Little Gold Men by Vanity Fair

The Little Gold Men inbox is overflowing! This week, Vanity Fair Staff Writer Chris Murphy joins Rebecca and John to answer your questions about The Odyssey's Oscar prospects, the ins and outs of awards campaigning, and Tom Holland's future beyond Spider-Man. Plus, the group shares their predictions for next year’s Sundance lineup.

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The films generating the most buzz right now aren’t big-budget blockbusters – they’re documentaries. To understand why, Rebecca, John, and VF Features Editor Hillary Busis discuss three provocative new docs: NAZA, an investigation into Israel's war in Gaza; Alex Gibney's four-hour Elon Musk exposé; and Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's mind-bending Elizabeth Holmes documentary, You Can See Everything. They also reflect on how the nonfiction film business has changed and whether the Academy will embrace this year's most talked-about docs.

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It’s been a whirlwind week in Hollywood, from the Emmys’ move to streaming and major premieres at the New York Film Festival to the newly official Warner Bros.–Paramount merger. Rebecca and John break down what it all means before turning to Digger, Tom Cruise’s first non-action movie in 15 years. VF Features Editor Hillary Busis joins them to unpack Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s critically savaged, box-office-challenged new film and debate whether Cruise’s performance is still strong enough to keep him in the Oscar race.

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Sixteen years after The Social Network introduced moviegoers to the dark side of Facebook’s founding, Aaron Sorkin is taking on the company again—this time as both writer and director—with The Social Reckoning. The film follows whistleblower Frances Haugen (played by Mikey Madison) as she exposes what Facebook knew about its own role in the spread of misinformation and political polarization. Rebecca and John discuss Jeremy Strong’s uncanny transformation into Mark Zuckerberg, debate whether the new film can escape the very long shadow of its predecessor, and ask what makes The Social Network hold up so well. Plus, they share their picks for the October movies you won’t want to miss.

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The fall film festivals are officially behind us, which means it’s time to start making some Oscar predictions we may or may not regret. Vanity Fair Features Editor Hillary Busis joins Rebecca and John to recap the biggest takeaways from TIFF, including La Bola Negra’s big win and whether I Play Rocky can actually go the distance. Then, the group compares their Best Picture prediction lists, revealing plenty of overlap and a few surprising disagreements.

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The 2026 Emmys happened Monday night, so Little Gold Men is coming to you early this week to break down the biggest wins, losses, and surprises of the evening. Rebecca, Hillary, and Vanity Fair executive editor Maggie Coughlan dig into Widow’s Bay’s massive sweep, celebrate Rhea Seehorn’s long-awaited Emmy win, and consider what this year’s results tell us about the Television Academy’s evolving tastes. They also weigh in on the best (and most baffling) looks of the night.

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Rebecca and John are back from the Colorado mountains and Chris Murphy is fresh off the Lido, so it’s time to take stock of the first two major stops in fall festival season. The group discusses the films that soared, the docs that shocked, and the performances that could be headed all the way to the Oscars. Plus, Rebecca reveals just how far she went to uncover Telluride’s top-secret screening.

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The Emmys are almost here, which means it’s time to put our predictions – and our reputations – on the line. Vanity Fair features editor Hillary Busis joins Rebecca and John to break down the toughest races of the night, from the crowded comedy categories to a showdown in Lead Actress in a Drama. Then, the group makes the case for the long-shot contenders they’d most like to see take home a trophy.

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A bonus episode from our friends at WIRED's Uncanny Valley.

The hit HBO Max comedy series Hacks follows the tumultuous relationship between a young comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) and legacy comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). The show has also had a lot to say about the business of show business. Creators Paul W.  Downs and Lucia Aniello join Katie to talk about writing the series, corporate censorship, and why they find AI “deeply disturbing.”

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This week, Rebecca and John discuss the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the film adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone and the long, complicated history of authors clashing with Hollywood over adaptations of their books. Then, Rebecca catches up with Wonder Man star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II about the surprise cancellation of the series after its first season. They also discuss Abdul-Mateen’s theater background and evolving relationship to watching his own work.

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