Technology

Finding the best gifts for teen girls is not for the faint of heart. Trends among teen girls are an ever-changing hellscape. Even millennials — people who are not that old, thank you very much — can have trouble navigating the world predominantly ruled by TikTok and content creators. Funneling those trends into a gift that she’ll like and use for longer than a month is tricky.

Rule number one when brainstorming a good gift for a teenager: Don't just wing it. Gen Z girls are clearly loyal to a defined handful of brands and have very specific aesthetic goals. Goals that could be torched by the honest mistake of grabbing generic white earbuds instead of the new AirPods or buying a Lafufu instead of a Labubu. (And what if she actually hates Labubus?)

SEE ALSO: How 'KPOP Demon Hunters' became the biggest hit of the year

But you know who does know what teenage girls want this year? Other teenage girls. I've been tracking viral TikTok products amongst young girls for months, compiling the most popular stuff with items that the high school girls in my own life have requested. The 2025 edition of Google's Holiday 100 list (literally based on the most-searched products of the year) inspired a few ideas, too.

So, whether you need Christmas gifts or birthday presents, here are 30+ of the best gift ideas for teen girls in 2025:

The U.S. space agency has fallen silent amid the federal government shutdown, but it's about to slingshot a pair of robotic spacecraft to Mars.

NASA's Escapade mission will test a new way of traveling to Mars. Instead of the traditional fuel-efficient route used by past missions — a narrow launch window every two years that leverages an alignment of the planets — the spacecraft will take a path that first carries them around a stable point between Earth and the sun. After a year of loitering, they will swing back toward Earth and then head for Mars. 

The trajectory, which became necessary after two previous launch postponements, could prove useful when future human missions require many spacecraft to depart over several months instead of just a few weeks. Escapade, a nickname for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, is expected to blast off on Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as early as Sunday, Nov. 9. 

The mission will get to the bottom of how solar radiation strips away the tattered Martian atmosphere. Scientists know Mars once had a thicker atmosphere, perhaps capable of supporting life. But the planet's climate has changed dramatically over billions of years, from a world with lakes and rivers to an arid desert. The air is mostly gone, yet no one knows exactly where it went. 

SEE ALSO: Video captures meteor explosively striking the moon. See it now.

The project is NASA’s first planetary mission led by UC Berkeley. The university designed the science instruments and will operate the spacecraft from its control center. Rocket Lab built the spacecraft, named Blue and Gold after Berkeley's school colors, each about the size of a stacked washer and dryer.

Escapade could set a precedent for how NASA and the commercial space industry approach interplanetary missions in the future. From soup to nuts, Escapade had a budget of $80 million, under NASA's Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program. Rocket Lab built the twin probes in just 3.5 years for $57 million, a relatively cheap price compared to the billions the agency would normally spend. Those costly missions are a product of legacy aerospace contracts based on the cost-plus-fixed-fee model, which allowed the builders to run over budget without picking up the tab. 

"Rocket Lab undertook a task that, to be honest, I'm not going to name names, but at least one of those prime contractors said, 'We're not interested in this because if you need to fit everything into a $57 million cost cap, we can't build you two spacecraft for the price you'd be willing to pay us,'" Rob Lillis, the mission's principal investigator, told Mashable last year. "Actually, two said that."

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Together the spacecraft will map Mars’ magnetic fields, upper atmosphere, and ionosphere, the layer of charged particles surrounding the planet, giving scientists a stereo view of its space environment. Mapping the magnetic field is critical because Mars lacks the global magnetic shield that protects Earth from harmful effects of solar radiation. Without that protection, solar storms can deliver bursts of energetic particles that could endanger anyone living or working on the Martian surface. The mission’s data will help researchers learn how to forecast those storms and how to shield future astronauts from them.

Previous orbiters have studied how this "solar wind" interacts with the Martian atmosphere but have been hamstrung: One spacecraft alone can't measure the real-time consequences of solar storms. 

"It only takes one or two minutes for one of these space weather disturbances to propagate through the system and, for example, tear out a whole bunch of atmosphere," Lillis previously said. "Single spacecraft missions cannot separately measure the cause and the effect."

Rocket Lab engineers and technicians prepare Escapade's twin spacecraft, Blue and Gold, at the Astrotech launch processing facility in Titusville, Florida. Credit: Rocket Lab

Once in orbit, Blue and Gold will follow nearly identical paths around Mars, separated by minutes. That formation flying will let scientists watch how the planet’s upper atmosphere changes over time. Instruments aboard the spacecraft will track how particles escape from Mars into space.

Accurate models of Mars' ionosphere will also help engineers develop better navigation and communication systems, whose radio signals would pass through it, for human missions.

The Escapade spacecraft will travel for 22 months to Mars. The pair will then adjust their orbits over nine more months before beginning their primary science mission in June 2028.

TL;DR: Give a gift they’ll actually use with the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card, on sale now for just $23.99 (reg. $59.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: MagTag MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card $23.99
$59.99 Save $36   Get Deal

Looking for a practical gift that will have your loved ones thanking you again and again? The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card helps your favorite people keep tabs on their most important belongings — like wallets, passports, and keys — as it fits into spaces too slim for AirTags

Just in time for the holiday season, you can now snag a MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card for 60% off at just $23.99 (reg. $59.99).

SEE ALSO: Prep for holiday travel with 34% off a 4-pack of Apple AirTags

If you’re looking for a gift for that hard-to-buy-for loved one on your list, the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card is something they’ll never want to regift. It’s a sleek tracking device that measures just 1.5mm thick, about the size of a credit card, so it can fit into spaces that AirTags can’t. And just like the AirTag, it is compatible with the Apple Find My app so you can find your things with just a few taps.

With the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card, it’s easy to keep tabs on your most important valuables — like wallets and passport cases. It also features a built-in keyring hole, making it simple to attach to keys, bags, name tags, or ID lanyards. It’s IP68 waterproof and dustproof, too, so it’s ready to withstand the elements.

If you lose something with the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card inside, you can trigger a loud beeping sound to help locate it. And if you leave it behind, you’ll get a notification before you wander too far.

You don’t need to worry about constantly charging your tracker — its rechargeable battery lasts up to five months on a single charge. It’s also easy to recharge on any Qi wireless charger.

Save 60% and get a MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card for just $23.99 (reg. $59.99) now.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Own the Microsoft Office staples for life with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, on sale now for just $39.97 (reg. $219.99) through Nov. 16.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $39.97
$219.99 Save $180.02   Get Deal

2025 is almost over — how many subscription fees are you still paying for every month? If one of your goals for the new year is to cut down on recurring charges, this Microsoft Office deal lets you finally cancel that Microsoft 365 subscription for good.

Own your Microsoft Office tools with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows license, on sale now for just $39.97 (reg. $219.99) through Nov. 16.

SEE ALSO: Get 7 powerful Microsoft apps for life for just $20 with this deal

For the cost of just four months of a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can now own the Microsoft Office staples you know and love with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows deal. It equips your PC with eight essential apps for everyday life, eliminating the need for monthly fees and providing the option to work offline whenever necessary.

Wondering what this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows license includes? You’ll own all the old favorites — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook — to help you tackle personal and professional tasks from document creation to building out budgets.

You’ll also receive newer additions to the Microsoft lineup, such as OneNote, a digital note-taking tool, and Teams, a great way to stay in touch with coworkers. Rounding out this suite of apps? Access, which makes managing databases easier, and Publisher, which helps you create professional documents quickly.

This 2021 edition features a ribbon-based user interface that provides quick access to all available features, tools, and customizations. You can rest easy knowing that everything has been redesigned to be helpful for everyone, from designers to data analysts.

Note: Ensure your PC is running Windows 10 or 11 before purchasing.

