In this contribution I highlight some of the new findings concerning core‐collapse, type II supernovae. In particular, after some comments on SN statistics, I review the case for a large spread in ejecta and Ni mass, the discovery of a population of faint, low energy events and the increasing evidences of the presence of dense circumstellar material likely ejected during the late stages of the progenitor evolution. Finally, I remind the physical and observational link between SNe and dust.