Technology

Something about this time of year on Mars is reminiscent of 1939's The Wizard of Oz. 

Maybe it's the ruddiness of the planet that gives off its own natural sepia tone like we see in Victor Fleming's film adaptation. Maybe it's the tornadoes, sometimes so tall they seem like they could lift more than a few farmhouses. 

But one thing's for sure about these freakish alien dust devils: You're definitely not in Kansas if you see them. More like 140 million miles over the rainbow in space. 

Though scientists have long known the hazards of the wind phenomenons churning up Martian dirt, NASA's Perseverance rover, a Mini Cooper-sized lab on six wheels, just caught a rare sight: one mega dust devil devouring another. Despite how often these whirlwinds occur, interactions between them are seldom observed.

"Convective vortices — aka dust devils — can be rather fiendish," said Mark Lemmon, a Perseverance scientist at the Space Science Institute in Colorado, in a statement. "These mini twisters wander the surface of Mars, picking up dust as they go and lowering the visibility in their immediate area. If two dust devils happen upon each other, they can either obliterate one another or merge, with the stronger one consuming the weaker."

SEE ALSO: NASA's rovers just found similar gnarly rocks on opposite sides of Mars This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The video featured in the X post above, recorded on Jan. 25 at the Jezero Crater rim, shows a large dust devil — about 210 feet wide — overtaking a much smaller one, at just 16 feet across. As they collide, the weaker dust devil vanishes into the stronger one. Two other dust devils spin in the background. At the time, the rover was watching from about a half-mile away.

Dust devils on Mars form similarly to those on Earth, despite the fact that Mars' atmosphere is much thinner. They tend to happen on dry days when the ground gets hotter than the surrounding area. Typically smaller than tornadoes, dust devils are whirlwinds that make a funnel-like chimney, channeling hot air up and around. The rotating wind then accelerates similar to the way spinning ice skaters move faster as they bring their arms closer to their bodies.

This Martian phenomenon leaves tracks — straight lines, curves, and curlicues — wherever it has traveled. Their color is a result of picking up the light dust that coats virtually all of the Red Planet and exposing layers of dark volcanic rocks.

About 13 years ago, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter caught sight of an extraordinary dust devil with a plume stretching 12 miles into the sky. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UA

The latest footage provides new insight into how these swirling columns of wind and dust interact with each other and the Martian atmosphere. Roughly half of the planet’s airborne dust is thought to come from them.

"Dust devils play a significant role in Martian weather patterns," said Katie Stack Morgan, a Perseverance project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in a statement. "Dust devil study is important because these phenomena indicate atmospheric conditions, such as prevailing wind directions and speed."

Taking a picture of a dust devil isn’t easy. Unlike hurricanes or thunderstorms on Earth, this kind of foul weather shows up without warning. Perseverance regularly scans the landscape for them on the off-chance it might catch one in action. Scientists study the rover's images for trends, such as what time of day dust devils tend to be more active and where they come from.

NASA’s Viking orbiters were the first spacecraft to photograph the dust devils in the 1970s. Two decades later, the Pathfinder lander captured one from the ground and even detected a dust devil passing over it. Since then, a handful of other robots have observed the phenomena, with Perseverance recording the first audio of a whirlwind in 2021.

In the rover's latest video, the life of the slighter dust devil is abruptly cut short by a superior twister. But one probably didn't outlive the other by much, Lemmon said. Martian dust devils only last about 10 minutes. 

About 200 light-years from the black hole at the center of the Milky Way lies a region that isn't as fertile as scientists would think. 

This star-forming cloud of gas and dust, Sagittarius C, is brimming with all of the material to make star babies, yet its yield of new stars remains relatively low, despite the fact that it has likely birthed thousands of stars already. Scientists pointed the James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration of NASA and its European and Canadian space counterparts, at this mysterious stellar nursery to try to figure out why. With its powerful infrared vision, the telescope was able to give a clearer picture. 

The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal in two papers, provide new insights into why some star-forming clouds may appear relatively impotent. Researchers now believe strong magnetic fields may be responsible for the lack of output.

"A big question has been, if there is so much dense gas and dust here, and we know stars form in these kinds of clouds, why are so few stars born in Sagittarius C?" said John Bally, an astrophysicist at the University of Colorado Boulder, in a statement. "For the first time, we are seeing that strong magnetic fields may be playing a major role in stopping star formation."

