In 2024, the industry battle cry was “Survive ’til 2025.” After pandemics and strikes, film, television, production, and yes, even advertising, rallied around the same mantra. 2025 was supposed to be the year of recovery. Instead, it became the year we had to recover from.
This was the year the industry didn’t just evolve. It burned, consolidated, collapsed, rebooted, and said goodbye.
Sometimes all in the same week.
In January, Los Angeles quite literally went up in flames. The wildfires were not just environmental headlines. They became an industry-wide reckoning, reshaping conversations around production, housing, insurance, and whether Hollywood can even function in a city increasingly defined by risk. Smoke filled the skyline while studios tried to keep the lights on, and the question shifted from when production would return to whether it ever fully could.
Corporate power plays followed fast and without mercy. Omnicom completed its long-anticipated merger with Interpublic and promptly erased decades of agency history. DDB. FCB. Gone. John Wren did not negotiate. He snapped his fingers like Thanos and rewrote advertising’s power structure overnight.
Then came the human cost. More than 4,000 Omnicom employees were laid off as consolidation stopped being an abstract concept and became personal. Paramount followed with its own brutal round of cuts, reinforcing the lesson of 2025: synergy is just a nicer word for subtraction.
The media wars went fully feral. Netflix and Paramount squared off like heavyweight champions over Warner Bros., turning Hollywood’s future into a spectator sport. This was not boardroom chess. It was bare-knuckle brawling, with legacy studios fighting for survival in a streaming economy that no longer promises growth or forgiveness.
Technology added another existential layer. AI actress Tilly Norwood became unavoidable, reigniting debates about authorship, labor, likeness, and whether performance itself was becoming optional. The question was no longer if AI would enter Hollywood. It was how fast, and who would be left behind when it did.
And then there were the endings that landed like gut punches. February saw Technicolor shut down The Mill, an unthinkable collapse that sent shockwaves through post-production and creative communities worldwide. In December, the industry was also rattled by the shocking murders of Rob and Michele Singer-Reiner. This moment transcended business news and left Hollywood mourning one of its most influential voices.
Television closed several major chapters. We said goodbye to Stranger Things, The Handmaid’s Tale, Squid Game, and The Conners. These were not just shows. They were cultural landmarks that defined eras, audiences, and conversations. Their exits left an unusual quiet in their wake, a sense that the peak TV age had finally exhaled.
Don’t jump off your roof just yet.
Not everything in 2025 was bleak. Advertising agencies reminded everyone why culture still runs through great creative. Oscar the Grouch unexpectedly stole hearts singing for Glad, turning trash bags into a strangely emotional rally cry. Thank you, FCB.
TMA leaned all the way in and delivered a full-blown advertising horror short for Six Flags that was, quite literally, to die for. Uber Eats, via Special US, staged a symbolic passing of the torch when Philadelphia Eagles superfan Bradley Cooper took the ball from Matthew McConaughey, wrapping a brand moment in football mythology.
The NFL, working with 72andSunny, delivered one of the year’s most quietly powerful campaigns. This empowering Super Bowl message resonated with children and parents alike by reframing what it means to belong in the game.
Legacy stars had their moment too. John Travolta slid back into pop culture glory, channeling Greased Lightning energy for Capital One and proving nostalgia still hits when it’s earned. And Sabrina Carpenter continued her takeover, bringing her unmistakable charm to Dunkin and cementing herself as one of the rare pop stars who can move seamlessly between music, fashion, and brand storytelling without it feeling forced.
Fashion brands found their footing again. Gap came storming back into relevance with renewed confidence, while Beyoncé didn’t just partner with Levi’s, she reinvented it, reframing the denim icon through heritage, power, and modern mythmaking. In a year defined by layoffs, mergers, and uncertainty, advertising proved that even when agencies shrink or disappear, the work itself still knows how to cut through, surprise, and connect.
In film, California passed a long-awaited expansion of its film tax credit, offering a desperately needed lifeline to keep production local and crews working. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners emerged as a defining creative statement of the year, proving that ambition, authorship, and box office relevance could still coexist. James Gunn’s Superman lifted the DCU into orbit with renewed confidence and clarity.
