Culture & Entertainment Editor
Sofia Martinez
Sofia spent five years as a staff critic before joining Obsidian to launch our entertainment desk. She covers the prestige film and TV beat with a critic's bias toward formal craft and an editor's instinct for the deal behind the deal. Awards season is her favorite time of year. She is, depending on the day, either the toughest grader on staff or the most generous.
Joined Obsidian 2023
More posts by Sofia Martinez
Before Dune, Austin Butler Starred In This Fantasy Series Based On A Best-Selling Book Series
Austin Butler shot to movie stardom with roles in Elvis and Dune: Part Two, but before that he was best known for playing the lead in a fantasy TV show.
15 Best Horror Movies Of The 21st Century, Ranked
Over a couple decades into the 21st century, what are the horror movies that have stood out as future classics? We've assembled a list of the best.
This Legendary Author Was The First Human To Meet A Klingon In Star Trek Lore
In the Star Trek franchise, the first human being to ever meet a Klingon on the timeline isn't an astronaut or an adventurer, but a famous author.
Olivia Rodrigo Earns Third Consecutive No. 1 on Albums Chart With ‘You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love’
Olivia Rodrigo has earned her third No. 1 on the Billboard 200 as “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love” bows atop the chart. The album, which was released on June 12, enters at the chart summit with 485,000 equivalent album units, marking her largest week ever and the biggest for any […]
Man Dies After Falling at Goose Madison Square Garden Show
The band said they were “deeply saddened and heartbroken” over the incident
SZA, Kenneth Blume Decry Use of Their Songs in AI Training Data Sets
“I can’t imagine being proud to earn a paycheck obliterating the work and dreams of artists”
Ken Carson Returns With New Album Xperiment
The rapper’s fifth studio LP arrives on July 3
Adrian Chiarella's "Leviticus" shows that horror's final boys can find love
Homophobia lives, and stalks, in Adrian Chiarella's debut feature.
How Duncan Jones Made ‘Rogue Trooper’ Look Like a Studio Epic on an Indie Budget
“There’s AI — the film has no AI,” says director-writer Duncan Jones emphatically about his latest feature, “Rogue Trooper.” The subject comes up as producer Stuart Fennegan talks about how they got the stellar voice cast for the film: Aneurin Barnard, Jack Lowden, Hayley Atwell, Daryl McCormack, Reece Shearsmith, Sean
‘The Death of Robin Hood’: What’s Historically Accurate in This Violent Revisionist Tale?
Writer/director Michael Sarnoski on what we know about the “real” Robin Hood, the centuries of legend, and what his script is actually based upon.
Why Billy Bob Thornton Found Playing His Landman Character So Easy
Billy Bob Thornton has a very good reason for not finding his Landman character, Tommy Norris, to be the most challenging character he's ever played.
‘Minions & Monsters’ Director Pierre Coffin on His Tribute to Hollywood, the Exhausting Work of Voicing the Yellow Creatures and Crafting Comedy That’s ‘More Irreverent Than Some of the Competition’
Pierre Coffin thought he was done with the Minions. After nearly two decades inside the “Despicable Me” universe — the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time, with more than $5.5 billion worldwide across six films — the French animator had earned the right to feel worn out. Coffin co-directed four of those mov
How to Watch Oscar Collazo vs. Joey Canoy Boxing Title Bout Live Online
In a title bout for the championship, Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo takes on Filipino boxer Joey Canoy in a 12-round match. What’s on the line? Collazo’s WBA and WBO strawweight title belts. At the end of the contest, one of these fighters will have the title — or it will end with a draw. On […]
Jennifer Aniston Posts Heartfelt Tribute to ‘Friends’ Director James Burrows: ‘He Was a Father Figure to Me’
Jennifer Aniston posted a heartfelt tribute to her longtime “Friends” director James Burrows, who died on Friday at 85 years old. “Papa Burrows. The hardest thing about writing this is that you spent a lifetime making people feel loved, and now it feels impossible to put all of that love into a few paragraphs,” Aniston
FIFA Can’t Beat Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine Challenging Literal Nazis to Soccer in 1981’s ‘Victory’
Revisiting John Huston's bizarre POW sports drama during the 2026 World Cup.
‘Pluribus’ Star Rhea Seehorn on Why She Hasn’t Grilled Vince Gilligan and the Writers About Season 2 Just Yet
Think your fan conversations about Apple TV’s “Pluribus” are heated? Try being on the actual series set. “We have healthy, sometimes tongue-in-cheek debates about different questions that the show brings up, whether it’s your personal take on what you would do or what you think your character would do,” star Rhea Seeho
Justin Cary, Sixpence None the Richer Bassist, Dies at 50
Justin Cary, the longtime bassist of the alt-rock band Sixpence None the Richer, died on June 11 of a stroke. He was 50 years old. Cary’s death was confirmed via an Instagram post from the band’s lead singer, Leigh Nash. “Our brother of 30 years (and bassist), Justin had a stroke Thursday night,” she wrote. […]
How Do You Get the L.A. City Council to Care About Your $30K Short Film?
"Valley Daze" is an exercise in short filmmaking as a community project.
![‘Dutton Ranch’ Episode 7: [SPOILER] Gets Murdered, [SPOILER] Might Die and Everyone Else Is Either Drunk or in a Bar Brawl — Entertainment article illustration](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/RP_107_EM_1126_00116_RT.jpg)
‘Dutton Ranch’ Episode 7: [SPOILER] Gets Murdered, [SPOILER] Might Die and Everyone Else Is Either Drunk or in a Bar Brawl
SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers from the seventh episode of “Dutton Ranch,” “Den of Sin,” which is now streaming on Paramount+. Yee-haw! Welcome to another week of “Dutton Ranch,” where after last week’s festivities we’re all dressed up for a fancy party at the 10 Petal. Beulah (Annette Bening) has spared no
Dutton Ranch Episode 7 Finally Reveals Its 'Secret Villain' — And He's Not All That Villainous
We finally get a look at Dutton Ranch's purported 'secret villain' in its seventh episode, but he doesn't seem so bad. when he's younger, anyway.
Dutton Ranch Episode 7 Uses A Classic TV Format To Deliver Its Best And Worst Episode Yet
Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone spin-off, Dutton Ranch, just released a polarizing episode that utilizes a classic TV formula.
Writer David Sedaris says there's a radio drama that reminds him how lucky he is
On Wild Card, famous guests answer the kinds of questions we often think about but don't talk about. Writer David Sedaris talks about a radio drama that reminds him how lucky he is.
Algae clouded Trump's vision for the Reflecting Pool. But scientists aren't surprised
The shallow, sunny waters of the reflecting pool are an ideal incubator for algae growth in the summertime. Experts say the recent renovation may have helped accelerate it.
Uncomfortable Truths: “Set It Off,” “Girl 6,” and “Naked Acts” at 30
As Black cinema experienced a renaissance in the mid-'90s, three films made space for the Black female experience.
How My Love for Film Saved My Life
People underestimate the strength it takes to pull oneself out of the depths of darkness. In the Summer of 2022, I found myself suicidal due to the physical pain I was experiencing from injuries sustained in a car accident. In June of that year, most of the world had just reopened after years of lockdowns […]
Apple TV’s “Sugar” Reaches for the Stars in Grounded, Moving Second Season
A meaningful examination of loneliness in the modern age.
Listen to FKA twigs’ New Electro Song Featuring Lil Yachty
“it never ceases to amaze me how pain can manifest into the hardest and most euphoric sonics”
Fat Joe, Mary J. Blige, Wu-Tang Clan and More Rock New York Knicks’ Victory Parade With Tag-Team Performance
Nothing says love more than climbing atop a New York City Department of Sanitation garbage truck with your friend and waiting three hours for the New York Knicks to arrive. Well, maybe the only thing that tops it is climbing over steel barricades — in defiance of whatever barriers the NYPD set up — with […]
Jalen Brunson Ends Feud With Elmo at New York Knicks NBA Championship Parade
Elmo and Jalen Brunson are cool. The iconic “Sesame Street” character caught flak from Knicks fans earlier this month for posting a video on his official social media account saying, “Elmo hopes both teams have fun!” with four basketball emojis, referring to the NBA playoff series between the New York Knicks and San An
Paramount’s ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,’ Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Set for November 2027
Paramount’s “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,” starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and directed by Siân Heder, will hit theaters next November. Gabrielle Zevin’s best-selling novel tells the story of two friends whose lives first intersect in childhood and college, and follows them over several decades as they become creat
Watch ‘Shrinking’ Editor James Renfroe Break Down His Dramatic Floors and Comedic Ceilings
Renfroe explains that steering clear of either extreme allows him to deliver a sincere sitcom that can be both hilarious and heartbreaking.
