Is God Is
May 20, 2026
You should make sure to check out the new film Is God Is . It’s a kinetic movie about twin sisters (Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) who set out to kill their abusive dad (Sterling K. Brown). It’s an…
Trying to keep up with the latest in pop culture? We’ve got you covered. The Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast helps you find the best new binge-worthy tv shows, movies, music, and videogames. Join hosts Linda Holmes, Aisha Harris, Stephen Thompson, and Glen Weldon four episodes a week - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture enthusiasts. It’s your fix for reviews, recommendations, and recaps of the pop culture everyone is talking about. From lowbrow reality TV to Oscar-winning movies to the stuff in between, we take it all with a shot of cheer. On the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, we watch everything so that you never miss anything. Make your happy hour even happier with Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus! Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/happyhour
PodSkip has analyzed 2 episodes of Pop Culture Happy Hour, averaging 2.5 ads per episode (5% of runtime).
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Nemesis
May 18, 2026
If you’re a fan of the movie Heat , then you might be into Netflix’s new action-packed heist series Nemesis . Co-created by Courtney A. Kemp ( Power) , it’s about the blurry lines between criminality…
Obsession and What’s Making Us Happy
May 15, 2026
The new film Obsession has a familiar setup: A guy makes a wish, wish comes true, and things go bad. But what sets this twisted little movie apart is how bad things go, and the astonishing…
Shrek
May 14, 2026
Shrek launched a Dreamworks franchise, won an Oscar, spawned a stage musical, and greatly extended the cultural life of the band Smash Mouth. And it all started with the story of a crabby green ogre…
Fun movies we missed
May 12, 2026
One basic truth of the streaming era is that streaming movies come at you fast. So we’re recommending three fun movies that we haven't covered on the show that you can stream at home: Apex , Mike &…
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The Sheep Detectives
May 11, 2026
In the charming new movie The Sheep Detectives , a shepherd (Hugh Jackman) is murdered and the sheep who adored him are determined to solve the crime. The sheep are voiced by an impressive cast…
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Mortal Kombat II and What’s Making Us Happy
May 08, 2026
Mortal Kombat II brings back more of the unforgettable characters you might have grown up eviscerating. Based on the ultra-violent video game franchise, it centers the story on warrior princess…
Lord of the Flies
May 07, 2026
You probably read the Lord of the Flie s in high school — and now you can watch it on Netflix. It follows a bunch of British schoolboys who get stranded on a deserted island and descend into violent…
The best Survivor seasons, ranked
May 06, 2026
Survivor changed the landscape of reality television. Over 50 seasons, the competition has riveted audiences with its complex social strategy, ever-shifting alliances, and many twists. The show has…
Hokum
May 04, 2026
In the satisfying new horror movie Hokum , Adam Scott plays a misanthropic writer who takes his parents' ashes to the lonely Irish inn where they honeymooned many years ago. There’s just a few things…
The Devil Wears Prada 2 and What’s Making Us Happy
May 01, 2026
The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci 20 years after the beloved original film. The sequel finds Andy as a mid-career reporter who gets an…
Summer Guide
Apr 30, 2026
It’s getting warm outside and the sun is shining, which means it’s time to look ahead to what you should be watching and listening to this summer. We've got a guide to the movies, TV and music we're…
Margo's Got Money Troubles
Apr 28, 2026
The great new Apple TV series Margo's Got Money Troubles boasts an impressive cast: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Nicole Kidman--there's no shortage of star power. Fanning plays a…
Mother Mary
Apr 27, 2026
The surreal movie Mother Mary stars Anne Hathaway as a Gaga-esque pop star facing an existential crisis. She turns to her former costume designer and estranged friend, played by Michaela Coel, to…
Michael and What's Making Us Happy
Apr 24, 2026
Michael Jackson was one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, so it’s only natural that he’s the subject of a glossy, big-budget biopic. In Michael , the singer’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson…
The many narratives of Michael Jackson
Apr 23, 2026
Michael Jackson remains one of the most influential and celebrated musicians in modern history, yet his legacy continues to inspire both intense criticism and fascination. The new film, Michael , is…
Watch This: The Christophers
Apr 21, 2026
In the terrific new film The Christophers , an art restorer with a background in forgery (Michaela Coel) takes a job as an assistant to a once-famous artist who's faded from public life (Ian…
Beef
Apr 20, 2026
The Netflix Beef returns for season two with an all new cast. This time the beef involves two couples: Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac face off against Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny. Just like in…
Normal and What’s Making Us Happy
Apr 17, 2026
Bob Odenkirk has pivoted from sketch comedy to dramatic acting and, most recently, to late-middle-aged action star. In the new film Normal , he plays a small-town sheriff who finds out his small town…
We Watch Classic Movies For The First Time
Apr 16, 2026
We've all been there. A major movie is mentioned, you shrug, sheepishly, and someone says, "I can't believe you've never seen that!" Today, in this encore episode, we make a dent in our own lists of…
Great TV We Missed
Apr 14, 2026
There’s a lot of TV worth recommending out there. So today we’re spotlighting some television we didn’t have time to talk about earlier this year, including Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat …
Big Mistakes
Apr 13, 2026
Dan Levy co-created and starred in the beloved Schitt’s Creek. And now he’s back with a new comedy on Netflix that’s got a very different vibe. In Big Mistakes , Levy and Taylor Ortega play…
You, Me & Tuscany and What’s Making Us Happy
Apr 10, 2026
“She came for the pasta, and got lost in the sauce.” That’s the brilliant tagline for the zesty new rom-com You, Me, & Tuscany . Halle Bailey stars as a broke twenty-something who decides to fulfill…
How We Handle Spoilers
Apr 09, 2026
We’ve all been there: Maybe somebody tells you too much about the twist ending of a movie, or they tell you who dies at the end. In other words, you’ve run into a spoiler. The discourse around The…
The Pitt
Apr 08, 2026
In HBO Max's The Pitt, an ER full of doctors, nurses and staff are put through tense, high-stakes shifts. The first season was a critical success and won the show a raft of Emmy Awards. Now the…
The Drama: Spoiler Episode
Apr 06, 2026
The Drama is a dark and twisty comedy starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a storybook couple preparing for their upcoming wedding. But just days before the big day, she reveals a horrifying…
The Drama and What’s Making Us Happy
Apr 03, 2026
In the dark comedy The Drama , Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are getting married, but maybe they shouldn’t? The stars play a couple in full-on prep mode for their upcoming wedding, though when a…
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Apr 02, 2026
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the ultimate piece of Nintendo fan service. Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) are on an outer space adventure to save Princess…
The Comeback
Apr 01, 2026
Lisa Kudrow is back in HBO’s beloved comedy The Comeback. It’s been more than a decade since we last saw sitcom star Valerie Cherish, and her present situation is bleak. The new show she’s starring…
Hannah Montana
Mar 31, 2026
This year marks 20 years since Hannah Montana premiered on the Disney Channel. The show made a global phenomenon of star Miley Cyrus and her pop-star alter ego. It's been streamed millions of hours…