Pop culture, as always, found a way to cut through the noise. Sydney Sweeney’s great jeans became an unlikely cultural flashpoint, a reminder that star power still exists in an era obsessed with algorithms. And when the world felt especially heavy, Sabrina Carpenter took a perfectly timed dance break with “Tears,” reminding everyone that joy, spectacle, and fun still matter.
This was 2025. A year of reckoning and renewal. Of fires both literal and metaphorical. Of fights over power, relevance, and survival. And of final acts that closed the book on entire chapters of the industry. Out of the 1.3 thousand stories we covered are Reel 360 News’ Top stories of 2025.
25. Ari Weiss, acclaimed advertising visionary, passes away at 46
Ari Weiss, a trailblazing creative leader known for his fearless, boundary-pushing campaigns across some of the industry’s most celebrated agencies, passed away on Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 46.
Weiss leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in advertising, having shaped the creative landscape over a career spanning more than 25 years. From his early days as a copywriting intern at Goodby Silverstein & Partners to leading creative teams at BBH and DDB, and finally launching his own boutique agency, Quality Experience, in 2024, Weiss was a relentless innovator.
24. Cracker Barrel reverts to classic logo amid backlash
In August, Cracker Barrel aimed to refresh its brand identity. The new logo, unveiled as the chain’s fifth evolution, stripped away the iconic 1977 “Uncle Herschel” motif—featuring a man leaning on a barrel—to adopt a streamlined, font-centric design. The goal? To appeal to Gen Z diners and complement a broader restaurant modernization: remodeled interiors, updated menus, and pared-down Americana décor.
But the reaction was swift and fierce. Social media and conservative commentators accused the chain of rejecting its heritage in favor of bland, “woke” sensibilities. A YouGov poll revealed nearly 30% of respondents saying they were less likely to dine at Cracker Barrel because of the rebrand.
What turned a branding misstep into a national story was President Donald Trump’s vocal criticism on Truth Social: “Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll).” Within hours, Cracker Barrel announced that the logo was being scrapped and the “Old Timer” would be retained.
23. AI Scandal: Cannes Lions revokes DM9’s Grand Prix
What started as a Cannes Lions victory parade for Brazil’s DM9 turned into a reputational nosedive. Cannes Lions revoked the Creative Data Grand Prix awarded to DM9’s “Efficient Way to Pay” campaign for Consul Appliances after concluding the case study video included AI-generated and manipulated content, used to simulate real-world events and outcomes that never actually happened.
DM9, part of the DDB Worldwide network under Omnicom, had emerged as one of the biggest winners of the 2025 festival, with 21 Lions overall and a key role in helping DDB reclaim the Network of the Year crown. But the cracks began to show quickly.
A whistleblower alerted Ad Age to the manipulated content, including altered footage lifted from CNN Brasil. CNN promptly filed a formal complaint with both DM9 and Consul’s parent company, Whirlpool. DM9 initially apologized, citing “errors in production and submission,” and announced the resignation of its co-president and CCO Icaro Doria. The fallout has escalated into a full Cannes Lions takedown.
22. The Studio is the most winning freshman comedy in Emmy history
Apple TV+ earned a record-breaking 22 wins at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, led by Outstanding Comedy Series winner The Studio, which finished as the most winning series of the year and the most winning freshman comedy in Emmy history with 13 total Emmys.
The series added wins for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Seth Rogen), Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, along with previously announced Creative Arts honors across production design, casting, cinematography, costumes, picture editing, music supervision, sound editing, and sound mixing.
21. Sabrina Carpenter and Dunkin’s new collab kicks “ess”
It was only a matter of time before a brand that serves coffee would team up with Grammy-winning singer Sabrina Carpenter. Dunkin’s bold espresso got an extra jolt of star power, courtesy of the pop sensation.
“Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso,” was a limited-time treat that combines creamy oatmilk, a dash of brown sugar sweetness, and fresh-brewed espresso, all hand-shaken for the ultimate frothy finish.
