Technology

Tesla's Optimus robot now comes with xAI's AI assistant Grok, but judging from a recent video shared on X, it's not very close to fulfilling CEO Elon Musk's dream and becoming Tesla's biggest product ever.

The video, shared by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, shows the next-gen Optimus in new, gold attire, with several new visual details including more human-like hands. More importantly, Optimus now features Grok's voice mode, meaning it can understand user queries and answer them with spoken replies.

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The video, however, will hardly impress anyone, as Optimus appears slow to respond, requiring several vocal nudges to start performing a fairly simple task — going to the kitchen and fetching a Coke. The robot takes a few sluggish steps, presumably towards said kitchen, but the video ends before we can see if Optimus can actually fetch the beverage.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's new Tesla Master Plan promises abundance for everyone

The video shows some progress from earlier instances of Optimus we've seen, such as the human-assisted versions shown during Tesla's "We, Robot" event last year or the popcorn-serving robots at LA's Tesla Diner. But it's not the kind of demonstration that will make you think Tesla will be selling millions of these anytime soon.

Benioff, for one, seems to be impressed, calling it a "productivity game-changer" that will be "tackling human work for $200K–$500K." Coincidentally (or perhaps not), Benioff recently cut 4,000 customer service jobs at Salesforce, with AI agents stepping in instead.

Optimus is still in prototype stage, and we might see more iterations as it nears production, which is scheduled to start in 2026.

The demonstration comes shortly after Tesla shared the fourth instance of its Master Plan, a fairly vague document that seems to put a lot of weight on Optimus as Tesla's most important product going forward. Musk previously said that Tesla plans to sell millions of units per year within four to five years.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025:

AcrossNational park in the Canadian Rockies

• The answer is Banff.

Elevator choice

• The answer is Floor.

Means of transport in Seattle, San Francisco and New York

• The answer is Ferry.

Unlikely chef in a 2007 Pixar film

• The answer is Rat.

"Honor ___ father ..."

• The answer is Thy.

DownClosest pal, informally

• The answer is BFF.

Text notification, e.g.

• The answer is Alert.

Jones who sang "Come Away With Me"

• The answer is Norah.

Number of thieves faced by Ali Baba

• The answer is Forty.

Loose item at the bottom of a fast-food bag, perhaps

• The answer is Fry.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

SAVE OVER $200: As of Sept. 4, the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop is down to its best-ever price of $779.99 at Amazon. This is $220 off its list price of $999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS TUF Gaming F16 (2024) $779.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $220 Get Deal

This year has already seen some excellent video game releases and there are some real treats still to come, including Silent Hill f and The Outer Worlds 2. If you've been looking to upgrade to a new gaming laptop to play new titles at their best, the good news is that there are some great deals to consider.

Amazon is offering a special discount on the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop right now. Currently down to its lowest-ever price, this ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop is on sale for $779.99 at Amazon. This knocks over $200 off its list price of $999.99. It's marked as a limited-time deal, so now is your best chance to score this powerful model for less.

SEE ALSO: Play the year's hottest games with the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop at its lowest price yet

Fitted with an Intel Core 5 210H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop is ready to tackle your favorite games without hassle. It also features a FHD+ 144Hz display so your games will always look smooth, and comes with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. Top it off with a sleek, portable style and it's ready to play your favorite games on the go.

Considering it's down to its best-ever price right now, there's no better time to pick it up. Don't miss out on the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptop down to $779.99 at Amazon. If you're curious to see more gaming laptops, check out our roundup of the best gaming laptops to see some more recommendations for PC gamers.

SAVE $400: As of Sept. 4, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop is on sale for $2,499.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 14% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Strix G16 $2,499.99 at Amazon
$2,899.99 Save $400 Get Deal

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your gaming setup, now might be a good time to make a move. One of the best gaming laptops in the business is on sale for a limited time.

As of Sept. 3, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop is on sale for $400 off, now priced at $2,499.99. This price is for the Ultra 9, RTX5080 model. Not only is this a great price for serious gamers, but it's the lowest it has ever been according to camelcamelcamel.

SEE ALSO: The Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptop is at its lowest-ever price at Amazon

This gaming laptop is a perfect all-rounder. It has a sleek design and strong performance across the board, and it's built with impressively powerful hardware, including high-end graphics cards and processors. The Strix series also has great cooling features and customizable RGB lighting that honestly just makes it look really cool (that matters too). With a 16-inch screen and a 16:10 aspect ratio, you can enjoy high-quality and immersive gaming on whatever titles you're playing.

Connectivity-wise, you're good to go, with WiFi 6E support, multiple USB ports including Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Get this great gaming laptop deal at Amazon now.

Bluesky knows ball.

Knowing ball is to be honored, though Bluesky being a repository of ball knowers might be surprising. But it's important to acknowledge that as we prepare for the NFL regular season, which kicks off this week. The powerful people running the NFL, by and large, lean conservative. And Bluesky, by and large, grew popular as a left-leaning alternative for folks disenchanted with X's rightwing lurch under Elon Musk.

And yet, Bluesky knows ball. So...how?

Why NFL Bluesky became a thing

The short answer: Mina Kimes. OK not really, but also kinda really. There are few people, if any, in NFL media circles more powerful and respected than Kimes. She straddles a few different worlds — a highly paid analyst on ESPN, a film-driven tape nerd, an NFL podcast host, and a Very Online ball-knower who makes jokes about the game. That's the kind of resume that can get lots of NFL folks to migrate to Bluesky and Kimes seemingly took that job seriously. She had a whole thread of all the folks she recruited to the app.

I’m in ‘cruitin mode…working on getting Domonique Barnwell and Field to join the party. Who else should I peer pressure?

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes.bsky.social) November 13, 2024 at 3:51 PM

Of course she wasn't the only person doing so, but Kimes publicly cajoled NFL writers, talking heads, and others of that ilk over to Bluesky in 2024 — a popular time for people to leave X — and used her platform to announce their presence and boost followers. And importantly, she created and posted a starter pack for NFL fans looking to build a follow list.

Looks like some new folks are here....welcome! This is my starter pack of NFL follows (I add to it all the time, so even if you subscribe, re-sub): go.bsky.app/8RH6KbH And here's a list if you'd rather just make a feed: bsky.app/profile/did:...

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes.bsky.social) January 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM

That post got picked up by popular NFL subreddits — a giant source of web traffic — which then helped build a real community. It's difficult to migrate community, but with a little elbow grease...it was pretty much there.

It is a gross oversimplification to put this all on Kimes, obviously. But you need the presence and regular posting of big names to legitimize a platform. It certainly helped that folks like Kimes and a large portion of the NFL writers at popular sports sites like The Ringer made Bluesky home. And last season it felt like Bluesky hit terminal velocity, where enough people joined that you could fully exit to the site for football content. And with the migration of the professionals, the shitposters naturally came along, too. Because that's where the discussion was happening. There is genuine, easy-to-find, fun NFL talk on Bluesky with minimal interruptions from, say, weird ads or angry reply guys you might find on X.

[image or embed]

— treb (@treblaw.bsky.social) September 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM

saw a man in Manhattan wearing a Jaguars shirt that said BORTLES OR NOTHING I guess he has just been settling for nothing for, like, seven years

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger.bsky.social) September 2, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Joe Burrow is Conrad from the Summer I Turned Pretty

— Danny Heifetz (@dannyheifetz.bsky.social) August 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM

But that's not to say the NFL experience on Bluesky is perfect. Adam Schefter, the league's premier newsbreaker, isn't on the site. In reality, that just means the news gets to Bluesky some 30 seconds after X or a live break on ESPN's airwaves. And for a period, NFL teams were actually barred from posting on Bluesky, though that prohibition appears to be over, as recent posts from the world champion Philadelphia Eagles would seem to show. (Go Birds.)

Chat, are we back?

— Philadelphia Eagles (@philadelphiaeagles.bsky.social) September 1, 2025 at 11:11 PM

The most notable issue, however, is that there are fewer clips of games and film study posted to Bluesky. The league and its broadcast partners post to other platforms, but analysts and clip accounts have begun to migrate to Bluesky. Far more analysts have posted film breakdowns this offseason on Bluesky than previously, for instance, and we'll have to see what the clip ecosystem looks like upon kickoff this week. But that is a big drawback.

But if its main competition is X, Bluesky does have a leg-up in some areas — Elon Musk's site recently has proven unreliable for NFL fans. The site crashed the morning free agency launched, which is one of the most important days for NFL social media. And the sports tab — which used to be an easy, fun way to follow games in the Twitter days — degraded into near uselessness years ago. And, in general, X has morphed with Musk's image, which is focused more on AI and politics — not things like following football. Of course you can still follow the NFL on X, but it does involve wading through more junk than it used to. Bluesky offers an interesting alternative in that regard.

How to join NFL Bluesky

Joining NFL Bluesky isn't difficult. If you don't have a Bluesky account, you'll need one. Luckily, we have a handy guide for signing up and getting started on the site.

From there, you'll want to follow NFL-focused accounts. Bluesky has a handy feature called starter packs, which allows you to mass follow curated lists per your interests. Kimes' starter pack is sort-of the NFL gold standard. You can either go through and select your follows from her suggestions or just hit follow all. The pack is also a living document that Kimes said she'll update and edit before the 2025 season.

