Technology

Linux is more user-friendly than ever, but there are still a large number of irreplaceable Windows apps that don't run on Linux at all. With one open-source program, I solved that problem for 90% of the Windows app I need on a regular basis. This is how.

If you're just beginning Bash scripting, you may often find yourself repeating the same commands again and again in your scripts, but a better way exists. I will explain what "DRY" means and how you should use functions to do it.

Did you buy a new Windows 11 PC or do a fresh installation of the OS? Do you want your PC to be powerful and feature-complete from day one? Well, here are five niche apps that you should install to make Windows do what it can't out of the box.

You don't actually need to spin up a virtual machine to run Linux apps on modern versions of Windows. Microsoft has built tools into Windows 10 and Windows 11 to run Linux apps natively. It's called Windows Subsystem for Linux or WSL, which allows you to run an entire Linux box that can interact with your Windows file system. Originally, you could only run the Linux command-line terminal with WSL, but the newer versions of WSL allow you to run Linux apps with a full graphical interface.

A NAS is an invaluable part of a robust backup solution, and more reliable than just plugging in a flash drive to make backups every once in a while. However, a NAS is also a miniature computer that can run additional services on your network. These are 6 that I always run on mine.

After I get a new phone, transfer the data from the previous device, and finish setting it up, I immediately pull up the app drawer and start hunting for bloatware.

As part of my job, I read about Linux distributions, test them out, and discuss them. Through all of that, I've noticed a few Linux distributions hyped and promoted that I think newbies in the Linux world (or people in general) should steer clear of.

With gas prices still unpredictable, fuel costs have become one of the biggest factors in choosing a new car. Few vehicles are as closely associated with efficiency as the Prius, but many shoppers still wonder whether its fuel-sipping reputation translates into meaningful savings in the real world. Beyond the EPA numbers, the question is simple: how much money does it actually save you compared to a conventional gas-powered car over time?

Over the years, I've flipped and flopped between various Excel keyboard shortcuts, but one has been my mainstay since I was a college kid: Ctrl+1. This memorable keystroke is my backdoor to tackling 80% of the day-to-day and advanced spreadsheet tasks.

My homelab is probably my favorite hobby to spend time on, but a year ago, I made a mistake in my media server setup. Recently, I fixed the problem by putting a tiny computer to use.

The Windows taskbar has been largely unchanged sinc he days of Windows 95, and features a disappointing number of customization options. Worse yet, since Windows 11 was introduced, you don't even get many useful right-click options on the taskbar anymore.

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, a buzzy conspiracy theory sci-fi, the steamiest show of the season, or a jaw-dropping animated epic, we're here for you.

13. Five Nights at Freddy's 2

The killer animatronics of your nightmares return in Five Nights at Freddy's 2, based on Scott Cawthon's hit horror game franchise. This time around, Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy aren't the only animatronics in play. There's also their "toy" versions to contend with, along with Marionette, Mangle, and Balloon Boy. That's certainly no fun for security guard Mike (Josh Hutcherson), but it's plenty of fun for game fans.

Like the first film, Five Nights at Freddy's 2 was a box office smash, but critics didn't take too kindly to it, with Mashable's Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko writing in her review that, "like the first one, this sequel has just a deadly amount of talking, with too little scares, jokes, or surprises." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Wayne Knight, Mckenna Grace, and Teo Briones

How to watch: Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is now available on digital.

12. The Carpenter's Son

Ever wonder what Jesus got up to between his birth in a manger and being the leader of apostles? Or maybe you've been curious what it was like for Joseph to be the mortal father to the son of God? Well, writer/director Lotfy Nathan gets into both of these stories with The Carpenter's Son.

Following Joseph, Mary, and Jesus as they try to live a modest and good life while ducking the temptations of Satan, The Carpenter's Son is a gnarly religious horror offering. It not only explores a surreal look into teen Jesus's early understandings of his identity, power, and passion, but also co-stars Nicolas Cage as an embattled Joseph. It's a wild one, so maybe don't gather the whole family for a watch. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Noah Jupe, Souheila Yacoub, Isla Johnston, and FKA twigs

How to watch: The Carpenter's Son is now available on digital.

11. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

The Bear star Jeremy Allen White unleashes his inner Bruce Springsteen in this musical biopic from writer/director Scott Cooper. Instead of focusing on the Boss' career as a whole, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere zeroes in on the making of Springsteen's sixth studio album, Nebraska, which he recorded sparsely on a four-track in his bedroom. The film parallels the production with Springsteen's struggles with depression, crafting a solemn portrait of the musician.

While White turns in an admirable performance as Springsteen, the rest of the film pales in comparison, hitting standard biopic beats like troubled childhoods and the flashes of genius that lead to a great song. As I wrote in my review, "While the film's music remains classic as ever, and while White does an admirable job channeling Springsteen, Deliver Me From Nowhere fails to deliver anything revelatory about the actual emotions behind the music." — B.E.

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Graham, Odessa Young, Gaby Hoffmann, Marc Maron, and David Krumholtz

How to watch: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is now on digital.

10. The Copenhagen Test

Simu Liu jumps into a world of espionage and secrets in Peacock's new thriller The Copenhagen Test. He plays Alexander, an intelligence analyst for the U.S. government who learns that unknown forces have hacked his eyes and ears, giving them access to everything Alexander witnesses. To discover the truth behind his hackers' motives, as well as their identities, he'll have to keep up a nonstop performance in order to fool them. But who can he truly trust? And does the shadowy agency he works for truly have his best interests at heart? Find out in this slick spy series with a light sci-fi twist. — B.E.

Starring: Simu Liu, Melissa Barrera, Sinclair Daniel, Brian d'Arcy James, Mark O'Brien, and Kathleen Chalfant

How to watch: The Copenhagen Test premieres Dec. 27 on Peacock.

9. Die My Love

Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson unlock their most unbridled animal instincts in Die My Love, a formidable, hypnotic, powerful drama from We Need to Talk About Kevin director Lynne Ramsay. The pair are Grace (Lawrence) and Jackson (Pattinson), a loved-up couple who can't keep their hands off each other. They move into Jackson's rural family home, surrounded by forest and a long walk to his mother Pam's (Sissy Spacek) house. With the arrival of their child, Jackson's work schedule means Grace is often home alone, an isolation which she initially celebrates but eventually resents — even hates. And here, Lawrence follows Grace to the brink.

"Grace's journey will make you squirm, perhaps cackle. But in her messy quest for something beyond being boxed in, she offers a radical freedom to her audience," Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko writes in her review. "In the discomfort of watching her bicker, battle, and act out, an excitement of possibility burns. Where could this lead, not just for her — but for us? Will you walk away from Die My Love rattled? Feeling recognized? Or dared to be reborn?" — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Nick Nolte, and Sissy Spacek

How to watch: Die My Love debuts on MUBI Dec. 23.

8. Bugonia

Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone team up once again for Bugonia, a conspiracy caper that remakes Jang Joon-hwan's Save the Green Planet! with a script by The Menu's Will Tracy. Stone and Lanthimos' Kinds of Kindness collaborator Jesse Plemons plays Teddy, a conspiracy theorist who believes an alien race lives among us, one of which is big pharma CEO Michelle Fuller (Stone). So, Teddy and his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) kidnap her for a tête-à-tête about who she is, what the plans are, and whether the human race is worth saving. 

Featured Video For You Emma Stone reveals how 'Good Luck, Babe' wound up in 'Bugonia'

Critics have been divided on Bugonia, especially around its bleak marathon run of topics. Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko writes in her review, "Bugonia, despite having a sensational cast and clear vision for its world, lacks profundity in its smorgasbord of hot topics. Environmentalism, oligarchy, the manosphere, healthcare for profit — all of these make for a dizzying brew from which Teddy and Michelle arise on opposing sides."* — S.C.

Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Alicia Silverstone, Stavros Halkias

How to watch: Bugonia is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV and arrives on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on Dec. 23.

7. Ne Zha II

The highest-grossing film of 2025 might be one you missed in theaters. Now, you can catch up with this jaw-dropping animated epic in the comfort of your own home. But trust us, you're going to want to watch Ne Zha first. Based on Chinese mythology, both films have a lot of narrative ground to cover. But the animated awesomeness of the sequel makes the first film worth the time investment.

SEE ALSO: 'Ne Zha II' review: A24's animated fantasy epic is a must-see, but a warning...

Ne Zha II follows the continued misadventures of the eponymous anti-hero, a boy born with the powers of a demon, who befriends a dragon/boy named Ao Bing, born with the powers of a heavenly spirit. In the first film, they battle before becoming unexpected friends. In the second, they have to share Ne Zha's body to complete a battle-centric quest to restore Ao Bing's physical form. Meanwhile, the dragons are conspiring to overthrow their king, while a horrid threat faces Ne Zha's homeland. All these threads make for a movie that includes monster battles, slapstick, tragedy, and gross-out gags. It can be dizzying, but also, incredible. — K.P.

Starring: Crystal Lee, Griffin Puatu, Aleks Le, Michelle Yeoh, and Vincent Rodriguez III

How to watch: Ne Zha is now streaming on Peacock, Netflix, Prime Video, and HBO Max, and Ne Zha II is now streaming on HBO Max.

6. 100 Nights of Hero

Julia Jackman's 100 Nights of Hero was one of the best films we watched out of the BFI London Film Festival this year, and now it's coming to streaming. Based on Isabel Greenberg's graphic novel, this visually magnificent, queer, feminist fairy tale is a triumph of production design with a hype-worthy appearance by Charli XCX. It follows Cherry (Longlegs' Maika Monroe), a noblewoman in a medieval patriarchy whose arranged marriage to Jerome (Limbo's Amir El-Masry) is yet to be consummated — and she's on a literal deadline. Jerome leaves on business, but not before a bet with roguish lord Manfred (The Idea of You's Nicholas Galitzine) that his friend cannot seduce his wife in his absence. Luckily, Cherry has a fierce protector in her maid, Hero (Nosferatu's Emma Corrin).

