What Is Cinema?
Filmmaking has always been both an art and a science, but the tools available in service of both have never been so full of possibility. Today, there is seemingly no limit to what might unfurl from a director's imagination. In this opening series of articles and videos, Vanity Fair, in partnership with Rolex, sits down with directors at the height of their careers as they reflect on what it means to make films today—pushing the art form forward while honoring its legacy, craft and enduring spirit of humanity. —Mark Guiducci, Vanity Fair Global Editorial Director
Vanity Fair in Partnership with Rolex
Daniel Battsek Talks the Enduring Legacy of Cinema
Film at Lincoln Center and Rolex are together championing the field and highlighting the stars of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
WHAT IS CINEMA?
Joachim Trier Explains How the Idea of Homecoming Drives Sentimental Value
In the next installment of Vanity Fair’s What Is Cinema? series, Sentimental Value director Joachim Trier returns to the Oslo home at the center of his film.
Vanity Fair in Partnership with Rolex
Celebrating Cinema, One New York Film Festival At A Time
NYFF's artistic director Dennis Lim discusses new films, emerging voices and the festival’s evolving mission.
What Is Cinema?
Jon M. Chu Explains How Seeing the Original Wicked Informed His Films
In the next installment of Vanity Fair’s What Is Cinema? series, Wicked: For Good director Jon M. Chu returns to the San Francisco theatre where the Broadway musical had its world premiere.
VANITY FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROLEX
Meet Tomorrow’s Great Directors Today
How the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Rolex are supporting the next generation of filmmaking talent.
Season 2
What Is Cinema?Furiosa Can Teach Us How to Survive the Apocalypse—Just Ask George Miller
In Vanity Fair’s What Is Cinema? series, the Oscar-winning filmmaker breaks down his inspirations for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
VANITY FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROLEXInside The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures With Director and President Amy Homma
The Academy Museum’s director and president talks about celebrating all aspects of filmmaking, bringing new people to the silver screen, and the value of an enduring partnership with Rolex.
What Is Cinema?Richard Linklater Explains How He Turned True Crime Into Screwball Comedy
In the next installment of Vanity Fair’s What Is Cinema? series, director Richard Linklater breaks down his inspirations for Hit Man.
VANITY FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROLEXHow the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Looks Forward by Looking Back
Academy president Janet Yang talks about diversifying membership, inspiring initiatives, and the essential value of authentic partnerships.
What Is Cinema?Lee Isaac Chung’s Childhood Trauma Drew Him to Twisters
In the next installment of Vanity Fair’s What Is Cinema? series, director Lee Isaac Chung breaks down his inspirations for Twisters.
VANITY FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROLEXAgustina San Martín and Janicza Bravo Step Into Their Own, Together
The two filmmakers discuss building sustainable careers, encouraging each other, learning from the past, and what they can teach the next generation in the latest installment of What Is Cinema?, a series in partnership with Rolex.
a wonderful night for oscarEvery Academy Award for Best Actor: A Complete History of the Winners
Learn more about every best-actor Oscar winner over the last 95 years, from 1929 to today.
Season 1
What Is Cinema?Rian Johnson and the Daniels on the Film Rules They Love to Follow—And Break
In Vanity Fair’s series What Is Cinema?, the directors of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Everything Everywhere All at Once talk craft.
VANITY FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROLEXRolex Supports the Transmission of Knowledge to Future Generations of Filmmakers Through Its Mentoring Program
For more than half a century, Rolex has partnered with some of the world’s most talented artists and leading cultural institutions to celebrate excellence and contribute to perpetuating artistic heritage, creating a link between the past, present and future.
What Is Cinema?Sarah Polley and Ruben Östlund on Juggling Acting Ensembles and Pushing Their Audiences
In Vanity Fair’s series What Is Cinema?, the Oscar-nominated writer-directors behind Women Talking and Triangle of Sadness reveal their biggest challenges.
VANITY FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROLEXRolex and Cinema: A Long-Term Partnership in Excellence
While the relationship between Rolex and film dates back decades—see Rolex watches appearing on the wrists of actors in films such as Network, Apollo 13, The Usual Suspects, and many more—the pairing reached new heights in 2017.
What Is Cinema?Directors Gina Prince-Bythewood and Halle Berry on Their “Very Small Sisterhood”
To kick off Vanity Fair’s new series, What Is Cinema?, the directors of The Woman King and Bruised connect on the “had-to-do” stories they brought to the screen.
