‘Brothers’ Just Handed McConaughey and Harrelson an Unwelcome Rotten Tomatoes Milestone as Score is Revealed

Some pairings feel tailor-made for television, and Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have long sat near the top of that list. Their 2014 run on ‘True Detective’ turned a famous friendship into a season that earned a Certified Fresh 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.

So when Apple TV announced ‘Brothers,’ a comedy in which the pals play fictionalized versions of themselves, it looked like an easy win. The series is billed as a comedy based on a true rumor. After Woody’s daughter’s wedding falls apart, he heads to Matthew’s Austin ranch, where Matthew’s mother, Ma Mac, lets slip that the two friends might actually be brothers.

The show debuted on Wednesday, September 23, with its first 2 episodes, followed by 1 new episode every Wednesday through November 4. Now the early critical verdict is in, and it isn’t the celebration Apple TV likely hoped for. The season currently sits at a 53% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it has no Popcornmeter audience score yet.

The number has slipped since the review embargo lifted. Forbes reported a 56% score based on 27 reviews, while other outlets cited 57%. Even at those higher figures, ‘Brothers’ counted as the worst-reviewed TV show of either actor’s career.

Context matters here, because neither star is a stranger to a bruising score. McConaughey’s lowest-rated movie is ‘Surfer, Dude’ from 2008, which sits at 0%, while Harrelson’s is ‘Free Jimmy’ at 10%. Their television work has generally landed better with critics, which is why this debut stands out.

The reviews reveal a real divide. Some critics find the series self-indulgent and aimless, while others call it amiable and gently amusing, with undeniable chemistry between the leads. TVLine landed on the harsher side, arguing that the show squanders that chemistry on lazy jokes and a lack of purpose.

Collider was more forgiving. Its review says the series is sold on the charisma of the 2 real-life friends and delivers on that front, though it leans on familiar sitcom tropes. It also describes the 8 half-hour episodes as a light antidote to heavier streaming fare.

The most enthusiastic takes come from outlets that embrace the show’s shaggy tone. One review calls it a warm, funny family comedy that turns the stars’ real friendship into a loose, Texas-sized sitcom. That gap between admirers and skeptics helps explain why the score sits in the middle rather than at either extreme.

Never touch another man's knob.

The first two episodes of #Brothers are now streaming. pic.twitter.com/p83aC8ubwJ

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) September 23, 2026

The series was created by McConaughey and Harrelson alongside David West Read and Lee Eisenberg, with Eisenberg serving as showrunner. It is produced for Apple TV by Paramount Television Studios, and the ensemble includes Holland Taylor, Natalie Martinez and Brittany Ishibashi.

The pairing had already raised eyebrows before the premiere. At the 2026 Emmy Awards, the duo presented the final award of the night and stretched out their time on stage in a rambling, unscripted exchange meant to promote the show. That moment sparked worries about how the series would turn out, though the same review says the season is less painful than that awards-show segment.

It’s early days for the season. Rotten Tomatoes scores can fluctuate as more reviews come in, and the audience score hasn’t been added yet, so the fan reaction could change the picture. With new episodes arriving weekly, the conversation around the show is likely to keep evolving, with the next installment landing on October 7.

For now, ‘Brothers’ is a comedy that many critics admire for its stars more than its scripts.

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