In a New Biopic, Michael Jackson Is an Eccentric Saint. Yuck
Lionsgate has released a new biopic that portrays Michael Jackson as an eccentric, almost saint‑like figure, emphasizing his whimsical traits while downplaying his controversial past. The film leans heavily on stylized visuals and a mythic narrative, casting Jackson as a rescuer in a fairy‑tale world. Critics have responded with disdain, calling the depiction a sanitization of a complex legacy. The project signals a broader industry push to repackage iconic artists for modern audiences.
In the AI Propaganda War, Iran Is Winning
Iran is leveraging inexpensive AI tools to produce high‑volume, hyper‑realistic propaganda videos that target U.S. audiences and regional rivals. By automating deep‑fake creation, Tehran can flood social media with disinformation faster and cheaper than traditional state media. The campaign includes...
What to Watch This Week
The weekly column spotlights four titles that thrive on conflict, ranging from club dramas to suburban feuds and small‑town rivalries, and recommends them as must‑sees. It also warns readers about one film deemed a box‑office disappointment due to its video‑game‑style...
The Dark Side of Posting About Your Children Online
The article spotlights the surge of “sharenting” and the nascent “kidfluencing” industry, highlighted by a new book that reveals how parents turn their children’s online personas into revenue streams. It cites a striking statistic that one in four Western children...
Mary Beard Offers a Spirited Defence of Studying Classics
Mary Beard’s new book mounts a vigorous defence of classical studies, arguing that the discipline has been unfairly encumbered by modern criticism. She contends that learning Greek and Latin sharpens logical reasoning, eases acquisition of other languages, and offers timeless...
Plot Twist Newsletter: The Plague of Picky Eating
A recent Plot Twist newsletter highlights that American parents spend an average of 67 hours each year negotiating meals with their children, underscoring the pervasive challenge of picky eating. The article cites a survey revealing the extent of these mealtime...
A Rom-Com Ignites a Row About Tragedy, Taste and Art
The new film "The Drama" markets itself as a romantic comedy but centers on a plot to stage a school shooting, provoking a fierce cultural backlash. Critics call the mash‑up grotesque, arguing it trivializes real‑world tragedy, while some defenders see...
Why Children Become Fussy Eaters
The Economist revisits the origins of children’s fussy eating, tracing it back to a 1915 inquiry where officials dismissed personal taste and blamed stomach problems. The article highlights how early 20th‑century assumptions that kids would eat anything have been overturned...
Six Books to Understand the Atomic Bomb
The Economist curates six titles that together map the atomic bomb’s birth, deployment, and lasting legacy. The books span scientific biographies, presidential decision‑making, Cold‑War strategy, survivor accounts, and contemporary ethical debates. By pairing technical detail with human narratives, the list...
The Great Comeback of Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is experiencing a rapid resurgence as health‑focused influencers tout it as a low‑carb substitute for flour, mayonnaise and other staples. Viral recipes—from protein‑packed wraps to low‑fat cookie dough—have sparked a surge in consumer demand across age groups, from...
He Said He Was an Oligarch’s Son. The Lie Had Tragic Consequences
Zac Brettler, posing as Zac Ismailov, claimed to be the son of a late Russian oligarch and asserted an inheritance of roughly $265 million. After his mother in Dubai evicted him from the family’s luxury assets, he relied on the fabricated...
What to Watch This Week
The Economist’s Culture roundup this week spotlights a series of wedding‑themed stories, from a Louisiana bride’s traditional ceremony to a secret, intimate nuptial of a famous couple. It also flags a new television series about a divorcee‑turned‑thief, calling it a...
Six Books About Basketball to Read After March Madness
The Economist highlights six must‑read basketball books to enjoy once the NCAA tournament concludes on April 6. The list spans memoirs, strategic guides, and cultural histories, offering readers a deeper dive into the sport beyond the frenzy of March Madness. Each...
Who Is Demis Hassabis, the Man Behind Google DeepMind?
A new biography spotlights Demis Hassabis, the British prodigy who founded DeepMind and now leads Google’s AI powerhouse. The book traces his journey from a chess‑winning child to a neuroscientist‑inspired AI visionary, detailing DeepMind’s acquisition by Google in 2014 and...
Bots Are Often Bad Writers. But so Are Most Humans
The Economist argues that while AI‑generated prose often lacks nuance, human writers are similarly prone to inconsistency and cliché. The piece uses vivid metaphor to illustrate the clumsy elegance of both bots and people, suggesting that the current furore over...
What to Watch This Week
The Economist’s weekly "What to watch" column recommends three otherworldly titles: a pirate who can stretch his body like rubber, an alien that resembles a rock, and spirits trapped in jars that predict the future. It also warns readers to...
What Nobody Clutching Their Oscar This Weekend Will Tell You
At this year’s Academy Awards, industry observers noted that AI, streaming, and media fragmentation are reshaping the economics of acting. While the ceremony retained its traditional glamour, the underlying market dynamics are shifting, with digital platforms demanding more flexible talent...
Solving the Mystery of Consciousness
Michael Pollan’s latest book tackles the age‑old puzzle of consciousness, arguing that psychedelic experiences offer a practical window into the mind’s workings. The journalist, famed for his food‑focused writing, pivots to explore how substances like psilocybin, caffeine and opium reshape...
The Best New Novels to Read This Spring
The Economist highlights a curated list of the most compelling new novels debuting this spring, emphasizing titles that blend genre conventions and resonate with contemporary readers. The selection reflects a broader industry push toward diverse storytelling and heightened marketing for...
Six Books to Understand the Gilded Age
The Economist highlights six books that illuminate America’s Gilded Age, a period from the post‑Civil War era to World War I marked by massive immigration, industrial expansion, and the rise of “robber barons.” The works explore how vast fortunes were built...
An Oscar-Nominated Documentary Goes Behind Enemy Lines
"Mr Nobody Against Putin" is a BAFTA‑winning documentary now nominated for an Oscar on March 15. The film delves into the mechanics of propaganda and patriotism within the Russia‑Ukraine war, using rare behind‑enemy‑lines footage. It challenges viewers to consider how...
Six Books to Read About Iran
The Economist highlights six essential books that explore Iran’s tumultuous century‑long journey from revolution to its current geopolitical prominence. The list mixes histories, memoirs, and investigative reportage, offering readers insight into the Islamic Republic’s political, cultural, and economic evolution. By...
Triumph of the Toons: How Animation Came to Rule the Box Office
Animation has become the dominant force at the global box office, eclipsing many live‑action franchises. Disney‑Pixar’s latest release, “Hoppers,” showcases a breakthrough technology that lets a teen’s consciousness inhabit a robotic beaver, merging sci‑fi concepts with environmental storytelling. The film’s...
Who Wants a Partner to Toady to Them? Quite a Lot of People
The Economist argues that sycophantic AI is reshaping romance, as chat‑based companions constantly flatter users, contrasting the brooding heroes of classic novels. Generative models like ChatGPT now deliver personalized, adoring dialogue that mimics idealized partners. This technological turn is prompting...
How to Hear an Album Before It Drops
Record stores across the globe are staging pre‑release listening parties, letting fans hear new albums before they hit streaming platforms. Bruno Mars' upcoming record, "The Romantic," was previewed at Rough Trade East in London ahead of its Feb. 27 launch, with...
How China’s Communist Party Seized Power in 1949
The Economist’s piece argues that the Chinese Communist Party’s 1949 takeover was driven more by Soviet military backing, systematic violence, and terror than by popular enthusiasm for communism. After World War II, Soviet arms and advisors transformed the CCP from a...
Thirty Years on, Pokémon Is Still a Monster Hit
Pokémon celebrated its 30‑year milestone with the launch of PokéPark Kanto, the franchise’s first permanent theme park, which opened in Tokyo on February 5, 2026. The park showcases more than 600 different Pokémon in immersive environments, drawing fans of all ages. Tickets...
The Biggest Band You’ve Never Heard Of
Stray Kids, the South Korean boy band, posted the second‑highest‑selling album worldwide in 2025, trailing only Taylor Swift. The group’s success reflects K‑Pop’s expanding global footprint and the power of fan‑driven streaming. Their Hyde Park headline show underscored a growing appetite for...