Succession (TV series)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:48:50 PM Wikipedia source
Succession is an American satirical black comedy-drama television series created by Jesse Armstrong that aired for four seasons on HBO from June 3, 2018, to May 28, 2023. The series centers on the Roy family, the owners of global media and entertainment conglomerate Waystar RoyCo, and their fight for control of the company amidst uncertainty about the health of the family's patriarch. Brian Cox portrays the family patriarch Logan Roy. His children are played by Alan Ruck as Connor, Jeremy Strong as Kendall, Kieran Culkin as Roman, and Sarah Snook as Shiv. Other starring cast members are Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans, Shiv's husband and Waystar executive; Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch, Logan's grandnephew also employed by the company; Hiam Abbass as Marcia, Logan's third wife; and Peter Friedman as Frank Vernon, a longtime confidant of Logan; while Dagmara Domińczyk, Arian Moayed, J. Smith-Cameron, Justine Lupe, David Rasche, Fisher Stevens, and Alexander Skarsgård featured in recurring roles before being promoted to the main cast. Succession received universal critical acclaim for its writing, acting, humor, musical score, directing, production values, and examination of its subject matter. Many critics and publications have named the show one of the greatest television series of all time. The series has received several accolades, including three wins each for the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama and the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 2020, 2022 and 2023 as well as the British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme. Culkin, Cox and Strong each won Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama for their performances, and Culkin and Strong won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Snook and Macfadyen both also won Emmy Awards: for Lead Actress and Supporting Actor respectively, with Macfadyen winning twice. Armstrong also won four Emmys and a BAFTA for his writing.
Infobox
Genre
mw- Black comedy Comedy-drama Family drama Political satire Tragicomedy
Created by
Jesse Armstrong
Showrunner
Jesse Armstrong
Starring
Hiam Abbass Nicholas Braun Brian Cox Kieran Culkin Peter Friedman Natalie Gold Matthew Macfadyen Alan Ruck Sarah Snook Jeremy Strong Rob Yang Dagmara Domińczyk Arian Moayed J. Smith-Cameron Justine Lupe David Rasche Fisher Stevens Alexander Skarsgård
Music by
Nicholas Britell
Opening theme
"Succession (Main Title Theme)"
Country of origin
United States
Original language
English
No. of seasons
4
No. of episodes
39 (list of episodes)
Executive producers
Jesse Armstrong Will Ferrell Adam McKay Frank Rich Kevin Messick Mark Mylod Jane Tranter Georgia Pritchett Tony Roche Scott Ferguson Jon Brown Lucy Prebble Will Tracy
Producers
Regina Heyman Dara Schnapper Jonathan Filley Ron Bozman Gabrielle Mahon
Production locations
United States England (seasons 1–2) Iceland (season 2) Croatia (season 2) Scotland (season 2) Italy (season 3) Norway (season 4) Barbados (season 4)
Cinematography
Andrij Parekh Patrick Capone Christopher Norr Katelin Arizmendi
Editors
Mark Yoshikawa Ken Eluto Jane Rizzo Anne McCabe Joe Giganti Suzy Elmiger William Henry Ellen Tam Brian A. Kates
Camera setup
Single camera
Running time
56–88 minutes
Production companies
HBO Entertainment Gary Sanchez Productions Hyperobject Industries (season 2–4) Hot Seat Productions (season 4) Project Zeus
Network
HBO
Release
June 3, 2018 (2018-06-03) –May 28, 2023 (2023-05-28)
Tables
First released
First released
Season
First released
Episodes
Last released
1
1
Season
1
Episodes
10
Episodes
June 3, 2018 (2018-06-03)
Originally released
August 5, 2018 (2018-08-05)
Originally released
0.603
2
2
Season
2
Episodes
10
Episodes
August 11, 2019 (2019-08-11)
Originally released
October 13, 2019 (2019-10-13)
Originally released
0.597
3
3
Season
3
Episodes
9
Episodes
October 17, 2021 (2021-10-17)
Originally released
December 12, 2021 (2021-12-12)
Originally released
0.553
4
4
Season
4
Episodes
10
Episodes
March 26, 2023 (2023-03-26)
Originally released
May 28, 2023 (2023-05-28)
Originally released
0.705
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | Average viewership(in millions) | ||
| First released | Last released | ||||
| 1 | 10 | June 3, 2018 (2018-06-03) | August 5, 2018 (2018-08-05) | 0.603 | |
| 2 | 10 | August 11, 2019 (2019-08-11) | October 13, 2019 (2019-10-13) | 0.597 | |
| 3 | 9 | October 17, 2021 (2021-10-17) | December 12, 2021 (2021-12-12) | 0.553 | |
| 4 | 10 | March 26, 2023 (2023-03-26) | May 28, 2023 (2023-05-28) | 0.705 | |
mw- Critical response of Succession · Release and reception › Critical response
1
1
Season
1
Rotten Tomatoes
89% (88 reviews)
Metacritic
70 (29 reviews)
2
2
Season
2
Rotten Tomatoes
97% (238 reviews)
Metacritic
89 (19 reviews)
3
3
Season
3
Rotten Tomatoes
97% (145 reviews)
Metacritic
92 (31 reviews)
4
4
Season
4
Rotten Tomatoes
97% (324 reviews)
Metacritic
92 (31 reviews)
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
| 1 | 89% (88 reviews) | 70 (29 reviews) |
| 2 | 97% (238 reviews) | 89 (19 reviews) |
| 3 | 97% (145 reviews) | 92 (31 reviews) |
| 4 | 97% (324 reviews) | 92 (31 reviews) |
References
- Credited when appearing.
