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Pop Culture Happy Hour

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Rating
★★★★★
4.5
from
11536 reviews
This podcast has
1158 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
NPR
Explicit
No
Date created
2008/04/18
Latest episode
2026/11/13
Average duration
22 min.
Release period
2 days

Description

Get obsessed with us. Four days a week, Pop Culture Happy Hour serves you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, books, videogames and more. Join arts journalists Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture aficionados. The Happy Hour team leaves room at the table for exploring a range of reactions and opinions on every bit of the pop universe. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, they take it all with a shot of cheer.Make your happy hour even happier with Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus! Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/happyhour

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Club Kid and What’s Making Us Happy
2026/11/13
In excellent new film Club Kid, Jordan Firstman stars as a hard-partying manchild whose life is forever altered after learning he’s the dad to a 10-year-old kid (Reggie Absolom). Firstman also wrote and directed the film, and his sharp vision to the classic premise of a man whose newfound caretaking role helps him to grow up and grow into himself. The film also stars Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva, Nigil Whyte and Saturn Risin9. If you are looking for other great dramedies, check out these episodes:‘The Christophers’ is a work of artZendaya brings 'The Drama,' we bring the spoilersIn ‘Pillion,’ submission is the missionCharli xcx, The Moment and What’s Making Us Happy Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Cupertino
2026/11/12
The new fun CBS show Cupertino is reminiscent of old-school legal dramas, and that’s a good thing. From the creators of The Good Wife, it follows two lawyers in Silicon Valley (Mike Colter and Rachel Keller) whose new firm represents the underdog, takes on big tech and grapples with the complexities of artificial intelligence. The cast has some other familiar faces, including Busy Philipps and Renée Elise Goldsberry.  If you enjoy good, chewy television, check out these episodes: 'War' is a little trashy, and very delicious  We're high up on 'The Lowdown'  'Industry' paid out its investments handsomely Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Possible Love
2026/11/11
The film Possible Love recently hit Netflix, and it’s worth your time. It’s the latest from director Lee Chang-dong, whose previous film Burning was a critical hit. In the Korean film, two couples living very different lives come together – wealth and privilege meets working class struggle, as the film dissects how much a basic sense of self-worth is bound up with having a job. And the toxic, pernicious effect that losing a job has on pretty much everything.  Want to stay immersed in Korean culture? Check out these episodes:'No Other Choice' is the perfect movie for our moment  'Return To Seoul' might break you, in the best way  On 'Arirang,' BTS nods to K-pop's past, present and future Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Godzilla Minus Zero
2026/11/09
Godzilla Minus Zero is the sequel to Godzilla Minus One, the global word-of-mouth hit that just happened to be the first Godzilla movie ever to win an Oscar. In the movie, our heroes battle Godzilla and…a new nemesis. The Japanese film includes stunning visual effects, while also digging into themes of regret, shame, and the devastating aftermath of World War II.  Need a few more disaster movies? Check out these episodes:In 'A Quiet Place: Day One', Lupita Nyong'o makes silence golden  'Twisters' has us spiraling  'Godzilla x Kong' and 'Godzilla Minus One' revamp the classic monster story Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Is there really a decline in media literacy? (NPR+)
2026/11/08
Aisha and Stephen answer a mailbag question about the importance of media literacy in pop culture. Send a mailbag question for the hosts to [email protected], and we may answer it in a future bonus episode. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Wild Horse Nine and What’s Making Us Happy
2026/11/06
Wild Horse Nine is a terrific new movie that stars John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as two CIA agents who head to Easter Island for an unusual and mysterious mission in the early 1970s. They bicker and banter constantly, but the film is more than just a hangout movie: It also reflects heavily on memory and regret. Written and directed by Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), it promises to be a major player in this year’s Oscars race.  Are you looking for another good hang? Check out these episodes:'One of Them Days' turns Keke Palmer and SZA loose Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin tap into 'A Real Pain' Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Cozy fall recommendations
2026/11/05
Fall is in the air and you need stuff to watch and listen to and read as you curl up under the blanket and settle in. We’ve got you covered with some under the radar picks that are, as the kids say, giving autumn. We talk about: Over the Garden Wall, The Guest, books by Josephine Tey and Helene Hanff, and the music of Connie Converse and The Weakerthans.  Looking for more cozy recommendations? Check out these episodes: Little House on the Prairie In Tina Fey’s ‘The Four Seasons,’ marriage is far from a vacation Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins
2026/11/03
The comedy series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins stars Tracy Morgan as a disgraced former football star and Daniel Radcliffe as a documentary filmmaker who team up to make a movie. The NBC/Peacock mockumentary sitcom also stars Erika Alexander and Bobby Moynihan, with creators who come from shows like 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Girls5eva – and the joke density bears that out. The show is back for a second season, so today we’re revisiting our conversation about the series. If you need more great ensemble comedies, check out these episodes:  ‘Widow’s Bay’ is an island in the scream Lisa Kudrow returns in 'The Comeback,' and we did need to see that Gen Z awkwardly transitions into 'Adults' Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
VisionQuest
2026/11/02
The new Disney+ show VisionQuest is the latest Marvel television series, and it’s one of the good ones. It’s the conclusion of the trilogy that began with WandaVision and continued through Agatha All Along, reuniting actors Paul Bettany, who plays the synthezoid Avenger named Vision, and James Spader, who returns as Ultron. The show is a timely parable about artificial intelligence, and it’s yet another superhero story that grapples with daddy issues, big time. Looking to dive more into the world of the MCU? Check out these episodes: Marvel's 'Ironheart' suits up Marvel’s ‘Wonder Man’ is a low-key, low-stakes buddy comedy ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is a dark night of the spider-soul Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
War and What’s Making Us Happy
2026/10/30
Nothing’s fair in love and war — and it's especially true in the very watchable HBO series War. Dominic West and Sienna Miller play a high-profile British couple duking it out in a high-stakes divorce. And the cutthroat litigation between the law firms representing them threatens to rival any of the marriage drama they’ve got going on. War was created by George Kay, who is also behind shows like Lupin and Highjack. If you enjoy high stakes, bingeable dramas, check out these episodes: 'Nemesis' brings strong 'Heat' vibes, and we're not mad at it ‘The Pitt’ approaches the end of a very long shift Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
The scariest movie I’ve ever seen
2026/10/29
Do you like scary movies? It's spooky season, so what better way to get into the Halloween spirit than plopping down in front of a film engineered to scare your pants off. Today, in this encore episode, we’re revisiting our conversation about the scariest movie we've ever seen – including The Babadook, Event Horizon, The Night of the Hunter, and… Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Looking for more spooky season scares? Try these episodes: In ‘Obsession,’ love hurts. It really, really, really hurts. 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' caps off a big summer for demon hunters In ‘Weapons’, the kids aren't at all right, not in the slightest, nope Is '28 Years Later' worth the wait? Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Wildwood
2026/10/27
Wildwood is one of the best movies of the year. It’s an epic stop-motion animated saga about a young girl trying to rescue her brother, and it’s filled with raging battles, fantastical animals and a voice cast featuring Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, and Tom Waits. Wildwood was made by Laika, the studio behind Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings.  If you’re looking for other great animated films, check out these episodes:In 'Toy Story 5,' playtime's over and screentime's in 'Forgotten Island' is a cluttered feast for the senses Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Clayface
2026/10/26
Clayface brings R-rated body horror to this origin story of a Batman villain. The film stars Tom Rhys Harries as an actor whose dream life crumbles after an encounter with a mob boss leaves him disfigured. Desperate for a solution, he receives a revolutionary procedure involving nanotechnology powered by AI. What could go wrong? Director James Watkins goes hard on the horror elements, but is the DC Universe big enough to go beyond superhero fare, and take a walk on the creepy, crawly side? For more Batman villains on screen, check out these episodes: In 'The Penguin' a C-list villain gets an A-list series 'Joker: Folie à Deux' is much a deux about nothing Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Wicker and What’s Making Us Happy
2026/10/23
Wicker is somehow the coziest and horniest movie of the fall. Olivia Coleman and Alexander Skarsgård star as the unlikely couple: She’s a fisherwoman who commissions a husband literally made of wicker. The newly-kindled romance upends their small medieval town, where the men are the worst and the women are — surprise surprise — bored and unsatisfied with their own husbands. Are you looking for more Alexander Skarsgård? Check out these episodes: In ‘Pillion,’ submission is the mission  'Murderbot' envisions a caustically funny future Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Youth
2026/10/21
We all love actor/writer Sharon Horgan, and she’s got a new show on HBO called Youth. Horgan stars as Alex, a 50-year-old divorcée who finds herself at several simultaneous personal and professional crossroads. But where does this new show fall in the Horgan canon? Is it essential, or is it more of a vestigial Horgan? Looking for more TV and movies about navigating mid-life?  Check out these episodes:‘The Invite’ is a marriage comedy with sex and heartA twisty scam goes haywire in the fun 'Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed'In Tina Fey’s ‘The Four Seasons,’ marriage is far from a vacationIn ‘Rooster,’ Steve Carell makes some college admissions Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Podcast reviews

