Mashable

Ask.com shuts down after 30 years

Sat, 02 May 2026 18:41:39 +0000

Ask.com, originally founded as the Y2K stalwart Ask Jeeves, is officially dead.

"As IAC continues to sharpen its focus, we have made the decision to discontinue our search business, which includes Ask.com. After 25 years of answering the world's questions, Ask.com officially closed on May 1, 2026," the homepage now reads.

Ask Jeeves was launched in 1997 by the Berkeley-based duo Garrett Gruener and David Warthen, a year before Google's now-dominant search engine debuted to the masses. At the time, Ask Jeeves' natural language processing, combined with its personality-filled voice and branding, made it the go-to web search and answer engine for early internet adopters. The website's butler mascot, Jeeves, modeled after the P.G. Wodehouse character, made appearances at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, holding its own against other iconic corporate logos of the early 2000s.

"Can one man have all the answers?" If he has access to the entire internet, absolutely.

But while many still refer to the site by its 1990s name, Ask.com hasn't been "Ask Jeeves" for nearly 20 years, with the brand dropping the latter word and its valet logo in 2006. The shift came after a change in ownership, when the brand was transferred to American holding company IAC. In 2009, Ask.com was dubbed the official search engine of NASCAR.

"We are deeply grateful to the brilliant engineers, designers, and teams who built and supported Ask over the decades. And to you — the millions of users who turned to us for answers in a rapidly changing world — thank you for your endless curiosity, your loyalty, and your trust," Ask.com reads. "Jeeves’ spirit endures."

Amid an overwhelming shift toward generative AI-powered search engines and a repositioning of AI agents as the future of web browsing, the loss of Ask.com feels like a true end of the early dot-com era. So long Jeeves, hello AI.

Apple discontinues cheaper Mac Mini, now $799

Sat, 02 May 2026 17:15:21 +0000

Apple just axed its cheapest Mac Mini option, a compact 256GB desktop brain that previously cost Apple shoppers just $599.

First reported by MacRumors, the tech giant's new lineup starts with the Mac Mini at the company's $799, 512GB option. The more expensive model runs on Apple's M4 chip and offers 16GB of RAM, just like the $599 model, but with twice the storage.

Last week, Apple paused orders of the then sold-out 256GB Mac Mini, hinting at a lineup change. Apple CEO Tim Cook — who recently announced his departure from the company after 14 years — said on a recent earnings call that Mac Mini supply was currently constrained under global manufacturing squeezes and that meeting existing demand may be difficult. Tech companies and AI enthusiasts are weathering a global memory chip shortage, which is expected to worsen over the next year.

Cook himself attributed an increase in Mac Mini orders to the device's AI capabilities, with the Mac Mini now advertised for its Apple Intelligence processing power. Users have flocked to the portable computer amid a surge in interest in agentic AI after the launch of the open-source AI agent framework OpenClaw (previously known as both Moltbot and Clawdebot).

Instagram will stop recommending accounts that dont post original content

Sat, 02 May 2026 15:16:46 +0000

Serial Instagram reuploaders are about to be hit hard in the algorithm, as the platform announces new content ranking guidelines intended to boost original content creators.

Accounts that primarily aggregate content or repost others' content without meaningful alterations or additions won't be recommended to other users, Instagram explained in a recent Creators blog post. The platform announced the same algorithmic guidelines for Reels uploads in 2024. Now they'll apply to photos and carousel posts, too.

"Original content" is defined as "work that you wholly created or reflects your unique perspective," Instagram explains. That includes original photos and designs, as well as third-party content that is materially edited by the user. "Some examples include adding unique text on the content itself that provides more context than just describing what’s happening, adding creative graphics that offer new information, or using our remix feature to transform the original," the blog post reads.

The platform recommends that accounts that frequently reshare content share other users' posts to their stories, use the repost button, or enable collab posts to avoid being marked ineligible.

Aggregator accounts that are marked ineligible for recommendations under the new guidelines can regain their place in the feed by pivoting to original posts. Instagram says "most" of an account's posts, carousels, and reels need to feature original content over a 30-day period to have the decision reversed. Users can also remove unoriginal content and appeal the decision.

New rules for the Oscars: AI actors are out of the race

Sat, 02 May 2026 14:21:51 +0000

The Academy won't be handing over the golden statuette to robots anytime soon.

In new rules announced May 1, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has ruled that AI performances are not eligible for an Oscar. Filmmakers can still utilize AI tools in their submitted works, but only human actors and human-authored screenplays will be considered for the body's highest honors.

The move aligns with AI agreements won during the 2023 Writers' Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes and addresses growing tension over the presence of generative AI tools across artistic industries.

For example, a recent trailer for the upcoming historical adventure film As Deep as the Grave, featuring an entirely AI-generated recreation of the late Val Kilmer, caused widespread furor among fans who recoiled at the on-screen digital likeness. Prior to his death, Kilmer created an AI version of his speaking voice with UK tech company Sonantic. Other celebrities, like Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine, have worked with AI company ElevenLabs to clone their voices, as well.

But while some celebs are getting ahead of their AI counterparts, others are fighting back against nonconsensual deepfakes writ large. Pop star Taylor Swift recently filed for trademark of her voice and image — including the phrase "Hey, it's Taylor." — amid a surge of synthetic AI likenesses of her proliferating across the internet, including ones used in data phishing scams.

The Academy announced additional rule changes for international film and acting categories, generating buzz online after several contentious Oscar campaign races in recent years. For non-English films, a country can now have multiple nominated entries instead of the previous limit of one. Similarly, actors can receive multiple nominations in the same category if their performances rank in the top five.

NYT Pips hints, answers for May 2, 2026

Sat, 02 May 2026 13:39:54 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 2 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 2 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 2 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 2, 2026

Sat, 02 May 2026 13:21:25 +0000

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some knowledge of popular U.S. sports and pop culture.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: Found in the Iron City
Green: Keeping score
Blue: PWHL's best
Purple: Racing horse winners

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: A Pittsburgh Athlete
Green: Seen on an MLB Scorebug
Blue: Teams in the PWHL Playoffs
Purple: Horse Racing Triple Crowns

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #585 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

A Pittsburgh Athlete: PANTHER, PENGUIN, PIRATE, STEELER
Seen on an MLB Scorebug: COUNT, INNING, OUTS, SCORE
Teams in the PWHL Playoffs: CHARGE, FLEET, FROST, VICTORIE
Horse Racing Triple Crowns: AFFIRMED, CITATION, JUSTIFY, WHIRLAWAY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Lego is giving away N-1 Starfighter models for free ahead of Star Wars Day — how to claim yours this weekend

Sat, 02 May 2026 10:48:10 +0000

TL;DR: Build a Lego Star Wars N-1 Starfighter and take it home with you for free on May 3.

Credit: Lego

Lego: Free N-1 Starfighter for Star Wars Day

Lego regularly runs make and take events, providing an opportunity for participants to walk away with an exclusive build for free. We've made noise about a number of these free giveaways over the years, but nothing gets the people going like free Star Wars Lego.

Lego is once again celebrating Star Wars Day by offering an exclusive mini build for free. Visitors to select Lego Stores around the world can build and bring home a model Star Wars N-1 Starfighter for free. This event is intended for participants aged 10+ years, and the model is available on a first-come-first-serve basis, at participating locations, while supplies last. Warning: These free models are going to go quickly.

In the U.S. and Canada, this free giveaway will take place from 12-2 p.m. on May 3. You can then admire your free model on Star Wars Day.

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The free model depicts the Mandalorian’s second ship with Grogu. You're obviously not getting the same level of detail as the new 1,809-piece Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter, but it's a seriously fun collectible that money cannot buy. What's not to love?

The only catch is that you are limited to one build per participant. You can't just turn up and stock up, but that feels fair.

Celebrate Star Wars Day in style with a free N-1 Starfighter from Lego.

Im watching the Miami GP for free this weekend — how to live stream F1 for free

Sat, 02 May 2026 10:47:40 +0000

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races live. Watch the Miami GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Credit: Amazon

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

Watch the Japanese GP for free with a 7-day trial

We know the new F1 regulations are not for everyone. A lot of fans and drivers would like to go back to the way things were, but you can't deny that we've had some exciting racing this season. And after missing the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs due to regional conflicts, we're desperate to see some racing at the Miami GP.

Kimi Antonelli leads the standings coming into this race weekend, but George Russell is only nine points back in second. The Ferraris are third and fourth right now, but McLaren showed some promise in the last round. All eyes will be on Norris and Piastri as they look to challenge Mercedes at the front of the grid.

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Miami GP?

The Miami GP is the fourth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Miami International Autodrome:

Practice 1 — 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET on May 1
Sprint Qualifying — 4:30-5:14 p.m. ET on May 1
Sprint — 12-1 p.m. ET on May 2
Qualifying — 4-5 p.m. ET on May 2
Race — 4 p.m. ET on May 3

It's possible for fans to follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Miami GP for free

I've been a member of Amazon Prime for some time. I happily pay up for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. I can't say that I watch Prime Video all that often. I occasionally watch live soccer, but that's about it. That was until I found this hack for F1.

It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this automatic renewal at any time.

By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the Miami GP this weekend without actually spending anything.

I already pay for Amazon Prime, so I understand the argument that I'm not actually watching for free. But I was going to be a member whether I could watch F1 for free or not. Anyway, Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.

If you've already used this method to watch a race this season, you've got other options to consider. I suggest you go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

It's also worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you're planning on upgrading to something from the Apple lineup, you could gain access to Apple TV for a good chunk of this season.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026

Best Apple TV Deal

Apple TV

7-day free trial

Best Prime Video Deal

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

7-day free trial

Best Apple One Deal

Apple One

30-day free trial

How to watch F1 live streams online for free

Sat, 02 May 2026 10:47:28 +0000

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free at a glance:

Best Apple TV Deal

Apple TV

7-day free trial

Best Prime Video Deal

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

7-day free trial

Best Apple One Deal

Apple One

30-day free trial

This season of F1 is unlike any other. Every season of F1 has a number of fascinating storylines to follow, but due to a major set of regulation changes, there's so much uncertainty right now. And uncertainty can lead to exciting racing.

Lando Norris secured an incredible title victory on the final day of last season. Now the pressure is on McLaren to defend that title against a long list of talented drivers and motivated teams. Expect the likes of George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton to challenge for race wins this season. Mercedes look like the team to beat this season, but a lot can change.

If you are interested in watching F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

Lando Norris is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors Championship in 2025.

When is F1 in 2026?

The 2026 F1 season is the 77th edition of the championship. This year's championship features 24 Grands Prix events held all over the world between March and December:

Australian Grand Prix — March 8
Chinese Grand Prix — March 15
Japanese Grand Prix — March 29
Miami Grand Prix — May 3
Canadian Grand Prix — May 24
Monaco Grand Prix — June 7
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — June 14
Austrian Grand Prix — June 28
British Grand Prix — July 5
Belgian Grand Prix — July 19
Hungarian Grand Prix — July 26
Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 23
Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 6
Spanish Grand Prix — Sept. 13
Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 26
Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 11
United States Grand Prix — Oct. 25
Mexico City Grand Prix — Nov. 1
São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 8
Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 21
Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 29
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 6

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. The Chinese, Miami, Canadian, British, Dutch, and Singapore GPs will host a sprint race.

How to watch F1 for free

In the U.S., F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV. An Apple TV subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99 per year, but it's possible to gain access to Apple TV without spending anything.

Apple TV

Credit: Apple TV

Apple TV (7-day free trial)

Apple TV comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. This is a sneaky trick, but you could sign up to watch the next F1 race and then cancel your subscription before you need to spend anything. This obviously isn't a long-term fix, but it does give you the opportunity to live stream select F1 race weekends for free.

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

Credit: Amazon

Apple TV Prime Video Channel (7-day free trial)

Already an Amazon Prime member? You're in luck. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. This lets you watch select F1 races live with the Prime Video app. The subscription typically costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch select races without actually spending anything.

Apple One

Credit: Apple One

Apple One (30-day free trial)

Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial. Time it right and this trial could provide access to up to four race weekends for free. You do need to be a new or returning subscriber to each of the included services to get the free trial.

It's worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple TVs. This special offer goes live for 90 days after the new device is activated — that's a good chunk of the season.

From F1 sets to new Botanicals plants, these are the best new Lego sets of May

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:25 +0000

One of the best parts of being a Lego fan is that it's almost guaranteed that at some point, one of your non-Lego interests will be plastic brick-ified.

May's newest Lego sets are proof of exactly that: there are Toy Story sets (ahead of the fifth installment's release next month), a Lewis Hamilton helmet for F1 fans, a Cristiano Ronaldo set ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and some adorable additions to the Botanicals line.

You can find them below, along with more of the best releases from the past few months, including Smart Play Star Wars-themed sets, the first-ever Lego Pokémon collaboration, the Lego Game Boy, and a gorgeous Lego-fied Claude Monet painting that I'm legitimately tempted to buy every time I update this list.

Best new Lego sets as of May 2026

Lego Botanicals Rocking Plants

Look at how much fun they're having!!! Credit: Lego

Last year, Lego launched the Happy Plants set that was so cute, it made Mashable's Timothy Werth want to befriend the two little planters. Considering the continued adorable appearance of the next iteration, we imagine Werth will be looking for more pals in these Rocking Plants.

Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Rocking Plants

$22.99 at Lego

Lego Disney Alien with Pizza Planet Rocket Ride

The briiiccccckkkk. Credit: Lego

There are plenty of iconic aliens out there, but I would argue the little green guys from Toy Story sit in at least at least in the top five, if not top three, of all time iconic extraterrestrials. Factor in the Pizza Planet branding, the coin slot for the ride, and you have an excellent Lego set.

Credit: Lego

Lego Disney Alien with Pizza Planet Rocket Ride

$59.99 at Lego

Lego Editions Cristiano Ronaldo Soccer Legend

The best World Cup viewing companion. Credit: Lego

He's a soccer great, and this set is pretty great, too. This 854-piece Cristiano Ronaldo can be put in his recognizable "siu" pose, or mid-bicycle kick. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just around the corner, this Lego is a unique way to commemorate the occasion.

Credit: Lego

Lego Editions Cristiano Ronaldo Soccer Legend

$79.99 at Lego

Lego Editions Scuderia Ferrari HP Lewis Hamilton Helmet

Complete with a mini Lewis Hamilton. Credit: Lego

Maybe you'll never know what it's like to be behind the wheel of a car as one of the greatest drivers of all time. But you can know what it's like to own a Lego version of his helmet, which is kind of the second-best thing?

Credit: Lego

Lego Editions Scuderia Ferrari HP Lewis Hamilton Helmet

$89.99 at Lego

Best Lego sets coming soon

Best Lego sets available for preorder or coming soon

Preorder for May 1

Lego Editions FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Emblem

$24.99

Preorder for August 1

Lego One Piece Tony Tony Chopper

$69.99

Available June 1

Lego Ideas Peanuts: Snoopy's Doghouse

$89.99

Available June 1

Lego Marvel Spider-Man Hero Figure

$99.99

Preorder for June 1

Lego Jurassic Park Dinosaur Fossils: Triceratops

$109.99

Preorder for June 1

Lego Shrek, Donkey & Puss in Boots

$129.99

Best new Lego sets as of April 2026

Lego Gift Box Celebration

A birthday gift to celebrate any Lego lover. Credit: Lego

The universal human experience? Asking yourself what you want for your birthday. This gift celebration box is one festive answer, both for getting yourself a piece of decor or gifting a fellow brick lover.

Credit: Lego

Lego Gift Box Celebration

$19.99 at Lego

Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Bust

Luke, I am your tastefully nerdy decor. Credit: Lego

I mean, it's a Darth Vader bust; is there much more to say? It feels fitting that one of the most recognizable film characters of all time has a museum-worthy bust in Lego form. This 349-piece set stands at just over seven inches tall, making it the perfect balance of a statement piece that doesn't threaten to take up your entire bookshelf.

Credit: Lego

Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Bust

$49.99 at Lego

Lego Star Wars Grogu

Grogu remains adorable in every form he comes in. Credit: Lego

When we knew him as Baby Yoda, Grogu was adorable. When we know him as a 1,200-piece, eight-inch-tall Lego set, he's adorable. In other words, you can't go wrong picking up Lego Grogu.

Credit: Lego

Lego Star Wars Grogu

$129.99 at Lego

Lego Super Mario Mario Kart Luigi & Mach 8

Blue shell not included. Credit: Lego

Maybe you haven't quite bitten the bullet on a Switch 2, and therefore Mario Kart World. Maybe you've been playing a lot of Mario Kart World and want to continue the fun IRL. Either way, this over 2,000-piece Luigi Mario Kart set is one worth considering.

Credit: Lego

Lego Super Mario Mario Kart Luigi & Mach 8

$179.99 at Lego

Lego Icons Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner

Vintage aircraft fans, this one's for you. Credit: Lego

You've heard of model trains; now there are Lego planes. This replica of the 1930s twin-engine aircraft comes with a kitted-out cockpit and passenger cabin, because this is Lego after all. The 1,903-piece set is recommended for builders 18 and over.

Credit: Lego

Lego Icons Douglas DC-3 PAN AM Airliner

$219.99 at Lego

Lego Technic McLaren MCL39 F1 Car

One of the more affordable ways to get an F1 car. Credit: Lego

You know what goes really well with the Lewis Hamilton F1 helmet? A Technic F1 McLaren. At least, it's just a bit more accessible than buying the real thing.

Credit: Lego

Lego Technic McLaren MCL39 F1 Car

$229.99 at Lego

Best new Lego sets as of March 2026

Lego London Bus

It's a red bus, innit? Credit: Lego

Lego city-related sets are often targeted toward older fans, but this double-decker London bus is recommended for anyone 8 and up, and it's only 245 pieces. And for older folks, the red could be rather striking for some shelf decor.

Credit: Lego

Lego London Bus

$20.02 at Lego

Lego BrickHeadz Sulley, Mike, and Boo

Don't put these things back where they came from, or so help me. Credit: Lego

Personally, I can't get over how cute Mike Wazowski's single eye is in this set. The whole lineup is adorable, though, and at only 303 pieces, a great quick build.

Credit: Lego

Lego BrickHeadz Sulley, Mike, and Boo

$24.99 at Lego

Lego Disney Sally's Flowerpot

Botanicals fans who also love Halloween, this is your set. Credit: Lego

At first glance, this set includes a Sally Minifigure and the exterior of her flowerpot. Plenty on its own to satisfy Nightmare Before Christmas fans, but Lego takes it a step further by making the interior of the flowerpot its own room filled with accessories for Sally.

Credit: Lego

Lego Disney Sally's Flowerpot

$49.99 at Lego

Lego Technic BMW M4 GT3 EVO Race Car

This set comes with a code to unlock content in the racing game Asphalt Legends. Credit: Lego

Live out your pit crew dreams by putting together a Lego-fied BMW race car. This 747-piece set is good for ages 11 and up, and comes with steering, a six-cylinder engine, and opening doors.

Credit: Lego

Lego Technic BMW M4 GT3 EVO Race Car

$64.99 at Lego

Lego Technic Jeep Wrangler Rubicon SUV

A Jeep appropriate for children to take the wheel of. Credit: Lego

Maybe your kiddo isn't quite old enough to get behind the wheel of a Jeep, but this Lego Wrangler Rubicon is good for anyone ages 10 and up. As expected from any actual Jeep on the road, this SUV comes packed with the sense of adventure and whimsy, from a surfboard to a rubber duck for the dash.

Credit: Lego

Lego Technic Jeep Wrangler Rubicon SUV

$64.99 at Lego

Lego Icons Project Hail Mary

Complete with a minifigure Rocky and Ryland Grace. Credit: Lego

Anyone else ugly cry over Rocky in the theater? Anyone else tempted to ugly cry over Lego Rocky? No. OK, well, this 830-piece replica of the ship from Project Hail Mary is also pretty sick, too.

Credit: Lego

Lego Icons Project Hail Mary

$99.99 at Lego

Lego Ideas Orange Cat

Probably a great way to freak out your real cat, tbh. Credit: Lego

Lego made a tuxedo cat, so naturally, they had to follow up with the creature that inspired the phrase "orange cat behavior" (iykyk). Unlike an actual orange cat, you'll have some level of control over this one, with the ability to adjust its eyes, ears, tail, paws, and even its facial expression.

Credit: Lego

Lego Ideas Orange Cat

$99.99 at Lego

Lego Ideas Floating Sea Otter

Impossible not to say aw when looking at this set. Credit: Lego

It's a Lego floating sea otter. It's cute as hell. It comes with a baby otter you can rest on its stomach. Somehow, the set gets even cuter. And it's almost a foot wide, so it's sure to be one of the better conversation starters in your space.

Credit: Lego

Lego Ideas Floating Sea Otters

$119.99 at Lego

Lego Art Claude Monet Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies

This set is legitimate art. Credit: Lego

Of all the Lego sets I've added to this list, this Claude Monet one has tempted me the most. At 3,179 pieces and $249.99, it's an investment in more ways than one. Still, I can't help but remain impressed by how well the Lego style works with the impressionism of Monet, making this one of the more striking sets from the Art line, in my humble opinion.

Credit: Lego

Lego Art Claude Monet Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies

$249.99 at Lego

Best new Lego sets as of February 2026

Lego Disney Piglet's Birthday Fun

Only the most iconic friends get made into Lego sets. Credit: Lego

Oh, bother! These sets are almost annoyingly cute. For a more affordable option, you can celebrate Piglet's birthday with him for $39.99. Of course, it'd also be tempting to pick up Pooh and his pot of Hunny — but it'll run you slightly more at $149.99. Both Piglet and Pooh are available for preorder immediately and will be officially released come March 1.

Credit: Lego

Lego Disney Piglet's Birthday Fun

$39.99 at Lego

Lego Botanicals Magnolia Branches

Tasteful flowers that never die? Say less. Credit: Lego

Lego has long been the savior for those of us without a green thumb, but even for the best gardeners out there, an indoor magnolia tree situation isn't exactly the most practical. Now, Lego has us covered with this new set that's an easy 435 pieces. Preorders are available now, and are set to be available starting March 1.

Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Magnolia Branches

$49.99 at Lego

Lego Icons The Lord of the Rings: Sauron's Helmet

That's what I call a statement piece. Credit: Lego

One thing about Lego is that it's going to keep Lord of the Rings fans fed, but not exactly on the cheap. Out of the five LotR sets available, Sauron's Helmet is the only one less than $100, clocking in at $69.99. That lower price point isn't a sacrifice on size — the 538-piece set stands at over a foot tall, making it plenty viable as a statement piece.

Credit: Lego

Lego The Lord of the Rings: Sauron's Helmet

$69.99 at Lego

Lego Botanicals Flower Wall

The aptly-named Lego Flower Wall. Credit: Lego

Many of the Lego Botanicals sets can be arranged in a vase or as a table centerpiece, but it's less common to come across ones that can easily be hung on the wall. For a year-round pop of color, Lego introduced the Flower Wall — it's also the only set on our list that's available for purchase immediately (without a preorder period). At $89.99, it is one of the pricier Botanicals sets (though it's also one of the bigger ones). Still, if you're looking for a cheaper option, the new Sunflower Botanicals set is available for preorder now, with a release date of March 1.

Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Flower Wall

$89.99 at Lego

Lego Editions Soccer Ball

This Lego soccer ball does not come hollow. Credit: Lego

Maybe watching the Winter Olympics has got you hyped for the Summer Olympics in 2028, or maybe you're simply a big soccer fan. In either case, this Lego Soccer Ball set is sick. At first glance, it looks exactly what it sounds like — a plastic brickified version of the ball. Open it up, and you'll find a mini stadium in full-swing celebration.

Credit: Lego

Lego Editions Soccer Ball

$129.99 at Lego

Lego Icons Ford Model T

No assembly line required for building. Credit: Lego

Lego has modeled a lot of iconic cars over the years, but it's possible there's no car more iconic than the very first mass-produced one — the Ford Model T. The 1,060-piece set gives you plenty of accessibility in exploring the car, from the liftable seat that reveals the gas tank, to the accessible engine under the hood, and the foldable fabric roof top. Fans can preorder the set now, with full availability coming March 1.

Credit: Lego

Lego Icons Ford Model T

$129.99 at Lego

Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets

Punch it, Chewie! Credit: Lego

Fan of the original trilogies? Whether your favorite setting is the Millennium Falcon, Endor (with its adorable Ewoks), Mos Eisley Cantina, Yoda's Hut, or Luke's landspeeder on Tatooine, Lego's newest batch of Smart Play sets has got you covered. The sets range in price, but all of them are available for preorder with a release date of March 1.

Credit: Lego

Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets (5 sets)

Starting at $39.99

Best new Lego sets as of January 2026

Lego Pokémon

Lego Pikachu, we choose you. Credit: Lego

The first-ever Lego Pokémon release actually is made up of three sets, all of which are available for preorder and set to ship out on Feb. 27. Each exists in a different price tier: there's the adorable and affordable Eevee, which clocks in at $59.99 for a 587-piece set, the more involved Pikachu and Poké Ball with 2,050 pieces for $199.99, and finally the massive Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise set, which is a whopping $649.99 for 6,838 pieces.

Credit: Lego

Lego Pokémon (3 sets)

Ranging from $59.99 to $649.99, depending on the set

Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets

Charge up your Smart Bricks before adding them to the set to add an extra element of interactivity. Credit: Lego

Lego's Smart Play system just debuted at CES 2026, and already, the first three sets from the line are available for preorder, with a ship date set for March 1.

The Smart Play system includes three elements — the Smart Brick, Smart Minifigure, and Smart Tag — which can all be found on the debut sets of Darth Vader's TIE Fighter, Luke's Red Five X-Wing, and the Throne Room Duel & A-Wing. Star Wars fans aren't just getting the debut of a new type of Lego, but they're also getting relative affordability (in Lego terms, at least): the former two sets are below $100, with the latter set costing $159.99, and coming with the greatest number of Smart Bricks, Smart Minifigs, and Smart Tags.

Credit: Lego

Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets

Ranging from $69.99 to $159.99, depending on the set

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Retro Gaming Console

The gaming console can also be built into a computer or arcade machine. Credit: Lego

Can't quite swing the $60 Lego Game Boy? No problem. The 3-in-1 Retro Gaming Console delivers for just $19.99, offering the form of a handheld, computer, and arcade machine with its 268 pieces. For anyone who enjoys switching it up or prefers a low-key build, this might be the better option.

Credit: Lego

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Retro Gaming Console

$19.99 at Lego

Lego Bugs Bunny

A Lego set with the potential to absolutely ruin Elmer Fudd's day. Credit: Lego

It's buying a (Lego) rabbit season, folks. Though this set is just 605 pieces, it stands at a decent seven inches high, nine inches wide, and five inches deep. Bugs's personality can shine through with the adjustable head, ears, arms, wrists, and fingers.

Credit: Lego

Lego Bugs Bunny

$39.99 at Lego

Lego Minecraft The Fox

Find foxes in the taiga biome, or your living room. Credit: Lego

The days of Minecraft creatures existing solely behind a computer screen are gone, thanks to the Lego Minecraft line. The Fox set comes in at just $39.99, and is a relatively simple build with 497 pieces. Like Bugs, this set can be positioned and posed, and depending on the build, can have opened or closed eyes.

Credit: Lego

Lego Minecraft The Fox

$39.99 at Lego

Lego Spring Wreath

Ring in spring with a Lego wreath. Credit: Lego

Lego's holiday wreaths aren't just limited to the colder months. The straightforwardly-named Spring Wreath comes with 747 pieces and some decor options. One build of the set lets you go all-in on Easter theming, with a bunny head and eggs to adorn the wreath, while another aims for a classic spring look, with a yellow bow and flowers.

