Gen Z and the movies

2026 Emmy Nominations

The 2026 Emmy nominations are here. We’re unpacking the record-breaking nominations for Hacks, plus a big day for Widow’s Bay, The Pitt, and The Bear. We’ll also talk about the snubs and make some early predictions of who will win.  Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Gen Z and the movies

Two big horror films, Obsession and Backrooms, just smashed all box office expectations. So much of their success has been driven by Gen Z, which is now the biggest moviegoing demographic. But what makes a movie a Gen Z movie? Today we’re bringing you an episode of NPR’s It’s Been a Minute. Host Brittany Luse talks about this trend with Sam Adams and Reanna Cruz.  If you want to hear more about these movies, check out these episodes:  In ‘Obsession,’ love hurts. It really, really, really hurts. [https://www.npr.org/2026/05/15/nx-s1-5822305/in-obsession-love-hurts-it-really-really-really-hurts] 'Backrooms' brings YouTube horror to the big screen [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/01/nx-s1-5838026/backrooms-brings-youtube-horror-to-the-big-screen] Zendaya brings 'The Drama,' we bring the spoilers [https://www.npr.org/2026/04/06/nx-s1-5771506/zendaya-brings-the-drama-we-bring-the-spoilers] Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

A wacky merchandise quiz

Everywhere you look, movies and TV shows are teaming up with all kinds of companies to make odd product tie-ins. Green Shrek ketchup. The Handmaid’s Tale wine. Grogu serving boards. Today on the show, we’re playing a game about some very strange brand collaborations. If you like want more episodes like this one, check out: We fantasy cast 'The Traitors' [https://www.npr.org/2025/02/18/1232304347/we-fantasy-cast-the-traitors] Our 15th Anniversary Time Capsule [https://www.npr.org/2025/08/19/nx-s1-5506094/our-15th-anniversary-time-capsule] A Cameo Quiz [https://www.npr.org/2022/03/31/1089909640/a-cameo-quiz] Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Minions & Monsters and What’s Making Us Happy

Minions & Monsters is the newest addition to the Despicable Me franchise, but this prequel set the minions loose in 1920s Hollywood. They naturally become superstars in the age of silent film. But, as talkies take over, they struggle to stay relevant — until one of them ends up conjuring some cute but deadly monsters using a dead wizard’s old spell book. After many films featuring the hijinks of the yellow pill-shaped oddballs, does this minions feature give off any old Hollywood charm?  If you need more animated hijinks, check out these episodes:  In 'Toy Story 5,' playtime's over and screentime's in [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/19/nx-s1-5862016/in-toy-story-5-playtimes-over-and-screentimes-in] 'The Wild Robot' is grand and gorgeous, with big feelings [https://www.npr.org/2024/10/02/1202966840/the-wild-robot-is-grand-and-gorgeous-with-big-feelings] Is 'Kung Fu Panda 4' a worthy entry in the fun and thoughtful franchise? [https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1197962941/is-kung-fu-panda-4-a-worthy-entry-in-the-fun-and-thoughtful-franchise] Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

The Bear

Did the final season of FX’s The Bear serve up the perfect last bite or are diners and viewers alike left wishing for more? Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Syd (Ayo Edebiri), and the rest of the kitchen staff are back in action as they face down their final day of service. It’s now streaming on Hulu. If you like seriously funny dramas, check out these episodes:   ‘Widow’s Bay’ is an island in the scream [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/16/nx-s1-5855729/widows-bay-is-an-island-in-the-scream] We are united in our love of ‘Pluribus’ [https://www.npr.org/2025/11/11/nx-s1-5604271/we-are-united-in-our-love-of-pluribus] Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/] / Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/pchh] Our weekly newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture] Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ [https://plus.npr.org/happy] See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]