To celebrate the big launch, Dunkin’ released its playful “Shake That Ess’” ad, featuring Sabrina herself bringing her signature style and cheeky humor. The campaign was created in partnership with Artists Equity, Ben Affleck’s and Matt Damon’s company, and directed by Dave Meyers.
20. Jenna Ortega dazzles in AMIRI at InStyle Imagemaker Awards
All eyes were on Jenna Ortega at the 2025 InStyle Imagemaker Awards, where the Wednesday star arrived in a jaw-dropping AMIRI Spring–Summer 2026 Look 47 Sequin Slit Maxi Dress. The sheer lilac-toned gown, adorned with cascading sequins and featuring a daring thigh-high slit, struck the perfect balance between youthful edge and timeless Hollywood glamour.
Held on October 23 at a private residence in Los Angeles, the annual InStyle Imagemaker Awards celebrated the behind-the-scenes creatives shaping pop culture, from stylists and makeup artists to hairstylists and image architects.
19. NFL’s ’80s-themed Super Bowl ad promotes Girls’ Flag Football
During the Super Bowl, the NFL took viewers on a nostalgic trip to the 1980s, with NFL Flag 50, which championed girls’ flag football and challenged outdated gender stereotypes. The two-minute commercial, created by 72andSunny, set to air right after the Apple Music Halftime Show, showcases a fictional high school where a determined girl defies expectations to build her own flag football team.
Starring real-life flag football athlete Ki’Lolo Westerlund, the ad followed her character as she arrives at a new school and faces off against the male football team captain. Despite initial resistance, she persists in forming her own team, proving that girls belong on the field just as much as boys.
18. AFM 2025 rediscovers its swagger at the Fairmont
After several years of a pandemic, venue roulette, and industry uncertainty, AFM’s return to Los Angeles felt, at long last, like a market with its confidence back. By mid-week, the Fairmont Century Plaza was humming with buyers, sellers, and producers who seemed relieved to be doing business in a space that actually fits the scale and ambition of the American version of Cannes.
The Fairmont was the unexpected breakout star of the market. Spacious, polished, and easy to navigate, it’s the first venue in recent memory that feels tailored to the industry’s needs instead of something AFM had to “make work.”
The streamlined layout, with exhibitors spread across several floors and a dedicated pavilion, has kept meetings flowing and stress levels low. After years of pandemic disruption and venue changes, simply having a functional, elevated home base is no small win. It was a huge one.
17. The Garage teams up with The Cre8tors for Midwest representation
In November, The Garage expanded its reach across the Midwest through a new partnership with The Cre8tors, the creative talent management and production consulting company led by Dani Jackson Smith and Jenny Lumpkin.
Under the deal, The Cre8tors will represent The Garage for Midwest opportunities and brand partnership initiatives, bringing the New York-based studio’s capabilities to a wider range of agencies and marketers.
16. Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper launches Unwell ad agency
In October, Alex Cooper took “Call Her Daddy” from the mic to Madison Avenue. The podcast star and Unwell founder launched Unwell Creative Agency, a shop built to help brands actually connect with Gen Z women, through social-first creative, original productions, live activations, and access to Unwell’s fast-growing media network.
The agency launched with momentum, marking a multi-year creative and media partnership with Google. Unwell will produce social ads and on-the-ground Google experiences at marquee events, while the broader Unwell group spotlights its own use of Pixel and Android.
The first work, a comedic road-trip spot titled “Get Lost,” features Aidy Bryant, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Cooper, and was created with T-Mobile and Google.
15. Jaws returns to theaters for 50th Anniversary in 4K and REAL 3D
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the movies. Universal Pictures brought Jaws back to theaters nationwide in August to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film that created the summer blockbuster and forever changed how we go to the movies.
Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic was presented in breathtaking 4K, with select screenings in IMAX®, RealD 3D, 4DX and D-BOX formats. Tickets are on sale now.
14. Oscars 2025: Anora dominates as Conan O’Brien roasts Hollywood
The 97th Academy Awards delivered big wins in 2025, historic firsts, and plenty of laughs as Conan O’Brien took the stage for his first time as Oscars host. The comedian wasted no time skewering Hollywood’s elite, opening with: “Welcome to the Oscars, where we celebrate cinema the only way we know how—by making the winners walk half a mile to accept their awards.”
