The best films of 2025 are here, according to the directors who inspire us. Variety published essays today, January 2, 2026, from acclaimed filmmakers. Janicza Bravo, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Barry Jenkins are among those weighing in. They revealed the movies that moved them most.
Michael Mann championed James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash." He praised its originality and believability. Mann highlighted the detailed world-building. He noted the potent story of Jake and Neytiri's family seeking refuge.
The essays offer rare industry insights. They showcase the cultural impact of cinema. Audience appeal is a recurring theme. Expect discussion and debate to ignite online.
This "Directors on Directors" feature is a Variety tradition. It consistently delivers thought-provoking perspectives. It sparks conversations about the art of filmmaking.
Read the full essays now on Variety's website. Discover which films resonated with your favorite directors. Prepare for your 2026 watchlist to explode.
Multi-Source Journalism
This article synthesizes reporting from multiple credible news sources to provide comprehensive, balanced coverage.
Deep insights powered by AI
Continue exploring
Vox's Future Perfect team has released its annual predictions for 2026, focusing on significant global events and trends. The forecasts, presented with attached probabilities to reflect confidence levels, cover a range of critical issues, from the stability of US democracy to potential economic downturns and international conflicts.
A renewed focus on reducing meat consumption is crucial in 2026, despite recent declines in plant-based meat sales and a shift in public perception. The environmental impact of animal agriculture, coupled with health concerns and ethical considerations, necessitates a return to the aspirational goals of the 2010s, where reducing meat intake was seen as a positive step.
Bogotá is pioneering a radical caregiving initiative, "manzana del cuidado," recognizing and addressing women's unpaid labor through accessible services like childcare and skills training. This innovative approach, which reimagines urban spaces to support caregivers, is gaining global attention as a potential model for equitable social policy.
Since Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, now X, the platform has shifted to favor right-leaning perspectives, leading to a perceived conservative advantage in the culture war. However, this shift has also fostered internal divisions within the right, as disagreements and controversies arise from the prevalence of extreme viewpoints on the platform. Some conservatives are now expressing concern over the prominence of bigotry and conspiracy theories on X.
As AI capabilities advance, experts are considering extreme measures to control potentially dangerous rogue systems, including deploying counter-AI, targeted internet shutdowns, or even nuclear EMPs. However, these drastic options carry significant risks and highlight the urgent need for robust AI safety protocols and ethical guidelines to prevent such scenarios.
A new TLC docuseries, "The Cult of the Real Housewife," explores the controversial life of "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star Mary Cosby, focusing on her marriage and religious practices. The three-part series premiered January 1st and is available to watch on TLC, DirecTV (with a free trial), HBO Max, and Discovery+.
Prince's music experienced a massive surge in Spotify streams, particularly among Gen Z listeners, following the use of "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain" in the *Stranger Things* series finale. This highlights the power of AI-driven music placement in film and television to revitalize classic catalogs and introduce them to new audiences, demonstrating the potential for significant revenue generation and cultural impact.
Victoria Jones, daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, has passed away at age 34 in a San Francisco hotel, prompting an investigation into the cause of death. The incident highlights the intersection of celebrity and personal tragedy, raising questions about media ethics and privacy in the digital age, especially concerning the rapid dissemination of information.
Researchers have developed random heteropolymers (RHPs) that mimic enzyme functions by strategically arranging monomers to create protein-like microenvironments. This innovative approach, inspired by metalloprotein active sites, allows for catalysis of reactions under non-biological conditions, demonstrating a new path for designing robust, enzyme-like materials with potential applications in various fields.
Researchers have created a novel "chiral fermionic valve" that separates electrons based on their chirality using the quantum geometry of topological bands, achieving this without magnetic fields. This innovative device, made from single-crystal PdGa, spatially separates currents with opposite chiralities, demonstrating quantum interference and opening new possibilities for advanced electronic devices.
In 2026, expect to see the rise of efficient, small-scale AI models challenging current large language models, alongside advancements in gene editing therapies for rare diseases. A mission to collect samples from Phobos will also be a key event, while changes to US science policy under the Trump administration are expected to have a significant impact on the scientific landscape.
High-resolution images captured by the CHARA Array reveal that novae are complex, multi-stage stellar explosions, challenging previous assumptions of single, instantaneous blasts. These observations show colliding gas streams and delayed eruptions, producing shock waves that generate intense gamma rays and providing direct visual evidence supporting existing theories. This discovery redefines our understanding of novae as dynamic, evolving events with significant implications for astrophysics.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment