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Recommendations

What to watch, read, listen to, and more.

Culture
In 1991, a group of 8 people isolated themselves for 2 years. Spaceship Earth tells their story.In 1991, a group of 8 people isolated themselves for 2 years. Spaceship Earth tells their story.
Culture

The new documentary tells the weird and surprisingly uplifting story of Biosphere 2.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
War and Peace is not hard, it’s just long, and other advice on how to read the classicsWar and Peace is not hard, it’s just long, and other advice on how to read the classics
Culture

Great books you can read in quarantine, organized by level of difficulty.

By Constance Grady
Culture
In Netflix’s Becoming, Michelle Obama tells her story and encourages us to do the sameIn Netflix’s Becoming, Michelle Obama tells her story and encourages us to do the same
Culture

The documentary gives a glimpse into Michelle Obama’s post-White House life and her hopes for her country’s future.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
In the exquisite drama South Mountain, a woman’s broken dreams make space for new onesIn the exquisite drama South Mountain, a woman’s broken dreams make space for new ones
Culture

The understated take on coming of age in adulthood is now available on digital platforms.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
The Good Fight is the only TV show that stares our absurd reality in the faceThe Good Fight is the only TV show that stares our absurd reality in the face
Culture

The Good Fight is the absolutely ridiculous television show we need in these absolutely ridiculous times.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
New Beyoncé, a Netflix teen rom-com, and other stuff we loved this weekNew Beyoncé, a Netflix teen rom-com, and other stuff we loved this week
Culture

What the Vox Culture team is watching and listening to right now.

By Alex Abad-Santos, Alissa Wilkinson and 3 more
Culture
The 9 best movies you can now watch at homeThe 9 best movies you can now watch at home
Culture

From coming-of-age stories to classics from your childhood to a tale of a (literally) killer leather jacket.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
8 great TV comedies to watch while you’re otherwise distracted8 great TV comedies to watch while you’re otherwise distracted
Culture

Cheers, Jane the Virgin, and six other TV shows to put on when you’re doing other things.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hot Girl Summer” is the dark horse song of quarantineMegan Thee Stallion’s “Hot Girl Summer” is the dark horse song of quarantine
Culture

Remembering last year’s song of the summer during an endless emotional winter.

By Alexa Lee
Culture
Book recommendations for when you want to change your perspective but can’t travelBook recommendations for when you want to change your perspective but can’t travel
Culture

Book recommendations for your very specific mood.

By Constance Grady
Culture
Greg Daniels created The Office, Parks & Recreation, and more. Now he’s pivoted to space and the afterlife.Greg Daniels created The Office, Parks & Recreation, and more. Now he’s pivoted to space and the afterlife.
Culture

The TV comedy legend talks about his two new projects: Amazon’s Upload and Netflix’s Space Force.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
One of the year’s best movies is a quiet thriller about office sexual harassmentOne of the year’s best movies is a quiet thriller about office sexual harassment
Culture

The Assistant, starring Julia Garner, is now available to watch at home.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Sunday’s virtual Sondheim concert was the most cathartic experience of quarantine so farSunday’s virtual Sondheim concert was the most cathartic experience of quarantine so far
Culture

Sondheim is the great bard of loneliness. These 12 songs from Sunday night’s concert show why.

By Constance Grady, Aja Romano and 1 more
Culture
The 7 best movies you can now watch at homeThe 7 best movies you can now watch at home
Culture

Embezzlement, small-town high schools, traveling Bible salesmen, revenge, and much more.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
The best new movie out this week is HBO’s Bad EducationThe best new movie out this week is HBO’s Bad Education
Culture

Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney star in a terrific, darkly funny tale of a Long Island school district scandal.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Now is the perfect time to discover children’s fantasy author Frances HardingeNow is the perfect time to discover children’s fantasy author Frances Hardinge
Culture

A fantastical society hides behind masks in Hardinge’s eerily on-point 2012 novel A Face Like Glass.

By Aja Romano
Culture
True History of the Kelly Gang gives Australia’s most famous outlaw his own bloody origin storyTrue History of the Kelly Gang gives Australia’s most famous outlaw his own bloody origin story
Culture

Bloody and breathless, the new film is a tale of violent cycles and violent ends.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Ask a Book Critic: Books to read when you’re tired of being aloneAsk a Book Critic: Books to read when you’re tired of being alone
Culture

Book recommendations for your very specific mood.