Hello twitter emigres! If you are here, poking around, a bit confused—a lot of the football folks you know are already on this app! Smash the subscribe button on this starter pack and you’ll instantly have a timeline 👇 go.bsky.app/8RH6KbH

[image or embed]

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 10:38 AM

Mashable has also listed a number of the best NFL draft analysts on Bluesky, which you can find and follow in our article on the '25 draft. Once you curate your feed, I'd suggest sticking to the "following" tab rather than get inundated with random posts under the "discover" section.

Hopefully, with time, your feed will be filled with the dumbest, funniest, and most insightful stuff you'll find about the NFL. In other words...it's just posting, the same as it ever was.

Continuing our coverage of the upcoming Apple Event 2025, we now have a pretty clear picture of what to expect from the “Awe Dropping” Sept. 9 reveal. Front and center will be the iPhone 17 lineup — including the brand-new iPhone 17 Air — alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and a showcase of the experiences coming with Liquid Glass and iOS 26.

But what about the surprises? According to top Apple insider Mark Gurman, this won’t be a revolutionary year for Apple hardware.

Instead, it’s shaping up to be a stepping stone toward bigger changes, with major iPhone redesigns expected in 2026 and 2027. Still, a few Apple products are long overdue for updates, and if the rumors are right, some of them could finally make an appearance next week.

Let’s break down three potential surprises in store for the Sept. 9 iPhone launch event.

Apple AirTag 2

It’s been four years since Apple first introduced the AirTag, and we may finally see an update alongside the iPhone 17. According to credible sources cited by 9to5Mac, the rumored second-gen tracker will feature a next-generation ultra-wideband chip capable of tracking up to three times farther than the current model.

Other upgrades reportedly include a tamper-proof speaker, “very low” battery life alerts, and some form of integration with Apple Vision Pro — though details on that are sparse at the moment.

Apple TV 4K with A17 Pro

As mentioned earlier, Apple appears focused on quietly upgrading some of its more neglected products — not with sweeping overhauls, but with incremental boosts. One of those could be the Apple TV, which is rumored to finally get a long-overdue refresh this fall with the addition of an A17 chip.

The current Apple TV runs on the A15, which is perfectly serviceable, but the A17 — the same chip powering the iPhone 15 lineup — is strong enough to support Apple Intelligence and even console-quality gaming. Beyond the processor bump, there’s also chatter about Apple testing its own in-house Bluetooth and WiFi chip for the device.

That said, the rumors around the Apple TV aren’t as strong as those for the AirTag 2. It might make an appearance at the Sept. 9 event, but if not, expect it to be revealed later in the year alongside new MacBooks.

Apple Watch SE 3

We’ve already explored the rumors surrounding the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, but what about the Watch SE? Apple hasn’t refreshed its budget-friendly smartwatch since 2022, and with the Ultra 3 making a return (the last SE was unveiled alongside the Ultra 2), it only makes sense for the SE 3 to show up as well.

Like the rest of the lineup, the new Apple Watch SE is expected to get a new S11 chip. While rumor has it that the S11 shares the same basic architecture as the S9 and S10, it should still bring a meaningful bump in power for the SE, which currently runs on the older S8. A larger display and a shift to the same energy-efficient screen tech as the flagship models are also rumored — and maybe even a name change.

Apple has been on a rebranding streak lately, with iOS 17 jumping straight to iOS 26 and the iPhone SE becoming the iPhone 16e. That trend has fueled speculation that the SE line is on its way out. If so, this year’s Watch SE could arrive under a new name: the Apple Watch Series 11e, perhaps? We definitely don't expect Apple to call it the Apple Watch SE 3.

For now, though, it’s all rumors and whispers. Check back next week as we cover all the big reveals from the Apple Event 2025 as they happen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video / Peacock Sign up for Peacock Premium Plus (Prime Video add-on) free 7-day trial, then $16.99 per month Shop Now

With access to hit NBC series as well as original programming, Universal Pictures movies straight from the theaters, trendy summer reality TV shows, and live sports like Sunday Night Football and the Tour de France, Peacock is — in my humble opinion — the streaming service to beat. Though, despite all its pros, it does have a couple major cons: it's expensive and does not offer a free trial.

(At least) one of those things just changed, though, thanks to Prime Video's just-announced partnership with NBC Universal. Peacock Premium Plus (the ad-free streaming tier) is now available as a Prime Video add-on subscription. That means Prime Video subscribers can now access Peacock directly through the app. Plus — and here's the real kicker — it comes with a free seven-day trial. Since Peacock no longer offers its own trial of any kind, this is a huge deal. With a full week of free access, you'll be able to watch a specific movie, series, or live game without having to pay for a full month. Finally.

Just be sure to cancel your subscription before you get charged the full amount.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

"At Amazon, we are always working to make customers’ lives better every day," Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement. "These new agreements with Comcast NBCU are fantastic for millions of customers, who are looking for the fastest and easiest way to find all their entertainment and sports in one place."

Peacock joins the likes of Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Starz, AMC+, and more as an official Prime Video add-on subscription. It gives you access to the full library of shows and movies alongside Prime Video's own movies and shows, making your streaming life a whole lot easier.

Peacock Premium Plus (as a standalone subscription and as a Prime Video add-on) costs $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year after a free seven-day trial. Considering Prime Video often offers some of the best streaming deals on its add-ons throughout the year, we are already waiting to see that price drop in the near future.

Best Walmart Bricktember deals at a glance: Best Box deal Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box (10698) $39.97 (save $20.02) Get Deal Best Kids deal Lego Duplo Town 3-in-1 Family House (10994) $80 (save $49.99) Get Deal Best Star Wars Deal Lego Star Wars Plo Koon’s Jedi Starfighter Microfighter (75400) $14.97 (save $22.03) Get Deal Best Advent calendar deal Lego City 2025 Advent Calendar (60475) $25 (save $9.99) Get Deal Best Botanicals deal Lego Botanicals Orchid (10311) $39.95 (save $10.04) Get Deal Best Minecraft deal Lego Minecraft World Explorer Gift Set (66805) $45 (save $15.95) Get Deal Best Ideas deal Lego Ideas The Insect Collection (21342) $63.99 (save $16) Get Deal

Now that the calendar is (somehow) on September, it's time to consider how you'll stay happy during dreary fall and winter months. Young or old, a Lego set offers some of the most wholesome fun available. It can even be a great bonding experience to build with a friend or family. From small builds to massive muti-week projects, Lego offers a wide range of sets, and some are completely display-worthy.

Walmart clearly understands that now is the opportune time to stock up on winter hobby materials as the retailer just launched Bricktember. Not only are we in awe over the name, we're stunned by the discounts. Walmart's banner information about the sale notes shoppers can save up to 30%, but we spotted some sets at over 50% off, which almost never happens with Lego.

Be warned that some deals Walmart is including in Bricktember are sold by third-party sellers. Mashable typically discourages shoppers from going with a third-party, so buy at your own risk. However, there are plenty of deals during Bricktember that are sold by Walmart and well worth considering to help you get through the brr months. Side note: December and gifting season are just months away if you feel like shopping early.

SEE ALSO: Best Christmas gifts for the 2025 holiday season

We've listed some of our favorite Lego deals during Walmart's Bricktember event or you can browse the entire sale here. Bricktember deals are slated to last though Oct. 2, but there's no telling when Lego deals will sell out, so shop soon for the best selection.

Best box deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box (10698) $39.97 at Walmart
$59.99 Save $20.02 Get Deal Why we like it

Nothing beats a Lego set that allows you to build whatever you desire. Snag the Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box to craft on your own or to add extras to an existing build. The set includes an impressive 790 pieces in a range of colors. It also includes some add-ons like windows, baseplates, wheels, and more. Plus, this can help replenish bricks that have gone missing in the couch or the robot vacuum. The adorable case the Lego bricks come in is also fantastic for storage, saving feet from the excruciating pain of stepping on a Lego.

Best advent calendar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego City 2025 Advent Calendar (60475) $25 at Walmart
$34.99 Save $9.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Dec. 1 will be here before we know it, and if you're one to celebrate the season with an Advent Calendar, Lego makes some fantastic options. The 2025 Lego City Advent Calendar comes with 24 buildable minis that all live nicely in the included wintery diorama. Daily surprises include Mrs. Claus, Santa himself, and minifigures dressed up in a reindeer and polar bear costume. There's also an adorable three-eyed alien because who's to say aliens don't love Christmas?

In total, the Lego Advent Calendar has 186 pieces and it's on sale for $25, which works out to about $1 per day.

Best Ideas deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Ideas The Insect Collection $63.99 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $16.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable has just over a dozen favorite Lego sets and the Lego Ideas The Insect Collection makes the cut. The set includes three insects: a blue morpho butterfly, Hercules beetle, and a Chinese mantis. Together, the colorful trio make for a wonderful nature display and as a bonus, none of these bugs will fly around in the middle of the night and bounce off your face while you sleep. The set contains 1,111 pieces and it's designed for Lego builders aged 18 and older. The fine folks at Lego have gone one step further by offering three 45-minute zen-like nature playlists to listen to while you build each insect.