Act fast to secure this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for just $39.97 (reg. $219.99) until Nov. 16.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

We're moving towards to the New Moon, which means for the next few nights the moon is going to look smaller and smaller to us. This is normal as we work though the lunar cycle, and we're currently on day 18.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, Nov. 8, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 87% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

No visual aids? No problem, there's still lots for you to see tonight, like the Copernicus Crater, the Mare Tranquillitatis, and the Tycho Crater. A pair of binoculars will let you see even more, including Gassendi Crater, Clavius Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater. If you’ve got a telescope handy, it’s worth using to check out Reiner Gamma, the Apollo 17 landing site, and the Fra Mauro Highlands.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

NASA notes that as the Moon orbits Earth over about 29.5 days, it goes through a series of phases. These phases occur because of the changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Depending on its position, the Moon can appear fully illuminated, partly illuminated, or completely hidden, even though we always see the same side. What changes is how much sunlight reflects off its surface, creating a repeating sequence known as the lunar cycle.

The eight main moon phases are:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Roses are red. Violets are blue. Here are some rom-coms, picked just for you.

Are you in the mood for a one-night stand? A workplace fling? A full-blown commitment stretched over 30 episodes? More importantly, are you looking to laugh the whole time you're watching whichever sort of relationship you choose? We've got you covered with a selection of the best romantic comedies now streaming on Netflix. (If you're just looking for romance and not so much comedy, we've got you there, too, with a guide to the best romantic movies on the streaming service.)

We combed through Netflix's extensive catalog of will-they-won't-theys and could-they-should-theys, movies and TV shows included, to find the titles sure to give you that perfect balance of giggles and butterflies. Settle in with your chocolates, wine, and a cuddly blanket. Here are the best romantic comedies now streaming on Netflix.

25. A Perfect Story

Margot is an engaged hotel heiress crumbling under the weight of her family's expectations. David is a struggling bartender who sleeps on his friends' couches and can't get over a recent breakup. The unlikely pair meet at the exact moment when they each need someone in their lives to lean on. A Perfect Story is an incredibly watchable and breezy romantic comedy series from Spain that will leave you smiling. The two leads, Anna Castillo and Álvaro Mel, are bursting with charisma. Sure, Margo and David have got some shit to sort out before a romance can bloom, but boy, are we here for the journey! — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributing Writer

How to watch: A Perfect Story is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Love at First Sight Credit: Rob Baker Ashton / Netflix © 2023

Based on a hit novel by Jennifer E. Smith, Love at First Sight is a delightful romance with an airport at the center of its meet-cute. Haley Lu Richardson is a perpetually late, underprepared American student heading to London for her dad’s wedding, and Ben Hardy is a charismatic Brit who offers to lend her his phone charger at a crucial moment. They fall in love during the flight, but a mix-up at baggage claim prevents the star-crossed pair from sharing their contact information. Will they ever see each other again? Love at First Sight is a champion charmer, but it also packs a more weighty emotional punch than your standard rom-com. Gut-wrenching moments from a particularly unique costume party will stay with you for days.* — K.G.

How to watch: Love at First Sight is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Nobody Wants This, Seasons 1-2

Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody) are not an obvious pair. She's a sex and dating podcaster who often pushes people away, and he's a rabbi coming out of a long-term relationship his entire community supported. But when the two meet at a dinner party, they can't seem to stop thinking about each other… And a delightful romance begins. 

The best part about Nobody Wants This is that the characters are adults. They're in their late thirties, and the problems they face aren't the result of immature games but real issues that arise when two very different people try to build something together. At one point, Noah tells a panicking Joanne: "I'm on your side. I can handle you." Created by Erin Foster, Nobody Wants This is a truly sublime, relatable, and refreshing rom-com series that boasts laugh-out-loud punchlines and steamy kisses in equal measure. — K.G.

How to watch: Nobody Wants This Seasons 1-2 are now streaming on Netflix.

22. Falling Inn Love Credit: Nicola Dove

Imagine a home improvement show. Take that home improvement show and make it a scripted Bachelor spin-off. Now, take that home improvement show-turned-scripted Bachelor spin-off and set it in New Zealand. Finally, sprinkle in some puns and you've got Falling Inn Love.

