Monday, December 22, 2025 |
Where editors share their weekly musings on pop culture—and recommend what to watch, read, and listen to right now. This week, we discuss the year's best TV shows and The Housemaid. |
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| Erica Gonzales, deputy editor, digital content: This year came and went so fast; I can hardly believe that Severance and The Summer I Turned Pretty were released just months apart. Lauren, you and I say this nonstop, but in 2025, it really was hard to keep up with the TV cycle, with everything from The White Lotus to Love Island USA to Heated Rivalry creating buzz. Which show stood out to you the most? |
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| Lauren Puckett-Pope, senior culture editor: You know I'm a sci-fi girlie, so it probably should come as no surprise that my personal favorites were Andor and Severance. I have also adored Pluribus so far. Sci-fi and dystopian stories like these have done such a fantastic job capturing the often unsettling reality of 2025, and yet what I love most about them is how they've made us fall in love with characters who felt like real, three-dimensional humans. In the age of AI, I don't think that's a coincidence. What about you? |
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Erica: On a more lighthearted note, a few comedies surprised me. Seth Rogen's The Studio made me burst out laughing with its clever Hollywood satire (give us Martin Scorsese's Kool-Aid film!); Nathan Fielder's The Rehearsal proved that airplane safety can actually be wildly entertaining; and Dying for Sex, starring Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate, made a story about cancer feel refreshing and funny, while celebrating female friendships. I also have to shout out Robby Hoffman's cameo on Hacks.
Lauren: Readers, what were your favorite shows of 2025? Let us know at ellespotlight@hearst.com and check out the full list of ELLE editors' favorites above.
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If you're looking for a campy, twisty thriller to fill the A Simple Favor hole in your heart, The Housemaid (from the same director, Paul Feig) is it. Based on Freida McFadden's book of the same name, it follows a live-in housekeeper and nanny, Millie (Sydney Sweeney), who uncovers some dark secrets at her wealthy employers' home. The highlight of the film is Amanda Seyfried, whose range is on full display as Nina, the unstable wife and mother who hired Millie; she'll completely change your mind in the third act. Make it a Seyfried double feature this Christmas and follow it up with The Testament of Ann Lee.—EG |
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It's probably not the most obvious thing to watch during the holiday season, but Emily in Paris kind of has the escapist feel of a Hallmark Christmas movie (I will not explain further)—with far better clothes and a bigger budget. If you need to be transported to Europe to escape the stress of Christmas shopping, join Emily and co. in Rome.—EG |
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If you're looking for a last-minute gift this holiday season, I always, always suggest a book. It's personal and portable, and it provides your gift recipient with the opportunity to engage with wonder, beauty, and thoughtfulness—which, let's face it, are not as easy to come by as we might prefer these days. A generally crowd-pleasing gift option this season is Michelle Obama's The Look, a gorgeous coffee-table book-meets-memoir that focuses on the former first lady's fashion and the political messages embedded in her style. But if you're in the market for other options, ELLE just released our list of the best nonfiction books of 2025 to aid you in your shopping. Happy holidays, and here's to a 2026 filled with even more beloved books.—LPP |
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WHAT YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO: |
After overwhelming fan demand, Kali Uchis has released this track, which hails from her 2024 Orquídeas era. The song had leaked, then gained traction online, so the singer treated her listeners to an official full version. It's more hyper than her usual dreamy fare, but with just one listen, you can see why people love it; you can't help but move. Revisit our March 2023 profile of Uchis below.—EG |
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Timothée Chalamet's Marty Supreme promo tour has been all about channeling greatness, and when asked by the BBC to name a few British greats, the actor mentioned Lewis Hamilton, the Beckhams, and Britain's Got Talent icon Susan Boyle. Given she went viral for her performance of "I Dreamed a Dream," she quite literally embodies the film's catchphrase, "Dream Big." (She was touched by the shout-out.)—EG |
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