

Esther Zuckerman
Posts

‘Wicked’ and the Merchandising Juggernaut That Eclipses ‘Barbie’
The new movie’s tie-ins are the logical endpoint for a Broadway show that always intended to be huge.

‘Conclave’ Is Becoming One of 2024’s Most Memed Movies
Thanks to characters we recognize from reality TV, the Vatican intrigues have jumped from stuffy prestige drama to the social-media scrum.

Reinventing the ‘Theater Kid’ Label With Help From Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga
For stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga, showmanship is a virtue. That’s a big change from the days when Anne Hathaway was vilified for...

Teri Garr Found the Soul in Memorable Ditsy Blondes
In “Tootsie,” “After Hours” and other films, she played truly unhinged characters while also layering in sadness or drama.

In ‘Smile 2’ and ‘Trap,’ Pop Stardom Looks Pretty Terrifying
At a time when the business of being Taylor Swift or Beyoncé is booming, these films examine toxic fandom and what can seem like mass...

Mikey Madison Finds Common Ground With Her Character in ‘Anora’
The soft-spoken actress is winning raves (and Oscar talk) for her turn as a feisty sex worker in the Palme d’Or-winning “Anora.”

Inside the Birthing Scene in ‘We Live in Time’
The stars and director of “We Live in Time” explain how a delivery became an action sequence, complete with a real baby and a few...

‘The Babadook’ Is Still an Unnerving Dream 10 Years Later
Back in theaters for its 10th anniversary, the haunting movie never really left, with a legacy that includes an entire horror subgenre.

Movie Trailers Have Gotten Worse. Why Aren’t Studios Having Fun With Them?
Promos give away too much or too little or are misleading or don’t leave anything out. We could go on. But there are ways to...

10 Movies Starring Gena Rowlands, From ‘The Notebook’ to ‘Opening Night’
She delivered vulnerable portraits in movies as varied as “A Woman Under the Influence,” with John Cassavetes, and the drama “The Notebook.”