The hottest Entertainment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Best Books, Movies, and Music of the year

Read Max • 922 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The roundup highlights standout books, movies, and music from the past year. It's a great way to discover new favorites.
  2. There are fun and unique awards like 'Best alternate histories' and 'Best song my son loved.' These categories make it more engaging.
  3. Readers are encouraged to interact by sharing recommendations or asking for specific suggestions. It's a community-focused approach.

Did online influencers save boxing or ruin it?

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 274 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Online influencers are bringing lots of attention back to boxing, but some people worry they are ruining the sport's true essence with gimmicky fights.
  2. Fox is successfully expanding its media presence by partnering with various personalities, while other networks like CNN struggle to adapt.
  3. Influencers are becoming powerful tools for governments, helping to promote tourism and soft power through engaging content on social media.

Getting A Grip

NOW IS GOOD • 373 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Having a few constants can ground you in reality, especially in a world filled with simulations.
  2. Root yourself in reality to avoid feeling disconnected and hungry for substance.
  3. Loneliness and boredom can help confirm your reality and bring you back to being present.
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The Saturday Selection, Vol. 82

Why is this interesting? • 60 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The 1913 Webster's dictionary is appreciated by some for its clarity and timelessness, showing that older dictionaries can still be relevant today.
  2. The 'Rest is History' podcast is gaining recognition as a significant cultural achievement for Britain, celebrated for its engaging storytelling.
  3. Year-end lists from various publications are showcasing the best of TV and music, highlighting what people loved throughout the year.

On Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and the curse of charisma

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 784 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock create their comedy in different ways, which shows in their performances. Chappelle is known for his powerful speaking that draws people in.
  2. Chappelle has strong oratory skills that put him on par with great speakers like MLK and Obama. His ability to captivate an audience is exceptional.
  3. Despite his charisma, there can be downsides to being such a compelling speaker. It raises questions about how that might affect him as a performer.

An American Werefolf in London

Eclecticism: Reflections on literature, writing and life • 9 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The film leans more toward comedy than pure horror, and it’s genuinely enjoyable if you suspend disbelief.
  2. Setting an American werewolf in London feels plausible because cities host many Americans and people often tolerate eccentricity, so odd things go unnoticed.
  3. The rural pub full of wary locals is convincingly portrayed, but the scene with a working gum machine on the Northern line feels implausible since those machines rarely worked.

Are We In a Hyper-Sexual Culture or Not?

Many Such Cases • 1079 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. There's a mix of hyper-sexuality and sexual emptiness in our culture. We see lots of sexual content online, but it often feels lacking in intimacy and meaning.
  2. Media has shifted from playful to more serious when showing sex. Many now complain about romantic comedies being too sexual, even though that's been a tradition.
  3. People often react negatively to sexual scenes in movies, which highlights a growing discomfort with sexuality. This can make our current sexual culture feel dull and disconnected.

Ranking Every "Mission: Impossible"

Obvious Bicycle • 263 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The 'Mission: Impossible' series is not just for action fans; it has thrilling moments that can surprise even those who usually don’t watch action movies.
  2. Tom Cruise's willingness to perform dangerous stunts himself adds a level of authenticity and excitement to the films, making them stand out in the action genre.
  3. Each 'Mission: Impossible' movie has a fun and engaging structure, allowing them to be enjoyed as standalone films while still offering an overarching storyline.

Disaffected, Episode 150: December 16, 2023

Disaffected Newsletter • 419 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
🎙 Podcasts Entertainment
  1. The latest Christmas video from Dr. Jill Biden has a bizarre and quirky theme, featuring strange visuals and dance routines. It aims to be entertaining, but many find it perplexing.
  2. A story is shared about a problematic community theater diva whose actions caused chaos in her community. In the end, her behavior caught up with her, leading to negative consequences.
  3. The episode also humorously critiques various cultural topics, including stereotypes and products, showcasing a playful tone throughout the discussion.

