section_path: Career/2018–present: Succession and expansion
section_name: 2018–present: Succession and expansion
paragraph_text: 2018–present: Succession and expansion
  
  From 2018 to 2023, Culkin received renewed recognition from mainstream audiences for his lead role as Roman Roy, an immature and irresponsible media executive, in the HBO black comedy-drama series Succession. He credits the series with solidifying his desire to be an actor. Culkin's performance, especially in the final season, earned critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama, two Critics' Choice Television Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
  
  Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, Culkin reunited with the Father of the Bride cast for its legacy-sequel short film (2020). He played a supporting role in Steven Soderbergh 's crime thriller No Sudden Move (2021), and hosted the November 6, 2021 episode of the variety series Saturday Night Live; marking thirty years since his brother Macaulay anchored. In 2022, Culkin narrated the documentary miniseries Gaming Wall Street and joined the adult animated sitcom Solar Opposites as a recurring character. He returned to his role as Wallace Wells for the anime series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023).
  
  The 2024 Sundance Film Festival marked the release of Jesse Eisenberg 's buddy comedy film A Real Pain, Culkin's first major project post- Succession. He played Benjamin "Benji" Kaplan, a free-spirited and mentally unstable drifter who travels to Poland with his cousin David (played by Eisenberg) to honor their late grandmother and connect with their Polish-Jewish heritage. Culkin's performance was highly praised by critics. Owen Gleiberman of Variety called it a "sensational piece of acting", while The Washington Post ' s Ty Burr found it "both liberating and touched by a deeper, more inarticulate sadness". Culkin earned several accolades for his work, including the Academy Award, the BAFTA Award, the Golden Globe Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor.
  
  In 2025, Culkin returned to the stage as Richard Roma in Patrick Marber 's Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross, opposite Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr. Culkin's performance polarized theater critics, with some opining that he was miscast. Next, Culkin will portray Squealer in Andy Serkis ' animated film adaptation of Animal Farm, and Caesar Flickerman in Francis Lawrence 's The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026).
  
  From 2018 to 2023, Culkin received renewed recognition from mainstream audiences for his lead role as Roman Roy, an immature and irresponsible media executive, in the HBO black comedy-drama series Succession. He credits the series with solidifying his desire to be an actor. Culkin's performance, especially in the final season, earned critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama, two Critics' Choice Television Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
  
  Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, Culkin reunited with the Father of the Bride cast for its legacy-sequel short film (2020). He played a supporting role in Steven Soderbergh 's crime thriller No Sudden Move (2021), and hosted the November 6, 2021 episode of the variety series Saturday Night Live; marking thirty years since his brother Macaulay anchored. In 2022, Culkin narrated the documentary miniseries Gaming Wall Street and joined the adult animated sitcom Solar Opposites as a recurring character. He returned to his role as Wallace Wells for the anime series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023).
  
  The 2024 Sundance Film Festival marked the release of Jesse Eisenberg 's buddy comedy film A Real Pain, Culkin's first major project post- Succession. He played Benjamin "Benji" Kaplan, a free-spirited and mentally unstable drifter who travels to Poland with his cousin David (played by Eisenberg) to honor their late grandmother and connect with their Polish-Jewish heritage. Culkin's performance was highly praised by critics. Owen Gleiberman of Variety called it a "sensational piece of acting", while The Washington Post ' s Ty Burr found it "both liberating and touched by a deeper, more inarticulate sadness". Culkin earned several accolades for his work, including the Academy Award, the BAFTA Award, the Golden Globe Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor.
  
  In 2025, Culkin returned to the stage as Richard Roma in Patrick Marber 's Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross, opposite Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr. Culkin's performance polarized theater critics, with some opining that he was miscast. Next, Culkin will portray Squealer in Andy Serkis ' animated film adaptation of Animal Farm, and Caesar Flickerman in Francis Lawrence 's The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026).