SEE ALSO: Webb telescope finds Milky Way black hole never stops strobing light The Meerkat radio telescope in South Africa puts the Webb image in context by showing Sagittarius C in an environment spanning 1,000 light-years. The inset Webb image covers about 44 light-years. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / SARAO / Samuel Crowe / John Bally / Ruben Fedriani / Ian Heywood

Webb was built to detect invisible light at infrared wavelengths. Cosmic dust and gas obscure the view to extremely distant and inherently dim light sources, but infrared waves can pierce through the clouds. One Webb scientist likened the strength of the telescope to being able to sense the heat of a single bumblebee on the moon.

Scientists say understanding what's going on in Sagittarius C is an important step in understanding star formation generally. Stars create most of the chemical elements on Earth, including carbon and oxygen, which are essential ingredients for life. But even experts admit they have much to learn about how the universe makes new stars. 

The researchers confirmed that two enormous stars, each more than 20 times the mass of the sun, are growing inside Sagittarius C, blasting out powerful jets of gas as they develop. They also identified five smaller stars swaddled in thick layers of dust. 

Dust and gas obscure the view to extremely distant and inherently dim light sources, but infrared waves can pierce through the clouds. Credit: NASA GSFC / CIL / Adriana Manrique Gutierrez illustration

Webb also detected 88 weird structures made of glowing hydrogen, thought to be shock waves caused by young stars tossing out their own material into space. Additionally, scientists discovered an entirely separate nearby star factory with at least two of its own growing stars.

Prior to these studies, Sagittarius C showed dozens of threadlike filaments, some several light-years long, in hot hydrogen gas surrounding the main star-forming cloud. Scientists think magnetic forces of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, might be strong enough to push against the pull of gravity. Perhaps such tension could prevent the dense clouds from collapsing and forming more stars.

Samuel Crowe, a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Virginia who co-led the study, said Sagittarius C has turned out to be an important laboratory for testing theories on star formation.

"This discovery opens up new questions about how magnetic fields influence the birth of stars," he said in a statement, "both in our galaxy and beyond."

Given inflation across the U.S. and beyond, living has become increasingly expensive. Dating isn't immune to this. Mashable has previously reported that the cost of living crisis in the UK specifically has impacted the way we date, and that's no doubt the case for people elsewhere, too. 

Between paying for drinks, outfits, and commuting, some singles may have to make tough financial decisions around dates. This could also mean not paying for dating apps. Thankfully, it is possible to use many popular dating apps for free.

What dating apps are free?

Major dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge all have free tiers, as does Grindr and OkCupid.

Some users have recently complained that apps have placed various features behind paywalls. Mashable has reported that Grindr users are one such consumer base. Grindr has in recent years limited the visibility of "taps" (which indicate interest without a direct message), and the "explore" page (that allows users to see others not in their location) only unlocks one new profile a day, whereas it used to unlock three.

SEE ALSO: LinkedIn and dating apps are failing users in the same ways

There could be several reasons for this. Many mainstream apps are owned by public companies. Grindr, for example, is public, as is Match Group, the parent company behind Tinder and Hinge. When a company is beholden to shareholders, it has pressure to make more money and thus monetize features.

Another reason is that companies aren't immune to inflation, either. It might cost more to operate now than in years past, and they want to make up for that increased cost somehow.

Despite the complaints and potential increased paywalls (and ads), these apps do function for free. But it might be like paying for the lower-tier of a streaming service: You won't have all the bells and whistles.  

More robust dating apps (that started as dating sites) like eharmony and Match require you to pay in order to match or chat with other users. Even in 2025, though, there are a good number of dating apps you can use for free. We rounded up apps where you can find your forever partner, a casual encounter, or something in between — without paying a dime.

Featured Video For You These dating sites and apps are perfect for people on a budget

All right, you want the best of the best? Then we're gonna give it to you.

After scouring Netflix for the best thrillers, best action flicks, best romantic comedies, best horror movies, best family films, and more, it's finally time for us to narrow down our streaming suggestions to the best movies, period.

That's right — it's superhero sagas vs. biopics vs. war dramas vs. musicals vs. comedies vs. so much more. This is the ultimate film list for when you have no idea what you want to watch outside of the general concept of an excellent movie that delivers top-tier performances, a killer script, and an engaging world.

Without further ado and in no particular order, here are the 25 best movies now on Netflix.

1. Godzilla Minus One

You don't know Godzilla until you see Godzilla Minus One. The American movies featuring the classic kaiju go for huge monster-vs.-monster face-offs — bogged down by tedious human characters. But writer/director Takashi Yamazaki reclaims the Japanese icon with a movie that gets the balance between rampaging monster action and human drama just right.

