Pop Culture Happy Hour

NPR

Arts Music

Latest episode

447 episodes

Wonder Man
2/04/2026 | 18 mins.
Marvel’s new Disney+ series Wonder Man is a sensible buddy comedy where Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays a down-on-his-luck actor (with incredible superpowers) trying to make it in Hollywood, and Ben Kingsley plays his new friend with a dark past. Safe to say it’s not what most Marvel fans are expecting – and that’s a good thing.

Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
2026 Sundance Film Festival: Best Movies
2/03/2026 | 16 mins.
We watched a ton of movies and we’re recommending some of the best things we saw at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. This includes a thrilling adventure starring Ethan Hawke, a quiet romance with Chris Pine, and quite possibly the best documentary we’ll see all year.
For a complete list of the movies we loved at Sundance, Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
2026 Grammys Recap
2/02/2026 | 27 mins.
This year’s Grammy Awards featured historic wins for Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar, performances from Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, and occasional chaos. And it was a night of speeches that reflected this moment in America.

Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Send Help and What’s Making Us Happy
1/30/2026 | 22 mins.
In the new comic horror film Send Help, Rachel McAdams finds out the answer to the age-old hypothetical, “what if you were stranded on a desert island?” — except she’s stuck there with her terrible boss (Dylan O’Brien). The dynamic between them shifts and shifts again as they try to survive long enough to be rescued.

Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture

Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
1/29/2026 | 21 mins.
Star Trek fans are finally getting something they’ve wanted for a long time, and it doesn’t disappoint. The new series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy takes place at the college attended by kids who want to become officers in Starfleet. It stars Holly Hunter as the school’s chancellor, Paul Giamatti as a recurring bad guy, and a roster of hot young cadets who have classes to attend and lessons to learn.

Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

More Arts podcasts

About Pop Culture Happy Hour

Get obsessed with us. Four days a week, Pop Culture Happy Hour serves you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, books, videogames and more. Join arts journalists Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture aficionados. The Happy Hour team leaves room at the table for exploring a range of reactions and opinions on every bit of the pop universe. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, they take it all with a shot of cheer.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

Podcast website

Arts Music News TV & Film Books Entertainment News Film Reviews Music Commentary TV Reviews