Apple TV's 'The Studio' Faces Steep Competition as New Disney+ Series Dominates

1 week ago 8

Published Feb 3, 2026, 9:33 AM EST

Denis is a news writer for Collider. He has covered television for several years, starting with writing scripts for YouTube videos before transitioning to articles. He has reviewed shows across different genres. His favorite types of articles to write are exciting news updates about shows and episodic reviews of the same. He might say he doesn't have a favorite show, but he has watched The Wire, Shameless, The Big Bang Theory, and The Blacklist more than once. Find him on X tweeting about something random that occurred to him about a TV show or the industry.

The era of satirizing Hollywood is here, and viewers seem to be loving it. Following its record-breaking debut on Apple TV, The Studio has become one of the most popular comedies about Hollywood. The Seth Rogen-led hit has been a critical success, scoring an impressive 92% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It has also been nominated for and won numerous awards, including Emmys. Meanwhile, a new competitor has also risen quickly, threatening The Studio's dominance. Disney+ recently released its new superhero comedy, Wonder Man, and the show is already the most-watched on the platform.

Starring Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Wonder Man blends the superhero genre with a satirical take on Hollywood, following a struggling actor, Simon Williams. At 89% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the show has united critics and viewers who have given it a matching score. Wonder Man features the same wild energy of The Studio. From the over-the-top scenarios to celebrity cameos, Wonder Man and The Studio are like two sides of the same coin: one showing a struggling CEO and the other an actor — but with superpowers because it's Marvel, after all. Wonder Man also features impressive performances from Ben Kingsley, Arian Moayed, X Mayo, and Zlatko Burić.

Is 'Wonder Man' Actually Worth Watching?

The show is a departure from what Marvel is known for: big-budget superhero movies. The outfit has been trying to lean into TV shows for a long time and has had significant success with shows like WandaVision and Loki. Collider's Aidan Kelley appreciated the departure from the over-produced Marvel projects that have led to superhero fatigue. In his Wonder Man Season 1 review, Kelley praised it for offering something different while grounding it in the real world. An excerpt from the review reads:

With the MCU set to go full speed ahead on superhero hijinks this year between Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, a grounded, emotional, and reserved show like Wonder Man is exactly what the shared universe needs right now. It is a remarkable and satisfying take on a world with a near-countless number of movies and shows already, one that's almost identical to our own. In between the laughs and satire, Wonder Man also tackles many real-world issues both in and out of the entertainment industry. It's also bursting with surprises, including an episode that follows a totally separate character that we wouldn't dare spoil for you here. Whether you're a hardcore MCU fan or have never watched a superhero movie in your life, Wonder Man is one of those rare experiences that appeals to both sides, and it marks a truly phenomenal start for Marvel's ambitious 2026 slate.

Dive into the adventures of Wonder Man by streaming all episodes on Disney+. We'll keep you updated on further developments.