Hollywood loves a navel-gazing satire about the movie business. Audiences do too, when given a good reason, from the upbeat mockery of 1952’s “Singin’ in the Rain,” to the excoriation of a studio executive in 1992’s “The Player,

Which is a stealth joke within “Tecto,” and “The Franchise,” and a mischievous stroke of satire that transcends an already absorbing storyline. Mr. Anderson is the Journal’s TV critic.

From producer-writers of 'Veep' and 'Succession,' HBO's 'The Franchise' spoofs the anxieties and chaos on the set of a big-budget superhero fantasy

This satiric takedown comes from Armando Iannucci ("Veep") and Jon Brown ("Succession").

The Franchise is so good and fun precisely because it has excellent, quippy writing, cast chemistry, and a steady stream of comedic situations.