DREAM WEAVERChloé Zhao Talks Hamnet, Reviving Buffy, and Navigating Hollywood as a “Deeply Neurodivergent” Director
Nearly five years ago Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland broke ground and swept awards season. Now the director is ready to do it again with Hamnet, a devastating portrayal of love and loss, infused with Zhao’s own grief and hope.
37 HOURS IN HOLLYWOODHow James Cameron Convinced Leonardo DiCaprio to Make Titanic
And more stories from Cameron’s career, as captured in a definitive, hour-long Vanity Fair interview.
37 HOURS IN HOLLYWOODOn the Set of Star Wars: Starfighter, Shawn Levy’s Inner Child Is “Losing His Mind”
The Stranger Things producer and Deadpool & Wolverine director still can’t quite believe he got tapped to make a new Star Wars movie, starring Ryan Gosling.
What Is Cinema?How 4 Directors Found a Way to Go Home Again
New movies from Steven Spielberg, James Gray, Joanna Hogg, and Alejandro González Iñárritu ask tough questions about their own pasts—and remind us of cinema’s power as a medium for memories.- Little Gold Men
Richard Linklater Doesn’t Believe In Hit Men, but He Does Believe In Patience
“I’m not afraid to sit with something and just wait until the time is right,” the writer-director says of the yearslong process of making Hit Man and two of his upcoming projects.
OSCARS 2026
How the Woman Who Shot Sinners Could Make History at the Oscars
Autumn Durald Arkapaw could be the first woman ever to win a best-cinematography Oscar, though she’s trying not to focus on it: “I feel the pressure of that.”
postmortem
A Farewell to the Sundance Film Festival—and Park City
Our dispatch from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, including which films hit big, which films flopped, and why we’re not shedding many tears about the move to Boulder, Colorado.
OSCARS 2026
Sinners, Timothee Chalamet, and Emma Stone Just Set 2026 Oscar Nomination Records
There may be no new EGOT winners following the ceremony—but there are still plenty of records to potentially break.
GOLDEN GLOBES 2026
Wagner Moura Was Happy to Make History at the 2026 Golden Globes
On Sunday night, he became the first Brazilian to win the Globe for best actor in a drama film. “It’s very special receiving all this attention and recognition for something that’s very Brazilian,” he said in a conversation hours before his victory.
GOLDEN GLOBES 2026
Colman Domingo Didn’t Want to “Over-Stunt” at the 2026 Golden Globes
The two-time Oscar nominee wore a laid-back Valentino suit with a bit of Boucheron sparkle to present at the Golden Globes. Though he’s known for red-carpet flash, “I actually have a subtlety at times too,” he says.
GOLDEN GLOBES 2026
Hamnet Upsets at Golden Globes 2026, Becoming One Battle After Another’s Fiercest Oscars Competition
At the 83rd Golden Globes, Chloe Zhao’s heartwrenching drama took home best drama, while Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle pocketed four total awards.
Reunited
Glenn Close and Jeff Goldblum on Films, Friendship, and a Prank Involving “the Biggest Bras and Panties That You Could Buy”
The stars of Wake Up Dead Man and Wicked: For Good reminisce about dance parties, The Big Chill’s lost epilogue, and the joy of gazing into Josh O’Connor’s eyes.
year in review
Timothée, Doechii, and More of the 33 Best Performances of 2025
Featuring Oscar contenders, Emmy winners, divas, divos, and one inanimate object.
Awards Season
From Wicked to Sydney Sweeney, These Are the Biggest Snubs and Surprises From the Golden Globes Nominations 2026
Globes voters showed their love for international films like never before, but still had space for Julia Roberts and Emily Blunt—while Wicked: For Good had a notable miss.
best of 2025
The 11 Best Movies of 2025
The very best movies of 2025, as chosen by Vanity Fair’s staff, feature Leonardo DiCaprio in a bathrobe, Timothée Chalamet giving his all, and not one, but two Michael B. Jordans.
Movies
Michael B. Jordan Can Count Tom Cruise as a Fan: “I Admire Your Talent”
Jordan was center stage at Thursday’s American Cinematheque Awards, where he was fêted by heavy hitters like Ben Affleck, Tessa Thompson, and, of course, Ryan Coogler.
awards season
Tom Cruise Is Finally an Oscar Winner at 2025 Governors Awards
“Making films is not what I do—it’s who I am,” the star said at the ceremony, which also honored Debbie Allen, Dolly Parton, and production designer Wynn Thomas with honorary Oscars.
exclusive
Timothée Chalamet and Adam Sandler Unite for Vanity Fair Scene Selection Live
The actors took an adoring audience through their filmographies—and even played a round of two-on-two basketball—at Los Angeles’s Fairfax High School.
