Adults (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | May 28, 2025 |
| Founder | Ben Kronengold, Rebecca Shaw |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Television show |
| Parent | FX Networks |
Adults is a U.S.-based ensemble comedy television show created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw that follows a circle of friends in their twenties as they face the realities of adulthood in Queens, New York. The series debuted on FX on May 28, 2025, and was met with generally favorable reviews from critics.
In October 2025, FX announced the renewal of the show for a second season.
Premise
The narrative of Adults revolves around a group of young adults—Samir (Elassal), Billie (Freyer), Paul Baker (Innanen), Issa (Rao), and Anton (Thiele)—who share Samir’s childhood residence. The storyline delves into issues such as professional struggles, healthcare concerns, contemporary dating experiences, and social interactions, balancing humor with more serious reflections on early adult life.
Main
- Malik Elassal portrays Samir Rahman
- Lucy Freyer plays Billie Schaeffer
- Jack Innanen appears as Paul Baker
- Amita Rao acts as Issa
- Owen Thiele is Anton Evans
Recurring
- Charlie Cox features as Mr. Teacher
- Rachel Marsh takes on the role of Carly
Guest
- D'Arcy Carden appears as Allison
- Ray Nicholson portrays Ethan
- John Reynolds plays Brian
- Will Ropp acts as Kyle Haberman
- Grace Kuhlenschmidt appears as Taryn
- Julia Fox makes a cameo as herself
- Tala Ashe portrays Hilary
- Lilah Guaragna appears as Annabelle
Release
Filming occurred in Toronto, Canada. The series launched with two episodes on May 28, 2025, airing subsequent episodes in pairs each Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FX. Starting May 29, the entire season was accessible for streaming on Hulu. Outside the United States, the show premiered on Disney+. Marketing activities included promotional events held at laundromats located in New York City and Los Angeles.
Critical response
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 74% approval rating based on 32 critic evaluations, with consensus highlighting Adults as a relatable sitcom for Generation Z featuring an engaging cast. On Metacritic, it received a score of 65 out of 100 from 19 critics, reflecting "generally favorable" feedback.
Dave Nemetz from TVLine commended Adults for offering a fresh perspective on stories about people in their twenties, emphasizing its humor, appeal, and influences drawn from shows like Friends, Girls, and Broad City. He particularly praised Owen Thiele’s comedic performance. Karl Quinn of The Age observed that the series combines a shared living space sitcom format with modern issues such as identity politics and cancel culture, applauding its creativity and social relevance despite some inconsistencies.
Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club acknowledged the show's promise as an enjoyable, low-pressure hangout comedy that captures Gen Z awkwardness alongside socio-political themes but noted instances of exaggerated humor. Michel Ghanem from TheWrap described Adults as a strong revival of messy twenty-something comedies, praising its authentic moments, ensemble chemistry, and grounded character portrayals, suggesting it has potential to develop into a standout series over time.
Ratings
The initial broadcast on May 28, 2025, drew an audience of 188,500 households, achieving a 0.15% rating. By June 11, the number of viewers dropped to 91,000 (P2+), reflecting a 0.03% rating and a 3% decrease compared to the previous week. Among adults aged 18–49, the viewership was 27,000 with a 0.02% rating, while the demographic aged 25–54 recorded 38,000 viewers and a 0.03% rating.