Credit: Lego

Lego Spring Wreath

$39.99 at Lego

Lego Botanicals Peace Lily

Behold: a peace lily that will never droop. Credit: Lego

Cat owners, rejoice! The latest Botanicals release means you can finally own a peace lily without worry that you're putting poison within paws' reach. Non-cat owners can also appreciate that this peace lily will permanently flower and look healthy (never in my life have I encountered a plant as dramatic as a peace lily). At $49.99 and just 474 pieces, this set is a great addition for more casual and dedicated Lego fans alike.

Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Peace Lily

$49.96 at Lego

Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket

Houston, we have a cool Lego set. Credit: Lego

Lego Icons released an Artemis launch set that goes for $249.99 and is currently on backorder. This Technics set, by contrast, is available for purchase and will ship immediately, and is a more stomachable $59.99. Sure, it's 632 pieces to the Icons' 3,601 pieces, but there's something to be said about affordability when nerding out over space.

Credit: Lego

Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket

$59.99 at Lego

Lego Art Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape

Lego Art decor is the best kind of decor. Credit: Lego

The Lego Art line has produced some of the most coveted sets from the brand, from Van Gogh's Sunflowers to Hokusai's The Great Wave. These sets are a) stunning and b) hangable just like non-Lego art. On both fronts, the latest addition — the Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape — is no exception. At $139.99 for 1,892 pieces, it's one of the less expensive and mid-size framed pieces from the line, but it certainly doesn't skimp on color and detail. Popular as it is, this set is currently on backorder, but will be shipped out on Feb. 1.

Credit: Lego

Lego Art Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape

$139.99 at Lego

Lego Icons Shopping Street

Just have to pop around to the Lego shops. Credit: Lego

The Lego Modular Buildings collection just got a new addition in the form of the Lego Icons Shopping Street. This 3,456-piece set features a three-story building housing two floors of stores and a top-floor apartment, as well as a two-story music shop. You'll be able to adorn your shopping plaza with the seven included minifigures.

Credit: Lego

Lego Icons Shopping Street

$249.99 at Lego

Best new Lego sets as of December 2025

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope

A tripod telescope is one of three available builds in this one set. Credit: Lego

What's just as cool as space? The fact that this 278-piece set can be built into three different configurations, including an adjustable telescope on a tripod, an adjustable microscope, or a UFO. It's the perfect set for the space enthusiast in your life, young or old, and best of all, it's just $34.99. Preorders ship out on January 1, 2026.

Credit: Lego

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope

$34.99 at Lego

Lego Fortune Firecracker

Legos that serve as wall decor are elite. Credit: Lego

Lunar New Year isn't until February, but you can get prepared by pre-ordering this Lego Fortune Firecracker. The eight firecrackers "crackle" when they're moved, and the entire set can be mounted on the wall. The center can also be opened to reveal one of two scenes of your choice — a firework display or God of Fortune celebration scene. Preorders will ship out on January 1.

Credit: Lego

Lego Fortune Firecracker

$89.99 at Lego

Lego Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy

Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Lego

In classic Lego style, this replica brings you more than meets the eye. The 2,842-piece set functions as a 14.5-inch brick version of the iconic World Cup trophy, but unlike the real deal, the top can also be opened to reveal a World Cup scene. The actual World Cup isn't until July of next year, but preorders for this set ship out on March 1, 2026.

Credit: Lego

Lego Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy

$199.99 at Lego

Lego Ideas The Goonies

The Goonies Legos 'R' Good Enough. Credit: Lego

The Goonies turned a whopping 40 years old this year — what better way to celebrate than building this nearly 3,000 piece set, featuring the iconic Inferno pirate ship housing vignettes from the film? And unlike the full-scale ship built for the movie, it won't be devastating if you want to scrap this one and build it all over again. At the time of writing, this set is on backorder, but should be ready to ship out (no pun intended) 60 days from purchase.

Credit: Lego

Lego Ideas The Goonies

$329.99 at Lego

Lego Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D

Your living room: The Final Frontier. Credit: Lego

The crew of the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise may be used to more exciting voyages than the one to your office shelves or living room sideboard, but the Star Trek fans will probably appreciate being greeted by the display every single day.

This Next Generation-themed 3,600-piece set comes with nine minifigures, a detachable command saucer, secondary hull, warp nacelles with distinctive red and blue detailing, an opening shuttlebay, 2 mini shuttlepods, and an angled display stand with a schematic and ship statistics. Also currently on backorder, it will ship out 60 days after purchase.

Credit: Lego

Lego Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D

$399.99 at Lego

Lego Icons Tropical Aquarium

All the aquarium essentials are in this set, including a treasure chest. Credit: Lego

This set may be a whopping 4,154 pieces, but after the initial build, it'll be way less work to maintain a real aquarium. Plus, it even comes with knobs and levers so you can "move" the sea life inside, from a striped brickfish to sea anemones and, of course, a sunken treasure chest. This backordered set will ship out 60 days after purchase.

Credit: Lego

Lego Icons Tropical Aquarium

$479.99 at Lego

Best new Lego sets as of October 2025

Lego Time Machine from Back to the Future

Credit: Lego

It's relatively common to see Lego sets from popular IPs, but less so to see them at an under-$50 price point. This quaint 357-piece set is the perfect coffee table addition for Back to the Future fans. It's on preorder until its ship date of Jan. 1, 2026 (not 1955). This isn't the first time Marty McFly's DeLorean has been brickified, but this more-affordable set is part of the Lego Speed Champions line.

Credit: Lego

Lego Time Machine from 'Back to the Future'

$27.99 at Lego

Lego Up-Scaled Santa Minifigure

Why not get into the holiday spirit before the end of October? Credit: Lego

Not to pit sets against each other, but I wasn't wowed by the $330 Christmas Tree (and neither were reviewers on Lego's site so far). This oversized Santa minifig is a much more palatable $54.99, has the positive reviews to back it up, and stands at a nice 10.5-inches tall, making it a great addition for any holiday setup.

Credit: Lego

Lego Up-Scaled Santa Minifigure

$54.99 at Lego

Lego Gingerbread AT-AT Walker

Not pictured: the seasonally-appropriate snowy landscape of Hoth. Credit: Lego

Star Wars fans have another huge (literally) release lower down on this list, but for anyone looking to get into the holiday spirit while honoring their love of Star Wars lucked out with this Lego Gingerbread AT-AT Walker. It's just a bit smaller than the now-retired 1,267-piece AT-AT Lego originally released, but at 697 pieces and 7.5-inches tall, it's still plenty to ring in the holidays with.

Credit: Lego

Lego Gingerbread AT-AT Walker

$59.99 at Lego

Lego Super Mario Game Boy

The ultimate dose of nostalgia. Credit: Lego

I don't know if there's a combination of words more nostalgic than Lego Super Mario Game Boy. This set was announced for preorder in July, and as of Oct. 1, is finally available. As a small catch, it is on backorder for up to 60 days, so if you're looking to gift it to the gamer in your life this holiday season, I'd grab it sooner rather than later. The set comes with a customizable display and game paks, but if you want to play actual games on this Lego replica, you'll have to go the same path as this modder.

Credit: Lego

Lego Super Mario Game Boy

$59.99 at Lego

Lego Ideas Mineral Collection

For any Botanicals fans looking for something a little different, one of Lego Ideas newest releases has got you covered. Credit: Lego

They're (Lego) minerals, Marie. One of the latest releases from the Ideas line is an 880-piece set that allows you to create a nice display of Lego golden pyrite, purple amethyst, reddish-pink rhodochrosite, blue fluorite, watermelon tourmaline and tangerine quartz.

Credit: Lego

Lego Ideas Mineral Collection

$59.99 at Lego

Lego Batman Logo

This easy to display Batman set celebrates 20 years of Lego Batman. Credit: Lego

It may be hard to come by your own personal bat signal if you don't live in Gotham, but Lego made it easy with this Batman Logo set. The 678-piece set celebrates 20 years of Lego Batman, hence the golden Batman and anniversary coin. Also included is the display stand, supports for wall-mounting the piece, and a code to unlock a character in Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight. As of now, it's only available for preorder, and will ship on March 1, 2026.

Credit: Lego

Lego 'Batman' Logo

$79.99 at Lego

Lego Wicked Emerald City & Kiamo Ko Castle

One short day, in the Lego Emerald City. Credit: Lego

We're closing in on the release to the Wicked sequel. If you're looking to kill some time before the film's release, this relatively small (but adorable) 860-piece set will do the trick.

Credit: Lego

Lego 'Wicked' Emerald City & Kiamo Ko Castle

$79.99 at Lego

Lego Ideas Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

The snozzberries do in fact taste like snozzberries. Credit: Lego

Come with me, and you'll be, in a world of 2,205 plastic bricks that make up the iconic scenes from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. This set comes with nine minifigures (you'll never guess who five of them are), along with depictions of the chocolate waterfall and Wonkatania boat.

Credit: Lego

Lego Ideas Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

$219.99 at Lego

Lego Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship

And yes, it does come equipped with a row of cannons. Credit: Lego

The enduring power of Pirates of the Caribbean's popularity can be found in two facts about this Lego set. One, it's part of the Icons series, meaning it joins the ranks of other iconic IPs. Two, it's on backorder for the next 60 days, so if you're wanting to get an impressive display piece sooner rather than later, I recommend adding it to your cart ASAP.

Credit: Lego

Lego Icons Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Ship

$379.99 at Amazon

Lego Star Wars Death Star

This 9,023-piece set might rival the build time of the actual Death Star. Credit: Lego

Step aside, $850 Lego Millennium Falcon. The Lego Death Star hits a $999.99 price point, making it the most expensive Lego from the brand. While its price point has raised some eyebrows, this is one of the top ten biggest sets Lego's ever made, and the biggest Lego Star Wars set to date, clocking in at a whopping 9,023 pieces, including 36 minifigures and two droid figures.

Credit: Lego

Lego 'Star Wars' Death Star

$999.99 at Lego

Best new Lego sets as of August 2025

Lego Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck

The farmer figurine nails the balance of fear and excitement known by every Halloween fan. Credit: Lego

The correct day to start celebrating Halloween season is Sept. 1, but as someone who absolutely loves Halloween, I will allow Aug. 1. This quaint Jack-O'-Lantern set (with a pumpkin you can open!) nails the vibe for adorable Halloween bookshelf decor for under $20.

Credit: Lego

Lego Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck

$14.99 at Lego

Lego Arcade Machine

The perfect desk accessory. Credit: Lego

What is the point of being a gamer if not collecting adorable accessories through which to channel your passion? I guess actually playing games, but when your eyes need a break from your screen, building this mini arcade machine could do. The 468-piece set opens up to a mini gaming room for the included minifigure.

Credit: Lego

Lego Arcade Machine

$39.99 at Lego

Lego Halloween Wreath

Credit: Lego

Between the bats, spiders, pumpkins, and ghosts, the only Halloween heavy hitter missing on this wreath is a skeleton (though it does feature bones). While this wouldn't be the best outdoor option, Lego's Halloween Wreath comes with a string for easy hanging in your home, making it a great option for getting in the spooky spirit.

Credit: Lego

Lego Halloween Wreath

$39.99 at Lego

Lego 'Mario Kart' Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit

Switch 2 owners aren't the only ones who get to enjoy new Mario Kart content. Credit: Lego

Don't quite have the funds to get your hands on the new Mario Kart game just yet? This set requires no Switch 2 to enjoy, featuring Koopa Troopa, Toadette, the Tanooki Kart and Cat Cruiser, and of course, a piranha plant you can attach to either kart.

Credit: Lego

Lego Mario Kart Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit

$49.99 at Lego

Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees

Look at the serenity of these tiny Lego trees! Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals fans: we did it. We finally got a set of bonsai trees that don't have any flowers or leaves actually made up of tiny pink frogs. (No shade to the frog fans, it's just a little unnerving for some of us!).

Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees

$64.99 at Lego

Lego Botanicals Hibiscus

A perfect addition for a Lego Botanical garden. Credit: Lego

If there's a Lego Botanicals flower set that isn't gorgeous, I've yet to come across it, and the Hibiscus set is certainly no exception. The 660-piece life-size flower set comes with posable petals in a pretty lilac shade, making it an excellent accent piece.

Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Hibiscus

$69.99 at Lego

Lego One Piece Battle at Arlong Park

Credit: Lego

The Arlong Park arc of One Piece is what some fans consider the real hook — no small feat considering the original anime is over 1,000 episodes long (and still ongoing). Luffy's rubber powers get a fun feature in the arm-lengthening pieces, and a tap to the top of the pagoda causes it to explode in a nod to the show's unforgettable fight scenes.

Credit: Lego

Lego 'One Piece' Battle at Arlong Park

$79.99 at Amazon

Lego Nike Dunk x Lego

Who knew a Lego sneaker would look this good? Credit: Lego

There's a Lego collab for everyone, including Nike and basketball fans. This 1,180 set comes with a couple of tricks up its sleeve (or down its shoe?), in the form of a storage compartment in the sneaker (where you can drop the minifig or extra shoe lace colors to swap later) and the ability to spin the basketball. That's a slam dunk of a fun set.

Credit: Lego

Lego Nike Dunk x Lego

$99.99 at Lego

Lego Star Wars Wicket the Ewok

What's more stunning decor, the Botanicals Hibiscus or Wicket the Ewok? Credit: Lego

Ewoks are the most adorable creature in the Star Wars universe, argue with the wall. While I think Lego could've made real magic with a life size Ewok set, this 1,010 piece that stands around nine inches tall is pretty adorable, too. And true to canon, he comes equipped with a spear and a little treat.

Credit: Lego

Lego 'Star Wars' Wicket the Ewok

$129.99 at Lego

Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp

Display some of Spider-Man's most iconic heroes and villains in your living room. Credit: Lego

This Spider-Man set packs in the heavy hitters from the beloved series: Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, and Venom — just to name a few of the minifigures found among the 808 pieces that make up this set. The city model features Miles Morales' apartment, the Oscorp building, and Venom's apartment, giving you plenty of opportunities for staging the perfect Spider-Man scene.

Credit: Lego

Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp

$139.99 at Lego

Lego Icons Shelby Cobra 427 S/C

From afar, this set almost doesn't look like Legos. Credit: Lego

Early buyers of the Shelby Cobra 427 S/C set are impressed: the attention to detail paid to the design makes the car look great from afar and up close. The working steering wheel is a nice touch, alongside Caroll Shelly's signature on the glovebox.

Credit: Lego

Lego Icons Shelby Cobra 427 S/C

$159.99 at Lego

Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker

A room isn't complete without a good statement piece. Credit: Lego

If you missed out on the Lego AT-AT set before it was discontinued (and fair — it was $849.99), this AT-ST set is much more reasonably priced at $199.99, and it doesn't require quite as much shelf space, making it overall a much more practical option. And it's still just as iconic to the Star Wars universe.

Credit: Lego

Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker

$199.99 at Amazon

Lego Architecture Neuschwanstein Castle

From the Alps to your living room. Credit: Lego

Lego's architecture line depicts some of the most famous structures from around the globe, from Notre Dame in Paris to the Himeji Castle in Japan. For this latest release, Lego brings us to the impressive Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. It requires you build through 3,455 pieces, but it looks like the view is well worth it.

Credit: Lego

Lego Architecture Neuschwanstein Castle

$279.99 at Amazon

Lego One Piece The Baratie Floating Restaurant

Display this set on a repurposed trunk and you've got yourself a vibe. Credit: Lego

That's right — we have two iconic One Piece scenes on our list. With 3,402 pieces for building this set, you'll create the floating restaurant with detailed rooms where you can place 10 included characters and wanted posters.

Credit: Lego

Lego 'One Piece' The Baratie Floating Restaurant

$329.99 at Amazon

The Lost Boys: A New Musical: Phenomenal, frightening, and not to be missed

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

I was 14 when I saw Les Misérables on Broadway, and it blew my mind. The production, with its spinning stage and massive ensemble, expanded my understanding of what live theater could be. And in a Broadway season arguably overstuffed with stage interpretations of beloved movies, like Beaches, Dog Day Afternoon, The Rocky Horror Show, and Titanique, it was The Lost Boys: A New Musical that took me back to that feeling of being a child in awe of the magic of live theater.

Based on the grubby cult horror film from Joel Schumacher, this musical offers the familiar story of a family of three looking to start a new life in the beachside town of Santa Carla, California. There's just one obstacle to a single mom and her teen sons having a happy ending: a roving pack of motorcycle-riding teen vampires.

The movie is a messy blend of bloody horror, earnest drama, goofball comedy, and camp — including an inexplicably buff, shirtless, and greased-up saxophone player. So, my expectations for the stage show were that it would be self-mocking, like the irreverent fun of the Celine Dion jukebox musical parody Titanique. However, The Lost Boys: A New Musical has more in common with Little Shop of Horrors, which gets name-dropped in a cheeky moment of self-awareness.

The book by Chris Hoch and David Hornsby (Mythic Quest) fleshes out the narratives for all three family members, and the sexy mullet-sporting vampire named David. From there, the tonal shifts of the movie remain, but original songs from the band The Rescues help smooth the transition from one emotion to the next, so that each can hit with a rousing intensity.

Make no mistake: The Lost Boys: A New Musical rocks.

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is an astounding production.

Maria Wirries and LJ Benet play Star and Michael in "The Lost Boys: A New Musical." Credit: Matthew Murphy

Cheers to director Michael Arden (Queen of Versailles), who masterfully unfolds the world of Santa Clara one flashlight swipe at a time.

As the audience files in, the view of the stage is blocked by an opaque black scrim. Then, "1987" is projected upon it in white light. The show begins with a stage so dark that we can see little of the set aside from a small, boxy television sitting downstage, playing footage of President Ronald Reagan bloviating on family values. A police officer enters from a doorway high up from the stage, indicating a second story to the setting. He is viewable only as a silhouette. He calls out into the dark, and his flashlight sweeps across the room, revealing details of a rusted factory's interior with each urgent movement.

As our eyes adjust to the darkness, we see the cop is not alone. A stalking figure floats down from the rafters. This is David (Ali Louis Bourzgui), who appears with grace of an angel and the bloodlust of a demon.

He descends on the cop and pulls him up into the sky, feeding on his neck high above the stage. Then the stage lights flash, and we are blinded. Just like that, the scene has changed. The scrim's projection light tells us we're in Phoenix, Arizona. Where there were moments before an abandoned factory and a fresh kill, there's now Michael Emerson (LJ Benet) revving his motorcycle.

From here, we'll meet his nerdy younger brother, Sam (Benjamin Pajak), and his patient mom, Lucy (Shoshana Bean), as they hurriedly pack up to move away from an abusive father and husband.

This is a smart change from the original film, which had the father as a non-entity. Here, he's the first monster this trio has faced, which they sing about in the show's first song, "No More Monsters." But this violent drunk also becomes a future possibility that Michael fears repeating. So as he gets pulled into David's blood-sucking gang, his fear is not just of becoming a vampire but of becoming a vicious brute like his dad.

The book and music also beautifully build out Sam and Lucy. For the former, the musical leans into the queer undertones of the movie, making Sam's journey one of realizing a side of himself he'd been hesitant to recognize with "Superpower." For Lucy, she not only has a budding romance but also reflects on how her past as a hippie brought her back to her hometown in the rousing "Wild."

Shortly after the family arrives at Santa Clara, they each find their own pockets of its boardwalk life. Lucy meets Max (Paul Alexander Nolan) the friendly owner of the local video rental store. Sam tumbles into a comic book shop, where he meets the Frog brothers (Jennifer Duka and Miguel Gil), who warn him of the town's dark side as "Murder Capital of the World."

Michael plunges into that dark side, led by a bohemian beauty named Star (Maria Wirries), who performs onstage with a leather-strapped rock band led by the seductive David. "Have to Have You," he croons with the thrilling sensuality of '80s hair bands, locking us to a time and mood that Kiefer Sutherland made intoxicating decades before.

Ali Louis Bourzgui is spellbinding as The Lost Boys' David.

Ali Louis Bourzgui and Dean Maupin as David and Paul in "The Lost Boys: A New Musical." Credit: Matthew Murphy

Sporting black leather, a bleached blonde mullet, sharp fangs, and a sharper smile, Bourzgui oozes sex appeal and menace. There's a whiff of Kiefer in his approach, as he plays David as a vampire who clearly relishes his power. There's an edge of camp to his portrayal, as he endlessly poses, whether strutting on stage or flying high above it.

This David is knowingly performative, projecting an image of killer cool and absolute freedom. But in private moments with Star — and later, Michael — an edge of his vulnerabilities creeps through the cracks, making him not softer but more volatile. (Echoes of The Vampire Lestat!)

While Michael is undoubtedly the lead of The Lost Boys, Bourzgui is its star. Benet gives an earnest and angst-filled performance that brings rich depths to the tortured teen. But Bourzgui becomes more than an actor or a singer on that stage. He becomes a rock star, a magician, and a god.

The mesmerizing grace with which he flows from floor to ceiling, swimming through the air on wires as if he can truly fly, is breathtaking. I know there are wires there; sometimes I can even see them. But the effect is so sublime that I believe in David and his powers with utter abandon.

When Bourzgui is on stage, it's hard to look away from him, his presence is so completely captivating. And his uncanny bravado helps ground the show's sillier scenes, pulled directly from the movie.

You might assume the motorcycle race won't make it to the stage. And the scene where they drop from the train tracks? How do you do that in a theatrical production? The Lost Boys will show you how.

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is better than Schumacher's movie.

Shoshana Bean is Lucy Emerson in "The Lost Boys: A New Musical." Credit: Matthew Murphy

A masterful employment of lights helps turn the stage into a bumpy, dark road, perfect for reckless racing. Fog machines and wires allow for a recreation of the train tracks scene that isn't remotely hokey, as it was in the movie. Instead, when Michael, who has fed on David's blood, dares to let go, his fall is transcendent, creating a live stunt that feels impossible even as you watch it.

Arden's production marries light, sound, sets, and blocking to a miraculous effect, using not just the stage but the whole of that big box to tell this story to its fullest. The Lost Boys operates not only on the X and Z axis of the stage, but on Y as well, through the wire work and a three-story set design that constantly shifts with details and company.

The supporting cast comes out as cheery surfers and roller skaters, seemingly plucked from Barbie. Then they resurface as studded punks, with sneers and safety pins. Next they're old-school vampires, comically draped in long capes, then superheroes in brightly colored unitards. Seamlessly, they switch roles in costume and physicality, building out the world of Santa Clara with every appearance.

Arden thoughtfully places his cast in every scene, like a master illusionist. With the towering canvas at the Palace Theatre, he strategically uses blocking to draw our eye to one corner, where David is lit to glisten, his bared abs looking chiseled by marble in the pale blue light. Meanwhile, Michael is upstage, preparing for flight. When he takes off, your eyes snap to him, and the next stunt or jump scare is already in the works in another spot.

Where Sam's arc builds out some Goonies-style fun with brave kids getting in over their heads, Michael and David's story becomes an increasingly terrifying adventure. Arden manages surprises and scares by how he throws David's voice around the theater. He uses darkness to allow for horrid surprise entrances, and pyrotechnics to make some of the flashiest slays really pop. The audience (myself included) shouted and cheered at such displays, as if we were at a rock show. And indeed, we are!

Much as Alan Menken and Howard Ashman did with Roger Corman's Little Shop of Horrors, Hornsby, Hoch, The Rescues, and Arden have taken an odd horror movie and expanded it into a wildly entertaining, rich stage musical. The production design alone is worth the cost of admission. But Arden's cast brings breathtaking spirit to the show.

Wirries belts out love ballads and the rousing "War" with an unfettered passion. Bean is a Broadway diva in full as she lets loose with "Wild." The supporting cast of Frogs and vamps (Brian Flores, Sean Grandillo, and Dean Maupin) radiates attitude for comic relief and stinging suspense, respectively. Nolan neatly handles the creepy nuance of Max, while Benet and Pajak burst forth as bickering brothers.

But above all, you won't want to miss Bourzgui as David. In originating the musical role on Broadway, he had big leather boots to fill, thanks to Kiefer Sutherland. Yet, he makes David his own with every smirk, threat, and song. His performance, paired with the ambitious and excellent production design, has me not only in awe, but also desperate to go again.

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is now on Broadway.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is $500 off right now at Amazon — save on this content creator favorite

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

SAVE $500: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off the list price of $1,599.

Credit: DJI

DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo

$1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500

What's going to happen to the drone market in 2026? Due to legislative pressure on DJI imports in the U.S., there is so much uncertainty at the moment. We expected stock issues by now, but we're actually seeing strong discounts on some of the best drones in the DJI range.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,099 at Amazon. That's $500 off and close to the record-low price.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro offers a huge 1-inch CMOS sensor, so whether you’re shooting 50MP stills or 4K/120fps slow-motion, the dynamic range more than delivers. The DJI Mini 5 Pro also makes use of forward-facing LiDAR that powers the new Nightscape Omnidirectional Sensing, meaning it can dodge branches, power lines, and buildings even when you don't have eyes on your drone.

This popular drone offers 42GB of internal storage, meaning you can actually capture a full session of 4K footage without needing an external card as backup. That can have a massive impact for content creators.

Save $500 on the DJI Mini 5 Pro this weekend.

T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Score the iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond or Better Value plan.

Credit: Apple

T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free

Earlier this year we got new iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads. That was quite a rush, but what are we all supposed to do until the next launch? We can't sit around and wait until the long-awaited foldable iPhone arrives in late 2026.

No, we should be using this time to scout the best deals on Apple's latest lineup.

And there's some good news for anyone looking to upgrade to the Apple iPhone 17: For a limited time, you can claim the iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond or Better Value plan. You can also switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e. Neither of these offers requires a trade-in.

T-Mobile will charge taxes on these deals and a $35 device connection fee, but that's pretty much always the case with these "free" deals. It's a small price to pay for a brand-new mobile.

The iPhone 17 is the first base model built to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. In Mashable's review, Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." Content creators will also be pleased to read that the camera is "almost as good as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max."

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free with T-Mobile this weekend.

Put multiple AI models to work at once with this $80 tool

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Upgrade your AI workflow with a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI ’s Advanced Business Plan, now just $79.97 (reg. $540) until May 10.

Credit: 1minAI

1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription

$79.97
$540 Save $460.03

Most AI models spit out one answer. There’s one problem with this — you don’t know if it’s the best option unless you run it through multiple models, which takes a whole lot of time. That’s where 1min.AI shines, letting you put your prompt in one place and see answers from dozens of AI models.

Right now, you can streamline your AI workflow with a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for only $79.97 (reg. $540) through May 10.

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Imagine seeing results from dozens of popular AI models in one window, with no tab-hopping or copying and pasting required. That’s what 1min.AI offers — a one-stop-shop for all your AI needs.

With 1min.AI, you can see responses from major AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Mistral, and more, all in one spot.

Compare them all and easily find the best answer. You can get help with coding, video editing, image generation, answering simple questions, and much more. Just always give things a human once-over, because edits might be required.

Not only does 1min.AI let you consolidate your AI workflow, but it also saves you money in the long run. This lifetime subscription allows you to pay once and avoid not only monthly subscription fees, but also the cost of accessing multiple models.

Your lifetime subscription to the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan provides an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, unlimited brand voice options, and weekly updates. You’ll also receive 4 million credits a month.

Wondering what you can do with those credits? You can use them to write 1,112,500 words, research up to 5,933 SEO keywords, generate up to 1,186 images, or create up to 37 videos per month. If you need more, you can earn them for free by using the app, leaving a review, or referring your friends.

Lock in major savings with a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI ’s Advanced Business Plan for only $79.97 through May 10.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Upgrade your laptop without overspending thanks to this $430 MacBook Pro

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Bring home this Apple MacBook Pro for only $429.97 (reg. $1,999) now through May 10, while supplies last.