Set near the close of World War II, Godzilla Minus One proves a fascinating tale of atomic-age terror. Ryunosuke Kamiki stars as a kamikaze pilot who first flubs his mission, then crosses paths with the giant lizard with atomic breath. Survivor's guilt torments him, even as he cobbles together a found family of survivors. This cast of characters is dynamic, making the scenes of simple home-cooked meals just as satisfying as sequences of town-trampling destruction. Actually, one deeply informs the other. Because while Kamiki's jaw-dropping special effects rightfully won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, it's the emotional impact of them that makes his Godzilla hit harder than any contemporary. Even on the small screen, you'll be in awe. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Godzilla Minus One is streaming on Netflix.

2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Credit: Sony Pictures

In 2018, we got what remains one of the best superhero movies of all time with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. That's an incredibly hard act to follow, and yet the sequel to Miles Morales' journey, Across the Spider-Verse, is absolutely fantastic. 

SEE ALSO: 'Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' is full of glorious Easter eggs. Here are 13 of the best.

In the second part of the Spider-Verse saga, Miles is grown up, but he's struggling to balance his life as Brooklyn's web-slinger with his studies and being a good son to his parents. After a visit from Gwen (Spider-Woman in her universe), Miles becomes tangled up with a daunting new villain, a whole new team of Spider-Peoples, and a mission that could change the fate of the multiverse. I know, I know, we're all a little burnt out by the overabundance of multiverse narratives these days, but Across the Spider-Verse manages to inject its story with some truly clever world-building. The newest characters are a blast, with a killer voice cast that includes Issa Rae, Oscar Isaac, Daniel Kaluuya, Karan Soni, and Greta Lee, among other fun cameos. The action set pieces are exhilarating and funny, and the animation is somehow more dazzling than the first film. We can only hope the third Spider-Verse film is half as good as the first two. — Oliver Whitney, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is streaming on Netflix.

3. Boyz n the Hood

Director John Singleton gave us one of the best dramas of the 1990s in what just so happened to be his directorial debut. A raw portrait of Black life in South Central Los Angeles, Boyz n the Hood tells the story of Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who moves in with his stern father Furious (Laurence Fishburne, as outstanding as ever) as a young boy. We follow Tre, now a teen who aspires to go to college, as he gets entangled in a world of gang rivalries with his friends. 

Boyz n the Hood isn't a film simply about gang violence, but one that showcases the ways America's long history of systemic racism and anti-Blackness have trapped its characters in a cycle of violence and poverty. It marked a major shift in the ways Black stories were told in American cinema through the lens of Black filmmakers, and laid the groundwork for more to come, from Menace II Society to Juice and beyond. It also launched the careers of its stellar cast with breakout roles for Gooding Jr., Nia Long, Regina King, Ice Cube, and Morris Chestnut. — O.W.

How to watch: Boyz n the Hood is streaming on Netflix.

4. May December Credit: Francois Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix

On its surface, the latest from Todd Haynes (Carol, Velvet Goldmine) may seem like a thinly veiled reexamination of a true crime tale that had '90s tabloids absolutely obsessed. Screenwriter Samy Burch uses this familiar framework to construct a story that not only delivers a dishy parody of a melodrama, down to a string-zinging score and comically banal dialogue about hot dogs. She's also built a keen device to evaluate our obsession with true crime, for better or for ghoulish.

In May December, Julianne Moore plays a wife and mother who has a shameful (and criminal) past, which involves how she met her current husband (Charles Melton). When a TV actress (Natalie Portman) wants to turn their lives into a movie, old wounds are reopened. Beneath the blistering domestic drama, Haynes and Burch weave in a sharp and sophisticated humor that invites audiences to bark with laughter, even as their jaws drop in shock.* — K.P.

How to watch: May December is streaming on Netflix.

5. Crossroads

Hollywood gave teenage girls the greatest gift of all time in 2002: a little film called Crossroads. The Britney Spears-led coming-of-age movie is about three best friends from Georgia who go on a road trip to LA for a record label audition, and for Spears' Lucy to reconnect with her estranged mom along the way. 

Crossroads — which, fun fact, was written by Shonda Rhimes — is honestly a strange movie. On one hand, it's bubbly and silly and fun as Lucy and her friends (Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning) spend much of the runtime singing along to pop songs on the radio and doing the most unforgettable karaoke performance of “I Love Rock 'n' Roll.” On the other hand, it's a pretty devastating story about trauma and abuse with some shocking plot twists. But what could be a more fitting movie for millennial teens than one with sing-alongs and over-the-top drama? — O.W.

