What’s New in Pop Culture: January 13-19, 2025
Releases this week in TV, Music, Movies & Games
New This Week: Severance Season 2 makes its long-awaited return to Apple TV+; SZA and Keke Palmer have One of Them Days in theaters; Donkey Kong Country Returns HD barrels onto Nintendo Switch.
TELEVISION
Check out our Best of 2024: Television list for great shows you might have missed last year.
Wednesday 1/15: An Update on Our Family (HBO/Max; Documentary, True Crime)
This series examines the world of “mom vloggers,” questioning whether creating content around young children and families is exploitative. It takes a specific interest in the case of Myka Stauffer, a vlogger accused of adopting a child with ulterior motives.
Thursday 1/16: SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night (Peacock; Documentary, Comedy)
This four-part documentary explores the behind-the-scenes realities of the iconic late-night sketch show. Expect interviews from dozens of former cast members, writers, and guests hosts, as horror stories and triumphs are rehashed.
Thursday 1/16: Hollywood Squares (CBS 8pm; Game Show)
The classic game show returns with new host Nat Burleson (CBS Mornings) and new center square, Hollywood royalty Drew Barrymore. Among the celeb guests playing in this new season are Tyra Banks, Tiffany Haddish, Jay Leno, RuPaul, Kristen Schaal, Julie Bowen, Justin Long, and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
Thursday 1/16: Castlevania: Nocturne (Netflix; Animated, Horror)
When last we saw Richter Belmont and the other French Revolution-era warriors, vampires had conquered their city, one of their strongest mystical allies had been turned into a servant of the vampire queen, and everything was quite literally going to Hell. This season sees fan-favorite Alucard join the fight.
Friday 1/17: Severance (Apple TV+; Sci-Fi, Thriller)
This buzzy sci-fi thriller from Ben Stiller returns after nearly three years, as Adam Scott’s Mark S. and his cohort of “innies” attempt to navigate their complicated realities both inside and outside the company. New this season are Gwendoline Christie, Alia Shawkat, and Merritt Weaver.
MUSIC
Check out our Best of 2024 Music list for great albums you may have missed last year.
Friday 1/17: David Gray Dear Life (Folk Rock)
Friday 1/17: Mac Miller Balloonerism (Alt-Rap/Jazz)
Friday 1/17: Ela Minus DIA (Electronic/Alt-Pop)
Friday 1/17: Jasmine.4.t You Are the Morning (Alt-Pop, Folk)
Friday 1/17: The Weather Station Humanhood (Alt-Pop, Folk)
MOVIES
Check out our Best of 2024: Film list for great movies you might have missed in 2024.
Tuesday 1/14: Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy (Peacock; Documentary, True Crime)
The first in what will surely be a string of investigations into the alleged crimes of Sean Combs arrives, with members of his inner circle sharing their experiences, as well as alleged victims.
Thursday 1/16: Unstoppable (Prime Video; Sports, Biopic)
Jharrel Jerome stars in the true story of Anthony Robles, a young man who refused to allow a missing leg stop him from becoming a college wrestling superstar. With Jennifer Lopez, Michael Pena, and Don Cheadle.
Friday 1/17: Back in Action (Netflix; Action, Comedy)
Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz — in her first movie in more than a decade — play CIA agents who quit the agency to start a family, pulled back into the fray after 15 years. With Glenn Close.
Friday 1/17: One of Them Days (Wide; Comedy)
Keke Palmer and Grammy-winner SZA play roommates desperately looking to make rent before they are evicted, which leads to several many shenanigans.
Friday 1/17: Wolf Man (Wide; Horror, Suspense)
Horror legend Leigh Whannell (Saw, Insidious) tries to recapture the magic of his Invisible Man reboot with Universal Monsters’ hairiest protagonist, starring Christopher Abbott (Poor Things) as a man turned werewolf stalking his family, and Julia Garner (Ozark) as his wife trying to save her life and her daughter.
GAMES
If you’re looking for new games to play, check out our Best of 2024 Games list.
Wednesday 1/15: Runny Bunny (Puzzle, Action; PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox S|X)
Play as a dashing rabbit collecting carrots and power-ups as you try to survive 100 levels of traps and danger.
Thursday 1/16: Montezuma's Revenge 40th Annivesrary Edition (Adventure, Platformer; Steam)
Throw it WAY back — pre-NES back — to this remake of the classic platformer that was originally available on Atari, Coleco, and other ancient machines. Explore hidden temples in either 2.5D or in a retro pixel version of the original, which has been expanded.
Thursday 1/16: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Action, Platformer; Switch)
The 2010 Wii installment of Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Country series is ported to the Switch with upscaled graphics, and a new option that nerfs the difficulty. That’s great, but give us a new Donkey Konga, you cowards!
Friday 1/17: Dynasty Warriors: Origins (Hack-and-Slash; PC, PS5, Xbox S|X)
The series reboots with a game that goes back to the late Eastern Han period in what would become China, as you play rebels trying to save a warring nation in peril.
