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For New York Magazine’s first annual “Culturati 50 Issue,” we surveyed Lorde, Parker Posey, Lola Tung, and other culture-makers who have shaped entertainment this year on what they watched, read, and listened to in 2025. See the full survey results here.
Romantasy has taken over every bookstore endcap in the last few years, and sexy fantastical creatures have surged from little-known subgenre to publishing powerhouse. In 2025, Rebecca Yarros is that genre’s indubitable champion. The reception to Onyx Storm, the follow-up to the megahit dark-academia dragon romance Iron Flame, began with rapturous excitement, making it the fastest-selling adult novel in 20 years. That initial thrill quickly crashed into groaning frustration when readers got to the end and realized they’d been left dangling on a devastating cliffhanger, in classic, unmatched Yarros fashion.
Introducing the Culturati 50
Read the Culturati 50’s ‘Year in Culture’ Lists
Superman. It was an uplifting reminder that kindness is punk during a time when our nation needs it most. Sinners. Genre-bending and had me hooked from the beginning. Everything about it, from the acting to the cinematography was incredible.
We Were Liars. Phenomenal storytelling with a heartbreaking twist that had me gasping. Adolescence. The acting blew my mind and the story sparked serious discussion in our house. The Pitt. Raw, emotional, and left me feeling connected to every character.
The news.
Sombr’s “I Barely Know Her” and Hayley Williams’s “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.” I always plot and write to music and these both had lyrics and melodies that stayed with me. I love how Hayley Williams didn’t steer away from this political climate with “True Believer.”
Everything Is Tuberculosis, by John Green, was absolutely fascinating and told masterfully. 107 Days, by Kamala Harris, was an eye-opening look at the 2024 election that kept me riveted, hopeful during the highs and sinking my stomach during the lows. Problematic Summer Romance, by Ali Hazelwood, was a perfect beach read and had me rooting for the characters to figure themselves out.
Hamilton. I know it’s ten years old, but I saw it twice this year and it still moves me to tears every time.
Owen Cooper in Adolescence. What astounding talent that young man has! He portrayed and evoked every emotion possible, and mastering the episodes in one take was simply stunning.
Oasis’s reunion, show night one in Cardiff. The atmosphere was electric, and not only was the music perfectly nostalgic, but it felt like every person there knew we were experiencing a momentous, unexpected gift.
Superman. We’re a huge superhero family. The kids absolutely loved it and went back to see it more than once! It has great messaging, especially for a family full of teenage boys. (Krypto for the win!)
⬜ Eddington
⬜ Materialists
☑️ The Last of Us
⬜ Fantastic Four
☑️ Superman
⬜ Thunderbolts
⬜ Fantastic Four
☑️ Good Night, and Good Luck
⬜ The Picture of Dorian Gray
⬜ Glengarry Glen Ross
⬜ Othello
⬜ Sunset Blvd.
☑️ The incest bros
⬜ Sam Rockwell’s monologue
⬜ Yes
☑️ No
☑️ HBO
⬜ Apple
⬜ Disney
⬜ Criterion
⬜ Netflix
⬜ YouTube
⬜ Conan O’Brien
⬜ Nikki Glaser
☑️ Cynthia Erivo
⬜ Nate Bargatze
⬜ Trevor Noah
☑️ Timothée Chalamet at the SAG Awards (“I want to be one of the greats”)
⬜ Hannah Einbinder at the Emmys (“Go Birds, fuck ICE, free Palestine”)
⬜ Kieran Culkin at the Oscars (“I will give you four when you win an Oscar”)
⬜ Chappell Roan at the Grammys (labels should “offer a livable wage and health care”)
⬜ Demi Moore at the Golden Globes (“I do belong”)
☑️ Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl
⬜ SNL50
⬜ Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement
⬜ The Coldplay kiss-cam
⬜ X
⬜ Bluesky
⬜ Facebook
☑️ Instagram
⬜ TikTok
⬜ None, I quit social media
TikTok. Too much negativity. We’ve monetized hatred like never before and the algorithm dines on hot takes and vitriol.
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If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the December 1, 2025, issue of
New York Magazine.
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If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the December 1, 2025, issue of
New York Magazine.
