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Star

Star

Music. Sacrifice. Destiny.

2016–2019Ended3 seasons48 episodes~42 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

Star is a tough-as-nails young woman who came up in the foster care system and decides one day to take control of her destiny. She tracks down her sister, Simone, and her Instagram bestie, Alexandra, and together, the trio journeys to Atlanta with the hope of becoming music superstars.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Star?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Star streaming on Hulu and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Rent / Buy

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Highlights

What stands out about Star?

Star earns 3 badges, led by Standout soundtrack and Preferred by Women.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Star worth watching?

Star's Midcredits score is the 62nd percentile of all shows, from 5.8K ratings across 2 sources. 76% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

62nd percentile

Better received than 62% of shows

59th percentile among Drama59th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)59th
Approval (how many liked it)62nd

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

72 /100

59th percentile of all shows

58th percentile among Drama57th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Big peaks at both ends — people either love this or bounce off it hard.

Approval

How many liked it

76% liked it

62nd percentile of all shows

57th percentile among Drama61st percentile among 2010s
76% rated it 7–1024% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

86th percentile

5.7K ratings across platforms

82nd percentile among Drama86th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 10% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show is heavy on melodrama and over-the-top plotting, with a standout Queen Latifah amid an uneven cast.

Fans praised

  • Queen Latifah's anchoring, down-to-earth lead performance
  • Strong ensemble cast and chemistry, especially the young leads
  • Addictive, fun music and soundtrack

Detractors panned

  • Lead character Star's selfish, guarded attitude is grating
  • Unbelievable, overly melodramatic storylines
  • Perceived weak singing and writing in places

What stands out

Sound and music85

Addictive, soulful R&B tracks; mostly praised but some call singing weak

Acting72

Queen Latifah anchors the cast; some call lead's portrayal grating, others praise emotional range

Emotional impactDivisive70

Fans find it moving and inspiring; some criticize emotional manipulation

CharactersDivisive65

Relatable growth arcs admired, but Star's selfishness and entitlement widely criticized

Tension60

Addictive cliffhangers and drama, though often fueled by contrived conflict

Originality55

Blends familiar music-industry tropes with social issues, seen as fresh by fans

Plot and story40

Soapy, over-the-top, sometimes unbelievable with rushed escalations

Ending40

Hated abrupt cancellation and unresolved cliffhangers; satisfaction low

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 58 points higher than men.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 12 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

3 seasons

Season 3 · 2018 · 18 episodes

  • S3E1

    Secrets & Lies

    Sep 26, 201845 min
  • S3E2

    Who's the Daddy

    Oct 3, 201845 min
  • S3E3

    A Family Affair

    Oct 10, 201845 min
  • S3E4

    All Falls Down

    Oct 17, 201845 min
  • S3E5

    Someday We'll All Be Free

    Nov 1, 201845 min
  • S3E6

    Ante Up

    Nov 7, 201845 min

Watch experience

What is Star like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you hopeful.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
HopefulThrilling
Heaviest: throughout
Warm humor
Register
Melodramatic · 9% of shows: Heightened emotion, played large.Warm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe series plays its characters' struggles and ambitions with earnest emotion, never winking at the audience.
The rideThe series sustains an emotional weight through personal and industry obstacles, with musical performances providing relief but constant tension.
StructureThe series likely follows a conventional episode structure, with each episode built around a specific challenge or performance.
Episode formatEach episode features a self-contained song or performance set piece while advancing a season-long arc about the group's rise and personal struggles.
Season formatEach season follows the trio through a new phase of their career—from formation to fame to crisis—with evolving goals and obstacles.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
HopefulRousing · 9% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves the audience inspired by the determination of its characters to make their mark.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeA typical episode follows the trio facing a new obstacle from the music industry or a rival, which they must overcome to advance their career.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% (this title) · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% (this title) · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsAmbition · 14% of showsTrauma · 5% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series centers on the found family between the trio and their mentor Carlotta, as they navigate personal trauma and the demands of the music industry.
StanceThe show examines the cost of ambition on family bonds without celebrating or condemning it, presenting the struggle as complex.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalPopFolkForeground music · hybrid
SettingAtlanta music scene, from talent agencies to recording studios
MusicOriginal songs performed by the cast are central to each episode, blending pop, R&B, and ballads.

Content guide

Is Star okay for kids?

TV-14

Star is rated TV-14. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at intense (67/100), language at intense (67/100), drug and alcohol content at severe (100/100) and frightening material at severe (100/100). Its language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 15 other countries
  • CanadaG
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland15
  • Brazil14
  • Austria16
  • IndiaU
  • Netherlands12
  • PhilippinesPG
  • Poland16
  • PortugalNR
  • RO15
  • Spain13
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
Severe · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 74%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 96%
Profanity
Intense
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Severe
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Severe
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (33 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Star have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Star?

Cast

At least 4 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Jude Demorest
as Star Davis
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Brittany O'Grady
as Simone
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ryan Destiny
as Alexandra Crane
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Amiyah Scott
as Cotton
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Quincy Brown
as Derek
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Miss Lawrence
as Miss Bruce
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Queen Latifah
as Carlotta Brown
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Sonya Jenkins
as Salon Patron - Extra
Luke James
as Noah Brooks
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Lance Gross
as Maurice Jetter

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