More Walmart Bricktember deals

• Lego Classic Creative Suitcase (10713) — $11.89 $19.99 (save $8.10)

• Lego Creator 3-in-1 Retro Camera — $15.99 $19.99 (save $4)

• Lego Creator 3-in-1 Hamster Wheel (31155) — $20 $29.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Minecraft The Nether Portal Ambush (21255) — $25 $37.99 (save $12.99)

• Lego Friends Adventure Camp Archery Range + Lego Friends Stargazing Camping Vehicle (66806) — $25 $44.98 (save $19.98)

• Lego Disney Frozen Advent Calendar 2025 (43273) — $38 $44.99 (save $6.99)

• Lego Minecraft Advent Calendar 2025 (21280) — $38 $44.99 (save $6.99)

• Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025 (75418) — $38.49 $44.99 (save $6.99)

• Lego Disney and Pixar Up House (43217) — $38 $59.99 (save $21.50)

• Lego Botanicals Flower Bouquet (10280) — $47.95 $59.99 (save $12.04)

• Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Millennium Falcon 25th Anniversary — $67.99 $84.99 (save $17)

• Lego Harry Potter Talking Sorting Hat — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Lego Marvel Spider-Man Final Battle (76261) — $85 $109.99 (save $24.99)

• Lego Disney The Enchanted Treehouse (43215) — $110 $159.99 (save $49.99)

SAVE UP TO $70: As of Sept. 4, Apple's MLS Season Pass is just $25 for Apple TV+ subscribers for the rest of the season or $29 for non-subscribers. That's a saving of 68% or more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV / MLS Season Pass MLS Season Pass $25 for Apple TV+ subscibers (save $54), $29 for non-subscribers (save $70) Get Deal

The Major League Soccer season is closing in on its last quarter, which means things are about to get really exciting. You can catch the climax of the 2025 season for up to 70% off, thanks to the most recent discount on Apple's MLS Season Pass.

As of Sept. 4, you can sign up for MLS Season Pass for the rest of the 2025 season (including Cup playoffs) for just $25 if you're an Apple TV+ subscriber or $29 if you're not. It typically costs $79 or $99 for the full season, so you're saving up to 70% by clocking in at the end of the season. Monthly prices remain the same at $12.99 and $14.99 per month, meaning you'll essentially get access to the entire Cup playoffs in November for free by choosing the season pass deal.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

This is just the latest MLS Season Pass price cut of the season, as Apple slashed prices to $69 in May and to $49 in July. If you held off until now, you're certainly getting the best price. However, we did see season pass prices drop even lower to just $10 last year for Apple's end-of-season sale.

Note that prices will jump back up to the full $79 or $99 at the beginning of the 2026 season and you'll automatically be charged unless you cancel.

Unlike most other sports leagues (looking at you, NFL), you can watch every MLS match live throughout the regular season and post-season — as well as extensive studio coverage, on-demand content, and in-depth features — with no blackouts thanks to Apple's MLS Season Pass. And you don't even need Apple TV+ to sign up. If you want to tune in, $29 is a pretty low cost for entry.

DISNEY+ BUNDLES: Disney+ is offering bundle deals so you can stream the best of its library at a lower price.

The best Disney+ deals and bundles in September 2025: Best ESPN Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle $29.99/month for a year, then $35.99/month Get Deal Best HBO Max Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Hulu Bundle Deal Disney+ and Hulu Bundle $10.99/month with ads Get Deal

Whether you're looking to jump into the latest superhero saga or journey to a galaxy far, far away, Disney+ is the streaming service for you.

Home to Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and so much more, Disney+ offers a library that's stuffed-full of shows and films to keep both adults and kids entertained when it matters. This includes Marvel's Thunderbolts*, which is now available to watch on the platform.

If you've had this streaming service on your radar but are unsure which plan is the best fit for you, we've got you covered with a selection of Disney+ streaming deals. This includes a great limited time offer on the new Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle. If you're a sports fan, you can sign up for this plan for $29.99 per month for the first year.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the Star Wars movies in order: Where should you begin?

Alongside that deal, there are a few more bundles to check out with Disney+ right now, including the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle. This is a great investment for those who already own the other two streaming services and are looking to cut down on costs. And with streaming prices on the rise (Disney+ increased its prices just last year), now's a great time to jump on a bundle like that. Not to mention, with news of Hulu fully integrating into the Disney+ app coming soon, it's worth considering these bundles.

We've detailed all of the available bundle deals below, alongside basic information on Disney+ plans if you just want the House of Mouse's service on its own.

Best ESPN bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle $29.99/month for a year, then $35.99/month Get Deal

If you're a sports fan looking to add ESPN into your bundles, you're in luck: Disney offers bundles with both ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+." If the latter has caught your attention, it has a limited-time offer going on right now.

The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is currently available for $29.99 per month for a year. The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is on offer for $38.99 per month for a year.

These discounted bundles are only available for new and eligible returning subscribers through Jan. 5, 2026. Once the year is up, they'll go back to their full prices of $35.99 per month with ads and $44.99 per month without.

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $29.99 per month for a year (then $35.99 per month)

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $38.99 per month for a year (then $44.99 per month)

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $16.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $26.99 per month

Best HBO Max bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

The Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle is one of the best available at the moment. Starting at $16.99 per month, you can have three excellent streaming services right in the palm of your hand, which is a great offer to take advantage of given streaming service prices keep going up. The $16.99 per month option is for the With Ads plan, but if you'd prefer to watch your favorite content without ads, the No Ads plan comes to $29.99 per month. Compared to what you'd pay for each of these on their own, you're saving 43% with the ad-supported plan and 42% with the ad-free plan.

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $16.99 per month (save 43%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $29.99 per month (save 42%)

Best Hulu bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Disney Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Disney+ and Hulu with ads for $10.99/month Get Deal Why we like it

If the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max mega bundle feels like a bit too much, there are smaller bundle deals to check out instead. One of the most affordable bundle options the service has is the Disney+, Hulu Bundle. This brings together Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) for $10.99 per month. This is a great way to gain access to both of their libraries for only $1 more than what you'd pay for just one of the ad-supported plans on their own.

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle — $10.99 per month

If you'd rather spring for the ad-free version of that bundle, Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium is what you need. This offers both Disney+ and Hulu without ads for $19.99 per month.

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium — $19.99 per month

Best Disney+ monthly plans

Disney+ offers two standard plans if you just want the service on its own. The Disney+ ad-supported plan comes to $9.99 per month while the ad-free Disney+ Premium plan will set you back $15.99 per month or $159.99 per year if you'd rather pay annually.

• Disney+ (With Ads) — $9.99 per month

• Disney+ Premium (No Ads) — $15.99 per month, $159.99 per year

Disney+ has also created an "extra member" plan for people using your account that live outside of your household as they crack down on password sharing. If you're looking to add another person onto your account, you're only allowed one extra profile and can choose from the following add-on plans:

• Disney+ (With Ads) — $6.99 per month

• Disney+ Premium — $9.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle — $7.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium — $10.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $11.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $14.99 per month

There's a wealth of shows and films to check out on Disney+ after you sign up. If you want some help finding something to watch, check out our roundups of the 12 best TV shows for adults on Disney+ and the 20 best movies on Disney+ to start building out your watchlist.

TL;DR: For a one-time payment of $49 (reg.$495), you’ll get lifetime access to Imagiyo AI — a powerful text-to-image generator that lets you create whatever you imagine.

Opens in a new window Credit: Imagiyo Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription (Standard Plan) $49
$495 Save $446 Get Deal

Sometimes inspiration strikes when you least expect it — on the subway, in a meeting, or while scrolling through memes at 2 a.m. But what if you could instantly bring those ideas to life without hiring a designer or fighting with clunky stock photo sites? That’s precisely what you can do with the Imagiyo AI Image Generator.

For a limited time, you can get a lifetime license for just $49 (reg. $495). Think of it as your always-available creative partner, whether you’re making catchy marketing materials, playful memes, concept art, or even the NSFW stuff you don’t want popping up on your work laptop.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI announces new parental controls for teen ChatGPT users

Imagiyo makes it simple: type your idea into a text prompt, and the platform generates polished, high-quality images in seconds. With integrations like Stable Diffusion and FLUX AI, you’re tapping into some of the most advanced models available today.

What makes this deal stand out is that Imagiyo is built for both serious creators and casual tinkerers. Designers can use it for professional projects without worrying about watermarks or licensing headaches, while anyone can use it to whip up fun, personalized images to share online. You’ll also get access to multiple image sizes, a clean, ad-free interface, and the option to save and download your work forever.

And because this is the Standard Plan, you’ll be able to generate up to 500 images per month, with no sneaky recurring subscription fees. Just one payment, and you’re set for life.

Get a lifetime of Imagiyo AI while it’s available for just $49.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: For just $15.97 (reg. $169.99), you can lock in lifetime family protection with AdGuard, blocking ads, malware, and unsafe content across your devices — one payment, no headaches.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02 Get Deal

With monthly subscriptions giving most of us whiplash, it’s refreshing when something is truly one-and-done. The AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription is just that.

