The Studio premieres March 26 on Apple TV+.
By Elazar Abrahams
Apple TV+’s The Studio has all the ingredients of a prestige-level Hollywood satire — sharp industry commentary, a stacked cast, and stylish direction — but ultimately falls short of greatness. Created by Seth Rogen and frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg, the show aims high, skewering the chaos of studio executives and the egos that shape the film industry. While it’s often funny and visually striking, its deep-cut insider references, tonal inconsistencies, and relentless humiliation of its protagonist make for a show that’s engaging but not quite as refined as it wants to be.
Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly installed head of a struggling movie studio, trying (and usually failing) to steer the ship without completely self-destructing. The show’s biggest strength is its star-studded cast, with nearly every episode featuring major celebrities playing heightened versions of themselves. From Zac Efron to Martin Scorsese, the cameos are plentiful, but the real MVP is Zoë Kravitz, who gets an extended guest arc that fully embraces the absurdity of what actors get up to behind closed doors.
One of The Studio’s best qualities is its structure. Each of its ten episodes tells a self-contained story, rather than relying on a season-long arc. This allows for some real standouts, like episode two, which hilariously follows a production desperately trying to land the perfect one-take shot before wrapping. Episode six is another highlight, brilliantly contrasting the self-importance of studio execs with professionals in actually valuable jobs: pediatric cancer doctors. That said, the show leans heavily into putting Matt in increasingly embarrassing public situations, to the point where it feels like he might have a humiliation kink. Maybe that’s just me, but these moments were tough to stomach at times.
Visually, The Studio is far more polished than most workplace comedies. The show is beautifully shot, with long tracking shots that give it an almost prestige-drama feel. But here’s the thing: zombie diarrhea jokes don’t exactly fit against a backdrop like that. It’s not tonal whiplash, but it is an unsavory and unusual blend. Some of the humor works, but plenty of it falls flat, struggling to find a rhythm that fully matches the highbrow-meets-lowbrow aesthetic.
In the end, The Studio is a solid, often entertaining look at Hollywood, but it never quite reaches the heights of the industry satires it clearly aspires to be. There are flashes of brilliance, a handful of great episodes, and some truly memorable performances, but as a whole, it doesn’t feel as sharp or essential as it could have been. For those who love the inner workings of the entertainment industry, there’s still plenty to enjoy.
I give The Studio a B.
TV and City 