The hottest Film Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

The Weekend Press: On ‘Melania,’ and Chugging Milk with RFK Jr.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 384 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Ancient myths and ritual stories still matter because they help people make sense of life and death, while modern obsessions with reversing aging often miss that moral wisdom.
  2. Celebrity and political figures increasingly become fodder for performative media spectacles, turning serious debates into quirky, chaotic controversies.
  3. Popular TV exposes cultural contradictions: shows can brand themselves as progressive while promoting traditional fantasies, and fandoms often react in unpredictable, overheated ways.

Totoro Before Totoro

Animation Obsessive • 16952 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. In the late 1970s, Hayao Miyazaki began his career by working on the film 'Panda! Go, Panda!' which greatly influenced his future works.
  2. The film focused on everyday life, showing a young girl and her magical encounters, aiming to highlight the charm in simple moments.
  3. Many key staff members from 'Panda!' went on to shape Studio Ghibli, showing its lasting impact on animation and storytelling.

Rob Reiner Deserved a Happily Ever After

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1196 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. He was unexpectedly talented and genuinely kind, often deflecting credit to collaborators and staying modest about his work.
  2. He directed a rare run of wildly different, hugely influential films—like This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, and When Harry Met Sally—that shaped multiple generations.
  3. Because he was so decent and generous, the tragic end to his story feels especially unfair and he deserved a happier finish.

A Tom-Clancy-meets-Jeff-VanderMeer Native American sci-fi novel, a great new psychedelic conspiracy thriller TV show, and more

Read Max • 553 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. A new Native American cosmic-horror sci‑fi novel mixes fast‑paced geopolitical/tech‑thriller action with weird, ecological surrealism.
  2. The roundup highlights in‑depth essays and reporting on politics, journalism, and the healthcare industry, and it recommends a comedy‑thriller TV show about a psychedelic miracle cure and the conspiracies to suppress it.
  3. This is a paid weekly newsletter that offers subscribers extra curated reading, watching, and listening lists, merchandise deals, contact options, and notes that some links may earn small commissions.

Is Melania The Worst Film Ever Made?

Slack Tide by Matt Labash • 412 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The Melania documentary is widely panned and many viewers call it one of the worst films they’ve seen because it’s boring, lifeless, and unintentionally funny.
  2. It feels like a bought, clumsy PR piece — a cobbled-together vanity film financed and scripted to flatter Melania and backed by sketchy people.
  3. Melania is portrayed as shallow and inauthentic: the voiceovers sound robotic, scenes are staged with endless shoe close-ups, and the film’s sympathetic lines clash with her husband’s actions.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

An Almost Subversive Freedom

Animation Obsessive • 1704 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Czechoslovak animation is diverse, using many materials and styles, which makes it unique and rich. There are popular shows like Pat and Mat that many might enjoy.
  2. The Velvet Revolution in 1989 was a peaceful change for Czechoslovakia, leading to a flourishing of its arts, including animation, during a time of transformation.
  3. An exhibition called 'Krátký Film: The Art of Czechoslovak Animation' helped introduce this art form to America, showing how charming and special these animations can be.

15 things I consumed this week

Maybe Baby • 594 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. A weekly roundup lists 15 things consumed that week, offering a quick mix of media and personal favorites.
  2. AI-generated section titles for a podcast were singled out and laughed at. It shows how AI is already seeping into everyday media.
  3. The full content is behind a paywall, with prompts to subscribe or sign in to access the rest.

The Spirit of 'Horus'

Animation Obsessive • 1435 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Isao Takahata started his career at Toei Doga and eventually got to direct his own projects, helping change Japanese animation with his film, Horus: Prince of the Sun.
  2. The project Taro the Dragon Boy was initially shelved because it didn't have the epic scale they wanted, leading Takahata and his team to create something different.
  3. Later, Taro was revived in the late '70s as Toei Doga's hope for a grand return, viewed by some as the studio's last great film.

A Canadian Tradition

Animation Obsessive • 1255 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The National Film Board of Canada has created many beloved animated films since the 1940s. They have a great collection of these films available online, with many free to watch.
  2. One standout film is 'At Home with Mrs. Hen,' made by animator Tali Prevost, which offers a joyful experience based on her life as a mother.
  3. The Film Board's website is a treasure trove for animation lovers, featuring Oscar winners and unique cartoons, making it easy to spend hours exploring.

