As another year comes to a close, take a look back at the year that was with our most-read posts of 2025.
Now 2025 is in its twilight, but as we’ve spent all of December reflecting on the year that was, it’s only fitting that we’re also reflecting on our own stories about it, too. Need a lot of things to read over the quiet New Year’s holiday? Here’s our most read and shared stories of the last 12 months—from all of us at io9, thank you for reading, and here’s to another year of posting to come!100) Here’s Where in the World ‘Bluey’ Will Be in 2025
So, you were a childless adult who got Bluey-pilled. Yes, somehow the endearing import series from Australia’s Ludo Studio about a family of Heeler dogs going on whimsical feel-good adventures has provided hours of some of television’s best made entertainment in this era of constant streaming releases. It’s so good, it’s rightfully become global obsession. So many (including myself) might have even been given very aspirational views on parenthood or caught wind of a slight Aussie accent on child in your life. Because Bluey has become such a household name at this point, thanks in part to its BBC and Disney distribution, everyone is wondering where Bluey is going after three stellar seasons. [Read more here]99) Get Your Coconuts Ready: ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ Is Returning to Theaters
For a certain type of fan, just the image at the top of this post has unlocked a barrage of quotes you suddenly feel powerless to keep from shouting into the universe: “It’s just a flesh wound!” “Help! Help! I’m being repressed!” “What… behind the rabbit?” “It’s only a model!” “NI!” We could be here all day, really. And what a great day it is, with the news that Monty Python and the Holy Grail is briefly returning to theaters to mark its 50th anniversary. [Read more here]98) ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Ended the Only Way It Could: With an Open Ending
The Handmaid’s Tale ended its run this week with an episode titled “The Handmaid’s Tale,” bringing June (Elisabeth Moss) full circle while also allowing Hulu to leave the door wide open for The Testaments, the upcoming series based on Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel to her 1985 novel. Emotional punctuation took priority over narrative closure, which felt like the best and only choice. [Read more here]97) The Creator of ‘Severance’ Just Explained a Key Logistical Question
When it comes to Severance, there are rarely simple answers. Everything is wrapped in mystery and intrigue. Which, admittedly, is kind of the best part about it. We love to explore and speculate about what’s going on at Lumon. And yet, getting an answer, even a small one, here and there is nice. Which is what the creator of the show, Dan Erickson, just did. [Read more here]96) ‘Mickey 17’ Is a Solid Sci-Fi Delight, Until Things Get a Little Too Real
When Mickey 17 is the movie you expect it to be, it’s great. Multiple Robert Pattinsons chewing super cool sci-fi scenery, often opposite a dynamite supporting cast. That makes up a significant portion of the movie, which is also heavy on interesting world-building and character-driven humor. Crazy stuff happens, then more crazy stuff happens, and it’s all pretty entertaining. But, over the course of the film, a story that starts as a subplot becomes increasingly important, and it creates a narrative and tonal imbalance that holds the film back from its full potential. [Read more here]95) ‘Fallout’ Revisits Its Most Controversial Change From the Games
Fallout is not a direct adaptation of the beloved games—neither the Black Isle/Interplay classics nor the revived Bethesda/Obsidian era of the series—which means that there’s plenty of space for it to carve out its own imagining of the franchise in its corner of the wasteland. That hasn’t stopped game fans, especially as the show begins to play more directly with plot beats from the games, from bristling when the show makes a departure from the source material, big or small. But in this week’s episode of the show’s second season, the series is already returning to its biggest and most controversial swing away from the games… and tying it all into another fascinating twist it’s dealing with this season. [Read more here]94) The Best Memes About Disney’s ‘Soarin’ Across America’ Announcement
There’s going to be a patriotic new Disney Parks overlay coming to Soarin’, the giant flight simulation attraction at Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort in 2026—and it’s already sparked a wave of memes. [Read more here]93) Lego Is Making an Official Godzilla Set
Lego’s Ideas program has been churning out delightful kits based on fan-submitted (and community-supported) designs for years now, to the point that the brick-maker has quite the hefty list of sets that have hit the necessary 10,000 community backers to eligible for review. Case in point? Today Lego announced the results of its review for the batch of sets to hit that threshold back at the end of last year: and the winners are a doozy. [Read more here]92) ‘KPop Demon Hunters 2’ is Looking More Likely
Since KPop Demon Hunters came out in June and took the world by storm, fans have been clamoring for more. Netflix sure would like to, given how well this one film’s performed, but it seems to be a question of whether the stars will align for it and Sony to make a sequel together. [Read more here]91) This ‘X-Files’ Episode Is Still One of the Scariest Office Horror Stories