Credit: Apple

Apple Macbook Pro 2020 (Refurbished)

$429.97
$1,999 Save $1,569.03

If you’re in the market for a premium laptop, but you don’t exactly have the budget to match, you may want to act fast on this next deal. Right now, a MacBook Pro, Apple’s most powerful and portable device, can be yours for just $429.97 (reg. $1,999) until May 10.

When your workload doesn’t slow down, the MacBook Pro is ready to keep up. This Apple device is known for its seamless performance and incredible power, and this model delivers all that and more for a fraction of the usual price.

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Equipped with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and 2GHz base speed, this MacBook can handle all your multitasking needs. And if you require a little extra power, it also has Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz.

If you do a lot of video editing or coding, you can take advantage of the 16GB of RAM. You’ll also have 1TB of SSD storage to work with, so you can save important files locally and download your favorite apps with plenty of space to spare.

This MacBook Pro has a 13.3-inch Retina Display that offers bright colors and stunning detail in 2560×1600 native resolution. You’ll also enjoy enhanced visuals thanks to Intel Iris Plus Graphics.

Your eyes will appreciate True Tone Technology, Apple’s signature feature that adjusts your screen to improve visibility and reduce eye strain. This MacBook Pro also has a Magic Keyboard with a Touch Bar, so you can type comfortably with quick access to shortcuts at the top.

This model also boasts a 10-hour battery life on a full charge, and there are four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports for easy connectivity.

You’re saving over $1,500 on this device thanks to its Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with minimal to no scuffing, while you snag the deep discount.

Act fast to get your own Apple MacBook Pro for $429.97 while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

This $100 Microsoft Office 2024 deal won’t bill you next month

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote with a one-time license, now $99.97 (reg. $249.99).

Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License

$89.97
$249.99 Save $160.02

There’s a good chance you use Microsoft Office more often than you realize — possibly more than some of your go-to apps. There’s also a good chance you’ve been paying for it just as consistently. This Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business lifetime license offers a one-time alternative, now on sale for $99.97 (reg. $249.99).

For a set of apps you open this frequently, paying month after month can start to feel a bit unnecessary — especially when a one-time license is an option. This version includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, which covers most of what people actually use on a day-to-day basis. It doesn’t come with Teams, but it does integrate with it, so you can still jump into chats, share files, and sit through meetings as needed.

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Office 2024 doesn’t offer drastic differences, but instead builds on what’s already familiar with some useful upgrades along the way. Performance has been improved, particularly in Excel, where handling large datasets and multiple workbooks feels smoother. PowerPoint now supports recording presentations with voice narration and video, including live camera input, which can be useful for remote work or presentations.

Word also gets a few AI-assisted features, like suggestions for completing sentences and generating content based on context. Across the suite, AI tools can help with formatting, summarizing text, translating content, and pulling out key information.

All in all, this bundle offers the same set of tools most people are familiar with, just with a few updates that make everyday tasks a bit easier.

Originally $249.99, you can get Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC for $99.97 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

AdultFriendFinder vs. FetLife: Which is better for exploring specific kinks?

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

So, you want to explore kink but you're not sure where to begin. Finding a dating app that's kink-friendly and full of likeminded kinksters is hugely important, and regular dating apps might not cut it on that front. So, how do you find your people?

Perhaps you have a foot fetish, or you're into spanking or BDSM. Maybe you have no idea what you might be into but want to find a safe, non-judgmental space to explore your options and go on a journey of sexual self-discovery.

Well, we've got good news for you: thanks to the magic of the internet, there are at least two places purpose-built for you to let your freak flag fly: AdultFriendFinder and FetLife. Spend even a few minutes on either site and you'll see they have a lot in common, from the abundance of nudity to the kink-friendly design of the interface and search functions.

Another major point of commonality between the two sites is the user demographics. Though both skew male, the major standout difference is age — the average user on FetLife in 25 and AdultFriendFinder users tend to be in their 30s. That having been said, both sites boast a very wide range of genders, sexual orientations, ages, and kink communities, so it's safe to say there's something for everyone here.

But while both sites are designed to accommodate sex-positive communities, they don't operate in the same way, and you may find one suits your needs and goals better than the other. Here are the major differences in how AFF and FetLife cater to kinksters:

Credit: AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder

Credit: FetLife

FetLife

Where AdultFriendFinder excels

Faster connections

FetLife is great and very popular, but it also takes time to build a following, earn credibility, and be taken seriously on the site. In fact, while you can message strangers, the culture of the site discourages it, and it's common for unsolicited messages to go ignored. On AdultFriendFinder, on the other hand, the opposite rule reigns. In fact, it's much more like a traditional dating site, in the sense that connecting with strangers online is closer to the site's purpose, whereas FetLife is more of a social media website for building local kink communities.

And in addition to the one-on-one aspect, AdultFriendFinder also hosts live webcam shows and community discussion forums, offering users multiple different ways to connect and connect quickly.

Better site interface

This one might be controversial, since the AFF site is notoriously dated, but FetLife's interface is downright confusing, a mix between Facebook and Instagram, with much more limited search functionality. While both sites will allow you to search by specific kinks (and both sites offer exhaustive lists of kink options), the search functionality and filter options on AdultFriendFinder are more comprehensive and more user-friendly.

This isn't an accident, by the way. FetLife deliberately disables search by age, gender and sexual orientation because, in their words, they are "a social network and not a dating site."

Live shows

FetLife allows users to host videos, but it doesn't have a dedicated, live webcam service. Some users do offer that, of course, but they do so on third-party sites, and usually behind a paywall. AFF, on the other hand, makes live streaming a significant part of their community experience, and allows you to search through the webcam shows based on the location of the streamer or the interest/topic of the show, which often revolves around a specific kink.

In other words, if you're content to watch, AFF delivers some excellent, kink-centric live action, and much of it is accessible without upgrading to a paid subscription.

Where FetLife excels

Free accounts have more freedom

The most noticeable difference between FetLife and AFF is how much more freedom is afforded to non-paying accounts. On AdultFriendFinder, profiles are locked behind a paywall, so only paying members can read bios, scroll through photos, or see a comprehensive list of kinks. FetLife, on the other hand, operates more like Instagram for kinksters, delivering large photos, comprehensive bios, and even a web of connections comparable to what you might see on Facebook, from friends and romantic partners to subs, doms and mentors, if applicable.

Even more important, free FetLife users can contact each other in one-on-one messages without having to give up their credit card information, which definitely makes it easier to establish a personal connection.

One major limitation of free accounts is that they're prevented from watching videos, and because raunchy videos are a mainstay of many profiles, this is definitely a hindrance, but not an especially annoying one.

The site promotes in-person events

Perhaps the biggest benefit of FetLife over AdultFriendFinder is the former is much more focused on real-life connections, whereas AdultFriendFinder seems content to let people play in the virtual world.

The Events tab at the top of the FetLife banner allows you to see, at a glance, all of the nearby, kink-friendly events, from informal meet-and-greets to full-on costume and masquerade balls. Best of all, you can filter by sub-type (Party, Educational, Social, Conference/Festival, Sex Party) or just look for events that your FetLife friends are attending.

These in-person events are such an important part of the FetLife experience, even when they're not officially affiliated with the website, that they should be considered integral to the site itself. In fact, it's pretty common to see people indicate, in their profiles, that they won't message or "friend" anyone that they haven't already met at an IRL event.

Kink discovery

Because of its community emphasis and dedication to exploring sexuality in a safe, consensual and informed way, FetLife offers users not only the means to connect with others but also to better connect with themselves. There's the community-sourced Kinktionary, for example, a Wiki-like resource covering topical aspects of human sexuality from the ins and outs of gay culture to a comprehensive list of sex toys and their uses, as well as dedicated groups to not only explore kinks but also introduce people to the BDSM lifestyle (we recommend you check out the Novices & Newbies section if you're a first-time visitor).

AdultFriendFinder isn't totally without these resources, but they're not as user-friendly or as accessible to total newcomers to the world of kink.

The bottom line

Both AFF and FetLife are premier destinations for internet kinksters, and you can't really go wrong with either. Both sites have large user bases, comprehensive kink-based spaces, and the kind of non-judgmental atmosphere that makes it easy to let loose.

That having been said, if you're looking for the fastest possible connection or are content to confine your kink to the digital world for the time being, AdultFriendFinder does a better job connecting people quickly. If, on the other hand, you want to integrate into your local kink community and maybe discover the underground nightclubs and VIP parties reserved only for the naughtiest of the naughty, FetLife will do right by you.

Where NASAs Dragonfly mission is going, We dont need roads

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

By trading wheels for helicopter blades, NASA is upping its game for the Dragonfly mission, a flying machine intended to explore Titan, an icy moon of Saturn.

The team has started assembling the honeycomb panels for the aircraft's main body, completed a series of drop tests on the parachute system, and demonstrated that its compact chemistry lab can pick out tiny amounts of target molecules in test samples.

This NASA robot, expected to launch as early as 2028, is no space orbiter. Dragonfly will be an SUV-size, eight-rotor aircraft, designed specifically to navigate the hazy orange skies of Titan, a world larger than the planet Mercury. It will explore the alien landscape much like NASA's fleet of rovers, except Dragonfly will have a much faster way of getting from Point A to B. In the words of Back to the Future's Doc Brown: "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads."

Titan, about 886 million miles from Earth, is the only moon in the solar system with a substantial atmosphere. But Titan's air is thick — about 1.5 times the pressure at Earth's sea level and roughly three times as dense, said Charles Malespin, who leads the team that built the hardware for analyzing Titan's samples. Because it is so cold in this alien world, gases like methane become liquids, and the atmosphere turns into a heavy blanket. Meanwhile, the moon has just one-seventh Earth's gravity.

"That's why an octocopter is primed for that, because you could fly very easily through it," Malespin said. "We could cover a huge amount of terrain and explore a much larger area."

Scientists see Titan as a kind of time machine for understanding how life begins. Its methane‑rich atmosphere constantly produces complex organic molecules that dust the icy surface, creating dunes and deposits of carbon‑based material. On early Earth, similar chemistry may have helped make the building blocks of life, but our planet's surface has since changed dramatically because of life and geology.

Titan, by contrast, stays frozen and preserves that chemistry. By flying from dune fields to an ancient crater where water and organics could have mixed, researchers hope Dragonfly will allow them to study how simple ingredients evolve into more complex molecules.

"There was a melt pool that may have lasted up to about 1,000 years. That is a lot of time for chemistry to happen between the organics that are depositing in it and the water," said Melissa Trainer, a planetary scientist and the lead for Dragonfly's DraMS instrument, a quasi-acronym for its mass spectrometer. "Who knows what we could make in a 1,000-year chemistry experiment?"

For a handful of reporters at Goddard Space Flight Center in April, NASA walked through how the $3.35 billion mission will drill into Titan's rock-hard ice, analyze samples with its built‑in chemistry lab, and then lift off again to explore a new spot. The device will use a carousel of 40 sample cups, tiny ovens, and a laser to study the Saturn moon's plentiful organic material.

It's the opposite of what the tiny drone Ingenuity, which went kaput two years ago, faced on Mars. There, the air is about 100 times thinner than Earth's. To lift itself, Ingenuity needed very long blades and a featherweight body, leaving hardly any wiggle room to carry instruments.

But for Dragonfly, engineers can exploit its larger body to stuff it full of tools.

"If you had cardboard wings, you could fly just by pushing because the atmosphere is pretty much so thick there," Malespin said.

NASA Dragonfly team members begin integrating the sample carousel into the DraMS mass spectrometer instrument. Credit: NASA / Mike Guinto

Mobility is the other key reason NASA built Dragonfly as an aircraft. Rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance on Mars move slowly, perhaps half a football field in a day. Dragonfly, on the other hand, could traverse miles.

Researchers will use the mission's measurements collected over three years to study prebiotic chemistry, the steps that occur on the way to making life. They are looking for familiar building blocks, such as amino acids, nucleobases, and fatty acids.

But one limitation for the mission is that Dragonfly can't explore Titan's lakes or seas of liquid methane and ethane at the north pole. Instead, the robot is built to explore an equatorial region of dunes. That's fine with the team, said deputy project scientist Shannon MacKenzie, because some of the materials scientists are looking for on Titan don't dissolve well in liquids anyway.

"We want to go to the sand," MacKenzie said. "Those organic sand particles are probably the end result of a lot more of that chemistry than what we would be able to slurp up out of the lakes."

Awaiting those detections will take a great deal of patience for the team. The journey alone to get to Titan in the outer solar system will take nearly seven years.

2026 Summer TV preview: Every TV show you need to know about now

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

What will your summer TV obsession be this year?

Will it be a returning old favorite like House of the Dragon, The Bear, or Ted Lasso? Or will it be a new show, like Netflix's sci-fi series The Boroughs or Apple TV's thriller remake of Cape Fear?

Whatever your preference, 2026's summer TV offerings are here to satisfy any genre craving you may have. Hang out with rock star vampires in The Vampire Lestat, or zip along with superheroes in offerings like Spider-Noir and Lanterns. Get some animated action in with a new season of The Legend of Vox Machina or the upcoming raunchy comedy Mating Season. Looking for romance? Check out the hockey-focused Off Campus or summery drama Every Year After.

That's just the start of what you can expect from TV over the next few months. Here, in chronological order, are the TV shows you should keep an eye out for this summer.

May 2026 TV releases

Lord of the Flies

A new miniseries from Adolescence co-writer Jack Thorne, based on William Golding's legendary novel Lord of the Flies? Count us in. Following a group of school boys who are forced to survive on a deserted island after their plane crashes, this new adaptation is every bit as brutal as the 1954 book. Expect coming-of-age friendships, rivalries, and a piercing exploration of just how quickly society can fall apart when things enter life-or-death territory. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Winston Sawyers, Lox Pratt, David McKenna, Ike Talbut

How to watch: Lord of the Flies premieres May 4 on Netflix.

The Other Bennet Sister

What do you know of Mary Bennet, the overlooked sister of Pride and Prejudice? Jane Austen's beloved novel spends ample time with Lizzy and Jane, but what of the more reserved, observant, and bookish of the Bennet family? Based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name and set after Pride and Prejudice, BBC's The Other Bennet Sister gives Mary the respect (and screen time) she deserves.

Call the Midwife's Ella Bruccoleri takes on the unsung fictional heroine, whose sisters are now all married, which means she's under pressure from her ever-theatrical mother (Gavin & Stacey's Ruth Jones) to do the same. However, thanks to the encouragement of the Gardiners (Indira Varma and Richard Coyle), Mary decides to travel across England to figure out her own path — whether it involves potential suitors or not. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Ella Bruccoleri, Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Indira Varma, Dónal Finn, Tanya Reynolds, Varada Sethu, Maddie Close, Poppy Gilbert, Richard Coyle, Laurie Davidson, Grace Hogg-Robinson, Molly Wright, Lucy Briers

How to watch: The Other Bennet Sister premieres May 6 on BritBox.

M.I.A.

Ozark co-creator Bill Dubuque shifts states for some score-settling South Florida crime in Peacock's new drama, M.I.A.. Heir to a family drug business, Etta Tiger Jonze (Shannon Gisela) finds herself literally adrift on the ocean when they're brutally murdered. Once back on dry land in Miami, the one that got away has one mission: Revenge, what did you think? However, she'll have to find this cartel before they find her — or the cops do. Sounds like it's time for a flamboyant new identity and the brutal deployment of those specialised hunting skills. — S.C.

Starring: Shannon Gisela, Cary Elwes, Danay Garcia, Brittany Adebumola, Dylan Jackson, Alberto Guerra, Maurice Compte, Gerardo Celasco, and Marta Milans

How to watch: M.I.A. premieres May 7 on Peacock.

Off Campus

Heated Rivalry got you craving more hockey romance? Then Off Campus may be just up your alley. Based on the bestselling books by Elle Kennedy, the series centers on Briar University's hockey team and the women they fall for. The first season is all about womanizing hockey all-star Garrett (Belmont Cameli) and quiet tutor Hannah (Ella Bright), who kick off a fake dating ploy in order to make Hannah's crush jealous. Of course, all that fake dating turns into real feelings, with the potential for a romance hot enough to steam up the ice rink. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Ella Bright, Belmont Cameli, Mika Abdalla, Antonio Cipriano, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Josh Heuston, and Stephen Kalyn

How to watch: Off Campus premieres May 13 on Prime Video.

Nemesis

Folks, it's a heist series! We love a heist: rogue mastermind versus the law, niche skills against high security, inevitable montages. In Netflix's Nemesis, Power Universe creator Courtney A. Kemp presents a Los Angeles–set crime caper with co-creator Tani Marole and pioneering New Jack City director Mario Van Peebles. Insecure's Y’lan Noel plays a master thief the LAPD hasn't been able to catch; Abbott Elementary's Matthew Law plays the hard-boiled detective who lost his partner thanks to the elusive mastermind. What's that? It's time for…one last job? Involving a colossal diamond haul? Let's absolutely go. — S.C.

Starring: Matthew Law, Y'lan Noel, Cleopatra Coleman, Tre Hale, Domenick Lombardozzi, Jonnie Park, Ariana Guerra, Gabrielle Dennis, Michael Potts, Sophina Brown, Cedric Joe, and Jeff Pierre

How to watch: Nemesis premieres May 14 on Netflix.

Dutton Ranch

Yellowstone heads, this one's for you. This spin-off and sequel to Paramount+'s hit neo-Western picks up with Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and her husband Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) as they try to build a future on their Texas ranch. However, a rival ranch may put a stop to that future before it can even begin. Saddle up for some serious Western drama, along with star power in the form of new additions to the Yellowstone-verse like Ed Harris and Annette Bening. — B.E.

Starring: Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Finn Little, Jai Courtney, J.R. Villarreal, Juan Pablo Raba, Marc Menchaca, Natalie Alyn Lind, Ed Harris, Annette Bening, and Morgan Wade

How to watch: Dutton Ranch premieres May 15 on Paramount+.

Game Changer Season 8

Last season on Game Changer, host (and Dropout CEO) Sam Reich took this ever-changing game show to unpredictable places, including a sobering Traitors parody, a big-hearted Who Wants to Be a Millionaire variant, and Antarctica. What’s next?

It’s not like Reich’s going to tell us. (That’d spoil the fun.) But what we do know is that this season welcomes back Dropout stars like Demi Adejuyigbe, Ally Beardsley, Jacob Wysocki, Oscar Montoya, Jiavani, Ify Nwadiwe, Zac Oyama, Lou Wilson, Vic Michaelis, Josh Ruben, Anna Garcia, Lily Du, Kimia Behpoornia, Jeremy Culhane, Grant O’Brien, Siobhan Thompson, and Brennan Lee Mulligan. Whether you’re new to Game Changer or you’ve been here the whole time, this line-up alone should have you giddy. We can’t wait to see what this crack team of improvisers has in store. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Sam Reich, Demi Adejuyigbe, Ally Beardsley, Jacob Wysocki, Oscar Montoya, Jiavani, Ify Nwadiwe, Zac Oyama, Lou Wilson, Vic Michaelis, Josh Ruben, Anna Garcia, Lily Du, Kimia Behpoornia, Jeremy Culhane, Grant O’Brien, Siobhan Thompson, and Brennan Lee Mulligan

How to watch: Game Changer Season 8 premieres May 18 on Dropout.

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed

Tatiana Maslany leads the new dark comedy Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. She stars as newly divorced mom Paula, who's convinced she witnessed a terrible crime. Her independent investigation takes her down a slippery slope of blackmail and murder, two things that are very inconvenient to be thinking about when you're also dealing with a custody battle and an identity crisis. Will Paula crack the case and rediscover her sense of self-worth? And just how, exactly, does youth soccer fit into all this? Find out when you tune in, for what is hopefully a maximally pleasurable viewing experience.* — B.E.

Starring: Tatiana Maslany, Jake Johnson, Brandon Flynn, Murray Bartlett, Jessy Hodges, Jon Michael Hill, Charlie Hall, Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg, Nola Wallace, and Dolly De Leon

How to watch: Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed premieres May 20 on Apple TV.

The Boroughs

If you hated the Stranger Things finale, let the Duffer Brothers try to win you back with The Boroughs. The pair executive produce this supernatural series, created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, which is set in a quaint New Mexico retirement community. The community's residents include an all-star cast of Geena Davis, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Bill Pullman, Clarke Peters, and Denis O’Hare, who join forces to investigate the otherworldly threat lurking over their home. The cast alone is worth a watch, but The Boroughs' trailer teases even more goodies, like some seriously spooky creatures and its ensemble gearing up to kick monster butt in a sewer, Losers Club from IT-style. — B.E.

Starring: Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, Bill Pullman, Carlos Miranda, Jena Malone, Seth Numrich, and Alice Kremelberg

How to watch: The Boroughs premieres May 21 on Netflix.

Mating Season

The creators of Big Mouth are back with another raunchy comedy about love and sex. This time, they turn their focus from teenagers and their hormone monsters to wildlife having a tough time coupling up during mating season. Follow along with bear Josh (voiced by Zach Woods), raccoon Ray (voiced by Nick Kroll), deer Fawn (voiced by June Diane Raphael), and fox Penelope (voiced by Sabrina Jalees) as they search for a mate in the very horny animal kingdom. Seriously, the trailer is already at a 10 in terms of animal horniness (see: a joke about a skunk expressing her anal glands), so I'm expecting the full show to take that to an 11. — B.E.

Starring: Nick Kroll, Zach Woods, June Diane Raphael, and Sabrina Jalees

How to watch: Mating Season premieres May 22 on Netflix.

Spider-Noir

It's impossible to single out just one highlight in the Academy Award–winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but hearing Nicolas Cage voice the ultra-broody Spider-Man Noir is certainly up there. This year, Cage takes that portrayal into live action with Spider-Noir, which audiences can watch in black and white or color. The series takes place in 1930s New York, where Cage's Ben Reilly is a grizzled private investigator who also happens to be the city's only superhero. Here's hoping he gets to drink all the egg creams and punch all the Nazis he wants. If it's even half as fun as Spider-Man Noir's appearance in Into the Spider-Verse, I'm all for it.* — B.E.

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Brendan Gleeson, Abraham Popoola, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, and Jack Huston

How to watch: Spider-Noir premieres May 27 on Prime Video in 2026.

The Four Seasons Season 2

Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, Tina Fey, Colman Domingo, and Will Forte in "The Four Seasons." Credit: Emily V. Aragones / Netflix

Celebrate the start of summer with some televised vacations thanks to the return of The Four Seasons. Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield's spin on the 1981 Alan Alda film follows a friend group — played by Fey, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Marco Calvani, Steve Carell, and Kerri Kenney-Silver — over the course of four vacations. Season 1 ended with the loss of Carell's Nick and the dramatic news that his younger girlfriend Ginny (Erika Henningsen) is pregnant. How will Nick's friends come together to help Ginny, and what gorgeous new locales will they visit next? All will be revealed in Season 2. — B.E.

Starring: Tina Fey, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Marco Calvani, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Erika Henningsen

How to watch: The Four Seasons Season 2 premieres May 28 on Netflix.

Deli Boys Season 2

Saagar Shaikh, Asif Ali, and Poorna Jagannathan in "Deli Boys." Credit: Disney / James Washington

What happens when your multimillionaire father's death unveils a secret drug empire? That's the problem Mir and Raj Dar (Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh) face in Season 1 of Hulu's delightful crime comedy Deli Boys. In Season 2, the stakes are even higher: The Dar brothers are swamped with dirty cash, which draws the attention of the shadiest characters in Philadelphia. Among them is Max Sugar (Fred Armisen), who catches the attention of Deli Boys scene stealer Lucky (Poorna Jagannathan). If the fun of the first season somehow isn't enough to draw you back, then surely the promise of the pairing of Armisen and Jagannathan will do the trick. — B.E.

Starring: Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan, Fred Armisen, Andrew Rannells, Kumail Nanjiani, Lilly Singh, Robin Thede, and Tan France

How to watch: Deli Boys Season 2 premieres May 28 on Hulu.

Star City

Apple TV's For All Mankind presents an alternate history of the Space Race, one where the Soviet Union became the first country to send a man to the moon. The show's upcoming spin-off, Star City, rewinds the clock to examine the early days of the Soviet Union's space program. Behind the Iron Curtain unfolds a thriller steeped in paranoia, as the program's cosmonauts, engineers, and more weather moles and leaks in their efforts to push humanity farther than it's ever been before. — B.E.

Starring: Rhys Ifans, Anna Maxwell Martin, Agnes O’Casey, Alice Englert, Solly McLeod, Adam Nagaitis, Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, Josef Davies, and Priya Kansara

How to watch: Star City premieres May 29 on Apple TV.

June 2026 TV releases

Not Suitable for Work

Ella Hunt and Will Angus in "Not Suitable for Work." Credit: Disney

With Never Have I Ever, Mindy Kaling portrayed the perils of high school. With The Sex Lives of College Girls, she dove into the chaos of finding yourself in college. Her new project, Not Suitable for Work, examines yet another defining life stage: your early twenties. Co-created with showrunner Charlie Grandy, Not Suitable for Work follows five work-obsessed twentysomethings as they hunt for professional success — and a personal life, if time allows — in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood. — B.E.

Starring: Ella Hunt, Avantika Vandanapu, Will Angus, Jack Martin, Nicholas Duvernay, and Jay Ellis

How to watch: Not Suitable for Work premieres June 2 on Hulu.

The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4

Season 3 of The Legend of Vox Machina ended with the titular crew scattering to the winds in search of their own individual goals. But a year later, in Season 4, the call of adventure (and the threat of a growing death cult) will bring them back together.

Every season of The Legend of Vox Machina has grown darker and stronger, and Season 4 looks to be no exception. This time around, Critical Role's bawdy bands of heroes will come face to face with their most dangerous foe yet: the Whispered One, also known as Vecna in Dungeons & Dragons. (And yes, he's very different from Stranger Things' version.) Don't expect Season 4 to be all doom and gloom, though. It will also feature Critical Role fan-favorites like Taryon Darrington (voiced by Wayne Brady) and his mechanical servant Doty, who are bound to bring some laughs to the fight for Exandria. — B.E.

Starring: Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham, Wayne Brady, Kevin Michael Richardson, Debra Wilson, and Tom Cardy

How to watch: The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 premieres June 3 on Prime Video.

Cape Fear

Who's ready for a remake? Apple TV reimagines Martin Scorsese's 1991 film Cape Fear, itself a remake of the 1962 film of the same name. The series centers on married attorney couple Anna and Tom Bowden (Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson), who are about to face a vengeful reckoning from Max Cady (Javier Bardem), the killer they put behind bars. Will the series live up to its source material? Or, at the very least, The Simpsons' "Cape Feare" episode?* — B.E.

Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson, Javier Bardem, Joe Anders, Lily Collias, Malia Pyles, and Anna Baryshnikov

How to watch: Cape Fear premieres June 5 on Apple TV.

The Vampire Lestat (Interview with the Vampire Season 3)

AMC's exceptional Interview with the Vampire gets a rocking rebrand in Season 3. Now titled The Vampire Lestat, this season focuses on everyone's favorite French vampire train wreck (affectionate). Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) has stepped into the spotlight as a rock star, and he's using his music to tell his side of his relationship with Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson). But as he goes on tour, he'll confront "muses" from his troubling past, who'll show us a whole new side of Lestat. Expect more heart-wrenching angst, vampire spats, and several bangers performed by Lestat himself. (Stream "Long Face" for clear skin.) Trust me, you're going to want a front row seat to this concert.* — B.E.

Starring: Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, Delainey Hayles, Assad Zaman, Jennifer Ehle, Ella Ballentine, Jeanine Serralles, Christopher Heyerdahl, Damien Atkins, Sheila Atim, Noah Reid, Ryan Kattner, Seamus Patterson, and Sarah Swire

How to watch: The Vampire Lestat premieres June 7 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC and AMC.