But it was Anora that stole the show, winning Best Picture and racking up five awards total. Sean Baker made history as the first filmmaker to win Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing all in the same night. Star Mikey Madison also took home Best Actress, cementing the indie drama’s dominance.
13. Agency frenzy over AI actress, Tilly Norwood, stirs anger
2025 introduced us to Tilly Norwood. She is the “IT” girl. She is as talented and pretty as they come. Has a fabulous camera presence. The only issue is that Tilly isn’t human. She is a hyperreal, AI-generated performer created by Xicoia, an AI talent studio founded by actor and producer Eline Van der Velden.
The company introduced Tilly during an emerging technology panel at the Zurich Summit and said agencies are already showing interest.
Xicoia positions Tilly as the first in a slate of digital personalities that could appear in film and television, lead brand campaigns, host podcasts, engage on social platforms and even anchor video games. Van der Velden, who also leads the indie production outfit Particle 6, frames the project as a creative tool rather than a threat to live performers.
12. Who Is RAYE – and why do we want to be her husband?
This summer, British singer RAYE didn’t just have a moment. She owned it. Her hit, Where is My Husband! peaked at number 37 on Billboard’s Pop Chart. The song had that same breathless, horn-driven rush – the kind of groove that makes you involuntarily strut down the street like you’re late for your own music video.
But underneath the swagger was something more profound: a playful cry for love that’s part confession, part exorcism. RAYE doesn’t whine or pine; she commands. “Where is my husband?” she belts, flipping desperation into defiance. It’s funny, it’s raw, it’s wildly catchy – and it’s the most fun anyone’s had being single since Lizzo picked up a flute.
Musically, it was a masterclass in chaos control. The production splits RAYE’s vocals between the left and right channels, creating a dizzying stereo effect that felt like a conversation with yourself in the mirror after three glasses of wine. She called it her “retro pop vocal production.” We called it genius.
11. Netflix wins bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery
Netflix won one of the most dramatic entertainment shakeups in recent years. The streamer secured what sources call the highest and winning bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and will enter exclusive talks to close the deal.
The stunning development capped a chaotic day during which Paramount made an aggressive last-minute push to secure WBD for itself. Instead, Netflix pulled ahead with an offer of $28 a share, according to insiders familiar with the negotiations.
Get ready to watch The Batman II stream.
10. Omnicom to cut more than 4,000 jobs
On December 1st, 2025, Omnicom employees got lumps of coal in their stockings. The mega holding company eliminated more than 4,000 positions and retired several long-standing agency brands as it begins integrating Interpublic Group, the rival it acquired for $13 billion in November.
Good-bye DDB. Buh-bye, FCB.
The cuts arrived as the advertising industry undergoes a seismic change. Artificial intelligence is reshaping creative production, and platforms such as Meta are making it easier for companies to generate ads rapidly and cheaper, pressure that has forced holding companies to streamline.
9. The Big Winner of Super Bowl LIX – Kendrick Lamar
The Philadelphia Eagles may have put a collective beatdown on the Kansas City Chiefs to the tune of 40 – 22. But the real winner of Super Bowl LIX was Kendrick Lamar. The hip-hop star’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance transcended the typical entertainment spectacle, delivering a profound commentary on American culture, identity, and the complexities of the Black experience.
By weaving together symbolic imagery, surprise guest appearances, and subtle cultural references, Lamar crafted a show that resonated deeply with audiences and left an indelible mark on Super Bowl history.
8. Six Flags puts a stake in Halloween with terrifying short
For Halloween, the amusement park giant returned with an even bigger, bolder, and scarier film that showcases Halloween attractions at participating parks. It is less an ad and more a short horror movie, nearly eight minutes, created by horror aficionados for guests who love their scares.
Created by TMA, “Come Out and Play” leaned into the arthouse side of the genre, with a steady mood of dread, hair-raising sound design, and a shadowy threat named Smiley. He is searching for a friendly face, in a manner of speaking. The intention was simple: to make viewers feel the fear they will experience at Six Flags this Halloween.
