Real Men (Italian TV series)

Last updated
Real Men
Real Men (Italian TV series).jpg
Maschi Veri
Genre Comedy-drama, Satire
Directed by
  • Letizia Lamartire
  • Matteo Oleotto
Starring
Country of originItaly
Original languageItalian
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
ProducerGroenlandia
Original release
Network Netflix
ReleaseMay 22, 2025 (2025-05-22)

Real Men (Italian: Maschi Veri) is an Italian comedy-drama streaming television series produced by Groenlandia for Netflix. [1] The series is a remake of the Spanish production Alpha Males (Machos Alfa). Directed by Letizia Lamartire and Matteo Oleotto, the first season was released globally on May 22, 2025. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Premise

Set in modern-day Rome, the story follows four middle-aged men who feel increasingly displaced by the rise of gender equality. As their traditional "alpha male" identities crumble under the weight of career setbacks and midlife crises, they reluctantly enroll in a "deconstruction" seminar. The course aims to help them shed toxic masculinity habits in an attempt to salvage their personal and professional relationships.

Production

Netflix Italy commissioned the series from Banijay-owned production company Groenlandia on May 29, 2024. [5] [6]

Filming for the first season took place primarily in Rome, with notable locations including the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, the Appian Way Regional Park, and the Ondina Generali Sports Club. Additional photography occurred in Southern Italy to utilize regional Baroque architecture. [7]

In September 2025, Netflix announced the renewal of the series for a second season, with Matteo Oleotto and Milena Cocozza set to direct. [8] [7]

Cast

Reception

The series received generally positive reviews for its faithfulness to the original format. John Serba of Decider gave the series a "Stream It" recommendation, noting that it "sticks to the formula" that made the original Spanish show a success. [2] K-Waves and Beyond described the satire as "superficial" and the characters as "underdeveloped," suggesting the show works better as casual entertainment than deep social critique. [9] Conversely, Zoom TV Entertainment called it a "must-watch," praising its ability to filter universal anxieties about aging through a specifically Italian cultural prism. [10]

References

  1. "Maschi Veri, la serie italiana che vuole combattere la mascolinità tossica (con ironia) è in arrivo su Netflix". Cosmopolitan (in Italian). 2025-05-15. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  2. 1 2 Serba, John (2025-05-22). "'Real Men' Netflix Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". Decider. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  3. Barone, Martina (2025-05-12). "Maschi veri, su Netflix la serie che manda in crisi l'uomo alfa". Vanity Fair Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  4. "Maschi Veri, ciak per nuova serie comedy italiana Netflix - Tv - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  5. "Netflix Italy ordered comedy series "Maschi Veri" from Groenlandia". Señal News. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  6. "Maschi veri: la serie su Netflix dal 21 maggio" (in Italian). 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  7. 1 2 Mammone, Giulia (2025-05-27). "Maschi Veri: le location della serie Netflix". Cinematographe.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  8. Lorenzo, Paolo Di (2025-09-24). ""Maschi Veri 2", sono iniziate le riprese". TV Sorrisi e Canzoni (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  9. "Real Men Review: Navigating Modern Masculinity". K-Waves and Beyond. 2025-05-23. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  10. "Real Men OTT Release Date". Zoom TV Entertainment. 2025-05-18. Retrieved 2026-01-29.