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November 15, 2025

What is Entertainment Weekly (EW) and its website EW.com

If you’re looking for up-to-date coverage of movies, TV shows, music, books and everything that qualifies as pop culture, EW.com is one of the go-to destinations. The digital presence of the legacy magazine Entertainment Annual Weekly (though still riding the “Weekly” title), EW traces its roots back to a print edition launched in America in 1990. (Wikipedia)

Origins and evolution

  • The print edition of Entertainment Weekly first appeared 16 February 1990. (Wikipedia)

  • From the start, EW aimed at a more general audience interested in entertainment media (film, TV, music, books) rather than industry insiders. (Wikipedia)

  • With the rise of the internet, EW.com emerged as the digital platform allowing much faster coverage, deeper recaps, and more frequent updates. For example, one retrospective article points out: “Now … with EW.com, we could follow TV shows week by week, with analyses that could arrive the next morning rather than the next week.” (EW.com)

  • Print publishing has shifted: although EW still carries “Weekly” in the name, the magazine moved to monthly issues in August 2019 and ceased print entirely in 2022, focusing fully on digital. (Wikipedia)

  • The “About Us” page emphasises that from its launch the brand considers itself America’s “pop culture bible” and that its mission is “to help you find what’s worth your time.” (EW.com)

What you’ll find on EW.com

EW.com is organised around major entertainment verticals, each with its own flavour. Some of the key categories:

  • TV – news, exclusive first-looks, recaps, reviews of series across network, cable and streaming. (EW.com)

  • Movies – trailers, festival and premiere coverage, reviews of major releases, film-industry features. (EW.com)

  • Music – news about artists, album and tour coverage, festival pieces. (EW.com)

  • What to Watch / Binge – curated guidance on what to stream, watch, skip, including lists of recommendations. (EW.com)

  • Celebrity – interviews, profiles, more lifestyle-adjacent moves (though not as heavy on tabloid-style gossip as some other outlets). (EW.com)

  • Books & Theater – less high-volume than film/TV but present: reviews, author interviews, theatre coverage. (EW.com)

  • Commerce / Streaming Service Reviews – the About page notes that when EW undertakes reviews of streaming services/bundles they test plans, compare customer experience, terms, etc. (EW.com)

What sets it apart

  • Speed & frequency – Being digital-first means that EW.com can publish hot takes, recaps, responses to episodes or trailers almost instantly after they launch (or leak). That was a key shift from the print era. (EW.com)

  • General-audience focus – While trade magazines like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter aim at industry insiders, EW focuses on the broader pop-culture-consuming audience. (Wikipedia)

  • Accessible writing style – Articles tend to be readable, casual (but professional), aiming to entertain as well as inform.

  • Coverage breadth – Because they span TV, film, music, books, streaming, EW gives you a one-stop site for many entertainment verticals.

  • Brand legacy – Having been around since 1990 gives them name-recognition, archives, and a certain weight when they publish pieces.

Limitations / things to consider

  • Digital clutter – As with many high-volume digital outlets, the sheer number of articles can mean varying quality, and some pieces are more click-oriented than deeply analytical.

  • Scope with depth trade-offs – Because EW covers so much, sometimes movies or books outside the mainstream get less deep coverage than big-blockbuster films or hit shows.

  • Print legacy may influence perception – Although the brand is digital now, the legacy of a magazine might still affect audience expectations (e.g., more feature-style articles rather than ultra-short blog posts).

  • Commercial ties – The About page states they may receive commissions from links in their commerce/review pieces (“we may receive a commission from your purchases”). They say they do not accept compensation for coverage, but the commerce model is worth being aware of. (EW.com)

  • Competition & saturation – The entertainment news space is crowded; many outlets, blogs, social media accounts operate in the same field, so standing out can be harder.

Why use (or avoid) EW.com

Reasons to use it:

  • You want a solid, reputable source for entertainment news, reviews and commentary across a broad range (film, TV, music, books).

  • You want to keep up with what to watch next (especially streaming) — the “What To Watch / Binge” section is useful for that.

  • You appreciate a blend of news, recaps, interviews, and feature writing that’s accessible to the general pop-culture fan.

  • You value brand legacy and a site that has been doing this for decades (though digitally evolving).

Reasons you might look elsewhere:

  • If you want deep academic-level criticism of film/TV (theoretical, auteur studies), you might prefer a more specialized publication.

