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Our writers had big feelings about the entertainment industry, internet trends, generational confrontations, and everything in between. Of course it's important for you to know what is going on in the world, but also, take it easy, bestie. It can get dark out there… Come yap with us about current events that are still affecting your psyche, but won't put you in the ground or have you going non-contact with Aunt Mildred. Life is all about balance.
Here are Cheezburger's Top 10 Hot Takes from 2025. Arranged in order of publication, take this moment to reminisce with us about all the things that had us needing to rant online. Come 2026, whether times get calmer or more treacherous, we will most definitely still have many words on it. Happy new year!
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01
"There's no question that popular media, specifically films, reflect a great psychological experiment on the human condition. What is currently being analyzed is the phenomenon of a rotting, grotesque vampire with major attachment issues stealing the hearts of women around the globe…"
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02
"Gen Z is now the dominant voice of the internet and the driving cultural force that the rest of us have to follow. As Gen Alpha starts to get older, many Zoomers have expressed fears about taking the place of Millennials when it comes to being mocked by the younger upcoming generation on the internet. The truth is, many of Gen Z's online trends and behaviors have always been heavily influenced by Millennials…"
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03
"When artists confess their mistakes in their music, they have the power to make us feel less alone, but these days, confessional songwriting has started to feel overly curated."
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04
"The world as we know it can be an isolating place, where we're each secluded to our own internet bubbles. It's easy for anyone to feel caught between the real world and the online world these days. We spend so much of our time online that it can start to feel more like home than the physical one in which we live. The internet is where your friends are, where your entertainment lives, and how you engage with culture. And this can create a deep sense of loneliness when you set down your phone and it's all gone."
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05
"Millennials, the generation responsible for this trend, were clearly desperate for a minimalistic environment. Almost certainly because they grew up surrounded by quite the opposite in their homes: warm colors, dark-brown wooden furniture, and a whole heaping load of clutter. They, quite simply, needed to escape that environment and differentiate their own lives from their parents' as soon as they were able, shaping their own spaces into something new, simplistic, and peaceful. Beyond their childhood homes, the reality of young adults was so chaotic that their need for simplicity likely solidified even further…"
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06
"It's more common for women to be the subject of jokey memetic categorization, getting slapped with the labels of 'not a girl's girl' or 'pick mes,' for totally unremarkable behavior. However, men have been accused of being manipulative or fake for doing so-called unmasculine things for a while. There was an era where straight guys who wore nail polish were constantly called 'manipulative' because, according to the incredibly online people criticizing them, they were trying to look feminine to appear 'safe' to women. I When it comes to the 'performative male,' it's understood that these guys aren't performing in this way to win the approval of other men, but of the women they seek to date.
The idea of someone's gender being 'performative' didn't come out of nowhere. The concept of gender performativity originates from the works of feminist writer Judith Butler." -
07
"Picture your perfect engagement moment: You're in the mountains with the love of your life, and he pulls out a ring and pops the question. You smile and hug each other before snapping a photo of the ring to share with your family, friends, and the internet.
Of course, this scenario assumes you're both human beings, which is just not the case for the people of r/MyBoyfriendIsAi, a subreddit for people who are 'dating' their AI chatbots..."
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08
"There has been a lot of uncertainty as to what the future will look like for the film industry. Will streaming overtake theatrical moviegoing entirely? Will mid-budget and independent films cease to exist? Most pressingly, will the acquisition of one major studio be the first domino to fall, thereby causing the demise of the entire Hollywood system as we know it?
The short answer is that only time will tell, but there is a longer answer…"
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09
"'Female rage' as a concept has been popularized in recent years by steadfast, inspiring artists such as Lily Allen, Charli xcx, Lorde, Olivia Rodrigo, and many others. They urge women to be themselves, feel their emotions, and stay true to their anger. Women have every right to. Female Rage has been chalked up to 'hysteria' and 'insanity' since the dawn of a 'civil' society, because saying the quiet part out loud isn't very 'ladylike.'
The truth? Female rage has always existed, not just in music, but in all forms of creativity. Recent albums that emphasized female rage like Lily Allen's West End Girl and Olivia Rodrigo's Guts were well received. However, their many fore-mothers before them, both real and fictional, should receive some contemporary recognition, too."
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10
"It's no secret that for adults the holiday season is a flurry of rushed workdays, hurried nights, and even busier weekends. Somehow, a season that once made humanity stand still and reflect has snowballed into an all-consuming spectacle of red, green, gold, and glitter. Falling victim to the holiday hoopla, society has given in to the pandemonium of the holidays. But what if there was another way?
The generations of yore had a special way of slowing down, using now-dated traditions to appreciate their loved ones and set aside special moments to commemorate the season. It's become a lost art!"
Top 10 Cheezburger 'Hot Takes' from 2025 That We're Still Thinking About Today
'Hot Takes' is a special place where us professional writers of Cheezburger can rant, yap, and thoroughly dissect our opinions on everything happening in today's society. Each hot take is from the heart of one of our unique online experts who word vomit about anything they feel passionate about. These are real people with piping hot tea to spill.
This year has felt extra long. Was it because of the constant historical headlines hitting the news waves? Was your schedule simply none stop? Or maybe you just had a lot of unexpected circumstances around every corner that had you counting down the days for the year to end. Heck, it could be all three! Whatever had you feeling like there was a 32nd, 33rd, or even 34th day to every month this year, one thing is certain: There was a lot to yap about!
From mid movies to female rage, the opinions were extra spicy this year. We got serious about our silliness and silly about our seriousness. For every headline that had you Googling how to move into the woods or synthesize your own antibiotics, we published a headline that reminded you that life is really not that serious.
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