Technology

In a world dominated by wireless accessories, it’s easy to get swept up in the trend—especially when listening to music.

Are you tired of monthly software subscriptions eating into your budget? Wondering whether free alternatives can actually match paid tools? Here are three underrated open-source apps that helped me cancel my subscriptions to TickTick, Trello, Google Drive, and Mailchimp.

If you don't have a lot of experience working with the terminal, it might seem like an obtuse or intimidating black box. What you might not know is that the terminal can be fun to use. So much so, that you're inclined to use the command-line over a GUI whenever possible. There is definitely a learning curve and the more you work with the terminal, the more fluent you become. However, there are some commands that everyone should know.

Many people write Excel formulas for the computer, but experts write them for people. If your logic looks like a wall of text, it's a liability. These five simple habit shifts will help you tidy your syntax, simplify your logic, and make your spreadsheets easier to audit.

You don't need to reinstall your whole operating system just because you forgot your Linux login. It's actually pretty easy to reset your Linux password. All you need to know is the username (which is usually visible on the login screen). I'll show you two ways you can reset the password.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a quick read.

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 hints today: Clues, answers for January 1, 2026 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 January 1, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A short story.

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 F.

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...

FABLE

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 January 1, 2026

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a good cup of joe.

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.

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 preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 1, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 1, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Not your average joe

The words are related to a popular drink.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe java.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Coffee.

NYT Strands word list for January 1

• Bold

• Nutty

• Bitter

• Strong

• Coffee

• Aromatic

• Smooth

• Velvety

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're into witchcraft.

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 Pips hints, answers for January 1, 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: Sorcery

• Green: To strip a layer

• Blue: A nerd

• Purple: They have the same beginning

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Bit of magic

• Green: Remove the covering from

• Blue: "Enthusiast" equivalent

• Purple: Butter___

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 #935 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Bit of magic: CHARM, CURSE, HEX, SPELL

• Remove the covering from: PEEL, SHELL, SHUCK, SKIN

• "Enthusiast" equivalent: BUFF, HEAD, HOUND, RAT

• Butter___: FINGERS, FLY, NUT, SCOTCH

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 January 1, 2026

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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know collegiate sports.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

• Green: Homes

• Blue: Teammates

• Purple: Same second word

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Try to stop a basketball shot

• Green: Locations of college football playoff teams

• Blue: First names of Philadelphia Eagles

• Purple: ____ six

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 #465 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Try to stop a basketball shot - CHALLENGE, CLOSE OUT, CONTEST, DEFEND

• Locations of college football playoff teams - ATHENS, BLOOMINGTON, EUGENE, OXFORD

• First names of Philadelphia Eagles - COOPER, DALLAS, JALEN, SAQUON

• ____ six - KICK, NEW YEAR'S, ORIGINAL, PICK

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.

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 1, 2026

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 1, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 1 Pips

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically; 0-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 1 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this green space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally..

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 1 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (1): Everything in this green space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this purple 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 (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

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

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: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026:

AcrossWord on either side of "___-eat-___"

• The answer is Dog.

Word on either side of "___, all ___!"

• The answer is Mine.

Word on either side of "___ say ___"

• The answer is Never.

First-string squad

• The answer is ATeam.

Causes injury to

• The answer is Harms.

DownSomeone who might be swimming with the fishes

• The answer is Diver.

An hour past midnight

• The answer is One AM.

Hand sanitizer targets

• The answer is Germs.

Like a crossword clue about crossword clues

• The answer is Meta.

"I'll pass, thanks"

• The answer is Nah.

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 yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Astronomers have found a planet-forming disk that looks like a solar system on steroids. 

New images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have revealed an enormous, oddly shaped disk of gas and dust around a single massive star or pair of stars about 1,000 light-years away in space. This thing spans nearly 400 billion miles — 40 times the width of everything around the sun, including the outer edge of the Kuiper Belt of comets.

The telescope has captured the system from its side profile, allowing researchers to study its structure in unusual detail. This makes the object, known as IRAS 23077+6707, a sort of laboratory for the planet-making industry, said Kristina Monsch, lead author of the new paper, which was published in The Astrophysical Journal. 

And what researchers found was that making new worlds can be a messy business. 

"Planet nurseries can be much more active and chaotic than we expected," said Monsch, an astronomer with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, in a statement. 

SEE ALSO: Here's what we know about the real alien planet inspiring 'Pluribus' What is a protoplanetary disk?

So-called "protoplanetary disks" form naturally when stars are born. They supply the raw material that later becomes exoplanets, moons, and smaller bodies, like asteroids and comets. To understand how planetary systems develop, scientists need to know how these disks are structured inside and how that structure changes over time.

When disks are seen almost exactly from the side, like this one, it's especially valuable. From this angle, the disk itself blocks the star’s direct light, like placing your hand in front of a bright lamp. This makes the disk appear as a dark band across the middle, with bright regions above and below where light scatters off dust. 

That's why the researchers say IRAS 23077+6707 resembles a burger (though we prefer the image of a macaron cookie, in an elegant pastel hue). The researchers — one of whom calls Transylvania home and another from Uruguay, where the national dish is a sandwich called a chivito — have dubbed it "Dracula's Chivito" to reflect their heritage.  

Hubble's vantage point allowed scientists to observe how material is distributed around the central star or stars. The amount of dust and size of the grains, as well as how the dust interacts with gas and is vertically stacked, all influence what kinds of planets can eventually form.

What astronomers saw in Dracula's Chivito was surprising. Smoky wisps rise high above the disk instead of settling into a flat layer. Long, thread-like filaments stretch outward on one side of the disk but not the other. Its lopsided brightness and shape also change depending on the light wavelength observed, showing that different kinds of dust are arranged at different heights.

The largest forming solar system disk

In theory, Dracula's Chivito could host a vast planetary system, Monsch said. The disk's mass is estimated at 10 to 30 times that of Jupiter — ample material for forming multiple gas giants.

This diagram depicts Dracula's Chivita, a distant planet-forming disk of dust and its surrounding structures, at different wavelengths of light. Credit: Kristina Monsch et al. / DOI 10.3847/1538-4357/ae247f

But the images do not reveal whether planets are already forming, or how many might eventually appear. Instead, they show something more fundamental: The environment where planets grow may stay off-balance and active far longer than anyone thought. Because the researchers didn't see any jets of material shooting away from the system, the disk is believed to be relatively mature, no longer pulling in bulk material from its surroundings.

Despite its age, Dracula's Chivito still essentially looks like a work in progress. Future observations with other telescopes might help astronomers find out whether this sprawling, imbalanced disk will eventually settle down, said Joshua Bennett Lovell, a co-investigator from the Center for Astrophysics. 

