Top Movie News provided by the LA Times©

• In 'Is This Thing On?' a dumped dad finds a new chapter in stand-up. His wife's a fan
  After 'A Star Is Born' and 'Maestro,' director Bradley Cooper relaxes into a dramedy starring Will Arnett as a separated husband finding new purpose as a stand-up.
• 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' re-creates a rescue mission with the real pleas of a terrified girl
  Dramatizing a real-life incident with a tense one-location framework, the movie deploys a horrifying audio recording and the well-meaning efforts of actors.
• The job may be tidying up, but 'The Housemaid' brings plenty of trash
  Co-starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, both exploring shades of over-the-top crazy, the movie supplies the juicy empty calories you may be craving.
• 'There's no secrets': How Oscar Isaac bared his soul for 'Frankenstein'
  In this week's episode of The Envelope, 'Frankenstein's' Oscar Isaac and 'Sinners'' Wunmi Mosaku talk about making personal connections to their hit horror epics.
• The 12 best needle drops of 2025
  These songs made their scenes indelible, from classic rock and dance pop to old-timey blues and thrash. There's even a former Beatle on here.
• Imax just had a $1-billion year. Why 2026 looks to be even bigger
  Filmmakers, fans and executives explain the growing enthusiasm for the half-century-old format — and why 2026 looks to be its biggest year yet.
• How do Lifetime and Hallmark keep Christmas movies fresh? Pickleball and the NFL
  For the two cable networks, tapping into niches, hobbies and sports teams allows the them to invite new audiences in, while keeping loyal viewers satisfied with a break in formula.
• Gil Gerard, 'Buck Rogers' star who was a hero to late-'70s latchkey kids, dies at 82
  Gil Gerard, an actor best known for his title roles in 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century' on screens big and small, died Tuesday of cancer. He was 82.
• What the Oscars moving to YouTube means for broadcast TV
  The Oscars will stream on YouTube beginning in 2029, ending a more than five-decade run on broadcast television and marking the show's biggest distribution shift in its history.
• 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' has dynamite villains and dialogue that's surf-bro hysterical
  Bad guys Oona Chaplin and Stephen Lang add spark to James Cameron's third dazzling and surreal dispatch from Pandora, one that restates much of what's come before.
• 6 actresses on refusing the boxes Hollywood tried to put them in
  On our Oscar Actresses Roundtable, Sydney Sweeney, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elle Fanning and Tessa Thompson open up about bad press, career boxes and inhabiting their roles.
• A famous father, a troubled son: How addiction tormented the Reiner family
  What we know about Nick Reiner before he was arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents, Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and wife Michele.
• Crying in secret, confident in public: How Mary Bronstein made 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'
  No one wanted to fund Bronstein's immersive portrait of a mother (Rose Byrne) on the verge. In an essay for The Envelope, she explains how she willed it into existence anyway.
• Julia Roberts' 'After the Hunt' Oscar chances, by the numbers
  Roberts, a winner for 'Erin Brockovich,' was last nominated for an Oscar for the 2013 family drama 'August: Osage County.'
• One Shot: The moment in 'After the Hunt' when two characters are unexpectedly connected
  Cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed and music supervisor Robin Urdang break down one of the most arresting scenes in 'After the Hunt,' punctuated by inserts of worrying hands.
• Appreciation: Rob Reiner found a way to please everyone — by going his own way
  Reiner made a perfect rom-com ('When Harry Met Sally…'), a perfect thriller ('Misery'), a perfect fantasy ('The Princess Bride') and never wanted to be pigeonholed.
• Michele Singer Reiner, photographer and creative partner to Rob Reiner, dead at 70
  A photographer who later became a producer, Singer Reiner collaborated with filmmaker Rob Reiner on civic causes and even affected the ending of "When Harry Met Sally."
• The story behind the Oscar-worthy real estate in 4 fall movies
  From a multigenerational family home to a frontier cottage, houses become key characters in a number of Oscar contenders. Here are the tales behind four of them.
• After 'The Whale,' Brendan Fraser was at a crossroads. Then he found 'Rental Family'
  Fraser and the film's director, Hikari, spoke to The Envelope about why 'Rental Family' was the right collaboration at the right time and why audiences shouldn't be 'afraid to feel.'
• Rob Reiner's 10 best films as a director
  Rob Reiner was a versatile director, crossing genres for a career that included 'This Is Spinal Tap,' 'The Princess Bride,' 'When Harry Met Sally,' 'Misery' and more.
• Scarlett Johansson and June Squibb bonded on 'Eleanor the Great.' Well, except that one scene
  The debut director and her 96-year-old star talk about their new collaboration — and the cut scene that had Squibb asking Johansson, 'What the hell happened?'
• Rob Reiner, 'When Harry Met Sally' director, 'All in the Family' actor and political activist, dead at 78
  Rob Reiner, a Hollywood scion who directed films including 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'The Princess Bride,' was found dead with his wife Sunday in Brentwood. He was 78.
• 'Hamnet' seemed 'completely lost.' How four days saved the year's most emotional film
  Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Chloé Zhao and more of the artists behind 'Hamnet' detail the making of the climactic sequence inside the Globe Theatre.
• 'La Grazia' reunites a dependable Italian duo for a rumination on the end of a political career
  Director Paolo Sorrentino and actor Toni Servillo collaborate on another study of political power, this one less explosive and more contemplative.
• In 'Dust Bunny,' a girl hires an assassin to take out her bedroom terrors
  Bryan Fuller, a TV visionary, makes a belated move to film directing with this skillfully wrought but thin fantasy about a girl doing battle with monsters.
• A micro-indie with a huge heart, 'Burt' tells a slender, stirring story of belated connection
  Directed by Joe Burke, the resourceful movie takes a keen, sympathetic interest in the granular details of unglamorous North Hollywood lives.
• Lucy Liu hits a career high as an unraveling mom in 'Rosemead,' based on a true crime
  Directed by Eric Lin, this downbeat, superbly acted drama presents a family in crisis and a worried mother who contemplates the unthinkable.
• She'd like to change the world, but the script of 'Ella McCay' is running against her
  Writer-director James L. Brooks all but invented a warm, urbane way of telling complex women's stories, but his first movie in 15 years feels retrograde.
• 'Resurrection' is a sumptuous, transporting dive into the pure pleasures of the image
  'Resurrection' contains one of director Bi Gan's signature long takes — lasting 30 minutes — but the movie is also a euphoric, reference-laden expression of cinephilia.
• You can't fool a hawk. So for her new film, Claire Foy had to learn their ways
  Much of 'H Is for Hawk' finds the actor performing solo opposite a bird. Go 'along for the ride' with Foy, Philippa Lowthorpe and the film's animal handlers.
• Noah Baumbach doesn't love L.A. But in 'Jay Kelly' and other films, he is fascinated by it
  With 'Greenberg,' 'Marriage Story' and now his Hollywood dramedy 'Jay Kelly,' the Brooklyn native continues to be genuinely (not satirically) interested in L.A.
• 6 actors on striking 'the most difficult balance,' from fatherhood to the artistic process
  On our Oscar Actors Roundtable, Jacob Elordi, Jesse Plemons, Benicio Del Toro, Will Arnett, Wagner Moura and Stellan Skarsgård open up about fame, work/life balance and how they prepare for roles.
• 'Almost Famous,' 'Song Sung Blue' star Kate Hudson: 'A good music movie is hard to do'
  In this week's episode of The Envelope podcast, Tonatiuh discusses 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' and Kate Hudson talks 'Song Sung Blue.'
• San Francisco supervisor proposes boost to city's film and TV tax incentive
  San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman has proposed an increase to the city's film and TV tax incentive program.
• Sundance announces its lineup, preparing for one last celebration in Park City
  The Sundance Film Festival announced its programming for the 2026 edition, the last in Park City, Utah, and the first since the death of Robert Redford.
• George Clooney's 'Jay Kelly' Oscar chances, by the numbers
  Clooney is no stranger to the Oscars, but he hasn't been nominated since 2013. 'Jay Kelly' gives the actor and activist a chance to return to his awards heyday.
• The 16 best documentaries of 2025
  The documentary films and series that captured our attention this year feature famous people and ordinary people, as well as new ideas and perspectives.
• 34 movies and shows to watch on a plane — or trapped at the airport — this holiday season
  In addition to getting you where you want to go, those hours spent on a plane — or trapped at the airport — are a guilt-free opportunity to catch up on or revisit great movies and shows.
• As films compete for Oscar voters' attention, celebrity EPs make their mark
  As independent and international films vie for Oscars against hundreds of competitors, celebrity executive producers are helping draw voters' divided attention.
• Laura Dern channels her 'muses' — her parents — in every role. Including two this fall
  Having grown up on set, Dern feels comfortable there. Which made stepping into very different roles in 'Is This Thing On?' and 'Jay Kelly' feel like second nature.
• Inside 'The Smashing Machine's' brutal fight scenes
  The team behind 'The Smashing Machine' wanted to make every slam, punch and knee to the head reverberate all the way to the cheap seats. Here's how they did it.
• One Shot: How 'Die My Love' captures the 'rotten' underbelly of a marriage
  Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey and director Lynne Ramsey chanced upon this 'phantasmagorical' image — which turned out to contain the spirit of the film as a whole.
• The art of the movie poster: 3 of this year's most striking one-sheets, explained
  The one-sheet wizards behind the movie posters for 'Bugonia,' 'No Other Choice' and 'Sinners' explain how their concepts came together.
• How Tom Cruise, Katy Perry and James Gunn's bad dog shaped these VFX Oscar contenders
  Some of this year's top visual effects Oscar contenders blended real with unreal and surprising inspirations to express their films' unique personalities.
• The writer of Netflix's 'A House of Dynamite' explains its ambiguous ending
  Noah Oppenheim was interested in why the world hasn't already ended in nuclear apocalypse. In 'A House of Dynamite,' he explores the knife's edge between us and that very fate.
• The women of 'One Battle After Another' aren't afraid to 'shake the table'
  The camaraderie among Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti and Regina Hall is on display as they discuss Paul Thomas Anderson, the 'uncomfortable' conversations around the film and more.
• Cynthia Erivo makes history with second 'Wicked' Golden Globe nomination
  Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba in 'Wicked' and its sequel, 'Wicked: For Good,' made history as the first Black woman nominated twice in her Golden Globes category.
• Column: The Golden Globes' ethics are worse than ever, and no one seems to care
  The Golden Globes came back from the brink of scandal. But the awards' suspect ethics haven't really changed, our columnist writes.
• Golden Globe nominations give 'One Battle After Another' an early edge in the Oscar race
  Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' leads a wide-open field as the Golden Globes offer an early read on an unsettled Oscar season.
• The full list of 2026 Golden Globes nominations
  The Golden Globe Award nominations were announced Monday on CBS. Here's the full list of nominees.
• His electronica, a blend of past and future, gives 'Marty Supreme' its swagger
  Daniel Lopatin discusses the process of composing his synthesized score for Josh Safdies's 'Marty Supreme,' both evocative of '80s nostalgia and something new.
• Vaguely fantastical without ever being fantastic, '100 Nights of Hero' is less than magical
  Maika Monroe, Emma Corrin, Nicholas Galitzine and Charli XCX co-star in a graphic-novel-derived fantasy about storytelling, touched by notes of feistiness but lacking thrust.
• Capturing the Broadway revival with vigor, 'Merrily We Roll Along' is again reborn
  Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez starred in the stage production, and their performances sparkle in a filmed version that goes beyond being merely a record.
• 'Zodiac Killer Project' pursues a doc never made, revealing a filmmaker's own obsession
  Director Charlie Shackleton hoped to make his own true-crime movie. When he was denied the rights, he went forward anyway, taking his frustration out on the genre.
• He's no James Bond, but in 'The Secret Agent,' an ordinary man has a score to settle
  Starring a compellingly internal Wagner Moura, Kleber Mendonça Filho's thriller revels in late-1970s period detail and the passionate fury of one man on the run.
• Commentary: A plea to Netflix's Ted Sarandos: Don't screw up Warner Bros. and HBO
  If the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal goes through, here are a few thoughts from someone who still watches a lot of TV and movies.
• 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2' scraps together spare parts for a junky sequel
  Players of the video games may not mind lax pacing, awful dialogue and a distinct lack of scares in a follow-up movie that only dishes up half-hearted fan service.
• All the major Warner Bros. properties set to go to Netflix in watershed deal
  Netflix announced it will buy Warner Bros. in a $72-billion deal that includes ownership of iconic properties like Harry Potter and the DC Universe.
• Uma Thurman rules every brutal minute of the 4½-hour 'Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair'
  Quentin Tarantino fuses both halves of "Kill Bill" into the kung-fu epic he originally intended, but it's taken two decades for us to get a wide release.
• Netflix agrees to buy Warner Bros. in an $82.7-billion deal that will transform Hollywood
  A theater owner trade group immediately blasted Netflix's nearly $83-billion deal to buy Warner Bros. and HBO. Netflix has long bypassed movie theaters, instead releasing films onto its streaming platform.
• The surprisingly short history of movies about Shakespeare
  Remarkably few movies have taken a look at the life of the Bard. With the release of 'Hamnet,' we look back on three past depictions — and how they did when it came to the Oscars.
• How to watch the 2026 Golden Globe nominations
  Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 Golden Globe nominations, from where to watch to who's favored to get nods.
• Broadway shows rarely play in cinemas. 'Merrily We Roll Along' could change that
  Prohibitive costs and an uncertain market have made filmed versions of Broadway shows a rarity in movie theaters. But new dynamics on Broadway and in Hollywood might change that.
• The 5 rules that guided the making of 'The Secret Agent,' according to its director
  Kleber Mendonça Filho breaks down his new film 'The Secret Agent,' Brazil's official selection for the 2026 Oscars.
• The 10 best movies of 2025 — and where to find them
  The best movies of 2025 include "Sinners," "Hedda," "One Battle After Another," "Eddington" and "The Naked Gun," according to our critic Amy Nicholson.
• The best movies, TV shows, music, books, arts and comedy of 2025
  In troubling times we may seek entertainment to escape and, perhaps, make sense of the chaos. This year was no different. The best in movies, TV, books, comedy, music and arts became part of our survival kit.
• How Lucy Liu found the words to understand an unspeakable act in 'Rosemead'
  In 'Rosemead,' based on a 2017 L.A. Times story, the 'Charlie's Angels' star steps into a role unlike any she's played before — and is earning raves in the process.
• Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, known for 'Mortal Kombat' and decades of villain roles, dies at 75
  Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the Japanese American actor and martial artist known for his roles in the "Mortal Kombat" films, "License to Kill and "The Man in the High Castle," died Thursday at age 75.
• Halle Berry declares Gavin Newsom 'should not be our next president' after he vetoed menopause care bill
  Halle Berry boldly calls out California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his potential presidential run at the New York Times' 2025 DealBook Summit. 'He probably should not be our next president.'
• A softer image of AI? This Google-backed film aims to change the narrative
  The Silicon Valley giant teamed up with Range Media Partners earlier this year to commission short films about artificial intelligence that have less doomsday depictions of technology.
• Why 'Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore' is far from a 'traditional' celebrity doc
  Director Shoshannah Stern explains how she used her film's innovative sound design to translate the Deaf experience for hearing viewers.
• Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen on playing (and being) 'smitten' for 'A Man on the Inside'
  In the season premiere of The Envelope video podcast, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen discuss their Netflix comedy and Nina Hoss breaks down the ins and outs of 'Hedda.'
• He has 400 movies to his name. And he says now is 'the most difficult' time to make one
  Indie film veteran Cassian Elwes, whose latest project, 'Dead Man's Wire,' begins an Oscar-qualifying run Dec. 12, opens up about economic challenges, the rise of AI and more.
• How Spanish Oscar hopeful 'Sirât' threw the year's hottest rave
  Director Oliver Laxe, production designer Laia Ateca and composer Kangding Ray explain how the spellbinding desert rave that opens the film came together.
• The 7 best Netflix holiday movies to watch, from a secret Santa con to a crime caper
  'My Secret Santa' starring Alexandra Breckenridge is the latest holiday film to be released on the streamer, which has several new offerings and recent classics worth revisiting.
• Cynthia Erivo's 'Wicked' Oscar (and EGOT) chances, by the numbers
  A lead actress Oscar nomination for playing Elphaba in 'Wicked: For Good' would put Cynthia Erivo closer to an EGOT — while furthering her status as a consummate entertainer.
• Wagner Moura's moment is now. He wants to bring all of Brazil with him
  After commanding attention in "Narcos" and "Civil War," the Brazilian actor levels up with his finely complex leading turn in the awards powerhouse "The Secret Agent."
• Final season of 'Stranger Things' breaks viewing records at Netflix
  Netflix released its final season of 'Stranger Things' last Wednesday and the first four episodes have already accumulated record-breaking viewership numbers.
• Cancer. COVID. Strikes. After a 9-year journey, 'A Little Prayer' was still worth the wait
  Writer-director Angus MacLachlan explains how his tiny indie surmounted so many hurdles — and why he still feels the 'Movie Gods' smiled upon him.
• Inside 'The Testament of Ann Lee's' revolutionary devotional sequences
  Star Amanda Seyfried, director Mona Fastvold, choreographer Celia Rowlson-Hall and cinematographer William Rexer explain how they made Shaker religion a radical musical.
• 4 Oscar-contending composers break down their films' scores
  It's hard to find a through line in the year's film score except audacity. We asked four composers to explain the concepts behind their work.
• How Hollywood helped build the air travel industry
  Inside Hollywood's deep, complicated, mutually beneficial (and occasionally tragic) relationship with aviation.
• 'My Undesirable Friends' puts us front row as a real-life Russian TV channel unravels
  Filmmaker Julia Loktev was in Moscow following her journalist friends as Russian forces invaded Ukraine. She captured a changing media climate for reporters.
• To weep or not to weep? The lush 'Hamnet' sinks under nonstop crying and a dull Bard
  Chloé Zhao, director of the Oscar-winning "Nomadland," returns with a sodden, sorrowful fiction about Shakespeare's home life that stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley.
• 'Bouncing back': James Van Der Beek shows off some varsity moves amid cancer battle
  Actor James Van Der Beek donned his 'Varsity Blues' uniform for an Instagram post. His wife Kimberly cheered him on for 'bouncing back' amid cancer battle.
• Set in a comic afterlife, 'Eternity' spreads out a couple's post-death options like a menu
  In a purgatory that looks like a Radisson, longtime marrieds Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen are confronted with choices that test their bond.
• 'Zootopia 2' traffics in real-world ideas — even if they're covered with fur or snake scales
  A crime-fighting fox and rabbit return, still cops on the beat, but their turf has new tensions, many of which certain older members in the audience will recognize.
• His time on Nickelodeon over, Tiny Chef strikes out on his own
  The creators of the small, green, 7-inch animated favorite nicknamed 'Cheffie' discuss navigating the choppy waters of showbiz as independents once more.
• How did the 'F1' team make a movie at real F1 races? By learning to act like a pit crew
  The makers of the behemoth Hollywood production, which largely took place alongside active Formula One events, had to adopt a new role to make it to the finish line: staying out of the way.
• Eva Victor needed a film that held her hand while she watched it. She made 'Sorry, Baby'
  In an essay for The Envelope, Eva Victor explains how she crafted 'Sorry, Baby' after her own traumatic experience, as a way to guide her out of it.
• 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' is a witty, soulful satire of pulpit power
  Rian Johnson's third "Knives Out" whodunit is his best yet, with Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc investigating a corrupt church where someone has murdered Josh Brolin's nasty monsignor.
• For 'Weapons' standout Amy Madigan, awards attention is 'a little daunting'
  After captivating audiences as Aunt Gladys in the summer horror hit, Madigan is navigating Oscar buzz, press interest and 'exciting' conversations about what's next.
• Udo Kier, German star of 'My Own Private Idaho' and Lars von Trier collaborator, dies at 81
  Udo Kier, the versatile German actor known for films including 'My Own Private Idaho,' 'Blade' and 'Bacurau,' died over the weekend, his partner announced. He was 81.
• How 'Wicked: For Good' remixes 5 iconic moments from 'The Wizard of Oz'
  We speak to the team behind 'Wicked: For Good' to break down how the film plays with the familiar iconography of 'The Wizard of Oz' to tell a new story.
• Three newcomers to watch for in the Oscars' international feature race
  Three titles in the race for the international feature Oscar highlight star turns by young female performers.
• American TV wasn't the place for Renate Reinsve. She's back at home in 'Sentimental Value'
  With remarkable correspondences to her sometimes 'chaotic' past, Reinsve's Oscar-tipped turn blurs the lines between art and life — just where the actor likes to be.
• Meet the distributors joining the awards season fray with 'Christy,' 'Urchin' and more
  After Mubi's major success with 'The Substance,' distributors such as Row K, 1-2 Special and Black Bear are chasing accolades with their fall films.
• Smart comedies for grown-ups? With politics? James L. Brooks knows we still want them
  The three-time Oscar winner behind "Terms of Endearment" and "Broadcast News" is back with his first film in 15 years, the richly warm character study "Ella McCay."
• Josh O'Connor, ever fascinating, continues to roam a lonesome range in 'Rebuilding'
  A story singed by disaster in a way that might be triggering for Angelenos, Max Walker-Silverman's drama handles the aftermath of a wildfire with sensitivity.

NY Times©

• The 25 Most Notable Movies of 2025: ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Roofman’ and More
  We polled film experts in the newsroom. These are the titles that stuck with us this year.
• ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Review: By Land, by Water, by Air!
  For the franchise’s third movie, James Cameron throws in new creatures, new landscapes, melodramatic plot lines and big battle sequences. It’s a lot.
• ‘The Housemaid’ Review: Dusty Counters, Dirty Secrets
  Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried star in a thriller that is best seen with a full house.
• ‘Cover-Up’ Review: Seymour Hersh, Scoops and Power
  In their documentary, Laura Poitras (“Citzenfour”) and Mark Obenhaus trace the career highs and lows of the famed investigative journalist.
• ‘Is This Thing On?’ Review: When a Punchline Becomes a Lifeline
  Will Arnett and Laura Dern add emotional heft to Bradley Cooper’s intimate comedy about a separated spouse who finds solace in stand-up.
• ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’ Review: Underwater Adventure
  The latest installment to this entertainment juggernaut relies on a cheap, rote formula and easy gags to keep children engaged.
• Rob Reiner Gave Us Great Reasons to Go to the Movies
  “This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally …,” “Misery”: Reiner delivered an incredible number of accessible, original and adult movies that we still cherish.
• Will the Oscars Make Room for ‘Difficult’ Women for 2026’s Best Actress Category?
  Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence and Amanda Seyfried give great performances as women who buck convention. But some voters prize ‘likability’ above all else.
• After Rob Reiner’s ‘North’ Flopped, He Proved He Could Take Criticism With Humor
  Roger Ebert said he “hated, hated, hated, hated, hated” Reiner’s 1994 film “North.” The director took it in stride.
• ‘David’ Review: Preaching to the Choir
  The story of David and Goliath is presented as a feel-good family epic in this animated musical released by the popular religious media company Angel Studios.
• ‘Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?’ Review: Becoming Big Stars
  The band became a major success in 1993 with the hit “Mr. Jones.” Since then, the group has done its best to keep rock music alive.
• Christine Choy, Documentarian of Asian American Life, Dies at 76
  Her film “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” earned an Oscar nomination in 1988 and was inducted into the National Film Registry for its cultural significance.
• Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Zohran Mamdani Toast ‘Marty Supreme’
  With orange beanies, a roast pig and a mayor-elect, the New York premiere of A24’s buzzy Ping-Pong film was its own kind of flick.
• Oscars Reach Deal With YouTube
  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said it had reached a deal with YouTube for exclusive rights to the show starting in 2029.
• ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ Review: When Help Won’t Arrive
  Kaouther Ben Hania’s dramatized feature about a Palestinian girl who is killed in Gaza City is both powerfully direct and purposefully removed.
• The Most Notable Movies of 2025
  Across the newsroom, journalists picked their most notable movies from 2025.
• How Rob Reiner Created His Comedy Legacy
  These moments from his movies brought the laughs, in many different ways.
• Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan and Others Remember Rob Reiner as a ‘Master Story Teller’
  A group of prominent figures issued a statement memorializing Mr. Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. “We were their friends, and we will miss them forever.”
• Why Do Movies Keep Repeating the Same Joke About the Afterlife?
  From the recent ‘Eternity’ to classics like ‘Defending Your Life’ and ‘Beetlejuice,’ the gag remains the same: What if the next world worked just like this one?
• ‘Who Killed Santa Claus?’: The Night Before Christmas in Occupied France
  This 1941 comic murder mystery is back for a week in a sparkling restoration at Film Forum.
• What We Know About Nick Reiner, Charged With Killing Rob and Michele Reiner
  The son of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, who has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, has long struggled with drug addiction.
• Oscar Shortlists: ‘Sinners,’ ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Wicked: for Good’ Lead
  The lineups, which Oscar voters will choose from next month, include the new casting category, which was largely a dress rehearsal for best picture.
• ‘Beaches’ Was a Novel. Then a Movie. Next, It’ll Be a Broadway Musical.
  A musical adaptation of the story will open at the Majestic Theater next spring. And yes, the score includes “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
• Who Is the Ultimate Onscreen Mr. Darcy From ‘Pride and Prejudice’?
  Welcome to our Regency Thunderdome, where we will endeavor to answer this question once and for all.
• The Best True Crime of 2025: ‘Predators” and More
  Here are four highlights across TV, film and podcasting from the second half of the year.
• Nick Reiner’s Struggles With Drugs Left His Parents ‘Desperate’
  Mr. Reiner, who was arrested in connection with the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner, once estimated he had been in drug treatment 18 times as a teenager.
• Rob Reiner Made Clear What He Believed In, Onscreen and Off
  In films like “A Few Good Men,” the director’s ideas of honor and morality were stated as plainly as could be.
• Rob Reiner: A Life in Pictures
  The actor-turned-director spent decades at the forefront of the entertainment world.
• As Michael Stivic in ‘All in the Family,’ Rob Reiner Brought Political Arguments Home
  Reiner’s “All in the Family” role didn’t just capture the arguments of its time. It gave us a preview of our own.
• Rob Reiner’s Movies and TV Shows: ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ ‘The Princess Bride’ and More
  He played one of the most memorable sitcom roles of the ’70s before going on to direct a string of enduring movie classics. Here are some of his career highlights.
• The Berlin Film Festival Moves Forward Despite Challenges
  The festival, which takes place in winter and late in the award season, has, in recent years, been somewhat overshadowed by its sister events in Cannes and Venice.
• Renate Reinsve of ‘Sentimental Value’, Talks Levity, Joachim Trier and Quantum Physics
  “I would feel deflated if I couldn’t go into something deeply existential and explore,” said the Norwegian actress, who stars in the Oscar-buzzy “Sentimental Value.”
• ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ at 25: Kronk’s Enduring Appeal
  This millennial favorite wouldn’t be the same without a certain sidekick.
• ‘A Christmas Carol’, ‘Dead Outlaw’ and More Theater to Stream
  Other picks include a family production of “The Snow Queen,” the Broadway-bound “Every Brilliant Thing” and the acclaimed comedy “Sorry for Your Loss.”
• Olivia Dean, Josh Johnson and Chase Infiniti Are Among Our 2025 Breakout Stars
  Across the arts, these 10 performers took a leap of faith this year and stuck the landing in a big way.
• Rob Reiner’s Younger Son Charged With Murder: What We Know
  Nick Reiner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents.
• Rob Reiner, Actor Who Went on to Direct Classic Films, Dies at 78
  After finding fame in “All in the Family,” he directed winning films like “This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally … ” and “The Princess Bride” and got involved in liberal politics.
