The creator ofSuccessionhas just released a new movie, and whileSuccessionseason 5 isn’t happening, this film is a great replacement for it.Successionis one of HBO’s most critically acclaimed shows of all time, with series creator Jesse Armstrong weaving a complex satire that follows the highs and lows of the Roy family throughout four seasons. The story of Waystar-Royco ended perfectlywith the release of theSuccessionseason 4 finale, and Armstrong’s newest streaming movie is now here to fill theSuccession-shaped hole in the hearts of many fans.
Successionis one of the most biting satire TV shows ever released, with the individuals at the top of Waystar-Royco being perfect substitutes for the real oligarchs and tech moguls who have massive influence over the world. The series analyzes the intersection of money and politics, the issues with capitalism, and above all, how dumb some of these people are. Unfortunately,very few shows are likeSuccession, meaning that Jesse Armstong had to step in to create the series' perfect successor in feature film form.
It Has A Lot Of Similarities To Succession
Viewers who enjoyedSuccessionreally need to check out Jesse Armstrong’s new HBO movie,Mountainhead. The film was written and directed by Armstrong, with itstarring Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef.Mountainheadfollows four wealthy businessman friends who head to a mountain lodge during the midst of a global crisis, with them having to decide how they can capitalize on the turmoil in order to line their own pockets.
Mountainheadhas a lot of the same themes asSuccession, with both Jesse Armstrong projects taking a satirical look at the practices and politics of the rich and powerful. Both projects are shot and edited in similar ways, with some parts ofMountainheadlooking as if they could be an episode ofSuccession. The movie also has a similar writing style, with all four characters having the same comedic stylings as Roman Roy. WhileMountainheadis just a feature film, it acts like a bite-sized replacement for the beloved HBO series.
One Succession Plot Feels Like It Continues In Mountainhead
And It Isn’t The Roys
Interestingly,Mountainheadfeels exactly like oneSuccessionsubplot if it got its own movie. The characters and story ofMountainheadare remniscent of Lukas Matsson,Alexander Skarsgård’sSuccessionantagonist. All four characters inMountainheadare just as powerful and immature as Matsson, with the cast of the film feeling like they each represent an aspect of Matsson’s identity.
While the Roys' Waystar-Royco is more focused on traditional media,Lukas Matsson’s GoJo is incredibly similar to the AI and tech companies that are discussed inMountainhead. On top of that, the snowy vista that provides the backdrop ofMountainheadisn’t too far off from Matsson’s home country that the Roys see inSuccession. While the two projects don’t officially exist in the same universe, their similarities wouldn’t make a canon connection surprising.
Reviews Are Positive, But It’s Not As Acclaimed
Mountainhead’s reviews have already been positive, meaning that it is a good follow-up toSuccession. However, it hasn’t received the overwhelming critical praise thatSuccessionhas. As of the writing of this article,Mountainheadhas a 76% onRotten Tomatoes. This is far lower than the 95%Rotten Tomatoesscore thatSuccessionhas, showing that many critics prefer the HBO series over the movie.
One ofMountainhead’s big criticismsis that it points out the problem that it is satirizing, but it doesn’t offer any solutions. The similarities toSuccessionhave also been pointed out by some as a negative, with it not having the length of a TV series to flesh out these characters and themes. Overall, though,Mountainheadhas been well-received and it is a good watch for fans ofSuccession.
