Culture
Ancient Rome on screen
What does “Gladiator II” get wrong?
Its artistic errors are even worse than its historical ones
You burn something new every day
“Energy transition” has been profoundly misunderstood
At COP29 there will be plenty of discussion about it. But the idea is more complex than many believe
Not the same old stories
The best films of 2024, as chosen by The Economist
They feature nuns and cardinals, robots and strippers
The other Iran hostage crisis
The six-day siege that put terror on television
A dramatic rescue attempt ended it and shot Britain’s SAS to fame
Earth father
Can a biography capture the complexity of a long life?
James Lovelock, an important scientist, is a fascinating and fulfilling subject
Nation chief
Fiction captures the forces that led to Brexit
Alan Hollinghurst, a Booker-prizewinning novelist, returns with a new, evocative yarn
The riled west
Montanans are ready for “Yellowstone” to end
The hit series brought Montana to the masses—and the masses to Montana
Sisterly abuse
Exposing the horrors of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries
Books, films and TV shows reckon with church-run homes for “fallen women”
Crowning achievements
The Economist’s selection of the best TV of 2024
The small screen claims some riveting shows this year, both new and returning
The Economist watches
The best film and TV featuring fictional American elections
Escape from the real-life drama of November 5th by watching these titles
Electioneering
How podcasts came to rule America’s campaign conversation
Cosy chats have replaced hard-hitting interviews