Pulling back the curtain to show the set

Disaffected Newsletter • 1278 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
🎙 Podcasts Entertainment
  1. The show is presented like an old-fashioned talk show, not just a casual podcast. The creator values a polished production and enjoys looking put together while performing.
  2. There's honesty behind the performance; the creator shares personal struggles and insecurities. They believe it's important to show that even those who entertain can have vulnerabilities.
  3. The aim is to connect with others who have faced similar challenges from childhood. The show encourages a sense of recognition and reminds viewers that it's okay to have flaws but still strive to entertain and engage.

My Review of "Melania"

I Might Be Wrong • 16 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The film feels like a blatant money-laundering/bribe project rather than a genuine documentary.
  2. It’s excruciatingly dull and obsessively focused on trivial moments—coat fittings, furniture choices, and long transit shots—so it reveals almost nothing interesting.
  3. Huge bids and heavy marketing with no real access expose political cronyism that revives careers and wastes money, which comes off as an insult to viewers' intelligence.

It’s Over, and It’s Trump

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2364 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Entertainment
  1. Nikki Haley's campaign faces challenges after falling short in New Hampshire, signaling potential struggles ahead.
  2. Trump's resurgence in popularity and the GOP's lack of understanding contribute to his strong position for the 2024 presidential race.
  3. New poll data shows immigration as a top voter concern, impacting President Biden's favorability ratings.

Masters of Atlantis

quite useless • 294 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🏝 Travel Entertainment
  1. The weather in Atlantis was perfect and helped improve the child's eczema.
  2. The resort had different areas and guest privileges based on colored wristbands.
  3. The food at the resort was expensive, but the son found entertainment in various activities like viewing aquariums and playing with Legos.

452: Constellation Software's Big Win, Big Tech Deep Value, Excel Era, TikTok & Bytedance, Herb Kelleher, LEGO, DALL-E 3, and Melatonin

Liberty’s Highlights • 589 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Entertainment
  1. Consider replacing habits rather than trying to stop them cold turkey.
  2. Big Tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta collectively generated impressive operating cash flow over the past decade.
  3. Be cautious with melatonin supplements as their actual content may vary significantly from what is labeled.

15 things I consumed this week

Maybe Baby • 685 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The author shares a list of things they consumed over the week, which includes various articles and media. It's a way to share recommendations with readers.
  2. They mention a personal note about avoiding getting sick from a family member, highlighting their daily life.
  3. The post is primarily for paid subscribers, suggesting that the content may have more depth and value for paying readers.

Movers and Shakers - a Parkinson’s podcast

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 1368 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
🎙 Podcasts Entertainment
  1. A group with Parkinson's launched the podcast Movers and Shakers after meeting at a London pub.
  2. The podcast features individuals with media backgrounds, including a High Court judge, discussing Parkinson's.
  3. The aim of the podcast is to educate, inform, and entertain, reaching out to people with Parkinson's, their caregivers, and the general public.

The Collapse of Hollywood

Development Hell • 276 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The entertainment industry may seem like it's collapsing with big companies acquiring smaller ones and existing companies facing challenges, but it's not as dramatic as it sounds.
  2. The entertainment industry is driven by profit and existing intellectual property, not creative integrity or risky original ideas.
  3. Despite the challenges in the industry, it's important to stay focused on your work, be resilient, and not be overly concerned with the overall industry difficulties.

Four Magical Minutes from Cartoon Saloon

Animation Obsessive • 3498 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Entertainment
  1. Cartoon Saloon created a visually stunning four-minute sequence in 'On Love' within the film 'The Prophet'.
  2. The project was made possible by a Hollywood production of 'The Prophet' without a screenplay or director attached, allowing indie teams like Cartoon Saloon to participate.
  3. The success of 'On Love' paved the way for Cartoon Saloon's larger projects, including 'Wolfwalkers'.

Should AI Be Allowed to Train On My Work?

I Might Be Wrong • 5 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Entertainment
  1. New AI tools can make surprisingly good, cheap videos and deepfakes, including realistic-looking celebrity scenes.
  2. Hollywood studios and unions are already pushing back with legal threats, so litigation and new case law on AI are likely to grow.
  3. Creators are angry that AI is often trained on copyrighted work, since that can teach models before they displace people's jobs, and the debate over rights and remedies is messy and unresolved.

