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The Ultimate 2025 Entertainment Guide

September 2025

Dive into the VIE Team’s Picks for Movies, TV, Podcasts, and Music

By Katie Ogletree

Warning: This guide may cause a sudden urge to cancel all plans and responsibilities and fall down the entertainment rabbit hole.

WWelcome to VIE’s roundup of our favorite must-watches and listens of 2025 so far. This guide is your roadmap through what’s worth watching, listening to, and experiencing right now. We’ve got your blockbuster films, binge-worthy TV series, chart-topping albums, and mic-dropping podcasts. Whether you’re a casual fan looking for your next obsession or a pop culture devotee determined to stay in the know, this guide will keep you in the loop—or, at the very least, entertain you with some of our top picks!

Movies

Freakier Friday

’Round and ’round, here we go again! Twenty-two years after the Disney hit Freaky Friday remake, we are still arguing with our kids, body swapping, and singing along with Pink Slip. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are as funny as ever while adding some new faces into the mix. Lindsay has been in some fun projects since coming back to film, but something about this sequel has people wanting more from her, thanks to the epic nostalgia. Now that we’re mentioning it, we would love another Herbie movie, Parent Trap, and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Call it a comeback, call it a glow-up—either way, Lindsay’s ready to remind everyone why she was (and still is) the moment!

Sinners

Let’s take a step back in time to 1932 in the Mississippi Delta. The humidity is thick, blues music plays in the background, and suddenly someone knocks on your door asking to be invited into your nightclub. You can guess where the story goes from there. Michael B. Jordan gives a standout performance—playing twins, mind you—that will have you glued to the screen, even if you’re peeking through your fingers.

Superman

The film marks the official launch of Chapter One in the new DC Universe, with James Gunn and Peter Safran in the driver’s seat. Like Supermen before, the story follows mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent moonlighting as the most powerful man in the world, battling with malicious billionaire Lex Luthor, and falling for Lois Lane. Although we see the same characters we know and love—plus many DC cameos and additions you probably haven’t seen on screen yet—there’s something fresh about this take as it skips origin story and flies straight into Superman’s everyday struggle with dual identities, purpose, family, and standing up for what’s right.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Among the reboots and reimaginings of the summer, Disney and Marvel Studios added the much-anticipated The Fantastic Four franchise to the list. Marvel’s First Family stars in the MCU’s first film as part of Phase Six. Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing are already established heroes in this 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic storyline when they must protect their world from a new cosmic threat. Although it’s new, audiences can still feel the nostalgic tone of the beloved comics and past films while visually enjoying the fresh take.

Another Simple Favor

Five years after the dramatic events of the original film, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively return as frenemies in another whirlwind of murder and betrayal—but this time they toss in a trip to Italy and some identity swapping. Just when you thought you had things all figured out, the filmmakers leave the stage with another cliffhanger primed for a possible third installment.

Mickey 17

I’m sure you’d know that face anywhere—and not just because it’s in this movie many times in many different iterations. Robert Pattinson stars as Mickey Barnes in a darkly comic sci-fi film. Mickey is a colonist on a mission to an ice planet in the year 2054. The problem is, he keeps dying. Each time, he is then “reprinted” as a clone with some slight personality shifts. Maybe seventeenth time’s the charm?

The Life of Chuck

Adapted from Stephen King’s 2020 novella If It Bleeds, The Life of Chuck is told in reverse chronological order, depicting three pivotal chapters from Chuck Krantz’s life, all the way back to his childhood. Starring Tom Hiddleston, the film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People’s Choice Award. While there are mysterious elements, it doesn’t fit under the traditional King adaptation—think less horror, more heartfelt.

And don’t miss these:

Materialists

One of Them Days

The Phoenician Scheme

Happy Gilmore 2

My Mom Jayne

How to Train Your Dragon

The Electric State

Deep Cover

K-Pop Demon Hunters

TV Series

VIE Entertainment Guide - The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty, Season 3

Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? Or maybe Team Belly Just Leave These Brothers Alone? Just teasing. Season 3 is the final installment of the adaptation of Jenny Han’s YA novels and brings an emotional conclusion to Isabelle “Belly” Conklin’s journey. Please don’t spoil it, book readers! We dive straight into Belly’s final year of college while she juggles her complex relationships with the Fisher boys. As she commits to life with Jere, her unresolved feelings for Connie resurface, and she faces a whirlwind of emotions and difficult decisions. Even though we are just halfway through the season, the tension is rapidly building—along with the number of Taylor Swift songs on the soundtrack—and you can tell something big is on the horizon.

And Just Like That, Season 3

And just like that . . . that is it. The final chapter of the series post-Sex and the City era has come to an end. While we enjoyed following Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and friends, it was clear from the start that you can’t always re-create lightning in a bottle like the original. News of an extension of the beloved TV and film series had people feeling nostalgic, but let’s be serious, how were we going to fully enjoy it without our Samantha? This season emphasized renewal and new beginnings—new apartments, new creative paths, and ever-changing dynamics. If Sex and the City was about ambition, romance, and possibility in your thirties, And Just Like That is about navigating reinvention, self-acceptance, and life’s curveballs in your fifties. It’s not the same show—and that’s both its strength and its challenge. Fans looking for a time capsule of the past might be frustrated, but those open to seeing the ladies in a new life stage may find it refreshingly honest. From the original show to the current, at its core, SATC was never about fashion, dating, or even New York (though at times it was the fifth main character)—it’s about friendship as a lifeline. It’s a reminder that even as we change, the people who love us through every version are the ones who make the journey worth it.

The White Lotus, Season 3

Mike White’s third installment of The White Lotus brings a new group of guests to a luxury wellness resort in Thailand. The narrative unfolds over one transformative week, where we meet three best friends, a wealthy family (spoiler*—soon to be broke), the resort staff, a mother and son, and a couple who keep us on our toes. Although it stands alone and you don’t need to see the other seasons to enjoy this one, we highly recommend doing so, as some characters, storylines, and themes cross over.

Running Point

This sports comedy starring Kate Hudson—and putting Brenda Song back on our screens—takes us into the world of NBA basketball from the point of view of the owners and families running things behind the scenes. Kate Hudson’s character has been named the new team president of the Los Angeles Waves and must prove to her three brothers and the world that she can not only handle the male-driven, high-pressure environment, she can change the game.

The Valley, Season 2

We’re all fans of Vanderpump Rules, although some may not admit that out loud. The Bravo spinoff shows some familiar faces, including Kristen Doute, Jax Taylor, and Brittany Cartwright, along with their friends. It follows their transitions into suburban lives while navigating the relentless drama of divorces, relationships, engagements, rehab, pregnancies, children, accusations, and more. We had to throw some reality TV in this list somewhere!

Dept. Q

Crime serials or some law and order are always in style. Add in a cold case factor, and this new Netflix series hits the jackpot. The British crime thriller follows a brilliant detective (Matthew Goode) who’s reassigned to lead a new cold-case unit in Scotland, Department Q, after a devastating shooting leaves his partner paralyzed and another officer dead. The feel of the show is gritty, gothic, and moody—perfect for transitioning to the fall.

And don’t miss these:

Wednesday, Season 2

- The Hunting Wives

The Bear, Season 4

The Last of Us, Season 2

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Jersey Shore: Family Reunion

Podcasts

Podcasts. Sometimes it seems like everyone’s got one. They’ve become more than just background noise—they’re a cultural staple. They’ve reshaped how we share stories, debate ideas, and even announce new albums—wink wink. In a world where our attention spans can be so scattered, podcasts invite people to slow down and listen, or at least help in multitasking. But if you’re not a devoted listener yet, where should you start? Here are some of our favorites and their hosts:

The Toast – Jackie & Claudia Oshry
Chicks in the Office – Maria & Fran
New Heights – Jason & Travis Kelce
Emergency Intercom – Enya Umanzor & Drew Phillips
Call Her Daddy – Alex Cooper
The Mel Robbins Podcast – Mel Robbins
The Economics of Everyday Things – Zachary Crockett
Financial Audit – Caleb Hammer
The Psychology of your 20s – Jemma Sbeg
The Joe Budden Podcast – Joe Budden
VIE Speaks: Conversations with Heart & Soul – Lisa Marie Burwell
VIE Book Club – Jordan Staggs

Music

Musical albums are more than just collections of songs—they’re curated experiences. They mark eras, spark conversations, and give fans a deeper connection to the artist’s creative vision. In this streaming world where singles usually dominate, albums still offer something timeless. Here are some of our favorites from 2025 so far: