Category: Limelight

Celebrity breakups, rich people problems, and actors pretending they’re just like us. If it sparkles or self-destructs in public, it’s probably here.

From Killer Snowmen to Grumpy Cat, These Are the Worst Holiday Movies Ranked

If you need a little schadenfreude to go with your holiday cheer, buckle up.

“Paste“ magazine has officially crowned the worst Christmas movies ever made, and it is a spectacular parade of cinematic coal. If you love bad movies, cult classics, or anything involving killer snowmen, this is basically your Super Bowl.

This rundown has everything from campy horror to sequels literally no one asked for. At the top of the list is the beautifully awful “Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2”, the 1987 gem best known for the line “Garbage day!” If you’ve somehow never witnessed that scene, treat yourself.

What makes this ranking especially fun is the mix of styles. You get low-budget slashers, strange sequels, and those “How did this get made?” titles that only resurface during the holidays.

Here’s the Bottom 20:

  1. “Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2” (1987)
  2. “Elves” (1989)
  3. “Santa Claus” (1959)
  4. “Last Ounce of Courage” (2012)
  5. “A Karate Christmas Miracle” (2019)
  6. “Jingle All the Way 2” (2014)
  7. “Santa with Muscles” (1996)
  8. “Santa Claws” (1996)
  9. “A Christmas Story 2” (2012)
  10. “Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman” (2000)
  11. “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964)
  12. “Deck the Halls” (2006)
  13. “Surviving Christmas” (2004)
  14. “Saving Christmas” (2014)
  15. “Christmas Evil” (1980)
  16. “The Nutcracker in 3D” (2009)
  17. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1998)
  18. “Santa’s Slay” (2005)
  19. “Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever” (2014)
  20. “Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July” (1979)

If you use the holidays as an excuse to binge both classics and catastrophes, this list is your new watch guide. Just maybe pace yourself, or risk having “Jack Frost 2” haunt your dreams.

13 Movies You’d Never Expect to Spark the “Is This a Christmas Movie?” Debate

Every year the Die Hard argument rolls back into town like Mariah Carey defrosting on November 1st. But the Christmas movie gray area is way bigger than one Bruce Willis rooftop showdown.

A whole lineup of beloved films quietly sneak their way into the holiday conversation thanks to snow, twinkly lights, or one random Christmas tree that shows up for five seconds.

So if you’ve ever wondered whether a movie needs jingle bells, Santa, or at least one ugly sweater to qualify as a Christmas movie, here are 13 more films that keep the internet arguing.

First up, the entire Harry Potter franchise. Even though only parts of each movie happen at Christmas, the cozy Hogwarts vibe, the snow-covered grounds, and that first Great Hall holiday feast have permanently connected Harry and the holidays in people’s minds. Movie eight is the only one that skips the festive spirit, but the franchise as a whole still gets honorary holiday status.

Speaking of moody snow, Batman Returns earns its place simply because Gotham decorates like it’s trying to win a neighborhood lights contest. The giant Christmas tree alone seals the deal.

And then there’s Eyes Wide Shut. Despite the steamy storyline, it’s undeniably set during holiday season.

Gremlins is maybe the most obvious Christmas-adjacent pick on this list. It has a Christmas gift, Christmas carols, and tiny troublemakers, so it gets a big “yes.” First Blood is a funnier case, because it technically includes a single Christmas tree in one scene, which some fans treat as a binding legal argument.

Trading Places brings holiday chaos with its tipsy Santa moment, while Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Iron Man 3 both take place in Los Angeles during the Christmas season. Shane Black, the director of both, basically treats Christmas like his favorite film set accessory.

Other classics sneak in through tone. Edward Scissorhands has that dreamy winter fairytale feeling. Lethal Weapon opens with Christmas music. Rocky covers multiple holidays and basically treats the entire winter season like one big emotional montage. And Hook sets its real-world scenes at Christmastime before we head off to Neverland.

And finally, The Nightmare Before Christmas remains the movie most likely to start a fight at family gatherings. Christmas movie? Halloween movie? The only correct answer is: yes.

Happy debating.

The Best Christmas Songs to Power Your Workout

If you thought Christmas music was just for decorating the tree or awkward family car rides, think again. Apparently, it is also perfect for breaking a sweat.

A new study looked at holiday songs that actually work for workouts, and the results might surprise you, or at least make your gym playlist a lot more festive.

The research comes from a site called MyBodyTutor, which analyzed 500 Christmas and holiday songs on Spotify. The goal was simple, find tracks with the right tempo to keep you moving.

According to fitness experts, songs with 120 to 150 beats per minute are ideal for moderate to high intensity workouts like running, cardio circuits, and strength training. Faster songs help keep your pace up, while slower ones are better for cooldowns.