"At its whimsical heart, 100 Nights of Hero is a story of women's courage and resilience, of pursuing knowledge and passion beyond the perilously high fences of patriarchy," I wrote in my review. "It's a dazzling world of suppressed queer identity and desire, of male bravado and paranoia, and of the power of storytelling itself. Jackman has crafted us a topical treat, finely dressed in splendour and social commentary. It's nothing short of heroic." — S.C.

Starring: Emma Corrin, Maika Monroe, Amir El-Masry, Nicholas Galitzine, Charli XCX, Richard E. Grant, Felicity Jones, and Varada Sethu

How to watch: 100 Nights of Hero is available to rent or purchase on Prime Video starting Dec. 23.

5. The Life of Chuck

Catch one of the best — and most underrated — films of the year when Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck hits Hulu this week. Based on the novella of the same name by Stephen King, the film introduces viewers to Chuck Krantz (Tom Hiddleston), an accountant who's got some serious dance moves. To say more about the plot would be to spoil much of The Life of Chuck's impact, so try to go in as blind as possible. (But definitely go in!)

From Doctor Sleep to Gerald's Game, Flanagan has proven time and again that he can adapt the hell out of a Stephen King novel. That's no different with The Life of Chuck, which Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko called "glorious" in her review, writing, "It's incredible. This is a movie that contains so much that it just shouldn't work. It's easy to imagine an iteration that fell too hard into the darkness, or depended too intensely on treacly sentimentality, or relied on its dashing star power to gloss over some underwritten turns. But The Life of Chuck is masterfully told." — B.E.

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tom Hiddleston, Annalise Basso, Benjamin Pajak, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Matthew Lillard, Carl Lumbly, Samantha Sloyan, Harvey Guillén, Jacob Tremblay, Kate Siegel, and Mark Hamill

How to watch: The Life of Chuck premieres Dec. 26 on Hulu.

4. Love Lies Bleeding

Rose Glass, the writer/director who awed critics in 2020 with her stunning religious horror film Saint Maud, has blessed us with a follow-up that is as scorchingly sexy as it is deeply unsettling.

SEE ALSO: 'Love Lies Bleeding' Interview: Kristen Stewart on the female gaze vs. the male gaze.

Set against a merciless desert town, Love Lies Bleeding stars Kristen Stewart as a surly loner who manages a rundown gym. Things begin to look up when a perfectly permed and righteously ripped bodybuilder (Katy O'Brian) rolls into her squalid realm. Their attraction is instant, their loyalty is potentially lethal. So when they run afoul of a local kingpin (Ed Harris, wearing a mangy skullet), this noir thriller veers into a place of jaw-dropping violence and grievous vengeance, with a climax that is as outrageous as it is exhilarating. As I wrote in our review, "There are movies that grab you by the throat. There are movies that punch you in the gut. Love Lies Bleeding is both, and I fucking love it."* — K.P.

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Dave Franco, and Ed Harris

How to watch: Love Lies Bleeding is now on MUBI.

3. Heated Rivalry, Season 1 finale

It seems like just yesterday that Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) were suggestively swapping a water bottle in Heated Rivalry's premiere episode. Now, the internet fan-favorite series wraps up its first season after a six-episode run full of hockey, angst, and tons of no-holds-barred sex scenes. Consider this your sign to get caught up on all things Hollanov before the finale blows up social media. — B.E.

Starring: Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, François Arnaud, Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Sophie Nélisse, and Callan Potter

How to watch: Heated Rivalry is now streaming on HBO Max, with the finale airing Friday, Dec. 26.

2. Pluribus, Season 1 finale

One of the best shows of 2025, Vince Gilligan's Pluribus has kept viewers hooked with its tale of Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), the most miserable woman Earth, and the alien virus hive mind that's taken over the world. By the end of Pluribus' penultimate episode, Carol had begun a romantic relationship with Zosia (Karolina Wydra), one of the Others. But the imminent arrival of fellow survivor Manousos (Carlos-Manuel Vesga) in Albuquerque could upend the fragile balance Carol has reached.

So what can fans expect from the finale? Will Carol's meeting with Manousos renew her desire to save the world? Will we learn how the Others can be defeated? Tune in to find out — and maybe pour yourself a tall glass of milk while you're at it. — B.E.

Starring: Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, and Carlos-Manuel Vesga

How to watch: The Pluribus Season 1 finale is now streaming on Apple TV.

Best of Streaming this week: Stranger Things, Season 5: Volume 2

The Stranger Things farewell tour continues with the release of Season 5, Volume 2, which will hopefully answer some of our most pressing questions from Volume 1. What's next now that Will (Noah Schnapp) has powers? What does Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) have planned for the kidnapped children of Hawkins? Will Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly (Nell Fisher) escape from Vecna's mindscape? And how will Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) lost sister Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) figure into things?

Season 5 got off to an overstuffed but undeniably exciting start, so look forward to more jaw-dropping Upside Down action as the Duffer Brothers keep upping the ante. Plus, more episodes means more time with Stranger Things' beloved characters, who remain the show's highlight through and through. As I wrote in my Volume 1 review, Stranger Things' "flashy battles and lore bombshells can get the blood pumping, but it's the characters who have kept viewers coming back for many, many years. Knowing we'll be saying goodbye to them only makes these episodes sweeter, exhaustion be damned." — B.E.

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 2 premieres Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix. The series finale premieres Dec. 31, also at 8 p.m. ET.

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

Sure, you might have your eyes on the class-leading Sony WH-1000xM6 headphones — unveiled at the start of summer — but those things will cost you $450. Don't bother dishing out that much money when you can get headphones for a fraction of the price (with much of the same functionality) or, better yet, noise-cancelling headphones that carry longer battery life and a stronger sonic punch than the AirPods Max. Speaking of which, did you know that users were previously reporting that their Apple headphones suffered "condensation death" after being exposed to moisture buildup? Fortunately, our wireless headphones suggestions are all models you can wear for lengthy stretches — without stressing about their impending expiration date.

What are the best budget headphones?

If you're still an Apple loyalist when it comes to headphones, stick with us for a sec. You'll soon discover that these top picks from popular budget audio brands like 1More, Anker, and JBL are giving the market’s best a run for their money. We even have a bargain entry from Sony that’s well worth a look.

SEE ALSO: The best open earbuds that stay put, sound great, and keep you aware of the world around you

Don't believe it? You'll want to see for yourself by reading our reviews of the best headphones under $100 below.

What differentiates budget vs. higher-end headphones?

In case we weren't clear enough before, cheaper does not mean worse by any means (and vice versa) when it comes to headphones. Not always, at least.

Yet, the general trend still stands that the "higher-end" a pair of headphones is, the more likely you are to get better sound quality (aka undistorted bass), more playtime, and state-of-the-art features like adaptive ANC.

Budget headphones are known to leak sound more often than their pricier alternatives, and they'll likely have fewer extras, like spatial audio for immersive 3D sound and TalkThru technology (which amplifies your convo buddy's voice while reducing music volume instantly) featured in some of JBL’s flagship headphones.

Nonetheless, we made it our mission to find headphones — both on-ear and over-ear models — that aren't "higher-end" in price and borrow a lot of standout functionality from their more expensive counterparts.

If we've learned anything, it's that 2025 has been about finding joy in the smallest things.

Bag charms are back. Plush pendants are everywhere. Our emotional support accessories are no longer subtle. Enter SKULLPANDA x Sanrio, POP MART's latest collaboration, which feels perfectly tuned to the moment.

SEE ALSO: The cult and community of Labubu

Dropping Dec. 29 online and in stores, the collection features two plush pendants — SKULLPANDA x My Melody and SKULLPANDA x Kuromi — each designed to clip onto bags, keys, or belt loops, instantly turning everyday outfits into something personal and Hello Kitty-approved. They’re cute, collectible, and very main-character coded. And at $59.99 each, they're priced squarely in "treat yourself" territory.

The Kuromi pendant is made for the sweet-but-unhinged crowd. With its black-and-pink palette, mischievous energy, and SKULLPANDA’s cool, sculptural expression, it captures the year’s obsession with contrast: soft textures, sharp attitude.

Credit: Courtesy of POP MART

My Melody, meanwhile, leans fully into softness. Blush tones, delicate embroidery, and a calm, gentle expression make this charm feel like a portable comfort object — the kind you carry simply because it makes the day feel a little better.

Credit: Courtesy of POP MART

At the center of it all is SKULLPANDA itself, POP MART's second-best–performing IP globally and a breakout favorite in the U.S. Its eerie-soft aesthetic and emotional depth have made it a go-to for collectors who want their cute things to come with meaning — and a hint of otherworldliness.

More than just a collaboration, SKULLPANDA x Sanrio taps into a larger 2025 shift: accessories are no longer just accessories. They’re mood boards in plush form. And honestly? We're obsessed.

TL;DR: Read or listen to 15-minute summaries of the world’s best nonfiction books with this lifetime subscription to Headway Premium, now only $39.99 (reg. $299.95) with code SUMMARY20, the best price on the web, until Jan. 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Headway Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$299.95 Save $259.96   Get Deal

Is personal growth on your 2026 New Year’s resolution list? If you have every intention of reading more books, but don’t have a ton of time, let Headway Premium be your workaround.

This service serves up 15-minute summaries of nonfiction books that fit into even the busiest schedules, and right now, a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium can be yours for $39.99 (reg. $299.95) with code SUMMARY20 until Jan. 31.

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If you’ve got 15 minutes, Headway Premium can get you up to speed on the concepts of a book. Choose between reading and listening to professionally narrated audio summaries of best-selling nonfiction books, depending on your mood, and start learning new concepts daily on topics ranging from personal development and business strategies to health and wellness.

Over 15 million people are already using Headway to learn key ideas and insights from books in their spare time. There are more than 2,000 summaries already on the app, and new ones are added every month.

You can set your own self-growth plan, and a gamified learning process makes things more fun. Test yourself with quizzes and trivia, and earn streaks and track your progress to keep your learning going. You can also highlight and save the best insights you learn from summaries and turn them into interactive flashcards to keep them top of mind.

While this may not replace reading the entire book cover to cover, it’s a great way to dive into new topics and see what you’d like to explore further. You can also download summaries for offline access so you can keep learning even when you’re on the go.