Late in The X-Files‘ fifth season—just a few weeks before the first X-Files feature film hit theaters—viewers were plunged into the terrifying madness of “Folie à Deux.” A weary Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) trudges to Chicago to check out the latest “monster of the week,” but his head snaps back into the game when he realizes the monster in question just might be targeting him next. [Read more here]90) ‘The Institute’ Is a Solid Stephen King Adaptation
Stephen King is easily the most-adapted horror author; his books are so popular, many of the biggest ones have been adapted multiple times. Right now, there’s both a Carrie series and a feature take on The Stand in the works, and Edgar Wright’s The Running Man just dropped its first trailer. With the same titles seemingly caught in Hollywood’s revolving door, it can be tempting to forget King is still regularly publishing new stories. [Read more here]89) The New ‘Superman’ Trailer Is Packed With Super Spectacle
Oh, so that’s why the previous Superman trailers were all so similar. Tickets for the highly anticipated DC Studios film are now on sale and to celebrate, Warner Bros. has released its most revealing trailer to date. It’s filled with lots of evil Lex Luthor and even more wild visual effects shots, that showcase action, creations, and more. Presumably, these are all shots that were being finished in the previous months, but are now ready for your eyeballs. [Read more here]88) ‘Spaceballs 2’ Just Added the Perfect New Actor to the Cast
Fans have waited almost 40 years for news about Spaceballs 2—and then, in a single day, we got soaked in it like Pizza the Hut. First, news broke that the film was a go with Mel Brooks reprising his role as Yogurt. Then, Rick Moranis and Bill Pullman were announced to reprise their roles from the 1987 original. And now, finally, maybe the best news of all: plot details have been revealed along with a key piece of casting. Lewis Pullman, son of Bill Pullman, will play his father’s son in the film. [Read more here]87) ‘Sinners’ Star Wunmi Mosaku on the Scene That’s Got Everyone Buzzing
There’s been enough time since the release of Sinners that we just have to talk about the most glorious and impactful scene from Ryan Coogler’s vampire opus. The light that Sammie (Miles Caton) brings to the juke joint his twin cousins Smoke and Stack (both Michael B. Jordan) open to showcase the power of his music raises the spirits of not only everyone, there but also the energy of those who came before and who were to come after. [Read more here]86) Dungeons & Dragons‘ New Rulebook Era Is Saying Goodbye to a Cute Tradition
In the wake of Dungeons & Dragons‘ 50th anniversary last year, Wizards of the Coast prepped new versions of its core trio of rulebooks: the Players’ Handbook, the Dungeon Masters’ Guide, and the Monster Manual. While these releases aim to be, as Jeremy Crawford, D&D’s principle Rules Designer, said in 2024, “the best versions of these books that we could make,” there’s one little detail absent that some fans may find disappointing. [Read more here]85) ‘Daemons of the Shadow Realm’ Will Be a ‘FullMetal Alchemist’ Anime Reunion
The enduring legacy of Hiromu Arakawa’s FullMetal Alchemist can be partially owed to its pair of anime adaptations by animation studio Bones. Since then, both creator and company have moved on to other ventures—the latter has notably adapted the likes of My Hero Academia and the newly premiered Gachiakuta, among others. Now, 15 years after FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood concluded, Bones is back at adapting Arakawa’s work, namely her fantasy manga Daemons of the Shadow Realm. [Read more here]84) Reveals Why Yoda Talks Like That, George Lucas Does
There’ve been so many questions Star Wars fans have asked over the years. And sooner or later, one of them is: “Why does Yoda talk like that?” [Read more]83) Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Cast Chair Reveals, Ranked
Yesterday, Marvel Studios spent five-and-a-half long hours announcing the 27 cast members that will headline Avengers: Doomsday via the medium of folding directors chairs. It was a lot! It was occasionally funny. But now, we are here to rank the chairs—not the announcements, that would be silly. We’re ranking the chairs, from what they represented to the order they came in. [Read more here]82) ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Had to Plan Character Deaths Very Strategically
With just one episode to go in The Handmaid’s Tale, the creators, cast, and crew look back in a detailed new oral history that addresses some of the biggest questions viewers have asked about its story over the years. That includes: if Gilead is such a violent police state fond of swiftly executing any and all dissidents, how has Elisabeth Moss’ character, the rebellion-leading June Osborne, managed to survive for six seasons? [Read more here]81) Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ Trailer Jets Us Back to the Silver Age
After what’s felt like years of waiting—and a decade since, for better or worse, they last graced the silver screen—the Fantastic Four are back in action in our very first look at their MCU debut. And it’s one that’s whisking them to the stars and back. [Read more here]80) Michael Sheen Sounds Unconvinced That the ‘Good Omens’ Finale Special Will Be Released