"We were stunned to see how asymmetric this disk is," Lovell said in a statement. "Hubble has given us a front row seat to the chaotic processes that are shaping disks as they build new planets — processes that we don't yet fully understand but can now study in a whole new way."

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate Christmas movie streaming list for 2025

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of the week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're looking for the final chapter of Netflix's major series, twisted true crime stories, a heavy dose of nostalgia, or some divine comedy, we're here for you.

7. The Home

Craving something creepy? Well, if you want holiday horror, we got you covered. If you want the best horror movies of 2025, we have 25 films to offer. If none of that appeals, there's also The Home, which managed a 30 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Saturday Night Live alumnus Pete Davidson stars as Max, a young vandal who's been tasked with community service at an old folks home as recompense for his offenses. But something sinister is happening within the walls of the home. Max begins to notice strange occurrences and uncovers wild secrets, leading to gnarly revelations, but few satisfying scares.

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Starring: Pete Davidson, John Glover, and Bruce Altman

How to watch: The Home is now playing on Starz.

6. Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story

The twisted story of Jodi Hildebrandt and how she harmed the family of YouTuber Ruby Franke has been the subject of a lot of true crime television. But this film, clocking in at an hour and 41 minutes, dives more deeply into Hildebrandt's background. Documentarian Skye Borgman (Abducted in Plain Sight, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish) talk to Hildebrandt's former patients and experts to get an understanding of how she built a cult around the promise of a healthier, happier Mormon marriage.

Along with outlining the crimes of Hildebrandt and Franke, which included child abuse, Evil Influencer considers how the disgraced therapist's own trauma tied to sexist gender dynamics in the church may have led to her perverse form of empowerment. Make no mistake, though: Borgman probes for an explanation without suggesting any of it is an excuse for what happened to the Franke kids.

How to watch: Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Good Night, and Good Luck: Live From Broadway

OK, if you don't keep up on Broadway news, this one is a bit confusing. 20 years ago, George Clooney co-wrote, directed, and co-starred in a historical drama called Good Night, and Good Luck, which featured David Strathairn in the lead role of American journalist Edward R. Murrow.

In 2025, Clooney took a play version of Murrow's story to Broadway, with himself in the lead. After five Tony nominations, the show closed. But on June 8, 2025, Clooney and company performed it live on CNN for all of the nation to see. Now, you can stream this recording of Good Night, and Good Luck whenever you want. See for yourself if it lives up to the hype.

Starring: George Clooney, Ilana Glazer, Glenn Flesher, Clark Gregg, Carter Hudson, Paul Gross, Christopher Denham, Fran Kranz, Marc Brandt, Will Dagger, and Georgia Heers

How to watch: Good Night, and Good Luck: Live from Broadway is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

4. Eternity

One of the best comedies of 2025 is now on digital. Co-written and directed by David Freyne, Eternity imagines an afterlife where you get to pick what your heaven looks like. But there's one catch: You only get to pick once. So, when Larry Cutler (Miles Teller) dies after decades married to his lovely wide Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), he decides to wait in a purgatory that looks like a train station for his bride to rejoin him. There's just one problem: Larry is Joan's second husband. Her first was Luke (Callum Turner), a handsome war vet who died in their youth, and he's also waiting at the not-so-pearly gates. So, who will she choose?

In my review out of the film's TIFF premiere, I cheered, "Eternity delivers a charming parody of romantic comedies without mocking the viewers who love them. The conflict between two kinds of romantic love, and the two robust love interests on offer, makes for exciting tension. The wild spin of their stories leads to moments silly, sexy, and warm. Yet Eternity's afterlife backdrop allows for a slew of more provocative jokes to sneak through. The result is a rom-com that's smart, sensational, and swoon-worthy. "

Starring: Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, John Early, Olga Merediz, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph

How to watch: Eternity is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

3. The X-Files

Cue the theme song, and let's time travel back to 1993, when two very different FBI agents were paired up for cases strange and supernatural. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) was a woman of science, a doctor, and skeptic. Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) was a true believer in all things conspiracy and paranormal, or generally seen as "spooky."

For 11 seasons, these two not only cracked strange cases of monsters and madmen, but also waltzed the will-they-won't-they so intensely that a generation of nerds was in a chokehold. Now, ahead of Ryan Coogler's re-imagined X-Files reboot, you can revisit Chris Carter's original series for all the chills, thrills, and sex appeal.

Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish, and Mitch Pileggi

How to watch: All 11 seasons of The X-Files are now streaming on Pluto TV.

2. Indiana Jones film series

The word "iconic" gets thrown around a lot these days. But Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones is truly iconic. Put that man in some khaki, with a brown fedora and a whip in hand, and generations swoon over the rugged masculinity and sharp intellect that is Indiana Jones.

If the holidays have you craving, action, adventure, sex appeal, nostalgia, or Nazis getting annihilated by divine force, you can't do better than the Indiana Jones movies. And Disney+ is kicking off 2026 by offering the lot. From Raiders of the Lost Ark and Temple of Dune to The Last Crusade, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the 2023 treasure that is Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, you can enjoy the hottest man in archaeology fighting, flirting, and facing off against evil foes, vicious rituals, and snakes. (Why'd it have to be snakes!?)

Starring: Harrison Ford

How to watch: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull all begin streaming on Disney+ on Jan. 1. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is currently streaming on Disney+.

Best of Streaming this week: Stranger Things, Season 5: Volume 3

It's wild to think that it's been nearly 10 years since Stranger Things debuted on Netflix, causing a fresh interest in '80s nostalgia and all things Dungeons & Dragons. We've watched as Eleven and her friends fought monsters from the Upside Down while traversing the tricky terrain of teendom. And after Volumes 1 and 2, Season 5's third and final volume will compete their story.

Well, sort of. Netflix is launching a Strangers Things animated spinoff in 2026 — but it's more a filler adventure that takes place between Seasons 2 and 3. And that show — called Stranger Things: Tales from '85 — doesn't boast the OG cast for its voices. So, as you ready yourself for the final chapter of this not-so-never-ending story, savor the journey and the friends made (and maimed) along the way.

Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke

How to watch: Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 3 premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

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TL;DR: Surfshark’s three-year VPN plan is on sale for $67.19 (reg. $430), with an extra 20% off available using code SURF.

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TL;DR: As of Jan. 1, Mashable readers can score 50% off their first box at Factor, plus get a free Withings scale with their third box by using the exclusive code CNETWITHINGS. This offer only lasts until Feb. 28.