How to watch: Crossroads is streaming on Netflix.

6. The Kitchen

Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya's film The Kitchen is more than a sci-fi drama set in near-future London; it's a sharp commentary on privatization and oppression, police brutality, and the power of community resistance. It's also Kaluuya's directorial debut, and a hell of a watch.

Protagonists Izi (Top Boy star Kane Robinson) and Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman) live within the titular neighborhood known as The Kitchen, the last remaining bastion of independent housing in London. Plagued by brutal police raids and skint resources, the community is constantly under threat. It's a brilliantly shot, superbly acted, and all-too-real cautionary tale.* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

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

7. Nimona Credit: Netflix

Nimona transports audiences to a futuristic medieval world where knight Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) is on the run for a crime he did not commit. However, it's his label as a "villain" that brings shapeshifter Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) into his life. More comfortable as a shark than a human girl, Nimona is a delightfully deviant fiend who wants nothing more than to stick it to the all-powerful Institute. She and Ballister make quite the odd pair — she wants to wreak havoc, he just wants to clear his name — but together, they may just defeat an evil lurking in their kingdom.

Between some electrifying fight scenes and its graphic animation style, Nimona is a blast of a viewing experience. But its message and LGBTQ visibility is what truly sets it apart. Not only is Ballister's relationship with knight Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang) a key element of the film, but Nimona's own fluidity and negotiation of her identity calls to mind transness in a meaningful, important way.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Nimona is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Maria

"'Come with me,' said the diva, and there was really no need to ask where." Angelia Jolie gives an exquisite performance as prima donna assoluta Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's latest biopic, another of the Spencer director's introspective, finely focused films about a famous, publicly scrutinised woman.

Wandering the gilded halls of her Parisian apartment in magnificent outfits and dropping erudite one-liners on her staff, we find the iconic opera singer retreated from public life, with her health in steep decline, mere days before her death at 53. Through a series of surreal chapters, Maria reflects on her life of audience adulation, esteemed opera career, suppressed trauma, and complicated love affairs — while her beloved butler and housekeeper watch her lose touch with reality. "What is real and what is not real is my business," she quips.

Both a complex ode to a true diva and a fleeting overview of Callas' seemingly glittering life in opera, Maria is indeed a film about music, bursting with music, with Larraín wielding silence as a brutal reminder of loss for his proud protagonist. And while lip-synching is an art form that's gone either way for music biopic stars, Jolie makes you feel every one of Callas' notes.* — S.C.

How to watch: Maria is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Closer

Horny melodrama, toxic straight couples, and a group of talented dramatic actors shouting some of the most obscene dialogue you've ever heard in an R-rated movie — that, my friend, is Closer in a nutshell. The romantic drama from director Mike Nichols (The Graduate, The Birdcage) is a thrilling ride through the most intimate moments of two very messy couples' lives. There's Natalie Portman's stripper Alice who's dating Jude Law's brooding novelist Dan, and Julia Roberts' photographer Anna who starts seeing Clive Owen's doctor Larry after an awkward set-up. Soon lust, jealousy, and secrets spiral as the couples intermingle, cheat, and lie, culminating in some very juicy, explosive drama. Is Closer total trash, or is it great for its cast's total commitment to the melodrama? You decide. — O.W.

How to watch: Closer is streaming on Netflix.

10. Da 5 Bloods Credit: David Lee / Netflix

Mashable's Adam Rosenberg reviewed Da 5 Bloods in summer 2020, writing: "In the midst of widespread IRL social upheaval that many hope will finally start to undo the trauma wrought by centuries of deeply embedded prejudice, this new movie delivers a powerful sense of perspective." Spike Lee's war film, a keenly impactful meditation on systemic racism, stars Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, the late Chadwick Boseman, and more. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Da 5 Bloods is streaming on Netflix.

11. The Mitchells vs. The Machines Credit: 2021 SPAI

Take your typical family road trip comedy, toss in a robot apocalypse, and top it all off with a heavy smattering of meme-worthy filters, doodles, and GIFs, and you might end up with something like The Mitchells vs. The Machines: a truly fun-for-the-whole-family feature that hinges on whether an artsy teen (voiced by Abbi Jacobson) and her luddite dad (voiced by Danny McBride) can set aside their differences long enough to save all of humanity from being launched into space by Siri Pal.

Come for the jokes about our impending AI-led dystopia, stay for the heart-tugging moments of Mitchell family bonding. Seriously, we might never hear T.I. and Rihanna's "Live Your Life" without tearing up ever again.* — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: The Mitchells vs. The Machines is streaming on Netflix.