Every Year After

Matt Cornett and Sadie Soverall in "Every Year After." Credit: Cate Cameron / Prime Video

The Summer I Turned Pretty may be over (until the film, that is), but Prime Video is not giving up its hold on summer-tinged YA romances. Enter Every Year After, based on Carley Fortune's bestselling 2022 novel Every Summer After. The series introduces Persephone "Percy" Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), two friends who spent six summers growing inseparable, falling in love, then falling apart. Now, it's been years since they've seen one another, but when a tragedy brings them crashing back together, will they be able to rekindle the love they once shared? — B.E.

Starring: Sadie Soverall, Matt Cornett, Aurora Perrineau, Abigail Cowen, Michael Bradway, and Joseph Chiu

How to watch: Every Year After premieres June 10 on Prime Video.

House of the Dragon Season 3

The dragons are still dancing in House of the Dragon Season 3, which continues the war of succession between Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and her nephew, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney). Between the massacres by dragonfire and full-on child murder, the war has already been catastrophic enough. But it's about to get even more fraught, as the Battle of the Gullet is on its way. In George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, the Battle of the Gullet is a naval bloodbath that will launch a calamitous new chapter in the Westerosi history books. Brace yourself for epic action, family betrayals, and of course, tons of dragons.* — B.E.

Starring: Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, Matthew Needham, James Norton, Tom Bennett, Kieran Bew, Kurt Egyiawan, Freddie Fox, Clinton Liberty, Gayle Rankin, and Abubakar Salim

How to watch: House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2

It's Toph time! Netflix's live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender returns for Season 2 in 2026, where it will introduce everyone's favorite earthbender (Miya Cech) as Aang's (Gordon Cormier) newest teacher. On top of that, we'll hopefully be revisiting some of the original show's best moments: the increased involvement of Princess Azula (Elizabeth Yu), the political intrigue of Ba Sing Se, and the true beginnings of Prince Zuko's (Dallas Liu) redemption arc. That's an embarrassment of riches, but Toph is still at the top of my list of things I'm most excited to see this season. You know that first "twinkletoes" is going to hit just right.* — B.E.

Starring: Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu, Miya Cech, Elizabeth Yu, Ty Lee, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Maria Zhang, and Daniel Dae Kim

How to watch: Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 premieres June 25 on Netflix.

The Bear Season 5

Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri in "The Bear." Credit: FX Networks

Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) may have quit the restaurant life at the end of The Bear Season 4, but don't think for a second that the series is done. FX announced that The Bear will return for a fifth and final season this summer, meaning we'll see what the Bear restaurant looks like under the supervision of Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Sugar (Abby Elliott). I'm especially intrigued to see what Carmy gets up to when he's not in chef mode. Maybe he gets really into watercolors, or hiking. Maybe he'll finally learn to relax! But something tells me he'll be back in the kitchen before too long — hopefully after he's done some serious healing.* — B.E.

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, Matty Matheson, Edwin Lee Gibson, Corey Hendrix, Oliver Platt, Molly Gordon, Ricky Staffieri, and Jamie Lee Curtis

How to watch: The Bear Season 5 premieres this June on Hulu.

July 2026 TV releases

Elle

Lexi Minetree in "Elle." Credit: Prime Video

Prime Video made a Legally Blonde prequel. What, like it's hard? The series follows Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree) as she navigates high school and blossoms into the bubbly fashion expert-turned-law student viewers came to adore in Legally Blonde. It'll be fascinating to see what kind of backstory Elle engineers for its heroine, given that so much of Elle's growth comes after making it to Harvard Law. However, it seems like Prime is confident in Elle's path ahead: The show has already been renewed for a Season 2. — B.E.

Starring: Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Chandler Kinney, Jacob Moskovitz, Gabrielle Policano, Zac Looker, and James Van Der Beek

How to watch: Elle premieres July 1 on Prime Video.

Silo Season 3

After the many, many cliffhangers Silo Season 2 left us on, the third season has been a long time coming. Fortunately that time has indeed finally come, with the Season 3 teaser taking us back into the world of Hugh Howey's book series while hinting at the silo's origin story. Which is all very good and exciting, but we still have many additional questions that need answering: What exactly is the safeguard procedure? What's going to happen to Sims (Common) and his family? Will Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) and Bernard (Tim Robbins) survive that fire? Tell us already. — S.H.

Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Alexandria Riley, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Rick Gomez, Billy Postlethwaite, Clare Perkins, Ashley Zukerman, Jessica Henwick, Laura Innes, Jessica Brown Findlay, Morven Christie, Reed Birney, Matt Craven, Colin Hanks, and Steve Zahn

How to watch: Silo Season 3 premieres July 3 on Apple TV.

Little House on the Prairie

A childhood classic comes to Netflix this summer with Little House on the Prairie, based on the beloved series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Like the books, the TV series introduces the Ingalls family, who uproot their lives in the big woods of Wisconsin and begin a new life on the prairie. The show looks to introduce Wilder's work to a new generation, but let's be real: Plenty of adults will also be checking it out to make sure it stays true to the story they grew up loving. — B.E.

Starring: Alice Halsey, Skywalker Hughes, Luke Bracey, and Crosby Fitzgerald

How to watch: Little House on the Prairie premieres July 9 on Netflix.

The Five-Star Weekend

Elin Hilderbrand's novel The Five-Star Weekend arrives on Peacock this July, bringing summery vibes and an all-star cast along with it. Jennifer Garner plays Hollis Shaw, a cook and food blogger trying to recover from a devastating loss. As part of her grieving process, she decides to host a weekend getaway at her Nantucket house. Her guests? Friends from different stages of her life (and one extra surprise invitee), played by D’Arcy Carden, Gemma Chan, Regina Hall, and Chloë Sevigny. — B.E.

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Chloë Sevigny, Regina Hall, Gemma Chan, D'Arcy Carden, Harlow Jane, and Timothy Olyphant

How to watch: The Five-Star Weekend premieres July 9 on Peacock.

Lucky

Anya Taylor-Joy enters heist mode in limited series Lucky, based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Marissa Stapley. Taylor-Joy plays Lucky Anderson, a con artist raised in a life of crime. When a multimillion-dollar heist goes awry, she'll have to put up the fight of her life in order to escape the FBI agents and crime boss on her tail. Will she live up to her name, or will her luck finally run out?* — B.E.

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Drew Starkey, Clifton Collins, Jr., and William Fichtner

How to watch: Lucky premieres July 15 on Apple TV.

August 2026 TV releases

Ted Lasso Season 4

You better BELIEVE, because Ted Lasso is back. Turns out Season 3 was not the end of Ted's (Jason Sudeikis) time in Richmond. The lovable soccer coach has returned to England to lead a second division women’s football team, and he'll be joined by familiar faces like Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), Keeley Jones (Juno Temple), and Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein). What are you waiting for? Grab some shortbread and settle in for the resurrection of one of Apple's biggest shows.* — B.E.

Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern, and Grant Feely

How to watch: Ted Lasso Season 4 premieres Aug. 5 on Apple TV.

Lanterns

The televised DC Universe expands in a big way this year with Lanterns, based on the Green Lantern comics. Don't expect many space shenanigans, though. The series is primarily set on Earth, pairing new Lantern Corps recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) with longtime Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) to investigate a murder right in the heart of America. Our very first look at the show features Hal jumping out of a moving car in order to encourage John to use the ring, so expect a lot of banter in this mentor-mentee relationship. (And maybe a few car crashes.)* — B.E.

Starring: Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, Nathan Fillion, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen, Nicole Ari Parker, Jason Ritter, Sherman Augustus, Chris Coy, Paul Ben-Victor, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Cary Christopher, and Jasmine Cephas Jones

How to watch: Lanterns premieres this August on HBO and HBO Max.

Adults Season 2

Owen Thiele, Malik Elassal, Amita Rao, Jack Innanen, and Lucy Freyer in "Adults." Credit: Pari Dukovic / FX

FX's Adults was one of 2025's most fun new comedies, mixing hangout vibes with the perils of young adulthood in the 2020s. Thankfully, we don't have to wait too long to get a second dose of the show's chaotic housemates, as Samir (Malik Elassal), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Anton (Owen Thiele), Issa (Amita Rao), and Paul Baker (Jack Innanen) return to our screens this August. In Season 2, we'll hopefully find out what's next for the Anton-Issa-Paul Baker love triangle, as well as see the gang struggle with new questions about adulthood. How do you admit the embarrassing truth that you love your boring office job? Why does spending time with family always turn you into the worst version of yourself? And how can you make sure that you never, ever hurt your friends' feelings? Whatever answers the Adults crew finds, I believe in them! — B.E.

Starring: Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Owen Thiele, Amita Rao, and Jack Innanen

How to watch: Adults Season 2 premieres this August on Hulu.

The Hawk

Will Ferrell hits the links in The Hawk, a new golf comedy from Netflix. (Between this and Apple TV's Stick, it's a big time for golf on TV.) He plays Lonnie "The Hawk" Hawkins, once the world's top golfer, now a washed-up old-timer. But Lonnie refuses to lay down his clubs. He only needs one more major win to complete a golf Grand Slam and become a true legend of the sport. Can Lonnie pull off the comeback of all comebacks? With the help of his support system, played by a promising ensemble of Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, and Katelyn Tarver, anything is possible. — B.E

Starring: Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson, Chris Parnell, Katelyn Tarver, and David Hornsby

How to watch: The Hawk premieres this summer on Netflix.

(*) means a blurb comes from a previous list.

How to watch the 2026 Madrid Open online for free

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The French Open isn't all that far away, so it's time for the best players in the world to take to the clay to sharpen up before the second Grand Slam of the season. The good news for top players is that there is ample opportunity to do just that, with a number of high-profile tournaments taking place at this time of year.

Following on from the Barcelona Open is the Madrid Open, with a number of top players competing in this popular event. For many, this will be a dress rehearsel for the main event at Roland-Garros.

If you want to watch the 2026 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Madrid Open?

The Madrid Open is an annual professional tennis tournament played on clay courts at the Caja Mágica in Madrid. The defending singles champions are Casper Ruud and Aryna Sabalenka.

When is the 2026 Madrid Open?

The 2026 Madrid Open is the 24th edition of the event on the ATP Tour and 17th on the WTA Tour. This year's event takes place from April 21 to May 3.

How to watch the 2026 Madrid Open for free

The 2026 Madrid Open are available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we tested ExpressVPN and it works great)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch the 2026 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Madrid Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.

How to unblock Pornhub for free

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Access to Pornhub is in turmoil. Early in 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws. In response, Pornhub banned visitors from those states from accessing their website. The same situation then took place in France, and although Pornhub is complying with the UK's age verification law, users are now required to provide personal information to access the site.

The situation is constantly changing, but you can stay one step ahead with a quick and easy hack. If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access adult sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub
Visit Pornhub

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to your favorite site, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing online restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
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Grab your best hat: Heres how to watch the Kentucky Derby live (maybe even for free)

Sat, 02 May 2026 08:00:13 +0000

The best streaming deals to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby live at a glance:

BEST OVERALL

Peacock Premium annual subscription

$109.99/year (save $21.89)

BEST FOR XFINITY CUSTOMERS

Peacock Premium

free for select Xfinity users (save $10.99/month)

BEST FOR STUDENTS

Peacock Premium for students

$5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month)

BEST FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

Peacock Premium for first responders and medical professionals

$6.99/month (save $4/month)

BEST FOR TEACHERS

Peacock Premium for teachers

$6.99/month (save $4/month)

BEST FOR MILITARY

Peacock Premium for active military and veterans

$6.99/month (save $4/month)

BEST FOR INSTACART USERS

Peacock Premium

free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year)

Best for Walmart+ members

Peacock Premium

free for Walmart+ members ($98/year) (save $109.99/year)

BEST INTRODUCTORY OFFER

YouTube TV

free 21-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months (save $45)

BEST LIVE TV STREAMING DEAL

Sling TV Select package (select regions only)

$19.99/month

Place your bets, grab your best hat, and make yourself a mint julep. It's Kentucky Derby time once again, folks.

The 2026 Kentucky Derby is the 152nd running of the annual horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. As per usual, the race coverage will last for over eight hours, but the race itself will happen in a flash. There's a reason they call it The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports. Here's what you need to know so you don't miss the most important moment — and how to watch everything leading up to it.

When is the 2026 Kentucky Derby?

The 152nd Run for the Roses is scheduled for Saturday, May 2. Coverage will begin at noon ET on Peacock and NBCSN and at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The post time for the race itself is set for 6:57 p.m. ET. You'll want to make sure you're tuned in well before that so you don't miss a beat.

Who is the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby 2026?

After a couple of scratches ahead of the official race, the favorite is now Renegade (5-1), with Commandment (6-1) and Further Ado (6-1) close behind. Chief Wallabee (8-1) and The Puma (10-1) round out the top five favorites. Odds are expected to change as bettors make their wagers ahead of the race.

How to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby TV coverage starts at noon on Saturday, May 2, on NBCSN and will switch over to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET. The official post time for the race is 6:57 p.m. ET, and coverage will end around 7:30 p.m. ET. Don't have cable? No problem. Cord-cutters can also stream the Kentucky Derby live on Peacock or through a paid TV subscription like YouTube TV or Sling.

Peacock subscriptions start at $10.99 per month, while most live TV subscriptions offer introductory trial periods, then start at around $20 per month. Don't want to pay full price? Below, we've rounded up the best ways to save money on your subscription.

Best Peacock streaming deals

Best long-term Peacock deal

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium annual subscription

$109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%)

While a Peacock Premium monthly subscription typically costs $10.99, you can save about 17% by committing to an annual subscription instead. At $109.99 per year, that drops the monthly rate to just $9.17. In other words, you'll get 12 months of streaming for the price of 10. The same goes for the Premium Plus plan without ads; while a monthly subscription would run you $16.99 per month, the price drops down to just $14.17 monthly if you pay for a year up front.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers

Credit: Peacock / Xfinity

Peacock Premium

Free for select Xfinity customers

I highly recommend checking the eligibility deals below before signing up for Peacock if you're an Xfinity customer. There's a chance you could score a subscription for free. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible:

Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.
NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.
New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students and young adults

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for Students

$5.99 per month for one year (save $5/month)

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for Young Adults

$5.99 per month for one year (save $5/month)

College students can snag a Peacock Premium subscription for just $5.99 per month for an entire year. Just prove your student status using your .edu email address through SheerID, and you'll receive a unique promo code to secure the discount. Just note that the discount code can only be used once. Young adults who aren't students can also score the same deal.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals

$6.99/month (save $4/month)

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for Military

$6.99/month (save $4.month)

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for Teachers

$6.99/month (save $4/month)

First responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers can all secure a Peacock Premium subscription (with ads) for a discounted rate of $6.99 per month. So long as you can verify your professional status using SheerID, you'll be able to knock $4 per month off the usual subscription cost. If you continue to meet verification qualifications, you can renew your subscription yearly. Just note that rates are subject to change.

Best for Instacart users

Credit: Instacart+ / Peacock

Peacock Premium annual subscription

Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year)

An Instacart+ subscription ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, credit back on eligible pickup orders, and more perks. Not to mention, you'll get a free two-week trial to test the waters before you're charged. That's plenty of time to watch the Kentucky Derby for free (just saying).

Best for Walmart shoppers

Credit: Walmart

Walmart+ subscription (free Peacock Premium)

$98/year

A Walmart+ subscription now gives you the option to subscribe to either Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential for free (you can switch every few months). Since Peacock Premium is a $109.99 value on its own, the $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal. You'll also get a ton of other perks, including free shipping with no order minimums, fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events. Did I mention it comes with a free 30-day trial?

Best live TV streaming deals

While Peacock is the most straightforward option for cord-cutters, it's not the only option. If you're looking to watch the Kentucky Derby live, along with other sports, live TV streaming services like Sling and YouTube TV are also great options. Even better, some offer free trials — so you can watch all eight hours of Derby coverage on NBC for free, then cancel before you're charged the full monthly fee (which can be kind of steep). Here are the best deals for watching the annual horse race and more via live TV streaming. Double-check that NBC is offered in your zip code before you commit to a service.

Most affordable: Sling Select

Credit: Sling

Sling Select package

starting at $19.99 per month

Sling's Select package is by far the most affordable live TV streaming service. It includes access to your local NBC network to watch the Derby live in select networks (be sure to check yours first) and costs just $19.99 per month. And since Sling subscriptions are a la carte, you can add or take away from your plan with no worries and cancel or pause at any time.

Best intro offer: YouTube TV

Credit: YouTube

YouTube TV

free 5-day trial, then $59.99/month for your first two months (save $46)

YouTube TV offers a massive 100+ channel lineup, which includes your local NBC network to watch the Kentucky Derby, as well as other local favorites for sports, news, and entertainment. We're not huge fans of its $82.99 per month fee, but through June 30, the streamer is giving new users a sweet introductory offer. You'll get your first 21 days for free, then your first three months for just $67.99. That's $45 in savings, should you choose to stick around after catching the Kentucky Derby for free during your trial period.

Hurdle hints and answers for May 2, 2026

Sat, 02 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Thanksgiving dinner.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

FEAST

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Sanctuary.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ALTAR

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A photo filter.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

SEPIA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A crevice.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CLEFT

Final Hurdle hint

A leaf.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

FROND

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on May 2

Sat, 02 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

It's the day after the Full Moon, and it still looks almost 100% in the sky. With this in mind, be sure to look up and try and catch a glimpse of some features on the surface tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, May 2, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 100% of the moon will be still be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Without any visual aids, tonight you should be able to see the Mare Crisium and Vaporum, and the Tycho Crater. With binoculars, you'll see the Posidonus Crater, Archimedes Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater. And, finally, with a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 14 and 17 landing spots, as well as the Descartes Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to circle Earth once, going through eight distinct phases in the process. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes as it moves in its orbit. The shifting light creates the changing shapes we know as full, half, and crescent Moons. Altogether, there are eight main lunar phases.

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 2, 2026

Sat, 02 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you read the morning paper.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 2, 2026

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: Sixth Sense
Green: Performed in a theatre
Blue: Governmental agencies
Purple: Read all about it!

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: Clairvoyant
Green: Staged performances
Blue: U.S. cabinet departments
Purple: Starting with newspaper names

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1056 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

Clairvoyant: EXTRASENSORY, MENTAL, PSYCHIC, TELEPATHIC
Staged performances: BALLET, MUSICAL, OPERA, PLAY
U.S. cabinet departments: EDUCATION, INTERIOR, STATE, TREASURY
Starting with newspaper names: GLOBETROTTER, HERALDRY, POST-IT, TIMES TABLES

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

NYT Strands hints, answers for May 2, 2026

Sat, 02 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love to bust a move.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: All the right moves

The words are related to movement.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe dancing.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Line Dance.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for May 2

Pony
Scuff
Kick
Shuffle
Line Dance
Wizard
Sailor
Coaster

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 2, 2026

Sat, 02 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you never show up empty-handed.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 2, 2026

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To take along.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter PB

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BRING

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Samsung’s Galaxy Book 6 Ultra is made for creative pros

Fri, 01 May 2026 19:32:56 +0000

Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Book 6 Ultra laptop has the premium build, processor and graphics muscle required by creative pros. Can it replace a MacBook Pro?

Spirited away? Airline, internet react to airlines possible closure

Fri, 01 May 2026 19:05:13 +0000

Update, May 1, 6:45 p.m.: the New York Times is reporting Spirit Airlines may cease operations at 3 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 2.

Low-cost airline carrier Spirit is running on fumes right now, potentially ceasing operations this weekend as rising fuel costs have brought it to the brink of closure.

News reports from last month indicated that the federal government might bail out the Florida-based airline for over $500 million and a 90 percent stake in the company. The airline is facing its second bankruptcy in two years, CNBC reports.

That deal with the federal government did not materialize, but President Trump told reporters on Friday that, "I guess we're looking at [bailing Spirit out]. If we can do it, we'll do it. No institutions been able to do it. I'd like to save the jobs, but we'll have an announcement sometime today. We gave them a final proposal."

CBS News' Kris Van Cleave reports that only two of the Spirit's three major creditors have signed on to the government's aid package, and its bondholders have not signed off on the deal.

Spirit, which has more than 10,000 employees, hasn't announced any updates on its website or X feed, but it is responding to posts on the social media site.

If the airline shuts down, people who have booked flights will likely get refunded by their credit card companies, CBS News reported. Those flying when and if the airline is grounded would likely have to book their connecting flights on another airline. Spirit competitors may offer "rescue fares" to those flyers, possibly allowing them to reach their destination at a discounted price. If Spirit shuts down, the airline's frequent flyer miles will likely be worthless.

Spirit is often the butt of jokes for its bare-bones (though inexpensive) service — they charge for all carry-on luggage and do not offer free water or snacks.

Friendster has returned! But you can only connect with offline friends.

Fri, 01 May 2026 19:01:54 +0000

Do you remember Friendster?

The early-2000s social networking platform has now returned roughly 24 years later with a whole new gimmick: Users can only connect with real-life friends.

The founder of the new Friendster, Mike Carson, is promoting the relaunched social media platform as being free of any ads and algorithms. But, that's not all that's missing either.

Friend currently exists as an iOS app. And once a user downloads the app and sets up their account, they'll see completely blank space. Friendster doesn't show users any posts. In fact, there are no suggestions about who to follow at all.

The new Friendster is built for users to strictly follow people they know in real-life. And the platform makes sure it's being used that way too. In order to follow someone on Friendster, the two users need to physically tap each other's phones while the app is open. This is the only way to connect with someone on the platform.

What happened to Friendster

Before even MySpace took off, there was Friendster.

Friendster was officially launched in March 2002 by its founder Jonathan Abrams and is largely considered to be the first major online social networking platform. However, shortly after its launch, other social networks like MySpace quickly took off and Friendster was unable to maintain a foothold with American users.

The platform did find a significant user base in Asia and was eventually sold to a Malaysian company, before Friendster pivoted to become a social gaming website in 2011. Eventually, however, Friendster was completely shut down in 2015.

Carson, the new owner, said he noticed that the Friendster.com domain was once again resolving to a website filled with pop-up ads in 2023. Carson reached out to the new owner of the domain and found out that they had won Friendster.com at an expired domain auction one year earlier for just $7,456. Carson eventually struck a deal with the domain owner, purchasing Friendster.com for $20,000 in Bitcoin along with another domain Carson owned that generated $9,000 per year.

In a blog post discussing his journey acquiring the Friendster domain, Carson said he has plans to enable a Friends of Friends feature, that will allow users to connect solely online if they are already connected to another friend that one of the users have actually met.

In addition, Carson would like to roll out a Fading Connection feature which nudges users when they haven't been in the same room with one of their Friendster connections for more than a year.

"Not a punishment — a gentle nudge that real friendships are kept alive in person, not online," Carson explains.

After downloading the app, I must point out that all the nothingness makes it feel daunting to use the app. However, the new Friendster seems like a very interesting idea – if it can take off. The real challenge seems to be getting users on there to begin with, because they too will see an app with empty space until they start making real-life connections.

OpenAI explains why ChatGPT suddenly loved goblins

Fri, 01 May 2026 15:59:20 +0000

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is currently embroiled in some courtroom drama, but the engineers back at the OpenAI lab just solved a minor drama (really a comedy) with ChatGPT.

OpenAI published a lengthy, detailed report on its website about goblins. No, really. Since the release of GPT 5.1, ChatGPT models have developed a weird fixation on goblins and gremlins, regularly bringing up both in contexts where it doesn't make sense. Users took note of this and OpenAI noticed it, too, prompting an investigation. You can read the full report if you want all the juicy details, but basically, it all goes back to an arguably poor understanding of what nerds are like.

If you don't use ChatGPT, the AI chatbot offers a variety of "personalities" you can choose to tailor the tone of its responses. One of those personalities was (until recently being removed) "nerdy." According to OpenAI's research, while "nerdy" responses accounted for only 2.5 percent of all ChatGPT queries, a staggering 66.7 percent of all mentions of goblins came from that 2.5 percent. From there, these responses somehow became "rewarded" and spread to other personality types beyond "nerdy."

"The rewards were applied only in the Nerdy condition, but reinforcement learning does not guarantee that learned behaviors stay neatly scoped to the condition that produced them," OpenAI wrote. "Once a style tic is rewarded, later training can spread or reinforce it elsewhere, especially if those outputs are reused in supervised fine-tuning or preference data."

Anyway, after all that, OpenAI retired the "nerdy" personality in March and has instructed its latest models not to mention goblins or gremlins unless it makes sense.

Prime members can get a free e-book every month with Amazon First Reads: See the May 2026 picks

Fri, 01 May 2026 15:27:17 +0000

There's a lot to enjoy with an Amazon Prime membership: a plentiful streaming service full of acclaimed originals, same-day shipping, and Grubhub+. But that's just a sampling of the extensive benefits for members. Prime members who also happen to be bookworms can maximize their monthly reading with the Amazon First Reads program.

Similar to Book of the Month, every month, Amazon First Reads drops a new collection of discounted titles. However, unlike Book of the Month, these books are totally free for Prime Members. Here's everything you need to know about Amazon First Reads.

Credit: Amazon

Amazon First Reads

What is Amazon First Reads?

Amazon First Reads is a monthly program in which eight editor-selected books are offered free to Prime members. Members are allowed to choose one book per month, which is then added to their library. Non-Prime members can still join in on the fun, but they have to pay $1.99 per book.

Featured Amazon First Reads books are totally free at checkout for Prime members. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon / Mashable composite

Some months, like Prime Day's July and Black Friday's November, offer two free books. And in others, you can select a free short story with your one free e-book.

To select your book, visit the Amazon First Reads home page to browse the options. As a Prime Member, you'll see the option to "read now for free " when you go to purchase the titles. Once you make your selection, it'll automatically be added to your Kindle library.

Which books are featured in Amazon First Reads?

Among the eight books selected each month, the book editors at Amazon provide a variety of genres for every reader. The books are typically new or soon-to-be-released books — many of the books are published under one of Amazon's publishing imprints, so they're exclusive to Amazon's shelves.

In addition to the eight full-length books offered each month, there's typically a short story available, too, exclusive to read through the Kindle Store. You'll find familiar names in the First Reads collections. Past authors include Abby Jimenez, Rebecca Yarros, Lee Child, Fredrik Backman, Alice Hoffman, and Dean Koontz.

Kindle Unlimited members are able to read most of the previous First Reads picks for free, so if there are multiple each month that you want to add to your digital bookshelf, consider a Kindle Unlimited membership.

May 2026 Amazon First Reads books

May's First Reads picks include a short read by New York Times bestselling author Liv Constantine. Credit: Amazon / Mashable

May's First Reads lineup features eight novels and one short read. This month's short read, The Replacement, comes from New York Times bestselling author Liv Constantine. The suspenseful short story details the twisted relationship between a Hollywood icon struggling for relevancy and a newcomer with her own agenda. But in addition to this month's short read, there are eight novels featured, including the latest from Mindy's Book Studio, Two Lives with You.

Here are all of the First Reads picks for May 2026:

Do you need a Kindle for Amazon First Reads?

All of the books selected are technically purchased through the Kindle Store. But does that mean you need a Kindle to read them?

Nope! No Kindle e-reader is necessary to read books collected through First Reads. All books purchased through the Kindle Store are available in the Kindle app, which can be read on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

However, if you're asking if you should get a Kindle, that's a different question. While a Kindle is not required to enjoy the bounty of the Kindle store, it is our favorite e-reader brand if you're in the market.

Kindle Paperwhite

$134.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $25

Spotify now verifies artists that are human, not AI

Fri, 01 May 2026 15:18:07 +0000

Still struggling to spot when you're streaming AI-generated music instead of human-made tunes? Spotify is trying to help.

On April 30, the streaming giant announced it would be launching an official "Verified by Spotify" badge across its platform to distinguish human artists from synthetic-only profiles.

The badge, a light green check mark next to the artist's name, is determined by an automatic filtering system based on the profile's engagement history and listener activity, its compliance with Spotify policies, and authenticity markers found on and off the platform. Spotify's system will look for live concert dates, merchandise, and linked social accounts, for example.