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It's the start of a brand new year, and if you're hoping to kick things off on a healthier note, Factor can help get you started with its ready-made meals delivered right to your doorstep. Mashable readers can even enjoy 50% off their first box right now, plus get a free Withings smart scale with their third box by using the exclusive coupon code CNETWITHINGS.

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The terms and conditions also note that your third box must be ordered before 11:59 PM E.T. on May 1, 2026 to get the free Withings scale, and the scale itself must be redeemed by May 15. Thankfully, that's still a few months away, but it's worth knowing just how long you've got to take advantage of this bonus item.

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It's dizzying to look back on 2025, as it was a phenomenal year in cinema, offering a panoply of supreme horror, superb streaming offerings, and star-stuffed stunners. And yet, 2026 is already looking to rival all that awesome with a sensational slate all its own.

Mashable has scoured the upcoming release calendar looking for the movies that are sure to intrigue in 2026. Superhero movies are coming back in a big way with new films featuring characters from Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, Fantastic Four, and much much more. Video games will offer fresh inspiration as Silent Hill, Street Fighter, and Mortal Kombat all launch new movie adaptations. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reteam onscreen, while Keke Palmer, Pedro Pascal, and Tom Cruise are going on wild new journeys.

Horror fans have lots of reasons to rejoice, as sequels from frightening franchises like 28 Days Later and Scream will hit alongside original offerings from Damien McCarthy, Curry Barker, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. And that's not all. Whether you're craving comedy, science fiction, action, drama, or the kind of movie that refuses to fall safely in any of these categories, 2026 has some cinema to be excited about.

So, scroll and scroll. Below, Mashable's listed all the movies in 2026 you ought to know about right now.

January 2026 movie releasesGreenland 2: Migration

In 2020, Gerard Butler had audiences at the edge of their seats with the nerve-shredding apocalyptic thriller Greenland. In that disaster movie, everything that could go wrong did, and then some. And yet, the family of three at its center survived!

Greenland 2: Migration picks up five years after the comet Clarke hit Earth with massively devastating effects. In their bunker, John Garrity (Butler), his family, and their neighbors are running out of resources. There's scientific speculation that a far-flung crater in southern France could grant them a new home, untouched by Clarke's worst effects. But getting there will be a harrowing journey, studded with new obstacles and fresh fears to face. Can the Garrity family survive this too? We're already holding our breath to find out.

Starring: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roman Griffin Davis, Amber Rose Revah, Gordon Alexander, Peter Polycarpou, William Abadie, and Tommie Earl Jenkins

How to watch: Greenland 2: Migration opens in theaters on Jan. 9.

Dead Man's Wire

Director Gus Van Sant (Milk) takes on a bizarre true crime case with Dead Man's Wire. Bill Skarsgård stars as Tony Kiritsis, an American man who'd become an infamous kidnapper with the help of some meticulously twisted wire and a 12-gauge Winchester 1400 sawed-off shotgun.

On February 8, 1977, Kiritsis marched into his mortgage broker's offices and took an employee hostage. Why? Kiritsis felt he'd been cheated by the system, and that his only way out was to make a scene that the cops, the media, and the public could not ignore. Dead Man's Wire closely follows Kiritsis and his victim (Dacre Montgomery), churning tension from the former's unraveling mental state and penchant for violence. Bringing bravado to this stranger-than-fiction thriller is Colman Domingo as a radio DJ who unexpectedly gets in the mix.

Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Myha'la, Colman Domingo, and Al Pacino

How to watch: Dead Man's Wire opens in limited release on Jan. 9, expanding on Jan. 16.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland resurrected the 28 Days Later film series with 28 Years Later, a zombie thriller so scary it ranked high on both our best horror films of the year and our best films of the year list. For its sequel, Boyle steps aside, entrusting the helm — and Garland's script — to Hedda director Nia DaCosta. And we're stoked to see what she brings to the developing saga of young Spike (Alfie Williams), a boy raised in a UK razed by the Rage Virus.

This sequel promises to take us deeper into the strange kingdom of Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), whose bizarre introduction at the end of the last film had fans freaking out with theories. How will Spike fare within this curious community? What will become of Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), who surrounds himself with human bones and wonders if there's a cure for the Rage Virus? And what about that baby? We can't wait to find out what DaCosta and company have in store.

Starring: Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry

How to watch: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple opens in theaters on Jan. 16.

The Rip

Writer/director Joe Carnahan (The Grey) reunites real-life besties Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for a crime drama that's sure to thrill. Here, the pair play partners pulled apart by greed and mistrust. Can you handle it?

Inspired by true events, The Rip focuses on a band of Miami cops who unearth millions in cash in a derelict stash house. Sure, their job is to seize it and turn it over as evidence. But the urge to make off with $20 million is intense. Soon, no one in the crew of "good guys" knows who to trust.

Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, Kyle Chandler, Néstor Carbonell, and Lina Esco

How to watch: The Rip debuts on Netflix on Jan. 16.

A Useful Ghost

One of the most surprising films I saw in 2025 was this treasure out of Thailand. The premise amused me: A ghost tries to be of use by possessing a vacuum cleaner. But I could not imagine how writer/director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke would spin that kooky setup into something hilarious, heartfelt, and thought-provoking.

Far from a scary story, A Useful Ghost is a comedy with some deeply dark turns. It begins when a self-proclaimed "Academic Ladyboy" (Wisarut Homhuan) realizes his new vacuum is coughing up dust at night. He calls a repairman, who instead of just fixing the machine explains there's a ghost in it. What follows is this hot repairman named Krong (Wanlop Rungkumjad) unfurling a complex saga of two ghosts who'd thrown themselves into vacuums to stay close to their lovers. A story of love, manipulation, politics, and historical tragedy unfolds.

In my review out of the Toronto International Film Festival, I wrote, "With A Useful Ghost, Boonbunchachoke delivers a a delirious vision, a hilarious and thought-provoking comedy that demands to be seen and adored. It's just phenomenal."*

Starring: Davika Hoorne, Witsarut Himmarat, Apasiri Nitibhon, Wanlop Rungkumjad, and Wisarut Homhuan

How to watch: A Useful Ghost opens in theaters on Jan. 16.

Cosmic Princess Kaguya!

Anime fans, rejoice! Shingo Yamashita, who's worked on sequences for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1, Chainsaw Man, and Urusei Yatsura, makes his feature directorial debut with Cosmic Princess Kaguya!

Inspired by the Japanese folklore The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, this animated epic centers on Iroha Sakayori, a busy high school student whose life radically changes when she finds a mysterious baby. Sci-fi, fantasy, and internet culture collide in this new movie. Plus, Netflix promises a bopping soundtrack featuring music from ryo (supercell) — creator of the Hatsune Miku hit “Melt” — kz (livetune), 40mP, HoneyWorks, Aqu3ra, and yuigot. 

