The producers, obviously, are good storytellers, and there is something to be said — touched on here — about their shifting roles as TV has embraced an auteur quality. Still, the resulting doc finally feels like less than the sum of its anecdotes.
Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show
✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
Ireland, United States · 2014
1h 28m
Director Des Doyle
Starring Joss Whedon, J.J. Abrams, Steven S. DeKnight, Ronald D. Moore
Genre Documentary
Add to Watchlist
Please login to add films to your watchlist.
For the first time ever, a feature length documentary follows showrunners--the forces that bring TV shows and series to life. Standing at the intersection between art and commerce, showrunners play a crucial role in the development and production process of a show, balancing its creative, logistical, and financial aspects.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
Village Voice by Chris Packham
Unstudied to the point of utilitarianism, the film nonetheless has wide scope, and Doyle effectively gets his arms around this huge, nebulous, weird job.
The Hollywood Reporter by Jordan Mintzer
Doyle overstuffs some of the content, jumping through dozens of interviews without allowing us enough time to process them. Still, the director and editor John Murphy manage to give all the material a solid through-line, making the many voices echo into one underlying argument: Showrunning sucks, but it may be the greatest job in entertainment today.
Los Angeles Times by Sheri Linden
For wannabe, seasoned pro and curious observer alike, these tales from the creative front lines are, like good TV, as insightful as they are entertaining.
Users who liked this film also liked
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
As dark forces threaten, a king reignites a broken fellowship and a quest is undergone.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- New Zealand, United States • 2003
- Director Peter Jackson
- Cast Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Orlando Bloom
- Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, AMC on Demand
Life Is Beautiful
(La vita è bella)
An unforgettable fable that proves love, family and imagination can conquer all.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy • 1997
- Director Roberto Benigni
- Cast Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano, Amerigo Fontani, Sergio Bini Bustric
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Let the Magic Begin.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, United States • 2001
- Director Chris Columbus
- Cast Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman
- Genre Adventure, Fantasy
- Available on NBC, fuboTV, USA Network, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, AMC on Demand
The Vanishing
(Spoorloos)
Has anyone seen this woman?
- ✭ ✭
- Netherlands, France, West Germany • 1988
- Director George Sluizer
- Cast Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, Gène Bervoets, Johanna ter Steege, Gwen Eckhaus, Pierre Forget, Bernadette Le Saché
- Genre Horror, Thriller
- Available on Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Amazon Video
RocknRolla
A variety of figures in London's underworld attempt to profit from a crooked deal.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, United States, France • 2008
- Director Guy Ritchie
- Cast Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandiwe Newton, Mark Strong, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy
- Genre Action, Crime, Thriller
- Available on Hoopla, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, AMC on Demand
Inglourious Basterds
Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France...
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, United States • 2009
- Director Quentin Tarantino
- Cast Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger
- Genre Drama, Action, Thriller, War
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Prometheus
Archaeologists travel through space hoping to uncover the origins of mankind, but when they meet humanities predecessor, conflict arises.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, United States • 2012
- Director Ridley Scott
- Cast Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Logan Marshall-Green
- Genre Adventure, Mystery, Science Fiction
- Available on Hulu, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, AMC on Demand
Mad Max: Fury Road
In an apocalyptic future, two rebels join forces.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Australia, United States • 2015
- Director George Miller
- Cast Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Josh Helman, Nathan Jones
- Genre Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
- Available on Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, AMC on Demand
Starred Up
A violent 19 year-old is transferred to adult prison with his estranged father, as his temper gets him into more trouble.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom • 2013
- Director David Mackenzie
- Cast Jack O'Connell, Ben Mendelsohn, Rupert Friend, David Ajala, Peter Ferdinando, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr
- Genre Drama
- Available on MZ Choice Amazon Channel, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, VUDU Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel