Get obsessed with us. Four days a week, Pop Culture Happy Hour serves you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, books, videogames and more. Join arts journalists Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture aficionados. The Happy Hour team leaves room at the table for exploring a range of reactions and opinions on every bit of the pop universe. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, they take it all with a shot of cheer.
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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 Learn more about s...
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 Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
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...
Pop Culture Happy Hour dives into Ballerina, the new John Wick spinoff starring Ana de Armas. The panel discusses the action, connections to the existing franchise world, Ana de Armas's performance, and potential future spinoffs. Plus, they share what's been making them happy this week, including book recommendations, a K-drama, and a board game.
Every generation gets its versions of a "20-somethings hang out and make mistakes" sitcom, such as Living Single, Friends , New Girl and Broad City . Now Gen Z's got the FX/Hulu series Adults. The silly new series is about a group of friends cohabitating in Queens, New York and it makes for fun and possibly all-too-relatable TV fodder. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy. Learn more about spons...
Succession creator Jesse Armstrong is back with Mountainhead , a new movie with characters who are just as wealthy, powerful, and insecure as the Roy family. Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef and Cory Michael Smith star as four tech moguls gathering for a low-key guys' weekend of poker. But business and unchecked, overinflated egos quickly lead them all down a very dark path. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happ...
The hit Australian horror movie Talk To Me was both very good and deeply unsettling. Now its directors (Danny and Michael Philippou) have returned with Bring Her Back , which ups the ante when it comes to disturbing, nightmarish storytelling. The film stars Sally Hawkins as a woman whose grief manifests in terrifying, ugly ways. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy. Learn more about sponsor mess...
The Karate Kid has been sequelized, serialized, spun off and rebooted, and now it's back, as Karate Kid: Legends. The new film stars Ben Wang as a kid who's mentored by Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, reprising their roles from the franchise. But at its heart, the movie is about a kid who must train hard, learn life lessons, and kick a bully hard in the face. In honor of Toy Story's 30th anniversary, we're ranking the Pixar movies. What do you think is the best Pixar feature? Vote now! We'll talk...
Online discourse has become a fun part of enjoying and dissecting big pop culture events. But after seeing all the commentary around Ryan Coogler's Sinners, our pal Brittany Luse has one question: are we in a media literacy crisis? Difference of opinion is one thing, but it feels like some viewers are missing important clues or misreading the film entirely - and it doesn't stop with Sinners . Today we've got an episode of the podcast It's Been A Minute that explores what this could mean for the ...
The new Lilo & Stitch is mostly live-action and retells the original Disney animated film's story of two orphaned Hawaiian sisters and the chaotic alien who upends their lives. The movie deviates from the original in many ways, but the central story is a tale of sisterhood and found family with lots of rowdy chaos along the way. The cast includes Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Zach Galifianakis, and Chris Sanders returns as the voice of Stitch. In honor of Toy Story's 30th anniversa...
NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour reviews the second season of HBO's The Last of Us, exploring its darker narrative focusing on revenge and the aftermath of Joel's choice. Hosts discuss key plot points, including Joel's death, Ellie's journey without him, and the introduction of new characters like Abby and Dina, while offering critiques on the season's structure, character development, and fidelity to the game.
In Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning , Tom Cruise has to save the world (again). But this time, as the movie stresses repeatedly, the stakes are really, really high. Higher than the buildings Tom sprints across or the planes he fights bad guys on. There's an AI that wants to destroy humanity, and Tom and his allies try to pull off the feat of all our lifetimes. Will he? Does it even matter? It's Tom Cruise doing Tom Cruise things in London, the Bering Sea, and beyond. In honor of Toy Sto...
The movie ends, and the credits roll. That used to be your cue to start heading to the parking lot to debrief with your friends. That was before the era of the post-credits scene, which often teases the next installment, or offers one last joke or thrill that you'll miss if you don't stick around. But is it really worth it to stick around? Today we're talking about the state of the post-credits scene, including Sinners , Pixar and Marvel movies, and more. Learn more about sponsor message choices...
The Pop Culture Happy Hour panel reviews the new Apple TV+ sci-fi comedy series "Murderbot," based on Martha Wells' popular book series. They discuss how the adaptation captures the protagonist's interiority, the show's bright visual style, its blend of humor and heart, and the performances. The conversation also explores themes of humanity, free will, and neurodivergence.
In the cringe comedy Friendship , a deeply strange and intense guy forges a troubled friendship with his new neighbor, a TV weatherman, played by Paul Rudd. The film stars Tim Robinson, an SNL veteran who's best known for his work in TV shows like Netflix's I Think You Should Leave . To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture...
You can't beat death. That's the message of the Final Destination film franchise. Almost 15 years after the last new installment, we're back with Final Destination Bloodline s, a movie all about the fact that you really, really, really can't beat death. It will come for you, and in fact, it may come for your whole family — in the most convoluted, bloody, gnarly ways it possibly can. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message cho...
The Pop Culture Happy Hour discusses the Star Wars prequel trilogy, reevaluating the films' impact 20 years after the release of "Revenge of the Sith." The panel explores initial reactions, nostalgic appreciation versus critical analysis, technical achievements, and political themes, while addressing the criticisms of dialogue and romance. The discussion dives into the performances and the lasting community built around these polarizing movies.
