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Why Mulan’s “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” became a pump-up playlist must-haveWhy Mulan’s “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” became a pump-up playlist must-have
Culture

The song was never culturally accurate. But it was always a bop.

By Constance Grady
Culture
What Mulan taught me about identity, honor, and drag saving ChinaWhat Mulan taught me about identity, honor, and drag saving China
Culture

Why Disney’s Mulan is a queer icon.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Mulan is coming to Disney+ for an extra $30Mulan is coming to Disney+ for an extra $30
Culture

Along with Tenet’s staggered release, it’s a sign of change.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
The power of the Black athleteThe power of the Black athlete
Culture

“If you know the system is vulnerable, then you can interrupt it,” says High Flying Bird screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
One Good Thing: If you love Disney movies, this Disney+ documentary is essential viewingOne Good Thing: If you love Disney movies, this Disney+ documentary is essential viewing
Culture

The new film Howard tells the story of how Little Mermaid lyricist Howard Ashman brought new life to Disney animation.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
The eerie prescience of HBO’s WatchmenThe eerie prescience of HBO’s Watchmen
Culture

Director Stephen Williams on the many real-world resonances of the HBO miniseries, from police violence to masks.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman is dead at 43Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman is dead at 43
Culture

Boseman’s family said the actor was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2016.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
One Good Thing: After the NBA walkout, the movie of the week is Netflix’s High Flying BirdOne Good Thing: After the NBA walkout, the movie of the week is Netflix’s High Flying Bird
Culture

Steven Soderbergh’s unusual sports drama is a story of Black athlete empowerment.

By Dylan Scott
Culture
7 daring movie adaptations of literary classics7 daring movie adaptations of literary classics
Culture

And this weekend’s best new releases.

By Constance Grady, Alissa Wilkinson and 1 more
Culture
Nobody saw summer 2020 coming. So how come it felt like the movies did?Nobody saw summer 2020 coming. So how come it felt like the movies did?
Culture

There’s a reason this summer’s films felt like they were made for quarantine, even though they weren’t.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
A guide to Lovecraft Country’s many pop culture tropes and referencesA guide to Lovecraft Country’s many pop culture tropes and references
Culture

The new HBO horror series is teeming with references to its namesake H.P. Lovecraft, weird fiction, popular midcentury Americana, and more.

By Aja Romano
Culture
The Snyder Cut trailer shows off unseen Justice League footage and DarkseidThe Snyder Cut trailer shows off unseen Justice League footage and Darkseid
Culture

The four-hour film will arrive in 2021 with plenty of previously unseen footage, Snyder confirmed.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
In HBO’s Lovecraft Country, cosmic horrors pale next to the reality of racismIn HBO’s Lovecraft Country, cosmic horrors pale next to the reality of racism
Culture

The new horror series takes a bevy of fun pop culture tropes on a ride through Jim Crow America.

By Aja Romano
Culture
7 provocative documentaries that show how our political process has evolved7 provocative documentaries that show how our political process has evolved
Culture

Boys State is just the latest movie to paint a picture of a changing system in a televised America.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Legend of Korra’s messy, complicated legacyLegend of Korra’s messy, complicated legacy
Culture

The Avatar: The Last Airbender sequel brings its complex female hero, divided fandom, and fraught history to Netflix.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Wild, chaotic, and deeply silly, the animated Harley Quinn series is a terrific watchWild, chaotic, and deeply silly, the animated Harley Quinn series is a terrific watch
Culture

Watch the show, now on HBO Max, for its snarky jokes. Stay for its overtly queer romance.

By Emily St. James
Technology
Netflix soured the live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender, its showrunners sayNetflix soured the live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender, its showrunners say
Technology

The beloved fantasy franchise has enjoyed a banner year on Netflix — until now.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Umbrella Academy delivers a rambunctious, touching second seasonUmbrella Academy delivers a rambunctious, touching second season
Culture

The show finds the right mix of feelings and zippy superpowers in its stellar season two.

By Alex Abad-Santos
The best and worst of the biggest streaming services
Culture

Deciding which streaming services to subscribe to is daunting. Here’s what you need to know.

By Allegra Frank, Alissa Wilkinson and 2 more
Technology
How Hollywood accidentally built NetflixHow Hollywood accidentally built Netflix
Podcast
Technology

Netflix’s stunning rise wouldn’t have happened without unwitting help from the companies it now competes with.

By Peter Kafka and Rani Molla
Culture
The profound gay love stories of The Old Guard and Song of AchillesThe profound gay love stories of The Old Guard and Song of Achilles
Culture

The Song of Achilles is like if The Old Guard was just about Joe and Nicky.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Technology
The pandemic has been great for NetflixThe pandemic has been great for Netflix
Technology

The streaming service added another 10 million customers in the second quarter of the year.

By Peter Kafka
Culture
Lonely Island’s Palm Springs is a funny existential comedy about 2 dirtbags who find each otherLonely Island’s Palm Springs is a funny existential comedy about 2 dirtbags who find each other
Culture

Starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, the movie broke records when it was acquired at Sundance for $17.5 million … and 69 cents.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Technology
Why did you watch Tiger King on Netflix?Why did you watch Tiger King on Netflix?
Podcast
Technology

On this episode of Land of the Giants: How does Netflix’s famous algorithm work? And how does Netflix use it?

By Rani Molla and Peter Kafka
Culture
Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries is different from the original. But one episode restores its pulpy aesthetic.Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries is different from the original. But one episode restores its pulpy aesthetic.
Culture

The new series mostly avoids the macabre camp of its predecessor — with one major, skull-clutching exception.

By Aja Romano
Technology
Blockbuster should have killed Netflix. What happened?Blockbuster should have killed Netflix. What happened?
Podcast
Technology

It’s the newest chapter of our Land of the Giants podcast, out now.

By Peter Kafka and Rani Molla
Technology
How one of Netflix’s biggest mistakes helped build its weird cultureHow one of Netflix’s biggest mistakes helped build its weird culture
Podcast
Technology

It’s one of the stories in our new Land of the Giants podcast, out now.

By Peter Kafka and Rani Molla
Culture
Netflix’s The Witch Part 1 is an electrifying superhero origin storyNetflix’s The Witch Part 1 is an electrifying superhero origin story
Culture

The South Korean thriller is like if John Wick was in the Hunger Games.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Technology
The billionaire founder of Netflix is giving $120 million to black collegesThe billionaire founder of Netflix is giving $120 million to black colleges
Technology

It’s the biggest gift so far by any individual or couple for racial justice.

By Theodore Schleifer
Technology
Netflix’s billionaire founder is secretly building a luxury retreat for teachers in rural ColoradoNetflix’s billionaire founder is secretly building a luxury retreat for teachers in rural Colorado
Technology

Park County hasn’t been able to figure out who is behind a 2,100-acre center for education reform. It’s Reed Hastings.

By Theodore Schleifer
Technology
The inside story of Netflix, the tiny tech company that took over HollywoodThe inside story of Netflix, the tiny tech company that took over Hollywood
Podcast
Technology

This season of Land of the Giants explores how Netflix disrupted Hollywood and changed the way we watch TV and movies.

By Rani Molla and Peter Kafka
Culture
Recording the Company cast album was infamously hellish. This cult favorite doc captured it all.Recording the Company cast album was infamously hellish. This cult favorite doc captured it all.
Culture

The cult hit documentary for the cult hit musical is finally on a cult hit streaming platform.

By Aja Romano
Technology
The tragic lie behind the beautiful dream of Terrace HouseThe tragic lie behind the beautiful dream of Terrace House
Technology

The hit Japanese Netflix series won praise for its everyday authenticity. Then Hana Kimura’s death revealed a more complex truth.

By Aja Romano
Culture
The highlights of HBO Max’s deep catalogThe highlights of HBO Max’s deep catalog
Culture

HBO Max’s bountiful treasures may be hard to find, but they’re worth looking for.

By Allegra Frank and Aja Romano
Culture
Mrs. America’s many brands of feminism, discussed and dissectedMrs. America’s many brands of feminism, discussed and dissected
Culture

FX on Hulu’s Mrs. America is some of the best TV of the year. But how does it want us to feel about Phyllis Schlafly?

By Emily St. James, Allegra Frank and 1 more
Culture
The 9 films that explain the legendary Studio GhibliThe 9 films that explain the legendary Studio Ghibli
Culture

Ghibli’s catalog is finally on HBO Max. Here’s what to know — and what to watch first.

By Aja Romano
Culture
What is HBO Max? And what isn’t it?What is HBO Max? And what isn’t it?
Culture

HBO and HBO Max’s convoluted relationship, explained.

By Emily St. James
Culture
The fabled “Snyder Cut” of Justice League will officially premiere in 2021The fabled “Snyder Cut” of Justice League will officially premiere in 2021
Culture

Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League will premiere on HBO Max.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the greatest TV shows ever made. Now it’s on Netflix.Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the greatest TV shows ever made. Now it’s on Netflix.
Culture

Everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked ... your free time.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Space Jam is kind of visionarySpace Jam is kind of visionary
Culture

If The Last Dance spins out the legend of Michael Jordan, Space Jam pretends to fill in gaps in the myth.

By Alissa Wilkinson