  • If you primarily consume non-English language entertainment or very niche indie titles, EW may have less coverage.

  • If you dislike the click-volume / rapid-turnaround digital model, you might find some articles feel rushed or surface-level.

  • If you want completely independent, ad-free, non-commercially-linked commentary, you might prefer a blog or academic journal.

Audience & positioning

EW.com’s target is the “pop-culture fan” — someone who watches TV, goes to movies, streams shows, maybe picks up books, follows artists. According to the About page: “across our team … you will find passionate fans in every corner of entertainment, from the niche art house film or comic series to the blockbuster movie or show everyone is talking about.” (EW.com)

Positioning-wise:

  • It’s not the trade magazine (not necessarily industry-insider focused) but rather consumer-oriented.

  • While it keeps up with industry news (e.g., casting, premieres, festivals), the angle often ties back to what a viewer/listener might care about rather than only what the business side sees.

  • The brand balances “fun” (pop culture, fandom) and “serious” (reviews, critique) to some degree.

Key milestones & transformations

  • The transition from print weekly to digital-first and ultimately digital-only is a major shift. (Print ended in 2022) (Wikipedia)

  • The growth of digital content (daily articles, podcasts, original video) means EW isn’t just a digital replica of a print magazine — it’s a new form. The About page mentions motion covers, podcasts, live streaming events. (EW.com)

  • The incorporation of streaming, binge-culture, and digital platforms in their coverage — i.e., the model of “What to Watch” reflects changes in how people consume entertainment. (EW.com)

  • The broadening of categories: from traditional film/TV to books, theater, streaming services, and even commerce guides. This evolution reflects diversifying media.

Practical tips for using EW.com

  • If you’re looking for something to binge, go to the “What to Watch” section and use their curated lists rather than digging randomly.

  • Use the search bar if you are looking for specific titles, actors or books — the site indexes lots of articles and recaps.

  • Bookmark or subscribe to their newsletter if you want daily or periodic updates (they promote their free daily newsletters). (EW.com)

  • Be aware of review vs. commerce content: when looking at streaming service reviews or bundle comparisons, keep in mind the disclosure of possible affiliate commissions.

  • To dive deeper, pick feature-articles (interviews, longer dives) rather than quick news bits — this gives more analytical value.

  • For global readers (outside the U.S.), note that the site’s perspective is U.S.-centric (Hollywood/US entertainment focus). So if you’re primarily interested in local entertainment outside the U.S., you may want to supplement with regional sites.

Final verdict

EW.com offers a strong, dependable destination for general entertainment coverage. If you consume pop culture regularly — movies, streaming shows, music, books — it’ll likely serve you well. It may not always offer the deepest possible critique in niche corners, but for mainstream and enthusiast coverage it hits the sweet spot between fun and informed.

If your reading habits lean more specialist (e.g., foreign cinema, indie games, academic film theory) you might still use EW but complement it with niche outlets. Conversely, if you simply want to stay up-to-date, find what to watch next, get quick recaps and news, EW.com is a practical choice.

FAQ

Q: Is EW.com free to access?
A: Yes — the site allows access to its articles without a paywall that we could find in general browsing. You may need to sign up for newsletters for some extras, but core content is accessible.

Q: Does the “Weekly” in Entertainment Weekly still make sense?
A: In the print era the magazine came out weekly. After 2019 it became monthly and by 2022 the print edition ended. But the digital brand keeps the legacy name. (Wikipedia)

Q: How often is new content posted?
A: Very frequently. Because it’s digital-first the site publishes daily news, reviews, recaps, lists and updates. The “What to Watch” section especially indicates weekly or even daily updates. (EW.com)

Q: Is the coverage global or U.S.-centric?
A: Largely U.S.-centric — Hollywood and U.S. entertainment dominate. There may be coverage of global/foreign issues but the primary viewpoint is U.S.

Q: Can I use EW.com to decide what to stream?
A: Yes — that’s one of its stronger use-cases. The “What to Watch” / “Binge” sections offer guidance, lists, and recaps meant for viewers trying to pick their next show or movie.

Q: Are the reviews trustworthy (e.g., streaming service reviews)?
A: The site claims a process of testing, research and transparency about affiliate links. Still, as with any media review, it’s wise to cross-check. (EW.com)