Get this lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for just $39.99 (reg. $299.95) with code SUMMARY20, the best price online, now through Jan. 31.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

We're officially overloaded with streaming services by 2025, with each costing a pretty penny of your pay packet to keep. Whether you decide to shell out for a service typically comes down to the shows and movies on offer, whether you're looking for buzzy Netflix series or Sunday night HBO heavyweights. But there's an underrated competitor in the mix, especially for TV shows.

Apple TV+, Apple's own streaming service, has become better and better over the years, hitting it out of the park with sci-fi smashes like Severance, Silo, and Pluribus, along with comedy wins like Shrinking, Bad Sisters, and Ted Lasso — plus a few curveballs mixed in here and there.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025 (so far), and where to stream them

One important thing to know? Apple TV is not the same thing as an Apple TV. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder explains it, "Apple TV is both the name for the set-top-box hardware device that you buy and connect to your TV, as well as the app that's available on Apple TV (the set-top-box), as well as Macs, iPhones, and other TV operating systems. And then there's Apple TV, which is Apple's streaming service and a competitor to Netflix, HBO Max, and others."

Got it? So, what are the best TV shows on Apple TV? Here are our picks of the streaming service's original series, ranked.

41. The Shrink Next Door Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell in “The Shrink Next Door." Credit: Apple TV

Inspired by true events, The Shrink Next Door sends Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell into a complicated web of manipulation, power plays, and mic-drop moments. The series hinges on unethical psychiatrist Dr. Ike Herschkopf (Paul Rudd) and his patient, Marty Markowitz (Will Ferrell), who have a dysfunctional relationship that becomes more and more imbalanced and twisted as Ike weasels his way into Marty's life. Kathryn Hahn stars as Marty’s younger sister Phyllis, and Casey Wilson plays Bonnie, Ike's wife. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Kathryn Hahn, Casey Wilson, Cornell Womack, Sarayu Blue, Robin Bartlett, and Gable Swanlund

How to watch: The Shrink Next Door is now streaming on Apple TV.

40. Time Bandits Tadhg Murphy, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, Lisa Kudrow, Kal-El Tuck, Kiera Thompson and Rune Temte in "Time Bandits." Credit: Apple TV

Time Bandits, Terry Gilliam's classic '80s fantasy adventure, got the TV adaptation treatment by Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, and Iain Morris. And despite the show being sadly cancelled after one season, it's still worth your while to watch.

Over 10 episodes, Time Bandits sees a group of thieves in a fantasy world who are suddenly joined by Kevin (Kal-El Tuck), an 11-year-old history aficionado. Kevin's parents find themselves in peril across time and space, so his knowledge of historical events — and his new group of friends — might be their only hope. Across the Stone Age, Ice Age, many other Ages, across major moments in the history books, Kevin and the gang time-travel every episode, meeting a few famous historic faces. — S.C.

Starring: Kal-El Tuck, Lisa Kudrow, Tadhg Murphy, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, Rune Temte, Charlyne Yi, Rachel House, Kiera Thompson, James Dryden, Felicity Ward, Francesca Mills, and Imaan Hadchiti.

How to watch: Time Bandits is now streaming on Apple TV.

39. Defending Jacob Chris Evans, Jaeden Martell, and Michelle Dockery in “Defending Jacob." Credit: Apple TV

Given its grim subject matter, Mark Bomback's crime drama won't be for everyone. Defending Jacob follows Assistant DA Andy Barber (Chris Evans), whose life is thrown into turmoil after his son Jacob (a haunted Jaeden Martell) is charged with the murder of a classmate. The show immediately chucks us in at the deep end, with the question of Jacob's innocence hanging over the Barber family like a storm cloud that threatens to badly damage or even break them altogether. It's tense, well-written, and the acting — including a disturbingly memorable turn from Michelle Dockery as Jacob's struggling mother, Laurie — is excellent across the board.

Some have argued that the show doesn't do enough to justify its dark storyline, but I found it to be a horribly suspenseful exploration of how far familial bonds will stretch before they snap altogether. Can you ever fully know anyone? Can you trust your closest family members no matter what? Love them no matter what? These are the questions Defending Jacob asks, and, as the Barber family wrestle with each new piece of evidence that comes to light, the answers don't come easy. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: Defending Jacob is now streaming now on Apple TV.

38. Palm Royale Carol Burnett and Kristen Wiig in "Palm Royale" Credit: Apple TV

Kristen Wiig infiltrates the world's most exclusive country club in Emmy–nominated comedy Palm Royale. The year is 1969, and underdog Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons (Wiig) wants nothing more to be a part of high society in Palm Beach, Florida. That means crashing the lavish Palm Royale club, where she'll be met with snobbery and disdain at every turn. While Palm Royale is far from Apple TV+'s best comedy offering, it does boast an all-star cast of comedy greats over two seasons, including a fabulous Carol Burnett. And you just can't beat those costumes. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Laura Dern, Carol Burnett, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae, and Josh Lucas

How to watch: Palm Royale is now streaming on Apple TV.

37. Government Cheese Evan Ellison, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, David Oyelowo, and Simone Missick in "Government Cheese." Credit: Apple TV

Set in 1969, Aeysha Carr and Paul Hunter's series Government Cheese didn't get the buzz it deserved, with sharp writing and excellent performances. David Oyelowo (Selma, Silo) stars as Hampton Chambers, an engineer newly out of prison and adjusting to life back home with his family in Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley. It's not an easy landing by any means, with his wife Astoria (Simone Missick), pole vaulting brainiac son Einstein (Evan Ellison), and vexed teen son Harrison (Di’Allo Winston), having very differing reactions to Hampton's return. But despite his awkward reception, Hampton has spent his time planning a potentially (and literally) groundbreaking invention: the Bit Magician. But leaving his past behind is harder than it seems, with the series itself flashing back and forth between Hampton's present and previous experiences. — S.C.

Starring: David Oyelowo, Simone Missick, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Evan Ellison, Bokeem Woodbine, Jeremy Bobb, Louis Cancelmi, Julien Heron, Thomas Beaudoin, Kyle Mac, and Adam Beach

How to watch: Government Cheese is now streaming on Apple TV.

36. Sunny Rashida Jones in "Sunny." Credit: Apple TV

A robot and a grieving woman make for an unlikely crime-solving duo in soft sci-fi mystery Sunny. Rashida Jones stars as Suzie, an American expat living in Kyoto, whose husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and son Zen (Fares Belkheir) go missing in a plane crash. Following their disappearance, she receives Sunny, a companion robot Masa developed for her at work. Despite hating robots, Suzie decides to work with the ever-cheerful Sunny to uncover the truth about Masa's work and his and Zen's accident. The ensuing journey takes this odd couple pairing deep into a criminal underworld of gang showdowns and robot fighting rings. While occasionally bloated, Sunny's central duo and sci-fi world-building make it well worth the watch. — B.E.

Starring: Rashida Jones, Joanna Sotomura, annie the clumsy, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Jun Kunimura, Judy Ongg, and You

How to watch: Sunny is now streaming on Apple TV.

35. Shining Girls Elisabeth Moss in “Shining Girls." Credit: Apple TV

Imagine the ghoulish love child of Sliding Doors and Zodiac, and you'll get the gist of this mini-series adaptation of Lauren Beukes' 2013 crime novel. Created by Silka Luisa, Shining Girls centers on Kirby Mazrachi (Elisabeth Moss), an archivist whose reality has been shifting without warning ever since she was viciously attacked and left for dead in 1980s Chicago. One moment she's living with her mom, and the next she's married to a co-worker she barely knows. She doesn't understand why this is happening but is certain it connects to a stalking serial killer (Jamie Bell), who's been targeting fantastic women across decades.

Featuring graphic violence, time-travel twists, and harrowing revelations, Shining Girls can be a tough watch. But its finale episode makes it all worthwhile. Luisa smartly buttons up the mysteries of these murders, their un-aging perpetrator, and what it means to become disentangled on a molecular level. More than answers, however, this finale gives poetic justice to its villain and a hard-won empowerment to its harried heroine. Which, considering how Kirby's quest to be believed plays like the most extreme version of a domestic violence survivor's experiences coming forward, is darkly and deeply satisfying. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Phillipa Soo, Wagner Moura, Jamie Bell, Erika Alexander, Amy Brenneman, Chris Chalk, and Madeline Brewer

How to watch: Shining Girls is now streaming on Apple TV.

34. Masters of the Air Austin Butler in "Masters of the Air." Credit: Apple TV

If you loved Band of Brothers and The Pacific, you need to watch Masters of the Air. Based on Donald L. Miller's book, John Shiban and John Orloff's Emmy–winning World War II series follows the 100th Bomb Group (known as "The Bloody Hundredth" due to heavy losses), the U.S. Army Air Force bomber and fighter battalion deployed to England in 1943 as part of the Allied war effort against Germany. Austin Butler and Callum Turner lead the charge as the real Major Gale "Buck" Cleven and Major John "Bucky" Egan, and the series moves through the missions, downtime, tragedies, and sense of camaraderie within the unit. Yes, the series takes some creative liberties, but producers Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and Gary Goetzman threw 10 years and $250 million at the show — so when you're experiencing a live-or-die tactical manoeuvre, you're in the pilot's seat. — S.C.

Starring: Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Barry Keoghan, and Anthony Boyle

How to watch: Masters of the Air is now streaming on Apple TV.

33. Hijack Idris Elba in "Hijack." Credit: Apple TV

Set over seven real-time hours, Hijack is something you could finish on a flight but should absolutely not watch on one. With Jim Field Smith and Mo Ali directing, and Idris Elba in the lead, this Apple TV+ series is about a plane hijacked on its way to London. Elba plays Sam Nelson, a corporate negotiator who tries to bargain with flight KA29's villains all the way to the final humdinger of an episode. As Mashable's Belen Edwards writes in her review, "Hijack is the perfect show to watch if you want to get sucked into a mildly ridiculous, yet totally engrossing scenario. You'll squeal as our heroes brave danger, swoon at Elba's charisma, and even chuckle at some choice one-liners."* — S.C.