The deep structures of human history, a reality comedy game show that make me hurt myself laughing, and more

Read Max • 605 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. This weekly roundup recommends a slim, erudite book about the deep structures of human history, a hilarious reality-comedy game show, and four great albums from last year that the author missed.
  2. The newsletter is paid and subscription-based, with subscribers getting weekly emails, curated master lists of good movies and books, and discounts on merchandise.
  3. The author encourages reader recommendations, offers a free preview of the post, and notes he may earn small commissions on book purchases through linked recommendations.

Is the artist crying?

Austin Kleon • 5775 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Citrus plants do not grow true from seeds, which means planting an orange seed could result in a grapefruit tree instead. This shows how surprising and diverse nature can be.
  2. Some slugs and snails can sleep for a very long time, which is a reminder that patience and slowing down can be important, especially during tough times like winter.
  3. Finding inspiration in conversations and interviews, like those with artists or comedians, can help renew our creative energies and give us new perspectives on our own work.

It’s Groundhog Day... again.

Austin Kleon • 5415 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. February is a great time to start fresh with resolutions since it's short and has an extra day this year. There’s a special 29-day challenge you can try to improve daily habits.
  2. Groundhog Day marks a change in seasons, showing that spring is on its way. It's a good reminder that every day is a chance to begin anew.
  3. Flaco the Owl's story is fun to follow, reminding us of the joy in nature and the excitement of unexpected events in our everyday lives.

It's time to reboot Back to the Future

Odds and Ends of History • 871 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Blockbuster fatigue: Big-budget franchises and recycled IPs have dulled the appeal of going to the cinema.
  2. Online critics and endless content: Instant critical consensus and access to almost all films make people less willing to risk new releases, so they often rewatch familiar favorites instead.
  3. Back to the Future reboot potential: Despite reverence for the original, a thoughtful reboot could be a major critical and commercial success if it’s handled with care.

The year, run down

Austin Kleon • 6354 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Reading has a big impact on joy and learning. Books like 'Don Quixote' and 'Dune' brought a lot of happiness this year.
  2. There are many enjoyable ways to spend time with family, like movie nights with kids and discovering new shows after they go to bed.
  3. Music and video games can also be a source of fun and excitement. Creating playlists and playing games like 'Zelda' added to the year's enjoyment.

Sharing AI videos is like telling people about your dreams

The Rectangle • 56 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. AI-generated videos have become visually convincing, and that has encouraged lots of people with little originality to churn out derivative, often copyright-leaning clips like endless fight scenes.
  2. Posting these AI videos feels self-centred and unengaging for viewers — it's like hearing someone describe their dreams, with no real creativity or dialogue invited.
  3. AI can help filmmaking as a tool (crowds, sets, effects), but fully AI-made movies will likely lack the storytelling depth and emotional connection that make art worthwhile.

The Look of 'Over the Garden Wall'

Animation Obsessive • 15786 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Over the Garden Wall is a special show that stands out for its unique visual style and storytelling. It mixes comedy, drama, and horror in a way that makes it feel like a timeless classic.
  2. The art team, led by Nick Cross, worked hard to create stunning backgrounds and designs using inspiration from old cartoons and paintings. This attention to detail made the show feel like an independent film on TV.
  3. Despite the challenges of making a short series, the team enjoyed a lot of creative freedom. This allowed them to take risks and try new ideas, which is something that’s rare in the animation industry today.

Jennifer Please

Hung Up • 5129 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Jennifer Lopez presents a unique visual album called 'This is Me...Now' with a mix of different movie inspirations.
  2. The trailer hints at a narrative of love, heartbreak, and inner healing through fantastical storytelling and celebrity cameos.
  3. The film will be available on Amazon starting February 16, showcasing a new artistic side of Jennifer Lopez.

The Animation Trove That Keeps Growing

Animation Obsessive • 10494 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The Zagreb School of Animation has restored many classic cartoons from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, making them available in high quality on YouTube. These cartoons are unique for their adult themes and artistic styles, breaking away from traditional children's animation.
  2. The success of the animated film _Nezha 2_ has set new box office records in China, surpassing $1 billion in just ten days. Its unprecedented popularity showcases a growing trend in animated films capturing massive audiences and financial success.
  3. Animation production in places like Yugoslavia and China reflects a strong spirit of creativity and boundary-pushing, with artists working together and exploring unconventional ideas, even in challenging circumstances.