For only $15.97 with code FAMPLAN (reg. $169.99), you can cover nine devices in your household with ad blocking, malware protection, and parental controls forever. No renewals, no hidden fees, no “free trials” that suddenly turn into bills. Just peace of mind, at a price that’s hard to beat.

SEE ALSO: Make your computer feel new again for under $50 with this Microsoft bundle

AdGuard works quietly in the background, helping to make the internet a cleaner, safer place for your whole family. That means no more obnoxious banners or mid-video interruptions when you’re watching YouTube, no more hidden trackers logging your data, and no more sketchy websites sneaking malware onto your devices.

And if you’ve got kids in the house, you’ll appreciate the built-in parental controls. AdGuard lets you filter inappropriate content with just a click, so children can browse without wandering into unsafe territory. For parents juggling work and home life (sometimes in the same space), that’s one less worry on the list.

The best part is that this single purchase protects all your devices — whether you’re on Android, iOS, or using a laptop. It’s as versatile as it is effective, making it an ideal tool for families who just want online safety without the hassle of learning yet another complicated security app.

Think of it as the digital equivalent of locking your front door. One small action now, a lifetime of protection later.

Get lifetime access to the AdGuard Family Plan while it’s on sale for just $15.97 with code FAMPLAN (reg. $169.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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!

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

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.

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're hankering for side-splitting laughs, spine-tingling chills, heart-warming stories, pulse-pounding action, or the occasional soggy bottom, we've got something just for you.

11. Love Con Revenge

If Netflix had you hooked on The Tinder Swindler, you'll likely be lured by Love Con Revenge.

This new reality series allows victims of romance scams to team up with Tinder Swindler target Cecilie Fjellhøy and private investigator Brianne Joseph for a bit of justice — or at least some dramatic confrontations. Will it be satisfying? Infuriating? Our guess is yes and yes. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Love Con Revenge premieres on Netflix on Sept. 5.

10. The Great British Baking Show Collection 13

Good news for fans of The Great British Baking Show who weren't fond of Matt Lucas (it's me!), the wise-cracking comedian isn't in the latest batch of episodes coming to Netflix this fall.

SEE ALSO: Get Matt Lucas out of 'The Great British Baking Show'

Instead, comedian Noel Fielding returns, joined by affable TV presenter Alison Hammond. These two will chat it up with the bakers during the challengers — that is, before Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith grill them over the judging table. How will these 12 home bakers stack up? There's only one way to find out. Tune in and bake off! — K.P.

How to watch: The Great British Baking Show Collection 13 premieres on Netflix on Sept. 5, with a new episode every Friday.

SEE ALSO: Prue Leith spills the tea on the differences between the 'Great British' and 'Great American Baking Show' 9. Nobody 2

Bob Odenkirk returns as Hutch Mansell in the sequel to 2021's action-packed film Nobody, which saw a seemingly average guy kicking ass and going into battle against a Russian criminal gang. This time, he's off on summer vacation for quality time with his family, including his retired FBI agent father (Christopher Lloyd). Anyone who even thinks about being rude to his children seems guaranteed to lose a few teeth at the theme park, but he stumbles onto something bigger — we're talking bootlegging, crooked cops, and Sharon Stone as a glamorous crime boss. Produced by Bullet Train and The Fall Guy dream team Kelly McCormick and David Leitch, Nobody 2 promises punch-drunk action and comedy. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, John Ortiz, Colin Hanks, RZA, Colin Salmon, Christopher Lloyd, and Sharon Stone

How to watch: Nobody 2 is now available for purchase on Prime Video.

8. Friendship

Tim Robinson brings his I Think You Should Leave brand of awkwardness and social panic to Andrew DeYoung's cringe comedy Friendship. Robinson plays Craig, an awkward loner who strikes up an unlikely friendship with local weather man and all-around cool dude Austin (Paul Rudd). But when Austin spurns Craig after a group hang gone wrong, Craig spirals and threatens to lose control of everything in his life.

Wringing laughter out of male loneliness, Friendship tests the boundaries of how much Robinson you can take, starting off on a high note before falling into a pattern of listless bits. As I wrote in my review, "Hardcore Robinson fans will likely enjoy, but even as a Robinson appreciator, I felt that the I Think You Should Leave-style bits that make the film's early scenes such an uncomfortable blast quickly lose their sheen. They work well in sketches, but can they hold up the weight of an entire feature film? Friendship suggests not." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Tim Robinson, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Paul Rudd

How to watch: Friendship comes to HBO Max on Sept. 5.

7. The Wedding Banquet

"Remaking Ang Lee's award-winning 1993 queer rom-com The Wedding Banquet is no mean feat, but Fire Island's Andrew Ahn makes a masterclass of it," wrote Mashable's Shannon Connellan in her review of The Wedding Banquet.

The winsome comedy follows four friends, who make up two gay couples with unique troubles that could be solved through a proposed "lavender marriage." Lee (Lily Gladstone) and Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) are lesbians seeking to have a baby through IVF, which is emotionally and financially draining. Chris (Bowen Yang) and Min (Han Gi-Chan) are deeply in love, but any time talk of commitment comes up, Chris panics. So when Min is getting pressure from his old-fashioned grandmother to marry or move back to Korea, he proposes... to Angela. The idea is that their fake wedding can get her money for the IVF and him time to stay in the U.S. with Chris. But despite their best-laid wedding plans, things get wild.

"The Wedding Banquet is a triumph of a romantic comedy," Connellan declared. "A smart and heartfelt update on Lee's '90s classic that explores the pressures of balancing cultural tradition with LGBTQ identity. Ahn's film leaves ample space for these wonderful characters to mess up, say the wrong thing, and figure out their next steps, all with the support and love of each other. Please let me marry this film."* — K.P.

Starring: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, and Han Gi-chan

How to watch: The Wedding Banquet debuts on Paramount+ on Sept. 8.

6. Lilo & Stitch (2025)

Let's be real: None of Disney's live-action remakes of their animated classics will ever hold a candle to the original movies. But I'll at least give Lilo & Stitch credit for capably capturing the adorable energy of its titular pairing (played by Maia Kealoha and Chris Sanders) and for not just trying to be a shot-for-shot remake. Sure, changes to the ending may be polarizing, but I'll take that over copy-pasting an existing movie any day!

As I wrote in my review, "This Lilo & Stitch retains much of the fun of the 2002 film, and it comes with great performances and effects work that actually makes Stitch feel real. Like with every Disney remake, you'd be better off watching the original, but if you have to watch one of the remakes, make it this one." — B.E.

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis, and Maia Kealoha

How to watch: Lilo & Stitch is now streaming on Disney+.

5. Wednesday, Season 2, Part 2

With all the burning questions we had at the end of Wednesday Season 2, Part 1, we're chomping at the bit to get into the second half. After the festering hell that broke loose in Willow Hill, the fate of Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) seems up in the air. But Part 2 promises the return of Gwendoline Christie as Season 1's dearly departed Principal Weems, answers to the curliest question marks, more Edgar Allan Poe energy, and the awaited arrival of Lady Gaga.

But most of all, we need more of Wednesday's eviscerating barbs in our life — as Belen Edwards writes in her Part 1 review, "With one deadly glare and a dry putdown in voiceover, Ortega's Wednesday is still a force to be reckoned with. (Especially now that she's not burdened with a love triangle!) Watching her detective exploits continues to be pure gothic fun, and that's something worth snapping about." — S.C.

Starring: Jenna Ortega, Lady Gaga, Isaac Ordonez, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joanna Lumley, Fred Armisen, Emma Myers, Hunter Doohan, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, Noah B. Taylor, Evie Templeton, Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Christopher Lloyd, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Jamie McShane, and Thandiwe Newton

How to watch: Wednesday Season 2, Part 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Dangerous Animals

Jaws taught us to be afraid of sharks. Dangerous Animals reminds us man is far more deadly.

Jai Courtney stuns as Tucker, an Aussie boat captain who takes tourists out onto the water to see sharks up close. But when he's not playing nice for cash, he's pitching women overboard as prey. A gnarly serial killer movie with splashy thrills and gut-churning gore, Dangerous Animals is howler. In my review for Mashable, I wrote, "Dangerous Animals is a satisfying, sick, and devilishly smart thriller that will excite you in theaters and stalk you on the way home." — K.P.

Starring: Jai Courtney, Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Rob Carlton, Ella Newton, and Liam Greinke

How to watch: Dangerous Animals debuts on Shudder on Sept. 5.

3. Task

Looking for a crime drama in the vein of Mare of Easttown? Then you're in luck, because Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby is returning to HBO with the miniseries Task.

The series stars Mark Ruffalo as an FBI agent who heads up a task force investigating a string of violent robberies in the working class suburbs of Philadelphia. At the head of these robberies is an unsuspecting family man (Ozark's Tom Pelphrey) looking to give his kids a better life. Get ready for a gritty cat-and-mouse game between Ruffalo and Pelphrey, who lead an exciting (and sprawling) ensemble cast.* — B.E.