- Attributed to multiple sources:
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/succession-review-1113200
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/dec/14/the-50-best-tv-shows-of-2018-no-5-succession
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/succession-showrunner-talks-hbo-shows-dramatic-finale-season-2-plans-1132215
- The Economic Timeshttps://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/hbos-family-drama-succession-season-four-goes-on-the-floor/articleshow/92519283.cms
- Successionhttps://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/06/hbo-succession-rupert-murdoch-trump-kushner-family
- Successionhttps://www.avclub.com/succession-caps-off-an-incredible-first-season-with-a-w-1828107349
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/succession-sociologists-explain-fans-fascination-shows-repugnant-heroes-1246669/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/16/100-best-tv-shows-of-the-21st-century
- BBChttps://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20211015-the-100-greatest-tv-series-of-the-21st-century
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-tv-shows-of-all-time-1234598313/succession-1234598780/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/lists/greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time/succession-5/
- GoldenGlobes.comhttps://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2020/all
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2020/12/succession-justine-lupe-david-rasche-fisher-stevens-promoted-series-regulars-season-3-1234653206/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/succession-alexander-skarsgard-lukas-matsson-season-4-1235481694/
- TV Series Finalehttps://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/succession-season-one-ratings/
- TV Series Finalehttps://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/succession-season-two-ratings/
- TV Series Finalehttps://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/succession-season-three-ratings/
- TV Series Finalehttps://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/succession-season-four-ratings/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/27/jesse-armstrong-on-the-roots-of-succession-bum-rush-trump-presidency
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/04/business/media/hbo-succession-business.html
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2016/06/hbo-drama-pilots-succession-adam-mckay-mogadishu-minnesota-kathryn-bigelow-1201768165/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-orders-tycoon-family-drama-900085
- The A.V. Clubhttps://www.avclub.com/will-ferrell-and-adam-mckay-are-also-working-on-a-drama-1798247990
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2017/02/succession-drama-pilot-picked-up-to-series-hbo-adam-mckay-1201905632/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-gives-series-order-family-drama-succession-973408
- /Filmhttps://www.slashfilm.com/hbo-succession-tv-series/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2017/tv/news/will-ferrell-adam-mckay-hbo-1201981682/
- Den of Geekhttps://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/succession/262121/succession-hbo-orders-family-drama-series-by-will-ferrell-and-adam-mckay
- The A.V. Clubhttps://www.avclub.com/hbo-picks-up-adam-mckay-and-will-ferrell-s-political-dr-1798257492
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2018/04/succession-premiere-date-hbo-media-family-drama-brian-cox-adam-mckay-1202377456/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2018/06/succession-renewed-season-2-hbo-1202407822/
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/tv/2019/05/23/succession-season-2-trailer-premiere-date/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2019/08/succession-renewed-season-3-hbo-1202672468/
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/hbo-succession-barry-production-delay-coronavirus/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2021/09/succession-season-3-premiere-date-hbo-1234832215/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2021/06/succession-ending-five-seasons-1234647223/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2021/10/succession-renewed-season-4-hbo-1234862435/
- The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/the-end-of-succession-is-near
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2016/10/succession-brian-cox-jeremy-strong-kieran-culkin-cast-hbo-drama-pilot-adam-mckay-1201832312/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2016/11/succession-alan-ruck-parker-sawyers-cast-hbo-drama-pilot-adam-mckay-1201848533/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2018/01/succession-ashley-zukerman-recur-adam-mckay-hbo-drama-1202268482/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2019/05/holly-hunter-hbo-drama-series-succession-recurring-season-2-1202619940/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2021/tv/news/succession-season-3-cast-sanaa-lathan-linda-emond-jihae-hbo-1234885482/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2021/02/succession-hope-davis-cast-sandy-furness-daughter-season-3-1234698434/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/berlin-hidden-gem-demonic-possession-prince-andrew-and-jeffrey-epstein-collide-in-the-scary-of-sixty-first
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2021/tv/news/succession-season-3-hbo-alexander-skarsgard-1234965151/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2021/05/succession-adrien-brody-season-3-hbo-series-1234750317/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2021/tv/news/succession-season-3-ella-rumpf-raw-1235035805/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2023/tv/news/succession-season-4-premiere-date-teaser-hbo-1235500929/
- Motion Picture Associationhttps://www.motionpictures.org/2023/05/succession-costume-designer-michelle-matland-breaks-down-the-roy-familys-signature-looks/
- The Atlantichttps://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/05/stealth-wealth-fashion-trend-succession-tiktok/674065/
- Broadcasthttps://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tech/film-stages-digital-fightback/5135915.article
- NAB Amplifyhttps://amplify.nabshow.com/articles/the-camera-in-succession-is-a-player-in-the-game/
- Leitz Cinehttps://www.leitz-cine.com/interview/patrick-capone-asc
- Kodakhttps://www.kodak.com/en/motion/blog-post/succession
- The Location Guidehttp://www.thelocationguide.com/2018/01/new-hbo-drama-succession-heads-for-new-mexico/
- CN Travellerhttps://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/succession-filming-locations
- Untapped New Yorkhttps://untappedcities.com/2021/10/17/succession-filming-locations/?displayall=true
- Backstagehttps://www.backstage.com/news/netflixs-luke-cage-sets-near-union-square-more-nyc-projects-filming/
- The Santa Fe New Mexicanhttp://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-ranked-among-best-small-cities-for-moviemaking/article_95cbba61-e631-592c-aa8b-ecdf2d0f89af.html
- The Star-Ledgerhttp://www.nj.com/atlantic/index.ssf/2018/02/hbo_filming_to_close_atlantic_city_tunnel_thursday.html
- 6abc Philadelphiahttp://6abc.com/traffic/atlantic-city-brigantine-tunnel-closed-because-of-tv-filming/3123348/
- Press of Atlantic Cityhttps://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/hbo-show-shuts-down-tunnel-to-film-in-a-c/article_956f93ee-e29c-59c9-8001-d92a4d517dbe.html
- Hereford Timeshttp://www.herefordtimes.com/news/16046423.Film_crews_arrive_at_Eastnor_Castle_for_filming_of_American_drama_series/
- Iceland Monitorhttps://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/culture_and_living/2020/09/09/iceland_attracts_foreign_film_makers/
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/2019/08/succession-hbo-real-life-mansions.html
- GQhttps://www.gq.com/story/succession-hog-blog
- "Buy a $125 Million Island Compound Under an Hour From New York"https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-17/buy-a-125-million-island-compound-under-an-hour-from-new-york
- "HBO series seeks local extras for filming in the Adirondacks"http://wptz.com/article/hbo-series-seeks-local-extras-for-filming-in-the-adirondacks/27021024
- The Heraldhttps://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/arts_ents/17824336.brian-cox-bringing-logan-roy-succession-home-scotland/
- Total Croatia Newshttps://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/37076-succession-filmed-croatia
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/succession-showrunner-talks-season-2-finale-twist-1247436
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2020/tv/news/succession-season-3-production-shooting-new-york-before-christmas-1234728963/
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/tv/alan-ruck-succession-season-3/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2021/02/hbo-succession-return-barry-safe-bet-season-4-renewal-1234691727/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/succession-filming-locations-season-three-b1941223.html
- Richmond Times-Dispatchhttps://richmond.com/entertainment/television/report-hbos-succession-filming-around-richmond-this-week/article_d8307204-19e1-5425-ac96-a8483c5ef5e2.html
- Newsweekhttps://www.newsweek.com/succession-season-3-filming-italy-fans-eagerly-await-hbo-shows-return-1598114
- The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/30/the-real-ceo-of-succession
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/article/succession-season-three.html
- The Ringerhttps://www.theringer.com/succession/2021/12/5/22816375/succession-season-3-episode-8-recap-kendall-pool-roman-gerri
- The Wraphttps://www.thewrap.com/succession-season-4-filming-cast-synopsis/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2022/tv/global/succession-season-4-norway-shoot-alexander-skarsgard-1235402260/
- The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/brian-cox-children-will-inherit-something-long-work-a-s/
- The Wraphttps://www.thewrap.com/succession-director-mark-mylod-finale-tragedy/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2017/11/adam-mckay-reteam-composer-nicholas-britell-dick-cheney-film-succession-the-big-short-1202210701/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2019/05/succession-nicholas-britell-mixed-classical-and-hip-hop-to-show-the-precariousness-of-power-1202131536/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2018/tv/news/hbo-succession-series-mania-jesse-armstrong-chris-brancato-1202791106/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2018/scene/news/brian-cox-hbo-succession-premiere-1202819933/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/television/succession-season-finale-uk-watch-b2271865.html
- Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/carolynlipka/2018/08/07/exclusive-hbo-releases-season-1-of-succession-with-bonus-features/
- High-Def Digesthttps://bluray.highdefdigest.com/62676/successionseasonone.html
- AVS Forumhttps://www.avsforum.com/threads/succession-the-complete-first-season-blu-ray-review.3029706/
- Screen-Connectionshttps://screen-connections.com/2020/05/26/succession-season-2-dvd-release-details-art/
- Seat42Fhttps://seat42f.com/succession-season-3-dvd-release-details/
- Blu-ray.comhttps://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Succession-The-Fourth-and-Final-Season-DVD/276057/
- The Digital Bitshttps://thedigitalbits.com/item/succession-wb-2023-dvd
- Media Play Newshttps://www.mediaplaynews.com/succession-complete-series-blu-ray-slated-for-aug-27/
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/succession/s01
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/succession/season-1
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/succession/s02
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/succession/season-2
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/succession/s03
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/succession/season-3
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/succession/s04
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/succession/season-4
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/succession
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/succession
- Folger Shakespeare Libraryhttps://www.folger.edu/blogs/shakespeare-and-beyond/of-roys-and-kings-the-shadow-of-succession/
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/succession-shakespeare-references/
- The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/have-you-noticed-that-succession-is-like-shakespeare
- BBChttps://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20211008-five-stars-for-shakespearean-succession
- The Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-12-02/hbo-succession-season-3-king-lear-david-mamet
- The Swaddlehttps://theswaddle.com/succession-plays-out-like-a-shakespearean-tragedy-one-where-people-are-doomed-to-live/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/succession-finale-winner-reactions-hbo-b2348979.html
- Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/05/25/succession-finale-literary-influences/
- Voxhttps://www.vox.com/culture/23744275/succession-series-finale-shakespeare-kendall-prince-hal-season-4-episode-10-this-is-not-for-tears
- The Spectatorhttps://www.spectator.co.uk/article/does-shakespeare-tell-us-how-succession-will-end/
- The Atlantichttps://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/05/king-lear-shakespeare-succession-logan-roy/674205/
- Town & Countryhttps://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a27054572/rupert-murdoch-family-watches-succession-hbo/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/13/rupert-murdoch-watch-succession-tv-email
- Vanity Fairhttps://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/04/rupert-murdoch-cover-story
- The New York Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20241227223436/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/business/media/rupert-lachlan-murdoch-family-trust.html
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://web.archive.org/web/20241225035952/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/12/09/rupert-murdoch-loses-succession-style-legal-battle-over-fam/
- Showbuzz Dailyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20180614162632/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-6-3-2018.html
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2019/tv/news/succession-season-2-finale-ratings-1203371749/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/succession-season-3-premiere-series-high-ratings-1235033161/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2021/12/succession-finale-delivers-1-7-million-viewers-series-high-hbo-1234890335/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/30/arts/television/succession-finale-ratings-hbo.html
- Emmys.comhttps://www.emmys.com/shows/succession
- TVLinehttps://tvline.com/2019/09/22/emmys-2019-awards-winners-list/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2019/09/2019-creative-arts-emmys-winners-list-1202173604/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2020/07/emmys-nominations-list-72nd-annual-television-nominees-1202996949/
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/awards/emmys/2020-winners-list/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2022/tv/awards/succession-emmy-nominations-2022-1235312053/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2022/tv/awards/emmys-nominations-list-2022-1235313788/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2022/tv/news/2022-emmy-winners-list-1235354826/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2023-emmy-award-winners-list-1235788451/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2023/tv/news/2023-emmy-nominations-list-1235666521/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/28/arts/television/tv-show-podcasts.html
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/kara-swisher-succession-season-3-hbo-max-podcast-1235029644/
- Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hbos-succession-podcast/id1522790936