The hottest Entertainment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

Ryan Gosling’s New Film Will Have You Crying Over a Rock

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 343 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. This year’s awards season and the Oscars were chaotic and controversial, with surprising wins, no-shows, and public political gestures.
  2. Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary is a moving, human-centered sci-fi that hits hard emotionally despite its space setting and mostly single-character focus.
  3. Red-carpet interviews and awards coverage have become influencer-driven spectacles chasing viral moments, often at the expense of real conversation.

Paramount Has a Secret Plan to Buy Hollywood Before the Cops Arrive

BIG by Matt Stoller • 30711 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
💼 Business Entertainment
  1. Paramount is rushing antitrust filings and even pre-filling detailed government document requests so it can close a Warner deal quickly and combine operations before regulators can file suit.
  2. If Paramount does buy Warner, the deal would sharply concentrate Hollywood power—likely causing big layoffs, fewer released movies, and more control over media content and political messaging.
  3. Federal enforcement looks unlikely to stop this quickly given political alignments, so state attorneys general and industry groups are the main remaining check, but they face a very tight window and limited resources to block the merger.

Bad Therapists Make Good TV. But at What Cost?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 213 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. When therapists cross professional boundaries they can exploit and control patients and cause long-lasting harm.
  2. Boundary violations typically benefit the therapist and can damage the patient even if the therapist believes their motives are benign.
  3. Dramatic stories of bad therapists make compelling TV but they also spotlight real ethical problems and the serious harm those violations do to vulnerable people.

RADIO FREE CHICAGO

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 159 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🎙 Podcasts Entertainment
  1. The podcast focuses on unique stories and discussions relevant to the Chicago area.
  2. Listeners can engage with the content by following the provided links.
  3. There are visual elements included, like images, to complement the discussions in the podcast.

In the New Toy Story Movie, Toys Lose Their Jobs to AI

The Honest Broker • 9741 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The tech backlash has gone mainstream and is shaping public debate in 2026, with even tech companies joining the pushback.
  2. Toy Story 5 shows toys worried about being replaced by an AI device, highlighting anxieties about screen addiction and technology taking roles and relationships away from people.
  3. There’s striking irony in a studio that helped launch digital film now making an anti-tech movie, which suggests cultural attitudes toward technology are shifting.
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This Tourette's Controversy is What You Get When Disability Stops Being a Medical Reality and Becomes a Social Culture

Freddie deBoer • 9127 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Tourette's can cause involuntary and offensive vocal outbursts (coprolalia), and this is a documented medical reality even though most people with Tourette's don't experience it.
  2. Many public reactions deny or misunderstand that possibility, often out of emotional hurt or a desire to avoid appearing ableist, which can lead to ignorance and misplaced anger.
  3. Treating disability as a social spectacle or cultural prop fuels sensationalism and clashes between marginalized groups, making honest discussion and empathy harder.

I’m Proud to Call Myself a Disney Adult

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 343 implied HN points • 18 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Disney stays popular because it promises tradition and timeless rituals in a world fixated on innovation and disruption.
  2. The cruise ad succeeds by showing a quiet, magical family moment. It taps into people’s longing for simple, shared, wholesome experiences.
  3. Disney’s marketing makes cultural moments that spread widely and feel more resonant than many other modern events, showing how much influence and emotional pull the brand still has.

Did you know Gordon Ramsay is basically two different people on television?

Erik Examines • 716 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Gordon Ramsay appears like two different TV personas: explosive and confrontational on American shows, but mentoring and empathetic on British programs.
  2. Production choices—fast cuts, dramatic music, and repeated reaction shots—amplify conflict on U.S. reality TV, while British shows use more observational editing that lets scenes breathe.
  3. This highlights a cultural difference in storytelling: the same events can feel very different when one culture presents them more loudly and dramatically than another.

360 million views and unable to pay her rent

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 274 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
💼 Business Entertainment
  1. Creators can get massive TikTok views but still earn very little, so many move their audiences to platforms like YouTube that offer clearer ways to make money.
  2. Sustainable publishing can come from prioritizing high‑quality, differentiated journalism and building subscription revenue rather than chasing scale with ad tech.
  3. Niche experts can expand a small audience into a diversified media business — podcasts, courses, events, and communities — though some eventually refocus on their core trade.

HALLOWEEN HORRORS (cont.)

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 579 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Rob Zombie's version of 'Halloween' presents a more human and demonic Michael Myers, giving depth to his character as he deals with abuse and violence.
  2. The portrayal of Dr. Loomis is twisted, showing him as a con man looking to profit from Michael's killings, which reflects modern culture's obsession with crime and entertainment.
  3. The film 'Lifeforce' offers a unique blend of sci-fi and horror with its storyline about energy vampires, featuring impressive special effects and an adventurous feel despite being a commercial flop.

The New Anxiety of Our Time Is Now on TV

The Honest Broker • 29356 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Popular sci‑fi shows like Pluribus and Severance reflect a deep public fear that people could lose their individuality and turn into a hive mind.
  2. Modern tech—AI, social platforms, and search algorithms—encourages sameness and follower-based behavior, which weakens education, public debate, and personal responsibility.
  3. A backlash is forming: local reforms, creative platforms, and a cultural 'New Romanticism' aim to restore personhood, and political and legal changes will likely follow as pressure builds.

How the Star of 'Wicked' Just Sabotaged Her Own Movie

The Take (by Jon Miltimore) • 356 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Cynthia Erivo reacted strongly to a fan's edited poster of 'Wicked', claiming it was offensive and degraded her. Many thought her response was an overreaction and not necessary.
  2. This kind of response from Hollywood actors is becoming more common. Some stars seem to let their egos get too big, which can harm their own films.
  3. There's a growing trend where people in entertainment see themselves as victims of oppression. This makes it hard to enjoy their work when they focus on perceived grievances instead of celebrating their art.

Hollywood Is Turning into a Content Farm for Silicon Valley

The Honest Broker • 17221 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
💼 Business Entertainment
  1. Big tech is buying up Hollywood and turning studios into content factories geared for streaming and tiny screens, with AI poised to replace many creative roles.
  2. Streamers prioritize subscriptions and franchises over theatrical releases, which is hollowing out movie theaters and the communal big-screen experience.
  3. Independent filmmakers are the main hope to preserve cinematic art and big-screen culture, but it’s uncertain they can withstand tech money and AI-driven content production.

HALLOWEEN HORRORS (cont.)

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 759 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Phantasm II is a sequel that captures the essence of the 1980s horror trend. It's a fun film with great action where the characters fight against a powerful evil entity.
  2. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a dark and brutal film that portrays the reality of serial murder without glamorizing it. It's a raw look at a killer's life and actions.
  3. Prince of Darkness blends horror and science fiction in a unique way. It explores deep themes while maintaining a creepy atmosphere, making it a standout John Carpenter film.

18 Paying Pitch Calls & a Chance to Write About Budget Travel

The Sub Club Newsletter • 158 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Editors are looking for fresh New Year's stories and pitches, especially in January. You can share unique takes on resolutions or fun ways to celebrate the holiday.
  2. Now is a good time to pitch 'Best Of' lists for 2024. If you have creative ideas that aren't typical, editors would be interested in those topics.
  3. There are 18 new paid writing opportunities available from various publications. Writers can explore topics in travel, culture, and more for potential income.

The finer things in life

Austin Kleon • 6614 implied HN points • 02 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Being in a state of flow is key to happiness, as it helps us focus fully on what we love doing. This idea connects both athletes and artists, showing how engagement with our passions can bring joy.
  2. The Olympics brings out strong emotions in us, as we witness athletes pushing their limits. However, there’s a contrast between the real-life experiences of these athletes and the commercial push for technology and AI.
  3. Creative work often requires us to not overthink. Many athletes express that letting go of thoughts is what helps them perform better, which can also apply to how we approach creativity in our everyday lives.

The Ultimate Midnight Movie, Reborn

Animation Obsessive • 10135 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. A forgotten Mexican animated movie called 'Roy from Space' is getting a second chance after being rediscovered. It was a flop when it was first released, but a film scholar's research revealed that the original negatives still exist.
  2. The film's unique, homemade animation style caught the attention of a distributor, leading to plans for a re-release. They are even creating new animation for parts that originally used stolen footage.
  3. There's growing excitement about other animation projects, like 'Crocodile Dance,' which is gaining positive attention and funding support. It shows the potential for diverse voices and stories in animation.

Inside TKO: How Ari Emanuel Built The World's Most Valuable Sports And Entertainment Property

Huddle Up • 188 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
💼 Business Entertainment
  1. TKO stitched together the biggest live-sports and entertainment portfolio by merging UFC and WWE and buying IMG, On Location, and PBR, giving it massive scale with 500+ events and a reach of about 1 billion households.
  2. The company delivered a financial turnaround in 2025 — roughly $4.7B revenue, $1.585B Adjusted EBITDA, positive net income, $1.159B free cash flow, and over $1.3B returned to shareholders — and the stock is up strongly.
  3. Ari Emanuel is betting on live, human-driven experiences as an "anti-AI" moat, leveraging more than $15B in media-rights deals with partners like Paramount, Netflix, and ESPN to push long-term value and a potential $30B+ valuation.

Episode 189 Pt I

Disaffected Newsletter • 499 implied HN points • 17 Sep 24
🎙 Podcasts Entertainment
  1. There were technical issues that caused half an hour of the show to be lost, including important debate analysis. The hosts plan to redo it and offer more content soon.
  2. Residents in Springfield, Ohio, are expressing concerns about a large influx of Haitian immigrants and how it affects their community.
  3. A guest discusses the issues of responsibility among gay men concerning health risks linked to promiscuity. The conversation highlights the need for awareness and personal accountability.

TGIF: Sorry for all the typos .Sent from my iPhone.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1562 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
📰 News Entertainment
  1. A longtime TGIF contributor was revealed to be part of Jeffrey Epstein’s email circle and has been suspended for one edition and hit with a $5,000,000 fine, though she says she’ll return.
  2. The Department of Justice released about three million pages of Epstein-related documents, including emails, and the revelations are still causing fallout and public scrutiny.
  3. The newsletter has temporary hosts for this edition and is promoting live events and a subscription paywall to access full reporting.

Awards Season Rivals Sinners and One Battle Another Are Both Very Good, Very Fun, and Very Overrated

Freddie deBoer • 4981 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Both Sinners and One Battle After Another are very entertaining, well-made genre movies but don’t actually contain the deep political or prophetic meanings critics keep assigning them.
  2. Auteur prestige and the cultural economy of importance create a halo effect that leads critics to read symbolic weight into films that are primarily popcorn entertainment.
  3. It’s fine for films to be fun and lightweight; critics should be willing to praise craft and enjoyment without forcing unwarranted profundity onto every popular movie.

The Oscars Died This Weekend, Did Anyone Notice?

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 61 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The Oscars have lost their place as a shared cultural event and now feel like an insider industry banquet that many ordinary viewers ignore.
  2. The ceremony and its winners often don’t match what mainstream audiences have seen, while the broadcast tries to juggle honoring films, chasing ratings, and delivering political messaging, which makes it feel unfocused and awkward.
  3. A fragmented media landscape and countless parallel awards and online debates have eroded the Oscars’ authority, turning the show into a self-congratulatory ritual largely disconnected from everyday audiences.

We Are Winning!

The Honest Broker • 29123 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. People are fed up with low-quality AI content and are starting to push back against it. Companies like YouTube are realizing that they need to change how they handle AI-created videos.
  2. Recent events, like the fake AI band Velvet Sundown, have made people question how streaming platforms promote such content. This has led to a public outcry and companies like Spotify are beginning to impose restrictions on AI-generated music.
  3. Many AI projects are failing to deliver good results, leading companies to reconsider their reliance on AI. This might mean more jobs for humans as businesses recognize that AI isn't the answer they thought it would be.

Audiences Prove that Experts Are Dead Wrong

The Honest Broker • 32315 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. People are now gravitating towards longform content, like movies and videos, instead of shorter clips. This shows that audiences want deeper, more engaging experiences.
  2. Experts have miscalculated trends, thinking that shorter content is the future. However, the audience's preference for longer, immersive storytelling is proving them wrong.
  3. The rise of longform content represents a cultural shift, with audiences rejecting quick, addictive media in favor of richer experiences that build lasting connections.

Happy Thanksgiving

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 6983 implied HN points • 27 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Upbeat songs and cheerful artists often get politicized when politicians use their music, and that can change how people judge the songs.
  2. Public backlash is uneven and sometimes unfair — saying you don’t want to be political or making happy music can draw heavy criticism.
  3. Take a real break today: enjoy food, rest, and a little gratitude, and let yourself unplug from the daily grind.

A few cultural thoughts

Noahpinion • 19470 implied HN points • 25 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. TikTok videos can be boring because they're designed for quick viewing, leading to lots of mediocre content. People often just scroll through them without really paying attention.
  2. Literary fiction can create a misleading view of characters and people since they often depict unusual traits. Genre fiction tends to have more realistic characters since the focus is on exciting settings and plots.
  3. Cosplay provides a unique platform for youth to express themselves and build confidence. Through dressing up as characters, many find a sense of belonging and the courage to be themselves.

A Tale of Two Halftime Shows

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1038 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The Super Bowl halftime is one of the rare national events people watch live together, so whatever happens there carries outsized cultural weight.
  2. Bad Bunny’s halftime leaned into localism and community, recreating a small Puerto Rican town with colorful, multigenerational, human-scale moments.
  3. That joyful, local approach stood in sharp contrast to more sterile or grievance-driven presentations, like the grayscale Turning Point USA-style shows or industrial, cube-lit productions.

The ‘Epstein Fallout’ Is Spiraling Out of Control

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 737 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
💼 Business Entertainment
  1. The “Epstein fallout” is causing major reputational damage that is forcing leaders like Casey Wasserman to take drastic business steps, including putting his agency up for sale.
  2. Coverage across major outlets has amplified the story with the same framing, increasing pressure on those named in the documents.
  3. The release of Epstein’s emails has prompted public defections and a rush to assign blame, which is blurring the line between people who were truly complicit and those who were merely bystanders.

‘Bridgerton’ Only Pretends to Be Progressive

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1386 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The show is sold as progressive but mostly repackages traditional patriarchal norms into a glossy product. It presents itself as liberated while keeping familiar power dynamics intact.
  2. Stylish casting and sexy marketing act like a rebrand that distracts from old romance-and-power tropes. The production values and diversity paper over conservative plot patterns.
  3. It romanticizes a fantasy of preserved courtship and traditional marriage roles rather than imagining real social change. The series offers nostalgic ritualized romance dressed up as liberation.

The New 80% Rule in Culture

The Honest Broker • 25799 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The entertainment industry is increasingly relying on old ideas instead of creating new ones. Nowadays, a large portion of movies and music comes from remakes or older content.
  2. This trend isn't just in movies; music streaming shows a similar pattern where most songs played are older hits, reflecting a shift from new to past favorites.
  3. People are getting tired of the same old stuff, and this won't last forever. The entertainment industry needs to focus on fresh, original content to keep audiences engaged.

The Best Podcast of All Time!?

The Society of Problem Solvers • 299 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
🎙 Podcasts Entertainment
  1. Many health issues like heart disease and anxiety are rising because of the poor quality of our food and medical advice. We need to pay attention to what we eat and who we trust for health advice.
  2. The current food system is corrupted, and we should look for alternatives that prioritize nutritious and safe options. It's important to demand transparency in what we consume.
  3. Society should focus on effective solutions to our problems rather than just discussing them. We can make a change by working together and valuing results.