12. The Power of the Dog Credit: Kirsty Griffin / Courtesy of Netflix

The Power of the Dog is a masterful Western from director Jane Campion, who made history as the third woman to win the award for Best Director. Benedict Cumberbatch dazzles with quiet menace as cowboy Phil Burbank, while his co-stars Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, and Kodi Smit-McPhee also deliver award-worthy performances. A gorgeous film layered with subtle dangers, The Power of the Dog is proof that it's Campion's world. We're all just living in it.* — B.E.

How to watch: The Power of the Dog is streaming on Netflix.

13. Hit Man

Richard Linklater and Glen Powell reunite for Hit Man, a rom-com that is killer in all sense of the word.

Powell plays Gary Johnson, a college professor whose side gig as an undercover hit man leads to an unexpected meet-cute with would-be client Madison (Andor's Adria Arjona). The pair's connection (and electrifying chemistry) sparks a delightful game of false identities, reinvention, and twisted love that toggles between hilarious, thrilling, and sexy at a moment's notice. Oh, who am I kidding; sometimes it's all three at once!* — B.E.

How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Okja Credit: Jae Hyuk Lee / Netflix / Kobal / Shutterstock

Fall under the spell of Parasite director Bong Joon-ho once more with Netflix's Okja. When a terrible fate befalls a genetically modified kind of "super pig" named Okja thanks to the evil Mirando corporation, Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun) will stop at nothing to save her friend and take down Mirando's CEO Lucy (Tilda Swinton). — A.F.

How to watch: Okja is streaming on Netflix.

15. Marriage Story

Yes, interpretations of Noah Baumbach's Academy Award–winning film have varied substantially among audiences. But, for the most part, critics agree that the character-driven divorce film saga represents a resonant and important viewpoint in modern relationships. Career-best performances from Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver will turn you into a sobbing puddle while Baumbach's artful narrative-building slowly makes you whole again. — A.F.

How to watch: Marriage Story is streaming on Netflix.

16. tick, tick... Boom!

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature directorial debut packs a potent musical theater punch from every angle. He brings to life the selective reality and theatrical phantasmagoria of Rent writer Jonathan Larson’s life and career, based on an autobiographical show from 1992.

Miranda, whose In the Heights was spectacularly adapted for film by Jon M. Chu, proves as adept at moving from stage to screen as he does sucking the marrow of his medium. Andrew Garfield fully inhabits Larson, from voice to body to towering, buzzing hair and a frenetic urgency to create — to write, to sing, to matter, as Larson so clearly did to legions of dreamers who followed.* — Proma Khosla, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: tick, tick...Boom! is streaming on Netflix.

17. Will & Harper

Since their early days at Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have had a strong connection when it comes to comedy. This would flourish as they made movies together, including the sublime Lifetime movie parody A Deadly Adoption, the absolutely epic musical comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, and now their most personal of all, Will & Harper. Helmed by Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar director Josh Greenbaum, this documentary follows the two longtime friends and colleagues on a road trip across America, as they navigate what their friendship means now that Harper has come out as a trans woman.

While her devoted pal is by her side at visits to dive bars, pro basketball games, and a surly Texas steakhouse, not all of the Americans they run across are so welcoming. Through this vulnerable and wonderfully vibrant film, this dynamic duo offers plenty of jokes, but also a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be trans in America in this moment. In Mashable's review out of TIFF, I declared, "Will & Harper is a resoundingly joyful and moving documentary, resplendent in its openness. It's their love story, and it's glorious."* — K.P.

How to watch: Will & Harper is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Sing Street

In Sing Street, 14-year-old Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) transfers to a new high school in Dublin where he has a hard time fitting in, mostly due to bullying and a jerk of a principal who won't leave him alone about his shoes. Despite being the new kid, Conor boldly asks a mysterious cool girl named Raphina (Lucy Boynton) to star in his band's music video. She says yes, but there's one problem — Conor doesn't have a band. He quickly recruits a crew of misfits from school who learn to play covers of '80s hits. They're a bit goofy, but eventually the band finds their style and confidence. This Irish coming-of-age musical from Once filmmaker John Carney is sweet, sentimental, and has a few great original songs that will absolutely be stuck in your head.

How to watch: Sing Street is streaming on Netflix.

19. Roma Credit: Netflix

The first foreign-language film to win an Oscar for Best Director, Alfonso Cuarón's Roma greets viewers at the intersection of personal reflection and cinematic excellence. The black-and-white film follows live-in housekeeper Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), an Indigenous woman who works for an affluent family in Mexico City, finding a sense of humanity that is uniquely memorable. — A.F.

