The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy
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The Umbrella Academy

"Too many siblings. Not enough timeline."

8.5
Yr 2019
Status Ended
Action & Adventure Sci-Fi & Fantasy Drama
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Series Brief

Overview

Reunited by their father's death, estranged siblings with extraordinary powers uncover shocking family secrets — and a looming threat to humanity.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 65 /100

Critical reception for The Umbrella Academy is polarized between its strong, stylish beginnings and its divisive conclusion. Early reviews praised the series for its "weird, kitschy" tone, sardonic humor, and refreshing deconstruction of the superhero genre, often comparing its quirky, dysfunctional family dynamics favorably to dark, offbeat works like A Series of Unfortunate Events.

However, the show's later seasons faced significant criticism. While some viewers appreciated the evolving character arcs and emotional stakes, others felt the final season was "underwhelming" and "confusing," ultimately failing to provide a satisfying conclusion to the long-running narrative of the Hargreeves siblings. Overall, critics view it as an energetic and entertaining series that struggled to maintain its initial promise by the time it reached its final chapter.

“It is purest hokum: a superhero show with some potentially interesting stuff lurking underneath about family dysfunction.”

“It was an underwhelming way to end such an exciting series.”

“A hilarious, subversively stylish, and surprisingly poignant new superhero series.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • CA • UK
Netflix Standard with Ads
US • CA • UK
Why fans love it

The Umbrella Academy leans into the friction of a superpowered household struggling with the burden of an unwanted legacy. Instead of focusing on traditional heroics, the series favors a tone that is equal parts witty and apocalyptic. The narrative maneuvers through alternate history and mysterious secret societies while balancing grand science fiction stakes with the petty grievances of siblings who never quite grew up.

Robert Sheehan stands out in a group dynamic defined by constant instability. The show frames the threat of total armageddon not as a heroic challenge, but as a recurring, exhausting nuisance for a team that barely functions as a family. It creates a curious rhythm where the world ends repeatedly, yet the internal conflict remains the primary problem. Every mission carries the weight of a past they cannot seem to escape.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 10
Longest run 36 eps
Aidan Gallagher
Aidan Gallagher
as Number Five
36 episodes
Elliot Page
Elliot Page
as Vanya Hargreeves / Number Seven
36 episodes
Tom Hopper
Tom Hopper
as Luther Hargreeves / Number One
36 episodes
Emmy Raver-Lampman
Emmy Raver-Lampman
as Allison Hargreeves / Number Three
36 episodes
Robert Sheehan
Robert Sheehan
as Klaus Hargreeves / Number Four
36 episodes
David Castañeda
David Castañeda
as Diego Hargreeves / Number Two
36 episodes
Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
as Cha-Cha
10 episodes
Justin H. Min
Justin H. Min
as Ben Hargreeves / Number Six
36 episodes
Show 67 more
Ritu Arya as Lila Pitts 26 episodes Cameron Britton as Hazel 12 episodes Colm Feore as Sir Reginald Hargreeves 33 episodes Sheila McCarthy as Agnes 11 episodes Genesis Rodriguez as Sloane Hargreeves 10 episodes Adam Godley as Pogo (voice) 16 episodes Jordan Claire Robbins as Grace 24 episodes Justin Paul Kelly as Harlan 10 episodes Marin Ireland as Sissy Cooper 11 episodes Yusuf Gatewood as Raymond Chestnut 13 episodes John Magaro as Leonard Peabody 10 episodes Kate Walsh as The Handler 16 episodes Peter Outerbridge as The Conductor 3 episodes Cody Ray Thompson as Dave 3 episodes Cameron Brodeur as Young Luther 8 episodes Dante Albidone as Young Klaus 8 episodes Ethan Hwang as Young Ben 7 episodes Rainbow Sun Francks as Detective Chuck Beaman 6 episodes Alyssa Gervasi as Young Vanya (Age 4) 5 episodes Matt Biedel as Sgt. Dale Chedder 2 episodes Heather Sanderson as Lady on Bus 3 episodes Blake Talabis as Young Diego 7 episodes Karl Campbell as Goon Leader 2 episodes Murray Furrow as Syd 3 episodes Eric Peterson as Al 2 episodes Zachary Bennett as Lance Biggs 3 episodes Emily Piggford as Helen 3 episodes Ashley Madekwe as Detective Eudora Patch 5 episodes Sean Sullivan as Super Old Five 6 episodes Anna Nadtotchii as Teenage Girl 3 episodes Tom Sinclair as Oscar 6 episodes Raven Dauda as Odessa 4 episodes Dewshane Williams as Miles 4 episodes Mouna Traoré as Jill 4 episodes Birva Pandya as Young Woman on Bike 3 episodes Jason Bryden as Otto 9 episodes Eden Cupid as Young Allison 9 episodes T.J. McGibbon as Young Vanya 8 episodes Robert Verlaque as Hoyt Hillenkoetter 4 episodes Peter Schoelier as Mr. Edelman / Pale Man 3 episodes Kristen Holden-Ried as Axel 10 episodes John Kapelos as Jack Ruby 5 episodes Dov Tiefenbach as Keechie 6 episodes Calem MacDonald as Young Dave 5 episodes Tony Marra as Gruff Manager 5 episodes Patrice Goodman as Dot 7 episodes Kevin Rankin as Elliot 7 episodes Britne Oldford as Fei Hargreeves 7 episodes Jake Epstein as Alphonso Hargreeves 5 episodes Geet Arora as Husband 4 episodes Cazzie David as Jayme Hargreeves 5 episodes Javon Walton as Stan 7 episodes Shiva Safari as Wife 5 episodes Callum Keith Rennie as Lester Pocket 6 episodes Stephen Bogaert as Carl Cooper 8 episodes Ken Hall as Herb 11 episodes Julian Richings as Chet Rodo 8 episodes Liisa Repo-Martell as Abigail Hargreeves 6 episodes David Cross as Sy Grossman 4 episodes Nick Offerman as Dr. Gene Thibedeau 6 episodes Megan Mullally as Dr. Jean Thibedeau 6 episodes Millie Davis as Claire Hargreeves 6 episodes Martin Roach as Lance Ribbons 4 episodes Zack Binder as Derek 3 episodes Victoria Sawal as Jennifer 5 episodes George Tchortov as Quinn 3 episodes Jessica Greco as Bea 3 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Production Consultant
Jeremy Slater
Executive Producer
Mike Richardson Steve Blackman Scott Stuber
Co-Producer
Jamie Neese Everett Burrell Chris Tongue
Production Design
Carey Meyer Andrew M. Stearn
Director
Andrew Bernstein Tom Verica Paco Cabezas Peter Hoar Sylvain White Stephen Surjik
Editor
Wendy Tzeng Amanda Panella
Set Decoration
Enrico Campana Mike Leandro Evan Davis Jim Lambie
Director of Photography
Craig Wrobleski
Co-Executive Producer
Gabriel Bá
Creator
Steve Blackman
Accountant
Ryan Heimpel
Property Master
Mary Arthurs Emily Hyde
Driver
Keith Barnes
Producer
Jason Neese
Stunts
Stephannie Hawkins
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Umbrella Academy overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

secret society time travel superhero based on comic dysfunctional family alternate history apocalypse armageddon universe sibling super power end of world curious kids science fiction offbeat witty whimsical wry
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
February 15, 2019
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
10,076