SEE ALSO: AI can reason like a doctor, study says

Spotify says it will also use human reviewers to verify profiles "behaving in good faith," based initially on the platform's most searched artists. The company says the policy will continue to evolve with the music industry, including considerations for human artists who use AI to create music.

In addition to verification, Spotify is beta-testing expanded artist information — akin to "nutrition facts" on food products — that will provide more context about an artist's history and authenticity. Artists will also be given greater control over what appears on their profiles.

The badge will roll out slowly over the coming weeks.

Users have called attention to a growing number of AI-generated songs and AI-only artist pages on Spotify, as well as a rise in algorithmic recommendations that push AI music into user playlists. Last year, the platform came under fire for allegedly adding AI-generated music to the profiles of deceased artists. Many Spotify listeners have bristled at the presence of entirely AI-generated profiles on the streaming app and have called for visible AI disclosures on music pages. Spotify has previously announced expanded spam filtering systems, AI disclosures, and impersonation policies.

In January, the company told Mashable editor Rachel Thompson that the platform "doesn't give AI-generated music any special treatment." A Spotify spokesperson added, "While we don’t penalize artists for using AI responsibly, we are aggressive about taking down content farms, impersonators, or anyone trying to game the system."

May Full Moon 2026: See the Flower Moon

Fri, 01 May 2026 15:01:50 +0000

May is an extra special month for astronomy fans, because there isn't just one Full Moon, there's two. The first is the Flower Moon, named for the time of year when little signs of Spring start to appear. At the end of the month, we’ll see a Blue Moon. This doesn't have anything to do with its color, but simply the name given to a second Full Moon within the same calendar month.

Keep reading to find out more about this month’s Full Moon.

When is the May full moon?

The full moon will occur on Friday, May 1. Time and Date estimates it will peak at 1:23 p.m. ET.

What is the May full moon called?

One of the most beautiful parts of Spring is the return of flowers blooming. Daffodils are in full swing and wildflowers start to reappear, and summer starts to feel closer. This very experience is why the May full moon is called the Flower Moon, explains Royal Museums Greenwich.

When is the next full moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.

What are the lunar phases?

The Full Moon is one of eight stages the Moon moves through during its roughly 29.5-day orbit around Earth. At each stage, a different portion of its surface is illuminated by the Sun from our viewpoint on Earth. Although we always face the same side of the Moon, the shifting position of sunlight across its orbit is what creates the changing appearance, from fully lit, to partially bright, to almost dark as the cycle progresses.

The phases are:

New Moon — The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (so, we don't see anything).
Waxing Crescent — A small sliver of light appears on the right side
First Quarter — Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous — More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon — The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous — The moon starts losing light on the right side
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) — Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent — A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

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The best gaming monitor deals to shop this weekend — Alienware, LG, and ASUS on sale right now

Fri, 01 May 2026 15:01:40 +0000

The best gaming monitor deals at a glance:

Best curved monitor deal

Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor (AW3425DW)

$649.99 (save $150)

Best flat monitor deal

LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor (27GS93QE)

$499.99 (save $400)

Best entry-level monitor deal

ASUS 32-inch TUF curved gaming monitor (VG32VQ1B)

$209 (save $80)

Gaming hardware tends to come with some sticker shock. But if your current setup is feeling lifeless, this weekend is a good excuse to upgrade your monitor for less. Some major brands, including LG, Alienware, and ASUS, have previous-generation gaming monitors on sale for record-low prices and we've rounded up our favorites below.

Whether you're hoping to bump up your refresh rate or enhance your visual experience, here are the best gaming monitor deals to shop this weekend.

Best curved gaming monitor deal

Credit: Alienware

Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor (AW3425DW)

$649.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $150

Why we like it

Gaming is addicting on this 34-inch Alienware AW3425DW monitor. Thanks to a steep 1800R curved OLED panel that wraps the game around you, plus high performance specs like a 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and an aiming point editor called AlienVision, you'll be fully immersed in every game and any world you choose. Combined with a stellar color range, VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400, 1000 nits peak HDR brightness, and G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro certifications, it's hard to believe it's only $649.99 (reg. $799.99). At just shy of 20% off, this is its lowest price on record.

Best flat gaming monitor deal

Credit: LG

LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED gaming monitor (27GS93QE)

$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

Why we like it

This $400 discount on the LG UltraGear 27-inch OLED gaming monitor knocks it down to its best price ever.

While it's over a year old at this point, it still packs some solid specs. Like the Alienware model above, it features an OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time for fluid gameplay, and is validated for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. It's a bit smaller at 27 inches and isn't curved, but some folks prefer a flat display — particularly at this size. The matte 1440p panel is VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certified, so colors pop and blacks are rich and deep. And as a bonus, the detachable base and stand allow for infinite adjustments to suit your gaming habits.

Best entry-level gaming monitor deal

Credit: ASUS

ASUS TUF 32-inch curved gaming monitor (VG32VQ1B)

$209 at Amazon
$289 Save $80

Why we like it

If you're new to the gaming world or you're just a casual player, the ASUS 32-inch TUF curved monitor is an affordable entry-level model with decent specs. Plus, it's $80 off this weekend — its second-best price ever. It features an ultra-steep 1500R curve, 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and FreeSync Premium supported through DisplayPort and HDMI. It won't wow you quite like the first two monitors, but at only $209, who cares?

More gaming monitor deals this weekend

ASUS 27-inch TUF QHD gaming monitor (VG27AQM5A) — $199 ~~$299~~ (save $100)
Alienware 34-inch WQHD curved gaming monitor (AW3425DWM) — $289.99 ~~$349.99~~ (save $60)
LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor (27GX704A-B) — $477.99 ~~$799.99~~ (save $322)
Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G75F WUHD curved gaming monitor — $695.99 ~~$999.99~~ (save $304)
ASUS 34-inch ROG Strix OLED curved gaming monitor (XG34WCDG ) — $749 ~~$999~~ (save $250)
Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G93SC OLED curved monitor — $899.99 ~~$1,599.99~~ (save $700)

The best TV deals to shop this weekend — Samsung, Hisense, and Toshiba at huge discounts

Fri, 01 May 2026 14:58:28 +0000

The best TV deals to shop this weekend:

Best Samsung deal

Samsung 65-inch Class OLED 4K S85F Series TV (2025, 65S85F)

$1,067.95 (save $730.04)

Best Hisense deal

Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Series Mini‑LED 4K TV (2026, 75U6SF Pro)

$899.99 (save $500)

Best Toshiba deal

Toshiba 100-inch Z670 Series Mini-LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (2026, 100Z670R)

$2,497.99 (save $1,502)

Did you know that spring is the third-best time to buy a TV? I know “third-best” sounds like a scam, but there's a real reason for it. Since CES has officially come and gone, retailers are dropping prices on "older" (i.e., basically brand new) TVs to clear out inventory — and we're even seeing early discounts on the shiny new 2026 models that just debuted at the show.

You can read the full breakdown of how this works in our guide on the best time to buy a TV, but if you're just here to shop, these are the best deals I could find this weekend.

Best Samsung deal

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 65-inch Class OLED 4K S85F Series TV (2025, 65S85F)

$1,067.95 at Amazon
$1,797.99 Save $730.04

Why we like it

If you want the deep, inky blacks and vibrant colors of an OLED screen without entirely draining your bank account, this 2025 Samsung model is the one to grab right now.

As of this weekend, the 65-inch S85F is marked down to $1,067.95, from $1,797.99, which is a 41% discount or $730 savings.

For that price, you get a built-in NQ4 AI Gen2 processor that automatically upscales whatever you're watching into sharp 4K resolution using 20 neural networks. It also features a 120Hz refresh rate to keep fast-moving sports and games looking smooth.

Best Hisense deal

Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Series Mini‑LED 4K TV (2026, 75U6SF Pro)

$899.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $500

Why we like it

Hisense is somehow already offering discounts on its brand-new 2026 lineup, and the price drops are just too good to ignore.

Right now, you can get the 75-inch Hisense U6 Pro Series Mini-LED 4K TV for $899.99 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount (or an extra $500 in your pocket) on a TV that practically just hit the market.

The Hisense U6 Pro Series uses Mini-LED backlighting, which means the picture stays clear and detailed no matter the lighting. It also has a native 144Hz refresh rate, and Fire TV is built right in, so you can access your fave streaming apps without buying a separate stick.

Best Toshiba deal

Toshiba 100-inch Z670 Series Mini-LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (2026, 100Z670R)

$2,497.99 at Amazon
$3,999.99 Save $1,502

Why we like it

Nobody needs a 100-inch TV (at least, not IMO). But if you have the wall space and are determined to turn your living room into a home theater, you might as well get one while it's discounted.

Like the Hisense above, this Toshiba Z670 Series is a brand-new 2026 release, and it's already marked down to $2,497.99 at Amazon. That's a 38% discount or a $1,502 price cut.

More TV deals this weekend

Samsung 43-inch Q8F QLED 4K TV — $397.99 ~~$549.99~~ (save $152)
Samsung 65-inch Q7F QLED 4K TV — $427.99 ~~$629.99~~ (save $202)
Hisense 75-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $499.99 ~~$1,299.99~~ (save $800)
Hisense 55-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $647.99 ~~$999.99~~ (save $352)
Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV — $999.99 ~~$2,199.99~~ (save $1,200)
Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV — $1,249.99 ~~$2,499.99~~ (save $1,250)

The Lego Botanicals Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet is the perfect Mothers Day gift — save over $10 at Amazon

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:44:51 +0000

SAVE OVER $10: As of May 1, the Lego Botanicals Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet is on sale for $47.99 at Amazon. This is $12 off its list price of $59.99.

Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet

$47.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12

If you're searching for a fun Mother's Day gift to give this year but don't want to fall back on something like a regular bouquet of flowers, Lego's Botanicals sets are an excellent alternative. Amazon even has some great deals available on select sets right now, including the delightful Lego Botanicals Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet.

As of May 1, the Lego Botanicals Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet has dropped to $47.99 at Amazon. This is a $12 drop from its $59.99 list price, but also just a few cents away from its lowest-ever price of $47.95. Amazon says that it'll arrive before Mother's Day if you order it now, so why wait? This is the perfect time to pick it up.

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The Lego Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet comes with 749 pieces that create a variety of vibrant flowers: daisies, cornflowers, eucalyptus, elderflowers, roses, ranunculus, cymbidium orchids, a campanula, and a waterlily dahlia.

These beautiful, brick-built blooms each have an adjustable stem, so you can choose how you want to display each flower in a vase once you're finished. They can even be combined with other Lego Botanicals sets, if you'd like to have a colorful arrangement on display.

The clock is ticking to get these in time for Mother's Day. Now is the time to make a move on the Lego Botanicals Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet.

The 27-inch ASUS TUF gaming monitor is down to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $100

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:34:39 +0000

TL;DR: Amazon has the ASUS TUF Gaming 27-inch 1440p monitor on sale for $199, down from its $299 list price. That saves you $100 on a QHD gaming display with a 300Hz refresh rate, 0.3ms response time, Fast IPS panel, ELMB Sync, Shadow Boost, and DisplayWidget Center support.

Credit: ASUS

27-inch 1440p ASUS TUF Gaming Monitor

$199 at Amazon
$299 Save $100

A fast 1440p gaming monitor can get very expensive, especially if you’re looking beyond the usual 144Hz and 165Hz panels. But ASUS has thankfully cut the price on its most prolific monitor — letting you properly upgrade on a budget.

As of May 1, the ASUS TUF Gaming 27-inch 1440p monitor is on sale for $199 at Amazon, marked down from its $299 list price. With this 33% discount, you’re saving $100 on the VG27AQM5A model — though Amazon also has used and resale listings starting from $181.09.

Price tracker camelcamelcamel shows that this is the lowest-ever price for this monitor at Amazon.

You're getting a 27-inch QHD display with a 2560x1440 resolution, which gives you a noticeable sharpness upgrade over 1080p without demanding quite as much from your PC as 4K. Gamers who prioritize speed will be especially happy, as ASUS rates this model for up to a 300Hz refresh rate with a 0.3ms GTG response time for all the video games you love playing now and in the future. Whether you’re diving into Fortnite and any other fast-paced shooters, intense racers like the upcoming Forza Horizon 6, or any other multiplayer game on the level of League of Legends, you’ll be all set.

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This gaming monitor also boasts ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync, which is designed to reduce ghosting and tearing during high-frame-rate gameplay. Shadow Boost is included as well, helping brighten darker areas without blowing out the rest of the image, which can be handy when you’re trying to spot enemies hiding in dim corners.

As a crowning touch, the ASUS TUF monitor also supports HDR, covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, includes built-in speakers, and works with ASUS DisplayWidget Center for easier mouse-based settings control.

Andy Serkis on Animal Farm, George Orwell, and AI in Hollywood

Fri, 01 May 2026 12:55:02 +0000

Director Andy Serkis' animated Animal Farm adaptation features several key differences from George Orwell's classic anti-authoritarian satire. For starters, there are far more fart jokes. There's also a brand new main character: a piglet named Lucky (voiced by Gaten Matarazzo).

In a Say More interview with Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards, Serkis explained that the character of Lucky was created as part of the film's bigger project: to bring Orwell's work to younger audiences.

"One thing about the book is that it's very objective. There is no protagonist," Serkis said. "In a movie, on the whole, you need to see the movie through a set of eyes. I just thought it would be really interesting if we see this world of Animal Farm through a young piglet's eyes, because the piglets obviously become the elite."

Lucky becomes the audience's entry point into Animal Farm, acting as an innocent character caught between the two pigs jockeying for control of the farm: intellectual Snowball (voiced by Laverne Cox) and brash Napoleon (voiced by Seth Rogen). Serkis likened Lucky's dilemma to Robert De Niro's A Bronx Tale, which sees a young man similarly torn between his hard-working father and a flashy gangster.

"We really wanted to put young kids in that position in this story, and let them be the ones who are accountable," Serkis explained.

Check out the full video above to hear Serkis discuss his 15-year journey of bringing Animal Farm to the screen, the enduring quality of Orwell's work, and the perils and potential of AI in Hollywood. Plus, stay tuned for the second part of the interview, coming May 3, where Serkis breaks down his upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel, Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

Animal Farm is now in theaters.

The Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box is nearly $25 off at Amazon

Fri, 01 May 2026 11:03:00 +0000

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box on sale for $139.99, down from its $164.70 list price. That saves you $24.71 on a 30-pack box, bringing each booster down to under $5.

Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box

$139.99 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $24.71

As of May 1, Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box listed for $139.99, down from its usual $164.70 price. That's the best price this box has been with the retailer so far (confirmed via camelcamelcamel). It'd also a 15% discount, saving you $24.71 on the full Play Booster display.

Better yet, Amazon’s main listing is actually shipped and sold by Amazon, with free delivery as early as May 6 — or May 4 for Prime members.

Amazon is not the only place worth checking out. TCGplayer’s market price is currently sitting lower at around $134.58, with a listed median of $143.97. Walmart has also been listing the box at $141.99, putting Amazon somewhere in the middle for price, but ahead if you prefer Amazon as your go-to trading card retailer.

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Inside the box, you’re getting 30 Secrets of Strixhaven Play Boosters, with each pack containing 14 Magic cards. Each booster includes one to five rares or higher, three to six uncommons, five to eight commons, and one land card. Every pack also comes with at least one Traditional Foil card of any rarity, while 20% of packs swap in a Traditional Foil Land.

The latest Strixhaven expansion’s big hook is the Mystical Archive card included in every pack, giving you one instant or sorcery spell with special art and a showcase frame. That makes the set an easy pick for drafting with friends, cracking packs for fun, or heading back to Magic’s mage-school plane of Arcavios without paying full list price.

Among boxes for other popular MTG expansions, you can also buy the 30-pack Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box on sale for $125. Meanwhile, Avatar fans can score 24 packs of Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender packs for just under $95.

The ASUS V16 gaming laptop has dropped to $1,099.99 at Amazon — act fast to save $200

Fri, 01 May 2026 10:58:39 +0000

SAVE $200: As of May 1, the ASUS V16 gaming laptop (Intel Core 7 Processor 240H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) has been marked down to $1,099.99 at Amazon. This is $200 off its list price of $1,299.99.

Credit: ASUS

ASUS V16 Gaming Laptop

$1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $200

Have you been thinking about dropping some serious cash on a gaming laptop? Well, now's a great time to have a look around, as Amazon has a selection of portable builds on sale right now.

This includes the ASUS V16 gaming laptop (Intel Core 7 Processor 240H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD), which is down to $1,099.99 at Amazon.

Since the ASUS V16 gaming laptop is usually listed for $1,299.99, this deal ultimately saves you $200. It's worth keeping in mind that it may not last for long, as Amazon has this listed as a limited time deal. Be quick to take advantage of this discount.

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The ASUS V16 is a solid portable gaming option. Featuring a sleek, slim design, it's not as bulky as some other gaming laptops, and packs in a blue backlit keyboard for a little extra flare.

It's fitted with an RTX 5060 mobile graphics card so your favorite titles should look great on its 16-inch display — the 1920x1200 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate will ensure the games you play look nice and run smooth. This particular model is also fitted with 16GB of RAM, more than enough for great gaming performance, and a 512GB SSD for storage.

If this has caught your eye, now is the time to grab the ASUS V16 gaming laptop at Amazon.

If you're curious what other gaming laptops we'd recommend, it's worth checking out our roundup of the best gaming laptops of 2026 to see some of our top recommendations.

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Josh Johnsons Daily Show response to SCOTUS Voting Rights Act ruling is a must-watch

Fri, 01 May 2026 10:16:13 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court continued its attack on the Voting Rights Act (VRA) on Wednesday, with a ruling on the 1965 civil rights law that will have major implications for racial discrimination. Specifically, the court's conservative majority ruled that Louisiana's congressional map, which has two Black-majority districts, was an "an unconstitutional racial gerrymander" and will be redrawn. The 60-year-old act, as the Guardian describes it, "has acted as a central shield for minority voters in largely southern states that have relentlessly resisted granting them equal political influence," and has worked for Black voters' rights to "proportionate electoral power." After Wednesday's ruling, this shield is gone.

The Daily Show's Josh Johnson responded to the ruling in a segment on Thursday night's show, and it's a must-watch.

"Obviously, the Supreme Court didn't come right out and say that states can be racist. Justice Palpatine isn't that dumb, alright? They played it much smoother," he said, noting that Justice Samuel Alito said that states only violate the VRA when "evidence supports a strong inference that the State intentionally drew its districts to afford minority voters less opportunity because of their race."

"So just to be clear, for Alito, the map is not racist unless the guy drawing it finishes it and goes, 'Man, I'm racist.'" Johnson said.

"It almost feels like we're going in reverse, because the people from the '60s in black and white TV were like, 'Wow, this country is being pretty racist. We should pass some legislation.' And the people crippling that legislation are from now, in 4K," he continued.

"We don't have to pretend here," Johnson concluded. "At the end of the day, we all know that this decision was not about moving on from race. This is a Supreme Court majority handing a win to Republicans. I know that. You know that, and the Republicans definitely know that because their leader said it out loud."

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The Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Build and Battle Box is now under market price at Amazon — buy for under $60

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:52:00 +0000

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Build and Battle Box up for preorder at $59.99 with free shipping. TCGplayer’s unopened listings start at $64.66 shipped.

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Build and Battle Box

$59.99 at Amazon

If you’re the type of Pokémon TCG collector who loves playing the trading card game, as well as filling their binders with chase cards, you can get the Chaos Rising’s upcoming Build and Battle Box for under market value.

On May 1, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Build & Battle Box listed for preorder at $59.99. The listing is shipped and sold by MVP Marketplace.

By comparison, over at TCGplayer, unopened presale listings for the same Chaos Rising Build and Battle Box start at $64.32 with shipping included. With the market price sitting at $64.45, that makes Amazon around $4.33 cheaper than the lowest shipped TCGplayer listing, and $4.46 below market price. Walmart is also matching Amazon’s $59.99 preorder price with free shipping, sold and shipped by Cataclysm Games. However, the Walmart listing is marked as final sale and nonreturnable, while Amazon’s page currently shows a 30-day refund or replacement policy.

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For those who’ve not bought one of these before, Pokémon Build and Battle Boxes are generally a stronger pick for players vs. collectors. You still get a handful of boosters, but you’ll also be able to build out a playable deck and enjoy playing from the get-go.

Here's what you'll get with a Chaos Rising Build and Battle Box:

40-card ready-to-play deck
One of four unique foil promo cards
Four Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising booster packs
A code card for Pokémon TCG Live

Chaos Rising continues the Mega Evolution series with Mega Floette ex throwing the city into havoc, while Mega Greninja ex gathers other Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, including Mega Pyroar ex and Mega Dragalge ex — among other Pocket Monsters which appeared in the Pokémon Legends: Z-A game.

If you want to buy as many packs as possible, you can also secure the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Booster Display Box for a decent price. You can also preorder the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box at almost $20 off.

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The Garmin Forerunner 165 is back on sale at Amazon — save $50 this weekend

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:45:41 +0000

SAVE $50: As of May 1, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Credit: Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 165

$199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50

If watching the recent London and Boston marathons has inspired you to take up running, we get it. There’s nothing like watching world records to put a spring in your step. And if you’re looking for a fitness tracker to accompany your training, Amazon has a great deal on the Garmin Forerunner 165 live right now.

Garmin’s Forerunner range is built for runners. You’ll get detailed performance stats and guided training features. And the 165 is an excellent choice, especially now that it's under $200. As of May 1, this smartwatch is down from $249.99 to $199.99, saving you $50.

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This watch has a bright AMOLED display and is controlled both by a touchscreen and traditional buttons. You'll get a whole range of stats for both health and fitness. These include sleep reports, training outlook, menstrual tracking, and HRV status. You'll also get guidance on your training effects (whether you're maintaining, productive, overreaching, etc.) along with recovery time guidance after workouts.

The battery life is reliable too, giving you up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode. So if you're aiming for longer runs, the Forerunner 165 will last throughout.

This Garmin deal is available at Amazon now.

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The Dyson Supersonic Nural is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save over $100

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:42:00 +0000

SAVE OVER $100: As of May 1, the Dyson Supersonic Nural is on sale for $349 at Amazon. That's a 22% discount on the list price.

Credit: Dyson

Dyson Supersonic Nural

$349 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100.99

While the Airwrap might be the most well known of Dyson's hair styling products, it's not the only feather in its cap. The brand's styling range is vast and advanced, and if you've been looking for an intelligent hair dryer for drying and styling, there's a new deal on the Dyson Supersonic Nural live right now.

The Dyson Supersonic Nural is a hair dryer designed with intelligent sensors that automatically adjust heat and airflow to optimize styling while helping protect the scalp and hair. Scalp Protect mode adjusts air temperature to maintain a target of 130°F at the scalp for more comfortable close-up drying, while Attachment Learning recognizes each attachment and remembers preferred airflow and heat settings, adjusting automatically when you next use it.

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It has four heat settings along with the Scalp Protect button. There are also three airflow settings: high, medium, and low. The device should be used on clean, wet hair and includes attachments for all hair types, including the Gentle air attachment, Styling concentrator, Flyaway attachment, and Wave+Curl diffuser.

As of May 1, the Dyson Supersonic Nural is on sale at Amazon for $100.99 off. This takes the price down to $349, which is the lowest-ever for this model. Head to Amazon to score the deal now.

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The Shokz OpenRun headphones are under $90 at Amazon — save $40 right now

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:29:56 +0000

SAVE $40: As of May 1, the Shokz OpenRun headphones are on sale for $89.94 at Amazon. That's a 31% discount on list price.

Credit: Shokz

Shokz OpenRun

$89.94 at Amazon
$129.95 Save $40.01

If you're looking for a great pair of bone conducting headphones, you'll be pleased to hear the Shokz OpenRun headphones are back on sale at Amazon. These are a less advanced pair compared to the Pro and Pro 2, but you get the benefit of a much lower price. In fact, as of May 1, these are priced at just $89.94 for a limited time.

These are a great choice if you want to start making your runs feeling safer. How, you ask? These headphones use bone conduction technology to transmit sound through your cheekbones, so you can hear your audio while still keeping your ears clear to hear any sounds that are happening around you. So, you stay alert and spatially aware at all times.

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They're also IP67-rated for both sweat and water resistance, with a moisture detection alert for safer charging. So for sweaty or rainy runs, they can survive. This water resistance isn't strong enough for swimming, however.

Battery life is strong, lasting up to eight hours with a 10-minute quick charge giving you up to 1.5 hours of use. They connect via Bluetooth and are compatible with all kinds of devices including Android, iOS, Windows, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.

This Shokz deal is only around for a limited time, so don't miss out.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Bose QuietComfort headphones are on sale for under $200 at Amazon — save over $100 this weekend

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:22:54 +0000

SAVE OVER $100: As of May 1, Bose QuietComfort headphones are on sale for $199 at Amazon. This is $160 off their full list price of $359.

Credit: Bose

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

$199 at Amazon
$359 Save $160

Whether you've been hoping to pick up these high-quality headphones for yourself, or want to give them as a fun Mother's Day gift this year, select colors of Bose QuietComfort headphones are back on sale at Amazon. As of May 1, you can grab the petal pink or moonlight grey models for just $199.

This is strong discount from the list price of $359, saving you $160 in total. If you were hoping to pick them up as a Mother's Day gift, Amazon notes on the store page that they'll arrive before the big day if you order now. That's perfect timing for a Mother's Day surprise.

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The Bose QuietComfort headphones are an excellent investment if you want comfortable over-ear headphones with great noise cancellation and sound quality. They even have a battery life that lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge, so they're perfect for your next big vacation this spring or summer. Mashable's Samantha Mangino had very high praise for them in her review, calling them her "all-time favorite headphones."

As for why they're so special, Mangino adds that "They're comfortable, have actually intuitive controls, and boast impressive noise cancellation and sound." To add to that, they even made our roundup of the best Bose headphones.

If the Bose QuietComfort headphones have been on your radar, either for yourself or your mom, this is a fantastic opportunity to save on select models at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for May 1, 2026

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:09:35 +0000

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, May 1, 2026:

Across

"Zip-a-___-Doo-Dah"

The answer is Dee.

Cap and gown wearer, informally

The answer is Grad.

Major purchase that might come with a down payment

The answer is House.

Doc who really delivers?

The answer is OBGYN.

Home of the Leaning Tower

The answer is Pisa.

Down

Prescription products

The answer is Drugs.

Course that you could sleep through and still pass

The answer is Easy A.

Where Adam and Eve were eatin' the apple, fittingly?

The answer is Eden.

Asia's largest desert

The answer is Gobi.

Bunny's bounce

The answer is Hop.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

The Dreame FP10 air purifier cleans fur off its own filter. Just as crucially, it matches my living room aesthetic.

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:53 +0000

One thing about vacuum companies? They're all gonna release an air purifier eventually. Then, most of those vacuum brand purifiers just start blending together. Dreame dropping an air purifier feature called "Furcatch" immediately hinted that the Dreame FP10 wasn't just another purifier touting a filter that lasts longer than usual, like the Dyson HushJet or Shark NeverChange.

I've been running the Dreame FP10 Furcatch purifier in my two-cat apartment for about two weeks. Here's how it's going.

Design: Kinda big, but a complete vibe

As someone who tests robot vacuums at home every week, I've grown excruciatingly bored with plasticky black appliances shoved into every corner of my living space. I was naturally drawn to the Dreame FP10's curb appeal, like the minimalistic rounded shape and the modern cream color that doesn't stick out like a sore thumb amongst my decor or white walls.

Sansa is comparing Dreame color options in my unintentional Dreame corner. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Leota appreciates the ambient night light as much as I do. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The FP10 measures just over two feet tall with a diameter of around 14 inches. That's standard for a large room purifier, and there's something to be said for a large room air purifier that doesn't aggressively look like it was meant to live in a garage.

