The creators behind the hit HBO series Succession are also responsible for several other great TV shows and movies. Succession has maintained its status as one of television’s premier drama series since it began in 2018. It has risen to monumental heights with the phenomenal execution of its fourth and final season. There remains only one episode of Succession left titled “With Open Eyes” which will run 90 minutes long. The series finale of Succession airs on Sunday, May 28th on HBO and will stream on MAX.
The primary creators of Succession consist of a core group that includes its showrunner, two executive producers, and its most frequent episodic director. Jesse Armstrong is the showrunner and creator of Succession who has writing credit on all 39 of its episodes. Mark Mylod is the director of 16 Succession episodes, including “Connor’s Wedding” and the recent “Church and State” which are considered among the best episodes in the series. Adam McKay and Will Ferrell combine to form a formidable duo as producers with an extensive range of outstanding television and films under their collective belt.
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10 The Big Short (2015)
The Big Short, written and directed by Adam McKay, is one of McKay’s least subtle satires. The 2015 movie stars Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, and Steve Carrell as members of a small group of investors who became immensely wealthy by betting against the United States mortgage market. The film follows the true story of these characters risking it all before the inevitable 2008 market crash and subsequent economic recession. The Big Short delivers similar documentary-style cinematography and corporate-insider storylines to Succession. The Big Short, which features an appearance from Succession’s Jeremy Strong, can be rented on Amazon Prime Video.
9 Peep Show (2003-2015)
Peep Show is one of the most critically-acclaimed comedy series of the 2000s in the United Kingdom. Jesse Armstrong is the co-creator of Peep Show along with Sam Bain. The show ran on Channel 4 in the UK from 2003-2015 and made Armstrong a prominent television showrunner. Peep Show is notable for its unique filming style where characters speak directly to the camera. The camera fluctuates the point of view between characters throughout each scene, alternating perspectives to create a dynamic viewing experience. Peep Show, which features a young Olivia Coleman, can be streamed on Crackle and Freevee.
8 Booksmart (2019)
Booksmart is a 2019 comedy movie directed by Olivia Wilde. Adam McKay and Will Ferrell served as executive producers on the movie that stars Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever, and Jason Sudeikis. The film follows two intelligent best friends in high school who regret not having enough fun together before leaving for college. The duo decides to make up four years of endless studying in one wild night that equally celebrates and tests their friendship. Booksmart, which marked Olivia Wilde’s feature directing debut, can be streamed on Peacock.
7 Fresh Meat (2011-2016)
Fresh Meat premiered in 2011 and is the second comedy series created by Jesse Armstrong. Combined with Peep Show, Fresh Meat gave Armstrong the opportunity to extend his successful string of comedy writing. The snappy and hilarious dialogue in Fresh Meat is cut from a similar cloth as the iconic dialogue found throughout Succession. Fresh Meat follows the college lives of six students who focus on typical university priorities such as partying, drinking, and hooking up. Fresh Meat can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
6 The Other Guys (2010)
The Other Guys is one of the earliest collaborations between two Succession producers and one of the funniest Adam McKay and Will Ferrell movies. Ferrell stars alongside Mark Wahlberg as an incompetent NYC police detective in this 2010 buddy-cop comedy. McKay wrote the screenplay and directed The Other Guys after the success of previous Ferrell-led comedy movies Step Brothers and Talladgea Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. The Other Guys’ originality and hilarity still hold up today. It can be streamed on Paramount+.
5 Vice (2018)
Vice is one of the recent examples of McKay-directed films that Ferrell produced without starring in. Ferrell and McKay founded Gary Sanchez Productions in 2006 as a collaborative effort to finance and produce entertainment ventures under the same umbrella. Vice is led by Christian Bale’s performance at the notorious United States Vice President Dick Cheney. The 2018 film was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, making it the most acclaimed McKay project other than Succession. Vice can be streamed on Tubi.
4 Predestination (2014)
Predestination does not feature any behind-the-scenes credits from the creators of Succession, but does star a young Sarah Snook in a leading role. The 2014 feature film stars Ethan Hawke and is directed by Michael and Peter Spierig. Snook was widely overlooked in her performance as The Unmarried Mother in Predestination, marking one of her lesser-known acting roles before her rise to fame as Shiv Roy in Succession. Snook also appeared in Steve Jobs portraying Andrea Cunningham. Predestination can be rented on Prime Video.
3 In The Loop (2009)
In The Loop is another acclaimed project from the mind of Jesse Armstrong. The 2009 political satire is a spin-off feature of the BBC comedy series The Thick of It for which Armstrong wrote more than half of its 24 episodes. In The Loop was directed by The Thick of It and Veep creator Armando Iannucci who co-wrote the screenplay with Armstrong and two others. The cinematography in the film closely matches the zooming and swiveling head camera techniques used masterfully in Succession. In The Loop can be streamed on AMC+.
2 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
The immensely popular Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is the very first collaboration between Adam McKay and Will Ferrell. Ferrell stars as the self-involved and ridiculous news anchor Ron Burgundy, the face of the San Diego morning news alongside Christina Applegate’s Veronica Corningstone. The ensemble cast includes Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell, and David Koechner as rambunctious members of Ferrell’s news team. Anchorman can be streamed on AMC+ and Paramount+.
1 The Menu (2022)
The Menu marks the only other film or television show to bring together director Mark Mylod and producers McKay and Ferrell. The Menu stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult whose characters attend an exclusive yet disturbing dinner designed by Ralph Fiennes’ ominous chef character. The 2022 movie is Mylod’s first feature film since he directed a Chris Evans-led romantic comedy called What’s Your Number? in 2011. Mylod’s other directing credits include six episodes of Game of Thrones and 12 episodes of Shameless before he signed on to direct the majority of Succession’s episodes. The Menu can be streamed on MAX.