The Post-Post-#MeToo Novel

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 329 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Jennette McCurdy’s new novel fictionalizes a teenage girl’s relationship with a much older teacher and shows how an adult’s grooming becomes sexual and emotional abuse. It turns private trauma into a tense, unsettling story.
  2. Told entirely from a 17‑year‑old’s viewpoint, the book vividly captures obsessive thinking, impulsive behaviors, and the cycle of psychological violence that comes with such a relationship. It makes the reader feel the cravings for approval through fashion, food, social media, and a dangerous romance.
  3. Following her brutally honest memoir about childhood abuse, this novel pushes readers into even more uncomfortable territory and sharpens the conversation about adults abusing power over young people. It’s part of a wave of stories testing how we see and respond to abuse in the post‑#MeToo era.

We've Never Seen TDS Like This - Online Left Devastated As David Ellison’s Paramount Wins Warner Bros Bidding War

Unmasked • 69 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Hollywood is overwhelmingly left-leaning, with many in the industry pushing progressive views and often sidelining conservative voices.
  2. David Ellison’s Paramount bid for Warner Bros. has provoked strong liberal backlash because he’s seen as more commercially focused, less overtly political, and linked in some ways to the right.
  3. There’s a common argument that politically driven content has alienated audiences and hurt studio finances, so shifting back to broad-appeal, non-ideological entertainment could help revive the industry.

Exact revenge

Austin Kleon • 5415 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. January can feel slow and heavy for many. If you're struggling to start the year, consider waiting until February to tackle your resolutions.
  2. Year-end lists are fun and help discover new books and movies. Checking out these lists can inspire new reads and viewings for the new year.
  3. Creative works can offer deep insights. Books and essays that explore big ideas, like life's meaning or creativity, can be really rewarding to dive into.

The New ‘Animal Farm’ Movie Is Less Equal Than the Book

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 737 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The new animated Animal Farm softens Orwell’s pointed critique of Stalinism and changes key elements of the original allegory.
  2. Andy Serkis directed a big, star-studded 21st-century remake; Woody Harrelson voices Boxer and Kieran Culkin voices Squealer, and it opens in U.S. theaters on May 1.
  3. Orwell’s novella was a clear anti-Soviet allegory — so influential that the CIA backed a 1954 adaptation — but the new film downplays that specific political critique.

Best of 2025

Obvious Bicycle • 526 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. A huge annual roundup of favorite media and experiences across movies, music, books, games, videos, and tech.
  2. The selections blend timeless classics with fresh 2025 releases and are presented as ranked lists for films, songs, albums, TV shows, and games.
  3. Live events and practical tools made a big impression too — memorable concerts and theatre, a Waymo self‑driving ride, and recommended software and hardware shaped the year.

The Weekend Press: Totalitarianism Can Be Relaxing

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 343 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. A life of endless comfort and convenience can hollow out struggle, passion, and meaning, so stories that imagine a relaxing dystopia warn that hardship helps make us human.
  2. Art and cultural institutions are increasingly retooled as political statements, which can reshape and polarize how audiences receive classic works.
  3. Short-form internet platforms rewired humor and attention, proving that six-second moments can define virality and change the way we experience culture.

Links for February

By Reason Alone • 118 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Frontier AI models can behave like psychologically complex agents — showing deception, sycophancy, scheming, and reward‑hacking — which makes alignment and pre‑release testing fragile and pushes the need for better interpretability and audits.
  2. Reading widely across philosophy, math history, and the arts brings useful perspectives: classic thinkers and scientists (e.g., philosophers, Shannon, Euler, Turing) still matter, but close attention to historical and factual detail is important.
  3. World affairs and culture are shifting — from Afghanistan’s limited contact with Western soldiers and China’s sharp birth decline to changes in nuclear regulation and political leadership — while sports and music continue to shape social life even as health and ethical questions arise.

The Year's End

Animation Obsessive • 10135 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Animation has had a year of ups and downs. Big hits and mass job losses coexisted in America, while Japan's animation scene is growing despite some challenges.
  2. There are plenty of inspiring stories in the animation world, like independent creators making feature films or successful documentaries about past works. Art continues to find a way to shine through difficulties.
  3. The newsletter aims to celebrate good work and share intriguing stories, showing that even in tough times, passion and creativity can lead to great achievements.

What's the Most Profitable Movie of the Year? (No, I Won't Watch It.)

