‘Stranger Things’ Creators Explain How They Got Two Prince Classics Into the Finale
Matt and Ross Duffer credited the success of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" with helping to convince the Prince estate to license two Purple Rain tracks
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André Øvredal Horror Movie Gets Title, Release Date from Paramount
'Passenger' will open May 29.
Directors on Their Favorite Films of 2025: From Janicza Bravo to Paul Thomas Anderson to Barry Jenkins and More
Acclaimed filmmakers pen essays on the current movies that left them inspired — and sometimes envious.
Victoria Jones, Tommy Lee Jones’ Daughter, Found Dead at 34
Victoria Jones, the daughter of Tommy Lee Jones who acted and appeared with her father in two of his films, was found dead at a San Francisco hotel on Thursday, Jan. 1, according to NBC Bay Area. She was 34. The San Francisco Fire Department released a statement to media
Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’ and ‘Purple Rain’ Spotify Streams More Than Double in ‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale Surge
Prince is seeing a significant Spotify streaming boost in his catalog thanks to key syncs in the series finale of “Stranger Things.” Since the episode debuted on New Year’s Eve, “Purple Rain” has seen a 243 percent increase in Spotify global streams and a 577 percent surge in
How to Watch ‘The Cult of the Real Housewife,’ the Controversial Mary Cosby Docuseries About the ‘Salt Lake City’ Star
The life of a popular “Real Housewife” is going under the microscope with TLC’s new docuseries, “The Cult of the Real Housewife,” which takes a look into the controversial marriage and religious practices of “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star, Mary Cosby. The new series
From Will Arnett to Lucy Liu, Performances That Shouldn’t Be Overlooked this Awards Season
As the year comes to a close, many standout actors have garnered attention. Of course, only a select few will continue on to Oscar glory — 20 to be exact. But there are many notable performances that, while well-received, have yet to be recognized by top awards associations.
French Government Defends George and Amal Clooney Citizenship: ‘They Contribute’ to ‘International Influence and Cultural Outreach’
Not everyone is happy about George Clooney and his family becoming French citizens. The recent news of Clooney, his wife Amal and their children being granted French citizenship sparked criticism from Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior deputy to the interior minister, who argued
This Year’s National Popcorn Day Hack Comes Courtesy of … Lowe’s Home Improvement
Eat your heart out (in popcorn), Home Depot.
10 Directors to Watch 2026
When Sean Baker’s “Anora” won both the Palme d’Or at Cannes — followed by best picture at the Oscars — those honors reinforced what Variety had been saying a decade earlier, when the filmmaker appeared on the publication’s 10 Directors to Watch list, before “Tangerine” had even
Most Anticipated Film Performances of 2026, Ranked: Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, the Mara Sisters and More
The year ahead in movies won’t be simply about spectacle, scale or franchise machinery. It will also be about watching actors attempt to stretch, surprise and sometimes completely reinvent themselves in front of our eyes. Variety‘s annual slate of the most anticipated film
The Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks Worth a Shot This Dry January
Every year, more people are trying a Dry January — abstaining from alcoholic drinks for a month — as a way to reset health priorities after the holidays or as a test run for an alcohol-free lifestyle. And now there’s also “Damp January,” which can mean whatever you want it to
Stephen Schwartz Pulls Out of Kennedy Center’s 2026 Lineup: ‘There’s No Way I Would Set Foot in It Now’
Stephen Schwartz, the songwriter behind classic musicals from “Godspell” and “Pippin” to “Wicked,” has revealed he will not be taking part in a program spotlighting him at the Kennedy Center on May 16. “It no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression
Paul Mescal Hopes ‘Nobody Gets to See’ Him Until the Beatles Films Drop in 2028
The actor talked about stepping back from the spotlight and "rationing" his workload in a new interview
Stephen Colbert Says ‘Don’t Trust Billionaires’ When Asked About ‘Major Lesson’ of 2025: ‘They Don’t Get Rich by Finding That Money on the Side of the Road’
Stephen Colbert capped off his 2025 with a video appearance on CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live” with Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper, where the former asked the late-night host to tell viewers about the “major lesson” he learned during the year. Colbert’s 2025 was defined by CBS
The 53 Most Anticipated New and Returning TV Shows Coming in 2026
Please, streamers, stop announcing the dates for 2026 TV shows! This is what we’ve been saying to each other for the past week or so — but nevertheless, they have persisted. Yes, yes, we know, Peak TV has peaked, and yet, there is still so much television coming our way in
French Box Office Drops by 13% to Roughly $1.17 Billion in 2025, but Year-End Rebound Signals ‘Positive Momentum’ for 2026
After a bullish year bolstered by local blockbusters, the 2025 French box office dropped by 13.6% to 156.79 million admissions, according to the National Film Board (CNC) and Comscore reports. Based on the average ticket price of €7.45 ($8.75), the box office grossed an
Israeli Entertainment Industry Confronts Its Crisis at Inaugural Jerusalem Sessions Festival
The TV series “Tehran” returns to Apple TV next week even though production wrapped back in 2023. What caused the postponement of this critically acclaimed drama depicting dueling espionage efforts between Israel and Iran was never specified by the streaming service. But
Box Office: Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale Earns More Than $25 Million in Movie Theaters
Audiences flocked to cinemas to say goodbye to the Upside Down over New Year’s. Movie theaters earned between $25 million to $28 million by showing the finale to Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” sources tell Variety. It’s very hard to get an exact number, because tickets came with
Paul Mescal Says He’ll Be “Rationing” Work Until Beatles Biopics in 2028: “People Will Get a Break From Me and I’ll Get a Break From Them”
The Irish actor is considering winding down a little after his 'Hamnet' campaign, and discusses what that would look like.