How to watch: Roma is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Farha

Based on a real Palestinian girl's story, Darin J. Sallam's debut feature film follows 14-year-old Farha (Karam Taher), who dreams of moving from her Palestinian village into the city so she can go to school instead of getting married. But it's 1948 in Palestine, just as the first Nakba, or "catastrophe" in Arabic, was taking place, and far more horrifying things are about to interrupt Farha's hopes.

Instead of trying to show the expansive historical details of the Nakba, Sallam’s Farha presents everything through the eyes of its young protagonist. We follow Farha as she's forced to separate from her family and best friend as Israel's militia arrives to wreak havoc in her village. Though an incredibly difficult film to watch, it's also a powerful film that tells a rare story of Palestinian history and perseverance through the vantage point of an innocent child. — O.W.

How to watch: Farha is streaming on Netflix.

21. I'm Thinking of Ending Things Credit: Mary Cybulski / Netflix

Emotional demolitions expert/filmmaker Charlie Kaufman destroys audiences once more in the mind-boggling I'm Thinking of Ending Things. Adapted from Iain Reid's novel of the same name, this cryptically titled psychological thriller follows a woman, played by Jessie Buckley, and her boyfriend, played by Jesse Plemons, on a disturbing visit to his parents' remote farmhouse. What follows? Well, that depends on who you ask.

A transfixing meditation on art, existence, value, authorship, isolation, and more, I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a truly one-of-a-kind experience as profound as it is disquieting. You may not have a great time in this house of abstract horrors (especially when Toni Collette is on-screen doing those classically terrifying Toni Collette things), but it will be a lasting one.* — A.F.

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

22. RRR 

Put on your dancing shoes and prepare to punch a tiger in the face, because S. S. Rajamouli's three-plus-hour action epic is here to pound you into submission, and you'll be smiling for every second of it. Making Zack Snyder's grandiosity look like a flea circus, RRR (which stands for "Rise Roar Revolt") tells the simple and modest tale of two revolutionaries (played by human supermen N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan) in 1920 who become friends, enemies, friends again, and on and so forth, until they storm and spin and punch and slash their way across half of the British army.

RRR features about a dozen action scenes that should rank among the most phenomenal spectacles ever put on screen (I'm particular to the fight that nearly burns down an entire jungle, myself), but we all know it's the "Naatu Naatu" dance competition that keeps the boys and girls coming back for more. — J.A.

How to watch: RRR is streaming on Netflix.

23. A Simple Favor

Paul Feig's A Simple Favor is a movie that almost shouldn't work as well as it does. This deliciously bonkers crime comedy isn't a straight-forward comedy like his Bridesmaids or Spy, but it's impressively committed to being over the top in every way. 

Anna Kendrick is perfectly cast as a widowed mommy vlogger named Stephanie who posts videos of herself perkily baking and making crafts for fellow parents. Blake Lively's fashionable PR exec mother Emily enters Stephanie's life, and the two quickly become best friends who sip cocktails and spill their darkest secrets. Then suddenly Emily goes missing. There's about half a dozen absolutely wild plot twists in this campy masterpiece of a movie that finds both Kendrick and Lively in some of their best and most enjoyable performances yet. — O.W.

How to watch: A Simple Favor is streaming on Netflix.

24. The Polka King

Sometimes true crime can lead to some pitch-perfect dark comedy. This is the case for this outrageous offering, which stars Jack Black as infamous scammer/local celebrity Jan Lewan. Black brings all the rock star panache you need to understand how Lewan could be so beguiling to the Pennsylvanian retirees who surrendered their savings to the self-proclaimed Polka King.

Screenwriters Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky gave this story of fraud and showmanship shape. But they wisely trusted in the local flair of the terrific 2009 documentary The Man Who Would Be Polka King to provide some of the wildest lines of dialogue. Plucking directly from interviews with the friends, family, and victims of Jan Lewan, this comedy feels stranger than fiction but is jaw-droppingly real. Salty supporting turns from Jenny Slate, Jacki Weaver, and Jason Schwartzman bring added fun.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Polka King is now streaming on Netflix.

25. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Writer/director Rian Johnson follows up his critically heralded whodunnit with a sequel that's even more explosive than Knives Out. Southern gentleman/detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back, drawling deductions and whipping out witticisms, much to the chagrin of a group of wealthy and conniving friends.

It was supposed to be a murder mystery weekend where homicide was just a game. But when tech scion Miles Bron (Edward Norton) brings together his closest friends and worst enemy, real blood will be spilled, and the game is afoot! Joining in on the comically chaotic fun are Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and Jessica Henwick. — K.P.