Starring: Yuko Natsuyoshi, Anna Nagase, and Saori Hayami

How to watch: Cosmic Princess Kaguya! debuts on Netflix on Jan. 22.

Clika

Music producer Jimmy Humilde’s production company offers an underdog story for the internet age.

Co-written and directed by Michael Greene, Clika centers on a small-town musician named Chito (JayDee) with a big dream. When a clip of him performing goes viral, he strives to secure his place in the new wave of Mexican-American music. But fame isn't an easy game to master.

Per Sony Pictures, "In a story of ambition, tradition, and self-discovery, Chito is ultimately forced to confront the choices he’s made in his relentless pursuit to reach his dream."

Starring: JayDee, Concrete, DoKnow, Laura Lopez, Nana Ponceleon, Percy “Master P” Miller, Peter Greene, and Eric Roberts

How to watch: Clika opens in theaters on Jan. 23.

Mercy

Imagine if AI was all that stood between you and execution. That's the premise of Mercy. Named for a program where an AI judge (Rebecca Ferguson) prosecutes without the pesky human obstacles of lawyers or juries, this sci-fi thriller stars Chris Pratt as a detective who helped build the program — and is now at its mercy.

When this hero cop's wife is murdered, he's accused of the homicide. Waking up strapped to a chair before the judge, he has just 90 minutes to prove he's not guilty — or else he'll be executed. Can he outwit the AI in time? And does this movie need to be seen in IMAX? We'll see in 2026.

Starring: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, and Annabelle Wallis

How to watch: Mercy opens in theaters and IMAX on Jan. 23.

Return to Silent Hill

Though this is the third installment in the Silent Hill franchise inspired by the video games of the same name, this follow-up to Silent Hill: Revelation is actually based on the story from the game Silent Hill 2. That means Return to Silent Hill is more reboot than sequel.

This journey into mind-bending hell begins with a love letter. James Sunderland (Jeremy Irvine) is grieving the death of his beloved wife, when a letter from her calls him back to their "special place" — Silent Hill. Far from a cozy walk down memory lane or a place to find closure, Silent Hill is a place of nightmare fuel, and now this lovelorn man must struggle to make it out alive.

Starring: Hannah Emily Anderson, Jeremy Irvine, Robert Strange, Evie Templeton, Pearse Egan, Eve Macklin, and Emily Carding

How to watch: Return to Silent Hill opens in theaters on Jan. 23.

The Moment

Erupcja, 100 Nights of Hero, and now The Moment — Charli XCX is all over cinema... at the moment. But where the first two movies have the pop star playing different roles and sinking into fictional settings, The Moment is a mockumentary in which Charli XCX presents a look at her life and work through an A24 lens.

What does that mean? We'll all have to wait to see when director Aidan Zamiri's latest hits theaters.

Starring: Charli XCX, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell, and Alexander Skarsgård

How to watch: The Moment opens in theaters on Jan. 30.

Send Help

Sam Raimi has gifted audience the gnarly thrills of the Evil Dead trilogy and the first Spider-Man trilogy. Now, he's showing the comedy and horror of office culture with the psychological thriller Send Help.

Rachel McAdams stars as a mousy office worker who's bullied by her younger, cocky male boss (Dylan O'Brien). But when a plane crash lands them both on a desert island, the power dynamic is flipped as he must depend on her to survive. Imagine the third act of Triangle of Sadness, but as a whole revenge plot. Yeah, we're seated.

Starring: Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien

How to watch: Send Help opens in theaters on Jan. 30.

February 2026 movie releasesPillion

Want something sexy, sweet, and solidly kinky? Then mark your calendars for Pillion.

Based on Adam Mars-Jones' 2020 novel Box Hill, this British film blends comedy and BDSM to unfurl a queer romance that sparks a tender and taboo tale of self-discovery. Coming a long way from Harry Potter, Harry Melling stars as Colin, a sheepish young man who lives with his parents and sings in a barbershop quartet for fun. But once he crosses paths with a leather daddy biker named Ray (a perfectly cast Alexander Skarsgård), his life will change forever.

While Pillion offers scenes of graphic sex and frank depictions of BDSM culture, its tone is determinedly sweet. Like, imagine if Richard Curtis went harder with that stand-in thread in Love Actually. That's the vibe, and it's hot.

Starring: Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård

How to watch: Pillion opens in theaters on Feb. 6.

Cold Storage

Based on the novel by Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp, Cold Storage is a thriller about contagion that's sure to churn your stomach and give you goosebumps. (I read the book.)

Imagine if the future of humankind laid in the hands of two "minimum wage guards" at a self-storage facility. Stranger Things' Joe Keery and Georgina Campbell star as this motley pair of coworkers who are forced to save the world when a deadly fungus begins spreading from a long-forgotten military facility. Their only guide on this journey is Liam Neeson. Which is a great start! But from the trailer, you can see things will get messy.

Starring: Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, and Liam Neeson

How to watch: Cold Storage opens in theaters on Feb. 13.

Crime 101

You might not know his name, but Bart Layton has been making some of the most thought-provoking true crime films of the last 15 years. In 2012, he delivered the mind-bending documentary The Imposter, which delved into a missing persons case that's way, way stranger than fiction. In 2018, he blended fact and fiction — well, narrative and documentary filmmaking — with American Animals, which used big-name actors to reenact a crime while the real criminals reflect on the movie's making in talking-head interviews and on the set. Now, he's adapting Don Winslow's 2010 novella Crime 101. Expect twists and WTF turns.

Chris Hemsworth stars as a dashing thief who's been plaguing Los Angeles with one heist after another. When he meets a dissatisfied insurance broker (Halle Berry), he finds a new partner in business. But with a determined cop (Mark Ruffalo, because naturally) on his tail, his days may be numbered.

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Nick Nolte

How to watch: Crime 101 opens on Feb. 13.

GOAT

Do you love animals and basketball? Well, GOAT is coming to make your dreams come true.

From Sony Animation, the studio that brought us Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, comes an underdog story about a goat who dreams of being the Stephen Curry of "roarball." Sure, this hard-hitting sport tends to favor players with hulking muscles, like rhinos, gorillas, and bears. (Oh my!) But for a kid with heart — and a motley team of misfits — anything can happen. Right?

Boasting some eye-popping animation, big names in the voice cast (including Stephen Curry himself), and a playful sense of humor, GOAT looks like a winner.

Starring: Stephen Curry, Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Nick Kroll, Nicola Coughlan, David Harbour, Jenifer Lewis, Aaron Pierre, Jelly Roll, Jennifer Hudson, and Patton Oswalt

How to watch: GOAT opens on Feb. 13.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

American filmmaker Gore Verbinski has a wide array of adventure movies to enjoy, from Mouse Hunt to The Ring to Pirates of the Caribbean and Rango. He's given us wild family-friendly romps, a blood-curdling horror remake, and madcap live-action. So what could he have coming next? Well, it stars Sam Rockwell, so the sky is the limit.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die centers on a man from the future (Rockwell) who's determined to save humanity from the AI threat he knows is coming. You might be thinking The Terminator or The Matrix. But with Rockwell playing a seemingly unhinged and deeply grizzled time traveler, the vibes are far more Sorry to Bother You or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Count us in.

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, and Michael Peña

How to watch: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die opens on Feb. 13.

Wuthering Heights

Academy Award and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell brought us the snarling revenge thriller Promising Young Woman, then the gnarly psychological thriller Saltburn. Next, she's adapting Emily Brontë's classic novel, Wuthering Heights, with Barbie and Frankenstein's monster as her leads.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star as lovers Cathy and Heathcliff, whose rough romance has thrilled and frustrated readers since 1847. Some have criticized this casting, noting how these actors don't meet Brontë's descriptions of the characters. However, an adaptation can be especially thrilling when filmmakers buck expectation, and given Fennell's track record and the film's Charli XCX soundtrack, this period piece is sure to start discourse. (See Nia DaCosta's hot-as-hell Hedda). And frankly, this trailer has us craving... cinema. Craving cinema.

Starring: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, and Ewan Mitchell

How to watch: Wuthering Heights opens on Feb. 13.

How to Make a Killing

Emily the Criminal's director John Patton Ford returns with The Running Man's Glen Powell for How to Make a Killing.

This eat-the-rich comedy centers on blue-collar dude Becket Redfellow (Powell), whose mother came from inherited wealth — but she got disowned. Her now-grown son, however, stands to make a fortune if and when seven estranged family members die. So, why not pull himself up by his bootstraps and get proactive with some familicide? Payback is bloody business.

Starring: Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Ed Harris, Topher Grace, Jessica Henwick, Zach Woods, and Bill Camp

How to watch: How to Make a Killing opens on Feb. 20.

Scream 7

Scream 7 continues the frightening franchise that has had highs (Scream 1, 2, and 4) and lows (3, 5, and 6). But the trailer above suggests Paramount is getting back to what fans loved about the first one: Neve Campbell fighting like hell, Ghostface wreaking havoc around Woodsboro, and the return of Matthew Lillard!

Look, we've got fan theories on how Stu Macher could return. But for now, we're just stoked to see Sidney leading her daughter (who is named TATUM!) through a Final Girl survival crash course. We're with Lillard, who you can hear at the end of the above trailer declare, "This is gonna be fun."

Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, Ethan Embry, Timothy Simons, and Mark Consuelos

How to watch: Scream 7 opens on Feb. 27.

March 2026 movie releasesThe Bride

On paper, The Bride has prestige pic written all over it: Maggie Gyllenhaal (Academy Award–nominated writer/director of The Lost Daughter) writes and helms a new film starring Academy Award nominee Jessie Buckley and Academy Award winner Christian Bale. And it's inspired by a classic Universal film, James Whale's iconic 1935 offering The Bride of Frankenstein. But look at this trailer. The Bride is not playing it prestige or remotely safe.

This bold reinvention imagines Frankenstein's monster as a gangster in 1930s Chicago, who entreats pioneering scientist Dr. Euphronious (five-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening) to build him a mate from the remains of a murdered woman. It's a love story that's wild, criminal, and intoxicating.

Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz

How to watch: The Bride opens in theaters and IMAX on March 6.

Hoppers

We Bare Bears creator Daniel Chong directs this furry adventure from Disney and Pixar, which centers on 3D-printed animal bots that can contain human consciousness. So, it's like Black Mirror, but without being horrifying.

When teen Mabel hijacks this tech to become a beaver, she also becomes an unexpected hero to a joyful swatch of animals facing deforestation because of greedy humans. The "Joan of Arc" comparison in the trailer is worrying, though. Like, we know things didn't end great for Joan. But Pixar won't burn a teen girl's brain at the stake, right? Unless this is Pixar's Black Mirror...

Starring: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Amy Sedaris, and Meryl Streep

How to watch: Hoppers opens in theaters on March 6.

Alpha

One of my personally most-anticipated films coming out in 2026 is Alpha, the latest from Julia Ducournau, who has previously brought us such twisted and thrilling films as the cannibal coming-of-age drama Raw and the unhinged family drama/serial killer thriller Titane.

Named for the 13-year-old girl at its center, Alpha follows what happens when she comes home to her single mom with a tattoo on her arm. Now, if you don't know Ducournau's work, you might be thinking this is some scoldy drama that skews into after-school special territory. But from the trailer, which leans hard on Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "The Mercy Seat," you get a sense of how surreal and unnerving Ducournau gets.

Starring: Tahar Rahim, Golshifteh Farahani, Mélissa Boros, Emma Mackey, Finnegan Oldfield, and Louai El Amrousy

How to watch: Alpha opens in theaters on March 27.

Project Hail Mary

Calling out to all the space nerds — and just those of us who revel in cinema! Project Hail Mary is adapted from a novel by Andy Weir (who famously wrote The Martian, which became an epic Matt Damon movie). It's directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The LEGO Movie, 21 Jump Street, and Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse), with an adapted screenplay from Drew Goddard (The Martian). And it's starring Barbie's Ryan Gosling, Anatomy of a Fall's Sandra Hüller, and The Bear's Lionel Boyce. On paper, this movie maths hard to excellence.

Set on an Earth where the sun is dying, Project Hail Mary follows scientist Ryland Grace (Gosling) on a mission to save the day. Along the way, he makes an alien friend he calls "Rocky." And they find they have key things in common. Like a love of Oasis? I mean, probably, right?

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub

How to watch: Project Hail Mary opens in theaters and IMAX on March 20.

Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour

Billie Eilish has a stage presence like no other. And whether you got to experience her unique brand of ballads and bravado on her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour or not, you have the chance to see the stage show in 3D, plus get a taste behind the scenes.

Don't call this a concert doc. Directed by Eilish and James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar), Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour promises to be "an innovative new concert experience" that employs groundbreaking tech to blow audiences away. What does that mean? Man, I don't know. But are you as stoked as I am to find out?

Starring: Billie Eilish

How to watch: Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour hits theaters in 3D on March 20.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

In the hit horror-comedy Ready or Not, scrappy newlywed Grace Le Domas (Samara Weaving) managed to outwit and outlast her devilish in-laws. But now she's got a new game to play, and it's not just her life on the line.

