IT General

There's been a lot of Freaky Fridays, all born from the 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers. But just ahead of director Mark Waters and teen idol Lindsay Lohan's era-defining comedy Mean Girls, they teamed up for the Freaky Friday that still stands out from its playful predecessors.

2003's Freaky Friday was a kinetic and joyously chaotic mother-daughter comedy that managed to be cool. Its fashions were enviable. It’s comedy crackled, thanks to the odd couple chemistry between Lohan and her onscreen mom, Jamie Lee Curtis. Plus, the movie's fictional band Pink Slip laid down "Take Me Away," a a cover of a Lash song that rocked even outside the movie. What more could a sequel 22 years after this hit hope to bring? Well, double the bodyswap for starters.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best movies of 2025 (so far), and where to watch them

Directed by Nisha Ganatra, Freakier Friday sees its mother-daughter heroines bodyswap with a pair of bickering teens. Generations (Boomers, millennials, and Gen Z) clash in everything from clothes and eating habits to who should be marrying whom. Two times the bodyswappers means two times the life lessons, making for a plot line so stuffed with schtick and silly sequences that it can lag at just under two hours. Still, Freakier Friday is a good time, coasting on the charms from the previous film that still glow on (and on and on and on).

Freakier Friday is the anti-Parent Trap.  Credit: Glen Wilson / Disney Enterprises, Inc.

In that other Lindsay Lohan vehicle, two long-lost sisters pull twinsie shenanigans to get their divorced parents back together again. In Freakier Friday, surfer girl Harper (Julia Butters) and posh aspiring fashion designer Lily (Sophia Hammons) are high school nemeses, who are horrified when their single parents meet-cute over a disciplinary trip to the principal’s office.

Set roughly 30 years after Freaky Friday, Freakier Friday sees once rebellious teen Lohan's Anna Coleman all grown up, a 36-and-a-half-year-old single-mom working as a manager to insecure pop idol Ella (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). As for Curtis' Dr. Tess Coleman, she is bringing her skills as a therapist to her parenting podcast, self-help books, and to “co-grand parenting” Harper. But Anna’s fast-approaching wedding to Lily’s dad, hunky chef Eric (Manny Jacinto), has all four ladies losing their empathy for each other. Cue the manic multi-hyphenate fortune teller/life coach/barista (a winsomely flighty Vanessa Bayer) who performs a mystical bodyswap spell. 

SEE ALSO: 'Mean Girls' 2024 cast on what they borrowed from the original movie

Harper’s consciousness ends up in the body of her mom, Anna. Lily bodyswaps with her soon-to-be grandma Tess. And vice versa. Meaning Lohan and Curtis are playing teens again. While their younger co-stars mug sternly, make jokes about regaining a metabolism "the speed of light," and frolic on electric scooters, Freaky Friday’s dynamic duo fling themselves into silly sequences involving a frenzied photo shoot, catastrophic attempts at flirting, and the teen comedy cliché of driving a muscle car recklessly. All of this while Harper and Lily try to use their grown-up bodies to call off their parents' wedding, which they think is ruining their lives.

No one came for the plot.  Credit: Glen Wilson / Disney Enterprises, Inc.

And yet, there’s a lot of it. Too much even. Screenwriter Jordan Weiss (Dollface) sets up big stakes for Freakier Friday with the bodyswap occurring just three days before Anna and Eric's wedding. (On October 3rd! A Mean Girls reference!) It's a good ticking clock. But while Harper and Lily are hellbent on nuptial interruption, Anna and Tess get lost in a half-hearted plot about in-school suspension and tracking down the meddling mystic.

For Tess, Weiss wedges in an upcoming book tour and a pickleball tournament, a detail that must have been part of the SAG/AFTRA negotiations, as it seems a requirement to mention this sport in any comedy featuring a lead actor above the age of 50. Unfortunately, sequences about sports, scooters, and a dance class gone awry feel suffocated in the film's whirring drive to get the plot going. There's just so much here, and some sequences are so rushed that their jokes have no room to breathe, becoming just a barrage of comical mayhem without a satisfying punchline.

Still, it’s nice to see terrific comedic performers like Ramakrishnan, Bayer, June Diane Raphael, Sherry Cola, and Stephen Tobolowski pop-up for brief but amusing appearances. 

Freakier Friday is at its best when it leans on Lohan and Curtis. Credit: Glen Wilson / Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Lohan is solid as a frustrated straight man to Curtis' clown. And as she did in the first film, the latter, now an Academy Award winner courtesy of Everything Everywhere All At Once, goes hard for every joke. A sequence in a record store is particularly hilarious, as Curtis balances prop work, pratfalls, and ludicrous dialogue like "I have to find old people music...like Coldplay." (OK, it's not that she's wrong...)

Props to Chad Michael Murray, who reprises his Freaky Friday role of Jake, Anna's high school crush; his surprisingly sweet revival of the character gets a terrific payoff in the finale. But moreover, the chemistry between Murray and a flustered Curtis is hot enough that I wouldn’t be mad if somebody made a May-December rom-com with the two of them.

For her part, Lohan has a trickier role when it comes to romance. As Anna, she is the smitten love interest to Jacinto's swoon-worthy (albeit one-note) Eric. When she's Harper in Anna's body, she's playing a teen girl desperate to duck out of the strong arms of her soon-to-be stepdad (who does not know bodies have been swapped!). So a sequence wherein Jacinto replicates Patrick Swayze moves from Dirty Dancing will have women of several generations absolutely giddy. But for Lohan, it's a setup for a comical escape.

Credit: Glen Wilson / Disney Enterprises, Inc.

As with its predecessor, Freakier Friday is about family at its core. So, naturally the third act is where everyone needs to learn a lesson while keeping things fun. With four bodies swapped, this gets convoluted. But that's practically a requirement of a bodyswap movie. To Ganatra's credit, the climax is engaging and genuinely touching. And that's thanks in no small part to mindful callbacks and role reprisals from the first film. Let's just say, some tracks are still bangers.

In the end, Freakier Friday isn’t better than the original. But it is fun, entertaining, and funny. On top of the winning performances of Curtis and Lohan, there’s a meta joy to seeing a real-life wild child return to her roots for a victory lap. That she gets to rock out while doing it is all the better.

Freakier Friday opens in theaters Aug. 8.

