Jesse Armstrong’s Mountainhead Debuts as HBO’s Most-Watched Original Film

Jesse Armstrong’s latest satire, Mountainhead, has captivated audiences with its portrayal of billionaire friends navigating a global crisis. The film, which debuted on Saturday, has secured 1.3 million viewers across linear and streaming platforms, making it the most-watched HBO Original film since Hugh Jackman’s Bad Education in April 2020.

Mountainhead stars Steve Carell as Randall, Jason Schwartzman as Souper, Cory Michael Smith as Venis, and Ramy Youssef as Jeff. The film was filmed just a few months ago in Park City, Utah, and marks Armstrong’s directorial debut.

Armstrong is also executive producer of the film, along with Frank Rich, Lucy Prebble, Jon Brown, Tony Roche, Will Tracy, Mark Mylod, and Jill Footlick. Mountainhead follows a group of billionaire friends as they come together amidst international turmoil, showcasing Armstrong’s signature satire style.

The success of Mountainhead has been attributed to its strong viewer numbers, but it is unclear whether the film has received widespread critical acclaim. With a 5.5 rating on IMDB, Mountainhead’s reception raises questions about the motivations behind positive reviews.

Source: https://deadline.com/2025/06/mountainhead-premiere-ratings-record-hbo-jesse-armstrong-1236423421