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4.5 out of 5
11536 reviews
★★★★★
ckernahan1 2026/11/06
Consistently Excellent
Smart and funny and so so good at including stuff for everyone. This is what you need to navigate movies and tv and music!
★★★★★
RudyDooCaseyCoo 2026/11/06
A ball of fun!
Helps me stay current but saving me a lot of screen time. Love the crew and cast of characters!
★★★★★
The Jeneral of Fun 2026/11/06
My fave podcast for movies and more!
Love the hosts, the guests, and checking out TV shows and movies before committing.
★★☆☆☆
LaLuzdelaLuz 2026/11/03
This show…
Makes me miss the Slate Culture Gabfest soooooo much!
★☆☆☆☆
Cookie9432 2026/10/17
What is wrong with Greta?
Does she have some type of neurological disorder her up speak is annoying and really not what I expect from NPR.
★★★★★
Rinermo 2026/10/06
Great, but…
I enjoy this show very much, but I recommend that some of the critics listen to one of their episodes paying attention to the number of times they say...
★★★★★
Hagsploitated 2026/09/25
Happy Hour Indeed
Pop Culture Happy Hour is a lovely way to wind down on the drive home or a weekend afternoon. Aisha Harris, Linda Holmes, and Glen Weldon bring insigh...
★★★★★
Hkfhbndn 2026/09/20
Keeps me up to date
I thoroughly enjoy pop culture happy hour and the insights it gives me about shows that I enjoy. It has also led me to new must sees, must reads and m...
★★★★★
Sarah Ellesse 2026/09/07
Qua-li-ty
This show is a favorite and always on rotation! Your latest episode on the hidden money behind music was fantastic 👌 great discussion and interesting...
★★★★★
Cechanique 2026/09/04
PCHH is my favorite podcast
Been listening to it for years. Great hosts, all charming, delightful, and informed. It helps keep me up to date with all movies, shows, music, etc, e...
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