Google may be delaying the expected release of some of its products this year.

According to a report from WinFuture, a German technology publication, the company won't be releasing all of its anticipated products this month due to supply chain issues.

Google's slate of new products will be announced during the next Made by Google event, taking place on August 20, 2025. Usually, the products are released near or around the time of Google's announcement. By that logic, phones within the Pixel 10 series – namely, the Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL – should be available in stores by August.

But the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the Pixel Watch 4, and the Pixel Buds 2a might not be available until October, according to WinFuture's reporting. The publication suggests that the delays are due to supply chain issues with new components that are part of these specific products.

SEE ALSO: All the Pixel 10 rumors and leaks to date: Pricing, colors, and specs reportedly leaked

It's worth noting that Google has not yet confirmed any release dates for its upcoming offerings. But, thanks to a ton of leaks and rumors, there's a lot we think we know about what Google has in store for the Pixel 10 series. In a few weeks, we'll know for sure.

SAVE $20.15: As of Aug. 5, get the Anker MagGo Power Bank for $59.84 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79.99. That's a discount of 25% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker MagGo Power Bank $59.84 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $20.15 Get Deal

Spending a lot of time out and about while the warm weather is still here? You probably need a reliable way to make sure your phone stays charged while you're out. Don't let it languish in low battery land. A great way to keep it powered up while seeing the world is a portable power bank. This one is on sale for its lowest price yet.

As of Aug. 5, get the Anker MagGo Power Bank for $59.84 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79.99. That's $20.15 off and a discount of 25%. It's also the lowest price we've seen. This price applies to all colorways: black, green, pink, and white.

SEE ALSO: Anker just dropped 3 new Nano power banks and chargers

This 10,000mAh magnetic battery pack is ultra slim and portable, perfect for tossing in a bag and going, or even your pocket if it's large enough. It has a 15W max Qi wireless charging pad and 30W max USB-C port, so you can supply power to your phone and other devices on the go with no issue. It can charge an iPhone 15 Pro, for example, up to 1.8 times.

The bank itself is matte with a metal frame, with aerogel thermal insulation to keep it cool. It also comes in multiple colors, so you can choose which one matches your phone (or your personality). Just plug in to charge when it's depleted, then juice it up and take it with you on the regular so you never have to deal with dead electronics. If you're out often enough that you deal with a dead phone, best to scoop this charger up while you can.

SAVE $49.01: The DJI Mic with two transmitters, one receiver, a charging case, and extra accessories is on sale at Woot for $199.99, down from the list price of $249. That's a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic (two transmitters, one receiver, a charging case, and extra accessories) $199.99 at Woot
$249 Save $49.01 Get Deal

DJI is really having quite the year. Every single content creator seems to be sporting the DJI mic. They're so popular that Amazon and other major retailers are having a hard time keeping them in stock. But have no fear, because we found them not only in stock but on sale.

As of Aug. 5, the DJI Mic with two transmitters, one receiver, a charging case, and extra accessories is on just $199.99 at Woot, marked down from the list price at DJI of $249. That's a 20% discount that takes $49.01 off the standard price.

DJI knows its way around content-creation gear, and the DJI Mic shines in terms of performance and user-friendliness. This bundle at Woot contains two DJI Mic transmitters, one receiver for both, a charging case, windscreens, clip magnets, and more. You'll be set to either start your content creation journey or kick it up a notch.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Mini 4K drone is selling out fast — here’s where to get yours

The DJI Mics get up to 15 hours of battery life thanks to the included charging case, and the transmitter has a range of 250 meters, or 820 feet. With 8GB of internal storage on each mic, they can record up to 14 hours of audio without compression.

DJI is not messing around this year with content-creator devices like the brand-new 8K camera and a portable power station to keep everything charged up. The DJI Mic has earned its spot on almost every creator's collar, and today you can join in the hype while also saving $49.01. Since Woot deals tend to sell out quickly, hop on this one today if you're interested.

SAVE 20%: As of August 5, most Owala water bottles are 20% off at Target, including Target-exclusive colors like Opal Dream.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Save 20% on select Owala btotles Shop Now

Whether it's their whimsical color palettes or their TikTok fans' undying loyalty, Owala's water bottles are impossible to miss.

As Mashable's favorite water bottle right now, we'd tell you to get one even at full price — but you may as well snag one for 20% off at Target while they're on sale.

This isn't the only place we're seeing a huge Owala sale right before school starts. Owala's website itself is also having a 20% off sitewide sale, which also includes tumblers and travel mugs. But if you already have a cart started with more of Target's back-to-school deals, you may as well take a peek at Target's Owala selection. Target has several more colors in stock for multiple iterations of the FreeSip than Owala's website does, including Target-exclusive colors like Opal Dream, Sandy Shores, and Very Very Dark.

SEE ALSO: Shop all the best back-to-school deals for college students

The FreeSip is the bottle that most people are swearing by, and it's all due to its sipping-to-chugging versatility. The FreeSip spout also has a built-in straw opening at the front, which is easier to clean. When not in use, the openings are covered by a hygienic locking lid. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino says it's the best water bottle she has ever used, ensuring that the FreeSip is worth the hype. If you're traveling soon, consider opting for the FreeSip Twist for a more practical airplane companion.

SAVE $64.27: As of Aug. 5, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (64GB, WiFI) is down to just $155.72 at Amazon. That's a savings of nearly 30%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (64GB, WiFi) $155.72 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $64.27 Get Deal

If you want a tablet that checks all the right tablet boxes — nothing more and nothing less — you don't need to drop $1,000. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is a reliable and capable low-cost tablet that'll get the job done for under $200.

As of Aug. 5, the Galaxy Tab A9+ with 64GB and WiFi connectivity is down to only $155.72 at Amazon. That's a savings of nearly 30% from its usual $219.99 and just $15 more than its record-low price from Prime Day.

When you think of Galaxy devices, you probably think of Samsung's flagship S-series lineup. The A-series is designed to deliver many of the same core essentials as the S series, but with a few swaps that bring down the price to budget-friendly territory. According to Samsung, the A-series tablets are "perfect for everyday tasks like streaming the latest movies, browsing the Internet or keeping the kids entertained."