Topping the list is a song nobody is shocked to see, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” At 150 beats per minute, it hits the sweet spot for high energy workouts and officially earns its crown as the most fitness friendly Christmas song of all time. Love it or roll your eyes every time it comes on, Mariah might actually help you shave a few seconds off your mile.

Here is the full Top 10 Christmas songs to work out to, according to the study:

  1. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, 150 BPM
  2. “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano, 149 BPM
  3. “Jingle Bells” by Frank Sinatra, 148 BPM
  4. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee, 146 BPM
  5. “Jingle Bells” by Michael Bublé, 143 BPM
  6. “Christmas Time Is Here” by August Burns Red, 143 BPM
  7. “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole, 141 BPM
  8. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” by Bruce Springsteen, 141 BPM
  9. “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, 138 BPM
  10. “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber, 128 BPM

If you are doing high intensity interval training and really want to push it, the study points to Ariana Grande’s “Last Christmas,” which clocks in at a wild 206 beats per minute. That one is basically a sprint in song form. On the flip side, if you are winding down with stretching or yoga, Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree” is a better fit at a calmer 95 BPM.

So yes, Christmas music can absolutely be workout music. And if Mariah Carey gets you through leg day, who are we to judge?

The Most Christmas-y Christmas Movies of All Time

Everyone has that one holiday movie they’ll defend with the passion of a thousand jingle bells.

But instead of arguing over hot cocoa again this year, we finally have something resembling science to settle the debate. A new study took 20 popular holiday films and ran them through 20 different data points to determine the ultimate Christmas movie of all time. Yes, it is possible to quantify festive spirit, and yes, someone actually did it.

Researchers broke their ranking into four main categories. They counted Christmas references in each movie, including things like Christmas outfits, holiday songs, uses of the word “Christmas,” and any direct Santa sightings. Then they compared that with the film’s box office success, critic and audience reviews, and how much festive buzz each movie still generates across social media and search trends every December.

And according to the data, the most Christmas-y Christmas movie of all time is the original Home Alone.

Surprised? While it scored lower than you’d expect in sheer Christmas references, the movie crushed the competition in box office performance and long-term holiday hype. Even with just five shots of Christmas outfits, 11 Christmas songs, 13 uses of the word “Christmas,” and a single Santa cameo, Kevin McCallister still reigns supreme.

Here is the top ten, in case you need to update your holiday watchlist:

  1. Home Alone (1990)
  2. Elf (2003)
  3. Love Actually (2003)
  4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000, Jim Carrey version)
  5. The Santa Clause (1994)
  6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
  7. Arthur Christmas (2011)
  8. Gremlins (1984)
  9. The Polar Express (2004)
  10. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

For the people who insist Die Hard is a Christmas movie and will absolutely not let that argument die, good news and bad news. It did make the list, but it landed just outside the top ten at number eleven. It was followed by Home Alone 2 and Scrooged.

So whether your holiday vibe is cozy, chaotic, romantic, spooky, or aggressively pro-Bruce Willis, now you can cite actual data when declaring your favorite Christmas movie the rightful king of the season. Merry science to all, and to all a good movie night.

The Greatest Christmas Movie Villains of All Time

When it comes to holiday movies, we like to pretend everything is cozy, sparkly, and wrapped in a bow. But deep down, we all know the truth.

Christmas movies would not hit the same without a deliciously grumpy, cackling, chaos-loving villain stirring the hot cocoa.

And thanks to “People“ magazine, we now have an official ranking of the Greatest Christmas Movie Villains of All Time.

It includes everything from old-school classics to modern holiday mischief, and it proves one thing: Christmas might be all about goodwill, but audiences really love a character we can boo from the couch while wearing pajama pants.

Topping the list is Mr. Potter from “It’s a Wonderful Life”, played by Lionel Barrymore.

He is the ultimate Christmas curmudgeon, a man who looks at holiday cheer the way most of us look at expired eggnog. His brand of villainy is grounded in pure greed and zero remorse, which pretty much makes him the blueprint for every cinematic holiday grouch that came after. (Fun bonus trivia: Lionel Barrymore is Drew Barrymore’s great uncle.)

Right behind him is Oogie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.

If you enjoy your villains with a little musical flair and a whole lot of creepy charm, Oogie’s your guy. He is basically a festive fever dream made of burlap and bad intentions.

Coming in third is the neighborhood tormenter of every kid’s childhood, Scut Farkus from “A Christmas Story”.

His entire personality hinges on bullying children in the snow while wearing that iconic coonskin hat. Generations of viewers still flinch when they hear his name.

It is a fun reminder that holiday movies are not just twinkly lights and heartfelt lessons. They are also home to some of the most memorable villains ever created, the kind we love to hate because they make the hero’s big Christmas redemption feel that much sweeter.

And if People ever expands the list, yes, Stripe from Gremlins absolutely deserves a spot.

