Trying to keep up with the latest in pop culture? We’ve got you covered. The Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast helps you find the best new binge-worthy tv shows, movies, music, and videogames.
Join hosts Linda Holmes, Aisha Harris, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon four episodes a week - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture enthusiasts. It’s your fix for reviews, recommendations, and recaps of the pop culture everyone is talking about. From lowbrow reality TV to Oscar-winning movies to the stuff in between, we take it all with a shot of cheer. On the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, we watch everything so that you never miss anything.
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Last year was Brat summer and saw the rise of Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Sabrina Carpenter. But is there a song of the summer for 2025? Today we're talking about the competing songs of this summer from Justin Bieber, Morgan Wallen, KPop Demon Hunters , PinkPantheress, and more. We'd love to know what you think about Pop Culture Happy Hour. Please help us out by telling us what you like and how we could improve by completing a short, anonymous survey at npr.org/pchhsurvey . See pcm.adswizz.com...
The Fantastic Four are back again in a new movie--and it's an eye-popping good time. The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the famously fractious family with amazing powers who tangle with a godlike being who wants to eat the Earth. We've seen this story before, but the vibe is different this time. It's a brighter, boldly colored retro-future with flying cars, semi-helpful household robots and lots of talk about the importance ...
Hosts Glenn Weldon and Kristen Meinzer share their top YouTube channel recommendations. They delve into "Tasting History with Max Miller" for historical culinary insights, the food-focused celebrity interviews of "Dish," and urban planning analysis from "City Nerd." Also discussed are the hilarious British game show "Taskmaster," the dynamic board game channel "No Rolls Barred," and the oddly satisfying "Audiology Associates" for ear care videos. This episode offers a diverse range of engaging and often surprising content to explore.
In the original I Know What You Did Last Summer , some very '90s teenagers are targeted by a killer clad in fisherman's garb and armed with a hook. Nearly 30 years later, a new sequel fires up a very similar plot. The movie includes a new group of young people — including Chase Sui Wonders and Madelyn Cline — and a few key survivors from the first go-'round (Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr.) But does it live up to the legacy of the original? Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd...
Sorry, Baby is a refreshingly disarming movie. The film was written and directed by Eva Victor, who also stars a newly minted professor at the liberal arts college where she received her graduate degree. The school is also where she was once sexually assaulted. The movie takes on a traumatic experience with wry humor and vulnerability — and it announces Victor as a filmmaker and performer to watch. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture To access bonus episod...
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Eddington plunges us back into that familiarly distressing time of the early days of the pandemic. Directed by Ari Aster ( Hereditary and Midsommar ) Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal star as political rivals in a small southwest town. Their conflict collides with the news of George Floyd's murder, which brings tensions to a full-on boil for the whole community. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and...
The Netflix animated movie KPop Demon Hunters is a phenomenon, with a soundtrack that's climbing the Billboard charts, and a fandom rivaling that of just about any K-pop idol. The film is loads of fun, it's packed with some of the catchiest bangers you'll hear all summer. It's about a superstar girl group called HUNTR/X, who also keeps busy protecting humanity against an army of demons. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture To access bonus episodes and spons...
NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour panel dives deep into the 2025 Emmy nominations, covering Outstanding Drama, Comedy, and Limited/Anthology Series, along with their respective lead acting categories. Hosts Glenn Weldon, Linda Holmes, and Aisha Harris share their insights, express their picks, and debate surprising snubs and well-deserved recognition, including strong buzz for "The Pit" and passionate discussions around "The Bear's" comedy classification and "Presumed Innocent's" inclusion.
When your long-term boyfriend leaves you for an Instagram influencer, what can you do? In the new Netflix romantic comedy series Too Much , the answer is to go to London for work, and meet a struggling musician who happens to be very, very handsome with a life almost as messy as yours. Starring Meg Stalter and Will Sharpe, and co-created by Lena Dunham, it features a cast full of comedy MVPs, a meet-cute, and a very unusual dog. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture...
After much anticipation, there is a pretty great new Superman movie. And he's bringing exactly what we look to him for: hope. Writer and director James Gunn and new Man of Steel, David Corenswet, team up for a new tale of the eternal struggle between evil billionaire megalomaniac Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) and some people in colorful costumes who combine all their powers to stop him. And this time, there's a dog. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture See pc...
This summer marks Pop Culture Happy Hour's 15th birthday. We decided to re-watch the movies we loved at 15 with fresh eyes, and of course, some of them have aged better than others. Today on the show, we revisit the movies we loved as teens — including Chicago , Back to the Future , The Breakfast Club , and The Hunger . Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and ...
Love Island USA is pure chaos, and admittedly: we love it. It's one of many spinoffs of the long-running British hit series, Love Island — and it might be the closest thing we've got to a watercooler event. The latest season of Peacock's knowingly trashy reality dating show has fired up the group chats thanks to this messy batch of conventionally sexy singles. Sometimes, for better or worse, fans even get to stir the pot and decide who stays or goes. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free lis...
The hosts of Pop Culture Happy Hour recommend three distinct songs ideal for hitting the road. They discuss why Indigo Girls' "Closer to Fine," Blur's "Song 2," and Beyonce's "Love on Top" make perfect road trip anthems, highlighting sing-along potential, energy, and nostalgic value.
On this episode, the Pop Culture Happy Hour panel dives into "Jurassic World Rebirth", the latest installment in the long-running dinosaur franchise. Reviewers share their largely mixed to negative feelings, critiquing the film's messy plot, inconsistent character execution despite strong actors, and how its attempts to update the formula with "mutant dinosaurs" lose the wonder of the original. They discuss themes like societal boredom with dinosaurs and the meta-commentary on capitalism in the film industry. Finally, the panel shares the books, shows, and music currently making them happy.
Pop Culture Happy Hour dives into the conclusion of Netflix's hit series, Squid Game. The panel shares their overall impressions of the final two seasons, discussing both compelling elements and criticisms regarding pacing, external storylines, and repetitive aspects. They specifically analyze the controversial baby plotline, the return of the VIPs, the Cate Blanchett cameo, and debate whether the ultimate ending landed effectively compared to earlier points in the series.
The Bear is back for a new season. The FX on Hulu series sees Carmy and Sydney (Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri) trying to get the restaurant they opened together on its feet before they run out of money. Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) is thrown by his ex-wife's approaching wedding and what it's going to mean for him. Plus there's scallop drama, secret negotiations, and guest stars both new and old. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop ...
The horror comedy M3GAN spawned memes, made a fortune, and even taught us a lesson about the dangers of outsourcing our humanity to AI. The sequel, M3GAN 2.0, pans out to tell a bigger story about an even deadlier AI killing machine — and brings back the original M3GAN for some hi-tech robot-on-robot violence. Though M3GAN was defeated at the end of the original film, her tech remains — and it's found its way into a rogue AI assassin named Amelia. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at l...
The panel reviews the new movie F1, starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. They discuss the film's production, including its cooperation with real Formula One, and share varied reactions ranging from enjoying it as a fun blockbuster to critiquing its predictable script and promotional feel. The conversation also touches on the film's use of sports movie tropes, acting performances, and the portrayal of female characters, before shifting to the panel's weekly segment on things making them happy.
Ironheart is a fun new Marvel series following Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), a brilliant young woman we first met in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever . To fund her inventions – including a suit a lot like the one Iron Man used to wear – she falls in with a gang of criminals who rob from the rich led by The Hood (Anthony Ramos). But when her ambitions place the people she loves in danger, she's forced to reckon with her past and her grief. Ironheart is streaming now on Disney+. Subscribe to Pop...
Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts reveal the top-ranked Pixar films based on listener votes, counting down the top six (due to a tie). They dive into why films like Toy Story, Coco, Up, Finding Nemo, WALL-E, and Inside Out resonate so deeply with audiences, discussing their emotional impact, innovative visuals, and cultural significance.
NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour panel reviews Pixar's latest film, Elio. They discuss the plot about a lonely boy abducted by aliens, share their initial reactions which range from charmed to critical, and delve into themes like belonging, identity, and grief. The conversation also touches upon the film's animation style, voice acting, and comparisons to other Pixar and Disney movies.
The new apocalyptic horror film 28 Years Later takes place in the same world as 28 Days Later, where a deadly virus transformed the citizens of the U.K. into rabid blood-spewing creatures. The new film brings back the original's director and screenwriter, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. It's set on a small island where a group of survivors (including Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson) eke out a modest existence. A desperate expedition reveals new allies and new horrors – because the infected ha...
The new HBO documentary Pee-Wee As Himself isn't the boilerplate Hollywood profile you think it is. You get the biographical details you expect – how young avant-garde artist Paul Ruebens created the persona of Pee-Wee Herman, and the meteoric rise and fall that followed. But you also get a sense of what it cost Reubens to insist that Pee-Wee wasn't simply a persona, but in fact a real person. It's streaming now on Max. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture ...
Stephen King's work has often contemplated the inevitability of death. But his latest adaptation, The Life of Chuck is a life-affirming film that challenges the cynic in everyone. It has a big cast including Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jacob Tremblay, Mark Hamill, and Nick Offerman. The film was directed and written for the screen by Mike Flanagan ( The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass ). Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture See pcm.adswizz.co...
Should you date for love or financial security? That's the central premise of the new movie Materialists . It stars Dakota Johnson at the center of a love triangle with Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, and is directed by Celine Song ( Past Lives ). Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage...
Hosts Stephen Thompson, Regina Barber, and Jordan Morris review DreamWorks' live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon. They debate the necessity of remaking successful animated films shot-for-shot, critique the technical execution involving CGI, and discuss the new cast's performance. While finding enjoyment in the core story and characters, they ultimately question the creative purpose of the remake.
In Almost Famous , writer and director Cameron Crowe looks at the ecosystem surrounding a rising rock band in the early '70s. Starring Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, and many more, the movie is a coming-of-age story that touches on journalism, sex, rock 'n' roll, parenthood, and the perils of trying to be cool. Almost Famous turns 25 this year, so today we are revisiting our conversation about the movie. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture ...
The PCHH crew finally watches classic summer blockbusters they somehow missed, including *Armageddon*, *Beverly Hills Cop II*, *Ghost*, and *The Fast and the Furious*. They discuss what holds up, what doesn't, and their personal reactions to experiencing these cultural touchstones for the first time decades later.
Wes Anderson's new film The Phoenician Scheme is classic Wes Anderson, complete with a great cast delivering heightened dialogue and stylized cinematography. It stars Benicio del Toro as one of Europe's richest men, an amoral industrialist, who, along with his daughter (Mia Threapleton) and a tutor (Michael Cera), travels to convince his business partners to fund his latest venture. But where does the film rank among Anderson's past movies? Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterbo...