The A9+, in particular, features an 11-inch display with slim bezels, quad speakers powered by Dolby Atmos, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, expandable storage up to 1TB, and just OK battery life (it's fine, but nothing that impressive). Our friends at PCMag (also owned by Mashable's publisher Ziff Davis) called it the "best low-cost Android tablet you can buy" last year, noting that it "proficiently handles advanced productivity tasks as well as entertainment such as streaming and gaming at a low price." It's no laptop competitor, but it's not meant to be at sub-$200.

SAVE $100: As of August 5, get the Apple Watch Series 10 for $299 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $399. That's a discount of 25%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple Watch Series 10 $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100 Get Deal

Smartwatches make just about everything you need to do throughout the day a bit easier. They can help you stay on track with your fitness journey, remind you of important things you need to do, and they're there when you need to make a quick call or text someone. So why not get one that you know you can rely on? The Apple Watch lineup is particularly reliable, and the newest non-Apple Watch Ultra model is on sale right now at Amazon, which you shouldn't miss.

As of August 5, get the Apple Watch Series 10 for $299 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $399. That's $100 off and a discount of 25%.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch SE is $80 off at Best Buy — a steal for such an awesome smartwatch

We named the Apple Watch Series 10 one of our favorite fitness trackers. It has a larger display than the Series 10 model and it's a bit lighter on your wrist, so it's not as bulky if you're coming from an earlier iteration. It's also absolutely jam-packed with features, including heart rate, sleep, and respiratory rate tracking with advanced metrics that can compile data about different aspects of your body.

Of course, that's all in addition to its normal smartwatch features like calling and texting as well as fall and crash detection and Emergency SOS features to help if you find yourself in an accident. Even if you're in bad shape, your watch can help you to get out of it.

This is a good time to invest in the Apple Watch Series 10, so if you're thinking about grabbing one, this might be the time to finally do it, especially since $100 off is no small discount.

SAVE $50: The 11-inch Apple iPad (128GB, WiFi) is on sale at Amazon for $299, down from the normal price of $349. That's a 14% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11-inch (11th gen, WiFi, 128GB) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal

A tablet is a terrific middle ground between a small smartphone screen and a full-on laptop. It's perfect for streaming your favorite shows or browsing the morning news. A tablet can also be awesome for students to take along to lectures and meetings. If you've been considering a tablet upgrade, Amazon is ready to help you out with your decision.

As of August 5, the 2025 11-inch Apple iPad (128GB, WiFi) is on sale for $299 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $349. That's a 14% discount that applies to the Pink, Yellow, Silver, and Blue colorway options.

On Mashable's list of the best iPads, the 11th generation Apple iPad earns the spot as the best budget option. That means it's great for students or those who simply want a larger screen to watch Netflix in bed compared to a phone.

SEE ALSO: The 41 best back-to-school laptop deals on MacBooks, Chromebooks, and more

The iPad is a great middle-of-the-road option for those who want a tablet but don't want to spend a fortune. It doesn't have the major specs that come from the Apple iPad Pro or the iPad Air, but it's also considerably less expensive. "The 2025 iPad model got a slight chip upgrade finally going from the A14 up to the A16. While that's not quite as impressive as the M-series of chips, it is quick and powerful," wrote Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino in her review of the best iPads.

This version comes with an 11-inch display, which means it's awesome for streaming movies, but it's not massive enough to be a packing problem. Max brightness tops out at 500 nits, and you get 4K video recording, which is great for chatting with friends or recording social media content. Plus, you get dual microphones for calls, and it'll also be helpful when recording video or audio.

Before we fall into the rush of back to school, snag the affordable Apple iPad while it's even more affordable. Under $300 gets you a great iPad with 128GB of storage for your shows, apps, and downloaded textbooks for next semester.

SAVE $200: As of Aug. 5, you can still grab the 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air with 16GB RAM and 512 GB SSD for just $999 instead of $1,199. That's 17% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $200 Get Deal

Back-to-school season remains one of the best times to shop for a laptop, after Black Friday and Prime Day, of course. If you haven't jumped on the deals yet, there's still time. For instance, the 13-inch MacBook Air is still down to its lowest price ever at Amazon.

As of Aug. 5, you can still grab the 13-inch MacBook Air with an M4 chip, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for just $999 at Amazon. That's 17% or $200 off its usual cost of $1,199. This best-ever price has stuck around for a week, but we can't guarantee how much longer it will last. In other words, if you're eyeing a new MacBook, you might want to pull the trigger. FWIW, the model with 256GB of storage is also sitting at a best-ever price of $799 if you want to save a bit more cash.

Still debating which MacBook is right for you? We're huge fans of the M4 MacBook Air. In fact, it earned the title of our top pick for a MacBook overall on our best MacBooks guide and our best laptops guide. A Mashable Choice Award winner, it's also a great option for students looking for a laptop with longevity.

When asked if the M4 Air is worth buying, Mashable's reviewer Stan Schroeder writes, "Yes, absolutely," noting its powerful processor that runs silently, solid battery life, better webcam, and new low price. For under $1,000, it's a total steal.

Nobody can resist a good mystery.

Whether it's a whodunnit crime story, a tale of suspense that keeps you guessing, or a mind-bending psychological thriller, putting the pieces together sitting in front of your screen has long been a highly satisfying activity for amateur sleuths.

Often, the best mysteries span out over a whole series on Netflix, making the TV side of things pretty well populated — think The Fall of the House of Usher, The Sinner, Dark, Midnight Mass, Wednesday, The Haunting of Hill House/Bly Manor, The Watcher — but there are plenty of mystery movies on the streaming service for those who'd like a more comprehensive experience. Spanning its horror, thriller, and sci-fi genres, Netflix has a range of mystery films now streaming, each offering up an unexpected twist or reveal.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best movies of 2025 (so far), and where to watch them

What's inside the walls in Remi Weekes' His House? Why does the boarding house in Santiago Menghini's No One Gets Out Alive have so many locked doors? What's at the heart of the disturbing prison system in The Platform? What exactly, David Lynch asks, did Jack do? Is Adam Sandler's Murder Mystery actually worth watching? From creaking haunted houses to vengeful masked killers, here are the best mystery movies on Netflix.

1. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Credit: Netflix

Southern gentlemen detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back on the case in Glass Onion, Rian Johnson’s sequel to his modern, Agatha Christie-style mystery movie Knives Out. With an eye for the tiniest detail, Blanc again finds himself investigating a murder in a secluded location with a wealthy cast of suspects (and what a cast it is). This time it’s a private island owned by billionaire tech founder Elon Musk Miles Bron (Edward Norton) and his cohort of "disrupters." When someone winds up dead, only an intricate web of deception stands between Blanc and the truth.

Though less satisfying than the original Knives Out, Glass Onion is a thoroughly enjoyable mystery whose twists and turns will genuinely surprise you. Delivering some truly delightful character work, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista star as Bron's guests, each with their own secrets. — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming on Netflix.

2. The Call Don't pick up the phone. Credit: Netflix

Not the 2013 Halle Berry film or the revenge-based horror film of the same name, but based on Matthew Parkhill's 2011 supernatural horror film The Caller, Lee Chung-hyun's The Call is a dark, chilling South Korean mystery that you can't hang up on.

SEE ALSO: 12 of the best suspense movies on Netflix to put you on edge

When Kim Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) visits her family home, she loses her phone, then starts getting weird, disturbing calls and finds a connection to a woman called Young-sook (Jeon Jong-seo). Where this film twists and turns from here, you’ll never predict, so paying light attention is not an option. Strong performances, unnerving use of sound, stunning cinematography, and a well-woven structure make this one surreal and disturbing journey.* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: The Call is now streaming on Netflix.

3. His House There's something in the walls... Credit: Netflix

The best types of horror films are more than just a trickbox of scares. Some are character studies, others explore deeper themes or grapple complex social issues, and a few manage to move you in more ways than just a raising of the pulse. Writer-director Remi Weekes' debut His House does all of the above at once.

Following asylum-seekers Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) as they arrive in the UK from South Sudan only to be thrust into an unforgiving world of bureaucracy and racism, His House melds drama with a claustrophobic haunted house mystery. Noises echo in the walls, and Bol's fear and paranoia grows along with ours. But it's only as the movie progresses, and Jo Willems' creative cinematography starts hinting at what took place in the past, that the true horror of His House is revealed.* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: His House is now streaming on Netflix.

4. The Guilty Jake Gyllenhaal is on top form. Credit: Glen Wilson / Netflix

Following a cop with an anger problem during a 911 dispatch shift, The Guilty sees Jake Gyllenhaal at his vein-bursting best in this twisty thriller about a kidnapped woman.

"With the camera focused on him for almost the full 90 minutes in The Guilty, Gyllenhaal combines all [his] skills into one excruciatingly tense performance," I wrote in my review. "He throws himself into the role of detective-turned-911-dispatcher Joe Baylor with so much anger, pain, and sadness that you're forced to go through every single emotion with him."* — S.H.

How to watch: The Guilty is now streaming on Netlfix.

5–7. The Fear Street trilogy The "Fear Street" trilogy has a solid mystery at its bloody core. Credit: Netflix

What could have just been a kitschy homage to classic horror films of the '70s, '80s, and '90s actually has a really compelling core murder mystery, meaning it's on the list! The Fear Street trilogy, inspired by R.L. Stine's more grown-up novel series, centres around a cyclical curse that sees a string of murders plaguing the residents of Shadyside. Directed by Leigh Janiak, the three films (Part 1: 1994, Part 2: 1978, and Part 3: 1666) are set in different time periods, each linked by these happenings. A group of teenagers will have to delve into the past in order to figure it all out before the curse catches up with them. As far as horror mysteries go, Fear Street is the best thing since sliced bread (sorry). — S.C.

How to watch: The Fear Street trilogy is now streaming on Netflix.

8. I Am All Girls A masked killer is at the heart of the mystery in "I Am All Girls." Credit: Netflix

Fair warning: This one isn't an easy watch. Inspired by true events, the film begins with the interrogation of Gert van Rooyen, a South African sex offender who was suspected in the abductions of six young girls in the late '80s. Set in the present day, the movie uses van Rooyen's alleged crimes as a jumping-off point, with a detective working to uncover a child trafficking ring while also investigating a serial killer who seems to be exclusively targeting the criminals involved. Donovan Marsh's movie is a blend of mystery and thriller, a how-deep-does-this-go conspiracy that leads from dilapidated drug dens to the halls of government — uncovering a series of grim revelations with roots that go back 30 years. — S.H.

How to watch: I Am All Girls is now streaming on Netflix.

9. I Am Mother Friend...or foe? Credit: Netflix

The problem with robots is you can never tell what they're thinking. This is a lesson we've had drilled into us time and again in the sci-fi space, and Grant Sputore's futuristic mystery — about a girl being raised by a robot in a post-apocalyptic bunker — is of course no exception. Starring Hilary Swank, Clara Rugaard, and Rose Byrne, the suspense in this one comes hand-in-hand with the blank, impenetrable gaze of Mother (the robotic carer in question), before cranking into overdrive when a stranger's arrival casts suspicion on the metal guardian's real role.* — S.H.

How to watch: I Am Mother is now streaming on Netflix.

10. I'm Thinking of Ending Things All is not what it seems. Credit: Mary Cybulski / Netflix

Is this the most entertaining movie on this list? Almost certainly not. But is it the best mystery? Well, judging by how incredibly confused I was when I finished watching it, possibly. Writer/director Charlie Kaufman's story about a student travelling to meet her boyfriend’s parents for the first time is a head-scratching psychological nightmare that feels like watching a reality break for two straight hours. There's plenty of deep writing, philosophical musings, and reality-bending clues, all of which add up to a very Lynch-esque feeling that what we're watching isn't as it seems. But what are we watching? The answer might take some figuring out. — S.H.

How to watch: I’m Thinking of Ending Things is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Lost Girls Credit: Jessica Kourkounis / Netflix

Based on the real disappearance of Shannan Gilbert in 2010 and her mother Mari's attempts to find her, Lost Girls is a dark exploration of events surrounding the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings that places a focus on the families left behind. Liz Garbus directs with a sense of grim realism, while Amy Ryan is a picture of angry desperation as she goes up against a police force that seems apathetic at best, and incompetent at worst. — S.H.

How to watch: Lost Girls is now streaming on Netflix.

