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Succession

Succession

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2018–2023Ended4 seasons39 episodes~60 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

Follow the lives of the Roy family as they contemplate their future once their aging father begins to step back from the media and entertainment conglomerate they control.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Succession?

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

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Highlights

What stands out about Succession?

Succession earns 10 badges, led by Top 1% of shows and Universally Loved.

Show 2 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is Succession worth watching?

Succession's Midcredits score is the 99th percentile of all shows, from 373K ratings across 2 sources. 93% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

99th percentile

Better received than 99% of shows

99th percentile among Comedy99th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)98th
Approval (how many liked it)97th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

86 /100

98th percentile of all shows

98th percentile among Comedy98th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

93% liked it

97th percentile of all shows

98th percentile among Comedy97th percentile among 2010s
93% rated it 7–107% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

372K ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Comedy99th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 5% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the Roy family are deeply unlikable, morally bankrupt characters locked in a repetitive cycle of power struggles.

Fans praised

  • Lightning-in-a-bottle ensemble cast with zero weak performances
  • Shakespearean writing that balances corporate drama, vicious wit and genuine pathos
  • Every character is richly layered — loathsome yet tragically human and impossible to look away from

Detractors panned

  • Repetitive plot cycles — same backstabbing and power struggles every season
  • No redeeming characters makes spending time with them a miserable ordeal
  • Pretentious, glacially slow pacing padded with aimless scenes

What stands out

ActingDivisive93

uniformly phenomenal cast, 17 Emmy nominations across the run

DialogueDivisive90

razor-sharp, witty, and quotable, though detractors call it profane filler

CharactersDivisive85

complex, deeply flawed, yet fascinating — or one-dimensional and loathsome

HumorDivisive82

dark, cringe comedy lands brilliantly for fans; arid and unfunny for detractors

AtmosphereDivisive82

immersive, stifling world of privilege and moral rot

TensionDivisive80

boardroom and family scenes crackle with suspense — or just arguing

Plot and storyDivisive65

intricate power struggles that some find gripping, others endlessly repetitive

PacingDivisive45

slow-burn build rewarded by addicts; glacial and padded to those who bailed

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 3 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Episodes

4 seasons

Season 4 · 2023 · 10 episodes · 8.5 average across 10 rated episodes

  • S4E1

    The Munsters

    Mar 26, 202361 minTMDB rating 7.8
  • S4E2

    Rehearsal

    Apr 2, 202359 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S4E3

    Connor's Wedding

    Apr 9, 202362 minTMDB rating 9.3
  • S4E4

    Honeymoon States

    Apr 16, 202360 minTMDB rating 8.3
  • S4E5

    Kill List

    Apr 23, 202361 minTMDB rating 8.6
  • S4E6

    Living+

    Apr 30, 202363 minTMDB rating 7.9

Watch experience

What is Succession like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you unsettled.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseContemplativeAbsurd
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Sardonic · under 1% of shows: Mocking with a bitter edge.Bleak · 3% of showsWry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedOne continuous story
ToneThe series is played completely straight, treating its grotesquely wealthy characters as seriously as a Shakespearean tragedy, with the humour arising naturally from the cruelty and absurdity of their interactions.
The rideSustained high-pressure boardroom and family confrontations, veering from razor-sharp tension to cringe comedy, with the emotional weight concentrated in the final season.
StructureEach season follows a classic three-act structure with its own arc of setup, confrontation and fallout, while the overall series builds sequentially across the four seasons.
Episode formatThe series tells one continuous story of succession across 39 episodes, with each episode advancing a single narrative arc.
Season formatEach season picks up where the previous left off, following the same core cast through an ongoing battle for control of Waystar Royco.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
UnsettlingThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves you disturbed by the vacuity and cruelty at the highest levels of power, while its refusal to moralise keeps the critique of wealth and family running in your head long after.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

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).TragedyHubris
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · 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% (this title): Hubris 1% (this title) · 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%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Hubris: Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).

4% of shows fit this archetype

with Rags to riches underneath

Why this archetypeThe series arc traces a family's struggle for control of a media empire, where pride, ambition and a desperate need for paternal approval inevitably lead each sibling's bid for power to collapse.

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 showsSelfPower
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: 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% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 5% (this title) · 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% (this title) · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · 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%

Power

Power · 5% of showsFamily bondsBetrayal · 3% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show examines who controls whom within a media dynasty, where love and loyalty are weaponized for corporate advantage.
StanceThe show examines the corrupting nature of power within a family and a media empire without celebrating or condemning it, instead laying bare the dynamics with clinical, often satirical precision.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Nicholas Britell
SettingThe boardrooms, penthouses, and private jets of a global media dynasty, primarily in New York and at family compounds.
MusicThe piano-driven theme and recurring motifs become a signature of the show's anxious grandeur.

Content guide

Is Succession okay for kids?

TV-MA

Succession is rated TV-MA. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (32/100), sexual content at intense (60/100), language at severe (94/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (75/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). Overall it is heavier than 65% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 23 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • Ireland18
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • Austria16
  • Belgium12
  • Czechia18+
  • FinlandK16
  • Hungary16
  • IndiaU
  • LTN-14
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands12
  • PhilippinesG
  • Poland16
  • RO18
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeM18
  • Spain16
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 81% of all showsHeavier than 65% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Mild
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 15%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 64%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 98%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 83%
Frightening / Intense
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 17%

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

The reason to think twice is language, drug and alcohol content, and sexual content. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

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 Succession have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Succession?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor; 7 award-winning performances in the cast.

Nicholas Braun
as Greg Hirsch
SAG win: Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Brian Cox
as Logan Roy
Globe win: Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Kieran Culkin
as Roman Roy
SAG win: Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Peter Friedman
as Frank Vernon
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Matthew Macfadyen
as Tom Wambsgans
Emmy win: Primetime Emmy — Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Alan Ruck
as Connor Roy
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Sarah Snook
as Shiv Roy
Globe win: Golden Globe — Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role on Television
Jeremy Strong
as Kendall Roy
Emmy win: Primetime Emmy — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
J. Smith-Cameron
as Gerri Kellman
SAG win: Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Scott Nicholson
as Colin
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.

More like this

What are shows like Succession?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Succession include Shameless (2011), The Riches (2007) and The Other Two (2019).

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