| | | | | | What's news: Happy New Year! It's also magazine day, and this week's cover stars are Jacob Elordi, Mark Hamill, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Wagner Moura, Adam Sandler and Jeremy Allen White, who all took part in THR's Actors Roundtable. Stranger Things: The Finale likely made $20m to $25m in theaters. Betty Boop is now in the public domain. Jafar Panahi has been given a hearing date in Iran. And George Clooney slammed Donald Trump after the president attacked him on social media. — Abid Rahman
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THR's Actors Roundtable ►On the cover. THR's award-winning Roundtable Series continues, next up are the actors. Seven awards contenders — Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Mark Hamill (The Life of Chuck), Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent), Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly) and Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere) — join THR's Scott Feinberg for a discussion about their craft and the fact that they are all in the hunt for their first Oscar nomination. The roundtable. |
Predicting Hollywood in 2026 ►Educated guesses, smart takes and back-of-the napkin math. YouTube decimates TV. Netflix buys Warner Bros. Bob Iger ties Disney to a boundary-pushing AI startup. Donald Trump picks which media moguls rule, gets broadcast newsrooms to pay him massive legal settlements and strong-arms studios to drop inclusion and diversity efforts. Given the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction year we just lived through, forecasting 2026 may be a fool’s errand. THR's crack team of journalists have a few educated guesses and smart takes about what the next year may have in store for the entertainment industry. The story. |
Clooney Punches Back After Trump Attacks ►Swoon. George Clooney slammed Donald Trump after the president attacked the actor on social media for securing French citizenship alongside his wife, the human rights attorney Amal Clooney. "Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden," Trump wrote on Truth Social. In a statement shared with THR, Clooney responded to Trump’s post: "I totally agree with the current president," Clooney said. "We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November." The story.
—"Bonjour, Mr. Clooney!" CBS News boss Bari Weiss hit back at George Clooney after the actor criticized her management of the news network. The editor in chief issued an open invitation for Clooney to visit her newsroom and playfully mocked his move to France. Weiss was responding to an interview Clooney gave where the actor said, "Bari Weiss is dismantling CBS News as we speak. Am I worried about film studios? Sure. It’s my business, but my primary loyalty is to my country. I’m much more worried about how we inform ourselves and how we’re going to discern reality without a functioning press." The story.
—"The message being sent is not good." George and Amal Clooney were granted French citizenship because “they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to France’s international influence and cultural outreach,” the French government said Wednesday, defending their naturalization that was questioned by a junior French minister. Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, expressed misgivings Wednesday that some of the Clooneys’ new French compatriots may think that the star couple was granted special treatment. The actor speaks only what he himself says is “horrible, horrible” French. The story. |
Mamdani Refuses to "Reset Expectations" in Rousing Inaugural Address ►"I will not abandon my principles for fear of being radical." Braving frigid temperatures outside of City Hall in lower Manhattan, newly inaugurated New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani in a rousing speech resisted calls for him to take a more moderate approach to governing than the one he took during his campaign. "Today begins a new era,” he said at the beginning of his New Year’s Day address, saying those in attendance were "warmed against the January chill by the resurgent flame of hope." Referencing those who advised him to use his inaugural address to "reset expectations" for the people of New York about what he could accomplish as mayor, Mamdani defiantly insisted, "I will do no such thing." The story.
—📅 Hearing date set. 📅 Palme d’Or-winning filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been given a hearing date in Iran after filing an appeal against his sentencing for “propaganda activities against the regime” by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. On Dec. 1, the dissident Iranian filmmaker was handed a one-year prison sentence in absentia and a two-year travel ban, as well as a ban on membership in political and social groups or factions. Panahi’s lawyer confirmed on social media that the It Was Just an Accident director has been given a hearing date of Jan. 4, but it is unclear whether Panahi will be in attendance. The story.
—Cope. The Kennedy Center is defending the ratings performance for the 2025 Honors, hosted by Donald Trump, which saw the show reach an all-time viewership low. "Comparing this year’s broadcast ratings to prior years is a classic apples-to-oranges comparison and evidence of far-left bias," Roma Daravi, vp of public relations for the Kennedy Center, said in a statement shared with THR. "The program performed extremely well across key demographics and platforms, despite industry and timing disadvantages, including a Tuesday air date two days before Christmas." The story.
—Hero. A Disney World worker sustained injuries on Tuesday while running into the path of a giant prop boulder that veered off track as part of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. The incident, captured on social media video, showed the inflated faux boulder used in the Raiders of the Lost Ark stunt show’s opening sequence veering off its usual track and appearing to barrel toward the seated audience at the edge of the stage. The Disney worker is then seen running into the path of the dislodged runaway boulder and being knocked over, an act of heroism that likely saved audience members from serious injury. The story.