Digital Destiny
Bryn Mooser Insists He Has the Answers to Hollywood’s AI Woes. Will Anyone Believe Him?
Mooser has Oscar cred and Bad Bunny on his side—and he’s pretty sure his company, Asteria, can both revolutionize filmmaking and convert naysayers.
Q&A
War Photographer Lynsey Addario on the Risks of War Journalism: “There Are People Who Don’t Want the Truth to Come Out”
The Pulitzer Prize–winning conflict photographer’s work and personal life are chronicled in the new documentary Love+War.
history repeating
Ken Burns Knows Who Won the American Revolution: “Ne’er-Do-Wells, Felons, and Immigrants”
“I vowed after The Civil War not to do any more war films,” says the master documentarian. “It hurt too much.” Lucky for us, he couldn’t keep his promise—paving the way for The American Revolution, premiering this month on PBS.
The Race
One Battle After Another Just Set a Gotham Awards Nomination Record
Paul Thomas Anderson’s film picked up six nods as the committee expanded its best-feature group from 5 to 10 total nominees.
heartbreak feels good in a place like this
Can Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You Help Save Movie Theaters?
Probably not—but the film’s blatant promotion of AMC Theatres does suggest a new method for beckoning people back to the cineplex.
Tick, Tick, Boom
Kathryn Bigelow’s Gripping Netflix Thriller Hits Because It’s So Realistic
If a nuclear missile hurtled toward the US, it would look a lot like A House of Dynamite—as screenwriter Noah Oppenheim and consultant Lieutenant General Daniel L. Karbler explain.
angels and demons
Drugs, Divorce, and Directors Jail: Martin Scorsese Unpacks His Darkest Chapters in New Documentary
From a near-fatal overdose to angry outbursts with ex-wife Isabella Rossellini, Rebecca Miller’s Mr. Scorsese doesn’t shy away from the personal struggles that fueled the filmmaker’s work.
SCENE REPORT
Tilda Swinton, Edward Enninful, and More Celebrate Film at the BFI and Chanel Filmmaker Awards
On Thursday, film met fashion at the annual event, where Imogen Poots, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Lily Allen were among the guests.
Movies
After the Hunt Is Not a #MeToo Movie, Says Luca Guadagnino—but It Is Political
For filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, the film’s ending captures this exact moment in time: “Look at where we are—look at who went to power again.”
True Story
How the Real-Life Roofman Charmed a Small-Town Churchgoer: “He Was Just So Polite”
Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in a new film about an escaped convict who found love while hiding in a Toys “R” Us. The true story is just as unbelievable.
In Conversation
For Rebecca Ferguson, A House of Dynamite Has Nothing on the Sorry State of the Real World
“It’s fucking horrific. I get so angry about what is happening,” says the actor, who follows Kathryn Bigelow’s gripping nuclear strike thriller with another turn as Dune standout Lady Jessica.
THE BUSINESS OF SHOW
Taylor Swift’s Mini-Movie The Life of a Showgirl Experiment Paid Off
Swift’s three-day theatrical event to celebrate the release of her new album keeps the door open for future experimentation.
NY FILM FESTIVAL
It Was All Martin Scorsese Everything Weekend at the New York Film Festival
After a full screening of Rebecca Miller’s new extra-length documentary about the legendary director came a laudatory panel—and then a celebratory dinner hosted by Rolex.
Streaming Guide
The 20 Best Movies on Amazon Prime to Watch Now (October 2025)
Whether you’re in the mood for a classic drama or an antic comedy, see our list of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video.
a boy’s best friend is his mother
Beyond Monster: 6 Grisly Films Inspired by Serial Killer Ed Gein
As Ryan Murphy brings a new series about the murderer to Netflix, here’s a guide to movies that fictionalized his story—from Psycho to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
streaming guide
The 20 Best Movies on Hulu to Watch Right Now (October 2025)
The best movies on Hulu are a cornucopia of classics, comedies, dramas, and more.
Exclusive
Love+War Trailer Turns the Lens on Fearless War Photographer Lynsey Addario
From Oscar-winning directors Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, a powerful new documentary follows Addario as she captures deadly war zones.
ABIDING
Leonardo DiCaprio Is Now In His “The Dude” Era
Here’s what Leo can learn from Jeff Bridges’s iconic stoner.
In Conversation
Sean Penn Is Ready to Fight in One Battle After Another: “God Knows I’ve Not Been Shy”
The two-time Oscar winner on playing a ruthless white supremacist in Paul Thomas Anderson’s new movie, the killing of Charlie Kirk, and the directorial project he’s brewing up with Tom Hardy.
