March 9th, 2022

Entertainment Weekly has been known to be the largest entertainment and Hollywood magazine since its first issue in 1990. Competing with other magazines such as Rollingstone and others, Entertainment Weekly has always given movie and pop culture fans something to flip through. However, similarly to other physical media in the 21st century, they have officially announced their last physical copy of their popular magazine will release in April, ahead of Lucasfilm and Disney’s anticipated Star Wars Series titled Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Entertainment Weekly will still stay in business through an online presence. But, the luxury of grabbing the fresh print will no longer be an option. CEO Neil Vogel commented on the decision by saying the following:

“It is not news to anyone that there has been a pronounced shift in readership and advertising from print to digital, and as a result, for a few important brands, print is no longer serving the brand’s core purpose.”

In terms of design significance, our culture has been seeing a growing shift in ditching physical mediums. Video games, DVDs, and now printed magazines are getting buried as the online ability to obtain these objects has never been easier. Designers will still be employed to create iconic covers such as the one of Ewan McGregor above, but their work will no longer be needed for print. This will in no doubt, change the way that the designers at Entertainment Weekly will approach their work.

Nonetheless, one of the best-looking and designed magazines of our culture’s history is sadly calling it quits for the stand, but will always be visible through the screen.