The vent runs 360 degrees around the bottom of the cylinder, so the FP10 does its best work when it can suck particles from the air in every direction. I've been pulling the purifier out from the wall while I work from home during the day, as well as overnight. But given its size (and close proximity to the foot of my couch chaise), it's just easier to leave the FP10 in the corner during heavy foot traffic hours in the living room. My cats spend a ton of time at the living room windowsills and nearby cat tree, so there's constant hair and dust floating near that wall, anyway.

Furcatch roller = no interaction with the filter for two years

The Dreame FP10 gets the "Furcatch" part of its name from a fur-cleaning microfiber roller that lives under the hood with the HEPA filter. Every so often, the roller flicks back and forth for several seconds to comb hair off the rotating filter as it passes through. The roller's material and motion remind me of using a ChomChom to clean cat hair off furniture.

You'll be able to see when the hair compartment is full through the window. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Use these touch buttons or the app to switch settings. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

If you have pets, you're probably familiar with the gray fluff that builds up unsettlingly quickly on the filter of an air purifier or vacuum. (If you're not familiar and are wondering why your vacuum stopped sucking stuff up, that's probably why.) The more gray fluff caked onto the filter, the more air flow is cut off into the purifier — which means no new air is actually being filtered.

Depending on the severity of shedding in your home, pet parents could wind up pulling tufts of fur out of a filter on a weekly basis. It's enough to get you to ditch the air purifier altogether, even if you know deep down that it's kind of crucial for your health. Dreame's genius roller idea does that for you, meaning the FP10 purifier requires no regular cleaning or replacement filters. FP10 filters are expected to last nearly two years each, and the app keeps you posted on exactly how many days are left.

A moment for the other pet-friendly features

As any air purifier geared toward pets should, the FP10 was designed to anticipate various cat behaviors — like sitting on top of your air purifier, whether they're "supposed to" or not. Its flat canvas top supports a maximum weight of 33 pounds and is bottom-heavy to prevent toppling over. (It automatically shuts off if tipped over.)

The adjustable LED light strip that circles the FP10 has also turned out to be a great night light for my cats when I'm out and about. It feels less wasteful than turning on a whole lamp, and I never have to stress over whether I actually did remember to turn on a light before I left. It's just always on.

Noise level: Surprisingly subtle for its size

The Dreame FP10 Furcatch purifier has a few purification modes: AI Purify, Pet Purify, and Sleep Purification, plus a custom option to drag the fan level up or down as you please. Sleep Purification, plus AI Purify or a fan speed at 4 or less, is as good as silent to me — you'd think the whole thing accidentally got unplugged if the light wasn't on.

Pet Purify (around 52 decibels from an inch away) is a more audible constant hum, and fan speed 10 is the loudest (about 61 decibels from an inch away), but neither is "loud" at all. The Dreame FP10 doesn't get much louder than the Dyson HushJet's strongest setting.

Performance: The app says particles like fur are, in fact, being caught

The Dreame FP10 purifier has been doing an excellent job of mitigating lingering odors in my living space with shitty ventilation. Why would someone design a kitchen with no windows or HVAC vents? I would love to know! But you can imagine the potential mugginess.

I've noticed that I don't really catch a whiff of a full Litter-Robot unless I'm on the floor to swap the drawer liner. The stench from the open drawer doesn't hover as long, either. Dreame's website specifically says that the FP10 was designed with pet odors like feces, litter and urine, and pet food in mind. The activated carbon layer of the filter traps the stinky gas, which then hits the unique metal layer where they're chemically neutralized.

The FP10 also monitors indoor temperature and humidity. Credit: Screenshot / Dreame

Here's the smidgeon of accumulated fur after two weeks. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Dreame app monitors two types of indoor pollution: VOCs (volatile organic compounds that can come from paint, bleach and other harsh chemicals, or new furniture) and PM1, 2.5, and 10 (tiny particulate matter and allergens like dander, mold spores, or smoke from outdoor emissions or lit candles). I hated finding out that microplastics are another type of microscopic particle that can float and live in dust, and that there are a ton of them seeping off just about everything I own. So I'll take any crumb of relief I can get, like when my Dyson PencilVac laser points out that less dust and cat hair are settling on the hardwood in the FP10 room.

While my apartment's VOC levels have been in the green (shout-out to non-toxic cleaning products), I've noticed several spikes in the particulate matter department. Most of them seem to coincide with fume-heavy cooking (frying seitan and cooking bacon) or the times that I'm burping the common area by opening the singular openable window. The graph would be easier to read if it would let me toggle to a 12-hour clock.

The Dyson HushJet that I was previously using has since been moved to my bedroom. It did a pretty good job of clearing smells from the entryway and couch radius, but its 203-square-foot capacity just didn't have the reach to freshen such a large open-concept living space. The Dreame FP10's 1,346-square-foot capacity is much better suited to my ~800-square-foot common area.

No firm disadvantages yet, just things to keep in mind

I have nothing bad to say about the Dreame Furcatch air purifier yet. That doesn't necessarily mean it's the right air purifier for every single household. Even if you need more oomph than a true tabletop air purifier, the FP10 Furcatch is hardly the most compact floor air purifier for a small space. Most of Dreame's staged product photos show the Furcatch casually chilling in the middle of a huge room with no cord in sight. In the real world, the ease of incorporating a larger model like this one into your home relies a lot on convenient outlet placement.

Is the Dreame FP10 air purifier worth it?

One final vibe check. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

As long as you have the floor space, I'd say that the Dreame FP10 is the best air purifier for homes with multiple pets. If the Furcatch roller remains as self-sufficient over the next two years as Dreame claims, it's hard to picture a heavy-duty air purifier better equipped to deal with a shit ton of shedding.

For comparison's sake, the Dreame FP10 air purification covers six times the square footage that the Dyson HushJet does, yet only costs $150 more. The 1,346-square-foot FP10 does cost $100 more than the 1,400-square-foot Shark NeverChange model, but NeverChange doesn't mean NeverClean — the Shark filter still requires manual maintenance on a regular basis, whereas the Dreame is completely hands-free. Is Dreame's FP10 Furcatch purifier more expensive up front than the long-lasting purifiers from Shark and Dyson? Yes. But is Dreame's Furcatch a better value over time? Also yes.

Dreame FP10 HEPA Air Purifier with Self-Cleaning Pet Hair

$424.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $75

Wuthering Heights now streaming: How to watch Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordis controversial romance

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:19 +0000

Academy Award-winning writer-director Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn) joined forces with two of Hollywood's favorites for her third feature film: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. And you'd think that combination would thrill audiences, but instead, it led to a ton of outrage. Why? Because that third feature film is a reimagining of Emily Brontë’s beloved 1847 gothic romance tale Wuthering Heights.

The best ways to watch 'Wuthering Heights' at home:

Best for non-streaming

Buy or rent on Prime Video

$29.99 or $9.99

Best long-term deal

HBO Max (With Ads)

$109.99/year (save $21.89)

Best ad-free plan

Max Standard

$184.99/year (save $36.89)

Best for students

HBO Max Student

$5.49 per month for 12 months (save 50%)

Best way to watch for free

HBO Max Basic With Ads

Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month)

Best bundle deal

Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max

$19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 42%)

Best for Verizon customers

Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads)

$10/month with Verizon myPlan (save $9.98/month)

Best for Xfinity customers

Netflix, Peacock, and HBO Max (with ads)

$22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $8.97/month)

Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Elordi as Heathcliff, the star-crossed lovers at the heart of the classic drama, raised casting concerns from fans. Many folks thought the Barbie star was too old to play Catherine and that Elordi wasn't racially ambiguous enough to play Heathcliff. Still, fans flocked to the theaters to see the over-the-top romance anyway.

Fennell herself put intentional quotation marks around the title, as her modern adaptation of the period drama is radically different than the original. If you missed it in theaters or want to watch it again, here's everything you need to know to catch Wuthering Heights from your couch.

What is Wuthering Heights about?

The bones of the 2026 adaptation of Wuthering Heights are essentially the same as Brontë's classic: Catherine is a motherless rich girl being raised by an alcoholic father and Heathcliff is a poor kid adopted to be raised alongside her. They run wild in the moors of West Yorkshire, England and develop a deep connection. They grow into hot adults (Robbie and Elordi) and their preternatural connection becomes an all-consuming romance. But Catherine longs for luxury and there's no future with Heathcliff, so she agrees to marry the wealthy neighbor Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif). Heathcliff, feeling betrayed, runs away, only to return five years later a wealthy man himself.

Check out the official trailer for a glimpse at "Wuthering Heights":

Is Wuthering Heights worth watching?

Emerald Fennell's "Wuthering Heights" has truly divided (and outraged) the internet. To put it simply, this is not the adaptation of Brontë’s Victorian classic that fans were expecting.

The movie currently holds a 57 percent critic rating and 76 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels like a pretty accurate representation. Mashable's own lead film critic, Kristy Puchko, was largely unenthused by the adaptation. "Instead of a cohesive re-imagining or even a titillating romance, Wuthering Heights feels like a passionate but incoherent collage of teenage lust and rebellion, the kind better suited to a high school locker than a movie theater," she writes in her review.

Whether it's worth a watch is highly debatable, but one should certainly adjust their expectations before going in.

Check out Mashable's full review of Wuthering Heights.

How to watch Wuthering Heights at home

Credit: Warner Bros.

As of May 1, there are a couple of ways you can watch "Wuthering Heights" at home: buy it, rent it, or stream it. We've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

"Wuthering Heights" made its at-home debut at digital-on-demand retailers on March 31, 2026. You can purchase the film for your digital library for $19.99 or rent it for $10 less. If you choose to rent, you'll get access for 30 days, but just 48 hours once you start watching.

Quick links to buy/rent Wuthering Heights on digital:

Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99
Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99
Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99
YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

Stream it on HBO Max

"Wuthering Heights" made its streaming debut on HBO Max on May 1, 2026. Warner Bros. Pictures theatrical releases exclusively stream on HBO Max before anywhere else, so this comes as no surprise. It follows the same theater-to-streaming trajectory as other recently released Warner Bros. movies — like One Battle After Another, Weapons, and The Conjuring: Last Rites.

HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month, but there are some ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

The best HBO Max streaming deals

Best for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max annual subscriptions

Credit: HBO Max

HBO Max Basic with ads annual subscription

$109.99 per year (save $21.89)

Credit: HBO Max

HBO Max Standard annual subscription

$184.99 per year (save $36.89)

The best way to save on HBO Max in the long term is to sign up for the annual plan over the monthly plan. The HBO Max Basic plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year up front, that price drops down to just $9.17. You'll pay $109.99 total for the year, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.

Don't want to deal with ads? The annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over their monthly equivalents. The Standard tier costs either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (about $15.42 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). Both tiers unlock ad-free viewing, but the Premium tier also adds 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan

Credit: HBO Max / Cricket

HBO Max (with ads)

Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan

There's a big incentive to switching your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan: free HBO Max. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads

Credit: HBO Max

HBO Max Student

$5.49 per month for 12 months

College students can watch "Wuthering Heights" when it hits streaming with an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Use UNiDAYS to prove your student status and retrieve a unique discount code that drops the price from $10.99 to just $5.49 per month. After 12 months, the price will jump back up to the full $10.99 monthly fee unless you cancel.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 42% off

Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max

Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max

$19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads)

You'll get the most bang for your buck if you opt for the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $19.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would cost you $34.97 per month if you paid separately for each, so you'll save about $15 monthly. If you prefer to go ad-free, the bundle will run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47. That's up to 42% in savings for unlimited access to all three streaming libraries.

Best for Verizon customers: Get Netflix and HBO Max for $10/month

Credit: Netflix / HBO Max

HBO Max and Netflix (with ads)

$10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $9.98 per month)

Verizon customers with myPlan can get the Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) for only $10 per month (a $19.98 per month value). That's basically like getting one service for free. Eligible Verizon customers include those on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plans. After enrolling in the promo, complete the account setup separately for each service. Verizon's support page has all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.

Best for Xfinity customers: Bundle HBO Max, Peacock, and Netflix and save $10/month

Credit: Netflix / Peacock / HBO Max

Netflix Standard with ads, Peacock Premium, and HBO Max

$22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $8.97/month)

New and current Xfinity Internet and TV customers can add an Xfinity StreamSaver package to their account, which includes Netflix Standard with ads ($8.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($10.99 per month), and HBO Max Basic with Ads ($10.99 per month). You can add the StreamSaver bundle to your existing services for only $22 per month. Usually, it costs $30.97 per month for all three subscriptions, so you'll save $8.97 monthly with this package deal.

The Devil Wears Prada 2s Lady Gaga cameo is made for little monsters

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

You know Lady Gaga appears in The Devil Wears Prada 2, but you don't know just how perfect it is.

Mother Monster, who teamed up with Doechii for soundtrack banger "Runway," garners applause with her cameo in the awaited sequel. But you'll have to wait until the final act to see Lady Gaga in the same universe as Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).

There are two moments with Gaga appearing as herself in The Devil Wears Prada 2. One is a hilarious dressing room altercation between Miranda and Gaga before a major fashion event in Milan's Accademia di Brera, in which the Mayhem singer is less than excited to see the Runway editor-in-chief — there's not a poker face in sight.

"Who let her in here?" Gaga scoffs at Miranda. "Nigel said I'd never do another cover."

I won't ruin the whole scene, but I will say one thing: We never see Miranda Priestly grovelling, but this scene comes pretty close, as the famously acerbic editor must get Gaga onside. Considering Streep herself asked Gaga to be in the film, it's hilarious to watch them hating on each other in the scene.

"Who let *her* in here?"

On a stunning, structural set, Gaga later performs among the runway models during the show in the Brera, surrounded by Italian designer looks by Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Emilio Pucci, Moschino, Missoni, Lorenzo Seghezzi, Etro, Rosamosario, Roberto Cavalli, Antonio Marras, and of course, Prada. She's singing her track from The Devil Wears Prada 2 soundtrack, "The Shape of a Woman." (The artist has another track, "Glamorous Life," made for the film.)

It's by no means the only cameo in the film, with a runway's worth of fashion icons, Hollywood stars, journalists, and more celebrities invited to the most star-studded affair of the season. And Gaga herself is no stranger to a cameo.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits cinemas May 1.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 cameos, from Lady Gaga to Donatella Versace

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The list of cameos in The Devil Wears Prada 2 is so long it takes up an entire length of the movie screen in the end credits.

The glossy, glamourous sequel invites the A-list to the world of Runway, with fashion designers, creative directors, stylists, models, Hollywood stars, comedians, creators, musicians, athletes, journalists, and authors appearing in scenes involving fashion shows, long Hamptons lunches, and VIP birthday parties. You know, Donatella Versace and Lady Gaga's cameos are brilliant.

Here's every cameo we could spot in The Devil Wears Prada 2, a valiant task if we do say so ourselves.

Donatella Versace

Lady Gaga

Marc Jacobs

Brunello, Camilla, and Carolina Cucinelli

Domenico Dolce

Stefano Gabbana

Naomi Campbell

Winnie Harlow

Ashley Graham

Karolina Kurkova

Amelia Gray Hamlin

Anok Yai

Calum Harper

Law Roach

Wisdom Kaye

Heidi Klum

Jon Batiste

Ciara

Karl-Anthony Towns

Ronny Chieng

Hannah Berner

Paige DeSorbo

Rory McIlroy

Erica Stoll

Sarah Tanno

Frederic Aspiras

Edward Enninful

Vanessa Friedman

Tina Brown

Kara Swisher

Tomi Adeyemi

Suleika Jaouad

Jia Tolentino

Molly Jong-Fast

Jenna Bush Hager

Amelia Dimoldenberg

Brigitte Lacombe

Richard Kirshenbaum

Adam Pendleton

Marc Glimcher

The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits cinemas May 1.

As a journalist, The Devil Wears Prada 2 had me sweating

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

You've likely noticed that journalism has transformed in the 20 years since The Devil Wears Prada distilled the profession into a pop-cultural moment. Based on Lauren Weisberger's novel, this iconic satire, alongside fellow fashion media gems Ugly Betty, The Bold Type, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, inspired a generation of wide-eyed, early-internet journalists. (Me, I'm talking about me.)

Now online metrics keep editors up at night, with virality that all-important talking point in editorial meetings, the higher-ups insistent on "gaining online traction," and the impact of AI overviews and chatbots a pervasive thorn in all of our sides. Legacy media has, of course, transformed with the internet, especially fashion journalism. Recently taking the hallowed reins from Miranda Priestly–inspiration Anna Wintour, Vogue's head of editorial content is former Vogue.com editor Chloe Malle, and the publication's Met Gala is an internet moment as much as an in-person event.

And it's now, in 2026, that The Devil Wears Prada 2 arrives — refreshed, but ever-committed to old-school media ethics and making Big Bads out of corporate tech bros who value profit over authenticity.

From the film's very first moments, the current state of media is on full display by director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, whether championed or dismissed as yesterday's news.

Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is still very much the formidable editor-in-chief of the illustrious ~~Vogue~~ Runway magazine. Owned by ~~Condé Nast~~ Elias-Clark Publications, Runway now has a social media and video strategy. In the plot, Miranda's job could potentially evolve from EIC into a "global head of content" (essentially mirroring Wintour's path to being Condé Nast's chief content officer). Only slightly showing grief at her industry's evolution, she's now answering to the Elias-Clark chairman Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman) and his corporate tech bro son Jay (B.J. Novak) along with an ever-evolving world of online advertisers.

Meryl Streep and Anne Hathway in "The Devil Wears Prada 2." Credit: Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios

Meanwhile, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathway) is winning awards for her work at investigative outlet Vanguard and going viral for acceptance speeches in which she declares "journalism still f***ing matters." Through Miranda and Andy, the film spends ample energy on the difficulties of balancing "pieces with gravitas" and editorial integrity with corporate demands, as well as how hard it can be for editorial teams to argue the value of a publisher's authentic point of view. As Andy says, "They keep sucking the soul out of everything and repackaging it."

To keep Miranda and Andy in esteemed company, there’s a wave of cameos from renowned editors, journalists, and authors including Edward Enniful, Tina Brown, Vanessa Friedman, Kara Swisher, Jia Tolentino, Suleika Jaouad, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Tomi Adeyemi, and Molly Jong-Fast.

But not everyone's on the same "yay journalism!" page. "Remember when magazines were a thing?" asks Emily (Emily Blunt), a disgruntled but still chic ex-Runway employee who has since moved into high-fashion retail. (No one in this movie says the word "Substack" or mentions the overlap between the creator economy and fashion, for what it's worth.)

Emily Blunt in "The Devil Wears Prada 2." Credit: Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios

Again and again, The Devil Wears Prada 2 satirises extremely specific, problematic elements of the current state of media. The excessive spending of the pre-2020s industry is mourned. A moment early on in the film, when Andy's entire editorial team is fired by text at a journalism awards event uncomfortably mirrors the too-many newsrooms gutted by top-down layoffs in recent years. (Succession Season 2 even parodied this sad reality with Kendall Roy's brutal Vaulter layoffs.) Corporate euphemisms like "downsizing" and "consolidation" for layoffs go hand in hand with insistent pressure from the top. "Let's show the markets we are ready to crank that EBITDA!" Jay Ravitz says in a moment of dialogue that's way too real.

At times, the film tips over into grandstanding (watching Andy declare journalism more important than real estate to an agent she's into feels ridiculous). And at times, the film also falls into romanticising the practicalities of the job: Andy helming Runway's well-funded, hallowed features department without a staff writer or freelancer in sight? Unlikely.

But, for a film whose main drawcard is the glossy high fashion world, celebrity cameos, and a magnificent cast, The Devil Wears Prada 2 goes unexpectedly hard examining the challenge of maintaining editorial integrity in today's media industry. That job "thousands of girls would kill for?" It's changed.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits cinemas May 1.

Last chance to lock in a lifetime license to Microsoft Office for just $30

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Give your PC a fresh set of tools with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, on sale now for $29.97 (reg. $219.99) through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License

$29.97
$219.99 Save $190.02

Tired of always having to connect to a cloud for everything these days? If you’d like to get things done without dealing with lag time and loading, this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 Windows license makes it possible. You can install eight helpful apps directly on your device and own them forever with this lifetime license — and it’s on sale for just $29.97 through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Outfit your PC with eight of Microsoft’s finest tools for less than $4 each through this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 deal. It lets you own the apps outright, with no subscription fees or monthly charges. You’ll also be able to work offline as needed, since there’s no cloud connectivity required.

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This license comes with eight essentials from the brand, some of which have been around for decades, that can help you do everything from working with spreadsheets to creating presentations.

You’ll recognize old classics like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Then you’ll also get the benefits of newer Office staples like OneNote, Teams, Access, and Publisher with this license.

Don’t be concerned by the year of this edition. These apps have been redesigned and include a ribbon-based user interface that gives you easy access to features, tools, and customizations. They’re also ready to help everyone from designers to data analysts. Just make sure your computer is running Windows 10 or 11 to be compatible.

There are just hours left to snag a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for only $29.97 — less than $4 an app — so act fast.

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This offer gets you lifetime access to all Babbel language courses

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Use code LEARN to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for $159.

Credit: Babbel

Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)

$159
$646.20 Save $487.20

Learning to speak a second language has always taken a lot of work, but there’s a chance some apps might be making it a little harder than it needs to be. Many new language-learning apps have started using AI-generated lessons, which sounds interesting, but if you don’t speak the language, then you can’t know if the AI is giving you flawed guidance.

If you want to learn a language the human way, Babbel is an excellent option. This language-learning platform was designed by real linguists to give you a practical, natural way of learning up to 14 different languages, and you don’t have to pay for it month to month. Instead, you can get a lifetime subscription for $159 (reg. $646.20) if you use code LEARN.

Babbel gives you lifetime access to language lessons in:

French
Spanish
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Danish
Norwegian
And more

These lessons are short and can fit throughout your day, typically only taking 10 or 15 minutes. The topics are also focused on real things you might encounter while travelling, so you can learn words and phrases related to dining, shopping, making friends, conducting business rather than wasting time on rote grammatical tutorials.

It’s not all reading and writing. Babbel also uses advanced speech recognition to check your pronunciation along with curated review sessions to make sure you remember what you’ve learned.

Babbel does have its own AI component, but you’re the one doing the leading. The AI conversation partner lets you practice having a chat with a fake native speaker, which is nice if you want to build confidence before you put your new language skills to the test.

Use code LEARN to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for $159.

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This AI piano tutoring app turns spare time into practice, and now it’s $100 for life

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Continuously learn piano forever with this lifetime subscription to AI-powered tutoring app, Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, for just $99.97 ($299.99) through May 10.

Credit: Skoove

Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription

$99.97
$299.99 Save $200.02

Want to pick up a hobby that doesn’t force you to rearrange your busy life? Skoove Premium Piano Lessons lets you learn piano in your spare time… and your pajamas. This AI-powered app brings the instruction to you, and all you’ll need is your device and a keyboard or piano.

Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription to this self-guided piano learning app for $99.97 until May 10.

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If you’ve always wanted to pick up the piano, but don’t want to commit to weekly lessons, Skoove is for you. This AI-powered piano lesson app brings the instruction home — just grab your piano or keyboard and a smartphone, laptop, or tablet.

Thanks to the power of AI, Skoove actually listens to you play. It recognizes your notes and provides real-time feedback as you go. It’s also ready to teach at whatever level you’re currently at, with options ranging from beginner to advanced.

There are over 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos to choose from, and you can learn by playing your favorite songs. Pick from current pop tunes like Adele or John Legend, go old-school with The Beatles, or keep it more classic with Beethoven and Bach.

This lifetime subscription lets you keep learning for life, with new lessons and songs added every month so you always have something fresh to work with. You’ll also have access to one-on-one support with real music instructors when you need it.

Become a pro pianist with this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, now for only $99.97.

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How to watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships online for free

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free on IIHF.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're still buzzed about the international hockey from the 2026 Winter Olympics, but there's more to come. We know the focus of the ice hockey world is firmly fixed on the resolution of the NHL season right now, but the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is here to offer something to fans without a vested interest in the Stanley Cup.

This tournament doesn't have quite the same prestige as the Winter Olympics, but the 2024 World Championship was the most successful in terms of overall attendance. We're expecting this tournament in Switzerland to be just as popular as the USA, Canada, Czechia, Sweden, Finland, and other top sides battle it out on the ice.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Ice Hockey World Championships?

The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual international men's ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. 16 teams are divided into two groups for the Preliminary Round played in a single round robin format. The top-four ranked teams of each group advance to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Czechia.

When is the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships?

The 2026 IIHF World Championship will take place from May 15-31. This year's tournament will be hosted by Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.

How to watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free

The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is available to live stream for free on IIHF.TV.

IIHF.TV is not available in some locations due to regional broadcasting restrictions (blocked locations listed here), but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access, meaning you can stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
Connect to IIHF.TV
Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the tournament before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Ice Hockey World Championships?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch the 2026 French Open online for free

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 French Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The world of tennis has turned its attention to the clay courts. The top players have already sharpened up in the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open, and now it's the turn of the main event: Roland-Garros.

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his title, but this year's tournament is not short of star names. Expect the likes of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Świątek to be battling it out in the latter stages.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 French Open from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the French Open?

The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. It's the only Grand Slam tournament held on a clay surface, and is the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments.

The current singles champions are Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff.

When is the 2026 French Open?

The 2026 French Open is the 131th edition of the competition. This year's event takes place from May 18 to June 7.

How to watch the 2026 French Open for free

The 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Connect to 9Now
Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2026 French Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the French Open?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

2026 Summer movie preview: Every film you need to know about now

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Summer is right around the corner. And with it comes wave after wave of spectacular cinema.

For science fiction fans, theaters will be offering the latest from Steven Spielberg with the alien invasion movie Disclosure Day, while Pedro Pascal will be putting on the mask and picking up the baby Yoda once more for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Hankering for action? Supergirl, Mortal Kombat II, Masters of the Universe, The Odyssey, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be flying into theaters. Craving comedy? Titles like The Dink, The Invite, Coyote vs. Acme, and The Sheep Detectives will have you cackling.

Plus, great news for horror fans — this summer is full of scares, thanks to Obsession, Hokum, and Evil Dead Burn.

Whether you're searching for something family friendly or hard-R entertainment, a satisfying sequel or an original stunner, we've got you covered.

Here's every summer 2026 movie release that you ought to know about.

May 2026 movie releases

The Devil Wears Prada 2

The word "iconic" gets thrown around a lot these days. But there's no denying that The Devil Wears Prada movie adaptation was iconic. The fashion had audiences gagging on the eleganza of Andy Sachs' (Anne Hathaway) stylish journey of self-discovery working under the iron fist that was Runway magazine's editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) — herself a thinly veiled Anna Wintour. Who among us hasn't yelled, "Gird your loins!" in a clumsy Stanley Tucci impersonation? Or felt smug about cerulean ever since we first heard that epic monologue?*

Twenty years later, this chic sequel picks up with the tables turned. Andy is a successful journalist, while Miranda's reign at Runway is threatened by a current scandal. Will Andy aid her? Or expose her? With Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci also reprising their roles as fierce fashionistas, we can't wait to see how this plays out. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Caleb Hearon, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, Simone Ashley, and Pauline Chalamet

How to watch: The Devil Wears Prada 2 opens in theaters May 1.

Deep Water

Sometimes movie trailers are so brilliantly over-the-top and ridiculous you have no choice but to watch the movie. This is exactly the case with Renny Harlin's Deep Water, a story about a plane crashing into the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The good news? A large number of passengers manage to survive the landing. The bad? There are way, way more sharks than rescue boats in sight. Cue a Jaws-esque survival thriller in which pilots Ben Kingsley and Aaron Eckhart fight for their lives while saying tough things like, "We have one job to do, and that is to get home to see our families." Sign us up. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Aaron Eckhart

How to watch: Deep Water opens in theaters May 1.

