Must Listen: The Year in Culture
Our favorite TV, movies, books and more.
Audio
December 29, 2025
A collage of stills from various movies.
Clockwise from right: Warner Bros. Pictures; 20th Century Studios; Disney

THE DAILY

The Best Movies

“One Battle After Another,” “Sinners” and other movies we loved this year.

A collage of stills from television shows.
Clockwise from right: Shane Brown/FX; Apple TV+; Netflix; Lucasfilm/Disney+; HBO

THE DAILY

The Best TV

“Andor,” “Pluribus,” “Heated Rivalry” and more of our favorite shows.

A collage of photographs featuring Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, PinkPantheress, Chappell Roan, and the band Geese.
Photo Illustration by The New York Times

THE DAILY

The Best Music

Bad Bunny, PinkPantheress and more picks from our pop music desk.

Three book covers, “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny,” “Stone Yard Devotional,” and “Marriage at Sea,” on a yellow and orange background.
Illustration by The New York Times: Inset covers: via Hogarth; via Riverhead Books

THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

The Best Books

“Stone Yard Devotional,” “A Marriage at Sea” and more of our top fiction and nonfiction picks.

A black and white photo illustration of Emma Stone in a yellow circle inset on a blue rectangle.
Focus Features/Photofest

CANNONBALL WITH WESLEY MORRIS

The Best Performances

Wesley’s favorite big swings from Emma Stone, SZA and more.

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