Chasing popularity: New teen movie takes on a classic theme

High school popularity has long fueled storylines in teen and coming-of-age movies. Classics like "The Breakfast Club," "Weird Science" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" from John Hughes, as well as recent films like "Napoleon Dynamite," all explore this theme.

Tubi's new movie, "How to Lose a Popularity Contest," tackles the topic of popularity in a film that stars influencer Chase Hudson and co-star Sara Waisglass. You can hear from them in an interview with co-host Bruce Miller.

We also talk about the new addition to the "Star Trek" franchise with the start of "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy."

About the show

Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is the retired editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin. The show was named Best Podcast in the 2025 Iowa Better Newspaper Contest.

Theme music

Thunder City by Lunareh, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: FV694ULMCJQDG0IY