Vulture’s Most-Read Stories of 2025

Our most-read article from earlier in the year was a critical investigation by Lila Shapiro detailing accusations of sexual assault against Neil Gaiman. The last most-read article of the year was an oral history celebrating the 25th anniversary of Ron Howard’s lively adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. All the other popular articles from the year landed somewhere between these two very different topics.

Simply put, it was a great year for Vulture, and we’re incredibly proud of everything we published – including the 20 stories highlighted below, as well as our articles, videos, social media content, podcasts, and newsletters.

in conversation

20. Jason Isaacs Might Say Too Much

By Andrew Goldman

While The White Lotus recently brought him widespread attention, this actor has been captivating audiences – and sometimes causing problems – in his roles for decades. Learn more about his career.

the year in culture

19. What the Culturati 50 Loved in 2025

By the Editors with portfolio by Mark Seliger

While we were watching these culture-makers, they were watching one another. Read the story.

extremely online

18. They Make Millions Acting Like Sexy Babies

By Rebecca Jennings

The Bop House, a group of influencers on OnlyFans, creates content that simulates the atmosphere of a sleepover between young women, with a focus on suggestive themes. You can find more details in this article.

anonymous in hollywood

17. ‘This Could Be the End of the Studio System’

By Chris Lee

Warner Bros. made an unusual deal with a director that’s causing concern among competitors, who worry it could set a risky new standard for the industry. Read more about it here.

gold rush

16. And the Oscar Goes to … Sue

By Joe Reid

Demi Moore seemed poised for a major comeback and a Best Actress award, but ultimately didn’t win. Here’s the full story of what happened.

in conversation

15. ‘You’re Only As Good As Your Last Film’

By Bilge Ebiri

Ron Howard has directed a wide range of actors, from legendary stars like Bette Davis to newer talents such as J.D. Vance, and he has plenty of interesting stories to tell about his experiences with them. Find out what those stories are!

oral history

14. How How the Grinch Stole Christmas Stole Christmas

By Bilge Ebiri

I recently dove deep into the making of a truly wild, visually stunning, and surprisingly emotional film – one that, in my opinion, deserved far more recognition, especially for Jim Carrey’s incredible performance. It’s a fascinating look at a project that clearly pushed boundaries and took a toll on everyone involved. I highly recommend checking out the story behind it all.

public theater

13. Brad Pitt Is Fooling You

By Angelica Jade Bastién

The promotional tour for the F1 movie seems designed to distract from accusations of violence by Brad Pitt against his former wife, Angelina Jolie. You can find more details about the story here.

the hollywood issue

12. Hollywood Has Left L.A.

By Lane Brown

Historically, film studios chose to film in other locations to save money. Now, after the industry downturn, filming outside of the main production hubs is the only viable option. Read the full story.

profile

11. Lizzo Starts Over

By Allison P. Davis

The pop star’s success once felt radical. Can she capture the Zeitgeist again? Read the story.

power

10. After Lorne

By Reeves Wiedeman

Lorne Michaels, the driving force behind Saturday Night Live, is eighty. It really makes you wonder what will happen to the show – and honestly, to comedy in general – when he finally steps down. I just finished reading a fascinating piece about it, and you should definitely check it out.

remembrance

9. My Cool Friend Michelle

Mara Wilson, the star of Matilda, remembers her friend and explains that while others at school didn’t understand her, she and her fellow child actors admired her greatly. You can find the full story here.

exit interview

8. ‘No One Wants to Think That Their Pilot Is Weird’

By Jeff Wise

Discover how Nathan Fielder turned a lifelong interest into his biggest project to date. Read the full story.

the yesteryear issue

7. ‘Good God, It Was Fun!’

This article features contributions from Mark Seliger, along with interviews conducted by Rebecca Alter, Julia Edelstein, Jason P. Frank, Rachel Handler, Devon Ivie, Molly Langmuir, Jackson McHenry, Mary Melton, Zach Schiffman, and Matthew Schneier.