Starring: Idris Elba, Neil Maskell, Archie Panjabi, Max Beesley, Christine Adams, Jude Cudjoe, and Eve Myles

How to watch: Hijack is now streaming on Apple TV.

32. Central Park Meet the Tillermans. Credit: Apple TV

It's a show central in our hearts. Loren Bouchard, Josh Gad, and Nora Smith's sharply scripted animated musical comedy Central Park hinges on New York family the Tillermans: park manager Owen (Leslie Odom Jr.) and journalist Paige (Kathryn Hahn), their son Cole (Tituss Burgess), and daughter Molly (Kristen Bell in Season 1, Emmy Raver-Lampman in Season 2). They're the custodians of Manhattan's beloved green space, which comes under threat by bespectacled wealthy villain Bitsy Brandenham (Stanley Tucci), accompanied by her assistant Helen (Daveed Diggs). It's a plight all hilariously narrated by Gad as park busker Birdie — the show's absolutely brimming with songs.

"Whether it's throwaway jokes or spotlight solos, the cast both elevate and benefit from Central Park's tight, confident writing," writes Proma Khosla in her review for Mashable. "Central Park is a show that easily wears all hats. The storylines are simple, but it's [their] style and sensibility that make them so enjoyable. It's a show that can soothe you by being on in the background but offers nonstop punchlines and Easter eggs if you give it your full (deserved) attention." — S.C.

Starring: Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Tituss Burgess, Kristen Bell, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Stanley Tucci, Daveed Diggs, and Josh Gad

How to watch: Central Park is now streaming on Apple TV.

31. The Buccaneers Alisha Boe, Josie Totah, Kristine Frøseth, Aubri Ibrag, and Imogen Waterhouse in "The Buccaneers." Credit: Apple TV

If you're yearning for the next season of Bridgerton, The Buccaneers will satiate your Regency thirst. Based on Edith Wharton’s final novel and created by Katherine Jakeways, The Buccaneers is a 19th-century romantic drama with diabolical narrative twists and long-simmering romantic leads, as well as that requisite anachronistic modern soundtrack and the lavish design of our society ball dreams.

The story sees a group of young American ladies — Nan St. George (Kristine Frøseth), Jinny St. George (Imogen Waterhouse), Lizzy Elmsworth (Aubri Ibrag), Mabel Elmsworth (Josie Totah) — who are drawn to England after their friend Conchita Closson's (Alisha Boe) high-society wedding to an English lord. Arriving in London, the newcomers face deep social scorn while channelling their own. But there's also a rugged array of suitors taking a turn about the landscape, including a forlorn duke who enjoys standing on clifftops — and who must be in want of a wife. — S.C.

Starring: Alisha Boe, Josie Totah, Kristine Frøseth, Aubri Ibrag, and Imogen Waterhouse

How to watch: The Buccaneers is now streaming on Apple TV.

30. Mythic Quest Charlotte Nicdao, Rob McElhenney. and Danny Pudi in “Mythic Quest." Credit: Apple TV

Whether you're into gaming or not, you should check out Mythic Quest. From the crew behind It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia comes four seasons (and a spinoff show Side Quest) of ups and downs inside the video game industry, specifically within the offices of a game studio responsible for the show's titular MMORPG. The cast — including Rob McElhenney, Charlotte Nicdao, Jessie Ennis, Ashly Burch, Danny Pudi, and more — are superb, the commentary on gaming is bang on, and the show's standalone episode, "Dark Quiet Death," has to be one of the best of all time. — S.C.

Starring: Rob McElhenney, Charlotte Nicdao, Jessie Ennis, Ashly Burch, and Danny Pudi

How to watch: Mythic Quest is now streaming on Apple TV.

29. The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin Hugh Bonneville and Noel Fielding in "The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin." Credit: Apple TV

If you don't mind your history a little revisionist and plenty ridiculous, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is for you.

Based on the exploits of Essex brigand Dick Turpin (Noel Fielding in full Vince Noir mode), the series seizes on the fact that Turpin's life was wildly romanticised after his death at 33 (by hanging, for horse theft) — then amps it up to 11. Rolling about the woods with his Essex Gang of misfits, Turpin takes on a peril of the week in Monty Python meets Our Flag Means Death meets The Mighty Boosh–fashion. Throw in some cameos from Britain's biggest comedians, with standout appearances by Tamsin Greig, Greg Davies, and Sex Education's Connor Swindells, and you've got a surreal, satisfying, history-adjacent adventure on your hands.* — S.C.

Starring: Noel Fielding, Tamsin Greig, Greg Davies, Connor Swindells, Michael Fielding, Mark Heap, Ellie White, Duayne Boachie, Marc Wootton, Dolly Wells, Asim Chaudhry, Sindhu Vee, and Simon Farnaby

How to watch: The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is now streaming on Apple TV.

28. The Morning Show Nicole Beharie, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon in "The Morning Show." Credit: Apple TV

With Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell leading the first season, The Morning Show starts the day right — in the most unsettling way. Created by Jay Carson and inspired by Brian Stelter's 2013 book, the series is set in the world of morning news broadcasting, examining the power dynamics within it — especially amid the #MeToo movement and the COVID-19 pandemic. Over increasingly high-drama seasons, The Morning Show examines the ethics of news and the people who report it, all dealing with personal and professional hurdles under an extremely bright, incessant daily spotlight. — S.C.

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Néstor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Bel Powley, Desean Terry, Greta Lee, Julianna Margulies, and Jon Hamm

How to watch: The Morning Show is now streaming on Apple TV.

27. Dark Matter Joel Edgerton in "Dark Matter." Credit: Apple TV

Sometimes the idea behind a story is so good it's practically begging to be watched. Taking his own novel of the same name and adapting it for the screen, Blake Crouch's Dark Matter follows physicist Jason (Joel Edgerton) as he's kidnapped by an alternative version of himself and trapped in a parallel universe. The way these worlds are linked? A box that gives you access to all the infinite lives you could have led. Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi, and Oakes Fegley also star in this sci-fi thriller that's popular with viewers and critics. — S.H.

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Amanda Brugel, Dayo Okeniyi, Jimmi Simpson, and Oakes Fegley

How to watch: Dark Matter is now streaming on Apple TV.

26. Platonic Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen in "Platonic." Credit: Apple TV

Answering the age-old When Harry Met Sally question of whether heterosexual men and women can be just friends, Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller's Platonic is a brilliantly written, authentically performed, and genuinely compelling examination of modern friendship. "This isn't a prolonged remake retreading a tale of opposites-attract romance," writes Mashable's Kristy Puchko in her review. "Instead, this show takes that kinetic dynamic and the odd-couple concept and spins it into a series of misadventures that are thrillingly outrageous and freshly entertaining. This isn't just a story about friendship; it's the hang-out series you may well be aching for."

Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen are hilariously relatable as full-time mum Sylvia and brewery owner Will, former best mates out of touch until their mid-40s when Will goes through a divorce. Awkwardly reconnecting means facing a few things about their relationship and getting older, but it also means dynamite banter between Byrne and Rogen. — S.C.

Starring: Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen, Tre Hale, Luke Macfarlane, Andrew Lopez, and Carla Gallo

How to watch: Platonic is now streaming on Apple TV.

25. Presumed Innocent Jake Gyllenhaal and Bill Camp in "Presumed Innocent." Credit: Apple TV

If you're in the market for a tense and well-made legal thriller with strong performances, you could do a lot worse than Presumed Innocent. Based on Scott Turow's 1987 novel, Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley's adaptation follows a prosecutor (Jake Gyllenhaal) under suspicion for the murder of his colleague.

"This new mini-series is a fairly stock legal drama that's not necessarily all that new in terms of what it offers," I wrote in my Mashable review. "But the story itself feels contemporary, with its themes of sexual power dynamics and legal corruption. What it does, it does very well, with a fast-paced story, well-written script, and excellent performances across the board." — S.H.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle, Bill Camp, Lily Rabe, Nana Mensah, Chase Infiniti, Kingston Rumi Southwick, and Rosanna Arquette

How to watch: Presumed Innocent is now streaming on Apple TV.

24. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Anna Sawai in "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters." Credit: Apple TV

Legendary's MonsterVerse movies (Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla vs. Kong) make their first stomp into live-action TV with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, a series with its reptilian eye fixed on the establishment of Monarch, the secret monster-studying organisation. The show bounces around time periods, between the 1950s and 2010s, and has more than its fair share of monstrous creatures to behold. As Mashable's Belen Edwards writes, "The richness of Monarch's world — and its glorious, glorious monsters — keeps the show intriguing even when it gets bogged down in the MonsterVerse's oft-maligned human affairs." — S.C.

Starring: Anna Sawai, Kurt Russell, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Wyatt Russell, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Elisa Lasowski, and Joe Tippett

How to watch: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is now streaming on Apple TV.

23. Loot Maya Rudolph and Joel Kim Booster in "Loot." Credit: Apple TV

Apple TV comedies are strong stuff, and Maya Rudolph's Loot is one of the best. The comedy star leads as billionaire Molly Novak, who's recently received a hefty settlement in her divorce but is at loose ends as to what's next. Picked up off the glossy floor of her sprawling home by her assistant Nicholas (Joel Kim Booster), she realises she has a charity foundation run by Sofia Salinas (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez) and so she starts on a fresh new journey, with accountant Arthur (Nat Faxon) and cousin Howard (Ron Funches) in tow. But there'll be more than a few life lessons and perspective shifts in store.

Season 2 meets up with Molly in a new chapter, and adds an ample dash of Benjamin Bratt, and Season 3 dropping in guest stars including D'Arcy Carden, Zane Phillips, and Henry Winkler. — S.C.

Starring: Maya Rudolph, Joel Kim Booster, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Adam Scott, Nat Faxon, Ron Funches, Meagen Fay, Stephanie Styles, Benjamin Bratt, D'Arcy Carden, Zane Phillips, and Henry Winkler.

How to watch: Loot is now streaming on Apple TV.

