NPR

Given the fact that it seems like Hollywood churns out nothing but sequels, you would think the industry would have perfected the genre by now. <br><br>Some sequels are pretty darn good, but many believe the perfect movie sequel came out 50 years ago this month. <br><br>Of course, we're talking about Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather: Part II. It's not only considered the greatest sequel of all time, it's also considered one of the greatest movies of all time. <br><br>So why does <em>Godfather II</em> work, and where so many other sequels fall short? <br><br>NPR producer Marc Rivers weighs in.<br><br>For sponsor-free episodes of <em>Consider This,</em> sign up for C<em>onsider This+</em> via Apple Podcasts or at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/">plus.npr.org</a>.<br><br>Email us at <a href="mailto:considerthis@npr.org">considerthis@npr.org</a>.

Each week, guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: JamesEarl333 on TikTok, <em>The Dick Van Dyke Show </em>and the songs "Young Lion" and "Kid on Christmas."

It's been five years since Disney remade its animated classic <em>The Lion King</em> as a photorealistic blockbuster. This leads us to <em>Mufasa: The Lion King, </em>a new prequel telling the story of Mufasa's rise — as well as the origins of his rivalry with Scar. The film was directed by Barry Jenkins (<em>Moonligh</em>t, <em>If Beale Street Could Talk</em>) and features new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda. <br><br><a href="https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/"><em>Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture</em></a><a href="https://plus.npr.org/happy">.</a><br><br><a href="https://plus.npr.org/">Subscribe to NPR Plus at plus.npr.org</a> or make a gift at <a href="https://www.npr.org/donations/support">donate.npr.org</a>.

Pedro Almodóvar's first English-language film, <em>The Room Next Door</em>, is a meditation on death. Writing and making movies "is a way of running away from death," the Spanish director says.

Watching a movie on a plane can be a great way to pass the time if you're traveling for the holidays – particularly if you're going a long way. But picking the right movie can be very tricky. Today, we're debating the best movies to watch on an airplane, and making recommendations, including <em>Moana, Jackie Brown, The Holdovers</em>, and <em>The Lion in Winter</em>. <br><br><a href="https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/"><em>Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture</em></a><a href="https://plus.npr.org/happy">.</a>

After learning the U.S. doesn't officially recognize the bald eagle as its national bird, a Minnesota man swooped in. This week the House passed his bill, which now heads to Biden's desk.

The findings of an annual report on how abortion is depicted on TV are released today.

Tradwives make it look glamorous to quit the workforce to stay home with the kids. But women who have tried the lifestyle themselves say there's <em>a lot</em> you're not seeing on TikTok.

We first met the Garvey sisters two years ago when the Apple TV+ series <em>Bad Sisters</em> made its debut. The show follows four sisters in Ireland who are hell bent on murdering the husband of the fifth sister. Now, the series is in its second season, with more banter, wickedness and secrets. Today we're bringing you an episode of the NPR's podcast <em>Consider This, </em>where host Mary Louise Kelly caught up with creator and star Sharon Horgan to talk all about the new season.

Every year, the National Film Registry picks 25 movies to be preserved for posterity by the Library of Congress. This year's crop also includes <em>Beverly Hills Cop, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre</em> and more.

Nobody ever said the housing market was easy. In the new Netflix ensemble dark comedy <em>No Good Deed</em>, a couple played by Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano, along with several other couples and families, get tangled up in the sale of a home that holds a secret.

Each week, guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Bourbon Balls, <em>Somebody Somewhere</em>, <em>The Amazing Race</em> and Tim Curry's performance of <em>A Christmas Carol.</em>