Actually, Kristen Stewart Has Always Been a Great Actor
Her lauded performance in Spencer has its roots in Twilight.
You Won’t Regret Rewatching The Ring
Almost 20 years ago, the modern horror classic offered an eerily prescient warning about viral media.
When Royal Life Is a Horror Film
Spencer puts a fresh spotlight on Princess Diana—but not for her historical or political significance.
Where Sex Positivity Falls Short
Television wants to help us get better at talking about sex, but some of its recent offerings miss a crucial point.
A Movie That Reimagines What Sequels Are For
The Souvenir Part II is an art film told with the ambition of a big blockbuster.
The American Workplace Isn’t Prepared for This Much Grief
The pandemic has highlighted the fact that without a federal bereavement policy, many people are subject to the whims of state legislatures and individual companies.
To Hell With Drowning
For people living in Oceania, climate change is the fight of our lives, and we need more than science to win. We need stories.
How Succession Is Remaking Kendall Roy
In the HBO show, wealth traps. Its sad, desperate protagonist is the only one with the possibility of escape.
Lana Del Rey Is Still Searching for Happiness
In her new album, big themes—trauma, gender, social collapse—are just details of her inner life.
When a Film’s Message Doesn’t Match Its Spectacle
Last Night in Soho imbues the swinging ’60s with psychological horror. But its social commentary is less distinctive.
Science Fiction’s Very Special Boys
Luke Skywalker, Paul Atreides, and what the new Dune finally got right.
Reality TV’s Absurd New Extreme
How a genre premised on artifice got obsessed with disguise
The Blockbuster That Hollywood Was Afraid to Make
“The first audience member I wanted to please was myself,” the director Denis Villeneuve said of tackling his Dune adaptation.
The Perils of the Springsteen-Obama Echo Chamber
Can a serious and heartfelt dialogue between two famous friends heal our national wounds?
How Gunther Broke the Fourth Wall
James Michael Tyler, who died yesterday, played the beloved Friends character with a sense of ironized self-awareness.
The Netflix Series That Should Make Religious People Uncomfortable
Midnight Mass is a morally urgent critique of how faith can fuel everyday cruelty and violence.
Photos Are Too Flattering Now
An ode to the bygone days of blurry, poorly lit images
The Fun of Watching Bad People Pretend to Be Good
In every episode, Succession finds new rocks to turn over and new vermin to dissect.
The Most Poetic Marvel Film Yet
Chloé Zhao, the director of Eternals, prioritizes humanism over action. The result is a soulful, refreshing superhero tale.
The Unfunny Transformation of Joe Biden
Jason Sudeikis reprised his role on SNL as Barack Obama’s vice president—and showed how much the politician’s persona has shifted over the years.