Broadway icons like Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, and Dick Van Dyke are revisiting their most beloved roles. Learn more about this exciting event!

first person

6. Pee-wee and Me

By Matt Wolf

Making my film about the person I admired most as a child took four years and was incredibly challenging, says director Matt Wolf. Read the full story.

movie review

5. Sinners Is Bold, Ambitious, and Just Misses Greatness

By Angelica Jade Bastién

The film Sinners deeply affected critic Angelica Jade Bastién, and it also left her thinking about the direction Ryan Coogler might take with future installments of Creed and Black Panther. You can find more details in this article.

movies

4. We Need to Talk About the Massively Hung Zombie in 28 Years Later

By Louis Peitzman

As a film buff, I’ve been thinking about this show, and honestly, there’s a surprising amount to say about how it’s used full-frontal male nudity. It’s more complex than you might think. You can find a deeper dive into it here: Read the story.

criticism

3. A Trio of TV Reviews

By Kathryn VanArendonk

Kathryn VanArendonk has a knack for spotting the darker side of culture, and she recently shared insightful reviews of three popular TV shows: The Baldwins, the final episode of The White Lotus, and With Love, Meghan. These reviews gained a lot of attention from readers.

Here are some recent articles you might be interested in: “The Baldwins” is surprisingly dark, “The White Lotus” didn’t live up to the hype, and Meghan Markle seems increasingly out of touch with everyday people.

disneyland

2. Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Banished Forever

By Justine Harman

The Andersons were removed from Disneyland’s VIP club, and they weren’t happy about it. Find out what happened.

books

1. There Is No Safe Word

By Lila Shapiro

Discover how acclaimed fantasy writer Neil Gaiman kept his personal struggles hidden from the public for many years. Learn more about his story.

overnights

The Most-Read Recaps of 2025

20. The Traitorsby Tom Smyth (11 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 3, episode 6: “Powder Keg”

Brian Moylan has written 17 recaps of The Real Housewives of Orange County. The most popular recap is of the Season 19 finale, titled “To Like or Not to Like.”

18. Summer House by Brian Moylan (15 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 9 premiere: “Bringing up Baby”

17. Yellowjackets by Erin Qualey (10 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 3 premiere: “Screaming Trees”

16. Adolescence  by Marah Eakin (4 recaps)
➼ Most read: Episode 3: “80-20 Thing”

15. Andor by Jesse Hassenger (12 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 2 premiere: “Do the Wrong Thing”

Jason P. Frank and Chris Feil have written 19 recaps of RuPaul’s Drag Race/All Stars. The most popular recap is for Season 17, episode 7, titled “Snatch the Crown.”

13. The Valley by Brian Moylan (15 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 2 premiere: “Hell Week”

12. 1923 by Amanda Whiting (7 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 2 finale: “Meet Me in Bozeman”

Saturday Night Live, recapped by Joe Berkowitz, Rima Parikh, Ben Rosenstock, and Charu Sinha (19 recaps total). The most popular recap is for Season 50, Episode 13: “Shane Gillis Humors the Base.”

10. The Last of Us by Keith Phipps (7 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 2 premiere: “Welcome to Wyoming”

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, recapped by Tom Smyth & Sarah Hagi (18 episodes total). The most popular recap was of the Season 5 finale, titled “Burn Books Also Burn Bridges.”

8. Paradise by Maggie Fremont (6 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 1 premiere: “The Great Seam in the Sky”

7. The Handmaid’s Tale by Amanda Whiting (10 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 6 finale: “Epilogue”

6. The Gilded Age by Alice Burton (8 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 3, episode 5: “Marriages Crumble”

Brian Moylan’s recaps of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills have proven popular, with 14 recaps published in total. The most-read recap is of the Season 14 finale, titled “Saints Alive.”

Maggie Fremont has written 12 recaps of the show And Just Like That…, with the recap of Season 3, episode 9, titled “End of an Era,” being the most popular.

3. The Pitt by Maggie Fremont (15 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 1, episode 10: “Pressure Relief”

2. Severance by Erin Qualey (10 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 2 premiere: “It’s Been a Minute”

1. The White Lotusby Amanda Whiting (8 recaps)
➼ Most read: Season 3 premiere: “No Man Is an Island”

Read More

2025-12-23 17:57