12. No One Gets Out Alive Cristina Rodlo stars in this claustrophobic nightmare. Credit: Teddy Cavendish / Netflix

More horror than mystery? Perhaps. But Santiago Menghini's claustrophobic haunted house tale, based on an Adam Nevill novel of the same name, still comes with plenty of questions. Questions like, why does the boarding house that Mexican immigrant Ambar (Cristina Rodlo) arrives at have so many locked doors? And what are the noises she keeps hearing at night, and the nightmares about a strange stone box that she keeps seeing when her eyes are closed? You’ll have a hard job guessing, but this tense and well-written thriller will have you trying until the end. — S.H.

How to watch: No One Gets Out Alive is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Oxygen Uh, how did we get here? And where's the exit? Credit: Netflix

A futuristic twist on the fear of being buried alive, Alexandre Aja's Oxygen is a claustrophobic nightmare about a woman who wakes up in a cryogenic box with no idea of who she is or how she got there. The good news? She's able to communicate with the outside world via a robotic medical unit called M.I.L.O. The bad news? Nobody she speaks to seems willing to come clean with her, and her oxygen reserves are quickly spiralling toward 0 percent. Mélanie Laurent perfectly captures the short-breathed dread of this role, and Christie LeBlanc's screenplay has enough twists and turns to keep the story racing along at a heart-pounding pace. Just tread carefully if you have a fear of tight spaces — this one won't be a fun watch for claustrophobics.* — S.H.

How to watch: Oxygen is now streaming on Netflix.

14. The Wonder Credit: Christopher Barr / Netflix

The Wonder is a wholly engrossing period mystery about a young girl from a small, 19th-century Irish town who claims to not have eaten for four months, surviving purely on holy "manna." Florence Pugh is fantastic as Lib Wright, the stoic, science-driven English nurse sent to investigate. Over the course of a few weeks, Lib is charged with watching Anna (Kíla Lord Cassidy) for 12 hours at a day, while a nun observes during the other 12, to determine if there’s a heavenly or earthbound explanation for the girl's miraculous months-long fast.

Based on Emma Donoghue's novel of the same name, The Wonder is a solemn, subtle, and captivating masterpiece exploring religious prejudice, cycles of abuse, and the boundaries of our own realities. It’s a satisfying watch with an unexpected ending that will stick in your bones like an Irish winter frost. — K.G.

How to watch: The Wonder is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Wicked Little Letters

It's 1920, and the small English town of Littlehampton hasn't seen anyone like Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley) before. She's brash, she's reckless, and worse, she's Irish. Rose is the polar opposite of her neighbor, Edith Swan (Olivia Colman), the pious, shy spinster who still lives with her aging parents and is shocked by Rose's carefree employment of curse words. The two form a friendly acquaintance, until Edith receives a barrage of hateful, swear-laden anonymous letters. Rose is obviously to blame! Or is she?

This delightful poison-pen mystery is inspired by a very real scandal that consumed the minds and media of 1920s England. Starring a who's-who of British acting royalty (including Eileen Atkins, Timothy Spall, Anjana Vasan, and more), Wicked Little Letters is a darkly comedic puzzle full of top-notch characters. What more could any budding detective ask for? — K.G.

How to watch: Wicked Little Letters is now streaming on Netflix.

16. The Platform How far down does it go? Credit: Netflix

Prison cells are stacked one on top of the other, with holes in the floor and ceiling. Randomly assigned levels change each month. And a platform of food gets slowly lowered from the very top, getting sparser and sparser with each floor it descends. This is the concept at the centre of Spanish director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia's The Platform, a disturbing sci-fi thriller that wears its capitalist analogy plainly on its prison garb sleeve. It's one of those rare gems where the execution is as strong as the idea at its core, driven by an excellent screenplay from David Desola and Pedro Rivero that's dripping with horror and suspense. If you're a fan of movies like The Cube or Saw, this is well worth checking out.* — S.H.

How to watch: The Platform is now streaming on Netflix.

17. The Pale Blue Eye

Christian Bale is Augustus Landor, a grizzled retired detective and alcoholic who gets pulled into one last case, and it’s a whopper: A military academy student has been hanged and had his heart removed. To sniff out the gruesome murderer, Augustus recruits a student — none other than Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling) —  for insider knowledge of the school. 

Adapted from a Louis Bayard novel, The Pale Blue Eye is an atmospheric murder mystery with an excellent cast (shout out to Gillian Anderson!). And if Edgar Allan Poe is in the cast of characters, you know it’s gonna be a spooky one, y’all! — K.G.

How to watch: The Pale Blue Eye is now streaming on Netflix.

18. The Perfection Credit: Netflix

This isn’t the kind of movie you want to be watching while you eat. Richard Shepard's musical nightmare leans heavily into the body horror genre, with protégés Charlotte (Allison Williams) and Lizzie (Logan Browning) going on a truly hellish journey that starts with a bus ride through rural China and ends with them revisiting the prestigious music school where they both trained — and where all is clearly not as it seems. Tread carefully, because this story is really not for the faint-hearted — but it is full of surprises. — S.H.

How to watch: The Perfection is now streaming on Netflix.

19. What Did Jack Do? What did you do, huh? WHAT DID YOU DO? Credit: Netflix

For a truly baffling mystery, it's time for you to watch David Lynch asking a suited monkey if he's ever been a card-carrying member of the Communist party. It's a genuine thing that happens in David Lynch's What Did Jack Do?, a 17-minute film which sees the director interrogating a monkey called Jack in a train carriage.

Co-presented by Lynch's company Absurda and Parisian contemporary art museum Fondation Cartier, the film was written, directed, and edited by Lynch himself. Along with a small crew, he also did the sound editing, set design, and assisted with set construction.

We won't spoil what happens, but make sure you stick around for the catchy musical number toward the end. Yes, you read that right.* — S.H.

How to watch: What Did Jack Do? is now streaming on Netflix.

20.-21. Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2 Credit: Alex Bailey / Netflix

If you want your mysteries more adventurous and bright than bleak and despairing, then Netflix’s Enola Holmes films will certainly fit the bill. Based on author Nancy Springer's The Enola Holmes Mysteries, the films star Millie Bobbie Brown, ebullient and charismatic as Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister. Raised alone by an eccentric mother (a perfectly cast Helena Bonham Carter) who rejects societal expectations for women, Enola is every bit the prodigy her brother is, and then some. But when her mother goes missing, she takes it upon herself to solve the mystery, uncovering a larger enigma in the process. 

