Every year, the Super Bowl features jaw-dropping commercials, but this year, there was one particular trailer that caught everyone off guard. And it wasn’t just another teaser, it was Duhpocalypse! A fake movie about a zombie apocalypse with Johnny Knoxville and Josh Hutcherson.
The trailer was hilarious and it’s no wonder it’s making rounds on the internet. But many do not know the origins of the same as it is a part of Apple TV+’s upcoming comedy series The Studio.
A masterclass in satire: why fans want Duhpocalypse to be real
The trailer to Duhpocalypse had ridiculous one-liners and an outrageous premise that had everyone hooked. The zombies in the trailer aren’t your typical undead — they suffer from extreme gastrointestinal distress, leading to a funny yet graphic moment. Even in the name, the word “duh” is added as a pre-fix to signal how the apocalypse movies are thoughtless.
The short clip is a brilliant satire of the genre and a parody of Hollywood’s obsession with the formula of movies in which the world seems to be ending, with a few people doing their best to survive. The exaggerated scenes and absurd dialogue poke fun at how the industry relies on these overused tropes.
Naturally, social media reactions to Duhpocalypse have been overwhelmingly positive, with some expressing their interest in actually watching the full-length movie. Perhaps it would fit right into the absurd horror-comedy genre, thanks to its zombies that burst out fecal matter.
The Studio: the show behind the viral sensation
The trailer begins with a news announcement and cuts to multiple choppers in the sky with smoke and fire around the city (a classic apocalypse setting). Then we see Johnny Knoxville and Josh Hutcherson with weapons in their hand, about to take on a zombie.
Hutcherson gets splashed on in the worst way possible, which gets him infected and Knoxville kills his character, cut to a scene of the actual show where the movie is being discussed. The Studio would probably feature more such absurd trailers because it’s a satirical comedy series that takes a hilarious deep dive into the chaotic world of Hollywood.
The show promises a sharp behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in the board meetings, with interesting cameos, and meta-humor. The inclusion of Duhpocalypse is genius, and having it played during the Super Bowl will definitely attract more eyes toward The Studio because even though the trailer is fiction within fiction, the impact is very real. Now whether or not Apple TV+ decides to turn it into an actual project is yet to be seen.
The Studio will be available to stream on Apple TV+ from March 26, 2025.
