Many consider The Big Bang Theory to be one of the best sitcoms of all time, but that doesn’t automatically mean that every spinoff that continues its characters’ stories will be a hit. Sure, Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage found success, but Stuart Fails to Save the Universe — a new HBO Max series that hits the 2026 TV schedule on July 23 — is quite a big swing for creator Chuck Lorre. Despite its creative concept, critics’ reviews disagree on whether or not it’s actually funny.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe picks up where The Big Bang Theory left off, with the titular comic book store owner (Kevin Sussman, reprising his TBBT role) triggering a multiversal apocalypse. As he tries to set things right, he encounters multiple versions of himself, Denise (Lauren Lapkus) and their friends. CinemaBlend’s own Mick Joest says he was surprised that the show made him laugh out loud multiple times. In fact, he says he loves it even more than The Big Bang Theory, writing:
