7 Things That Are Everything This Week

Sense8 - A Christmas Special

The acclaimed Netflix sci-fi series from the Wachowski sisters finally returns -- with a Christmas special? Yes, indeed. The two-hour movie continues the numerous storylines from the LGBT-inclusive first season and builds momentum for the second, to be released in May. The Christmas special is available Friday.

Lady Gaga, "Million Reasons"

The second single off Gaga's Joanne album recently dropped, as well as the accompanying video. The clip for "Million Reasons" is as stripped-down as the song, featuring the star hiding out in the desert, getting her make-up done, and crooning in her pink suit and oversized hat. It's light-years from "Bad Romance," and, hey, that's ok.

20th Century Women

'Tis the season for prestigious, star-studded, Oscar-bait movies -- and some of them are likely to actually be really good. 20th Century Women, from writer-director Mike Mills (Beginners), gives us Annette Bening as a single mother in 1970s Southern California who gets help in bringing up her teenage son from two other women, played by Greta Gerwig and Elle Fanning. Bening is getting raves and a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. 20th Century Women opens Wednesday in New York and Los Angeles, January 20 elsewhere.

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures tells the long-ignored true story of some brilliant mathematicians who helped America's space program literally get off the ground -- and who happened to be African-American women. Taraji P. Henson stars as Katherine Johnson, Octavia Spencer (nominated for a Golden Globe) as Dorothy Vaughan, and Janelle Monae as Mary Jackson; the film is based on the nonfiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly. It's in limited release Christmas Day, everywhere January 6.

Fences

The late August Wilson's Pulitzer-winning play comes to the screen, directed by and starring Denzel Washington as sanitation worker and former baseball player Troy Maxson, whose ambitions have been frustrated by racism. Viola Davis portrays his steadfast wife, Rose, and Jovan Adepo their son, Cory, who plans to go to college on a football scholarship -- but Troy fears Cory will find nothing but disappointment. Washington and Davis are both nominated for Golden Globes. Fences is in select theaters now and will be in wide release Christmas Day.

RuPaul's Christmas Ball

Take part in this growing holiday tradition of firing up YouTube and feasting your eyes on RuPaul's infamous 1993 VH1 Christmas special. With a budget straight out of public access and stars like LaToya Jackson, Elton John, and Boy George (and a cameo by Nirvana!), the hour-long artificact is best watch with spiked egg nog or a medicinal holiday cookie. Escape drunk uncles this week and revel in the bad puns and simpler times of Ru's cracked Christmas.

Jewbilee

Not into carols and tinsel this year? Are you a son or daughter of Abraham? Maybe just an admirer of the Chosen People? If so, and you're in New York, don't miss Hebro's Jewbilee party at State 48 on Christmas Eve. Your ticket nets you access to the menorah lighting, DJ Xavier, a trio of drag queens, and the hottest Jews this side of the Sinai. More info here.