Come hang out with me next week

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 369 implied HN points • 27 May 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. There's an exciting event happening next Monday in San Francisco called Trampoline Hall, featuring funny and unique speakers. It's a fun and unexpected experience that you shouldn't miss.
  2. The author is working on a self-help book with their wife about being effective like her, set to be released in spring 2026. It's based on traits and habits that can be learned and shared.
  3. They are also starting a new Substack together to share more of their wife's insights and ideas. If you enjoy the author's writing, you might like this new project too.

The Fever Dream of Barbenheimer

The Ankler • 294 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Barbie and Oppenheimer faced off at the Oscars, but only one emerged as a clear favorite.
  2. Having two popular films as major players is good for attracting viewers, but sets up disappointment for fans of the losing film.
  3. Barbie faced snubs in key categories like best director and best actress nominations, causing disappointment among fans.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 55

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 24 May 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Thomas Keller, a famous chef, asked a food critic to leave his restaurant, which led to an unexpected three-hour wait that turned into a memorable experience for the critic.
  2. A launch video for Sam Altman and Jony Ive's new device is amusing, but it features odd random quotes. Ive recently sold his company for a huge sum of $6.5 billion.
  3. José Mujica, known as the world's 'poorest president', passed away. He always believed that true poverty comes from wanting more and being in a constant race for material things.

"Turbocharged"

TSOH Investment Research Service • 530 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
💼 Business Entertainment
  1. Walt Disney's Disneyland transformed entertainment with its creative content
  2. Disney Parks & Resorts faced challenges after 9/11 but rebounded with increased free cash flow
  3. CEO Michael Eisner's strategy of reducing capital expenditures led to higher profitability

Whither "the zombie apocalypse"?

well, actually • 255 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. The term "zombie apocalypse" gained popularity in major media after the premiere of AMC's The Walking Dead in 2010, but it was used in other media and society before that.
  2. The concept of a zombie apocalypse has been creatively referenced in various contexts, from food sections to climate change reports to workplace discussions.
  3. The idea of a zombie apocalypse has become culturally significant, appearing in books, articles, and even being linked to topics like finances, marriage, and travel.

Jerry Springer Was Trash. But He Was Honest.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 723 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Jerry Springer was unapologetic about the shocking content he presented on his show. He focused on giving viewers what they actually wanted, even when it was controversial.
  2. His show was popular, drawing millions of viewers, but also sparked criticism for being immoral and exploitative. Some episodes were so outrageous they were even banned.
  3. Springer was seen as a disruptive figure in American media, compared to more wholesome personalities like Oprah, positioning himself as the 'black sheep' of talk shows.

Mental bric-a-brac

Disaffected Newsletter • 919 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Some people become social justice advocates because of childhood trauma. They may have taken on adult responsibilities too early, which can shape their views later in life.
  2. Logarithmic scales can be stressful because they keep increasing, making them feel out of control and overwhelming.
  3. Boiling water is a great way to clean cast-iron cookware. It helps remove stuck-on food easily, just like when making a sauce.

Hidden Open Thread 362.5

Astral Codex Ten • 757 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. This is a special thread for paid subscribers to discuss various topics freely. It's a place for open conversation and sharing ideas.
  2. The post seems to be part of a larger series, suggesting that the author shares ongoing content for their audience's engagement.
  3. Visual elements are included to capture attention, indicating that the author values a dynamic presentation of their content.

Hollywood Morality

Fake Noûs • 920 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment
  1. Hollywood often struggles with moral philosophy and promotes a kind of morality that seems unrealistic. Instead of dealing with complex situations, they opt for simple solutions that make heroes look good.
  2. In Hollywood, self-defense is tricky; heroes must wait for an attack before fighting back, even when it's clear they're in danger. This approach can make characters seem foolish and overly lenient.
  3. The way Hollywood portrays morality ignores real-world consequences. Their stories often end with characters benefiting from luck rather than genuine moral choices, which can lead to dangerous ideas about how to handle conflict.