Contributor: Emily Tsiao

Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.

Untamed

This murder mystery set in Yosemite National Park can feel a bit untamed itself, with unexpectedly dark themes and subject matter.

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Lilo & Stitch (2025)

Family, faithfulness and sacrifice are among the values embraced by this live-action Lilo & Stitch reboot.

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Materialists

Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal star in this R-rated romcom with surprisingly positive things to say about marriage … and a lot of harsh language.

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Dangerous Animals

This R-rated thriller about predators—the kind with fins and teeth as well as the human variety—has enough chum to churn even the steeliest of stomachs.

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foundation

Foundation

Apple TV+’s take on Isaac Asimov classic sci-fi series takes some unwanted liberties with the source material.

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On the Radar: Teens Self-Regulating Screentime, ‘Dame Un Grrr’ and ‘Glazing’

New Research Finds Teens Are Reducing Their Own Screentime to Improve Mental Health What? In a survey conducted by audience research company GWI, researchers found that “the number of 12- to 15-year-olds who take breaks from smartphones, computers and …

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On the Radar: Misleading Cannabis Packaging, ‘Looksmaxxing’ and ‘Pity Marketing’

Teens are confused by cannabis edibles branded as health foods. ‘Looksmaxxing’ promotes harmful masculinity stereotypes. And how should we teach our kids to respond to “pity marketing?”

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Superman II

Superman II has more suggestive and violent content than you might suspect in a PG-rated film, but it still has some good messages, too.

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Nautilus

While none of the elements within this reimagining of Jules Verne’s famous book are particularly gruesome, they can be intense.

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Jane Austen Wrecked My Life

I imagine there’s a number of women out there who might say, “Jane Austen wrecked my life.” Perhaps they wasted years pining for a Mansfield Park Edmund. Or maybe they were left brokenhearted after getting hoodwinked by a Sense and Sensibility Willough …

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On the Radar: ‘Your Love Is My Drug,’ Lorde’s Latest Album and Sexualized Firearm Ads on Teen Boys’ Social Media

Kesha’s ‘Your Love Is My Drug’ Trending on TikTok and Instagram What? In 2010, pop artist Kesha (then stylized as “Ke$ha”) released the track, “Your Love Is My Drug.” The song compares romantic love to drug addiction. The accompanying video has a ‘70s …

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The Bear

FX’s The Bear shows a restaurant business behind closed doors–filled with high-level dysfunction and piles of profanity.

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The Gilded Age

A Downton Abbey-like show migrates across the pond and introduces us to new characters, new money … and new content issues.

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we were liars

We Were Liars

Cadence Sinclair Eastman has lived a privileged life. Every summer, her grandparents, the illustrious Harris and Tipper Sinclair, host their three daughters’ families on a private island off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. Every year, Cadence and her c …

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On the Radar: Sleeping In, ‘My Pet Peeve’ and the TikTok Ban

Just two extra hours of weekend sleep reduces teen anxiety. The “My Pet Peeve” trend could help you understand your teen better. And the ban on TikTok has been delayed another 90 days.

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