22. Your Friends and Neighbors Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, and Mark Tallman in "Your Friends & Neighbours." Credit: Apple TV

Jon Hamm enters his robber era in Your Friends and Neighbors. The Emmy-winning Mad Men star plays Andrew "Coop" Cooper, a disgraced hedge fund manager who finds himself totally broke after a surprise firing. How will he keep up his affluent lifestyle? By stealing from his neighbors in his wealthy community of Westmont Village, of course!

Coop's descent into burglary leads him to discover his neighbors' deepest, darkest secrets, a premise that's juicy enough to get you hooked immediately. However, your mileage on Your Friends and Neighbors may vary depending on how much more TV you want to watch about the woes of the uber-rich — a market that's already saturated thanks to shows like The White Lotus and Nine Perfect Strangers. — B.E.

Starring: Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Lena Hall, Aimee Carrero, Eunice Bae, Isabel Marie Gravitt, and Donovan Colan

How to watch: Your Friends and Neighbors is now streaming on Apple TV.

21. Stick Owen Wilson and Marc Maron in "Stick." Credit: Apple TV

Want to scratch your Ted Lasso itch while still watching something new? Then check out Stick, which is basically Ted Lasso: Golf Edition. Owen Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, a washed-up pro golfer who decides to mentor prodigy Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager). The pair hit the tournament circuit, along with Santi's mother Elena (Mariana Treviño), Pryce's former caddy Mitts (Marc Maron), and Santi's new caddy Zero (Lilli Kay).

Created by Jason Keller, Stick occasionally takes one too many pages from the book of Ted Lasso, from its focus on mental health and grief to coining its own "be the goldfish"-type slogan. Still, there's no denying its many charms, including its ability to make even a golf skeptic like me get invested in every round. Like I wrote in my review, "As familiar as these [Ted Lasso] beats are, there's no denying they make a solid base for any feel-good comedy. And with Wilson capably leading such a likable ensemble, Stick feels pretty darn good." — B.E.

Starring: Owen Wilson, Peter Dager, Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay, and Judy Greer

How to watch: Stick is now streaming on Apple TV.

20. The Afterparty Zoë Chao in "The Afterparty." Credit: Apple TV

If you're a fiend for a whodunnit, consider yourself a bit of a Miss Marple, and regularly declare "J'accuse!" at your unsuspecting pals, follow the clues to The Afterparty. A star-studded comedy that twists and turns through various genres in one perplexing mystery, the series hinges around the untimely death of a rich pop star after a high school reunion. After Season 1's deeply rewarding finale, jump right into the second season, where another murder lurks the morning after a big wedding — and no genre is safe. — S.C.

Starring: Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Ben Schwartz, Ilana Glazer, Tiffany Haddish, John Early, Ike Barinholtz, Jamie Demetriou, Dave Franco, John Cho, Ken Jeong, Anna Konkle, Zach Woods, Poppy Liu, Jack Whitehall, Vivian Wu, Elizabeth Perkins, and Paul Walter Hauser

How to watch: The Afterparty is now streaming on Apple TV.

19. Down Cemetery Road Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson in "Down Cemetery Road." Credit: Apple TV

Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson are the dynamic duo of my dreams in Apple TV's Oxford-set mystery crime thriller from Slow Horses' screenwriter Morwenna Banks. But it's not the buddy cop set-up you're thinking.

Based on Mick Herron's novel, Down Cemetery Road sees Thompson as hard-edged private investigator Zoë Boehm, whose marriage to her business partner Joe (Adam Godley) is as threadbare as their bank balance. Across town, Wilson plays Sarah Trafford, an art conservationist who is dragged into hosting a dinner party for her husband Mark's (Tom Riley) schmuck of a client. Before dessert, there's an explosion next door, leading to the disappearance of a young girl named Dinah (Ivy Quoi). The event sends Sarah into an obsessive hunt for the truth — and it leads her to Zoë and Joe's door.* — S.C.

Starring: Emma Thompson, Ruth Wilson, Adeel Akhtar, Tom Goodman-Hill, Fehinti Balogun, Darren Boyd, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Tom Riley, Adam Godley, Sinead Matthews, Ken Nwosu, and Aiysha Hart

How to watch: Down Cemetery Road is now streaming on Apple TV.

18. Disclaimer Cate Blanchett in "Disclaimer." Credit: Apple TV

Five-time Academy Award–winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón teams with two-time Academy Award–winning actress Cate Blanchett for a seven-part thriller sure to get your blood pumping. Written and directed by Cuarón, Disclaimer stars Blanchett as Catherine Ravenscroft, a revered journalist who has built her career on unearthing the sordid secrets of others. However, her life is thrown into turmoil when an unsolicited novel shows up on her doorstep, its pages spilling out the skeletons within her own closet. 

In her review for Mashable, Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards writes, "The overall effect of Disclaimer is one of intrigue and of questioning the layers of narrative you see before you. With its commitment to formal changeups and a brutal knockout of a finale, Disclaimer is a puzzle that gets under your skin and refuses to leave."* — K.P.

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Leila George, and Hoyeon 

How to watch: Disclaimer is now streaming on Apple TV.

17. Schmigadoon! Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong in "Schmigadoon!" Credit: Apple TV

A show for musical lovers, by musical lovers, Season 1 of Schmigadoon! is a loving tribute to Golden Age musicals. Think Oklahoma!, The Music Man, and The Sound of Music. In a Brigadoon-esque plot, a couple (played by Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key) whose relationship is going through a rough patch stumbles upon a magical village where life is a musical. From there, it's a nonstop parade of joyful musical numbers, delivered by a cast of Broadway mainstays like Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Alan Cumming, and Ariana DeBose. Theaters kids, eat your heart out. Schmigadoon! is a treat. And Season 2 brings more fun, but with a darker edge.* — B.E.

Starring: Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Dove Cameron, Fred Armisen, Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Alan Cumming, and Ariana DeBose

How to watch: Schmigadoon! is now streaming on Apple TV.

16. For All Mankind Joel Kinnaman and Sonya Walger in "For All Mankind." Credit: Apple TV

It's Apple's big "what-if" series, which hypothesizes an alternate timeline of the global space race. Created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi, For All Mankind kicks off Season 1 with the Soviet Union landing the first human on the moon in June 1969, leaving NASA scrambling to catch up. Season 2 picks up in the Cold War, Season 3 jumps into the '90s with the race to land on Mars, and Season 4 is all about the establishment of a self-sustaining colony on the red planet.

"If you're here because you're a fan of For All Mankind creator Ronald D. Moore's earlier work, check your expectations," writes Adam Rosenberg in his review for Mashable. "This isn't science fiction. There's science in the NASA stuff and a layer of grounded fantasy in the alternate timeline premise, but there's no secret alien invasion twist here or anything. For All Mankind plays it straight instead." And for what it's worth, Stephen King bloody loves it. — S.C.

Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Sarah Jones, Toby Kebbell, Shantel VanSanten, Jodi Balfour, and Krys Marshall

How to watch: For All Mankind is now streaming on Apple TV.

15. Trying Esther Smith and Rafe Spall in "Trying." Credit: Apple TV

In Andy Wolton's charming, heartfelt series, London couple Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall) want to start a family of their own. As the series' title suggests, they go up and down a few roads, and ultimately pursue adoption — with all the complications and trials that come with it. Over three seasons, Nikki and Jason's friends and family help them through it all, and you'll chuckle as much as tear up through each moment. Smith and Spall are superb rom-com leads, navigating the highs and lows that come with becoming parents with delightful insights and poignant realism. — S.C.

Starring: Esther Smith, Rafe Spall, Siân Brooke, Darren Boyd, Imelda Staunton, Paula Wilcox, Phil Davis, Jim Broadbent, Oliver Chris, Robyn Cara, Scarlett Rayner, Navin Chowdhry, Roderick Smith, and Marian McLoughlin

How to watch: Trying is now streaming on Apple TV.

14. Chief of War Jason Momoa in "Chief of War." Credit: Apple TV

Created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, Chief of War is a vast history epic detailing the unification of Hawaii by Kamehameha (Kaina Makua), amid constant war between the islands and the impending encroachment of colonial powers. Momoa plays Maui warrior Ka'iana, who is summoned home to make the choice of whether to join his King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison) in war.

With events told from an Indigenous perspective, the show marks a landmark moment for Polynesian representation on screen. As Mashable's Belen Edwards explains in her review, "The show's primarily Polynesian cast, led by Momoa, spends the vast majority of the series speaking in Hawaiian, while an army of cultural consultants worked behind the scenes to ensure cultural and historical authenticity. Their efforts, along with those of Chief of War's entire production team, create an immersive, stunning look back through time, as the series transports viewers to the Hawaiian Islands at the end of the 18th century."

Starring: Jason Momoa, Luciane Buchanan, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Kaina Makua, Temuera Morrison, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Brandon Finn, Siua Ikaleʻo, Mainei Kinimaka, Keala Kahuanui-Paleka, Roimata Fox, Moses Goods, James Udom

How to watch: Chief of War is now streaming on Apple TV.

13. Dope Thief Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura in "Dope Thief." Credit: Apple TV

Ready for a crime drama full of twists, heralded actors, and character-driven humor? Based on the Dennis Tafoya novel, Dope Thief has all that and more.

Created by Peter Craig (The Town), the series stars Brian Tyree Henry as Ray Driscoll, a Philly entrepreneur with a unique business plan. Alongside his simple-minded bestie Manny (Wagner Moura), Ray impersonates a DEA agent to ambush low-level drug dealers, stealing their ill-gotten gains and illegal substances for profit. The money, they'll split. The drugs will go to a bigger dealer, who's a sort of father-figure to Ray. But when one of these raids goes sideways, there's fire, death, and a wounded survivor hellbent on revenge. Can Ray and Manny survive once they've got a vicious kingpin and the actual DEA on his trail? You'll have to tune in to find out!* — K.P.

Starring: Brian Tyree Henry, Wagner Moura, Marin Ireland, and Kate Mulgrew

How to watch: Dope Thief is now streaming on Apple TV.

