The Great Novel of the Internet Was Published in 1925
Almost 100 years ago, Mrs. Dalloway anticipated the anxiety of seeing—and being seen.
Frontiers of Sports
Where Did ‘Synchronized Swimming’ Go?
More than 30 years after its Olympic debut, the sport was rebranded as “artistic swimming”—a controversial move that athletes fear could backfire.
January 6 Wasn’t a Riot. It Was War.
Four Hours at the Capitol, a new HBO documentary, is a vivid, terrifying picture of violent insurrection.
Wes Anderson’s Whimsy Goes Too Far
At its best, The French Dispatch mixes madcap fun, gentle satire, and earnestness. At its worst, it’s exhausting.
‘It’s a Safe Space for Mean Humor’
The boar is on the floor. The Greggs are in the Tomelettes. And Season 3 of Succession is finally here.
Dune Is Epic, but That’s Not Why It’s Great
A new film adaptation of the best seller has a colossal budget and an all-star cast—but its emotional depth is what sets it apart.
The Most Famous Low-Wage Workers in the Country
Players in the National Women’s Soccer League are speaking up about the abusive work environments that can develop when women are underpaid.
In Defense of Fakeness
Novels partially based on their author’s life are more popular than ever. Ironically, invention built on the truth can be the best kind of escapism.
Why Did Dostoyevsky Write Crime and Punishment?
He had no choice.
Human History Gets a Rewrite
A brilliant new account upends bedrock assumptions about 30,000 years of change.
The True Cost of Wealth on HBO’s Succession
The Season 3 premiere of the Roy-family saga is as chaotic and luxurious as ever.
The Loosest, Funniest SNL of the Season So Far
The Oscar winner and celebrity guest Rami Malek knew when to lean into his roles—and when to get out of the way.
The Rock Band That Redefined Counterculture
Todd Haynes’s documentary about the Velvet Underground spotlights how sound can challenge—and change—society.
The Perfect Horror Movie That Inspired Countless Imitators
The original Halloween painted a frightening vision of suburban life. None of its sequels has managed to do the same.
The Best Show on TV Is Stuck
In its third season, HBO’s award-winning series Succession needs to remember the dramatic stakes that made it great.
Climbing the Economic Ladder in Fresno, California
One family’s journey into the middle class
‘The Most Influential Action Movies Ever Made’
James Bond has been in theaters across six decades. But with No Time to Die ending Daniel Craig’s run, where will the franchise go next?
Ridley Scott’s New Film Plays a Masterly Trick
The Last Duel tells a familiar story—and then unravels it.
When the Place You Live Becomes Unlivable
After Hurricane Ida, New Orleanians are weighing the emotional, cultural, and financial costs of leaving the place they call home.
How to Have an Impossible Conversation
The events in Mass are spurred by a school shooting, but the film’s true focus is the challenge of talking through grief.
Kim Kardashian Didn’t Break Character on SNL
The influencer and former reality-TV star’s Saturday Night Live appearance played into her brand, and did nothing to challenge it.
Ode to Joy