Here’s the full list:

  1. Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) from “It’s a Wonderful Life”
  2. Oogie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
  3. Scut Farkus from “A Christmas Story”
  4. Comet and the Abominable Snow Monster from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
  5. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) from “Die Hard”
  6. Ted Maltin (Phil Hartman) from “Jingle All the Way”
  7. Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) from “Home Alone”
  8. The Grinch (Jim Carrey) from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
  9. Ebenezer Scrooge (George C. Scott) from the 1984 version of “A Christmas Carol”
  10. Jack Frost (Martin Short) from “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”

Travis Kelce Says He and Taylor Swift Have Never Fought. Are We Even Surprised?

Relationship experts love to say that if a couple never fights, it might be a red flag.

But apparently those experts have never met Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, a duo who continue to live in what feels like the romantic equivalent of a carefully curated Instagram reel. And Swifties are eating it up. The idea of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce never arguing is already trending as fans debate whether this is relationship goals or simply the kind of magic you get when two mega-celebrities somehow make their schedules and personalities line up.

The topic came up when Travis and his brother Jason had George Clooney on their New Heights podcast. Clooney casually mentioned that he and Amal have made it a full decade without a single fight. Travis jumped in and said he and Taylor have also never had an argument, but he added that it has only been two and a half years for them, so they have a little less data to work with.

Still, two and a half years without arguing about takeout or thermostat settings is impressive for literally any couple, let alone one that gets dissected across every corner of the internet.

Online fans immediately started comparing the couples, joking about what their own relationships look like in contrast. Spoiler: most involved at least one weekly debate over where to pick up dinner.

Meanwhile, a Kansas City Chiefs official revealed that Travis is just as loyal to his teammates. He said that when Travis and Taylor first started dating, he actually asked the team not to play Taylor’s music in the stadium. Not because he isn’t proud of dating one of the most famous artists on the planet, but because he didn’t want to separate himself from his teammates.

Quote, “Travis, to his credit, is all about team, and he’s all about the guys, and he’s all about being part of the team and not being separate.” Considering the amount of attention Taylor brings everywhere she goes, choosing to keep the focus on football is a pretty grounded move.

Whether or not their no-fight streak continues, fans seem convinced that these two are genuinely happy together.

“Stranger Things” Brings Back This Long-Lost ’80s Snack for a Limited Return

If you’ve been watching “Stranger Things” Season 5, you might have spotted something unexpected hiding among the Demogorgons and emotional trauma: a snack time-travel moment.

And yes, that blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo has now become reality. Nature Valley has officially revived its classic Fudge Chip Peanut Butter Boppers for the first time since 1989, and the nostalgia levels are extremely high.

If Steve Harrington endorses a snack, who are we to argue?

The Boppers are back in honor of the show’s final season, complete with “Stranger Things” themed packaging that looks ready to crack open an interdimensional portal in your pantry.

But before you sprint to the grocery store with your Eggo-loving enthusiasm, there’s a catch. These won’t be sitting on store shelves next to your granola bars. Nature Valley only released them in a special kit, which included four Boppers, a T-shirt, and a recipe card, all for the retro-perfect price of $19.87. (That nod to 1987 is basically the corporate version of a wink, and, of course, it sold out quickly.)

But starting Friday, the company will also be giving away 250 boxes while supplies last.

To score one, you have to head to a website that looks like someone sneezed on their keyboard: sreppob.com. That’s Boppers spelled backwards, nerds!

If you don’t snag a box before they disappear, all hope isn’t lost. Nature Valley plans to drop the official recipe on Monday so you can DIY your Boppers at home. Based on the ingredients, that might be worth trying anyway. These things have a creamy peanut butter center rolled in crisp rice cereal with fudge chips, which is basically the energy bar equivalent of a bear hug.

The Boppers revival is part nostalgia, part marketing genius, and part delightful chaos. It fits perfectly with how “Stranger Things” has always embraced ’80s culture, from the fashion to the mall food court energy we secretly miss.

So, if you’ve been craving a taste of childhood or just want to eat the same snack as a fictional babysitter-turned-battle-hardened monster fighter, now’s your moment. Just be quick. The Upside Down won’t wait, and apparently neither will limited-edition peanut butter snacks.

Willie Nelson Is Not Dead

Willie Nelson is tired of reminding us that he’s alive.

The 91-year-old music legend took to Instagram this week to poke fun at the seemingly endless parade of A.I.-generated death hoaxes that have been making the rounds online. He shared a few photos of himself catching a nap on the couch, paired with the caption: “If you believe those A.I. death stories one more time…”

That’s about as Willie as it gets.

For months, shady websites and scammy clickbait posts have been spreading false reports that the country icon had either collapsed, been hospitalized, or passed away.

Some even included fake images of him hooked up to hospital equipment, giving the whole thing an extra gross layer of deception. In reality? He’s just been taking it easy—and occasionally roasting the internet.