FASHION
Directors Spike Jonze and Halina Reijn On Creating Gucci's Film, The Tiger
Presented on the first day of Milan Fashion Week, the film tells of the matriarch of a family celebrating her birthday, among children and distinguished guests. But things do not go as hoped...
VANITIES
Odessa Young Has a Hungry Heart, and a Starring Role in the Springsteen Biopic
The seminomadic Springsteen obsessive is living her dream: starring opposite Jeremy Allen White in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.
TIFF 2025
Hamnet Wins People's Choice Award at The Toronto International Film Festival
Chloe Zhao’s moving adaptation starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal is now an Oscar best picture frontrunner.
TIFF 2025
Broadway Star Corey Hawkins Finds New Depth in The Man in My Basement
Nadia Latif’s debut feature film stars Hawkins as a rudderless man who is given a disturbing offer from a stranger, played by Willem Dafoe.
TIFF 2025
Ethan Hawke Waited His Whole Life to Make Blue Moon
“The guy who was in Reality Bites was not ready to do this movie,” says Hawke of his ninth film with his longtime collaborator Richard Linklater.
Toronto Film Festival
Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst on Falling in Love and the One that Got Away
At the Toronto International Film Festival, the Roofman stars spoke about their onscreen chemistry, and Tatum revealed the Guillermo del Toro project he wishes he’d said yes to.
Exclusive
Sydney Sweeney Gave Everything to Christy: “We Are Actually Punching Each Other”
And before you ask, the Euphoria star doesn’t want to talk about American Eagle at the Toronto International Film Festival: “I am there to support my movie and the people involved in making it, and I’m not there to talk about jeans.”
Toronto Film Festival
First Joel Edgerton and Clint Bentley Became Fathers. Then They Made Train Dreams
The actor and writer-director explain how they couldn’t have made their gorgeous adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella without tapping into their own vulnerabilities.
Telluride Film Festival
Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong on How Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau Let Them In
In Deliver Me From Nowhere, they play the music icon and his longtime manager, revealing a steadfast bond that has lasted for decades.
Exclusive
Rose Byrne’s New Movie “Wrecked” Her—and Redefined Her Career
A24’s visceral If I Had Legs I’d Kick You asked everything of Byrne and then some. Even her costar Conan O’Brien was amazed: “I don’t understand how a person can do that.”
Exclusive
Luca Guadagnino Wants to Make You Feel Uncomfortable With After the Hunt
The bold director speaks exclusively about his latest, starring Julia Roberts as a Yale professor whose student accuses her colleague of assault.
Exclusive
Amanda Seyfried Sings—and Screams—in The Testament of Ann Lee
The star pushed herself like never before for Mona Fastvold’s innovative, epic portrait of the Shakers’ founding leader: “I was like, ‘So, basically, we can do whatever the fuck we want.’”
Exclusive
How Dwayne Johnson Transformed Into The Smashing Machine: “I Found It So Scary”
The star took on the most intense, challenging role of his career in Benny Safdie’s new film. He speaks for the first time about how he pulled it off: “I realized that maybe these opportunities weren’t coming my way because I was too scared to explore this stuff.”
Exclusive
In Hamnet, Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal Spin a Shakespearean Fairy Tale
Chloé Zhao’s new film imagines the devastating love story between William and Agnes Shakespeare. She speaks for the first time about making the movie—and how directing Marvel’s Eternals prepared her for it.
Exclusive First Look
Tessa Thompson and Nia DaCosta Introduce Hedda Gabler Like You’ve Never Seen Her Before
Hedda, their take on the Ibsen classic, features a lesbian love triangle and a protagonist who “wants people’s animals to come out.”
Film
How Zoey Deutch Became Nouvelle Vague’s Jean Seberg
Director Richard Linklater’s latest film is based on the making of another movie, the French New Wave standard-bearer Breathless. In order to play its female lead, the actor had to confront Seberg’s experience in the business—and her own.
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Denzel 2 Spike
Denzel Washington and Spike Lee on Streaming, Retirement, and Their Decades-Long Bond
“I’m going to hear it from him if I’m not bringing it,” Lee tells Vanity Fair. “I don’t want my brother to get my ass slapped. Can’t do that. There’s a standard we have.”
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Exclusive
Blue Film Is a Genuinely Shocking Queer Drama. Will Audiences Accept It?
The movie was rejected by major film festivals before finally securing a premiere in Edinburgh this week. “Let’s hope I won’t be blacklisted,” its star tells Vanity Fair. “I might not work for a little bit.”