For New York Magazine’s first annual “Culturati 50 Issue,” we surveyed Lorde, Parker Posey, Lola Tung, and other culture-makers who have shaped entertainment this year on what they watched, read, and listened to in 2025. See the full survey results here.
Rachel Sennott’s HBO comedy I Love LA turns its eye to the lives of those who eddy around the entertainment industry — aspiring influencers and stylists and hangers-on of all kinds — and it gets an extra dose of verisimilitude from a true-life nepo baby. True Whitaker, the 27-year-old daughter of the acclaimed Oscar-winning actor Forest, plays Alani, daughter of an acclaimed Oscar-winning director. Alani, ensnared in L.A. privilege and often a little airheaded, could easily be hateable, but Whitaker makes her immensely sweet and, through committed physical comedy, hilarious. She’s the Cher Horowitz–esque heart of the friend group who goes to extreme lengths to make everyone happy.
In This Issue
Introducing the Culturati 50
Read the Culturati 50’s ‘Year in Culture’ Lists
1.
What were your favorite movies of the year?
Frankenstein. Jacob Elordi has a really interesting approach to the character. In the beginning, he doesn’t say much, but he says so much with his eyes. I was very emotional about that. I liked him in Euphoria and in Saltburn. I think he’s very talented.
2.
Best TV shows?
We Were Liars and Wayward took me on an emotional journey. We Were Liars threw me for a loop. By the end, I couldn’t tell if I was sad or it just pissed me the fuck off. But I can’t lie and say I wasn’t invested! I randomly watched it all in one sitting with a couple of my friends. We were like, “What is this?” And then we were locked in. We were swimming and then we were all sitting on the couch and soon it was 11 p.m. and we were like, “Oh shit, well, the show’s over. Bye, guys!” It was a cute day.
3.
Favorite albums or songs?
Addison! She’s bringing the pop star back. I love her artistry and the way she’s been approaching her pop stardom, the choreography, and the performances she’s been putting on. I started getting super into her when she dropped “Diet Pepsi.” When she dropped Addison this summer, I was locked in and it was so good to be in L.A. because I was just driving around blasting it. I’ve also been listening to Zara Larsson’s “Midnight Sun.” That’s another great car song. These girlie pops are giving us driving bangers.
4.
How about podcasts or video games?
In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele.
5.
The one thing you couldn’t stop talking about or recommending to others?
The documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish. I watched it a couple of times because I was showing it to people and wanting their reaction. It was also a TikTok trend to post people’s reaction when they reveal where the number’s coming from. It’s just so surreal. I wish the family the best. Lauryn Licari deserves so much better, but, wow, it was an entertaining watch
Rapid-Fire Round
Pick your Pedro Pascal.
⬜ Eddington
⬜ Materialists
⬜ The Last of Us
☑️ Fantastic Four
Everyone who saw Weapons said it was about something but no one could agree on what. If you had to choose one, what would you say Weapons was “about”?
☑️ School shootings
⬜ Witchcraft
⬜ Addiction
⬜ Nothing
Best superhero movie:
⬜ Superman
⬜ Thunderbolts
☑️ Fantastic Four
⬜ Other:
The best Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary! (who is not Cole Escola)?
⬜ Jinkx Monsoon
⬜ Betty Gilpin
⬜ Jane Krakowski
☑️ Tituss Burgess
The best celebrity-fronted play?
⬜ Good Night, and Good Luck
⬜ The Picture of Dorian Gray
⬜ Glengarry Glen Ross
☑️ Othello
⬜ Sunset Blvd.
Was there a song of the summer this year?
☑️ Yes: Zara Larsson’s “Midnight Sun”
⬜ No
Which plotline on The White Lotus made you more uncomfortable?
☑️ The incest bros
⬜ Sam Rockwell’s monologue
⬜ Other:
Favorite cameo on The Studio?
☑️ Zoë Kravitz
⬜ Martin Scorsese
⬜ Ron Howard
⬜ Anthony Mackie
⬜ Olivia Wilde
⬜ Zac Efron
⬜ Sarah Polley
⬜ Other:
Did The Rehearsal make you more or less scared to go on a plane?
⬜ 1 Less scared
⬜ 2
☑️ 3
⬜ 4
⬜ 5 More scared
Who was the best Traitor?
☑️ Bob the Drag Queen
⬜ Boston Rob
⬜ Carolyn
⬜ Danielle
⬜ Other:
Do you own a Labubu?
⬜ Yes
☑️ No
Which streaming service do you value the most?
☑️ HBO
⬜ Apple
⬜ Disney
⬜ Criterion
⬜ Netflix
⬜ YouTube
⬜ Other:
Best award-show host?
⬜ Conan O’Brien
⬜ Nikki Glaser
☑️ Cynthia Erivo
⬜ Nate Bargatze
⬜ Trevor Noah
Best award-season speech?
⬜ Timothée Chalamet at the SAG Awards (“I want to be one of the greats”)
⬜ Kieran Culkin at the Oscars (“I will give you four when you win an Oscar”)
⬜ Chappell Roan at the Grammys (labels should “offer a livable wage and health care”)
⬜ Demi Moore at the Golden Globes (“I do belong”)
☑️ Hannah Einbinder at the Emmys (“Go Birds, fuck ICE, free Palestine”): Those are really powerful statements, and I think it’s important to bring light to the issues that are happening around the world. This shit is horrible, and living in this industry where things can be so glamorous, we can’t pretend other things aren’t happening that are pretty horrifying. Using that moment to speak out is really important.
What was the cultural moment that fascinated you the most this year?
☑️ The Coldplay kiss-cam
⬜ Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement
⬜ SNL50
⬜ Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl
The social-media app you used most frequently?
⬜ X
⬜ Bluesky
⬜ Facebook
☑️ Instagram
⬜ TikTok
⬜ None, I quit social media