Hokum

Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy previously bestowed upon horror fans the folk-flavored terror of Caveat and Oddity. Now, he's teamed with Adam Scott for Hokum, which was so scary that I screamed myself hoarse at its SXSW premiere.

Scott stars as a misanthropic novelist named Ohm Bauman, who's flown to a remote Irish hotel to spread the ashes of his parents, who'd honeymooned there decades before. But amid this grim task, he stumbles upon a local legend about a vicious witch who's still said to haunt the hotel. In my review, I called Hokum "a seriously scary masterpiece," explaining, "It's a nerve-shredding, bone-rattling, scream-pulling good time, and an absolute blast to see in a theater. Don't miss it." — K.P.

Starring: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Michael Patric, Will O'Connell, Brendan Conroy, and Austin Amelio

How to watch: Hokum opens in theaters May 1.

Swapped

Tangled co-director Nathan Greno helms Netflix's latest animated film, which doubles as a body-swap comedy.

Set in a scenic forest known as the Valley, Swapped centers on an adorable otter named Ollie (Academy Award winner Michael B. Jordan) who has a run-in with a flustered bird (Juno Temple) that magically pitches them into each other's bodies. Whereas before the swap they were fighting over resources like food, could they become friends by walking in each other's metaphorical shoes? Here's hoping. Because the creatures of the Valley could use a unifying force in the face of a fearsome pack of wolves. — K.P.

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Juno Temple, Tracy Morgan, Cedric the Entertainer, and Justina Machado

How to watch: Swapped debuts on Netflix May 1.

Animal Farm

George Orwell's enduring allegory about authoritarianism gets a family-friendly makeover in this animated film directed by Andy Serkis.

Like in Orwell's novella, Animal Farm introduces a crew of animals who have overthrown their human owners and are trying to build better lives for themselves. Unlike in Orwell's work, the story is told through the eyes of a fully new character: Lucky (voiced by Gaten Matarazzo), a piglet torn between the philosophies of rival pigs Snowball (voiced by Laverne Cox) and Napoleon (voiced by Seth Rogen). (The film's stacked voice cast also includes Glenn Close, Steve Buscemi, Woody Harrelson, Kathleen Turner, Iman Vellani, Kieran Culkin, and Jim Parsons.) Will Lucky and his fellow animals create the utopia they've dreamed of, or will they fall back under a new tyrant? — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Steve Buscemi, Laverne Cox, Woody Harrelson, Jim Parsons, Andy Serkis, Kathleen Turner, and Iman Vellani

How to watch: Animal Farm opens in theaters May 1.

One Spoon of Chocolate

RZA's action-packed social thriller One Spoon of Chocolate comes presented by Quentin Tarantino, as the Wu-Tang Clan member began collaborating with the director on the Kill Bill soundtrack. The Gutter's Shameik Moore stars as former U.S. soldier Unique, who is wrongfully imprisoned. On release, he's trying to start fresh in the small town of Karensville, Ohio, where his cousin Ramsey (RJ Cyler) lives. However, racism and violence run rife here, from the sheriff to the heavily armed citizens. On top of that, there's something deeply sinister going on underground. Unique, a man with serious combat skills, might have something to say about that. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Shameik Moore, RJ Cyler, Blair Underwood, Emyri Crutchfield, and Paris Jackson

How to watch: One Spoon of Chocolate opens in theaters May 1.

Mortal Kombat II

Director Simon McQuoid and company are back with a sequel to 2021's Mortal Kombat. And like the video game that inspired both movies, this martial arts fantasy film is so violent that Warner Bros. already released a red-band trailer. So, buckle up.

Going for some fish-out-of-water comedy, Mortal Kombat II focuses on washed-up American action hero Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), who goes from swatting away intrusive fan boys to training for the titular to-the-death showdown. Surrounded by fearsome warriors like Kitana, Raiden, and Scorpion, how could a guy whose biggest flex is his handsomeness possibly stand a chance? We are game to find out.* — K.P.

Starring: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada

How to watch: Mortal Kombat II opens in theaters and IMAX May 8.

Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - The Tour (Live in 3D)

Icons of music and movies collide in this supersized concert film, as Billie Eilish teams up with James Cameron to bring her sold-out Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to movie theaters. The film offers up a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Eilish's life on tour, as well as electrifying footage of her performances, all captured in 3D. Whether you want to hear more about Eilish's creative process (she co-directed the film with Cameron) or just headbang along to "bad guy," Hit Me Hard and Soft promises to be "The Greatest" treat for the superstar's fans this summer. — B.E.

Starring: Billie Eilish, James Cameron, and Finneas O'Connell

How to watch: Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) opens in theaters May 8.

The Sheep Detectives

Mashable's Entertainment team is giddy about the sheer absurdity of this one. It sounds like a Mad Libs come to life. Hugh Jackman stars as a shepherd who loves reading murder mystery novels to his flock. So when he's murdered, who better to crack the case than his sheep, voiced by the likes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, and Regina Hall? And for added WTF, this cozy murder mystery, based on Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, was adapted by The Last of Us' showrunner Craig Mazin.

As I cheered in my review, "The Sheep Detectives is a rare thing, a comedy unashamed to be a comedy. Yet with Mazin's eye for detail and [director Kyle] Balda's skill for crafting sheer silliness, The Sheep Detectives is more. It's a feel-good movie that's sure to delight all ages." —K.P.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Emma Thompson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, and Rhys Darby

How to watch: The Sheep Detectives opens in theaters May 8.

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Shelby Van Pelt's bestselling novel Remarkably Bright Creatures comes to Netflix this May, bringing with it the sweet story of an unlikely friendship. On one side of the friendship? Tova Sullivan (Sally Field), a widow who works as a cleaner at a local aquarium. On the other side? Marcellus (voiced by Alfred Molina), a giant Pacific octopus whose tank Tova cleans. The pair's unlikely bond brings joy to Tova's life, as does her burgeoning connection with her younger coworker, Cameron (Lewis Pullman). Expect this one to tug at your heartstrings. — B.E.

Starring: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D’Elia, and Alfred Molina

How to watch: Remarkably Bright Creatures debuts on Netflix May 8.

Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition

Time to melt your faces off, people — the Iron Maiden documentary is here. Burning Ambition traces the legendary English heavy metal band with 17 studio albums; over 100 million records sold; 2,500 concerts played; and a lineup that has changed more times than I can count (though not as much since the 1999 reunion). And we can't leave out Eddie, Iron Maiden's adored and eternal mascot.

Directed by Malcolm Venville (Churchill at War), the doc connects with the music legends as their 50th anniversary Run For Your Lives world tour kicks off in 2025. Then, it's a five-decade journey through the history of Iron Maiden, starting with Steve Harris putting the band together in 1975. Expect plenty of behind-the-scenes footage on tour, and interviews with the band, of course, but also reflections from famous fans including Chuck D, Javier Bardem, and Lars Ulrich. Now, turn up all seven minutes of "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and mark your calendars. — S.C.

How to watch: Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition opens in theaters May 7.

Whistle

So you're a group of students who find a creepy skull-shaped pipe and decide the best course of action is to blow into it. You're the characters from Whistle, directed by Corin Hardy (The Nun) and written by Owen Egerton (Mercy Black). But folks, this ain't just any cursed object, it's an Aztec death whistle, which, if blown into, will summon your future demise. Sounds like Final Destination meets Ouija. Fun! Terrifying! Orchestral! This Fantastic Fest debut promises to freak you out and possibly deter you from ever picking up a wind instrument again. — S.C.

Starring: Sophie Nélisse, Nick Frost, Michelle Fairley, Dafne Keen, Sky Yang, Jhaleil Swaby, Ali Skovbye, and Percy Hynes White

How to watch: Whistle debuts on Shudder May 8.

Is God Is

Playwright Aleshea Harris adapts her award-winning play Is God Is into a scorching directorial debut. Twin sisters (Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) go on a twisted road trip in search of the father that left them for dead when they were children. Along the way, they'll be forced to reckon with their family's secrets, their parents' complexities, and their own deep differences.

As you can see from the trailer, Harris' translation of her play is visually dynamic, and studded with stars. Trust us. You'll want to see this on the big screen. — K.P.

Starring: Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Janelle Monáe, Erika Alexander, Mykelti Williamson, Josiah Cross, Vivica A. Fox, and Sterling K. Brown

How to watch: Is God Is opens in theaters May 15.

Obsession

YouTuber Curry Barker scored plenty of buzz out of the Toronto International Film Festival, where Obsession made its world premiere. His gnarly horror-thriller won the People's Choice Award in the Midnight Madness section, and Focus Features acquired the indie effort for a whopping $14 million. And it all began with a twisted wish.

Michael Johnston stars as Bear, a young man who only has eyes for Nikki (Inde Navarrette), a childhood friend who's just not into him. That is until he uses a "One Wish Willow." Sure, it looks like a cheap novelty. But magic takes over, transforming Nikki into being utterly obsessed with Bear. And so begins a parable about autonomy and desire. Be warned: This is not a date movie, but it is a good "should I date you?" movie.* — K.P.

Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter

How to watch: Obsession opens in theaters May 15.

In the Grey

Guy Ritchie collects another ungentlemanly squad with Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rosamund Pike, and more with In the Grey, the director's latest action heist adventure. Yes, there's a team of morally ambiguous special agents with names like Bronco. Yes, there's a fortune to loot and high-tech gadgets to deploy. Yes, there's a big bad billionaire called Manny Salazar (Carlos Bardem) on a private island with his own militia. You son of a bitch, I'm in. — S.C.

Starring: Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza González, Rosamund Pike, Carlos Bardem, Fisher Stevens, Jason Wong, Kristofer Hivju, and Emmett J. Scanlan

How to watch: In the Grey opens in theaters May 15.

The Wizard of the Kremlin

Jude Law as Vladimir Putin? I'll bite, though it pains me to see the turtleneck-wearing star of The Holiday as the war-mongering Russian president. Directed and co-written by Olivier Assayas (Wasp Network) with Emmanuel Carrère (author of The Adversary), The Wizard of the Kremlin adapts Giuliano da Empoli's political satire novel of the same name. Set in Moscow in the early '90s, when the Soviet Union was dissolved and the Russian Federation founded, the film sees Paul Dano as fictional government official and propagandist Vadim Baranov, who rises in the Federation ranks at the same time as Putin (Law). — S.C.

Starring: Paul Dano, Jude Law, Jeffrey Wright, Alicia Vikander, Will Keen, Tom Sturridge, Kaspars Kambala, Andris Keišs, Magne-Håvard Brekke, Dan Cade, and Matthew Baunsgard

How to watch: The Wizard of the Kremlin opens in theaters May 15.

Jack Ryan: Ghost War

John Krasinski headlines and co-wrote this Ryanverse film, which is a continuation of his TV series Jack Ryan, based on Tom Clancy's novels.

As that show wrapped in 2023, Ghost War begins with the eponymous former U.S. Marine retired from the CIA, leaving spy work for a "nice civilian job." But when the Deputy Director of the CIA interrupts his daily jog, it's not long before he's back on the espionage trip. This time, he'll be facing off against a dangerous black ops team. Expect lots of gunfire and explosions. — K.P.

Starring: John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, and Sienna Miller

How to watch: Jack Ryan: Ghost War debuts on Prime Video May 20.

I Love Boosters

Credit: NEON

Following the critical acclaim of Sorry to Bother You and I'm A Virgo, celebrated rapper/filmmaker Boots Riley returns with the epic anti-capitalism satire I Love Boosters.

Keke Palmer stars as an aspiring fashion designer who's making ends meet by boosting (shoplifting) designer clothes and selling them for low, low prices. She and her thieving friends consider themselves "fashion-forward filanthropists [sic]," but fashion titan Christie Smith (Demi Moore) sees them as "low-class urban bitches." So a class war is on, with plenty of eye-popping fits and bonkers physical comedy.

Out of the film's SXSW premiere, I cheered, "Like the fashion in the film, Riley blends whatever fits his vision without apology. By delivering something this messy and marvelous, Riley makes a statement about the glory to be found outside the box. And make no mistake: I Love Boosters is glorious." — K.P.

Starring: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, and Demi Moore

How to watch: I Love Boosters opens in theaters May 22.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Fans thrilled over Pedro Pascal as the "bedroom-voiced" bounty hunter Din Djarin (aka the Mandalorian) and his adorable "baby Yoda" co-star, Grogu. So, naturally, Disney spun the spin-off series into a big budget movie all its own.

Director Jon Favreau (Elf, Iron Man) is at the helm of this stellar adventure. And the first trailer reveals some sense of the action, sci-fi spectacle, and — of course — the adorableness of its little green icon. Plus, we get a glimpse of Alien star Sigourney Weaver as Colonel Ward and The Bear's Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, son of Jabba. All that and IMAX too? Can you handle it?* —K.P.

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, and Jonny Coyne

How to watch: The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in theaters and IMAX May 22.

Saccharine

Australian horror is bloody fantastic, and that includes Natalie Erika James' superb supernatural frightener Relic. The director returns this summer with Saccharine, which has one hell of a plot to sink your teeth into. Midori Francis (Unseen, The Sex Lives of College Girls) plays medical student Hana, who falls into a weight loss trend that has people taking pills made from human ashes. More than the obvious problem of such a diet, Hana begins being haunted by the beings she just inhaled. Loved Julia Ducournau's Raw or Coralie Fargeat's The Substance? I'm thinking this one might be for you, if you can stomach it. — S.C.

Starring: Midori Francis, Danielle Macdonald, Madeleine Madden, Robert Taylor, and Showko Showfukutei

How to watch: Saccharine opens in theaters May 22.

Tuner

Leo Woodall's fine piano-tuning skills make him a master thief in Tuner, directed and co-written by Daniel Roher (Navalny) and Robert Ramsey. The Vladimir star appears as Niki, an apprentice piano technician to New York's finest tuner, Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman). Niki, who wears headphones constantly, doesn't just have perfect pitch; he also navigates hyperacusis, a sensitivity condition that causes sounds to seem louder than they should. It's challenging for everyday life, but pretty much a superpower when it comes to tuning. But there's a pivot ahead. When Niki finds himself misguidedly cracking a safe for a group of thieves, he realises his skills and sensitivity could lead to bigger paydays — and a lot of trouble. — S.C.

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Leo Woodall, Tovah Feldshuh, Lior Raz, and Havana Rose Liu

How to watch: Tuner opens in limited release May 22.

The Breadwinner

In 2024, comedian Nate Bargatze was the highest-grossing stand-up on tour in the U.S. In 2026, he's headlining a movie for the first time.

Eric Appel, director of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, helms this comedy, which stars Bargatze as an average man whose life is turned upside down when his wife (Mandy Moore) scores a Shark Tank win. While she's building her business, can he handle being a stay-at-home dad? Sure, the concept seems dated. (The similar comedy Mr. Mom came out in 1983). But with a PG-rating and Bargatze's reputation for "clean" comedy, this movie will offer some family-friendly fun this summer. — K.P.

Starring: Nate Bargatze, Mandy Moore, Colin Jost, Zach Cherry, Martin Herlihy, Kumail Nanjiani, and Will Forte

How to watch: The Breadwinner opens in theaters May 29.

Pressure

This World War II drama is mostly set far from the battlefields, and yet it reveals the pivotal decisions that led to a successful D-Day.

Based on true events, Pressure reveals the story of Scottish meteorologist James Stagg (Andrew Scott), who was chosen to advise General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) on how impending weather could impact their attack strategy. Told over the course of a few tense days, Pressure is a fascinating look at how science, international allies, and nature can impact human history. And much like Conclave, another Focus Features release, Pressure has a brilliant undercurrent of humor and humanity. Don't miss it. — K.P.

Starring: Andrew Scott, Brendan Fraser, Kerry Condon, Chris Messina, and Damian Lewis

How to watch: Pressure opens in theaters May 29.

Backrooms

Haunted houses are out, liminal spaces are in. Backrooms follows Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a man who discovers a doorway to what could be another world hidden in the basement of a store. The place is cavernous, strangely laid out, appears to go on forever — and may or may not be unoccupied. Starting life as a 4chan creepypasta, the concept of the backrooms was expanded via a series of YouTube videos created by Kane Parsons. The man himself has now adapted his series into a feature, which from the trailer looks to be every bit as unsettling as the original. — S.H.

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, and Finn Bennett

How to watch: Backrooms opens in theaters May 29.

June 2026 movie releases

Masters of the Universe

The comic turned cartoon series is becoming a film once again! The Idea of You's Nicholas Galitzine stars as Prince Adam, who has the power to become the sword-wielding warrior with a Lancelot haircut known as He-Man.

Directed by Travis Knight, Masters of the Universe presents a tragic backstory in which Skeletor has destroyed Adam's world, leaving him stranded on Earth (shades of Superman). Now, years later, he's home and ready to join forces with other warriors to reclaim his place in Eternia. Spoiler alert: He has the power! — K.P.

Starring: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Sasheer Zamata, James Purefoy, Charlotte Riley, and Kristen Wiig

How to watch: Masters of the Universe opens in theaters June 5.

Office Romance

Jennifer Lopez is a romantic-comedy queen, and she's back with a raunchy spin on the subgenre, co-starring Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein.

Goldstein co-wrote Office Romance with Joe Kelly, so we can expect this comedy will know exactly how to make the most out of his gruff but lovable appeal. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again helmer Ol Parker directs this tale of two workaholics whose work-life balance includes secret trysts. But when they want something more, what will that mean for their reputations? — K.P.

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Brett Goldstein, Betty Gilpin, Amy Sedaris, Tony Hale, and Bradley Whitford

How to watch: Office Romance debuts on Netflix June 5.

Power Ballad

Musician turned moviemaker John Carney has rolled out a series of musical dramas, from the Oscar–winning Once to the critically adored Sing Street and the less-beloved Begin Again and Flora and Son. This time, the Irish artist leans more into comedy with the help of Paul Rudd.

The Anaconda star plays a wedding DJ opposite Nick Jonas, who portrays a fading rock star. One fateful night leads the latter stealing an unpublished song from the former, reigniting his career while leaving the DJ in the dust. Hilarious hijinks follow, which earned Power Ballad much buzz out of its SXSW premiere.* — K.P.

Starring: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Jack Reynor, and Havana Rose Liu

How to watch: Power Ballad opens in theaters June 5.

Scary Movie

The Scream franchise is back in 2026, so why not the spoof franchise that was launched to mock it?

The trailer for Scary Movie teases references to Scream 6, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and M3GAN, and that's just in the first 13 seconds. Anna Faris and Regina Hall return to face down another silly slasher with lots of provocative jokes. And how about a dildo fight for good measure? — K.P.

Starring: Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Jon Abrahams, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, Dave Sheridan, and Chris Elliott

How to watch: Scary Movie opens in theaters June 5.

Stop! That! Train!

There's a train! It must be stopped! Don't just sit there! Somebody alert President Gagwell (RuPaul) and get these complimentary nuts outta my face! Adam Shankman's upcoming comedy, written by Christina Friel and Connor Wright, sees the drag icon leading an all-star lineup on the most opulent runaway train in America. What more locomotivation do you need?

Drag Race royalty Jujubee and Ginger Minj play besties and train attendants DeeDee and Tess, who ditch the crappy ol' Stank Rail for the high-speed, high-luxury Glamazonian Express. They're working coach, something the first class attendants (Symone, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Marcia Marcia Marcia) won't let them forget. Alas, their new gig could be totally derailed by a "Stormaganza" on the horizon, a disastrous force that could push this runaway train straight into Los Angeles at speed. They'll need a little help from Charo, Latrice Royale, and Rachel Bloom to slow this ride. Now, where's the damn ticket office? — S.C.

Starring: RuPaul, Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Latrice Royale, Marcia Marcia Marcia, Monét X Change, Symone, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Charo, Rachel Bloom, Matt Rogers, Lisa Rinna, Nicole Richie, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Joel McHale, and Riki Lindhome

How to watch: Stop! That! Train! opens in theaters June 12.

Disclosure Day

Steven Spielberg reteams with Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp for an original sci-fi drama that has quickly become one of the most anticipated movie releases of 2026.

Emily Blunt stars as a TV weather reporter who becomes keenly aware humans are not alone in the universe. Assisting her in understanding this world-changing truth is Wake Up Dead Man's Josh O'Connor.

That team-up alone should thrill. Add to that the visionary director behind such sci-fi classics as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, and you have us seated.* — K.P.

Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo

How to watch: Disclosure Day opens in theaters and IMAX June 12.

The Furious

Kenji Tanigaki's dark Hong Kong action thriller is giving supercharged Taken. Actor, martial artist, and wushu champion Mo Tse plays Wang Wei, a seemingly ordinary man whose daughter Rainy (Yang Enyou) is kidnapped right in front of his eyes. This traumatic event is the work of a larger criminal underworld, something journalist Navin (Mortal Kombat's Joe Taslim) is investigating professionally and personally. The pair team up to desperately track down their loved ones, but what the kidnappers didn't account for is that Wei has a particular set of skills… — S.C.

Starring: Mo Tse, Joe Taslim, and Yang Enyou

How to watch: The Furious opens in theaters June 12.

Toy Story 5

Even Woody and Buzz can't escape the threat of technology pushing them out of their jobs! The cowboy and space ranger face a new foe in Toy Story 5 as their growing child/owner Bonnie is absolutely giddy over getting a frog-shaped tablet called LilyPad (voiced by Tron: Ares' Greta Lee).*

Will LilyPad be the kind of AI that's spooking parents by talking to kids about knives and kink? Probably not. But will Buzz and Woody embrace LilyPad as they eventually did Trashy? The latest trailer has us thinking no! But hey, as Mr. Potato Head says, "It's good to see them fighting again." — K.P.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Blake Clark, John Ratzenberger, Ernie Hudson, Tony Hale, Conan O'Brien, Greta Lee, and Melissa Villaseñor

How to watch: Toy Story 5 opens in theaters June 19.

Rose of Nevada

If you enjoyed The Lighthouse and want to get messed up again, ride the wave through writer, director, editor, and composer Mark Jenkin's Rose of Nevada. A truly hypnotic, time-bending, and mesmerising cinema experience, Rose of Nevada was the talk of the BFI London Film Festival last year. In the third chapter of the filmmaker's Cornish trilogy (after Bait and Enys Men), George MacKay and Callum Turner play Nick and Liam, two men living in a small coastal village who are in need of cash. When the mysterious Rose of Nevada fishing trawler shows up 30 years after it disappeared, its salty sea dog captain (Francis Magee) needs a willing crew. But time isn't all it appears aboard this ghostly ship. — S.C.

Starring: George MacKay, Callum Turner, Rosalind Eleazar, Francis Magee, Mary Woodvine, and Edward Rowe

How to watch: Rose of Nevada opens in theaters June 19.

Maddie's Secret

"Maddie's Secret" is John Early's feature directorial debut. Credit: TIFF

Comedian John Early makes his directorial debut in this campy love letter to melodrama. Early stars as Maddie Ralph, a rising food influencer with a troubling secret. Studded with comedians and performed with a disarming adoration for this misunderstood subgenre, Maddie's Secret is funny and surprisingly touching.

As I wrote in my review out of the Toronto International Film Festival, "John Early is brilliant and sly with Maddie's Secret. Remarkably, as a first-time feature director and star, Early manages the balance of comedy, drama, and empathy with aplomb." —K.P.

Starring: John Early, Kate Berlant, Eric Rahill, Kristen Johnston, Claudia O'Doherty, Conner O'Malley, Vanessa Bayer, and Chris Bauer

How to watch: Maddie's Secret opens in New York June 19 and Los Angeles June 26.

Voicemails for Isabelle

Set It Up star Zoey Deutch returns to Netflix for a new rom-com, written and directed by Leah McKendrick (Scrambled). Deutch stars as Jill, a woman who's coping with the death of her sister Isabelle by leaving messages for her dearly departed sibling on her voicemail. But when Isabelle's phone number is reassigned to a real estate agent in Austin, Jill begins accidentally pouring her heart out to a total stranger.

Now, this could easily go the way of a Lifetime psychosexual thriller. But instead, this real estate agent is played by Nick Robinson (Charlie Harper, The Kings of Summer). So, things will go in a decidedly more dreamy, less nightmare-inducing route. — K.P.

Starring: Nick Offerman, Zoey Deutch, Lukas Gage, Leah McKendrick, Nick Robinson, and Gil Bellows

How to watch: Voicemails for Isabelle debuts on Netflix June 19.

Girls Like Girls

Singer/songwriter Hayley Kiyoko turns filmmaker with this teen romance based on her best-selling 2023 novel, which was based on her 2015 single of the same name.

Co-writing the screenplay with Stefanie Scott, Kiyoko helms Girls Like Girls, bringing to life a story of sapphic first love. Maya da Costa stars as Coley, a new girl in town who's instantly drawn to the femme and friendly Sonya (Myra Molloy). Their chemistry is undeniable. But are either of them ready to embrace what that means? —K.P.

Starring: Maya da Costa, Myra Molloy, Levon Hawke, and Zach Braff

How to watch: Girls Like Girls opens in theaters June 19.

Leviticus

Fans of Smile, It Follows, and Talk to Me will probably want to mark Leviticus on their calendars. From writer/director Adrian Chiarella, this horror follows two teenage boys whose budding romance is interrupted by an entity that takes the form of the person they most desire — meaning they no longer know if the version of each other they're talking to is real, or a monster. Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen star in this dark thriller which uses the supernatural to explore themes of homophobia. — S.H.

Starring: Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen

How to watch: Leviticus opens in theaters June 19.

The Death of Robin Hood

Hugh Jackman as Robin Hood? Who stole from my dreams and gave them to A Quiet Place: Day One writer/director Michael Sarnoski? The Sheep Detectives star dons the hood and bow as 17th century folklore legend Robin of Locksley, the scourge of Sherwood Forest for the rich, all-time hero for the poor. But The Death of Robin Hood is not your Disney hot fox version of the legend; instead, it's a brutal, A24-worthy retelling of the English outlaw's story, as a fatally wounded Robin Hood laments on a life of violence (alright, Peaky Blinders). Also, Bill Skarsgård plays Little John, the prince of thieves' right-hand man. So, yeah, we're in. — S.C.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, and Noah Jupe

How to watch: The Death of Robin Hood opens in theaters June 19.

The Invite

As the follow-up to Don't Worry Darling, actor/director Olivia Wilde offers an English-language remake of the Spanish comedy The People Upstairs.

Written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, The Invite stars Wilde and Seth Rogen as a married couple with a kid, a great apartment, and no patience left for each other. So, when the hot couple from upstairs (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) come down for an adults-only dinner, sparks fly. But could these sparks ignite a sexual fire? And by that, I mean group sex? You'll have to take a chance on The Invite to find out. —K.P.

Starring: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton

How to watch: The Invite opens in theaters June 26.

Little Brother

Credit: Clifton Prescod / Netflix

Ready for a story of brotherly love and sibling rivalry? Directed by Matt Spicer (Ingrid Goes West), this Netflix comedy stars John Cena as a famous real estate agent who's know for his meticulously curated world. But his image — and life — will be thrown for a loop when his eccentric little brother (oddball comedian Eric André) unexpectedly crashes into his schedule. — K.P.

Starring: John Cena, Eric André, Michelle Monaghan, Christopher Meloni, Ego Nwodim, Sherry Cola, Caleb Hearon, Ben Ahlers, Bryce Gheisar, and Pilot Bunch

How to watch: Little Brother debuts on Netflix June 26.

Supergirl

At the end of Superman, DC fans got to meet Krypto's chaotic pet parent, Kara. And this summer she gets her own movie, based on the comic mini-series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, written by Tom King and illustrated by Bilquis Evely.

House of the Dragon's Milly Alcock headlines as Supergirl, who is planet-hopping with her super-powered pup. That's when she crosses paths with a vengeance-seeking alien girl named Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley). In her, Kara could find her inner hero, her purpose, and maybe her people? — K.P.