Still bruised from her last life-or-death game, Grace learns the High Council families are going "double or nothing" with her. It's a new level of horror, with a clutch of rich and ruthless families competing to kill Grace and her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton). There will be blood, and plenty more eat-the-rich thrills.*

Starring: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood

How to watch: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come opens in theaters on March 27.

April 2026 movie releasesMother Mary

David Lowery has wowed critics with a surreal array of films, ranging from the artsy A Ghost Story to the whimsical Pete's Dragon to the mind-bending The Green Knight. With Mother Mary, he offers two highly acclaimed actresses facing off over passion and fashion. And yeah, we're intrigued.

Anne Hathaway stars as Mother Mary, a pop star who's long been away from the spotlight. On the eve of her comeback performance, she returns to Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel), a bold costume designer — and the best friend that Mother Mary betrayed. The trailer gives a sense of the trippy visuals. And with original music performed by Anne Hathaway and written and produced by Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX, and FKA twigs, Mother Mary is sure to be a sensationally engaging audio experience.

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé-Brown, Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford, and FKA twigs

How to watch: Mother Mary opens in theaters in April.

The Drama

On the surface, Charlie (Robert Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) look picture-perfect as a couple. Beautiful and charming, they seem destined to have a happy wedding day. But The Drama comes from writer/director Kristoffer Borgli, who's made such nightmarish movies Dream Scenario and Sick of Myself. So, you've been warned.

As their nuptials get closer, they begin to unravel. An A24 movie about weddings? Save the date. This will be wild.

Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, and Zoë Winters

How to watch: The Drama opens in theaters on April 3.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a smash hit. So Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, and Jack Black are back, reprising their voice-acting roles as Mario, Princess Peach, Luigi, and Bowser, respectively. But this time, the action and adventure is leveled up as the video game antics go interstellar.

Seeking to free his father, Bowser Jr. (voiced by The Smashing Machine director Benny Safdie, because sure, why not?) joins the fight. He's drawing Mario and his crew into the stars. There, they'll find flashy new terrain and new characters, including Princess Rosalina, voiced by Brie Larson.

Starring: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Benny Safdie, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Brie Larson

How to watch: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens in theaters on April 3.

Normal

English filmmaker Ben Wheatley has previously thrilled action fans with the shoot-'em-up Free Fire. And now, he's bringing that energy into a satire about a "normal" American town, where everyone has guns — and has them aimed at the interim sheriff, played by Bob Odenkirk.

Sure, the folks of Normal, Minnesota, seem friendly. But beneath their smiles lies a dark conspiracy. And while they welcome newcomer Ulysses as the face of law in their town, they won't stand for him sticking his nose where it's not wanted. I saw this one out of the Toronto International Film Festival and can assure you it's a wild, very violent ride.

Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher, Peter Shinkoda, and Jess McLeod

How to watch: Normal opens in theaters on April 17.

May 2026 movie releasesThe 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' 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?

Well, the bitches are back. And we are giddy to see what's next as the teaser trailer suggests the power dynamic in this one has Andy and Miranda as peers? Maybe even frenemies? We can't wait to see how this turns out. Say it with me: GIRD YOUR LOINS!

Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B. J. Novak, Simone Ashley, and Pauline Chalamet

How to watch: The Devil Wears Prada 2 opens in theaters on May 1.

Hokum

Among my most anticipated of 2026, Hokum unites two scorching forces of horror. Damian McCarthy, the Irish filmmaker behind Caveat and Oddity, teams with Adam Scott (Krampus, The Monkey) for Hokum.

SEE ALSO: 'Oddity's Damian McCarthy reveals the origins of his Wooden Man

A devotee of practical effects and freaky folklore, McCarthy is building a distinctive and thrilling brand of scares. In his latest, he casts Scott to play a reclusive novelist named Ohm Bauman, who travels to a far-off Irish inn to spread the ashes of his late parents. While there, he hears creepy tales of a witch who haunts the honeymoon suite. Call it "hokum," if you will. But Ohm begins fall victim to strange occurrences and bizarre visions, drawing him deeper and deeper into nightmarish secrets of the past.

Starring: Adam Scott

How to watch: Hokum opens in theaters on 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.*

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 on 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 Emma Thompson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, and Patrick Stewart? This adaptation of the cozy murder mystery Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann was written by The Last of Us' Craig Mazin.

This is what we call shear entertainment.

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 comes to theaters May 8.

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.

Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter

How to watch: Obsession opens in theaters on May 15.

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 I Love Boosters. Here's everything we know about it.

The sci-fi comedy follows a group of shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. Ahead of its theatrical release, I Love Boosters will debut as the Opening Night film of the 2026 SXSW film festival in Austin, Texas. And peep that cast!

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 on 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 spinoff 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?

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, and Jonny Coyne

How to watch: The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in theaters and IMAX on May 22.

June 2026 movie releasesMasters 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, He-Man.

In this version, Adam's story begins on Earth, where he has crashed — but he's been separated from his sword, his only connection to his homeland of Eternia. Cut to nearly 20 years later, he's called upon to defend Eternia from the evil of Skeletor, played by Jared Leto because sure, why not. Per the official synopsis, "But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe!"

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 on 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. Presumably hilarious hijinks follow.

Starring: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Jack Reynor, and Havana Rose Liu

How to watch: Power Ballad opens in theaters on June 5.

Scary Movie 6

The Scream franchise is back in 2026, so why not the spoof franchise that launched to mock it? We have no idea what the plot of Scary Movie 6 will be. But it reteams Marlon Wayans with A Haunted House helmer Michael Tiddes, as well as Scary Movie stars Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Shawn Wayans, and Chris Elliott.

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 6 opens in theaters on 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.

Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo 

How to watch: Disclosure Day opens in theaters and IMAX on 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).

With Disney embracing AI in all kinds of controversial ways, including bringing their characters to Sora, what will this Pixar (which is owned by Disney) movie have to say about the encroachment of tech in toys? 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? We'll have to wait and see.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Blake Clark, John Ratzenberger, Ernie Hudson, Tony Hale, Anna Faris, Conan O'Brien, Greta Lee, and Melissa Villaseñor

How to watch: Pixar's Toy Story 5 opens in theaters on June 19.

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 the eponymous superheroine, who is getting cosmically smashed as she parties on planets with a red sun. But then, she crosses paths with an alien girl named Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), who's on a quest of vengeance. How does this lead to former Aquaman Jason Momoa playing the bounty hunter Lobo? We don't know yet. But we're pumped to find out.