Cheerful, charming, with a moderate sense of danger and a whole lot of fun, Enola Holmes and its sequel are pure delights with surprisingly sophisticated mysteries at their core. Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin round out the sparkling cast as Sherlock and Mycroft, Enola's more famous older brothers, both visibly enjoying themselves with the material. — K.G. 

How to watch: Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2 are now streaming on Netflix.

22. Things Heard and Seen Credit: Anna Kooris / Netflix

Don’t let the low Rotten Tomatoes score put you off. Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's Things Heard and Seen — based on the novel All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage — is one of those films that's sure to divide people. It hovers between multiple genres, splicing drama and thriller with horror and mystery in a balancing act that could easily be off-putting to some. The film follows a young couple – Catherine (Amanda Seyfried) and George (James Norton) – whose decision to move into a farmhouse in upstate New York leads to the discovery of some fairly unsettling secrets (both of the ghostly and the non-ghostly variety). Don't go into it expecting straight horror, though, or you’ll be disappointed. But if you like well-drawn characters and plenty of simmering dread, it’s worth checking out. — S.H.

How to watch: Things Heard and Seen is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Luther: The Fallen Sun Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

For five seasons, Neil Cross' highly addictive BBC series Luther followed Idris Elba in his iconic role as the hardened titular detective who plays by his own rules. The very first film of the TV franchise, Luther: The Fallen Sun, sees the brilliant and brash John Luther finally facing consequences for his years of flouting the law in the name of the greater good. He’s now in prison, just when an old case of his starts to heat up again. It’s a twisting and gripping thriller that will keep you guessing, and Andy Serkis' villain David Robey is truly chilling. While it may not be a wholly necessary addition to the Luther legacy, it’s certainly a welcome one. We’ll take any chance to see Elba’s reckless detective take on the world once more.* — K.G.

How to watch: Luther: The Fallen Sun is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Svaha: The Sixth Finger

Svaha: The Sixth Finger is a chilling, serpentine Korean mystery/thriller that explores unseen interpretations of Buddhism and probes the meaning of faith. Pastor Park (Squid Game's Lee Jung-jae), a man driven by his work exposing dangerous cults, looks into a remote religious sect called Deer Mountain or Dongbanggyo. Simultaneously, police begin investigating the murder of a girl found encased in concrete. Could the two be related? — K.G.

How to watch: Svaha: The Sixth Finger is now streaming on Netflix.

25. Murder Mystery Credit: Scott Yamano/Netflix

Sometimes you want your mysteries mindless and cheerful, and the fairly substance-less Murder Mystery Netflix franchise is just that. Adam Sandler is Nick, an NYPD cop, and his wife, Audrey (Jennifer Aniston), is a hairdresser and murder mystery book lover. On their first trip to Europe, their 15th anniversary celebrations are delayed when they board a luxury yacht, a murder occurs, and they're the number one suspects. Looks like these two amateur detectives will have to solve the case to clear their names. It’s a silly, lighthearted romp with a few solid jokes and an unchallenging plot. Murder Mystery (and Murder Mystery 2) make perfect background movies for cooking, cleaning, or scrolling on your phone, when nothing but fluff will hit the spot. — K.G.

How to watch: Murder Mystery is now streaming on Netflix.

26. It's What's Inside

A genre-bending 2024 hit, It's What’s Inside is "a deviously good time," according to Mashable film critic Siddhant Adlakha. At a pre-wedding party, a college friend group catches up and laughs about old scores. But when one of them arrives with a suitcase that allows them to switch bodies, mayhem ensues. Lingering resentments, unrequited loves, smoldering jealousies all rear their chaotic heads as the friends fight to get back into their own bodies… and wonder who really put them up to this in the first place. — K.G.

How to watch: It's What's Inside is now streaming on Netflix.

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: Aug. 5, 2025, 3:00 p.m. EDT This article was originally published on Nov. 7, 2021. It has been updated to reflect current Netflix offerings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Get Deal

The electric SUV space is loud—Tesla this, Rivian that, and a flood of EVs chasing attention with massive screens or futuristic designs. But not every standout needs to shout.

TL;DR: Live stream The Hundred 2025 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We've already been treated to a lot of entertaining cricket this summer, but we're not done just yet. The Hundred is here to make sure the season ends on an exhilarating note. Fancy watching some of the most exciting players in the world compete in a totally unique 100-ball cricket format? You can do exactly that without spending anything.

If you want to watch The Hundred 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is The Hundred?

The Hundred is a professional cricket league in the UK. The tournament, organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board, is the only cricket league in the world that uses the 100-ball cricket format. The Hundred is comprised of eight teams, with seven based in England and one in Wales.

32 matches take place in the league stage of the tournament. Each team plays four matches at home and four matches away, including one match against every other side and then a second bonus match against their nearest regional rivals. The team that finishes top of the league progresses straight into the final. The teams finishing second and third compete for a place in the final in the Eliminator.

The defending champions are London Spirit (women) and Oval Invincibles (men).

When is The Hundred 2025?

The Hundred 2025 is the fifth edition of the tournament. This year's competition takes place from Aug. 5-31.

How to watch The Hundred 2025 for free

The Hundred 2025 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer. 16 games will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer, including the opening Women's and Men's double header and both finals.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams of The Hundred 2025 from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of The Hundred 2025 by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch The Hundred 2025 for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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 Hundred 2025 before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch The Hundred 2025 for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $80: Grab the Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) for just $199 (44mm) or $169 (40mm) at Best Buy — available in midnight, starlight, and silver.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE $199 at Best Buy
$279 Save $80 Get Deal

Eager Apple fans ready for a smartwatch upgrade should try out this hit deal at Best Buy. As of Aug. 5, Best Buy is offering the Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) for just $199 for the 44mm size — that’s a cool $80 off its regular $279 price. If you prefer a smaller fit, the 40mm model is also down to $169 (from $249), with the same $80 discount applied.

This limited-time offer includes three classic finishes: midnight, starlight, and silver, all matched with a sleek colour-coordinated back case that’s part of Apple’s ongoing effort to reduce carbon emissions. The Apple Watch SE may be positioned as the more affordable option in Apple’s lineup, but don’t let that fool you. As far as its specs go, this smartwatch is packed with the essential features most people actually use day to day. 

