The Studio was a TV show I grew progressively more excited for. With all the marketing leading up to its release—whether it was a fantastic new trailer, incredible posters, or an announcement of the guest stars set to appear—it looked like it was shaping up to be something special. And I am delighted to say that it is!
The Studio follows Matt Remick, a newly appointed studio head caught between artistic ambition, commercial success, and his own ego. Seth Rogen is superb in this role, delivering what may be the best performance of his career. His range here is unlike anything I’ve seen from him before. As well as constantly making you laugh, he makes you hate him at times, feel empathy for him, and, in the end, you can’t help but love him and root for him every step of the way. He brings real depth to a character that could have easily just felt like Seth Rogen playing himself again.
This show absolutely wouldn’t work without such a strong supporting cast either. Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Bryan Cranston, and Chase Sui Wonders are all terrific, each bringing something unique to the table and all getting their own moments to shine. Chase Sui Wonders, in particular, really impressed me and stole the show at times. However, for me, the standout was Ike Barinholtz. I’ve seen him in a few things before, and if I’m being completely honest, I’ve never been hugely impressed. That said, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in a role he could really sink his teeth into, so I’m glad he got that chance as Sal Saperstein.
Sal was undoubtedly the funniest character in the show, delivering the most laughs for me. He also has my favourite bit in the entire season in episode 8—It had me crying with laughter. Sal is deeply flawed, holds outdated and traditional views, and struggles to adapt to modern Hollywood. But at the same time, he’s incredibly authentic, and his loyalty is never in doubt. Barinholtz captures all of this wonderfully, adding nuance to what could have been a pretty generic character.
Speaking of performances, I have to mention the guest stars. The Studio utilises them perfectly, with most playing themselves, which enhances the show’s realism and makes its world feel truly authentic. There are so many amazing guests in this show, so I won’t go through them all, but I do want to highlight some of my favourites. Adam Scott, Sarah Polley, Greta Lee, Ron Howard, Dave Franco, and Zac Efron are just a fraction of the standout guest stars. However, my two favourites were Martin Scorsese and Zoë Kravitz. Scorsese is one of my favourite filmmakers—who knew he was such a great actor too? As arguably the most prestigious filmmaker on the planet, his storyline delivered a lot of laughs and set the tone perfectly for what was to come in the rest of the season. At the other end of the season, Zoë Kravitz was incredible. She has a surprisingly large amount of screen time across multiple episodes and is fully committed to the role. I think she has a strong shot at winning the Guest Actress Emmy this year, though I suspect Bryan Cranston might be considered a guest star and could take home the award instead of Marty.
The screenplay is also great, with clear Sorkin influences—evident in the sharp, fast-paced dialogue and the number of times his name is referenced throughout the show. The Studio doesn’t shy away from referencing its inspirations, name-dropping countless influences throughout the episodes, including the constant presence of Chinatown in one of them.
However, the show’s biggest strength is its sublime direction. It feels incredibly unique and refreshing. For a show that serves as a love letter to cinema, it’s amazing how cinematic and well-crafted it is. The decision to shoot every scene in a continuous take was genius—it adds intensity and elevates the show’s constant chaos. It’s especially impressive in episode 2, The Oner, which revolves around capturing a one-take shot, filmed entirely in one take.
The Studio maintains incredible consistency across its ten episodes, and I can confirm that it ends just as strongly as it begins. I love the approach they took, with each episode having its own theme, all coming together in a grand two-part finale.
My favourite thing about The Studio is its premise. It’s so simple and is made for every film fan, I can’t believe that something like this hasn’t been made before. Each episode explores a unique concept and offers a fresh look into the film industry. The potential for storylines feels limitless. This show captures the perfect balance between smaller-scale, more intimate, behind-the-scenes interactions and the larger, more exciting events that everyone wants to see, like pitch meetings, the editing process, set visits, award shows, and so much more. I can’t wait for people to experience it all.
The first season of The Studio is a masterpiece—an incredible debut that I hold in the same regard as those of my favourite shows. With electrifying filmmaking, outstanding performances, and constant references to cinema, it’s the perfect watch for any fan of film and TV. I cannot recommend this show enough—please support it so we can get a second season!
Review by Jacob Wolfe
Wolfe At The Movies 
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