From Another Record WNBA Season to Brad Pitt’s F1 Blockbuster — The Culture Moments to Watch Out for in 2025
They embraced the “brat” mindset last summer, were briefly very invested in pommel horse (and not sure what to make of breakdancing as a sport) during the Olympics, and witnessed the second demise of Bennifer. But while some of 2024’s drama continues to play out, other developments are a welcome addition to 2025. We’re here for WNBA’s continued surge in popularity and more Chappell Roan, who’s slated to perform at Elton John’s Oscars watch party.
2024 delivered buzzy film releases from “Challengers” in the spring to the fall double-header of “Wicked” and “Gladiator 2” — not quite a Barbenheimer redux, but still a welcome theatrical pairing.
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Oscar nominations will be announced later this month, and the awards race is still very much up in the air after several surprise wins at the Golden Globes and recent Screen Actors Guild nominations. Will Demi Moore get her first Oscars nod for “The Substance”? Will “Wicked” be a serious contender?
The 2025 film buzz builds shortly after the Academy Awards with Disney’s latest live action film “Snow White,” which stars Rachel Zegler in the titular role. The film comes out March 21, a few weeks after the slated release of Oscar-winning Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s new film “Mickey 17,” which stars Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie and Steven Yeun. Heading into the summer, anticipated sequel “M3gan 2.0” comes back to play, followed shortly by Formula 1 racing blockbuster “F1,” with an A-list cast of actors and pro racers led by Brad Pitt. Buckle up.
Next fall, Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons reunite in Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film “Bugonia.” And “Wicked” returns to finish what it started with “For Good,” completing the on-screen story of Glinda and Elphaba — and, by extension, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s paired red carpet tour.
2024 was a good year for leading men: fans can’t get enough of Timothée Chalamet, Glen Powell, Paul Mescal, Jeremy Allen White and more. Many more, in fact, thanks to the rise of celebrity lookalike contests, which recently delivered Powell and Chalamet doppelgangers to the Golden Globes red carpet.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are still going strong — or so it seems — which naturally means there’s been plenty of anticipation around a possible engagement. But there’s even likelier wedding planning on the horizon with two fresh A-list engagements — Selena and Benny; Zendaya and Tom — and, of course, there’s the ever-impending Bezos wedding. Will 2025 be the year they make it official?
Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s “Sweat” tour were the concert tickets to book last year, but some of 2025’s hottest tours haven’t even been announced yet. With the impending release of Lady Gaga’s next album, expect to have another tour to humble-brag post about very soon. And let’s not forget Oasis — the band’s sold-out reunion tour kicks off this summer.
Although the Super Bowl always falls in the middle of New York Fashion Week, be sure to carve out time for Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance.
Broadway has a spring lineup headlined by big theater and film stars. Audra McDonald will continue taking the stage in the “Gypsy” revival, while Idina Menzel will return in a new musical, “Redwood,” starting Jan. 24. Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal are teaming up for a run of Shakespeare’s “Othello” in March, and George Clooney will make his Broadway debut in “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Other stars going onstage this spring include Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Nick Jonas.
Heading further into spring, anticipation will grow for the Costume Institute’s next exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” As usual, all eyes will be on the red carpet on May 5, when celebrity cohosts including A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton and Pharrell Williams will unveil their interpretations of the theme at the annual Met Gala.
Will we still be scrolling TikTok in a few months (or weeks)? What will become of the “It Ends With Us” drama, which continues to play out in a very public way? And after “brat summer” and “demure fall,” what adjective will define the seasons ahead?
Only 2025 has those answers, so stay tuned.
They Were, They Are…
They were: Highly invested in niche sports thanks to the Olympics.
They are: Ready to cheer the WNBA on for another record-making season.
They were: Serving up tennis enthusiasm, well before Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, thanks to “Challengers.”
They are: Revving up for the Brad Pitt-led car racing blockbuster “F1” this summer.
They were: Fanning over Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s “Wicked” press tour looks.
They are: Holding space for part two of the film, “For Good.”
They were: Swooning over Glen Powell, Timothée Chalamet, Paul Mescal…
They are: Looking for the next best thing at celebrity lookalike contests.
They were: Trying to book tickets for “The Eras Tour.”
They are: Lining up for a new hard-to-book tour with the release of Lady Gaga’s next album “LG7.”
They were: Learning the TikTok-trending “Apple” dance.
They are: Wondering if TikTok will be banned in the U.S.
They were: Posting about their love for Cole Escola’s comedic play “Oh, Mary.”
They are: Witnessing theater veterans return to Broadway with Audra McDonald in “Gypsy” and Idina Menzel in “Redwood.”
They were: Dining on fancy fried chicken.
They are: Enjoying a two-for-one deal with the growing trend of restaurants exhibiting art in their dining rooms. (See: Manuela, People’s, Clemente Bar.)
They were: Fawning over Moo Deng.
They are: Crowdsourcing a name for Metro Richmond Zoo’s new baby pygmy hippo: World, meet Poppy.
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