What’s New in Pop Culture: February 10-16, 2025
Releases this week in TV, Music, Movies & Games
New This Week: The White Lotus returns to HBO/MAX; Captain America: Brave New World smashes Red Hulk into theaters; Tomb Raider IV-V-VI Remastered brings back Lara Croft.
TELEVISION
Monday 2/10: Extracted (Fox 8pm; Reality, Survival)
In this new reality competition, ordinary people are stranded in the wilderness, with no resources, while their loved ones watch livestreams and make the determination on whether or not to pull them from the extreme conditions. Think The Hunger Games, but with less murder. We hope.
Friday 2/14: Yellowjackets (Paramount+ w/Showtime; Drama, Horror)
The time-jumping horror drama returns for Season 3, with two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank and Joel McHale joining the cast. Note that the series will drop two episodes Friday exclusively on Paramount+ with the Showtime add-on, and they will air on Showtime itself on Sunday.
Friday 2/14: Love Is Blind (Netflix; Reality, Dating)
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with one of the messiest dating shows on television, as Season 8 brings the pods and the drama to Minneapolis, MN, as a whole slew of single people attempt to find love without ever seeing one another. Who will be the Messica of Season 8?
Sunday 2/16: Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special (NBC 8pm; Comedy)
Look back at a half-century of comedy with this three-hour dive into the history of the legendary sketch show, with appearances by alumni and former hosts including Tom Hanks, Pedro Pascal, Robert DeNiro, Miley Cyrus, Bad Bunny, and others. A concert featuring legendary musical guests will air Friday 2/14 8pm.
Sunday 2/16: The White Lotus (HBO/Max 9pm; Drama, Comedy)
Mike White’s Emmy-winning dramedy that savages the mega-wealthy returns for Season 3, this one set in the Lotus’ Thailand location. Returning from Season 1 is Natasha Rothwell’s spa manager, Belinda; she’ll be joined by new cast members Parker Posey, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Michelle Monaghan, and Jason Isaacs.
MUSIC
Friday 2/14: Alessia Cara Love & Hyperbole (Pop/R&B)
Friday 2/14: Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR $ome $exy $ongs 4 U (Rap/Hip-Hop)
Friday 2/14: Horsegirl Phonetics On & On (Indie Rock)
Friday 2/14: Saint Motel Saint Motel & the Symphony in the Sky (Pop/Rock)
Friday 2/14: The Wombats Oh! The Ocean! (Pop/Rock)
MOVIES
Tuesday 2/11: The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (Netflix; Animated, Fantasy)
While the live-action Witcher series prepares to pivot to a post-Henry Cavill existence, Netflix is filling the gap with animated films, including this tale of Geralt of Rivia trying to stop a war between land and sea.
Thursday 2/13: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock; Comedy)
Renee Zellweger returns for the fourth (FOURTH!) Bridget Jones film, this time playing a widowed mother being wooed by a much younger man (Leo Woodall, seemingly everywhere right now). Also featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Isla Fisher, and other British people.
Friday 2/14: Captain America: Brave New World (Wide; Super Hero, Action)
The fourth Captain America film will star Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, formerly the Falcon, who picked up the shield in the Disney+ series The Falcon & The Winter Soldier. Harrison Ford stars as President Thunderbolt Ross, pushing Cap to start a new Avengers, who has also turned into the thing he hates the most: a Hulk.
Friday 2/14: Paddington in Peru (Wide; Family, Comedy)
The third edition in the live-action Paddington Bear series finally comes to America, as Paddington tries to track down his missing aunt in the mountains of Peru. With Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, and others.
Friday 2/14: The Gorge (Apple TV+; Thriller, Romance)
Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller (are we still trying to make this one happen?) star as military operatives assigned to guard opposite sides of a gorge that may be a literal gateway to Hell. Directed by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange) and also featuring Sigourney Weaver.
GAMES
Tuesday 2/11: Civilization VII (iOS, PC, PS5, Steam, Switch, Xbox X|S; Strategy)
The long-running world-building game returns, with expanded options for nation “leaders,” and a broader definition of victory conditions.
Friday 2/14: Tomb Raider IV-V-VI Remastered (PS5, Steam, Switch, Xbox S|X; Action, Puzzle)
Lara Croft’s Darkness Trilogy gets the remastered treatment, with revamped models (you can still play with the original polygons if you want).