12. Murderbot Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, Sabrina Wu, David Dastmalchian, Noma Dumezweni, and Tamara Podemski in "Murderbot." Credit: Apple TV

Martha Wells' beloved Murderbot Diaries series comes to the small screen, and boy, is it fun. The series stars Alexander Skarsgård as Murderbot, a security android who's gone rogue and hacked its governor module. With its newfound freedom, it could murder all the "asshole" humans around it. Instead, it chooses to binge hours and hours of TV. (Relatable icon.)

SEE ALSO: Does the 'Murderbot' cast relate to Murderbot?

Boasting a withering internal monologue and boatloads of social awkwardness, Murderbot is a cyborg unlike any you've ever seen, and that buoys Murderbot to be a fresh addition to Apple TV+'s extensive slate of sci-fi shows. Right up until its finale, the series also isn't afraid to get weird, incorporating scenes from Murderbot's favorite space-set soap opera and introducing a crew of goofy, lovable scientists for it to watch over. As I wrote in my review, "At the end of the day, Murderbot isn't just a sci-fi adventure — it's a fun hang." — B.E.

Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, and Tamara Podemski

How to watch: Murderbot is now streaming on Apple TV.

11. Foundation Alfred Enoch and Lou Llobell in "Foundation." Credit: Apple TV

It's one of Apple's most lavish productions and worth every penny. Based on Isaac Asimov's iconic sci-fi novels and now sitting at three seasons, Foundation follows a group exiled from the doomed Galactic Empire and on a mission to save it. Jared Harris is superb as mathematician and psychohistorian Hari Seldon, whose predictions of future probability lead to his exile by Brother Day (played to perfection by Lee Pace), one of a series of clones who rule the Galactic Empire as Emperor. Seldon is joined by his protégée, Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) from the planet Synnax. And folks, it's a truly opulent series, with stunning visuals, world-building, and action sequences over two seasons. "If you've ever wondered where all that iPhone money went, just watch Foundation," writes Adam Rosenberg for Mashable in his Season 1 review. — S.C.

Starring: Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Laura Birn, Terrence Mann, Alfred Enoch, Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur, and Daniel MacPherson

How to watch: Foundation is now streaming on Apple TV.

10. Bad Sisters Anne-Marie Duff, Saise Quinn, Sharon Horgan, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson in "Bad Sisters." Credit: Apple TV

Sharon Horgan's dark dramedy about a group of sisters teaming up to kill their abusive brother-in-law is as much a howdunnit as it is a whodunnit. We start off Bad Sisters knowing that John Paul (Claes Bang), truly one of the most unpleasant TV characters of the year, is dead. But it's only through a series of flashbacks that we find out what happened to him, learning the ways he wronged each of the Garvey sisters and their various misjudged attempts to take him out of the picture. The characters are well drawn and amusing, the show is incredibly tense, and Horgan seamlessly weaves together comedy and tragedy. And if you're worried about the ending of a show that's already revealed some of its cards, don't be. Bad Sisters holds back some of its biggest shocks and secrets to the very end — and into a second season.* — S.H.

Starring: Anne-Marie Duff, Saise Quinn, Sharon Horgan, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Eve Hewson, and Claes Bang

How to watch: Bad Sisters is streaming now on Apple TV.

9. Ted Lasso Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein in "Ted Lasso." Credit: Apple TV

You'd better believe Ted Lasso is one of the best shows on this list. Created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, the comedy follows the titular American football coach (Sudeikis) who is recruited with his 2IC Coach Beard (Hunt) to coach English Premier League team AFC Richmond by the club's owner, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham). But that's just the set-up, forming the foundation for three seasons of wholesome, hilarious, and moving fish-out-of-water comedy. The show brims with optimism, Easter eggs, and Roy Kent's perfect swearing. Ted Lasso, like football, is life. — S.C.

Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Nick Mohammed, Juno Temple, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Toheeb Jimoh, Cristo Fernández, Kola Bokinni, Anthony Head, Billy Harris, and James Lance

How to watch: Ted Lasso is now streaming on Apple TV.

8. Little America Jearnest Corchado and Melinna Bobadilla in "Little America." Credit: Apple TV

Kumail Nanjiani, Alan Yang, and Emily V. Gordon's anthology series Little America is essential viewing. A masterclass in storytelling, each episode of the series is a self-contained tale in which we get to know immigrants in America on a personal level — a far cry from the dehumanised picture politicians like to paint. Each story is compelling, unique, and deeply moving, from Nigerian college student Iwegbuna (Conphidance) exploring identity through cowboy culture in Oklahoma to baker Beatrice (Kemiyondo Coutinho) embracing her Ugandan heritage in Kentucky. There's undocumented high schooler Marisol (Jearnest Corchado) reclaiming a sense of power through squash, and Kabir (played by Suraj Sharma, Eshan Inamdar, and Ishan Gandhi at different ages), a 12-year old boy whose hotel-owner parents are deported to India. Each story examines the complexity of identity and scrutinises the American Dream, while reminding us to actually make the effort to get to know someone. — S.C.

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Jearnest Corchado, Conphidance, Kemiyondo Coutinho, Mélanie Laurent, Angela Lin, Shaun Toub, Haaz Sleiman, and Isuri Wijesundara

How to watch: Little America is now streaming on Apple TV.

7. Shrinking Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in "Shrinking." Credit: Apple TV

Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence teams up with Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein and How I Met Your Mother's Jason Segel for a show about breaking down and breaking through. As Mashable's Shannon Connellan writes in her review, "Shrinking, one of TV's best-written comedies, cuts to the deep shit among the regular shit, without judgment and with a lot of laughs. Consider us prescribed."

Segel stars as a cognitive behavioral therapist struggling in the wake of his wife's death. Despite this grief-stricken setup, Shrinking is a defiantly joyful comedy that finds humor in coping as this harried hero breaks rules to push him and his clients out of their comfort zones to new emotional terrain. With 30-minute episodes over two seasons, it's an easy binge — and the cast is absolutely outstanding.* — K.P.

Starring: Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Christa Miller, and Lukita Maxwell

How to watch: Shrinking is now streaming on Apple TV.

6. Slow Horses Kristin Scott Thomas in "Slow Horses." Credit: Apple TV

If you haven't had every last one of your mates telling you to watch Slow Horses, consider yourself in the minority. Based on Mick Herron's Slough House novels, the series has long provoked hands-in-the-air "you've got to watch Slow Horses" rants at many a London pub in my life, and they're not wrong. Throw yourself without delay into the realm of MI5 outcasts, spies who've fucked up but somehow have remained employed by the UK's domestic counter-intelligence agency. However, that doesn't mean there's not plenty to investigate, all under the surly, greasy, and notably farty watch of Slough House head Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). Over five seasons, showrunner Will Smith makes the most out of his terrific cast, which includes Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Rosalind Eleazar, Saskia Reeves, Olivia Cooke, and more, sending the MI5 misfits into many a danger across London trying valiantly to defend Britain. — S.C.

Starring: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Olivia Cooke, Rosalind Eleazar, Saskia Reeves, Jonathan Pryce, Christopher Chung, Kadiff Kirwan, and Dustin Demri-Burns

How to watch: Slow Horses is now streaming on Apple TV.

5. Pluribus Rhea Seehorn in "Pluribus." Credit: Apple TV

How do you explain Pluribus without giving away everything? It's tricky, so we'll just say if you're into global apocalypse hypotheticals, this is your show. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan returns with a colossal sci-fi conundrum, one that particularly affects fantasy author Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn). Why? She appears to be the only human on Earth not affected by a virus that makes everyone extremely happy and connected. But it's not just Gilligan's thrilling narrative set-up that makes Pluribus exceptional — it's Seehorn. "The Gilligan-Seehorn partnership that kicked off in Better Call Saul continues to pay off big time with Pluribus," writes Mashable's Belen Edwards in her review. "Gilligan wrote the role of Carol specifically for Seehorn, and it's not hard to see why. She is a force."

Starring: Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos Manuel Vesga, Miriam Shor, Sharon Gee, Darinka Arones, Amarburen Sanjid, and Menik Gooneratne, Samba Schutte

How to watch: Pluribus is now streaming on Apple TV.

4. Silo Rashida Jones and David Oyelowo in "Silo." Credit: Apple TV

If you're not watching Silo, we suggest you bunker down and watch both seasons. Created by Graham Yost and directed by Morten Tyldum, this a dystopian sci-fi thriller series is on based on Hugh Howey's trilogy of novels (Wool, Shift, and Dust). Silo delivers impeccable performances, intricate set design, and satisfying narrative twists. Mashable's Belen Edwards describes Silo in her review as "an engrossing and rewarding watch, one that devoted fans of dystopia and sci-fi will relish."

You're sent deep into the subterranean society where the last 10,000 people on Earth live, sheltered from the toxic world outside. The inhabitants, ranked in class by floor, put immense trust in their overlords: Mayor Ruth Jahns (Geraldine James), head of the IT Department (Tim Robbins), and the silo's sheriffs, including Sheriff Holston (David Oyelowo) and Deputy Sam Marnes (Will Patton). But when suspicious events occur, an engineer from the silo's lower levels (Rebecca Ferguson) races to figure out the truth. — S.C.

Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, David Oyelowo, Rashida Jones, Tim Robbins, Common, Harriet Walter, Iain Glen, Tanya Moodie, Geraldine James, Avi Nash, Chinaza Uche, Steve Zahn, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Alexandria Riley, Clare Perkins, Billy Postlethwaite, Ashley Zukerman, Olatunji Ayofe, and Ferdinand Kingsley

How to watch: Silo is now streaming on Apple TV.

3. Pachinko Kim Min-ha and Jung Eun-chae in "Pachinko." Credit: Apple TV

Based on Min Jin Lee's best-selling novel, Pachinko spans not only decades but also generations, following a family line from an impoverished community in 1915 Korea to a prosperous Japan in 1989. The center of this moving saga is matriarch Kim Sunja, who grows from an intrepid child (Yu-na Jeon) to a pregnant, unwed teen (Kim Min-ha), to a grandmother (Academy Award–winning star of Minari, Youn Yuh-jung) too often patronized by her doting son (Soji Arai) and hotshot banker grandson Solomon (Jin Ha).

