A Godzilla Movie That’s Actually Terrifying
Godzilla Minus One is a rare beast: a viscerally arresting monster flick with legitimate emotional stakes.
‘The Magic of Raina Is Real’
How the cartoonist Raina Telgemeier, the author of Smile, Sisters, and Guts, turned the anxious kid into a hero for the 21st century
What Joni Mitchell Proved at the Grammys
In performing an instant-classic awards-show set, she affirmed her timelessness—and her influence on a new generation of artists.
The SNL Cameo That Was a Big Miss
Watching the real Nikki Haley spar with a fake Donald Trump was awkward—and not very funny.
Two Apricots
17 Indie Films You Must See in 2024
Time travel, Sasquatches, Kristen Stewart in a mullet—here are our favorite movies from this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Eight Novels That Truly Capture City Life
Only some of these titles tell happy stories, but they are all reminders of what is possible in metropolises.
The Disorienting Beauty of ‘Africa & Byzantium’
A landmark exhibition offers a new history of art.
Lost Photographs of Black America
A trove of images from the 1960s and ’70s, discovered in a Swedish bank vault, offers new perspectives on the past—and the present.
A Mystery Movie That’s More of a Marketing Plan
Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle borrows from a lot of very recent spy-thriller history.
The Gay Icon Who Wants Conservative Approval
Lil Nas X is a provocateur, a troll, an individualist … but he also really, really wants to be liked.
A Trove of ‘Lost Basquiats’ Led to a Splashy Exhibition. Then the FBI Showed Up.
Why is it so hard to root out fakes and forgeries?
The Sundance Movie That Sent People Running for the Exit
Sasquatch Sunset is the latest in a long line of art-house films that turn viewing into an endurance test.
The Grim Aftermath of the E. Jean Carroll Verdict
Throughout the defamation trial, Donald Trump eroded the distinction between the court and the court of public opinion.
Justin Timberlake’s Air of Desperation
As a musical guest on SNL, the star’s changed status in the pop-cultural universe was hard to ignore.
Mary Weiss, the Flinty Voice of Heartbreak
The late lead singer of the Shangri-Las had an incomparable voice, which recently found a new life on TikTok.
You May Be Surprised by What Scares You
Fear may be a linchpin of horror, but as a recent anthology attests, the true bedrock of the genre is mood.
The Band That’s Been Charting America’s Burnout for Decades
Green Day is still attracting controversy, and listeners, with its blend of politics and punk.
The Director Who Was Never as Famous as His Movies
In the Heat of the Night. Moonstruck. Fiddler on the Roof. The late Norman Jewison’s films were wildly divergent—and unforgettable.
Why the Oscars Overlooked Greta Gerwig
The Barbie filmmaker isn’t the first to be snubbed for directing a crowd-pleaser.