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Raúl Castillo, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, and Fabien Frankel

How to watch: Task premieres Sept. 7 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

2. The Naked Gun

One of the funniest movies of the year is now on digital. The Lonely Island's Akiva Schaffer directs a star-studded cast led by Liam Neeson for a reboot that pays proper tribute to the comedy classic that came before.

Playing Frank Drebin Jr. (the son of Leslie Nielsen's iconic cop), Neeson brings his tough-guy grumpiness to outrageously silly punchlines, hilarious slapstick, and a sexy and strange romance with Pamela Anderson, who holds her own with a scat solo that is next-level loony. In my review for Mashable, I cheered, "The Naked Gun is back and as silly and stupid as ever. And I can’t think of higher praise than that." — K.P.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston, Dave Bautista, and Cody Rhodes

How to watch: The Naked Gun is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

1. The Paper

Return to the world of The Office in The Paper, a spinoff from The Office's Greg Daniels and Nathan for You's Michael Koman. The series reunites viewers with the documentary crew who covered Scranton's Dunder Mifflin branch. This time, though, they've got a new subject: the Toledo Truth Teller, a struggling Ohio newspaper. Idealistic editor-in-chief Ned (Domhnall Gleeson) hopes to bring the paper back to its former glory, but with next to no funding, he'll have to resort to recruiting inexperienced volunteer reporters instead. What could go wrong?

As a spinoff of one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, The Paper has a lot to live up to. Thankfully, the new mockumentary more than measures up, boasting oodles of cringe comedy and a cast of characters that already gel like a well-oiled machine. The show's focus on the struggles of local journalists is an added bonus, following in the footsteps of mockumentaries like Abbott Elementary and St. Denis Medical in examining crumbling, yet vital institutions. As I wrote in my review, "Yes, [The Paper] and its brilliant ensemble stand on the shoulders of The Office. But it's so much more than a carbon copy, and it has the potential to be a sitcom that's great all on its own." — B.E.

Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Chelsea Frei, Oscar Nuñez, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, and Tim Key

How to watch: The Paper is now streaming on Peacock.

(*) indicates a blurb originally comes from another list.

Nicole Rafiee may have over 1 million subscribers on YouTube now, but once upon a time, she was simply a middle schooler who loved making stop-motion music videos and videos about Webkinz.

Credit: Zooey Liao/ Image Credit: Getty Images/ Amazon/ Nicole Rafiee's Instagram @nicolerafiee / YouTube

"And sometimes, the two of them combined — like a stop-motion Webkinz video," Rafiee told Mashable during VidCon back in June. These days, her content is a little different, exploring pop culture topics like the exodus of YouTube's it girls, Frenemies lore, and Chappell Roan. Despite the subject shift, she still loves a prop and a striking visual — her Chronically Online series features many costumes and collages that adorn her walls.

The journey from her middle school YouTube channel to her current one involved a few deleted channels and changing directions, so I caught up with Rafiee to discuss how a person manages to evolve their YouTube content as they grow, especially once that content finds an audience.

Mashable: What inspired your middle school self, and then college self, to make YouTube videos?

Nicole Rafiee: I was heavily inspired by the people that I watched at the time — the JennXPenns, the SuperMac18s, the Ricky Dillons. So I started doing it. I was an only child, and [YouTube] was my creative outlet. I was in band at the time, but I didn't feel creatively fulfilled from playing the flute. For me, it was just the coolest thing to go home, and that was like my secret life, like a separate persona of who I couldn't be in person.

And then in college, I lacked so much creativity in my life because I did not know what I wanted to do in college. I went because I thought that was the right thing to do. At the time when I started making YouTube videos, I was in school with the intention of becoming a physician's assistant. I would sit in my anatomy lecture like, "I would rather do anything else right now than this. But most importantly, I would rather be making a video."

I would rather do anything else right now than this. But most importantly, I would rather be making a video.

That kept calling to me, and I had some friends at the time, who also had this middle school YouTube channel and wanted to revisit that, so that inspired me to start again. And at the time, YouTube was kind of having its resurgence because of people like Emma Chamberlain. That was a huge inspiration to see, like, wow, there are younger people than me who are starting now, and it's never too late.   So that became my creative outlet, and then that just kind of changed everything. I ended up changing my major, and that became my goal for when I graduated — for YouTube to be my full-time thing.

How would you describe the evolution your channel has gone through since those RA college days to now?

 In the beginning, I did what I thought people wanted to see from a college student, which was college vlogs, when in reality, I hated vlogging. I don't feel comfortable doing it out in public, and I'm not watching vlogs, to be honest. But then, as COVID hit, I was like, okay, everybody is stuck on their own. And so I was trying to do challenges — basically whatever I was seeing other people doing.

It wasn't until I questioned the content that I was making for myself and asked, "What actually interests me and really inspires me?" And a lot of that came down to literally what I study in school, which is media studies.

I've also always been an opinionated person. Since I was younger, I was always told, "You should be a lawyer," as every little girl is if people are just too scared of calling a nine-year-old a bitch. So I was like, Why don't I take that onto the internet? Once I started doing that, I think I saw the success that I did because people saw for the first time, "Oh, this is so authentically you."

That opened up the door to making videos about so many new topics. I wanted to keep my personal life private; I didn't want to vlog. So it was like a natural evolution and progression of who I am as a person, I think, and like growing up with me.

Did making that switch to creating content that felt more authentic to you feel intimidating?

 If anything, in the beginning, it felt a little bit easier than it does now. I'm trying to understand why it does feel that way now. In the beginning, I felt so confident in being the person I was hiding behind closed doors.

I'm not necessarily introverted, but I really only feel comfortable being myself around people once I'm fully comfortable with them, as a lot of people do. But I always envied people who were authentically themselves, regardless of who they were around or what they were doing. I could not find that. So I felt like I closed the door and I could be myself, I could make the jokes I want to make, I could dress however I want, I could do exactly what I wanted to do.

I do find, though, that now, as I'm continuing to do YouTube, I feel almost a little bit scared of doing that just because as the audience increases, so does the backlash. I have not fully experienced that — I've been very lucky not to experience a lot of negativity or hate comments, but now that it's just gotten so much bigger than I had ever anticipated, part of me wants to turtle away. So I'm trying not to allow that to be the case.

I think because I've done YouTube, it's allowed that scared girl who would hide in her room and only be that confident person behind that closed door — that helped me be that in the outside world. I have gotten way more confident in my day-to-day life since doing YouTube. But now I'm struggling where I'm comfortable in person, and I'm less comfortable online, and I want to nip that in the bud while I can.

Speaking of that success, you've found a big audience for your Chronically Online Girl series.  Does it feel risky to think about trying different types of content with that increased audience?

 Yeah, absolutely. So many people only see me as just the chronically online girl. And that was never my intention. Everyone talks about wanting to appeal to their audience, and I totally understand that, but I would rather find an audience that likes me for whatever content I make. I know that's gonna be hard and maybe means less subscribers along the way, but I'm OK with that.

SEE ALSO: From Buzzfeed to Watcher, how Ryan Bergara built a career on ghosts

 Before, I used to be more comfortable showing or talking about personal things in my life, and now I'm like, does anybody even care? But I'm trying to shush that noise out and also recognize that chronically online girl. She is a part of me. At the end of the day, to my core, I am a chronically online girl.

So I just have to push past that and feel comfortable trying different content because I'm sure my content's going to evolve — I hope. I hope I continue to evolve as the years go on and that I'm still doing YouTube, the same as it did in the last three to five years.

To return to finding your audience, do you have a moment that sticks out as your first big viral video?

 I think it was definitely the "chronically online girl explains Frenemies" video that I made. I did not expect that video to do well. That video almost didn't happen because the audio was messed up. I spent so long trying to fix it and I was like, "I think I should just throw this away. This is a stupid idea. I don't think anybody cares about this."

When people actually started showing interest in that despite the messed-up audio, I was like, "Oh wait." I had so much fun filming that, and I was like, "This is way better than me trying to force myself to vlog."

Another one of those moments was my first video essay, I guess you could say.  I was encouraged by my manager. It was the video, "Why do the 'it girls' quit?"

It was about why some of my favorite YouTubers that I looked up to — like Emma Chamberlain and BestDressed — stopped making videos altogether and faded from the limelight, and decided to live a more private, mysterious life. It's heavily based off of like my own experience as a content creator, even though I was much smaller. At that moment when I saw people enjoy me talking about something for a long time and they were not like, "Boring. Snooze fest." That was definitely an "Oh wait, I feel like I could do this," moment.

YouTube is your main platform, but do you find that's been the most crucial space for growing your audience? Or have you found that posting on other platforms is helpful?

 I wanted to be a TikTokker so bad. I told myself if there was ever gonna be a Vine 2.0, I would put my heart and soul into that because it just seemed like the place to grow. And then the opportunity came, and everything was right in front of me, and I just didn't care about it. It didn't spark that much creativity. Like, if I'm going to post on TikTok, I'm going to shit post. I'm not strategically trying to use it.

YouTube, however, always felt like that. It felt like a platform where I could be myself, but also grow an audience. And it felt like I was reaching towards something. I mean, being at VidCon itself is cool and a weird thing that I never thought would happen in my life. So I'm like exactly where I want to be from YouTube.