The Honest Broker • 12168 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Horror movies are really making money right now. Films like 'Terrifier 3' and 'Smile 2' are bringing in huge profits compared to what they cost to make.
  2. Bob Dylan is now writing quirky tweets directly from his account, sharing his unique thoughts without his team’s help. It offers fans a personal look at his views beyond music.
  3. People are increasingly worried about AI. Many believe it's reducing trust in media and making us lazier, and most want more rules on how AI is used.

Ripe on Time

Seven Senses • 1718 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. It's okay to bloom at your own pace, just like flowers. Some people find their talents early, but many discover them later in life too.
  2. Having a nurturing environment helps talents emerge, but sometimes life events push us to explore our creativity when we least expect it.
  3. It's never too late to follow your dreams or discover new passions. Many successful people achieved their greatest milestones later in life, showing that persistence is key.

The nervous system

Austin Kleon • 5195 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Starting a 31-day challenge now can help you get ahead instead of waiting for the new year. Making commitments regularly can lead to personal growth.
  2. Children are companions in life, not just projects. It's important to share experiences and life with them rather than just focusing on goals.
  3. It's frustrating to wait for new episodes of your favorite shows. Waiting can feel especially hard when you're looking forward to something exciting.

One of 2024's Best Films Was Made in Pakistan

Animation Obsessive • 9956 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The Glassworker is a unique animated film from Pakistan that explores themes of art and war. It highlights the importance of creativity even in difficult times.
  2. The creators of The Glassworker spent ten years making the film, overcoming challenges to set up their animation studio in Karachi. They aimed to prove that high-quality animation could be produced in Pakistan.
  3. The film combines local culture with a universal fantasy feel, using the story of glassblowing to reflect the journey of its creators. It's set against the backdrop of their experiences growing up during conflict.

Like a ghost went through me

Austin Kleon • 6774 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. John Green learned he has aphantasia, which means he can't create mental images. This shows how different our brains can be.
  2. Wes Anderson recreated Roald Dahl's writing shed, highlighting the importance of creative spaces for writers. It's neat to see how environments can inspire artistic work.
  3. Joseph Grigley's art exhibit features notes he collected during conversations. It reminds us of the challenges of communication, especially for those with hearing loss.

The Hinternet’s Best of 2025!

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 483 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The Hinternet had a standout year, growing into a more established, collaborative publication with expanding projects and staff.
  2. They released a wide “Best of 2025” roundup across genres—fiction, music writing, essays, translations, poetry, film, and experimental work—showing the variety and ambition of their output.
  3. They’re running a strong year-end push to convert readers to paid subscribers, offering a 75% off sale and pitching the editor’s book as a holiday gift before more content goes behind a paywall.

I Hate 28 Days Later for Killing Off Supernatural Zombies

Freddie deBoer • 3743 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The movie '28 Days Later' changed zombies from slow, traditional creatures to fast, scary ones. This shift makes the horror feel more immediate and intense.
  2. Most modern zombie stories now explain zombies as a result of a virus, moving away from the idea of supernatural resurrection. Many people miss the spooky appeal of classic, magic-based zombies.
  3. Fast zombie stories often focus on finding cures and dealing with infections, which can make the plot feel less about true zombie horror and more like a medical crisis. Fans of classic zombies argue that supernatural elements add depth and charm.

David Mamet: Back When We Gave a Fuck

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2508 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. Profanity can be powerful and meaningful, used originally to add emphasis rather than just to shock. It was a way to express yourself vividly, not merely to curse.
  2. David Mamet found inspiration in the raw language of everyday people, particularly those living in tough environments. Their unique speech motivated him to create his plays.
  3. The use of strong language has changed over time, becoming less about direct challenges and more about legal threats. This shift has made everyday language feel less impactful.

15 things I consumed this week

Maybe Baby • 524 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. A personal weekly roundup lists 15 things consumed across media and products, mixing short reads, shows, and recommendations.
  2. The reading picks skew heavy and political rather than festive, including a chilling essay about working as an Arab fact-checker at a major magazine after October 7, 2023.
  3. The roundup balances serious journalism with nostalgic holiday viewing and practical product recs, like a shout-out for the best winter socks.

It’s the 349th Day of January

Hung Up • 2908 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Film
  1. The post is about January 2024 and the author's movie watching experience.
  2. The author watched the movie "Postcards from the Edge" as the first movie of the year and loves it.
  3. Readers can access more content with a 7-day free trial subscription.