Jill Scott Announces New Album ‘To Whom This May Concern,’ Her First in Over a Decade
Jill Scott is making her return to music with the announcement of her sixth album, “To Whom This May Concern,” releasing on Feb. 13 via the Orchard. The album, which is Scott’s first in over a decade, will feature collaborations with Ab-Soul, J.I.D., Tierra Whack and Too Short,
Paul Mescal Says He’ll Start ‘Rationing’ Workload After ‘Hamnet’ Awards Campaign: ‘I Hope Nobody Gets to See Me Until 2028 When I’m Doing the Beatles’
Paul Mescal is looking to take a break from the spotlight after the past few years put his career into overdrive. After breaking through in the film world with “Aftersun” in 2022 — which earned the 29-year-old Irish actor his first Oscar nomination — Mescal made his blockbuster
Jafar Panahi’s Prison Sentence Appeal Sets Hearing Date in Iran
The director, who in 2025 won Cannes' Palme d'Or for 'It Was Just an Accident,' was sentenced to one year in prison in absentia early December.
Disney+ Acquires ‘Brown Bread,’ Directorial Debut of Shaunagh Connaire, Former Exec at George and Amal Clooney’s Justice Foundation (EXCLUSIVE)
Disney+ has acquired the Irish narrative short film “Brown Bread” following a successful festival run that began with its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2025. The film is now streaming across Disney+ platforms throughout Europe. Written and directed by Shaunagh
‘Stranger Things’ Finale Lights Up New Year’s Box Office With $20M-$25M Haul for Cinemas
The final episode of the hit Netflix series debuted simultaneously Dec. 31 on the streamer and in 600 theaters before holding encore showings throughout New Year's Day.
George Clooney Fires Back After Donald Trump Mocks His French Citizenship
“I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again," the actor said
Asian Film Awards Suspends Competitive Categories After Hong Kong Fire
The Asian Film Awards Academy has modified the format of its upcoming 19th edition, eliminating competitive categories and the red carpet ceremony in favor of a scaled-back event focused on special honors following last year’s deadly Hong Kong fire. The academy announced that
New CBS Evening News Anchor Tony Dokoupil Says News Has ‘Put Too Much Weight’ on Academics and Elites: ‘The Press Has Missed the Story’
Tony Dokoupil, who starts Monday as anchor of the “CBS Evening News,” spoke out on New Year’s Day about where he thinks the press has gone wrong, and vowed that starting Monday, the audience would come first — ahead of advertisers, politicians or corporate interests including
‘Stranger Things’ Creators Defend Will’s Coming Out Scene and Confront Toxic Fan Review Bombing: ‘The Ultimate F— You to Vecna’
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for the series finale of “Stranger Things,” now streaming on Netflix. Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of “Stranger Things,” didn’t expect the review bombing that took place after the series’ penultimate episode dropped on Netflix
‘Stranger Things’ Finale Spoiler Interview: Duffer Brothers on Whether Eleven Is Alive, Debating Who Got to Kill [SPOILER] and Why the Rock From the Briefcase Is Key to the Spinoff
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from the series finale of “Stranger Things,” now streaming on Netflix. And so ends the nine-and-a-half-year journey of “Stranger Things,” which launched in July 2016 and concluded on Dec. 31, 2025. Creators Matt and Ross Duffer
MTV Didn’t Shut Down on New Year’s Eve, Despite Social Media Posts — but the Music Left a Long Time Ago
You’ve probably seen a variation of this news on social media over the past few days: MTV officially shut down on New Year’s Eve, ending their final broadcast the same way the network started: With the clip “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. But those posts are
Will Smith Sued by Tour Violinist for Sexual Harassment and Wrongful Termination
Will Smith has been sued by a tour violinist who is accusing the rapper of sexual harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation. In the suit, filed yesterday and reviewed by Variety, musician Brian King Joseph names Smith and Treyball Studios Management as defendants and
CNN’s Highly Anticipated Chevy Chase Doc Begins Streaming Tonight
A new documentary from CNN offers an unvarnished look at one of the most polarizing figures in comedy: Chevy Chase. “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” premieres on CNN on Thursday, Jan. 1. Cable-cutters can stream the documentary online through a variety of Live TV streamers with
Best Horror of January 2026: Sam Raimi’s New Thriller, Ralph Fiennes in ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,’ a Killer Chimpanzee and More
Welcome to Horror Explorer, a curated column showcasing the month’s best movies, series, books and everything else spooky worth checking out. I’m William Earl, the executive digital director of Variety and the publication’s resident horror enthusiast. Please drop me a line at
Chevy Chase Was ‘Depressed’ After His Fox Late-Night Show Was Canceled After 6 Weeks: ‘He Would Get in Bed and Not Come Out’
A brief chapter in Chevy Chase’s illustrious comedy career is his ill-fated late-night talk series “The Chevy Chase Show,” which ran on Fox for six weeks in 1993 and was cancelled after scathing reviews and low ratings. In the new CNN documentary “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re
George Clooney Hits Back After Trump Slams Him on Social Media: ‘We Have to Make America Great Again. We’ll Start in November’
George Clooney suggested the midterm elections could put the country on the right track in a response to President Donald Trump’s snarky social media posts about the actor’s recent decision to get French citizenship. On New Year’s Eve, the president hailed Clooney’s move as