7. Superman gets off to a super start at the B.O.
In July, the box office found a true hero this weekend that wasn’t from Marvel. Superman opened with a mighty $125 million domestic haul, delivering the strongest July opening since Twisters last summer and nearly outgrossing all films combined during this same weekend the previous year. It was a pivotal moment not just for the Man of Steel, but for the entire DC brand.
It was more than a box office debut—Superman was a cultural reboot, a studio referendum, and the launchpad for an entirely reimagined DC Universe. Not just because it reintroduces the most iconic superhero in American history, but because it set the tone for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new vision for DC Studios.
6. Sydney Sweeney has great jeans & American Eagle has problems
What started as a cheeky play on words for American Eagle quickly spiraled into one of the year’s most polarizing fashion campaigns. The fashion brand’s Fall 2025 campaign, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” starred the Euphoria and Housemaid star, and was supposed to be a celebration of classic denim.
Instead, it’s ignited a heated online debate, with some accusing the brand of subtly endorsing eugenics and white supremacy. The controversy centered on a viral video where Sweeney stood in front of a poster labeled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes,” which was then crossed out and replaced with “Jeans.”
5. Danielle Bertothy of HLK Agency detained in connection to Puerto Rico arson fires
2025 was not a good year for former HLK employee Danielle Bertothy. The Missouri woman, through her own doing, found herself at the center of a cross-jurisdictional investigation after she set fire to multiple businesses in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
Bertothy, who was an account manager with the St. Louis and Chicago-based agency, was eventually convicted of setting the blaze that devastated three local establishments, Bar Marea, Marinera, and Artesanías Juavi, and partially damaged Luichy’s Seaside Hotel.
4. “Merciless”: Inside Paramount Global’s massive Layoffs
Tensions were running high at Paramount Global following a sweeping round of layoffs that insiders described as “merciless.” The cuts came in the wake of Paramount’s high-profile merger with Skydance Media, a deal finalized earlier this year that aimed to reshape the legacy studio for a new era of entertainment.
The restructuring had already cost more than a thousand employees their jobs, with another 1,000 cuts expected in the coming months — a 10% reduction of the company’s 20,000-person workforce. The layoffs, which span film, television, and news divisions, left many staffers reeling.
3. Technicolor shut downs The Mill
In a stunning blow to the visual effects industry, Technicolor Creative Studios shuttered all U.S. operations of The Mill, MPC Advertising, and Mikros Animation in February. This abrupt closure, following months of financial turmoil, impacts hundreds of employees across New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Reel 360 News obtained the letter sent to The Mill’s U.S. employees, which was issued on February 21, 2025, as part of a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Act notice. Since then, The Mill has restructured and opened an office in London with former employees.
2. Director Rob Reiner and wife stabbed to death
This was a tragic surprise. In December, Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed by their son, Nick Reiner. Rob Reiner was 78. Michele was 70.
Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to a medical emergency around 3:30 p.m. at the couple’s residence on the 200 block of South Chadbourne Avenue. Firefighters discovered a man and a woman deceased from fatal laceration wounds inside the home. LAPD officers were immediately dispatched for an ambulance death investigation, and the department’s Robbery-Homicide Division has taken over the case. Celebrity attorney, Alan Jackson, is now repping Nick.
1. Windstorm fuels devastating wildfires in Pacific Palisades
In early January 2025, Los Angeles grappled with a major wildfire crisis as a powerful windstorm sparked and spread flames across Pacific Palisades, an upscale neighborhood nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Palisades Fire ultimately burned over 23,000 acres, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, and is tied to 12 deaths, with three civilians and one firefighter injured, per Cal Fire.
A separate blaze in L.A. County, the Eaton Fire, erupted the same week. The fire killed at least 19 people and destroyed more than 9,000 buildings, becoming the fifth deadliest and the second most destructive wildfire in California history.
There was a lot of sad news we covered this year. And yep, 2025 was challenging AF. However, the good news here is Reel 360 News is here. You’re here. And together we can make lots of good news happen in 2026.
Happy New Year from Reel 360 News!
Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360 News. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on LinkedIn.
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