Starring: Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa

How to watch: Supergirl opens in theaters on June 26.

July 2026 movie releasesMoana

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. And now comes the inevitable live-action remake, as Moana follows in the steps of so many Disney classics before it.

Newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia stars as Moana. Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui. 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.

Starring: Catherine Laga'aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen

How to watch: Moana opens in theaters on July 10.

The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan adapts Homer's The Odyssey, which follows Trojan War hero Odysseus on his long journey home to wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway). Matt Damon stars as the warrior who, along the way, encounters the monster cyclops Polyphemus, the seductive and savage sirens, and Circe, a witchy goddess played by Charlize Theron.

Made for IMAX, this adaptation is sure to be epic.

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 on July 17.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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.

Taking a look at the cast, you can get a sense of where this MCU offering may go. But we've been thrown for a loop before. (Yeah, we're still spinning from the prom night reveal.)

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 on July 31.

August 2026 movie releasesCoyote 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. But 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.

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 on Aug. 28.

September 2026 movie releasesClayface

James Gunn's relaunch of the DC Universe is giving an undersung Batman villain — who happens to be a shapeshifter made of clay — his chance in the spotlight. In HBO Max's animated series Harley Quinn, Clayface is a fame-obsessed actor who can't turn down the chance to polish his craft by shapeshifting into a shallow co-ed or a sassy divorcee. But the behind-the-scene team here suggests Clayface is going another way.

Horror master Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, The Fall of the House of Usher) and Hossein Amini (Obi-Wan Kenobi) have screenplay credits, while James Watkins (Speak No Evil, The Woman in Black) is directing. So, we suspect this spin on Clayface will veer into horror.

Starring: Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, and Max Minghella

How to watch: Clayface opens in theaters on Sept. 11.

Sense and Sensibility

2025 marked the 30th anniversary of Ang Lee's Oscar–winning adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. So, it's about time the Dashwood sisters came to cinemas again!

Georgia Oakley directs this adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, which follows the misadventures of sisters Elinor and Marianne as they cope with money troubles and romance.

Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Frank Dillane, Herbert Nordrum, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, George MacKay, and Fiona Shaw

How to watch: Sense and Sensibility opens in theaters on Sept. 11.

Practical Magic 2

Witchy sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) are back, and ready to take on the curse that dooms their family to heartbreak. Joining these leading ladies in their magical reunion are Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest, reprising their roles as the awesome aunts. Plus, Lee Pace is involved. So, we're sold.

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Xolo Maridueña, Maisie Williams, Lee Pace, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest

How to watch: Practical Magic 2 opens in theaters on Sept. 18.

October 2026 movie releasesDigger

Mexican director Alejandro G. Iñárritu has gifted cinema with bold, winding dramas like The Revenant, Birdman, and Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths. Now, he's teaming with action star Tom Cruise... for a comedy?

Look, it's not that Cruise can't do comedy. And even in the silhouette of him in the teaser above, he's giving Tropic Thunder-levels of makeover. But this project just gets more mysterious the more we learn about it. Cruise stars as a man named Digger Rockwell. As per the official synopsis, "The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity's savior before the disaster he's unleashed destroys everything."

We're befuddled, but intrigued.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, Sophie Wilde, Emma D'Arcy, Robert John Burke, Burn Gorman, Michael Stuhlbarg, and John Goodman

How to watch: Digger opens in theaters on Oct. 2.

Verity

Following It Ends With Us and Regretting You, Verity is the third of novelist Colleen Hoover's books to be adapted into a star-studded movie. But this one is easily poised to be the biggest yet.

Based on her best-selling novel of the same name, Verity stars Dakota Johnson as ghostwriter Lowen Ashleigh, who's been hired to complete an unfinished novel by famous author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway), who's been catatonic following a car collision. To complete the book, Lowen moves into the Crawford home, getting to know Verity's husband Jeremy (Josh Hartnett). But there's something strange going on in this house. And we're not talking The Housewife strange...

Starring: Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett

How to watch: Verity opens in theaters on Oct. 2.

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender

Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender will have Netflix's second season of their live-action remake series coming in 2026 as well as this feature-length animated adventure. Director Lauren Montgomery has cred in this franchise, having worked as a storyboard artist on the Last Airbender cartoon series and its sequel The Legend of Korra.

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender will be set between the shows, meaning Aang and the gang are all grown up — and facing down a new, world-threatening challenge.

Starring: Eric Nam, Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten, Román Zaragoza, Steven Yeun, Dave Bautista, Taika Waititi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Freida Pinto, and Ke Huy Quan

How to watch: The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender opens in theaters on Oct. 9.

The Social Reckoning

In 2010, Aaron Sorkin translated the birth of Facebook into the Academy Award–winning screenplay for David Fincher's The Social Network. Now Sorkin's back as writer and director for The Social Reckoning.

This companion piece to the first film looks to explore the 2021 Facebook leak, which revealed the social media platform's harmful effects on society. Academy Award winner Mikey Madison stars as whistleblower Frances Haugen, while Succession's Jeremy Strong plays Mark Zuckerberg.

Starring: Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White, Mikey Madison, Bill Burr, Wunmi Mosaku, Billy Magnussen, Betty Gilpin, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Anna Lambe, Sierra Capri, Portia Doubleday, and Tehmina Sunny

How to watch: The Social Reckoning opens in theaters on Oct. 9.

Street Fighter

Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter movies in the same year? Now that's a head-to-head we can get behind.

Based on the popular Capcom video game, Street Fighter follows estranged street fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) as they are reluctantly reunited when Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament. But come on. Who cares about the plot when you've got roundhouse kicks like those being launched in the trailer above?

This adaptation looks bonkers, and we are geeking out.

Starring: Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Roman Reigns, David Dastmalchian, Cody Rhodes, Andrew Schulz, Eric André, Vidyut Jammwal, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, and Jason Momoa

How to watch: Street Fighter opens in theaters on Oct. 16.

Whalefall

OK. So of all the film movie plotlines I've researched in writing this list, this is my favorite for the sheer WTF of it all.

Based on the novel by Daniel Kraus, Whalefall centers on a scuba diver (Austin Abrams) who is seeking his father's remains in the ocean when he is swallowed by a sperm whale, giving him only an hour to escape or die. See what I mean? If you want to add Kraus' novel to your library queue, join the club.

Starring: Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin, Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy, and Emily Rudd

How to watch: Whalefall opens in theaters on Oct. 16.

Remain

M. Night Shyamalan, a writer and director renowned (or arguably infamous) for his big twists, teams with romance novelist Nicholas Sparks for Remain, a novel and movie adaption they collaborated on together.