It’s been a roller-coaster of emotions for Good Omens fans since that heartbreaking season two finale. News that the Prime Video adaptation would get a third and final season came in December 2023; the following year, production was reportedly paused amid the allegations against showrunner and source material co-author Neil Gaiman. Then, fans learned Gaiman was reportedly pulling back from Good Omens season three—followed by the announcement in October 2024 that season three was going to be a 90-minute special instead of a full slate of episodes. [Read more here]79) The First Trailer for ‘Star Trek: Khan’ Lifts the Lid on a Legend
Almost three years ago, Wrath of Khan director Nicholas Meyer shocked the Star Trek universe when he announced that he would be returning to one of Trek‘s most iconic villains in Star Trek: Khan, a scripted podcast revealing the secret life of Khan Noonien Singh. Now, we have our first look at the series—and know when to expect it. [Read more here]78) The First Look at the ‘He-Man’ Movie Has Big Muscles and a Big Sword
It took more than the power of Grayskull but a new, live-action Masters of the Universe movie is actually happening. That’s something fans have heard for years as various studios, stars, and directors have circled the popular toy brand—but today, a first-look image has been released from the film proving that it’s happening… and it’s exactly what you’re hoping for. [Read more here]77) ‘Black Mirror’ Season 7 Episodes, Ranked
Black Mirror is back, and it’s a strong season overall. All six episodes capture dystopia, despair, and tech terrors, along with—don’t blink!—the occasional flicker of joy. If you’re a fan of Charlie Brooker’s series, you should definitely watch the whole drop without skipping any. But if you’re curious, here’s how we think the entries line up, from least successful to most entertaining. [Read more here]76) George Lucas’ Scrapped ‘Star Wars’ Show Would’ve Cost BIllions of Dollars
In the world of Star Wars, one of the biggest “what ifs?” is Star Wars Underworld. That was the name given to a television show George Lucas and a team at Lucasfilm worked on for years before ultimately scrapping it. We’ve always heard that there were dozens of scripts written for the show, which would’ve been set on Coruscant, showing a whole new side of a galaxy far, far, away, but little is known beyond that. [Read more here]75) Jurassic World Rebirth’s Mutant Dinosaur Looks Totally Horrific
After the utter disaster that was Jurassic World: Locust Invasion, bringing the Jurassic franchise back to prominence was going to require summoning a big dose of inspiration. And, it seems, Jurassic World Rebirth may have done just that. The new trailer reveals that this summer’s seventh film takes place on the island where John Hammond and his team left all the dinosaurs that were too messed up and dangerous to go into the original park. Since we know we know what those less messed up and dangerous dinosaurs ended up doing, that’s a frightening concept. [Read more here]74) The 4 ‘Stranger Things’ Episodes the Duffers Suggest You Rewatch
It’s been a long, long wait, but the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is almost here. Stranger Things season five debuts on Wednesday evening with four episodes making up the first of three parts of the show’s big finale. And, if you’re like us, you’ve been preparing for months. We’ve been recapping all four seasons of Stranger Things, going back to July. But, if you haven’t been quite as on top of things, the Duffer Brothers are here to help. [Read more here]73) ‘Star Wars: Rebels’ Writer Thinks Making Sabine a Jedi Was a Mistake
Ahsoka‘s focus on the relationship between the titular ex-Jedi and her reluctant padawan Sabine was one of the most surprising, and yet paradoxically frustrating aspects of the series. On the one hand, it helped broaden Star Wars‘ vision of the Force, and who could wield it, pushing back on narrow-sighted Jedi doctrines of the prequel era to give us a Force-wielding character with more parallels to Luke’s journey with the Force across the original trilogy. On the other, for as much as some of those Jedi doctrines were pushed back on in making Sabine Force sensitive, at the end of the day, Ahsoka turned master and apprentice into pretty much the same kind of Jedi we already had, with the same kind of teaching methods and understandings—teaching methods we’ve spent the prequel era engaging with the failings of, and being told in the sequel era that they must be let go of to allow a new generation of Jedi, free from the Order’s dogma, to truly flourish. [Read more here]72) The New ‘Project Hail Mary’ Trailer Shows What the Movie Is Really About
The insanely epic first trailer for Project Hail Mary only showed part of the story. In the film, based on the novel by Andy Weir, a highly unqualified astronaut named Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up in deep space with amnesia, and slowly realizes it’s up to him to save the world. But that fish-out-of-water story is only half of it. [Read more here]71) ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Star Taylour Paige Wasn’t Happy With Her Character’s Big Choice
Since It: Welcome to Derry began, we knew that Will Hanlon (Blake Cameron James) was destined to become the father of Mike Hanlon, a member of the Losers Club in the main It story. The Hanlon family, including Will’s mother, Charlotte (Taylour Paige), and his father, Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), relocates to Maine thanks to Leroy’s new military assignment.