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

UPDATE: Mar. 28, 2025, 3:00 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect the current streaming options.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry comes from a previous Mashable list.

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Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Plays on ice

• Green: In the same college sports conference

• Blue: Share a first name

• Purple: Record-holding Dodgers

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

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

• Yellow: An NHL player

• Green: SEC schools

• Blue: Famous Justins

• Purple: Dodgers in the baseball Hall of Fame, familiarly

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #194 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• An NHL player - OILER, DEVIL, SABRE, STAR

• SEC school - TENNESSEE, FLORIDA, AUBURN, ALABAMA

• Famous Justins - VERLANDER, HOUSTON, GATLIN, HERBERT

• Dodgers in the baseball Hall of Fame, familiarly - PEE WEE, DUKE, JACKIE, SANDY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 5 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: In it to win it

The words change the momentum.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways the outcome of a game might change.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is GameChangers.

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

• Comeback

• Upset

• Rally

• Threepeat

• Rout

• Sweep

• GameChangers

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 5 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: To take on

• Green: Seen on the web

• Blue: Popular publications

• Purple: Pay close attention to the endings

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

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

• Yellow: Employ

• Green: Parts of a website

• Blue: Magazines

• Purple: Ending with medieval weapons

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #664 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Employ: CONTRACT, ENGAGE, RETAIN, SIGN

• Parts of a website: BANNER, HEADER, MENU, SIDEBAR

• Magazines: BILLBOARD, PEOPLE, STAR, TIME

• Ending with medieval weapons: CROSSWORD, GRIMACE, RAINBOW, SEMBLANCE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 5

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for April 5 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 5, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Soap when it's lathered.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

FOAMY.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 5

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

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

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

The original Switch is Nintendo’s most successful console, ever. After eight years of service and an incredible lineup of games, it’s doubtful that its successor could ever live up to the hype.

Right now, Best Buy is selling the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with the M2 chip for much less than usual. Interested buyers could save 25% off the regular price of this Macbook.

Got an old phone gathering dust in a drawer? You might be able to turn that forgotten tech into savings on your Cricket Wireless bill. The prepaid carrier is rolling out a new trade-in program, giving you the chance to exchange your used devices for credits applied directly to your service bill.

macOS is packed with smooth, fluid animations that both look pretty and help guide you around the system. However, if you multitask heavily, these animations can start to feel a little sluggish. I disabled mine, and it made my system seem a lot more responsive.

Copilot was initially conceived as an AI component to Bing, but it has since evolved into a comprehensive AI present in pretty much every Microsoft product right now. And it's now getting a bunch of improvements that will bring it a little more in line with both ChatGPT and Google's Gemini—and bring Bing in line with Google, too, on that subject.

So you’re not sure whether buying the Nintendo Switch 2 on day one is worth it. $449 is a lot of money, and the prospect of spending more on games this generation isn't a particularly inviting one.

OpenAI is offering two months of free ChatGPT Plus to all college students, as CEO Sam Altman recently announced ahead of a much-anticipated update to the AI chatbot.

The offer is available through May for U.S. and Canadian students only, and can be claimed on the ChatGPT student landing page. According to the site, Existing ChatGPT Plus subscribers and new students will be verified through a system called SheerID to confirm current enrollment. Make note: the subscription will automatically renew at the ChatGPT Plus monthly rate ($20) if not cancelled before the two months are up.

SEE ALSO: Phone inspections when crossing the U.S. border: What you need to know about your rights and security

The paid version of ChatGPT includes extended limits on chatting, file uploads, and image generation, as well as advanced voice mode with video and screen sharing, limited Sora access, and new GPT‑4o and o3‑mini models.

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The use of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools by students has stirred widespread debate, as tech giants and AI developers increasingly invest in AI technologies for the classroom. Google, for example, released a teen-specific version of its chatbot Gemini that was later offered at no cost to educational institutions — the chatbot is available to all students with Google Workspace for Education accounts who are approved by administrators.

This week, OpenAI also announced free access to its new native image generator for both the paid and free versions of ChatGPT and Sora, ahead of a proposed rate limit for users of just three image generators per day. Altman and co. are ramping up excitement around the revamped GPT-4o, as well as upcoming mini models and GPT-5, amid a renewed backlash to AI-generated art and greater concerns about generative AI's takeover.

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Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the company is having some fun with it. The iconic Windows 95 logo was resurfaced, there is a themed version of Solitaire available, and Bill Gates even posted the source code for the company’s first operating system, Altair Basic. Microsoft’s Copilot is even getting some love. 