Starring: Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa

How to watch: Supergirl opens in theaters June 26.

July 2026 movie releases

Enola Holmes 3

Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Sherlock Holmes' highly competent younger sister (Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown) is back for a new case, one that will put her extraordinary (and apparently hereditary) detective skills to the test. Following the case of the missing mother and the case of the missing sister, Enola Holmes 3 will see the young sleuth trace clues all the way out of Victorian England to Malta. Henry Cavill returns as the illustrious Sherlock, as does Helena Bonham Carter as their mother, Eudoria. More returns include Louis Partridge as Enola's love interest Lord Tewkesbury, Himesh Patel as Dr. John Watson, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster as the diabolical Moriarty/Mira Troy.

Reader, the Enola Holmes movies are a blast, a combustible fusion of historical dabblings, clever crime-solving, and a brilliant lead. I wrote in my review of the sequel, "Millie Bobby Brown's impeccable comedic timing and flustered Fleabag energy once again make her the perfect choice for Sherlock's headstrong sister stomping her own path." We're seated for Enola Holmes 3. — S.C.

Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Himesh Patel, Louis Partridge, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster

How to watch: Enola Holmes 3 debuts on Netflix July 1.

Minions & Monsters

Remember the #GentleMinions fever of 2022? Well, it might rear its yellow, goggled head again this summer, as the Minions return in Minions and Monsters. This latest entry in the Despicable Me franchise sees the Minions hoping to take Old Hollywood by storm. They've got their sights set on making a monster movie of their own. There's just one problem: They're going to need some actual monsters. So begins a quest to recruit beasts from the farthest corners of the Earth. Who among them will be ready for their closeup, and who would rather eat the Minions for breakfast? — B.E.

Starring: Pierre Coffin, Trey Parker, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch, Allison Janney, Bobby Moynihan, Phil LaMarr, Christoph Waltz, and Jeff Bridges

How to watch: Minions & Monsters opens in theaters July 1.

Evil Dead Burn

The sixth installment in the Evil Dead franchise is co-written and directed by Sébastien Vaniček, who was responsible for the 2023 French creature feature Infested, which was about big, aggressive spiders overtaking a Parisian neighborhood.

Don't expect Ash (Bruce Campbell) to show up in this standalone entry. Vaniček's grim and grisly entry stalks a young widow who travels to her in-laws' remote home for some rest, relaxation, and maybe even some closure. Instead, as teased in the clip above, she'll find a certain creepy old book that unleashes the evil dead. — K.P.

Starring: Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand, Maude Davey, and George Pullar

How to watch: Evil Dead Burn opens in theaters July 10.

Moana

Ten years ago, John Musker and Ron Clements made the rapturous animated adventure Moana — complete with a rousing soundtrack from Mark Mancina, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Opetaia Foaʻi. A sequel would follow, to mixed reviews. This summer comes the inevitable live-action remake, as Moana follows in the steps of so many Disney classics before it.

Newcomer Catherine Laga'aia stars as Moana. Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui, wearing a wig that had the internet eye-rolling. Bringing prestige to the remake is the Broadway director of Hamilton, Thomas Kail, who was also behind the critically acclaimed limited series Fosse/Verdon. Together, can they make something familiar and fresh to thrill audiences all over again? We'll see this summer.* —K.P.

Starring: Catherine Laga'aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen

How to watch: Moana opens in theaters July 10.

Heartstopper Forever

They had us at "Hi." Heartstopper is capping off three impeccable seasons with a film, in which we'll farewell Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), and their Truham-Higgs pals, and send them into adulthood. With Nick and Charlie preparing to go long-distance as university looms, and their friends Tao (William Gao), Elle (Yasmin Finney), Isaac (Tobie Donovan), Tara (Corinna Brown), Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), and Imogen (Rhea Norwood) also sizing up their futures, expect some big, happy tears.

Heartstopper Forever is based on Alice Oseman's upcoming sixth volume of the graphic novel. With Still Alice director Wash Westmoreland at the helm and Heartstopper series director Euros Lyn executive producing, the final chapter is in caring hands. — S.C.

Starring: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Rhea Norwood, Tobie Donovan, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, and Jenny Walser

How to watch: Heartstopper Forever debuts on Netflix July 17.

Hadestown: The Musical

Credit: Walter McBride / Getty Images

If you haven't seen Hadestown on stage, you know someone who's told you to see Hadestown on stage. Well, you could still see Hadestown on stage, and/or you could watch the upcoming live capture, Hadestown: The Musical. Filmed in London's West End, Anaïs Mitchell and Rachel Chavkin's Tony–winning musical will be screened in cinemas this July. An ideal way to watch or rewatch the hit adaptation of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, this Hadestown filmed performance stars original Broadway cast members Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, Amber Gray, André De Shields, and Patrick Page. Then you can be the one to tell others to see Hadestown. — S.C.

Starring: Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, André De Shields, Amber Gray, and Patrick Page

How to watch: Hadestown: The Musical opens in theaters July 24.

I Want Your Sex

Credit: Magnolia Pictures

American filmmaker Gregg Araki (The Doom Generation, Kaboom) is back with his 12th feature, I Want Your Sex. The erotic comedy thriller that scored buzz out of its Sundance debut stars Cooper Hoffman as a kind but clueless young man named Elliot, who thinks he's got a dream job when he becomes the assistant of celebrated artist and provocateur Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde).

Per the logline from Magnolia Pictures, "When Erika breaks down office boundaries and takes Elliot on as her sexual muse and subordinate, their sexually charged relationship makes him question his own desires, boundaries, and relationships with his uptight girlfriend (Charli XCX) and repressed roommate (Chase Sui Wonders)." —K.P.

Starring: Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Mason Gooding, Chase Sui Wonders, Daveed Diggs, and Charli XCX

How to watch: I Want Your Sex opens in theaters July 31.

The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan adapts Homer's The Odyssey, which follows Trojan War hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his long journey home to wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway). Along the way, this legendary warrior will encounter the monster cyclops Polyphemus, the seductive and savage sirens, and Calypso, a nymph played by Charlize Theron.

Made for IMAX, this adaptation is sure to be epic. Plus, it's the first team-up of Tom Holland and Zendaya coming in July.* —K.P.

Starring: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron

How to watch: The Odyssey opens in theaters and IMAX July 17.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Tom Holland and Zendaya are back as Peter Parker and MJ in the next, much-anticipated sequel to the MCU's Spider-Man film series! Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton returns to the MCU to helm the next chapter in Peter Parker's saga, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. After his collision with alternate timelines left Peter forgotten in his own, he'll suit up as Spider-Man to fight new challenges.

The trailers have confirmed that Jon Bernthal is swinging back into MCU action as The Punisher, and Mark Ruffalo will return as The Hulk. But tongues are wagging over what role Stranger Things' Sadie Sink will play. Some are speculating she's the cloaked figure, and she could be this franchise's Jean Grey. We can't wait to see. —K.P.

Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Sadie Sink, Liza Colón-Zayas, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Mando, Tramell Tillman, and Marvin Jones III

How to watch: Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in theaters July 31.

The Dink

In 2021, director Josh Greenbaum gifted us with the epically hilarious buddy comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. In 2024, he presented the comedy documentary Will & Harper, which followed Will Ferrell and his longtime collaborator Harper Steele on a roadtrip as they got reacquainted following the latter's gender transition. Now, ahead of the long-awaited Spaceballs sequel, Greenbaum delivers another friendship-centric comedy with The Dink. You might have heard about it as "the pickleball comedy."

Yup, the sports sensation that's sweeping the Boomer generation now has its own sports movie. And while that premise might sound like pickleball and its senior appreciators will be the butt of the jokes, that's not how Greenbaum plays. Jake Johnson stars as an aging tennis pro who finds a new love of sport when he partners up with pickleballer Candace, played by Mary Steenburgen. Together, they aim not only to win, but to break from old patterns that no longer serve them. Trust me. You'll be charmed. — K.P.

Starring: Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Andy Roddick, Patton Oswalt, Chloe Fineman, Chris Parnell, Aaron Chen, and Ben Stiller

How to watch: The Dink debuts on Apple TV July 24.

August 2026 movie releases

The Wrong Girls

Ready for a stoner comedy produced by Seth Rogen and starring Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat? Written and directed by Dylan Meyer, The Wrong Girls focuses on two clueless friends who accidentally acquire telepathic powers after taking an experimental drug.

As teased in this Instagram post, they're not exactly changing the world with this incredible ability. But having it makes them a target for some dangerous folks with a dark agenda. — K.P.

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Alia Shawkat, Seth Rogen, Geena Davis, Tony Hale, Kumail Nanjiani, and LaKeith Stanfield

How to watch: The Wrong Girls opens in theaters Aug. 14.

Six: The Musical Live!

Looking for a summer movie that's one of a kind, no category? Then rejoice, because the smash musical Six is coming to the big screen, performed by the original West End cast.

Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, Six reimagines the wives of Henry VIII as pop divas hungry to prove they're so much more than "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived." The queens decide that whoever had the worst time with Henry VIII will lead their band, prompting a musical showdown that's part history lesson, part reclamation of these women's stories, all bangers. Drawing inspiration from Beyoncé, Adele, Lily Allen, and more, Six's musical numbers are guaranteed to stick in your head long after you leave the theater. — B.E.

Starring: Jarnéia Richard-Noel, Millie O'Connell, Natalie Paris, Aimie Atkinson, Alexia McIntosh, and Maiya Quansah-Breed

How to watch: Six: The Musical Live! opens in theaters Aug. 14.

The End of Oak Street

"I think our house, our neighborhood, our whole street... has moved." That's the basic premise of The End of Oak Street, the new blockbuster from It Follows writer/director David Robert Mitchell. The problem is "has moved" is doing quite a bit of heavy lifting in that sentence, with the new location of said neighborhood apparently being sometime during an age when dinosaurs still roamed the earth. Jurassic Park with a sci-fi/mystery twist and a big-name cast? T-rex-sized potential. — S.H.

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor

How to watch: The End of Oak Street opens in theaters Aug. 14.

Insidious: Out of the Further

Formerly known as Insidious: The Bleeding World, this sixth entry in the Insidious franchise brings back Lin Shaye as psychic Elise Rainier. This time, she'll have to help a single mom named Gemma (Amelia Eve), who has the power to travel into the Further, the perilous purgatorial realm of lost souls.

As if that weren't spine-tingling enough. Gemma discovers she can bring those trapped in the Further back to the real world, which makes her a target for evil forces giddy to get a grip on the living realm. Get ready for things to get seriously spooky. — K.P.

Starring: Amelia Eve, Brandon Perea, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, and Lin Shaye

How to watch: Insidious: Out of the Further opens in theaters Aug. 21.

Spa Weekend

Credit: Black Bear

Screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore have previously brought us The Hangover and Bad Moms. Now, they're writers and directors on Spa Weekend, a rowdy comedy about three childhood best friends who set out for a girls trip that should be restorative and fun. But when a friend who's a human trainwreck crashes the party, hijinks and comical chaos will ensue. — K.P.

Starring: Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Anna Faris, and Michelle Buteau

How to watch: Spa Weekend opens in theaters Aug. 21.

Cliffhanger

Remember that 1993 Sylvester Stallone movie, where the action hero played a mountain climber? This is the reboot, with Downton Abbey's Lily James in the lead role.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, helmer of such thrillers as Carry-On, Non-Stop, and The Shallows, this Cliffhanger is sure to bring jaw-dropping stunts and eye-popping moments. James plays Naomi Cooper, the second generation in a mountaineering family, behind her climbing father, Ray (Pierce Brosnan). However, while on an excursion with a billionaire's son, she, her father, and her sister are accosted by vicious kidnappers. Narrowly escaping, it's now up to Naomi to rescue the others without a fatal fall. —K.P.

Starring: Lily James, Nell Tiger Free, Franz Rogowski, and Pierce Brosnan

How to watch: Cliffhanger opens in theaters Aug. 28.

Coyote vs. Acme

Samy Burch awed critics with her blisteringly camp screenplay May/December. Her follow-up should have been the Looney Tunes live-action comedy Coyote vs. Acme. Then, in a decision that had the internet and Hollywood outraged, Warner Bros. Pictures opted to shelve the finished film as a tax write-off. Sure, that happens. But rarely with a movie that boasts an Oscar–nominated screenwriter, a world-famous franchise tie-in, and stars like John Cena, Will Forte, and Lana Condor. Thankfully, WB eventually sold the film, so we'll finally get to see it this summer.

It's hard to imagine the story within in this Looney Tunes offering will be wilder than the one behind it. But being that it's set in the ACME factory, manufacturer of much of Wile E. Coyote's wacky weapons and tools, it could be next-level bonkers. Here's hoping.* —K.P.

Starring: Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, P. J. Byrne, Tone Bell, Martha Kelly, and Eric Bauza

How to watch: Coyote vs. Acme opens in theaters Aug. 28.

Finding Emily

Here's one for the hopeless romantics. Directed by Alicia MacDonald and written by Rachel Hirons, Finding Emily stars Spike Fearn as a young musician who falls hard for a girl named Emily, who he meets on a magical night out. There's just one thing standing between them and happily ever after: He's missing a digit in her phone number.

Desperate to find her, he teams up with a determined psychology student (Angourie Rice), who is on assignment to prove "romantic attachments prove madness." Before long, his earnest mission for romance turns into a viral sensation, and not in a good way. So what lies ahead for these two? Well, I mean, it's a classic trope that opposites attract. Could the hopeless romantic and the cynic fall in love? — K.P.

Starring: Angourie Rice, Spike Fearn, and Minnie Driver

How to watch: Finding Emily opens in theaters Aug. 28.

The Dog Stars

Almost 15 years after its release, Peter Heller's popular post-apocalyptic novel The Dog Stars is finally getting a movie adaptation — and judging by the people involved, it'll hopefully be worth the wait. Directed by Ridley Scott and with a screenplay from The Revenant writer Mark L. Smith, The Dog Stars follows Hig (Jacob Elordi), a civilian pilot surviving in a post-pandemic world alongside his dog and hardened neighbor Bangley (Josh Brolin). The question is, is simply surviving enough? — S.H.

Starring: Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong

How to watch: The Dog Stars is in theaters Aug. 28.

Idiots

Out of Sundance, this comedy got buzz under the title The Shitheads. Surely, Idiots is more marketable. But if you want a real sense of the crude and crackling humor of this one, it's important you know its original name.

Written and directed by Macon Blair (Blue Ruin, Green Room), Idiots stars O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Dave Franco as two screw-ups assigned to transport a wayward youth to a rehab for troubled teens. There's just one problem; they're idiots and he's a real piece of shit. If you like jokes that make you drop jaw in shock and howl, you won't want to miss this wild road trip. — K.P.

Starring: Dave Franco, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Peter Dinklage

How to watch: Idiots opens in theaters Aug. 28.

The Whisper Man

Credit: Netflix

A serial killer who lures his victims by whispering outside their windows at night is the deeply unsettling premise at the heart of The Whisper Man, Netflix's upcoming adaptation of Alex North's best-selling novel of the same name. The story follows widowed writer Tom (Adam Scott), who seeks help from his retired police detective father after his young son is abducted. To make things worse, there appears to be a connection between his son's disappearance and the series of murders carried out decades earlier by the killer, who is now behind bars. So did he have an accomplice? Or is something else going on? — S.H.

Starring: Adam Scott, Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Hamish Linklater, Owen Teague, Acston Luca Porto

How to watch: The Whisper Man debuts on Netflix Aug. 28.

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list.

Hokum review: I screamed myself hoarse at Adam Scotts new horror movie

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Confirmed out of SXSW, Damian McCarthy is the new king of horror. The Irish filmmaker has previously thrilled audiences with the mind-bending Caveat in 2020. Then, came Oddity, a smash-up of Irish folklore and horror that centered around a creepy wooden man. Now, he's returned with the Adam Scott-fronted Hokum, which is his best and most terrifying film yet.

Look, I don't say that lightly. I watch a lot of horror movies. Even outside of my job, I seek out the weird, the wonky, the scary-as-hell. And even though I loved Caveat for all its surreal spookiness and Oddity for its chilling imagery and gnarly twists, I was not prepared for Hokum. Sure, I called it one of my most anticipated films of 2026. But I could not predict from Hokum's curious first image of Scott, crouching in a wooden box, or even its trailer what was in store. As I teased in my headline, this movie scared me so intensely, so consistently, that I screamed myself hoarse by the end.

And I can't wait to see it again.

What's Hokum about?

Adam Scott in "Hokum." Credit: NEON

Written and directed by Damian McCarthy, Hokum centers on Ohm Bauman (Scott), an American author haunted by his past. Struggling to complete his popular book series, The Conquistador Trilogy, he takes a trip to Ireland, where his parents honeymooned long, long ago. There, he will sprinkle their ashes. But before he can find peace or leave the towering hotel with a dark history, he gets roped into the mystery of a missing woman and the lore of the witch said to haunt the honeymoon suite.

Adam Scott is a real rat bastard in Hokum, and thank God.

Adam Scott in "Hokum." Credit: NEON

Scott is one of those American actors who do it all. On Parks and Recreation, he was a crush-worthy sweetheart. On Party Down, he was a comically cynical anti-hero. Step Brothers and The Good Place gave him hilariously malicious bros to play, while Krampus and The Monkey had him playing doomed dads. In the woefully underseen The Vicious Kind, he was a troubled and sexy lover. In the sci-fi series Severance, he thrills audiences as a tormented Lumon employee whose split consciousness leaves him torn between impossible choices. But in Hokum, he's a total jerk to just about all who come across his path. And it's thrilling to behold.

The staff at the hotel is generally eager to please. Some even fawn over him when they realize he's the Ohm Bauman. The preening manager (Peter Coonan) gets a sneer for asking for an autograph. The kind bartender (Florence Ordesh) gets snark for daring to small-talk. The bellhop (Oddity fans, IYKYK) named Alby (Will O'Connell), who dreams of being a writer himself, is scorched by his idol's cruel attention. Ohm even has sharp words for the hotel's owner (Brendan Conroy), who — to be fair — is terrorizing young children with the tale of the local witch who snatches up tourists.

A statuette of a child looking scared in "Hokum." Credit: NEON

The only person Ohm has any patience for is a weirdo in the woods called Jerry (David Wilmot), who looks after the wild goats, drinks their milk with magic mushrooms, and is on the run for a worrisome reason. Their connection is confounding but compelling, especially as Jerry presses Ohm into a series of deeply dangerous decisions in search of an impossible truth.

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It's a twisted pleasure to watch Scott snarl and jeer, in part because it's darkly funny to see this protagonist flaunt social niceties so blatantly. But moreover, his bad behavior gives horror fans a warning: Ohm will pay for being the ugly American, snorting at the locals and their lore, because as we all know from folk horror movies like The Wicker Man, such an attitude typically leads to disaster. Beyond that, however, Hokum carves out an unnerving story of healing, exploring not only why Ohm is such a prick, but also the terrifying path that will force him to reevaluate his vicious ways. Scott is uniquely perfect for such a role. For one thing, his ability to slide from one genre to another means that he just fits wherever he's set. So, whether he's facing down a furious brother, a spree-killing toy, or even a soul-splitting corporation, it just feels like of course, this thing would befall this guy. Scott is so skilled at locking into a tone from jump that he grounds whatever reality he's pitched into. Speaking of jumping….

The scares in Hokum had me howling, jumping, and desperate to cover my eyes.

"Hokum" is set in a haunted Irish hotel. Credit: NEON

Jump scares often get a bad wrap because they can be considered a cheap thrill. McCarthy, however, is a master of building tension and expectation, twisting his audience into a knot of fear, until we explode with a bellow or jump. Within the first five minutes of Hokum, he sets up a spirit that seems to be stalking Ohm. And its first jump scare had me screaming at the SXSW premiere of Hokum so hard that I could feel my ribcage vibrate.

McCarthy offers this quick scare not just as a thrill to get audiences on board with his ghost-infested tale, but also as a misdirect about what's to come. After this point, Hokum veers away from the standard "surprise! There's something behind you" scare that releases tension, and more into the looming dread that you know something is there, you just can't see it… yet.

McCarthy sets up the framework of a witch in a haunted honeymoon suite, then lets us linger at the bolted gate that should keep snoops out. But there's a crackling cackle in the darkness beyond the gate. So, naturally, someone will reach in an arm with a lighter, trying to make sense of what lurks in the shadows. Rather than a quick scare, McCarthy waits. The arm probes the dark, the hand so human and so exposed to whatever cannot be seen. The flame flickers, toying with our expectations of what it might reveal. And McCarthy waits.

A creature that haunts "Hokum"s hero. Credit: NEON

I could feel the scream tickling in my chest. My fingers pulled my notebook up to my nose. I grit my teeth and refused to cover my eyes, even though I desperately wanted to. And then comes the reveal. Brief, simple, and yet absolutely horrifying. The scream again escaped me, this time ripping through the fingers clutched around my mouth.

Again and again, McCarthy builds on this tension with a production design of cryptic decay. The colors of the hotel are of wood, rot, and beaten flesh. Those who loved Caveat and Oddity will squeal in anticipation over familiar iconography, like a small service bell or a recurring rabbit motif. These three films, all chiefly set in a single spooky location, share a folk-horror framework, where a logical man is lost to a world of superstition and dark faith he can't comprehend, much less control. Yet McCarthy isn't building some concrete horror universe. Instead, these talismans suggest a slippery sisterhood of horror and lore. And it's deviously entertaining in its wild twists, gnarly monsters, and masterfully paced scares.

In the film's climax, where Ohm must face not only his fears but also a ruthlessly wicked foe, I wrote only one note in my book: "I'm gonna hurl." Thankfully, I managed to keep the tension gurgling in my guts to myself. But this experience brought back a similar SXSW premiere, when I saw Ari Aster's Hereditary for the first time. I screamed, gasped, and even dry-heaved as the suspense of his cult tale grabbed me by the throat. I didn't sleep that night until the sun came up. For Hokum, I did manage to fall asleep, or at least collapse from the exhaustion of the rigors of the festival. But I did so with the haunting knowledge that if something came for me in the dark, I no longer had a voice — much less a scream — to call for help. And that is a new one, even for a horror fan who can't get enough of being scared out of my wits.

Hokum is a seriously scary masterpiece. Like Caveat and Oddity, Hokum is twisted, horrifying, and darkly amusing. McCarthy has built on his skill for weaving together freaky folklore and compellingly quirky characters in a claustrophobic setting to deliver a supremely frightening thriller that swells in ambition as it does star power. It's a nerve-shredding, bone-rattling, scream-pulling good time, and an absolute blast to see in a theater. Don't miss it.

Hokum was reviewed out of the SXSW film festival. Hokum opens in theaters on May 1.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Australia

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:59:44 +0000

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites from Australia is ExpressVPN.

The world of porn continues to be impacted by age-verification laws. Back in early 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws for online adult content. Pornhub hit back by blocking users from those locations. A similar situation took place France and the UK, and now Australians are facing the same set of challenges.

The porn blocks arrived just days before new online safety codes came into effect, requiring organisations to verify the ages of users. It's the same story we've seen before, with the same straightforward workaround.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Australia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Australia

VPNs are tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub from Australia by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub
Visit Pornhub

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment. The situation may have changed before the free-trial period comes to an end.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

Unblock Pornhub for free in Australia with ExpressVPN.

Jimmy Kimmel responds to Trumps call for him to be fired

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:49:30 +0000

Following First Lady Melania Trump's tweets, President Donald Trump has (once again) called for Jimmy Kimmel to be sacked, taking to Truth Social to declare the late night host "should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC" and claiming that his show has "terrible Television Ratings." In response, Kimmel drew attention to Trump's own dismal ratings, with a recent poll showing that his approval has dropped to a record low of 34 percent.

"If incompetently presiding over not just one of, but the lowest rating in history is the reason I should be fired, we should both be out of a job because you're not doing too good either," quipped Kimmel.

Talk show audiences have significantly declined over the past 10 years, though Jimmy Kimmel Live is currently poised to top the late night ratings after The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's final episode airs on May 21.

"Isn't there a war dragging on? Imagine if FDR had taken to the airwaves during the Battle of the Bulge to complain about a Little Orphan Annie comic strip he didn't like," Kimmel joked. "Trump has three wars going on right now: Iranians, Ukrainians, and comedians."

Kimmel then played a supercut of Trump during his campaign for president, in which the billionaire repeatedly declared support for free speech while decrying censorship and "cancel culture." Kimmel's show has been repeatedly targeted by Trump's FCC chair Brendan Carr.

"I hate to say this and I hope it doesn't get me in trouble: I'm starting to think Donald Trump might be a hypocrite," said Kimmel.

Target is celebrating Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with a massive exclusive collection — how to buy

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:23:43 +0000

TL:DR: Target is celebrating 30 years of Pokémon with an exclusive collection for fans of every generation. The collection features more than 100 items coming in two drops (May 2 and June 6) — check it out here.

Do you have a binder full of holographic Charizards gathering dust in the attic? Or are you a new collector chasing rare pulls and limited-edition items? Either way, Target is the place to be for all types of Pokémon fans in the coming weeks.

To celebrate 30 years of Pokémon, Target has announced an exclusive collection featuring over 100 items. This has been created in partnership with Pokémon superfans like Joe Jonas, SuperDuperDani, Sydeon, PhillyBeatzU, Stephosaurawr and Aspen, and Noah Dankocsik and Lori Haynes.

This is a full-scale takeover spanning apparel, home goods, and collectible merchandise. Here's a snapshot of what's included in this collection:

A first-of-its-kind retro jacket featuring the OG trio (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle)
Nostalgic collabs with legacy brands like Mead (maker of Trapper Keeper), Caboodles, Lip Smacker, and Starter
A 151-piece puzzle inspired by the original Kanto 151 region
A "Jigglypuff-scented" fragrance mist (whatever that smells like)
Water-type Pokémon water bottles
Butterfree-shaped hair clips

Almost half of the assortment is priced under $20, with items starting at just $3.50. T he collection is already available on Target’s website, where you can sort by product category or Pokémon type.

Credit: Target

Target is splitting the release into two waves to keep the hype going. Target's Pokémon adventure officially begins on May 2 in stores and online from May 3 with about 65 items launching, followed by a second drop on June 6 with about 40 additional items going live.

Given how quickly Pokémon merch usually moves, we recommend signing up for a Target Circle account now so you can check out faster when the online drop hits.

NYT Pips hints, answers for May 1, 2026

Fri, 01 May 2026 05:26:48 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 1 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 1 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this purple space must be greater than 1. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this red space must be greater than 1. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 5-8, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 1 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal: Everything in this space must be the same. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-2 placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-2 placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 1, 2026

Fri, 01 May 2026 05:08:20 +0000

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some knowledge of popular U.S. sports and pop culture.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: Slow
Green: Space to maneuver
Blue: Breaking ball
Purple: Combined words

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: Move at a Slow Pace
Green: Room to Run
Blue: Baseball Pitches, with "Ball"
Purple: Portmanteaus

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #584 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

Move at a Slow Pace: AMBLE, JOG, LOPE, TROT
Room to Run: GAP, HOLE, OPENING, SPACE
Baseball Pitches, with "Ball": CURVE, FAST, FORK, KNUCKLE
Portmanteaus: ATHLEISURE, MOTOCROSS, PARASAILING, SLURVE

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on May 1

Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

It's the Full Moon, and the first of two in May. This one is known as the Flower Moon.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, May 1, the Moon phase is Full Moon. Tonight, 100% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Without any visual aids, tonight you should be able to see the Mare Serenitatis, Tycho Crater, and the Copernicus Crater. With binoculars, you'll see the Posidonus Crater, Archimedes Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater. And, finally, with a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 16 landing spot, Rima Hyginus, and the Fra Mauro Highlands.