Toy Story 5 Ending Explained: How The Toys Take On Tech - And Who Comes Out On Top
Toy Story 5 is much more than finger-wagging at technology. Let's take a look at the film's ending and what it does with the battle between toys and tech.
The Knicks Championship Parade: See the Photos
Hundreds of thousands, if not many more, fans flocked to Lower Manhattan earlier today for the first-ever championship parade for the New York Knicks. On hand were not only the 2026 Knicks and their families, but also the mayor, Zohran Mamdani, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and a slew of the team’s most high-profile celebrity fan
'Diaphanous' crowned the most beautiful English word
As part of a collaboration between the Poetry Society of America and Babbel, 1,500 poets and poetry lovers weighed in on the most beautiful word in the English language, crowning "diaphanous."
To Detroiters, Motown is more than just music
The story of Motown Records is a quintessentially American story about the American Dream, civil rights and entrepreneurship — but it has a special significance in Detroit, where it all started.
'Toy Story 5' surges into the digital age -- while also peering lovingly backward
In this delightful sequel, Jessie the cowgirl teams up with Buzz Lightyear and Woody to fend off the rise of digital devices, which are taking over the minds and attention spans of kids everywhere.
Sleep Return With Tour, Comic Book, and First New Song in Eight Years
The pioneering doom-metal band now includes Void’s Bubba Dupree on guitar and Melvins’ Dale Crover on drums
Craig Finn Announces The Man I’ve Always Been Tour
A North American run of full-band shows will cap off a jam-packed 2026 for the Hold Steady frontman
Radical Whimsy: Exploring the Creative Mind of Boots Riley
An ode to one of the most creative filmmakers working today.
Tom Holland Speaks Out on AI and Why Artists Are ‘Safe’: ‘Creativity Has to Do With the Human Experience’
Tom Holland is sharing his thoughts on the hot-button topic of AI, and he’s not shy about explaining why it “doesn’t have a soul.” “Creativity is safe from AI because creativity has to do with the human experience,” Holland said while appearing on Spain’s “El Hormiguero” talk show Wednesday alongside Zendaya. “It’s abo
Key and Peele’s Plan to Reboot ‘Police Academy’ Got Canceled After Michael Brown Killed in Ferguson, Says Ike Barinholtz
A 2010s reboot of “Police Academy” was canceled after a tragic real-life incident sparked a national debate about the police use of force. On the June 17 episode of the podcast “Funny You Ask with Ike Barinholtz,” the comedian told a story to guest Joel McHale about an awkward pitch meeting he had with his […]
Robert Thurman, Tibet House Co-Founder and Uma Thurman’s Father, Dead at 84
The academic scholar died Tuesday morning, June 16, in Woodstock, New York
Two Shell Announces New Album Infinite Now
The LP lands October 16
Spider-Man Faces Off Against The Hulk In Latest Brand New Day Trailer
It looks like Peter Parker's life will be more stressful than ever in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Watch the film's latest trailer, and see for yourself.
Daveigh Chase, The Ring Star And Disney Icon, Dead At 35
Daveigh Chase, a former child star who appeared in The Ring, Donnie Darko, and the original Lilo & Stitch, has died at 35.
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Saul Williams Recruits Robert Del Naja, Kamasi Washington for New Album Leap Life
Carlos Niño, Gonjasufi, and Moor Mother also appear on the project
Exclusive Trailer for Film Forum’s Laurel & Hardy Retrospective Celebrates Comedy Titans
Comedy icons Stan Laurel (1890-1965) and Oliver Hardy (1892-1957) will be getting a well-deserved retrospective in NYC this summer. “Laurel & Hardy,” a two-week festival featuring more than 50 comedy classics, will run at Film Forum from Friday, July 10, through Thursday, July 23. The retrospective marks the 100th anni
On a flight home, a stranger helped her understand what came next
Rebecca Simonitsch had just learned she might be a candidate for brain surgery. The man seated beside her on the flight home pulled out a notebook to explain what lay ahead.
‘Girls Like Girls’ Review: Hayley Kiyoko Gives Tumblr Lesbians a Dreamy Excuse to Kiss at the Movies
The 35-year-old queer singer-songwriter has finally turned her landmark music video into a feature.
‘Reclaim the Flag’ Director Alexis Bittar on Why Some People Were Too ‘Nervous’ to Be in Doc About LGBTQ Community’s Relationship to the American Flag
Alexis Bittar is reclaiming the American flag. So much so that the celebrity jewelry designer and filmmaker has one hanging outside the Brooklyn home he shares with his husband and their three kids. “I love it,” Bittar tells me. “I bought some Gay Pride flags, but I haven’t put them out yet. I like the […]
Remy Voice Actor Patton Oswalt Wants to Do ‘Ratatouille 2’ but It Can’t Be a ‘Money Grab’: A Lot of Sequels Are ‘Inorganic’
Pixar is back in theaters this month with “Toy Story 5,” and the legendary animation studio is already in development on more sequels such as “Incredibles 3,” “Monsters Inc. 3” and “Coco 2.” But one hit movie Pixar has yet to franchise is “Ratatouille,” Brad Bird’s 2007 Oscar winner about the rat Remy and his […]
How Did Rush Become the Hipster Band of 2026? A New Fan’s Appreciation of Their Triumphant Forum Comeback… Aided by a Substitute Drummer Who’s Giving a ‘Fifty Something’ Group a Fresh Spark
Step (or fly) aside, Geese. Circle back later, Turnstile. Take five and go flaccid, Viagra Boys. There can only be one rock band that is unquestionably and certifiably the cool kids’ choice in 2026, and whatever indie cred the rest of you kids may carry, this town ain’t big enough for both you and Rush. […]
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Squirrel Flower Announces New Album Say a Prayer to the Gods of Getting Going
Watch Ella Williams wander under a double rainbow in the video to lead single “Reelin”
Bradley Cooper Appeared In This Short-Lived Sci-Fi Show Based On His Own Box Office Hit
Bradley Cooper popped up in this (much less successful) small screen continuation of his own box office hit sci-fi movie.
This Paramount+ Sci-Fi Series Based On A Video Game Is The Best 2026 Animated Show You're Not Watching
You probably weren't even aware this hit video game turned animated sci-fi TV series is streaming on Paramount+, but it's a fun watch.
YHWH Nailgun Are Taking Magazine on Tour
Will all the shows be 11 minutes?
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Kelela Can’t Work it Out With A.K. Paul on New Single “Outta Time”
It was originally written for her 2017 album, Take Me Apart
Dreams in Nightmares Trailer: Shatara Michelle Ford’s Acclaimed Second Feature Arrives in August
After her impressive directorial debut Test Pattern, which was nominated for both Gotham and Independent Spirit Awards, Shatara Michelle Ford returned to the festival circuit in 2024 with Dreams in Nightmares. Now finally picked up by Lunette Films for a release beginning in NYC on August 21 and LA on August 28, the ne
'Spider-Noir' is the best TV superhero series since 'The Penguin'
A new Prime Video series imagines Spiderman as a gumshoe of the 1930s — but with superpowers. Spider-Noir represents one of the boldest performances of Nicolas Cage's entire risk-taking career.
'The Lost Founder' profiles a brilliant lawyer who helped craft the Constitution
Jesse Wegman's book tells the story of James Wilson, a largely forgotten founding father who lived a colorful life and died as a Supreme Court justice on the run from the law and creditors.