Actually, it would be more accurate to say that Microsoft has been showing Copilot a lot of love over the last few days. Announcements have been flying left and right, culminating in a livestream from Microsoft's global headquarters in Redmond, Washington, with even more information about current and upcoming Copilot features. 

SEE ALSO: Samsung and LG TVs add AI with Microsoft Copilot

It wasn’t all procedure and rigamarole. Microsoft also had Copilot interview three Microsoft CEOs. They got roasted, and it was hilarious. 

With all of the excitement, it became a little difficult to keep track of everything, so we went ahead and did just that. Below is every announcement for Microsoft Copilot that we could find, including the ones from the livestream.

If you want to watch the livestream for yourself, you can find it on Microsoft Copilot’s YouTube channel.

The Copilot app goes native

The Microsoft Copilot app on Windows has always been more of a website than an actual app. One of the announcements was that Copilot was becoming a native Windows app, integrated directly into the UI. The app was already rolled out to Windows Insiders, but Microsoft began rolling out the update on April 3 to all Windows users. 

According to PCWorld, users are already reporting a massive increase in performance, saying that it’s now even faster than the ChatGPT app on Windows. You can download the app from the Microsoft Store as long as you’re on the latest Windows update.

Copilot Search - The AI search engine

Microsoft and Bing are bringing a new fight to Google with the release of Copilot Search. It works as you would expect. Once you go to the website, you can ask Copilot a question. It’ll then scour the Internet on your behalf and return a search result. 

We asked it a few simple questions, and it seemed to work pretty well. We asked it what the best Android phone to buy right now was, and it showed us that it scoured various top lists and articles to come to its answer (which was the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Google Pixel 9 Pro, and the OnePlus 13). It looks similar to Google’s implementation on Google Search, complete with sources that you can click through to read or view yourself if you want. 

SEE ALSO: Inject AI directly into your PC with Windows 11 Pro and Copilot, now A$23 Copilot gets better on AMD and Intel PCs

Microsoft announced a host of new AI-powered features like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator in an effort Redmond calls Copilot + PC. In addition, Microsoft doubled down on its commitment to better supporting AI on PCs running AMD, Intel, and Snapdragon CPUs. Snapdragon-powered Windows devices are also getting Voice Access capabilities. 

The new features and optimizations will be rolled out over the next year. Also, yes, Live Captions will work similarly to how they do on Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.

New agent mode for VS Code users

During the stream, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made a joke that it’s a new world when CEOs can code. In that same vein, he announced that VS Code users are getting a new Copilot agent mode that will help write and check code that users write. This one is mostly focused on developers, but if you code apps on Microsoft, you’ll be able to use AI to help you out and even build custom agents based on your code. 

This feature is rolling out to VS Code Stable soon. It’s been available for Insiders since February. 

Microsoft 365 Copilot gets a Researcher and an Analyst

During the livestream, Microsoft’s AI head honcho Mustafa Suleyman talked briefly about Researcher and Analyst, two new tools for Microsoft 365 Copilot. Researcher aims to help users with “complex, multi-step research at work,” per Microsoft’s blog post. Microsoft says that Researcher can integrate data from third-party sources such as Salesforce, Confluence, and more. 

Analyst takes the data you already have and analyses it. Microsoft says it’s built on OpenAI’s o9-mini reasoning model. Once it analyzes your data, it can answer questions, deliver insights, and double-check the data on your behalf. It can also turn the data into forecasts and organize it in ways that may be useful to you. 

Credit: Microsoft Copilot may change shape someday

Microsoft is working on giving Copilot a face, sort of. During the livestream, Suleyman brought Copilot to the stage to show off its ability to give itself an avatar that speaks with you. There were several examples shown, from a totally unique design to existing things like Spyro the Dragon or, for the nostalgic among us, Microsoft’s former helper, Clippy.

There was no word on when that feature would come out, but Suleyman stated that Microsoft was remaining curious about the possibilities of how users engage with Copilot, and ideas like avatars are where the company wants to explore what it can do.

Windows has come a long way, and Microsoft has phased out many tools we once couldn't do without. Many of them have been removed, but some are still around. You might even find them useful.

You can now get the Beats Studio Buds for less than $100. At this much lower price, these completely wireless earbuds pack in a lot of useful features and solid performance, making them a great deal for the money.

Having used several brands of networking gear over the years, I recently made the switch to Unifi. With a whole ecosystem at my disposal now, and fully managed networking at my fingertips, I'm not going back.