Pass the Popcorn: A Satirical Peek Behind the Curtain in Apple TV’s The Studio

May 1st, 2025

Ever had one of those nights where you can’t decide between watching a TV show or a movie? A new Apple TV series offers a clever fix to that oddly specific dilemma — by giving you both.

The Studio is a sharp, stylized satire that lifts the curtain on Hollywood’s inner workings, revealing not the magic of moviemaking, but the chaos, compromise, and cold corporate calculations behind it. Created, written, and directed by Seth Rogen, who also stars, the series follows the executive team at the fictional Continental Studios as they navigate the increasingly incompatible worlds of art and commerce.

The show centers on Rogen’s character, a newly appointed studio head at a legacy film company (think Universal or Paramount), struggling to keep the lights on amid market pressures and creative clashes. It’s a familiar setup for anyone versed in industry politics, but what sets The Studio apart is its insider access — or at least, the illusion of it.

From lingo like “tent pole film” — the big-budget blockbusters studios rely on to fund smaller projects — to subtle nods at real-life executives and franchises, The Studio blends truth with parody in ways that industry veterans and casual viewers alike can appreciate. Rogen reportedly interviewed numerous studio executives while developing the series, and it shows. One real-life executive even told Rogen the show’s portrayal deeply moved them, despite it not being based on any character.

Adding even more star power to the cast is comedy icon Catherine O’Hara, who plays a character inspired by former Sony Pictures head Amy Pascal, credited with launching Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man franchise.

For fans of films about the film industry, The Studio fits comfortably alongside titles like Trumbo (2015), Barton Fink (1991), and Federico Fellini’s 8 ½ (1963) — all stories about writers confronting creative paralysis and industry absurdities.

If you enjoy meta-commentary, behind-the-scenes drama, or just a good laugh at Hollywood’s expense, The Studio may be your next binge.

Christine Burright is a graduate of the UNO MFA in screenwriting program, a filmmaker, and an aspiring television writer. Her segment “Pass the Popcorn” airs regularly on KVNO’s Arts Today.