Avenue 5 (2020)
Armando Iannucci's razor-sharp space satire sends a luxury cruise ship — and its spectacularly unqualified crew — spiraling into comic catastrophe.
Avenue 5 - Series Information
- Original Title: Avenue 5
- First Air Year: 2020
- Last Air Year: 2022
- Created by: Armando Iannucci
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 17
- Status: Canceled
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: January 19, 2020 (United States - TV-MA), January 19, 2020 (United Kingdom - 18), January 19, 2020 (Germany - 18), January 19, 2020 (France - 18), January 19, 2020 (Brazil - 14), January 19, 2020 (Mexico - B), January 19, 2020 (Spain - 18), January 19, 2020 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: HBO
- Production Companies: HBO, Dundee Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America, United Kingdom
- Alternative Titles: Пятая авеню (RU), 五号大道 (CN)
Avenue 5 - Plot
40 years in the future, space captain Ryan Clark and the crew of the luxury space cruise ship Avenue 5 navigate disgruntled passengers and unexpected events after experiencing technical difficulties onboard.
Avenue 5 - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the chaos aboard Avenue 5 unfold:
All cruise. No control.
Where to Watch Avenue 5
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Avenue 5 - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Armando Iannucci
Main Cast
- Hugh Laurie
- Josh Gad
- Lenora Crichlow
- Zach Woods
- Nikki Amuka-Bird
- Suzy Nakamura
- Ethan Phillips
- Rebecca Front
- Andy Buckley
- Adam Pålsson
Writers
- Armando Iannucci
- Ian Martin
- Will Smith
- Rose Heiney
- Peter Fellows
Executive Producers
- Will Smith
- Tony Roche
- Armando Iannucci
- Kevin Loader
- Simon Blackwell
Avenue 5 - FAQs
Why was Avenue 5 cancelled after two seasons?
HBO cancelled Avenue 5 in 2022 after two seasons. Despite a devoted cult following and strong critical appreciation for its sharp satire, the show never built the broad mainstream audience HBO needed to justify renewal. The second season's delayed premiere due to the pandemic likely hurt its momentum.
Is Avenue 5 worth watching for sci-fi fans?
Absolutely, especially if you enjoy sharp, satirical comedy. Armando Iannucci brings the same biting wit he honed on Veep and The Thick of It to a space setting, skewering corporate incompetence and entitled consumers. Hugh Laurie is magnetic, and the ensemble cast delivers consistently funny, layered performances throughout both seasons.
Where can you stream Avenue 5 right now?
Avenue 5 is available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max) and through the HBO Max Amazon Channel. If you prefer to own it, the series can be purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home.
Who are the main cast members of Avenue 5?
Hugh Laurie leads the cast as Captain Ryan Clark, alongside Josh Gad as the clueless ship owner Herman Judd, Lenora Crichlow as engineer Billie McEvoy, Zach Woods as head of customer relations Matt Spencer, and Nikki Amuka-Bird as NASA liaison Rav Mulcair, among others.
How many seasons and episodes does Avenue 5 have?
Avenue 5 ran for two seasons totalling 17 episodes. Season 1 comprised 9 episodes and premiered in January 2020, while Season 2 followed with 8 episodes. The series was cancelled by HBO in 2022, making these two seasons the complete run of the show.
Who created Avenue 5 and what inspired it?
Avenue 5 was created by Armando Iannucci, the satirist behind Veep, The Thick of It, and The Death of Stalin. Iannucci drew on his long fascination with institutional incompetence, transporting his trademark political satire into a near-future space tourism setting to lampoon corporate culture and consumer entitlement.
What genre is Avenue 5 and what is it about?
Avenue 5 is a sci-fi comedy set 40 years in the future. When a luxury space cruise ship suffers a catastrophic malfunction, its hapless captain, oblivious billionaire owner, and panicking crew must manage hundreds of furious passengers stranded far from Earth, with no real plan and rapidly dwindling competence.
What shows are similar to Avenue 5?
Fans of Avenue 5 often enjoy The Orville, Space Force, and Star Trek: Lower Decks for their comedic takes on space travel. For Iannucci-style satire in different settings, Veep and The Thick of It are natural companions. Other Space and Weird City also share its irreverent, low-stakes sci-fi sensibility.
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