Earlier this year, Nelson did have to cancel an Outlaw Music Festival show, but that was thanks to weather damage wrecking some of the gear. Naturally, that got twisted into another fake health scare. But fans who follow him directly (instead of panicky Facebook shares) knew better.

Unfortunately, this is part of a bigger trend: A.I. is now being used to churn out increasingly believable celebrity death hoaxes.

And when it happens to someone like Willie—who’s been a target of these things for years—it only adds to the confusion.

Thankfully, he’s got a good sense of humor about it. The nap photos make it clear: he’s still kickin’, still smirking, and still not ready to hang up his guitar.

So if you come across yet another headline claiming the Red Headed Stranger has ridden off into the sunset, maybe double-check with Willie Nelson’s own Instagram before you start mourning. Chances are, he’s just taking a nap. Again.

Kendrick Lamar Dominates Apple Music’s 2025 Charts, But Drake Tops the Streams

If 2025 belonged to anyone in music, it was Kendrick Lamar. Apple Music dropped its year-end stats, and the numbers paint a pretty clear picture. Kendrick didn’t just have a good year, he had a monster one. And that’s great news for anyone who searched “top songs of 2025,” “Kendrick Lamar Apple Music,” or “most-streamed artist globally.”

The biggest win came from his chart-topping duet with SZA. Their track Luther took the number one spot in the U.S., and it wasn’t the only Kendrick-related song crowding the top of the list. In fact, the Top 10 looks almost like his personal playlist. SZA, Morgan Wallen, Drake, and Post Malone also made their mark.

Here’s the full rundown of Apple Music’s Top 10 songs in the U.S. for 2025:

  1. Luther, Kendrick Lamar and SZA
  2. Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar
  3. 30 for 30, SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar
  4. I’m the Problem, Morgan Wallen
  5. TV Off, Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay
  6. Die with a Smile, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
  7. NOKIA, Drake
  8. Love Somebody, Morgan Wallen
  9. I Had Some Help, Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
  10. Just in Case, Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen fans didn’t go hungry this year either. He secured four spots in the Top 10, proving that country-pop crossovers aren’t slowing down anytime soon. Drake made the list too, although Kendrick might not love the fact that NOKIA is still hanging in there after everything that went down between them.

On the global stage, the top spot went to APT. by ROSE and Bruno Mars. Luther landed at number two worldwide, which is still an enormous feat considering how competitive the global charts have become.

And here’s the twist ending. Even with Kendrick dropping hits left and right, sparking the most talked-about beef in years, and stacking the U.S. charts like Jenga blocks, he didn’t actually complete the mission he set out for: ending Drake. Because Drake walked away with Apple’s crown as the most-streamed artist globally in 2025.

So Kendrick dominated the charts. Drake dominated the streams. And the rest of us got one of the most entertaining music years in recent memory.

PETA Wants Alice in Chains to Become “Betty in Chains” for a Circus Elephant

PETA is back with another headline grabbing campaign, and this time they’re aiming it squarely at the grunge legends of Seattle.

The animal rights group has asked Alice in Chains to temporarily change their name to Betty in Chains for one month. The goal is to use the band’s iconic branding to spotlight a 56 year old circus elephant named Betty, who PETA says has spent virtually her entire life, quote, “literally in chains.”

If you’re wondering why this is blowing up, here are the basics. Betty has been performing with the Carden Circus for more than 50 years. According to PETA, she’s taken part in roughly 300 circus shows each year, and they’re calling her the “world’s most depressed elephant.” That phrase alone has been enough to launch a wave of online sympathy for her situation, along with plenty of frustration aimed at the circus industry in general.

An elephant expert recently examined Betty and delivered a grim warning. They believe she is at risk of a fatal collapse if she isn’t immediately retired to a legitimate sanctuary.

That expert opinion forms the backbone of PETA’s request to Alice in Chains. In their letter to the band, they argue that a temporary name change would help “amplify her story to millions” and could “change the course of history for all animals used in circuses.”

The idea of a rock band adjusting its name for a cause isn’t entirely unheard of, and PETA has a long track record of using celebrity partnerships to raise attention. But the internet reaction has been split in classic social media fashion. Some fans think it’s a clever way to use the band’s influence for good. Others think it feels like a publicity stunt that puts the spotlight on the band more than the issue itself. And of course, plenty of people are jokingly pitching alternate names that range from charming to absolutely unprintable.

As of last night, Alice in Chains hasn’t responded. No statement, no joke, no “Betty in Chains” merch drop, nothing. Fans are watching closely though, because even a simple comment from the group would supercharge the attention on Betty’s situation.

No matter what the band decides, the campaign has already sparked fresh conversation about the treatment of circus animals and the push to retire aging performers to sanctuaries. And for Betty, even that spotlight might be the start of a very different final chapter.

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