—Free for all. Betty Boop and Blondie are joining Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh in the public domain. The first appearances of the classic cartoon and comic characters are among the pieces of intellectual property whose 95-year U.S. copyright maximum has been reached, putting them in the public domain on Jan. 1. That means creators can use and repurpose them without permission or payment. Books featuring a trio of iconic detectives — Nancy Drew, Sam Spade and Miss Marple — are also entering the public domain this year. The story. |
Inside the 'Stranger Things' Series Finale ►Duffers dish. How should the audience interpret Eleven's fate? Is a door open to explore more of Hawkins down the line? THR's queen of chat Jackie Strause spoke to Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer about the series finale, where they answer the biggest burning question. Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
—"It was perfect." Jackie also spoke to Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp about his character Will's much-talked about coming out scene. Amid mixed reviews, the actor explained that the highly anticipated moment was "a weight off my chest." Warning: Spoilers! The interview.
—Woof! On New Year’s Eve, Stranger Things: The Finale debuted simultaneously on Netflix and in roughly 600 cinemas — more than a third belonged to AMC, the country and world’s largest chain — before holding encore performances throughout New Year’s Day. THR's Pamela McClintock reports that The Finale likely generated $20m to $25m in revenue, setting a new record for a Netflix title dipping its toe in the theatrical waters, according to box office and exhibition sources with access to key data. At AMC alone, the theater giant said that The Finale earned $15m from the $20 food and beverage credits purchased. The box office report.
—Going out (finally) with a confused and protracted bang. THR's TV critics Daniel Fienberg and Angie Han hash out the finale to Stranger Things and consider the impact and legacy of Netflix's first monster global hit show. After five seasons, Daniel and Angie say the sci-fi horror show wrapped up with an exhausting two-hour extravaganza that, unsurprisingly, delivered lots and lots of … stuff — but very little legacy-building substance. The critics' conversation.
—Come on lads! When the series finale of Stranger Things premiered on Netflix at 5 p.m. PT on New Year’s Eve, it appears the streaming platform crashed briefly. This was likely caused by the influx of fans logging on to watch the highly anticipated final episode, titled “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up.” When some viewers attempted to play the finale, they were met with a message that read, “Something went wrong. Sorry, we’re having trouble with your request. You’ll find lots to explore on the home page.” The story. |
The Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2026 ►Old friends. If 2025 was the year that the makers of TV series (re)discovered that releasing new seasons of a show every year is a good thing, 2026 will be the year that philosophy starts to pay off. Last season’s Emmy darlings The Pitt and The Studio are both set to run their second seasons in the next 12 months, as are watercooler shows The Hunting Wives and Paradise. The next 12 months will also feature the return of beloved series from long ago, such as Ted Lasso, Euphoria, The Comeback, Malcolm in the Middle and Scrubs. The list. |
The Most Anticipated Movies of 2026 ►Hot streak continues. There's wide consensus that 2025 was a banner year for films. Luckily, 2026 is also looking to be a top-tier year at the movie theater. The latest installments in the Dune, Spider-Man and Avengers franchises will be released, while millennial nostalgia will continue at the multiplex with Devil Wears Prada and Practical Magic sequels. And new films from Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig will both be gracing Imax screens. The list. |
TV Review: 'Best Medicine' ►"Low-key and likable." THR's Angie Han reviews Fox's Best Medicine. Based on the British show Doc Martin, the series follows a prickly doctor from Boston who moves to a close-knit community off the coast of northeastern Maine. Starring Josh Charles, Abigail Spencer, Josh Segarra and Annie Potts. Created by Liz Tuccillo. The review.
In other news...
—TV premiere dates 2026: The complete guide
—Netflix’s new releases coming in January
—Richard Smallwood, influential gospel singer, dies at 77
What else we're reading...
—Laura J. Nelson and Ben Glickman report that the prospect of a California billionaire tax has the ultra wealthy whining [WSJ]
—Colin Horgan reports that Heated Rivalry's gay love story exposes professional ice hockey’s culture of silence [Guardian]
—Roxana Hadadi talks to Ashley Judd who very kindly answers every question the public has about Michael Mann's Heat [Vulture]
—Natasha Singer reports that the tech giants are racing to embed A.I. in schools around the globe [NYT]
—Here's your Friday list: The best horror movies of 2025 [THR]
Today...
...in 2015, Well Go USA released Tsui Hark's epic The Taking of Tiger Mountain in North American theaters. The period action film grossed over $150m worldwide. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Todd Haynes (65), Gabrielle Carteris (65), Tia Carrere (59), Anthony Carrigan (43), Dax Shepard (51), Kate Bosworth (43), Renée Elise Goldsberry (55), Taye Diggs (55), Paz Vega (50), Gary Archer (61), Kate Chastain (43), Adam Elliot (54), Julie Piekarski (63), Shelley Hennig (39), Ben Hardy (35), Cyrus Arnold (23), David Gyasi (46), Dustin Clare (44), Neil Dudgeon (65), Fionn O'Shea (29), Kristen Hager (42), John Bedford Lloyd (70), Peter Gadiot (41), Christy Turlington (57), Gijs Blom (29), Kate Hodge (60), Neal Jones (66), Wendy Phillips (74), Nancy McCrumb (42), Gabriela Windey (35), Greg Hatton (49), Renata Notni (31) |
| John Mulrooney, the stand-up comedian from Brooklyn who hosted Comic Strip Live on Fox and performed at venues including the Improv, the Laugh Factory and Dangerfield’s, has died. He was 67. The obituary. |
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