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December 27, 2025 
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Welcome back to The Weekender, where you’ll find a batch of the week’s top stories about culture and the way we live today.
Happy Holidays! The year is winding to a close, but the year-end lists are still going strong. Our TV critics chose their top episodes of 2025, and my film colleagues and I voted on 25 notable movies of the year. Some of my favorites: “Lurker,” a deranged debut about an obsessive fan; “Black Bag,” Steven Soderbergh’s sexy spy thriller; and “Friendship,” a baffling and sometimes-sweet cringe comedy starring Tim Robinson. One that didn’t make the list: “Best Wishes to All,” a coming-of-age horror movie about discovering the evils of the world. It was an exciting year for film (most years are) and I love these lists, making my own, reading others’ and arguing with friends about if “Eddington” really captured the cultural moment.
Now it’s your turn to vote — and argue — for movies that made an impact on you this year. We’ve got a ballot with your name on it and you’ve got a deadline of Monday, Dec. 29. Submit your top three by then and come back to see the results on New Year’s Eve.
Also in this edition, we’ve got the 2025 vocabulary quiz, our favorite house-hunting stories of the year and an invitation to join us on an expedition to Antarctica. See you in the new year next weekend(er).
— Kellina
Each year, The New York Times Communities Fund supports nonprofits. This year, the fund is working with seven organizations that focus on helping people through education, from preschool to vocational training. Donate to the fund here.
Thanks for reading. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here, and be sure to check out more lifestyle stories from The Times.
This edition of The Weekender was edited by Farah Miller and Kellina Moore. Reach our team at weekender@nytimes.com.
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