By Constance Grady
Culture
Why Babylon Berlin should be your next Netflix watchWhy Babylon Berlin should be your next Netflix watch
Culture

This German series has it all — twisty mysteries, will-they/won’t-they romances, and a train full of gold.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Podcasts like The Thing About Pam are why I’ll never get tired of true crimePodcasts like The Thing About Pam are why I’ll never get tired of true crime
Podcast
Culture

Dateline’s first narrative true crime podcast is a jawdropping story of greed — and a deeply fallible justice system.

By Aja Romano
Culture
How Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz found themselves making 3 Netflix improv specials at onceHow Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz found themselves making 3 Netflix improv specials at once
Culture

The comedy duo talk about their long-running partnership and how they learned to be funny together.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
The Quarry is a slow-burn Western about guilt, racism, and salvation on the US-Mexico borderThe Quarry is a slow-burn Western about guilt, racism, and salvation on the US-Mexico border
Culture

Director Scott Teems talks about avoiding clichés and quoting the Bible in his film about dark pasts and deep prejudices.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Fiona Apple’s new album sounds like 2020 feelsFiona Apple’s new album sounds like 2020 feels
Culture

Fetch the Bolt Cutters is the impotent fury of right now in convenient album form.

By Emily St. James
Culture
The 8 best movies you can now watch at homeThe 8 best movies you can now watch at home
Culture

From Hollywood fixers to teenage mobsters to overlooked abstractionists, and more.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Selah and the Spades is a high school movie crossed with a mob drama, inspired by RihannaSelah and the Spades is a high school movie crossed with a mob drama, inspired by Rihanna
Culture

Director Tayarisha Poe talks about the artists and ideas that influenced her fun, daring new movie.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
The Innocence Files explores wrongful convictions. It’s the best kind of true crime.The Innocence Files explores wrongful convictions. It’s the best kind of true crime.
Culture

The nine-part Netflix series explores the stories of people freed from prison.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Ask a Book Critic: What to read when your attention span is shatteredAsk a Book Critic: What to read when your attention span is shattered
Culture

Vox’s book critic recommends books to fit your very specific mood.

By Constance Grady
10 great mobile games to pass the time
Culture

Mind-twisting puzzles, reinvented classics, and more — for beginners and experts alike.

By Allegra Frank
Culture
The 9 best movies you can now watch at home, from Trolls World Tour to ParasiteThe 9 best movies you can now watch at home, from Trolls World Tour to Parasite
Culture

These digital premieres and recent streaming releases are worth your time.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Netflix’s Tigertail, from Master of None co-creator Alan Yang, is a wistful story about lost timeNetflix’s Tigertail, from Master of None co-creator Alan Yang, is a wistful story about lost time
Culture

The lush, pensive family drama about a Taiwanese immigrant and his daughter is now streaming.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Netflix’s Love Wedding Repeat is a frothy, comfort-food rom-comNetflix’s Love Wedding Repeat is a frothy, comfort-food rom-com
Culture

Starring Olivia Munn and Sam Claflin, the movie is perfect for a lighthearted evening.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
The best way to play board games onlineThe best way to play board games online
Culture

Board Game Arena has 175 great games, an easy-to-use interface, and many ways to play with your friends.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Books to read when you are stuck with your family and they keep annoying youBooks to read when you are stuck with your family and they keep annoying you
Culture

Vox recommends books for your very specific moods.

By Constance Grady
Culture
Parasite is now streaming on HuluParasite is now streaming on Hulu
Culture

It’s been two months since Parasite won Best Picture. Now you can stream it at home.

By Alissa Wilkinson
18 fascinating nonfiction podcasts (that aren’t true crime)
Culture

Need a distraction? Try these podcasts that will take you away from coronavirus news and expand your knowledge of the world.

By Aja Romano
Culture
How to survive quarantine, in 215 songsHow to survive quarantine, in 215 songs
Culture

The ultimate quarantine playlist lasts just over 16 hours and features everybody from the Beatles to Frank Ocean.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Read these 12 moving essays about life during coronavirusRead these 12 moving essays about life during coronavirus
Culture

Artists, novelists, critics, and essayists are writing the first draft of history.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
The 11 best movies that are newly available to watch at homeThe 11 best movies that are newly available to watch at home
Culture

These digital premieres and recent streaming releases are worth your time.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Beyond Dungeons & Dragons: A guide to the vast, exciting world of tabletop RPGsBeyond Dungeons & Dragons: A guide to the vast, exciting world of tabletop RPGs
Culture

Role-playing games let you tell a story with your friends, and most are available to play online.

By Emily St. James
A syllabus for the end of the world
Culture

Stories that tell us how to live in, and after, a pandemic.

By Alissa Wilkinson