Air Taxis, Gen Z Moviegoers And Asian Cultural Boom | In Other News

CNBC In Other News brings you stories that missed the spotlight.

Heated battles are unfolding in the courtroom between electric air taxi companies like Joby, Archer and Vertical, threatening to sidetrack certification aspirations and investor appetite. Shares of major air taxi makers have dropped this year as sentiment sours. eVTOL makers have long pushed back certification timelines, but the Trump administration’s pilot program is providing the support to get them across the finish line.

The 2026 box office is projected to reach $10 billion for the first time since 2019, and Gen Z is fueling this moviegoing surge. Gen Z, those born between 1999 and 2012, are seeing more movies and spending more money than other generations. Although inflation remains high in May 2026, movies are still cheaper than many other forms of entertainment and are viewed as an affordable social outing for young audiences. Sarah Whitten has more on what’s drawing them to theaters.

The Asian food category has become $37 billion market in the U.S. as consumers crave more Asian inspired snacks and meals. While American mainstream grocery stores used to only carry a limited selection of “ethnic foods,” chains like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Aldi are now selling Asian products in every category like sauces, meats, packaged foods, frozen meals and spices and have been adding more items. These products appear across the store, rather than just in the ‘global foods’ section. CNBC’s Laya Neelakandan explains this rise.

Warner Music Group, which owns some of the biggest labels in the world, is investing in South Asian talent through its 5 Junction record label. Spearheaded by music industry titan Anjula Acharia, it is working to bring South Asian talent to western audiences, signing artists like Rhea Raj and Nora Fatehi. CNBC’s Laya Neelakandan explores why South Asian music is gaining steam in the U.S.

Chapters:
0:00-1:00 Introduction
1:00-3:30 How court battles have delayed the U.S. eVTOL commercial goals
3:31-8:05 Why Gen Z is driving the box office
8:06-11:50 Why Whole foods, Trader Joe’s and Aldi are selling more Asian groceries
11:51-16:25 After K-Pop and Afrobeats, is South Asian music the next big thing in the U.S.?

Host: Ryan Baker
Reporters: Samanta Subin, Laya Neelakandan, Sarah Whitten
Producers: Erin Black, Natalie Rice, Ryan Baker
Camera by: Natalie Rice, Andrew Evers, Ryan Baker
Editors: Andrew Evers, Andrea Miller, Meline Rosales, Natalie Rice, Zachary Green, Devan Burris
Animations: Jason Reginato, Emily Park, Christina Locopo, Alisa Stern
Managing Producer: Juhohn Lee
Manager Video Distribution: Divya J. Verma
Senior Directors of Video: Jeniece Pettitt, Lindsey Jacobson
Additional Footage: Getty Images, Geem, Disney, Reuters, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., 5 Junction Records

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Air Taxis, Gen Z Moviegoers And Asian Cultural Boom | In Other News

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