Directed by Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang ★★★★★ If you have spent any amount of time on the internet during the summer of 2025, you encountered Netflix's hit KPop Demon Hunters. From dominating the music charts to becoming the top Netflix film to date, the film and its soundtrack have exceeded all expectations and continue to inspire children and adults alike around the world.

To celebrate the end of 2025, I wanted to look back at some pop culture moments and figures that stand out from this year. This year, I chose 10 influential people, 10 films or shows that premiered this year, and 10 songs released this year. It can be super hard to narrow down, but I did my best to highlight a variety of people and pay attention to the resounding messages of the year.

★★★★★ This is a spoiler-free review. David Freyne's Eternity, starring Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner, is an A24 romantic comedy released November 26, 2025. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September to a decently positive critical reception. The film follows Joan (Olsen) and Larry (Teller) Cutler, a couple who reaches the end of their lives after decades of marriage and building a family together.

(Image courtesy of Gwen Trannoy) Best New Artist Grammy nominee Olivia Dean is making headlines for breaking down barriers for fans attending her North American tour. Dean is a British singer-songwriter who released her second studio album, The Art of Loving, this year. Its third single “Man I Need” charted around the world, reaching number 1 in the United Kingdom and number 4 in the United States. 

Directed by Jon M. Chu ★★★★ After months of promotion following a successful first film in 2024, Wicked: For Good hit theaters on November 21, 2025. The year between films was filled with anticipation for the second as people watched and rewatched the first. Fans of the musical awaited a film adaptation of Act II of the beloved Broadway show while new fans sought a continuation of the story.

The New York City Mayoral Election was held on November 4, 2025, drawing national attention despite other local elections being held at the same time. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, and “Independent” candidate Andrew Cuomo ran to unseat current mayor Eric Adams who had initially ran to keep his role, but dropped out in September. After a hard-fought race, …

Directed by Guillermo del Toro ★★★★★ Everyone encounters an interpretation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at some point in their life. The book has been adapted to various films for nearly a century by a wide variety of actors and directors. The latest adaptation was released to select theaters in October 17, 2025, and to Netflix on November 7 of the same year.

This article is also available in Spanish. I could not tell you who played in last year’s Super Bowl, but I sure can tell you who performed at the halftime show. Countless videos of Kendrick Lamar’s show have appeared on social media feeds across a variety of platforms. Creators broke down the layers of metaphors and political commentary woven throughout his set and further spread his message to an audience outside Super Bowl viewers.

To protect the privacy of the children mentioned, no images or names of minors will be included. Actress Millie Bobby Brown and her husband, Jake Bongiovi, went viral on August 21, 2025, by sharing…

American Girl is an incredibly nostalgic brand for many young women who grew up in the United States.  The brand’s first group of customers are now adult millennial women who adopted the compa…

Content Warning: This article contains mentions of self-harming behaviors and suicide and may be distressing. If you need help, call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to contact the Suicide &amp…

Actor and filmmaker Dean Cain, known for playing Clark Kent/Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, announced that he will be joining US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I…

Directed by Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang ★★★★★ If you have spent any amount of time on the internet during the summer of 2025, you encountered Netflix's hit KPop Demon Hunters. From dominating the music charts to becoming the top Netflix film to date, the film and its soundtrack have exceeded all expectations and continue to inspire children and adults alike around the world.

True crime content continues to grow on the internet, with creators using every medium from podcasts to books to documentary series and reenactments. The true crime genre focuses on real-life crime…

Portland, Oregon, is back in headlines after President Trump attempted to unleash the National Guard, alleging that the city is “war ravaged” and under siege by “Antifa and other domestic terrorist…

Content Warning: This article contains mentions of suicide and may be distressing. If you need help, call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to contact the Suicide & Crisis Hotline. Secretary…

Reviewing rollout and reception of The Life of a Showgirl Despite the many issues going on in the United States and the rest of the world, the eyes and ears of many people were turned to Taylor Swi…