SEE ALSO: Yes, the Oura Ring is the best smart ring, but it's not your only option

With watchOS 11, the SE gets smarter and more personal, offering health tools like heart rate alerts, Fall Detection, and even Crash Detection for added peace of mind. The new Check In feature is a nice bonus, automatically notifying friends or family when you arrive at your destination.

On the fitness side, the Workout app is as robust as ever, giving you detailed metrics to track your progress and performance. What’s more, it’s swimproof up to 50m, so laps in the pool are fair game. In our Apple Watch Series 9 vs SE comparison, we found that the SE is perfect for fitness fanatics.

The SE also promises to keep you effortlessly connected — having you able to answer calls, reply to texts, check notifications, and use Siri, all from your wrist. Plus, you’ll get three free months of Apple Fitness+, making this even more of a value-packed purchase.

For more tech upgrades, check out the best Apple deals available this week — including iPads and MacBooks. If you’re open to other brands, we’ve got a selection of the best smartwatches for every wrist, including Samsung, FitBit, and Garmin, as well as Apple. 

SAVE $130: Get the Bose QuietComfort wireless headphones for just $229 at Best Buy — now in six stylish colors.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones $229 at Best Buy
$359 Save $130 Get Deal

For any audiophiles who’ve been waiting for a price drop before investing in a big brand’s pair of noise-cancelling headphones, we’ve found the perfect Best Buy offer for you. As of Aug. 5, the Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are marked down to $229 at Best Buy, saving you a hefty $130 off the regular $359 price tag. That’s a solid deal for headphones known for their legendary noise-cancelling tech and all-day comfort.

What’s even better is that you’ve got a good number of colour options to choose from: lilac, black, blue dusk, cypress green, sandstone, and white smoke are all included in the sale. Whether you’re into bold, soft, or sleek tones, there’s a pair that’ll match your vibe.

As for features, the QuietComforts live up to their name with plush ear cushions and a protein-leather-covered foam headband that’s built for marathon listening sessions. Bose’s Quiet and Aware Modes let you switch between full noise-cancellation and awareness of your surroundings, and you can even create your own custom settings.

SEE ALSO: We put the top 10 headphones of 2025 to the test

As for sound quality, these headphones boast high-fidelity audio with an Adjustable EQ that gives you full control over bass, treble, and mids. You can even fine-tune it all in the Bose Music app. And with Spotify Tap, you can jump back into your favourite playlists or discover new music with just a press of a button — so, there’s no need to dig out your phone.

Battery life is another highlight: up to 24 hours of wireless play time on a single charge, or get a 2.5-hour boost with just 15 minutes of USB-C charging. Plus, built-in mics make hands-free calls crystal clear.

At $229, these are a smart pick for anyone who wants premium headphones without the premium price. 

If you still want to shop around first, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 headphones we’ve tested in 2025. For those who want to focus purely on keeping external sound away, we’ve got a selection of the best noise-cancelling headphones we use and love, too. 

There's something fascinating about observing humankind's response to adversity—and Netflix has certainly got this covered. From natural disasters to unsolved mysteries, here are five of the best tragedy docs you can digest this week.

I love my Samsung Galaxy Watch, but the Amazfit Bip 6 surprised me with its feature-packed UI, fantastic battery life, and outstanding performance. In some respects, I preferred this budget-friendly option over my Galaxy Watch. Limitations aside, it's an impressive, competitive option.

There’s a lot that can complicate dating. The rise of dating app fatigue (one in five dating app users say they’ve had a bad experience), dealing with unrequited love, selfish dating culture – to name a few. Now throw having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) into the mix. It really shouldn’t, since one million of us contract an STI every single day and most are curable, but having an STI can complicate dating even further. 

Only 28 percent of people with an STI would feel comfortable disclosing their status to a partner. But communicating STI status should be a key part of sex. It’s important, not just for your health but for theirs too, and for helping reduce the very real stigma attached to STIs. One sex-positive dating app, WAX, is on a mission to make STI status sharing a natural part of dating by encouraging those conversations with an integrated test result sharing feature. 

To create the tool, WAX are partnering with Sexual Health London so their users can upload their results into the app directly, rather than writing them in their bios. There’s clearly demand for this sort of feature. WAX co-founder says users are often unsure whether they can trust someone’s claim to be STI-free, not least because there have been cases of people “forging or photoshopping results to give a false negative.” The integration with SHL solves that by offering verified test results, shared securely and directly between users. No screenshots. No guesswork.

From a tech standpoint, users are in control. With consent, their testing data is validated via SHL and made available to share privately with matches, not broadcast on public profiles. “User choice, user data and user privacy is paramount for us to hand to the user themselves,” says Sayle. Access can be revoked at any time.

Still, the feature lands in a digital landscape where sexual health stigma is alive and well — and putting that information out there, even with privacy controls, isn’t as simple as flipping a switch.

Add into the mix the horror show that is dating apps right now, are these apps the right place to have those all-important conversations? Mashable speaks to sex educators and people who’ve navigated dating with an STI to find out. 

SEE ALSO: Settle down this summer: Best dating apps for serious relationships Dating with a positive STI status 

Misconceptions around STIs make dating with one challenging, whether you’re dating for love, casual fun, or something in between. Though many STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are both curable and relatively common, people still hold archetypal ideas about STIs based on moralist views – ideas that having an STI makes people untrustworthy, careless or even dirty. 

Where does this leave daters with STIs? Well, a Superdrug survey of 2,000 sexually active adults in the UK revealed that 91 percent believed an STI diagnosis would negatively impact their relationships, social life, love life and general confidence. 

SEE ALSO: The best sex and dating apps for hooking up

Laura Clarke, sex educator at My Body and Yours and author of Step Bi Step, believes the idea of STI integration on dating apps has potential but warns that we need to tread carefully. “In the best case scenario, sharing STI status results in a more normalised view of sexually transmitted infections and can help people to make informed choices about the sex they're having,” she tells Mashable. “It could lead to a rise in barrier methods and reduce the spread of infections.”

But she’s quick to point out that we’re not yet in that best case scenario. “While I wholeheartedly believe in a society where we banish STI stigma and have open and honest conversations, in reality, we're just not there yet. And while this update may push us further in the right direction, it could also be a safety risk to dating app users.”

“If this information is revealed after a match, there is a genuine risk that somebody might unmatch or ghost the individual who has shared this information,” warns Clarke.

Sex educator Leanne Yau from Polyphilia tells Mashable that this calls for a broader cultural shift. “People need to get tested every six months, even those who are in long-term monogamous relationships,” she says, pointing out that tools like WAX’s are great, but the matter of normalising STI status sharing needs more. 

Some STIs have more stigma attached than others

Dating with an STI isn’t easy. Luca, a 26-year-old customer support agent, has had four common, curable STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and crabs. He once had the first three at the same time while casually dating. “Telling past matches wasn’t too hard, just a bit awkward,” he says. “Most people were okay, but one accused me of giving it to him. That part wasn’t nice at all. It really made me feel dirty.”

Luca thinks WAX’s feature is a great idea, but believes some communities handle STI conversations better than others. "I get the sense that us gay men are more cautious with STIs and [it's part of gay hookup culture] to get regular checkups and it’s something quite normal to talk about." He's not sure that straight communities have the same built-in communication line. 

SEE ALSO: From Grindr to Scruff: The best dating apps for gay, bi, and queer men

Luca believes how easy it is to share STI status on dating apps largely depends on the infection. On Grindr, he lists his negative HIV status and would disclose curable STIs. But, he admits, “I don’t know how I would feel about sharing it on dating apps if I was HIV positive.”

“People can be mean and cruel on the internet, even on dating apps,” he says, having seen harsh messages about those with HIV. While he would disclose a positive status to trusted partners before sex, “I definitely wouldn’t post it on my profile.” He also recognises his own privilege. “I think it’s easier for me to talk about STIs as a white male than it would be for a woman.”

Chloe*, a 32-year-old football coach is HIV positive and using a pseudonym as not everyone in her life knows about it. “I saw that WAX were adding this feature and it gave me so much hope that society is moving towards a more accepting culture around STIs, but I'm not sure I'd use it" she tells Mashable. 

"Part of having HIV unfortunately means educating every new person I start any kind of relationship with."

Now in a committed relationship with a woman she met on Bumble, Chloe says she waited until they met in person to disclose her status. “Part of having HIV unfortunately means educating every new person I start any kind of relationship with.. People are often open to dating me but only because I have the chance to tell them that HIV isn’t as scary as it used to be and there are pills we can both take to stop it from passing,” she explains, referring to PEP and PrEP, the former being a medication to be taken after unprotected sex to prevent HIV transmission, and the latter being the preventative version. 

“I didn’t want to subject myself to abuse or have people unmatch.” Like Luca, she feels a disclosure tool may be better suited to casual encounters. “If I was meeting someone on an app and wanted to have sex within the hour, I’d obviously tell them. And I think this tool would work nicely for curable STIs too. But there's still so much stigma around HIV so I don't think it fits every situation.”

More work is needed to destigmatise STIs

Sayle acknowledges stigma still exists and that WAX is a dating app set up for sex-positive people, so already set up for "reasonability and accountability". She hopes, however, that this move will set the standard and STI status uploads will soon become the norm for dating apps.

However, education alone is not enough. “More needs to be done to destigmatise STIs and share more about just how common they are.”

For some, sharing STI info on dating apps leads to open, positive conversations. Jamie, a 29-year-old producer, says that after testing positive for Hepatitis B, dating felt like a trap. “I never knew when to bring it up. Too soon and they’d freak out. Too late and it felt like I’d lied.”

“I never knew when to bring it up. Too soon and they’d freak out. Too late and it felt like I’d lied.”

But dating apps helped. “Being upfront filters out people who wouldn’t be empathetic anyway. I’d rather be rejected for being honest than ghosted later.”

Yau stresses disclosure is not just about the sharer. “People on the receiving end [of STI disclosure] also need to figure out how to make themselves a safe space for that disclosure and that honesty to happen. Offering this tool in tandem with more education around STIs in general would be beneficial,” she explains

Clarke adds that while honesty is important, context matters. “There’s a difference between doing this on a third date, when you're present and ready to debunk myths, versus via an app, where a partner can unmatch based on incorrect assumptions and you're unable to respond.”

SEE ALSO: Dating apps to add age checks in the UK

There are also privacy concerns. “This is your private medical information. Uploading it on the internet is bound to cause anxiety, especially around data breaches,” says Clarke. “What if you're okay with your sexual partners knowing your status but not your boss? Your mum? Your kids?”

She warns that STI data could be misused. “Could this also lead to matching with people just to screenshot their status and share it as some kind of medical revenge porn?”

It’s not far-fetched, given dating apps are already misused for harassment and Feeld’s alleged data breach earlier this year caused widespread concern.

For now, integrating sexual health data into dating apps is a cultural litmus test. Can we treat STI status as just another aspect of health, or do we still flinch at those three letters on a profile? 

As Yau points out, common, curable STIs should be seen like a cold: inconvenient but not shameful. We would not judge someone for pausing sex because of a stomach bug, so perhaps one day we will feel the same about STIs. At the very least, WAX’s feature prompts us to consider where sexual transparency ends and digital exposure begins. Conversations still falter due to deeper structural stigma, but tools like this may help shift STI status from deal-breaker to no big deal.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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.

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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.

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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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 4 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: Public transport

• Green: Dice

• Blue: What Frosty might wear

• Purple: Passwords

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Subterranean transit

• Green: Make into smaller pieces while cooking

• Blue: Used to decorate a snowman

• Purple: ___ Code

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 #786 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Subterranean transit: METRO, SUBWAY, TUBE, UNDERGROUND

• Make into smaller pieces while cooking: CUBE, GRATE, MINCE, SLICE

• Used to decorate a snowman: CARROT, COAL, PIPE, SCARF

• ___ Code: DRESS, HEALTH, SECRET, ZIP

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4

Are you also playing NYT 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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: We have a winner!

The words are contest-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are types of raffles.

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 Lucky Break.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for August 5

• Giveaway

• Drawing

• Lucky Break

• Bingo

• Sweepstakes

• Lottery

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 today's Strands.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for August 4 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's The Mini crossword answers for August 4, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A long-legged bird.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

STORK.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4

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 today's Wordle.