So I feel like YouTube.com is my home base. I clock in at YouTube.com, and when I'm not there, I get to go and play and have fun.

You touched on this some, but what does being at VidCon mean to you?

 It's really surreal.

Is this your first VidCon?

 Yeah, it's really weird. I was invited to VidCon Anaheim a few years ago, but I was only able to attend the industry track for one day. So I ended up going to a bunch of panels, and I was like, "Is this VidCon?" And then I realized I was going to the industry days only. And then I went to VidCon Baltimore, but it doesn't exist anymore.

But this — I'm having trouble processing it. I don't feel like my name should be there on the list with Tyler Oakley, Grace Helbig, and Joey Graceffa. Like, what am I doing sitting on the bus back from Disneyland next to Rhett and Link? Like, what is actually happening and going on? But I'm also so grateful for it because I am trying to remind myself that I did work for years on this.

SEE ALSO: VidCon celebrates Hank Green, Rhett & Link at first annual Hall of Fame ceremony

So I'm trying to validate that I deserve to be here while simultaneously being like, "What the heck am I doing here?"

As your channel grew, how did you approach brand deals?

In 2019, when my first video that blew up, I started getting offers, like, "We'll pay you $1,000 for this review," and I was like, "Yes, I'll give you a four-minute-long integration!" and then you find out they took advantage of you.  That was so difficult, but I was so lucky that I got managers very quickly after that.

 I've also been very lucky that pretty much every single brand deal, to this day, I still stand by.  I've also formed such good relationships with so many companies that like Curology, that we're going on five years now.

I'm even more lucky that I find brands like NOCD, with having OCD myself, that was just like serendipitous that I found them. While also talking about OCD on my channel, I felt like this is just the perfect partnership. So I've been very lucky in that department.

 Do you have any advice for someone starting out in content creation who might be struggling to find what exactly they want to be making?

 In the beginning, it's totally okay to be inspired by other people and emulate what you see because that's exactly what I did. But also, make the videos that you yourself would want to watch. Don't get stuck in a cycle of creating content that you don't care about — you're going to burn out so quickly.

And I know that there are so many people out there who are stuck in what they're doing just because it is what brings them money and the career that they have. I'm all about get your bag, but simultaneously, that is just not a life to live — where you are putting so much of yourself out there and receiving all the negative from it as well, only to be making content that you would never watch yourself.

Don't get stuck in a cycle of creating content that you don't care about — you're going burn out so quickly.

I always think of Billie Eilish, for example, when she said, "Of course I listen to my own music in the car." When I upload a video, I will sit back and watch it. It's like watching it for the first time with fresh eyes, and I'm watching it along in real time with the viewer, and I'm like, "Oh my god, this girl's funny."

Now I'm not sitting and doing my makeup and like watching my own videos or listening to my own podcast in the car — power to the people who are — but I enjoy what I'm making, and I think that's the most important thing is like finding that. And if that means experimenting for a while and being in a weird lull, do it. Even upload the videos that you think are bad, too.

Be proud of what you're making, but also know that you're your own worst critic. The videos that I hated the most after editing them for like 12 hours straight — sometimes people love them, sometimes not, but you're learning from every single experience that you have.

It's that time! Yes, once the kids start going back to school and the smell of pumpkin spice latte is in the air, fall film festival season has begun. For Mashable, that means diving into the Toronto International Film Festival, which boasts an eye-popping array of big stars, exciting filmmakers, and world premieres.

Last year, TIFF brought us such stunners as The Life of Chuck, Conclave, and The Wild Robot. This year, the slate delivers new movies from such celebrated filmmakers as Rian Johnson, Chloé Zhao, Nia DaCosta, Derek Cianfrance, and Guillermo del Toro. But that's far from all.

Big stars who will debut their latest flexes include Dwayne Johnson, Andrew Scott, Tessa Thompson, Keanu Reeves, June Squibb, Toni Collette, Oscar Isaac, Kerry Washington, Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver, and Paul Mescal.

But you don't need to be at the festival to get in on the fun. Mashable's coverage will get you close to action with reviews and news out of TIFF. Beyond that, we're highlighting which movies from the fest should be on your radar right now — and how you can plan to see them.

Whether you're craving bodice-ripping romance, bloodcurdling horror, mind-bending thrills, heartwarming comedy, or jaw-dropping surprises, we've got you covered with a mix of already buzzed-about titles, promising award season hopefuls, and hidden gems.

Hedda

Nia DaCosta and Tessa Thompson are primed to dazzle at TIFF with the world premiere of Hedda. Seven years ago, the writer/director made her critically heralded feature debut with the rising star in the stirring thriller Little Woods. They reteamed for the MCU tentpole The Marvels in 2023, and now they're back with a smoldering period romance adapted from Henrik Ibsen's 1890 play, Hedda Gabler.

Thompson stars as the eponymous heroine, a beguiling socialite who seems to have everything she could want — until a former flame reappears. In an intriguing move, DaCosta gender-swapped the role of this lover, casting Nina Hoss as Eileen Lovborg and bringing a queer context to Ibsen's classic drama. From the looks of the film's first trailer, Hedda's going to turn heads.

Starring: Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots, Nicholas Pinnock, and Tom Bateman

How to watch: Following Hedda's TIFF premiere, the movie will open in select theaters on Oct. 22, then debut globally on Prime Video on Oct. 29.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Knives Out. The Glass Onion. Now mystery-weaver Rian Johnson brings Wake Up Dead Man, the third installment of Benoit Blanc whodunnits.

Ahead of the film's world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the details on Wake Up Dead Man are scarce. What we do know is the setting is a small town's local church, where the legendary sleuth encounters a deadly crime as well as a pair of priests played by Josh O'Connor and Josh Brolin. Like its predecessors, this sequel boasts a jaw-dropping array of stars. But what murder and mischief they'll get up to is a mystery for now!*

Starring: Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery debuts on Netflix on Dec. 12.

You Had to Be There The 1972 Toronto cast of "Godspell." Credit: TIFF

Too few know the incredible fact that one play production out of Toronto in 1972 led to the meteoric rise of stars like Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, and Andrea Martin. That show was Godspell, and fittingly, the documentary about this production and how it forever shaped comedy in North America will premiere at the same theater the musical did back in '72.

Documentarian Nick Davis gathers together the surviving cast members as well as the future performers they influenced (like Mike Myers, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Janeane Garofolo) to take audiences back to this time and place. And for a sense of the film's breadth and humor, look no further than the full title: You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (In a Canadian Kind of Way).

Starring: Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Jayne Eastwood, and Paul Shaffer

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, You Had to Be There's release is to be determined.

Wayward

Toni Collette leads a cult? We're in. But if you need more convincing, here are the juicy details on Netflix's new miniseries Wayward.

Created and starring Mae Martin, Wayward centers on the reclusive community of Tall Pines, where a bespectacled guru named Evelyn Wade (Collette) runs a reform center for troubled teens. While she is beloved by the community, a newcomer to town (Martin) is suspicious of the way teens are reformed under Evelyn's hand. What secrets lurk in Tall Pines? All we can say for now is: They are wild.

Starring: Toni Collette, Mae Martin, Sarah Gadon, Brandon Jay McLaren, Patrick J. Adams, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Patrick Gallagher, Sydney Topliffe, and Joshua Close

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Wayward debuts on Netflix on Sept. 25.

Dust Bunny Sophie Sloan, Mads Mikkelsen, and Sigourney Weaver in "Dust Bunny." Credit: Roadside Attractions

Bryan Fuller is the visionary behind such twisted yet winsome shows as Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, and — uh — Hannibal. Dust Bunny is related to all of these in premise and casting, meaning Fuller's fans will go wild for it.

Written and directed by Fuller, Dust Bunny centers an 8-year-old orphan (Sophie Sloan), who is convinced a dust bunny monster under her bed has eaten her parents and is coming for her next. Her only hope is the hit man who lives down the hall. Naturally, he's played by Mads Mikkelsen. A gnarly fairy tale that's reminiscent of Léon: The Professional and Amélie, Dust Bunny is weird and wonderful in all the ways we've come to expect of Fuller.

Starring: Sophie Sloan, Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver, and David Dastmalchian

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Dust Bunny will be distributed by Roadside Attractions.

Eternity

Happily ever after? Or 'til death do us part? Writer/director David Freyne (Dating Amber) muses which is best in Eternity, a dramedy set in the afterlife.

Miles Teller stars as Larry, a recently deceased man who's bumbling through the great beyond with the help of a guide (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) when he finds his wife Joan (Elizabeth Olsen). But what should be a joyous reunion gets complicated when Larry meets Luke, Joan's first love and first husband (Callum Turner). So, who will Joan choose to spend eternity with? The man she built a life with? Or the one she lost to death a lifetime ago?

A love triangle tale in heaven? Sounds divine.

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

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Eternity will open in theaters in November.

Hamnet

Two-time Academy Award–winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) brings a lesser-known Shakespearean tragedy to light with Hamnet. Based on some true events, Hamnet is an adaptation of the Maggie O'Farrell novel, which follows how the iconic playwright William Shakespeare and his wife met, fell in love, had children, and grieved the loss of their only son.

Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley stars as wife and mother Agnes, who has a deep connection to nature, her three children, and her brilliant husband. Oscar nominee Paul Mescal (All of Us Strangers) plays the playwright, who weaves his grief into one of his greatest plays, Hamlet. A sure-fire tearjerker stoked by a critically heralded cast, Hamnet is coming to break our hearts and perhaps leave us wanting more.

Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, David Wilmot, Olivia Lynes, and Jacobi Jupe

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Hamnet will have a limited Nov. 27 release before going nationwide Dec. 12.

Roofman

Ready for something drifferent from writer/director Derek Cianfrance? The American filmmaker is best known for gripping dramas like Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Sound of Metal. But while his latest is inspired by a stranger-than-fiction true crime case, Roofman seems devoted to feel-good fun.

Channing Tatum stars Jeffrey Manchester, a former United States Army Reserve officer who became better known for a spree of robberies he committed in the 2000s. However, far from depicting Manchester as a horrifying masked man, Roofman suggests this crook has a heart of gold. While hiding out in a Toys "R" Us, this thief's soft spot leads to some unexpected charity and a blossoming romance with a store clerk, played by Kirsten Dunst.

Starring: Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Melonie Diaz, Uzo Aduba, Lily Collias, Jimmy O. Yang, and Peter Dinklage

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Roofman opens in theaters on Oct. 10.

The Smashing Machine

You might recognize his voice. But heavy prosthetics on his face means you may not clock Dwayne Johnson in the lead role of this biopic from writer/director Benny Safdie.

Johnson brings his acting chops and WWE expertise together to star as UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Inside the arena, he is a terrifying titan. Outside, he's a gentle man, but one with demons to battle. Emily Blunt co-stars as Mark's wife, Dawn Staples. Together, they reveal the battles beyond the ring. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival ahead of its theatrical debut, The Smashing Machine could pave the path to Oscar gold as the Academy loves a drama about a pro fighter. (See The Fighter, The Wrestler, Raging Bull...) Could it be a contender?

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, The Smashing Machine opens in theaters on Oct. 3.

Eleanor the Great

Scarlett Johansson makes her feature directorial debut with this challenging comedy, which is a showcase for Academy Award winner June Squibb.

Written by Tory Kamen, Eleanor the Great stars Squibb as the eponymous nonagenarian, who's moved back to New York City after more than a decade away. Craving connection, she goes to the Jewish Community Center, where she makes new friends by telling a whopping lie: that she's a Holocaust survivor.

While the premise is shocking and much of the film deals in grief, Eleanor the Great is a defiantly joyful, hilarious, and humane comedy about love, loss, and friendship. Following its World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, it's likely to charm audiences at TIFF and beyond.

Starring: June Squibb, Erin Kellyman, Jessica Hecht, and Chiwetel Ejiofor

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Eleanor the Great will open in U.S. theaters on Sept. 26.

Arco

Last year at TIFF, we were awed by Flow, an animated adventure that on its surface was about an unlikely band of animal buddies surviving a rising tide, but ultimately carried a powerful message about climate change. This year, we're intrigued by Arco, a sci-fi fantasy adventure from writer/director Ugo Bienvenu.

A time-travel tale of hope and friendship, Arco follows the eponymous 10-year-old boy as he uses a rainbow to warp from 2932 to 2075. In the past, he befriends a young girl named Iris, and realizes the world is in peril. Together, can they devise a way to get Arco back to when he belongs — and maybe save Iris' world while they're at it? The first trailer won't answer those questions, but it assures us this animated adventure will be a stunner.

Starring: Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Flea, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, and Andy Samberg

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Arco opens in select theaters on Nov. 14.

The Lost Bus

Ready for a disaster movie that's based on real-life heroics? The Lost Bus is based on the book Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire by Lizzie Johnson. But its story is more specifically about Kevin McKay, a bus driver who faced down the historically deadly Camp Fire to rescue 22 school children and their teacher from its scorching reach.

Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey and Academy Award nominee America Ferrera star as the driver and the teacher, while Academy Award nominee Paul Greengrass (Green Zone, Captain Phillips) directs. That means this thriller is stuffed with acclaimed talent, joining forces to tell a heart-soaring true story about bravery in the face of disaster.

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, and Ashlie Atkinson

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, The Lost Bus will have a limited theatrical release on Sept. 19, and a digital streaming premiere on Apple TV+ on Oct. 3.

Good Fortune

Imagine if Keanu Reeves were your guardian angel? Sounds like a dream, right? Well, in the new comedy written, directed, and starring Aziz Ansari, it's more a wacky misadventure.

Reeves stars as Gabriel, a well-meaning but inept guardian angel who's trying to make a big difference in the life of a struggling gig worker named Arj (Ansari). So, he pulls a Trading Places, swapping Arj's circumstances with a wealthy tech bro, played by Seth Rogen.

Keanu Reeves as a (hot) angel, comedy titans team up with stunning funny ladies Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh, and there's an eat-the-rich edge? Dear God, we're ready.

Starring: Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, and Keanu Reeves

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Good Fortune opens in theaters on Oct. 17.

A Useful Ghost Old aunties confront a ghost in a vacuum in "A Useful Ghost." Credit: Best Friend Forever / TIFF

This comedy out of Thailand begins with a sublimely silly premise: A ghost has possessed a vacuum cleaner to stay close to those they love. From there, writer/director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke spins a story of love, yearning, and rebellion that is a joy to watch, and a treasure to ponder.

Wisarut Homhuan stars as a self-proclaimed "Academic Ladyboy," who learns from a handsome repairman (Wanlop Rungkumjud) about ghost-possessed vacuums and much, much more. A trio of stories fold into each other in this sensational comedy that smoothly slides into political satire. It's easy to see why it made a splash out of its Cannes Film Festival premiere and why Thailand has chosen A Useful Ghost as the country's submission to the Academy Awards for the international feature film category this year. Moving, hilarious, and deliciously surprising, this movie will keep you on your toes. Keep an eye out for it.

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

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, A Useful Ghost's U.S. release plans are TBD.

Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro has made his name in monster movies featuring all kinds of monsters, from the superhero beasts of Blade II and Hellboy to the folklore creatures in Pan's Labyrinth, the kaiju of Pacific Rim, the ghastly ghosts of Crimson Peak, and the Oscar–winning wonder of The Shape of Water. Now, he brings us the father (or mother?) of monster movies: Frankenstein.

Adapted from Mary Shelley's landmark 1818 novel, Frankenstein stars Oscar Isaac as an arrogant genius of a scientist named Victor Frankenstein, who dreams of reignited life in a cobbled-together corpse. Who will play this iconic monster? Jacob Elordi. Look, the way del Toro boldly blends the beautiful and the beastly, I have no questions, no notes. My body is ready.*

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Frankenstein will come to Netflix this November.

If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

Writer/director Mary Bronstein's daring dramedy first made waves out of Sundance 2025, where critics cheered and A24 bought the distribution rights.

Starring Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You follows a middle-aged wife and mother who is at her wit's end thanks to the pressures of caring for her sick child, juggling the duties of an absentee husband as well as her job, and dealing with a house that is literally falling apart. In his review for Mashable, Siddhant Adlakha cheered Byrne's performance, writing, "There isn't a single moment during which the torment driving Byrne's character to lash out isn't visible behind her eyes, begging to be recognized. It's a plea made all the more urgent by the fact that If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You feels in a constant state of hair-raising climax. And so, it grabs you by the collar and pulls you along for its harrowing plunge, forcing you to witness — and to understand — the worst yet most deeply human impulses a mother can have."

Starring: Rose Byrne, Conan O'Brien, Danielle Macdonald, Christian Slater, and A$AP Rocky

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You opens in theaters on Oct. 10.

Exit 8

If you got lost in Kotake Create's 2023 walking simulator The Exit 8, you'll be game for its eerie film adaptation, making its North American premiere at TIFF.

Written and directed by Genki Kawamura, Exit 8 is set in the passageways of a Japanese metro, where everyday commuters get derailed and trapped in an inexplicable loop. Kazunari Ninomiya, best-known as a member of the Japanese boy band Arashi, stars as "the lost man," who is on the brink of a major life decision when he gets trapped. To escape this labyrinth, he must have a keen eye. Viewers can play along, getting sucked into the surreal and sinister realm of Exit 8.

Starring: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, and Nana Komatsu

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, a U.S. release for Exit 8 has not yet been announced.

The Ugly

In 2016, director Yeon Sang-ho blew horror fans away with Train to Busan, a zombie thriller that was surprising, heart-wrenching, and scary as hell. Since then, he tackled the ambitious horror-fantasy series Hellbound, which grappled with damnation and cults. Now, he's moving away from such gory genre fare for The Ugly.

Adapted from his debut graphic novel Face, The Ugly follows a man on a mission to understand what happened to his mother, who went missing 40 years before. When her bones are recovered, he's desperate to understand not only what happened to her, but also who she was. And based on the film's first trailer, the truth could be... ugly.

Starring: Park Jeong-min, Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Hyun-been, Im Seong-jae, and Han Ji-hyeon

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, The Ugly will open in limited theatrical release on Sept. 26.