Created by Soo Hugh, this sensational two-season drama series slides back and forth across its timeline, paralleling Sunja's journey with Solomon's. Though she was raised in poverty and he in prosperity, both face challenges of racism, weighty family expectations, and impossible loves. Incredibly, though Pachinko hits on many dark elements, it's resiliently hopeful, delivering on the promise of its exhilarating opening title sequence. If you're looking for a series to grab you heart and soul, Pachinko is a safe bet for satisfaction, a series Mashable's Belen Edwards dubbed "one of the most stunningly crafted shows on TV."* — K.P.

Starring: Jeon Yu-na, Kim Min-ha, Youn Yuh-jung, Soji Arai, Jin Ha, Lee Min-ho, Kwon Eun-seong, Jung Eun-chae, and Yoshio Maki

How to watch: Pachinko is now streaming on Apple TV.

2. The Studio Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders, and Seth Rogen in "The Studio." Credit: Apple TV+

Seth Rogen and a jaw-dropping cast of big stars give Hollywood the takedown it so richly deserves with The Studio.

The battle of art versus commerce takes center stage as Rogen plays a newly minted studio exec, who has to make an endless series of wild decisions. If you ever wonder how the blockbuster sausage gets made, the first episode of this stellar comedy series gives you a juicy and revolting taste.

The writing on this satirical series is so sharp that Rogen practically bleeds as he plays the fool across an array of comical conflicts. And he's bolstered by a supporting cast that is blisteringly funny, spitting barbs, allusions, and one-liners with a dizzying intensity.* — K.P.

Starring: Seth Rogen, Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Bryan Cranston

How to watch: The Studio is now streaming on Apple TV.

1. Severance Welcome to the team. Credit: Apple TV

It's not only the best show on Apple TV+, it's one of our favourite shows of all time. Dan Erickson's "anti-capitalist fable" Severance centres around the enigmatic Lumon Industries, a company that offers employees the option of "severing" their work self from their regular lives. Primarily directed by Ben Stiller, Severance sees impeccable performances from Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, Christopher Walken, and more, with the cast tasked with playing both their "Innies" and "Outies" — and all the loaded nuance that comes with it.

Featured Video For You ‘Even more hallways’: The cast of severance on getting lost in Lumon’s expanding maze SEE ALSO: Can consent exist in 'Severance'?

Exactly what Lumon does and how the severance program began are just two of the mysteries within Severance, a show that explores fascinating questions of consent, exploitation, alienation, and humanity within a highly stylistic production. What's not in question? Over two sublime seasons, Severance doesn't miss. — S.C.

Starring: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, Christopher Walken, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, and Sarah Bock

How to watch: Severance is now streaming on Apple TV.

UPDATE: Dec. 3, 2025, 10:50 a.m. UTC This article was first published on March 21, 2025. It has been updated to reflect current streaming titles.

Out of its secret screening at New York Film Festival, Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme immediately began gaining award season buzz. And why not? 

Is there an actor alive pushing harder for an Oscar than Timothée Chalamet? At 29 years old, the New York thespian has been twice nominated for Best Actor, first for the swooning queer drama Call Me By Your Name and then again for his role in the critically heralded Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. And while campaigning for that latter performance, he collected a slew of awards and committed the arguably cringe faux pas of admitting he wanted the Oscar. How dare someone admit their ambition?!

With Marty Supreme, Chalamet tries a new tack by roughing up his pretty boy face with prosthetic pockmarks and pimples. Look to Nicole Kidman in The Hours or Brendan Fraser with The Whale or Heath Ledger with The Joker — prominent physical transformations can pay off big. They often break the spell of the godly movie star to allow an actor to play someone less glamorous, less idealized, and even downright despicable. In Marty Supreme, Chalamet's good looks would make it too easy to fall for the prattle of his eponymous anti-hero. But a fleet of blemishes and a squirmy mustache manages to transform this world-famous native New Yorker into a true New York character. And thank God. 

Long after the Oscars have been handed out and the fanfare has died down, Marty Supreme will be remembered as one of the supreme New York movies. Exploding with chaos, character, and kinetic energy, Marty Supreme is a movie about the city's scoundrels, their sins, and why we love them anyway. 

Marty Supreme is Uncut Gems' pesky sibling picture.  Credit: A24

After the massive success of Josh and Benny Safdie's Uncut Gems, the brothers parted ways to explore independent ventures, both of which involved sports movies. Benny teamed up with Dwayne Johnson for The Smashing Machine, an earnest but underwhelming  drama about MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Josh found inspiration in the story of table tennis champion Marty Reisman, reimagining him as a Scorsese-like punk named Marty Mauser. 

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Played by Chalamet, Marty is a legend in his own mind, guaranteed to bring the art of ping-pong to the masses. He just needs to pay his way to the championship overseas first. And he will do anything to get the scratch for that plane ticket. He'll casually — but not coolly — pull a gun on a co-worker at a claustrophobic shoe store. He'll seduce money out of the has-been movie star (Gwyneth  Paltrow) who crosses his path, or pitch his childhood friend Rachel (Odessa A'zion) into a ransom scheme involving the bellowing dog of a glowering gangster (noted NYC filmmaker Abel Ferrara). Marty's big dreams demand big risks, and he doesn't care who's taking them. 

Timothée Chalamet is f***ing spectacular in Marty Supreme.  Credit: A24

Far from the cool gangsters of Goodfellas or even the intimidating Travis Bickle of Taxi Driver, wiry and sharp-tongued Marty has more of an After Hours energy. He's the kind of New York eccentric who is equal parts mesmerizing and irritating, practically levitating with energy, moxie, and utter bullshit. 

It's easy to see the connective tissue between Adam Sandler's Howard Ratner and Chalamet's Marty. Both are cut from the same cloth of survival with panache and plenty of anxiety. Far from a clean-cut sportsman, Marty is perpetually ruffled, always on the run, and always running his mouth. And that means that Chalamet's performance is less a marathon and more a dance-a-thon. There's a constant demand for him to play the facade of Marty's confidence, while dripping in the creeping tension that time for becoming the world champ is running out. 

This desperation grows so intense you can practically smell the sweat collecting on that greasy little mustache. Yet, when Chalamet flashes a smile and lays into his lovers or haters with that practice patter, it's hard to resist him. If Marty were a flawless pretty boy, it'd maybe be too hard to pull off, but the masterful make-up and styling by Safdie's team rough up this world-famous Chanel brand ambassador  just right. Chalamet becomes an everyman with an outsized ego that could shade the Chrysler Building. It's an illicit thrill to watch Marty connive, insult, seduce, and steal, an all-American scoundrel at the top of his game on the table and off. Though when playing ping-pong, there's an exuberance in Chalamet that is contagious. Believe it or not, you'll get sucked into these adrenaline-fueled games of table tennis. 

Marty Supreme has a sublime ensemble cast.  Credit: A24

Chalamet will lead the Oscar conversation around Safdie's latest, but there's plenty of praise to go around. Safdie and co-writer Ronald Bronstein's screenplay — despite some heavy-handed sentimentality at its bookends — is ruthlessly witty and exhilaratingly racy. The score by Warp Records artist Daniel Lopatin (who also provided the sweaty soundtrack for the Safdies' nerve-wringing Good Time) is smartly anachronistic. While the movie is set in the 1950s, the score is loaded with synth and percussion that feels more attuned to '80s sports movies like Rocky or The Karate Kid. Along with adding a pulse-pounding energy to Marty Supreme, this score also suggests that its wild anti-hero is perhaps a man before his time. 

Bolstering Chalamet's bold moves are an ensemble that is sensational, breathing life into the broader world of Marty Supreme's New York. Paltrow swans about with the untouchable grace of Manhattan's posh elite. A'Zion sizzles with blue-collar sex appeal and righteous wrath. With a winsome energy, Tyler Okonma (aka Tyler, The Creator) plays the perfect foil to Marty, as a friend and fellow ping-pong player, while Géza Röhrig offers jolting calm with a sensational monologue. Abel Ferrara, whose appearance drew cheers from the NYFF audience, brings scorching menace as a local tough guy. And the list goes on with Fran Drescher, Penn Jillette, Sandra Bernhard, and Isaac Mizrahi popping up to expand the richness of Marty's realm. 

This zinging dialogue, racing score, and electric cast collide to create cinema that celebrates New York, while recognizing its warts with a bleeding grin. All of this makes Marty Supreme an unusual crowdpleaser. Full of wild humor and shocking turns, it has its audience in a chokehold of tension and surprise, rarely letting up for us to breathe. And yet, what a thrill to be breathless. 

Marty Supreme was reviewed out of the 2025 New York Film Festival. It is is now in theaters. 

UPDATE: Dec. 18, 2025, 2:18 p.m. This review was first published on Dec. 1, 2025, as part of Mashable's NYFF coverage. It has been updated for its theatrical premiere.

Sometimes you just need a feel-good movie and a good tearjerker, and writer/director Craig Brewer delivers both with Song Sung Blue. 

Named for the Neil Diamond song, this drama is not going the way of A Complete Unknown or the Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere route. Instead of a biopic about the American singer-songwriter behind "America" and "Sweet Caroline," Brewer explores the power of Diamond's music through the stranger-than-fiction story of the tribute band known as Lightning and Thunder. 

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as this musical married couple, known offstage as Mike and Claire Sardina. They love each other as intensely as they love Diamond's music. Fitting, then, that their breathtaking story is full of the emotional highs and lows of some of his most beloved songs. 

What's Song Sung Blue about?  Credit: Focus Features

In Milwaukee, Mike Sardina (Jackman) and Claire Stengl (Hudson) are working as celebrity impersonators for state fairs and dive bars. Separately, they perform standards in a dusty variety act, but they dream of making something exciting of their own. For them, one good date spirals into a jam session, a marriage, and a creative partnership that lasts the rest of their lives. 

Song Sung Blue charts their story from their meet-cute backstage, through their musical courtship, co-parenting their kids from past relationships, and building a tribute band that makes them feel like rock stars as they bring unique life to Diamond's discography. 