• ‘Anna Christie’ Review: Michelle Williams on the Waterfront
  The actress stars in Thomas Kail’s luminous revival of Eugene O’Neill’s play about a woman whose past threatens her future.
• James Cameron Tempers His Temper and Channels His Inner Na’vi
  Years after his Titanic tantrums, the “Avatar” director has “mellowed,” says Sigourney Weaver. He calls it “marinating.”
• Confirm or Deny: James Cameron Edition
  The box office king sits for a lightning-round interview.
• Tom Hanks on the Electrifying (and Terrifying) Experience of Writing a Play
  The actor also stars in the Off Broadway production of “This World of Tomorrow,” a yearslong project at the Shed through Dec. 21.
• Peter Greene, ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘The Mask’ Actor, Dies at 60
  Mr. Greene, who built a four-decade career uncannily portraying villains, was found dead in his apartment in Manhattan on Friday, his manager said.
• The Year Hollywood Finally Confronted Our Political Moment
  In movies like “Eddington,” “Sinners,” “Wake Up Dead Man” and others, filmmakers have at last wrapped their heads around how to explain this period.
• 41 Things That Stuck With Us in 2025
  Aunt Gladys. Tyler, the Creator. That sex scene in “The Naked Gun.” These are the things Culture staffers couldn’t stop thinking about this year.
• Stream These 10 Movies and TV Shows Before They Leave Netflix in January
  A ton of titles are expiring soon for U.S. subscribers. Catch them while you can, including a Scorsese classic and one of TV’s most influential series.
• Taylor Swift’s ‘The End of an Era’: 5 Takeaways
  The six-part Disney+ series goes behind the scenes of the pop star’s record-breaking Eras Tour, revealing some of her creative processes and struggles.
• Watch an Ensemble Scene From ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’
  The writer and director Rian Johnson narrates a sequence from his film.
• Everyone Hates SantaCon. He Made a Movie About It.
  Seth Porges shows the event in all its raucousness, but he is also sympathetic to its origins.
• 6 New Movies Our Critics Are Talking About This Week
  Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or an avid buff, our reviewers think these films are worth knowing about.
• 5 Children’s Movies to Stream Now
  This month’s picks include an unexpected holiday adventure and a blockbuster body-swapping comedy.

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• Lucy Liu on 'Rosemead,' rejection and returning to Mandarin
  The child of Chinese immigrants, Liu didn't learn English until she was 5. She plays a terminally ill woman grappling with her teenage son's mental health crisis in Rosemead.
• A new 'Avatar,' a marital stand-up story and a gut-wrenching drama are in theaters
  A new drama uses the real, gut-wrenching recordings of a call for help from Gaza to tell a harrowing and profound story.
• How a potential Netflix acquisition could remake the theatrical experience
  Ben Fritz, a Wall Street Journal entertainment reporter, on whether movie theaters can survive if Netflix ends up acquiring Warner Brothers.
• 'Harry Potter' fans are flying to Broadway to see the original Draco Malfoy
  Almost eight years after Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened on Broadway, Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the films, is now playing him as an adult onstage.
• The best movies and TV of 2025, picked for you by NPR critics
  Whether you plan to head out to the theater or binge from the couch, our critics have gathered together their favorite films and TV shows of 2025.
• From 'Sinners' to 'The Conjuring', a look at 2025's horror hits and critical darlings
  Horror films played well at the box office and with critics in 2025 -- in particular, "Sinners" and "Weapons." We revisit the genre's biggest hits and most acclaimed standouts.
• Rob Reiner said he was 'never, ever too busy' for his son
  In 2015, Reiner collaborated with his son, Nick Reiner, on Being Charlie, a story about addiction, loosely based on Nick's experiences. Rob Reiner talked about the film with Fresh Air in September.
• Remembering Rob Reiner, who made movies for people who love them
  The movies Reiner directed, from A Few Good Men to The Princess Bride, weren't just good — they were people's favorites, the types of films people come back to again and again.
• The hidden history of 'White Christmas'
  The tune crooned by Bing Crosby is still one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. It's endured as a favorite — despite a complicated and controversial history.
• Our picks for the worst Christmas movie ever
  Bad movies can be fun in their own way.