Lucas
Votes: 1,040
31. The Revolution (2006– )
History, War
The history of the United States of America. From colonies under British rule to the inauguration of the first president of the United States of America.
Stars: John W. Hall, Mark Hilliard, Bryan Kennedy, Larry A. Maxwell
Votes: 322
32. The Elegant Universe (2003)
60 min | Documentary
A documentary examining string theory.
Stars: Michael Duff, Michael B. Green, Brian Greene, Walter Lewin
Votes: 2,218
33. The Shining (1997)
13+ | 273 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A recovering alcoholic must wrestle with demons within and without when he and his family move into a haunted hotel as caretakers.
Stars: Rebecca De Mornay, Steven Weber, Wil Horneff, Courtland Mead
Votes: 16,549
34. The Presidents (2005)
45 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A historical compendium of the 42 men who have served as the chief executive of the United States taking us from George Washington to George W. Bush. Each segment discusses the highlights and often lowlights of the men who have served.
Stars: Edward Herrmann, Walter Cronkite, H.W. Brands, Douglas Brinkley
Votes: 287
35. Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001)
180 min | Biography, Drama, War
The life of Anne Frank and her family from 1939 to 1945: pre-war fears, invasion of Netherlands by German troops, hiding in Amsterdam, deportation to the camps, return of Anne's father.
Stars: Ben Kingsley, Hannah Taylor Gordon, Lili Taylor, Brenda Blethyn
Votes: 4,997
36. The Keepers (II) (2017)
436 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
A seven-part docuseries about the unsolved murder of a nun and the horrific secrets and pain that linger nearly five decades after her death.
Stars: Gemma Hoskins, Abbie Schaub, Virginia Anzengruber, Jean Hargadon Wehner
Votes: 20,673
37. East of Eden (1981)
480 min | Drama
Screen adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel which begins in the years after the American Civil War and, through the story of the Trask family, brings to light a struggle and conflict inherent in the human condition.
Stars: Timothy Bottoms, Jane Seymour, Bruce Boxleitner, Soon-Tek Oh
Votes: 748
38. Stephen Hawking's Universe (1997– )
360 min | Documentary
6-part documentary series from arguably the greatest scientific mind in the world, the wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking, which describes all current thinking on the Big Bang, origins of the... See full summary »
Stars: Stephen Hawking, Eugene Babaev, Jeff Rawle, Gregory Benford
Votes: 1,024
39. Liberty! The American Revolution (1997– )
360 min | History, War
Six-hour documentary on the American Revolution, from the passage of the Stamp Act (1765) through the ratification of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights (1789). In addition ... See full summary »
Stars: Jane Adams, Peter Donaldson, Colm Feore, Victor Garber
Votes: 374
40. The Brain with Dr. David Eagleman (2015– )
60 min | Documentary
Six one-hour episodes that tell the story of the inner workings of the brain and take viewers on a visually spectacular journey into why they feel and think the things they do.
Stars: David Eagleman, Sam Raffal, Matthew Graham Wagner, Sharad Kant Patel
Votes: 428
41. Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America (2009– )
55 min | Documentary, Comedy
Stars: Billy Crystal, Amy Sedaris, Leonard Maltin, Robert Klein
Votes: 180
42. Heart of the Dragon (1985)
52 min | Documentary
The overall documentary is made up of 12 episodes starting with "Remembering," which implied that the "Chinese Cultural Revolution" of 1966 - 1972 or so was past, regretted, and disowned. ... See full summary »
Stars: Jim Lehrer, Robert MacNeil, Anthony Quayle
Votes: 17
43. Storm of the Century (1999)
PG-13 | 257 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A dangerous blizzard hits an isolated town and brings along a mysterious stranger intent on terrorizing people for his own desires.
Stars: Becky Ann Baker, Kathleen Chalfant, Adam Zolotin, Adam LeFevre
Votes: 21,002
44. Sybil (1976)
198 min | Biography, Drama
A young woman whose childhood was so harrowing to her that she developed sixteen different personalities is treated by a doctor.
Stars: Joanne Woodward, Sally Field, Brad Davis, Martine Bartlett
Votes: 6,813
45. V (1984–1985)
60 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A year after Liberation Day, courtesy of the red-dust bacteria, the humanoid, lizard-like aliens develop a resistance to the micro-organism and try to regain control of the Earth--only now some humans are knowingly working with them.
Stars: Marc Singer, Faye Grant, Michael Ironside, Jane Badler
Votes: 11,485
46. Firefly (2002–2003)
14A | 44 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Five hundred years in the future, a renegade crew aboard a small spacecraft tries to survive as they travel the unknown parts of the galaxy and evade warring factions as well as authority agents out to get them.
Stars: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin
Votes: 254,336
47. It (1990)
PG | 192 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
In 1960, seven pre-teen outcasts fight an evil demon who poses as a child-killing clown. Thirty years later, they reunite to stop the demon once and for all when it returns to their hometown.
Stars: Richard Thomas, Tim Reid, Annette O'Toole, Harry Anderson
Votes: 122,154
48. Les liaisons dangereuses (2003– )
203 min | Drama, Romance
Updated adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos' classic 18th Century tale of seduction, betrayal and revenge set in the modern 1960s world of Parisian high society. The beautiful Madame de ... See full summary »
Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Rupert Everett, Nastassja Kinski, Danielle Darrieux
Votes: 635
49. Moyers on Addiction: Close to Home (1998)
348 min | Documentary, Drama, History
Star: Bill Moyers
50. The Men Who Killed Kennedy (1988–2003)
Documentary, History
A detailed examination of the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, with emphasis on the discrepancies and inconsistencies in the government's official version of events.
Stars: Hilary Minster, Robert J. Groden, Gary Mack, Cyril H. Wecht
Votes: 576
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