The movie focuses mostly on Mike (who prefers to be called Lightning) and Claire, their romantic highs and their tragic lows — including a horrific freak accident that injures her, threatening to derail their band for good. Brewer also incorporates a touching subplot into this script about the developing sisterhood between step-siblings Angela (King Princess) and Rachel (Ella Anderson). Beyond that, Lightning and Thunder's family and story grow to envelope their collaborators and bandmates, allowing for a rich tapestry of characters to bring light and humor to the movie's darkest corners. 

Kate Hudson is absolutely extraordinary in Song Sung Blue. Credit: Focus Features

For much of her career, Hudson has been playing some variant of the dazzling girl, in such movies as 200 Cigarettes, Almost Famous, How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days, and an array of other rom-coms. Blonde, bouncy, and witty, she's endlessly youthful and radiant, even when facing tragedy or a smirking manchild. In Song Sung Blue, Hudson assumes a more mature role, while maintaining a distinct shimmer. 

Claire is not a glamorous party girl or a chic city socialite. She's a middle-aged mother of two who loves Patsy Cline songs and wearing sequins. Here, Hudson is radiant, the way of small-town women who don't have designer clothes and custom jewelry but department stores and thrift store finds, yet they shine all the same. As she sings her heart out, her cheeks are rosy and pronounced because of her wide smile. Her eyes sparkle along with her knitwear. And her Midwestern accent is the cherry on top. Hudson makes Claire not some fantasy of woman, but a real woman. I recognized her. I grew up around women like this, who knew horrific hardship and defiantly chose joy again and again. They were brave and loving and, at times, heartbroken. That is what Song Sung Blue is about. 

Props to Brewer; he lets this feel-good film get truly dark, as Claire's accident threatens to smother her inner light. Racked with pain, self-doubt, and anger, Claire becomes unrecognizable to her husband and kids. And through this, we witness a marriage pushed to its breaking point. Sometimes, however, it can be a shared passion that can save us. And for the Sardinas, it was Neil Diamond.

There's an elegance in that, as Diamond's songs can weave bittersweet stories, but what resonates with us is the choruses that are so radiantly joyful that strangers across a bar will join in with "Bah bah bah!" Good times never felt so good, indeed. 

Hugh Jackman offers a daring performance in Song Sung Blue. 

Where I swiftly fell for Hudson's Claire, Jackman's Lightning was a harder sell. Admittedly, for the first act, I was put off by his bravado. Lightning is a celebrity impersonator with the ego of a rock star and the entitled attitude that often accompanies it. Jackman's portrayal of this wannabe hit me initially as too broad, as if he was back on Broadway playing to the balcony seats. 

However, as Song Sung Blue played on, I understood. This wasn't a miscalibrated performance. Where everyone else in the movie is aiming for a softer, more grounded tone, Jackman is knowingly doing too much, because Lightning was a man who demanded to be seen and heard. This theatricality risks playing as insincere. But because Jackman never relaxes this tone, it becomes clear he sees Lightning as dreamer who is every moment being the frontman he dreams to be. This is how he lives the dream.

Once that hit me, Song Sung Blue became a tiny bit sadder. Not so much because this tribute band wouldn't hit Neil Diamond's level of fame. The film celebrates creative victories, even minor ones, with deep sincerity — because the expression and community is the point. I felt sad because I had misjudged Lightning, just as many in the first act did. His is an underdog story, bittersweet but inspirational. Jackman plays it to the rafters so we might understand this man's sheer moxie and determination. 

Song Sung Blue's supporting cast is stellar. 

Like in Brewer's comedic biopic Dolemite Is My Name, Song Sung Blue is sensationally cast. King Princess brings a touching fragility as Lightning's daughter, while Ella Anderson brings a burning resilience as Thunder's. Michael Imperioli is surprisingly funny as a frustrated Buddy Holly impersonator, but charming as Lightning's bandmate. Jim Belushi brings a working-class sensibility as an unlikely dreamer, helping produce Lightning's show, while Mustafa Shakir and Fisher Stevens bring heart while filling out the Sardinas' rich-in-friends world. 

All this makes for a feel-good movie that can be jarringly intense, because the bad times can come out of nowhere. (C'est la vie!) But like a great Neil Diamond song, Song Sung Blue will find its way into your heart, where it will linger.

Through thoughtful storytelling, an impeccable cast, and a smartly chosen soundtrack that places the performances of Diamond's songs thematically, Brewer creates a drama that is uplifting, heart-wrenching, and wondrous all at once. Bring tissues. Bring friends. And let Song Sung Blue hit you, rattle you, and leave you smiling. 

Song Sung Blue was reviewed out of AFI Fest. The movie is now in theaters.

UPDATE: Dec. 18, 2025, 2:14 p.m. This review was first published on Oct. 27, 2025, as part of Mashable's coverage of AFI Fest. It has been updated to reflect its theatrical premiere.

If you took a shot for every corporate euphemism in No Other Choice, you'd be circling back, going in a different direction, finding your services no longer required, rightsized, downsized, and as plastered as one of the characters.

The very title itself evades responsibility, a phrase used by big companies to hide behind intentional, cold decision-making. In this superb dark comedy-thriller, legendary South Korean director Park Chan-wook delivers a biting social commentary on the brutal job market and its associated hyper-competitiveness that sees candidates out for blood, literally.

SEE ALSO: 'No Other Choice' trailer: Park Chan-wook's latest is a black comedy about capitalism and murder

Based on Donald E. Westlake's 1997 novel The Ax and written by Park, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee, and Don McKellar, the film presents an anti-capitalist fable about workplace politics, where merciless company restructuring drives a desperate family man (Squid Game's Lee Byung-hun) to violence — despite his lack of skills in that department. While not as ultraviolent as Park's lauded Vengeance Trilogy or as seductive as his recent Hitchockian film Decision to Leave, the director hypothesises the fallout of corporate redundancies through this bumbling self-made assassin — one whose inept, maddening decisions will make you consider the morality of it all.

Under pressure to provide, is murdering his way into a job the only option in this economy? 

No Other Choice sees a family man scorned in a hyper-competitive, capitalist reality. Son Ye-jin and Lee Byung-hun in "No Other Choice." Credit: BFI London Film Festival

In an unhinged, uncomfortably empathetic performance by Lee, the nucleus of the film is Yoo Man-soo, a hardworking, proud, and long-serving employee at specialist paper company Solar Paper. He's saved enough to buy his father's stunning house and provide his wife Mi-ri (Crash Landing on You's Son Ye-jin) and two kids a comfortable, upper-middle-class life, full of cello lessons, outdoor barbecues, and designer goods. It's all captured in a saturated golden light and dynamic cinematography from Kim Woo-hyung — with whom Park worked on The Little Drummer Girl series. But when Man-soo is suddenly fired after decades of company loyalty, bills stack up and pragmatic Mi-ri declares their need to adjust — and it's not just creature comforts that are sent packing but actual creatures too, including their pair of adorable, obedient golden retrievers.

No corporate mindfulness workshop could assuage Man-soo's fears of eternal unemployment and the societal shame of it all. Meanwhile, Mi-ri gets her own job at a dentist's office, where the handsomeness of her new boss fuels Man-soo's jealousy and determination to reclaim his breadwinning pride.

Featured Video For You Spike Lee reveals how Denzel Washington's performance changed a key element in 'Highest 2 Lowest'

Suddenly, the perfect opportunity (or any opportunity at all) appears on the horizon at the rival Moon Paper, with Man-soo facing an intimidating ocean of potential candidates and AI-powered replacements. Not seeing a snowball's chance in hell of getting the position, he writes a shortlist of candidates (Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min) that could beat him to the job, intending to eliminate them — for good. That means luring them into applying for jobs at his fake company and killing his way back into employability, one by one.

Park Chan-wook subverts his signature vengeance mode to scrutinise morality and responsibility. Lee Byung-hun and Lee Sung-min in "No Other Choice." Credit: BFI London Film Festival

The quest for vengeance and self-satisfaction runs rivers of blood throughout Park's work, with revenge fueling his lauded 2000s triptych Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance. But where the protagonists of the Vengeance Trilogy had a particular set of skills and life-defining scores to settle, Man-soo of No Other Choice embodies both amateur killer-to-be and believer of himself as a Good Person. 

As the title suggests, Park's film is a hard lesson in individualist finger-pointing and evasive corporate euphemisms that sees its protagonist deflect any form of responsibility for his actions. Man-soo believes he has, after all, exhausted all options. Here, as in Park's line of retaliatory narratives, No Other Choice explores moral and ethical boundaries; Man-soo believes his behaviour is justified for the benefit of his family and his own sense of pride as provider.

With a spectacularly physical performance of pure desperation from Lee, Yoo Man-soo flails his way through violent encounters, one of which is darkly comedic (and stolen by the hilarious Yeom Hye-ran as a target candidate's wife), another gruesome and calculated. It's these scenes that see Park in glorious contained chaos mode, the master of escalating, brutal pandemonium within one set-piece. Park consistently shows Man-soo on the precipice of violence: The family man standing on the edge of an apartment roof holding a heavy pot plant above a competitor perfectly encapsulates the film's ongoing "Will he actually do it?" tension. Here, Park deploys Kim's stylised cinematography and bold editing by Kim Sang-bum to heighten the more operatic elements of the story. 

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As a viewer, we're simultaneously rooting for Man-soo and unnerved by his capacity for calculated manipulation and murder. No Other Choice poses the question: Would you kill for the life you want? In fact, the film doesn't even ask it, instead presenting a man believing himself forced into making such a decision due to cold, hard corporate strategy. It's out of his hands. It's a top-down decision. When you really consider it, Man-soo's simply delivering on blue sky thinking.

No Other Choice is now in theaters.

UPDATE: Dec. 18, 2025, 2:30 p.m. "No Other Choice" was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival. This review, originally published Oct. 17, 2025, has been updated to include information about the theatrical release.

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.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To assume.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

INFER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To get married in secret.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 25, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ELOPE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A zebra-giraffe.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 25, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

OKAPI

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To defy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 25 Hurdle Word 4 answer

FLOUT

Final Hurdle hint

To bury.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

INTER

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