Margo’s Got Money Troubles Review: Elle Fanning Leads a Sharp, Messy Family Drama

by

Sean Baker’s film Anora was a major winner at the 2025 Academy Awards, taking home five prizes, including Best Picture and Best Actress (for Mikey Madison). Since its release in 2024, the movie has generated significant discussion about how sex workers are represented in film and what responsible depiction looks like, especially for women. Now, a new limited series from A24 and Apple TV explores similar themes, focusing on a young mother who uses OnlyFans to provide for herself and her son.

Based on Rufi Thorpe’s well-received 2024 novel, Margo’s Got Money Troubles has been reimagined as a visually stunning and engaging television series. Created by David E. Kelley, the show offers a compelling blend of drama and comedy that’s easy to watch from beginning to end, even when tackling difficult themes.

Nick Offerman and Elle Fanning Deliver Career-Defining Performances

The show centers around Margo Millet, a college student played and executive produced by Elle Fanning (along with her sister, Dakota). Margo is too young to drink legally and navigates life in an expensive city with three roommates, a distant father, and a mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) who enjoys the finer things. The story begins when Margo becomes pregnant by her inappropriate English professor, Mark (Michael Angarano), and chooses to have the baby, though the show doesn’t fully explain her reasons.

Right from the start, the show establishes a clear theme of history repeating itself. Margo’s mother struggles to understand her daughter’s choices, likely because she faced a similar situation: being a Hooters waitress who became pregnant by a professional wrestler who wasn’t around much. The baby’s father doesn’t want to be involved, so Margo relies on a limited support network consisting of her roommate Susie, her newly-sober father, her hesitant mother, and eventually, her lawyer.

This eight-episode series is absolutely delightful. From the charming opening animation to the bursts of colorful visuals representing a character’s imagination, it immediately captivates its audience. What truly stands out is how quickly you connect with the characters. They feel fully developed right away – funny, realistic, and wonderfully flawed. You’ll find yourself both frustrated with and deeply fond of them, wanting to shake some sense into them while also wanting to comfort them.

Dakota Fanning is captivating as Margo, delivering a performance that is both gentle and intensely powerful. Once Margo becomes a mother, Fanning portrays a fiercely protective, almost primal side to her, as if she’s battling to safeguard both her child and her own sanity. One minor drawback is that Fanning doesn’t quite convey the look of someone in their late teens or early twenties, which would have underscored the particularly harsh impact of motherhood at that age. Michelle Pfeiffer is equally impressive as Shyanne, and her performance in this film serves as a powerful reminder of her incredible acting talent.

Nick Offerman delivers the most heartbreaking performance in the film, which isn’t surprising given his talent. He plays Jinx, Margo’s former wrestling father, and completely transforms into the role. It’s initially difficult to recognize Offerman beneath the beard, muscles, and clothing. Even in close-ups, he disappears into the character, conveying a deep sadness through his eyes that is truly affecting. Offerman’s performance adds a powerful emotional weight to Margo’s Got Money Troubles, highlighting the lingering pain of past errors.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles Is Led by a Messy Protagonist

I found the story surprisingly layered. It could have easily been a straightforward tale of a young mother’s struggles, but the creators really dug deeper. It’s not just about family; it’s a fascinating exploration of what it means to be an artist – who gets to call themselves one, and what happens when life forces you to abandon your creative passions. It really challenges the often-snobbish way we view artistic careers, and Margo’s Got Money Troubles actually gives art some much-needed respect. My only real gripe? The film seems to go out of its way to disparage Fullerton College, which feels unnecessary and I hope won’t give viewers the wrong impression about the value of community colleges.

Margo’s decision to have a baby is impulsive, and while the show acknowledges this, it doesn’t fully explore the complexities of her choice. As a young college student, she doesn’t seem to consider the impact a baby will have on her life. She’s surprised and upset when some of her roommates react negatively to her bringing the baby home. Her strong opposition to abortion – framing it as ending a human life – introduces a potentially divisive debate. If she had taken more time to consider her options, the show might have avoided implying that abortion is equivalent to murder, especially since her reasons for believing this aren’t explored.

The show does a good job of portraying a character who’s intelligent but naive when it comes to real-world situations. There are many people like Margo out there, and we’re just watching her story unfold. Throughout the series, Margo faces the repercussions of her choices, forcing viewers to question their own feelings towards her. While her impulsive decision wasn’t ideal, it’s hard not to sympathize with her situation. Ideally, young mothers should have access to support like jobs and childcare, and the father should step up with financial or practical help. Margo’s mother could have also offered more assistance. It feels like almost everything is stacked against her.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles Only Hits the Surface of Its Darker Themes

The show, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, presents a thoughtful and honest look at the world of sex work. Like the characters themselves, these sensitive themes are introduced early on, though not always explicitly. Margo’s decision to enter sex work feels like a natural progression for her character, even if it’s not a typical choice. The story is structured so that the challenges and setbacks she experiences push her towards platforms like OnlyFans.

The show Margo’s Got Money Troubles offers a simplistic view of sex work. While it aims to portray the job as potentially empowering and creative, it glosses over the real dangers involved. The series focuses on Margo’s easy success on OnlyFans, creating an unrealistic fantasy. Although Margo faces a couple of situations where her privacy and family are threatened, these are quickly resolved without lasting consequences. While these moments offer viewers relief and sympathy for Margo, it’s concerning that young women might watch the show and mistakenly believe they can overcome the risks of sex work simply through determination and self-assurance.

One of the best things about Margo’s Got Money Troubles is that it treats sex workers with respect and portrays them as complex people with understandable reasons for their choices – whether it’s simply to earn a living, a genuine desire for the work, or a combination of both. However, the show could have been even stronger if it had spent more time exploring the difficult circumstances that often lead women to this profession, even if they eventually find fulfillment in it. The ending, in particular, feels rushed and overly neat, prioritizing a feel-good conclusion over a more realistic and nuanced resolution.

“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is a surprisingly enjoyable, yet emotionally challenging story. It’s complex and doesn’t shy away from glossing over difficult realities to create a more optimistic view. While clever and funny, the series isn’t entirely truthful, and it’s quickly becoming one of the most discussed shows of the year. Whether that’s positive or negative remains to be seen – just like Margo discovers, everyone has their own way of creating and experiencing art, and there’s no single right answer.

The new series Margo’s Got Money Troubles first debuted at the SXSW festival on March 12, 2026. The first three episodes will be available to stream on Apple TV starting April 15th.

Read More

2026-03-13 05:37