is dominated by record-breaking box office and chart history, with non-franchise and franchise films surging simultaneously while music crosses genre borders. Amazon MGM’s Project Hail Mary has become the top-grossing Hollywood movie year-to-date at $300.8M, Resident Evil posted a franchise-record $108.3M global opening, and on music charts Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has become the longest-running No.1 hit spending 23 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, announced for the week of September 22-27. The VMAs, HYBE global cinema expansion, and regional pop scenes from K-pop to T-pop are all driving today’s conversation.
Top News Today – September 23, 2026:
- Global Entertainment: MTV VMAs announce live broadcast for Sunday September 27 with Kacey Musgraves performing Dolly Parton tribute, plus HYBE Cine Fest going global Oct 24-31 in 60+ territories.
- Global Celebrities (actors, actresses, singers): Tom Cruise debuts new film Digger at royal premiere with global rollout Sept 30; Becky Rebecca wins Outstanding Asian Star Thailand at Seoul International Drama Awards 2026 for Girl From Nowhere The Reset.
- Global Movies: Resident Evil sets franchise record $108.3M opening; Project Hail Mary is top Hollywood grosser YTD at $300.8M; A24’s Backrooms crosses $400M; Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey climbs to 4th biggest of 2026; Michael Jackson biopic still breaking music-biopic records.
- K-pop: ONEUS reunites as 5 after Seoho discharge with First Light out Sept 23; Catch The Young opened K-INDIE ON Festival 2026 in Berlin Sept 19; LE SSERAFIM Made My Night pop-up in Yongsan Sept 22-27; CORTIS nominated for Best New Artist at VMAs; BTS SWIM at #5 on Global Excl. US chart.
- J-pop: J-POP Goes Global 2026 tours continue with SKE48 Asia Tour in Hong Kong Sept 23 and Taipei Sept 25; TK from Ling tosite sigure 15th Anniversary World Tour active.
- C-pop: Industry focus on Taiwan’s east coast with Hualien Moon-Met Indigenous Voices Concert Sept 26-27; C-pop artists joining Pan-Asian festival lineups.
- V-pop: V-pop acts featured in Seoul International Drama Awards conversation and HYBE Cine Fest expansion discussions for Southeast Asia.
- T-pop: Becky Rebecca spotlight continues to drive T-pop global visibility; Thai pop charts reacting to Seoul award win.
- P-pop: ABS-CBN pushing P-pop coverage around upcoming international releases; P-pop fanbases mobilizing for October HYBE Cine Fest dates in Manila.
- Western Pop (US/UK): Ella Langley historic 23 weeks at #1, also #1 and #10 on Hot 100 this week; Taylor Swift teases new single Patient Zero for Sept 25; Karol G BBY WOW #1 Global Excl US 3 weeks; Dua Lipa Training Season #2; Falling In Reverse Joseph tops UK debut charts Sept 18-20.
- Latin Pop: Karol G dominates with BBY WOW; Shakira x Burna Boy DAI DAI FIFA World Cup Official Song at #3 Global Excl US.
- Afro-pop: Burna Boy featured on FIFA anthem DAI DAI at #3; Afrobeats influence surging on global charts alongside Latin crossover.
- Euro-pop: Dua Lipa holding Top 2 global; beabadoobee Pylon tops UK Albums Debut chart Sept 18-20.
- Indo-pop: Sun Pictures RAAKA Guinness World Record feliciation event trending; Bollywood pop releases fueling September festival season.
- Malay-pop: Regional Malay-pop acts tapping into HYBE Cine Fest 1100+ cinema network for October expansion.
- Arab-pop: Arab-pop streaming growth tied to FIFA World Cup song cycle and Euro-pop collaborations.
- Bollywood Pop: Toxic Kannada update and Imtiaz Ali family news cycle active Sept 23; Bollywood charts blending with Indo-pop festival promos.
- Turkish Pop: Turkish pop artists joining Euro-pop festival circuit as Fall 2026 premiere slate begins.
- French Pop: French pop presence in Fall 2026 Global TV premieres and VMA adjacent events.
- Synth-pop: U2 new single Silencio dropping Sept 24 with theatrical promo video; synth-driven production dominates VMA teaser audio.
- Indie Pop: Catch The Young and Hyundai Sinchon weekly K-pop show for rookie idols starting October spotlighting indie-to-mainstream pipeline.
- Electro-pop: VMA electronic dance promo track and Kacey Musgraves tribute performance production highlight electro-pop fusion.
- City Pop: City Pop revival noted in Japanese festival marketing around SKE48 tour and Hualien scenic coastal concert tie-ins.