The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as New York architect Tate Donovan, who travels to Cape Cod to design a vacation home for his best friend. While grappling with grief over the death of his sister, Tate meets a young woman named Wren (Phoebe Dynevor) who turns his world upside down. What's that mean? Your guess is as good as ours.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Phoebe Dynevor, Ashley Walters, and Julie Hagerty

How to watch: Remain opens in theaters on Oct. 23.

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom

Aardman Animation is back with another romp starring Shaun the Sheep! And this one is perfect for Halloween. (It's never to early to be stoked for spooky season.)

It's Halloween eve in Mossy Bottom Farm when a bumbler farmer tramples the pumpkin patch. Naturally, Shaun the Sheep tries to save the day with a unique science experiment. Then, a strange beast rises from the woods!

How to watch: Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom opens in theaters on Oct. 31.

November 2026 movie releasesThe Cat in the Hat

Dr. Seuss has gifted the world with terrific books, kooky characters, and an aesthetic of wonder and whimsy. That world is being brought to new life with Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat. Just check out the trailer above to get a taste of the joy in store.

Bill Hader lends his voice to the mischievous Cat in the Hat, who's notorious for missions gone sideways. But can he turn things around by going on his wackiest adventure yet? At the very least, he'll show us a thing or two.

Starring: Bill Hader, Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, Paula Pell, Tiago Martinez, Giancarlo Esposito, America Ferrera, Bowen Yang, and Tituss Burgess

How to watch: The Cat in the Hat opens in theaters on Nov. 6.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Ever wonder what life was like for Haymitch before he was the grizzled mentor to Katniss? Well, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping gives us that harrowing backstory, taking fans back 24 years to Haymitch's youth, when he was a tribute in the 50th Hunger Games (aka the Second Quarter Quell).

Playing as a sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and a prequel to The Hunger Games (2008), The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping adapts the 2025 novel from Suzanne Collins.* A star-studded cast dives into characters new and previously established, vicious and fabulous. Let the games begin.

Starring: Joseph Zada, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, Ben Wang, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

How to watch: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in theaters on Nov. 20.

Hexed

Disney Animation's big fall movie will be Hexed. Directed by Jason Hand and Josie Trinidad, this animated adventure follows "an awkward teenage boy and his Type-A mom, who discover that what makes him unusual might just be magical powers that will turn their lives and a secret world of magic upside down."

How to watch: Hexed opens in theaters on Nov. 25.

Narnia

After the massive success of Barbie, writer/director Greta Gerwig is taking on an ambitious adaptation as her follow-up. Based on the C.S. Lewis books The Chronicles of Narnia, this fantasy film will plunge audiences into the magical world of talking animals and exciting adventures, focusing on Lewis's sixth novel, The Magician's Nephew.

Netflix has revealed little else about the film adaptation, beyond the cast, which includes David McKenna as Digory Kirke, Beatrice Campbell as Polly Plummer, Daniel Craig as Uncle Andrew, and Emma Mackey as Queen Jadis.

Starring: David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell, Daniel Craig, Carey Mulligan, and Denise Gough

How to watch: Narnia opens in theaters on Nov. 26.

December 2026 movie releasesJumanji 3

Jake Kasdan's directed Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jumanji: the Next Level, and now the upcoming sequel, Jumanji 3. No details on the plot have been confirmed. But with the return of Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Danny DeVito, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, and Kevin Hart, fans of this franchise can expect a return to the video game world and the smoldering and roundhouse-kicking avatars we've come to love.

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Danny DeVito, Burn Gorman, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, and Kevin Hart

How to watch: Jumanji 3 opens in theaters on Dec. 11.

Avengers: Doomsday

What do we know about Avengers: Doomsday? Directing duo Joe and Anthony Russo, who previously directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, are back to bring together what looks to be their biggest cast yet.

The announced ensemble promises heroes from across the MCU, including the Fantastic Four and X-Men. Robert Downey Jr. also returns, not as Tony Stark but as Fantastic Four foe Doctor Doom. And — as the teaser above reveals — Chris Evans is back as Captain America.

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Kelsey Grammer, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, and Robert Downey Jr.

How to watch: Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters and IMAX on Dec. 18.

Dune: Part Three

Director Denis Villeneuve will return audiences to the the world of Frank Herbert's sprawling sci-fi book series with Dune: Part Three.

Timothée Chalamet reprises his role as Paul Atreides, also known as Muad'dib. Having become the Padishah Emperor, he's got more power than ever before. But that's not a good thing. While a galaxy-wide holy war is being perpetrated in his name, his visions of the future have him feeling trapped by fate. Meanwhile, the return of an old friend and the rise of his sister bring new complications.

With fans of this franchise swooning over Villeneuve's ambitious adaptation, the daring filmmaker is sure to bring the biggest spectacle yet to the film's next chapter.

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Robert Pattinson

How to watch: Dune: Part Three opens in theaters and IMAX on Dec. 18.

Werwulf

American writer/director Robert Eggers has forged his reputation on period-piece horror with a gothic flare, like The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman, and Nosferatu. So, what does this daring filmmaker offer us next? How about a werewolf drama with dialogue in Middle English?

Set in 13th-century England, Werwulf will unfurl a tale of a village tormented by a stalking beast. Things are sure to get hairy.

Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson

How to watch: Werwulf opens in theaters on Dec. 25.

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

Microsoft dropping support for Windows 10 has left a lot of perfectly good hardware in limbo just because it doesn't meet the requirements for Windows 11. Naturally, people are reluctant to let Microsoft turn their functional computers into e-waste, so they're switching over to Linux. One Linux distribution in particular has seen a surprising uptick in users, ZorinOS. Just a month after its latest version released, it was downloaded over a million times. According to ZorinOS developers, almost 800,000 of those downloads came from Windows users. Windows 10 users are clearly flocking to this distro, so I installed it to see what the appeal is. Turns out, it's the perfect replacement.

It's the first Moon of the new year, and we're just a couple of days away from the Full Moon. It's nice and bright tonight, so if you have a clear sky, enjoy the show.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, Jan. 1, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to The Sky Live, 94% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3. The last full moon was on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, it takes roughly 29.5 days for the Moon to complete a full cycle, known as the lunar cycle. During this period, the Moon moves through a series of phases as it orbits the Earth. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of sunlight illuminating its surface changes over time. This is why the Moon appears fully lit, partially illuminated, or not visible at all at different stages of the cycle. The lunar cycle is divided into eight main 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.

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.

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

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A siren.

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ALARM

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Bird-related.

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AVIAN

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Our body has many of them.

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ORGAN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A transmitter.

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RADIO

Final Hurdle hint

An excerpt.

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BLURB

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