Arthur Brooks: Can We All Relax About Bad Bunny’s Spanish Halftime Show?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 890 implied HN points • 08 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. A Spanish-language halftime show can still be a purely American event that brings people together through shared entertainment.
  2. You don’t have to fully understand the words or rules to connect or enjoy an experience; being open to not fully understanding others can enrich life.
  3. Calling the performance a political diversity stunt misses the point—these cultural moments can strengthen unity by crossing language and cultural lines.

Pluribus and Our Age of Hive Minds

The Intrinsic Perspective • 5349 implied HN points • 18 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. We live in a world where our thoughts and opinions are influenced by larger groups, like social media or advanced AI, which can feel both overwhelming and entertaining.
  2. The show _Pluribus_ explores a world where everyone is linked in a hive mind, raising questions about privacy and individuality in such a closely connected society.
  3. The idea of a positive hive mind, where everyone is cheerful and helpful, is intriguing but might also come with its own set of problems, like loss of personal freedom and constant scrutiny.

On my bullshit tonight at 8 pm!

Disaffected Newsletter • 499 implied HN points • 04 Sep 24
🎙 Podcasts Entertainment
  1. A live conversation is happening tonight at 8 pm Eastern time. You can join in to hear some interesting discussions.
  2. It's on Rumble, so you'll need an account to participate in the live chat. Make sure to sign up beforehand!
  3. The event will focus on American politics and themes of authoritarianism. It could be a good chance to gain new insights on these topics.

The State of the Culture, 2024

The Honest Broker • 121016 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The entertainment industry is facing challenges like Disney in crisis, Paramount laying off employees, and a decline in TV shows, showing a shift towards a post-entertainment culture.
  2. The culture is transitioning towards a focus on distraction and addiction, with tech platforms using stimuli to create addictive cycles, impacting people's brains and happiness levels.
  3. As our culture evolves into a dopamine-driven society, it becomes essential to be mindful of our consumption habits, unplug from technology at times, and appreciate the real world around us.

An EGOT for Elton

Steady • 17551 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🎶 Music Entertainment
  1. Elton John joined the elite group of EGOT winners with his recent Emmy win.
  2. Sir Elton's music has been bringing joy for decades, with hits like 'Tiny Dancer.'
  3. A stunning video was created for 'Tiny Dancer,' celebrating the 50-year friendship between Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

When Were Things The Best?

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2822 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. People often remember the past as better than it was, but many concrete things are way better today — especially information access, medicine, electronics, food, entertainment, and travel.
  2. Important social and civic things have declined: close‑knit communities, intact families, long job tenure, political cohesion, roads/infrastructure, and dating ecosystems are notably worse and hurt wellbeing.
  3. The truth is mixed: celebrate huge material and technological gains, but focus effort on fixing the social problems and managing rising expectations that drive much of our unhappiness.

Why the Drunken, Brawling Irish Got Me Thinking About Hannah Gadsby

I Might Be Wrong • 9 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. St. Patrick’s Day commonly leans on flamboyant, non-PC Irish stereotypes—heavy drinking, fake accents, and leprechaun imagery—that most people treat as harmless fun.
  2. Because Irish people in America and Ireland have largely become socially and economically successful, those stereotypes are often shrugged off rather than seen as problematic.
  3. That contrast highlights Hannah Gadsby’s point in Nanette: self-deprecating humor can humiliate people who already exist on the margins, so marginalized comedians may rightly refuse to keep using it.

Stop speedrunning to a dystopia

The Intrinsic Perspective • 40345 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Big tech companies are doing shady things that can harm users, like creating fake music and using bots to engage with people. This shows a troubling trend toward prioritizing profit over real human connection.
  2. Kids' shows and adult films are being dumbed down to keep viewers engaged without paying full attention. This shift is making entertainment less meaningful and more mindless.
  3. There's a lack of strong critiques about how our media consumption is changing us, and we need more artists to call out these issues. Understanding the risks of being overly entertained is important to avoid a dystopian future.