Mile End Kicks Barbie Ferreira stars in "Mile End Kicks." Credit: TIFF

Pulling from her misadventurous youth, writer/director Chandler Levack delivers a comedy about sex, love, and rock music. Euphoria's Barbie Ferreira stars as Grace, a music critic who dreams of writing a book about Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. But the summer she's meant to write it in Montreal gets sidelined when she falls hard for two members of a local rock band.

If you loved Almost Famous, you might well relish Mile End Kicks, which also offers a tale of self-exploration through the highs and lows of being with the band. Delivering a performance crackling in energy and vulnerability, Ferreira blossoms. And to Levack's credit, her semi-autobiographical movie is less glossy in romanticizing her past. It's refreshingly frank.

Starring: Barbie Ferreira, Jay Baruchel, Devon Bostick, Juliette Gariépy, Stanley Simons, Robert Naylor, Emily Lê, Hasani Freeman, and Magi Merlin

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Mile End Kicks' release is TBD.

Honey Bunch Grace Glowicki is carried by Ben Petrie in "Honey Bunch." Credit: TIFF

Canadian actress Grace Glowicki makes two prominent appearances at this year's TIFF, the first being her directorial debut, Dead Lover, which brings big Midnight Madness energy with its Frankenstein plot and deeply DIY aesthetic. The second is Honey Bunch, where she stars as Diana, a young intellectual whose favorite hobby seems to be debating love and devotion with husband Homer (Ben Petrie). However, following an accident, Diana must depend on him more than ever as she undergoes an experimental treatment at a remote recovery center.

Co-written and co-directed by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli, Honey Bunch offers old-school horror in the vein of Don't Look Now. The married couple's relationship on the rocks is made more horrifying as a young wife has strange visions of her body, blistered and mutated. Are these side effects? Or is something more sinister at play beneath her husband's smile?

Starring: Grace Glowicki, Ben Petrie, Jason Isaacs, Kate Dickie, India Brown, Patricia Tulasne, and Julian Richings

How to watch: Following TIFF 2025, Honey Bunch's release plans are currently TBD.

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

Stephen Colbert has taken aim at President Donald Trump once more, mocking an "ominous" multi-storey banner of the billionaire's face that has been hung on the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) building.

Unveiled on Aug. 28, the DOL's massive Trump poster gained attention online for its obvious Orwellian imagery. In a photo taken from inside the building, Trump's eyes can be seen peering through the windows in a manner evoking 1984's totalitarian dystopia.

"Big Brother is watching," wrote HuffPost reporter Jennifer Bendery, who first posted the photo to X and stated it was provided to them by a federal employee. As of writing, it has 14,000 likes.

The DOL's official X account subsequently attempted to spin the image, reposting it with the text, "Morning Views Happy Wednesday, Patriots!" It has since gathered 4,400 likes.

"Hanging giant banners of themselves isn't something American presidents do. It's something you see from dictators like Benito Mussolini, Mao Zedong, and Generalissimo Mamma Mia!" quipped Colbert on The Late Show on Wednesday, referencing the jukebox ABBA musical's famous poster.

There are tons of docks and docking stations around, many of them with different ports and power needs. This Anker docking station has a whopping 14 ports, in case you need one solution to end them all.

Anker, a household name in chargers and mobile accessories, just announced its latest 160W Prime Wall Charger at IFA in Berlin, Germany. While everyone already has a wall charger or two, I'll be upgrading to the new Anker Prime Charger for one simple reason, and you'll probably want one too.

The upcoming months are going to be busy for Anker Innovations. Under the company's umbrella include three well-known brands — Anker, Eufy, and Soundcore — all of which have new products coming within the next year. At IFA 2025, the brand launched its latest advancements and what's to come from the brand.

The products mentioned at Anker's IFA presentation included an update on the EufyMake E1 UV Printer as well as a whole new lineup of Anker Prime chargers. But the most exciting announcement from Anker Innovations is that a new robot vacuum is coming that offers aromatherapy and climbs stairs.

Here's everything announced by Anker Innovations at IFA 2025.

EufyEufy RoboVac Omni S2 The new Eufy RoboVac Omni S2 Credit: Anker

The new Eufy RoboVac Omni S2 is hitting the US market in January of 2026 and bringing exceptional cleaning power. It has AeroTurbo Carpet Master 2.0 that navigates up to a five-centimeter pile rug. It's a dual vacuum and mop, and with HydroJet 2.0, it functions as a self-cleaning mop with electrolyzed water.

It has 3D mapping, obstacle detection, and a self-emptying station, none of which is novel for a robot vacuum these days. Where it does stand out is its intelligent aromatherapy system. It releases fragrance as it cleans with three signature scents: bamboo and sage, bergamot and lychee, and citrus and basil.

But its biggest advancement is its ability to climb stairs when paired with the Eufy Marswalker.

The Eufy RoboVac Omni S2 will be priced at $1,599 for its January 2026 debut.

Eufy Marswalker The Eufy Marswalker probably won't make it to space, but i can make it up a flight of stairs. Credit: Anker

No, the Marswalker isn't the first robot vacuum to make it into space, but it is about to make a stair-climbing robot vacuum a possibility.

The Marswalker isn't actually a robot vacuum itself but a platform that enables robot vacuums to climb stairs. It will be compatible with the Eufy RoboVac Omni S2, as the vacuum will slide into the Marswalker, which will then carry it up the stairs. And it really means it can climb stairs, and not just two-inch thresholds like the Dreame X50 Ultra. With the S2 vacuum, the Marswalker will navigate and build a 3D map of your home and is able to navigate straight, L-shaped, and U-shaped stairs.

There is no exact date or price given for release of the Marswalker, but it's expected in spring of 2026.

SEE ALSO: Roborock Saros Z70 review: If you think you need the robot vacuum with an arm, no you don't EufyMake E1 UV Printer After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the EufyMake E1 UV Printer will be available December 2025. Credit: Anker

Eufy isn't making a 3D printer, but it is coming out with a 3D texture printer, able to capture the feel of a rich piece of art. First launched in a Kickstarter campaign, the Eufy E1 UV Printer will be coming to market in December 2025. The basic bundle includes an E1 Printer and Ink Kit, while the deluxe plus bundle includes the E1 printer, ink kit, UV DTF laminating machine, rotary printing attachment, and roll-to-film attachment, costing $3,799.

Eufy Security With its new AI core, the Eufy S4 Cam expands its view. Credit: Anker

Eufy is expanding its security systems with two major announcements. Expected in November 2025 is Eufy's AI Core, bringing yard-level perimeter security. While other cameras can only detect as far as the porch, this Qualcomm-powered device will allow full-lawn surveillance.

Available for preorder now is the EufyCam S4, with a two-cam kit costing $649 and the four-cam kit coming in at $1,149. The camera includes two cameras in one with a 4K wide-angle and a 2K dual-lens. It includes a solar panel for easier charging and is weather-sealed to protect against the elements. It's designed to work with Eufy's HomeBase 3, which will also be compatible with Eufy's new AI Core.

While this is a promising development, it should be noted that there was a previous report of Eufy's security cameras suddenly showing live feeds to strangers, which is cause for concern. Though, the company quickly fixed the bug when it happened.

SoundcoreSoundcore Work Built-in AI makes transcribing a breeze. Credit: Anker

While Soundcore's products usually deliver sound to you, the new Soundcore Work captures sound. The device measures less than an inch and captures audio, which is then delivered in the Soundcore app. With the recordings come AI transcriptions that are reportedly 97 percent accurate. The device will cost $99.99 with a $15.99 month fee for the transcription services.

The product officially launches this month, but will be available globally in November 2025.

Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro Anker's Nebula projectors now exist under the Soundcore umbrella. Credit: Anker

Anker's projectors used to exist under their own brand; however, they now fall under the Soundcore umbrella. The newest product from the brand, outfitted with the Soundcore logo, is the Nebula X1 Pro.

It's in the early stages of rollout, but promises to be the first projector with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. It has front speakers to be used as a soundbar or as a standalone speaker.

The projector will launch on Kickstarter on September 23, 2025, and be priced between $4,000 and $5,000.

AnkerAnker Prime Chargers and Power Banks Anker Prime is the brand's flagship line of chargers. Credit: Anker

Four new power chargers are coming to the Anker Prime collection: the Anker Prime Charger (160W, 3 Ports), the Anker Prime Power Bank (26K, 300W), the Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1 dock), and the Anker Prime Docking Station (14-in-1).

The Anker Prime Charger is even smaller than Apple's 140W charger but offers more power and three ports, while the Anker Prime Power Bank can simultaneously charge two laptops and a phone at full speed. The 3-in-1 charging station is MagSafe compatible for both the iPhone and Apple Watch, while also keeping devices cool while charging. The Anker Prime Docking Station has 14 ports total, compatible with 140W upstream USB-C, USB-C, USB-A, dual HDMI, DP, Ethernet, audio, and SD/TF.

The release date for the new Anker Prime products is still to be determined.

Belkin just announced a brand new BoostCharge Retractable Car Charger 75W with a built-in retractable USB-C cable. The new charger plugs right into your vehicle's power outlet and can power up to three devices at once, making it incredibly useful for road trips or just your daily commute.