Starring Christina Milian and Adam Demos, this delightfully delirious romp into renovation romance is the perfect comfort movie for a cozy afternoon on the couch. Marvel at the pretty settings, lust after the linen shirts, stare at the goat named Gilbert. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Falling Inn Love is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Holidate Credit: Netflix

Directed by John Whitesell (Deck the Halls), Netflix's Holidate takes the "fake relationship" trope to new, seasonally decorated heights. Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey star in this will-they-won't-they about two friends who agree to be each other's "holidates" — specially dedicated plus ones for occasions where the pressure of an actual romantic partner is the last thing anyone needs. Of course, with all the flirty fun of events like Christmas, Valentine's Day, and [checks notes] St. Patrick's Day, it's not long before these not-lovers start making eyes over the dinner table. — A.F.

How to watch: Holidate is now streaming on Netflix.

20. 10 Things I Hate About You

Craving some enemies-to-lovers fun? Then check out this high-school-set adaptation of William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Julia Stiles stars as Kat Stratford, a brilliant and guarded girl whose disinterest in dating makes her the bane of her younger sister Bianca's (Larisa Oleynik) existence. Due to their dad's archaic dating rule, Bianca can't date until Kat does, and while Bianca is chomping at the bit, Kat could not care less about dating. So, what's the clever Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who's crushing on Bianca, supposed to do? Naturally, hired the school's ill-reputed bad boy (Heath Ledger, in a star-making turn) to woo Kat and get her to go prom.

At first, it's hard work catching her eye. But before long, these two misfits find they have things in common where it counts. A rousing romance with plenty of '90s flair, and a killer soundtrack featuring music from Letters to Cleo, 10 Things I Hate About You is still worth swooning over. — K.P.

How to watch: 10 Things I Hate About You is now streaming on Netflix.

19. When We First Met Credit: Jami Saunders

Somewhere between Hot Tub Time Machine and Some Kind of Wonderful, When We First Met imagines the perfect first date over and over and over again.

Adam DeVine and Alexandra Daddario star as one couple that just couldn't get the timing right, with supporting performances from Robbie Amell and Shelley Hennig. This movie's saccharine tone and overdone premise shouldn't work, and yet they do. It's...fate? — A.F.

How to watch: When We First Met is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Love, Seasons 1-3 Credit: Suzanne Hanover / Netflix

As series go, Love is a bit all over the place — but, so is its namesake.

Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust star as Mickey Dobbs and Gus Cruikshank, two Angelenos who serendipitously meet at a gas station and fall hopelessly, madly in...something. Over the show's all-too-brief three seasons, viewers are treated to the ups, downs, and sideways of finding the one. Come for the promise of happily ever after, stay for everything that really isn't that. — A.F.

How to watch: Love Seasons 1-3 are now streaming on Netflix.

17. Love, Guaranteed

Incredibly silly and deeply improbable, Love, Guaranteed is a sweet little ditty about a perpetually single man, Nick (Damon Wayans Jr.), and a lawyer, Susan (Rachael Leigh Cook), who team up for a predatory lawsuit against a dating company that “guarantees love.” But uh oh, this hopeless, lonely pair might find something more than they bargained for when they decided to sue the fictional version of Match.com together. 

I mean, look. The premise is ridiculous — but it’s unique! No fake-dating tropes here, folks! And luckily, the cast is deeply likable, making Love, Guaranteed a perfectly pleasant way to spend an hour and a half! — K.G.

How to watch: Love, Guaranteed is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Been So Long Credit: Netflix

Adapted from the musical of the same name, Been So Long offers a dreamy look at a chance encounter between two people in desperate need of a break from reality. With electric interactions between stars Michaela Coel and Arinzé Kene, this poppy romance will have you from the moment the first words are sung — and won't let go until the very last verse. — A.F.

How to watch: Been So Long is now streaming on Netflix.

15. The Lovebirds Credit: Skip Bolen / Netflix

Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani play a charming couple stuck in a seriously screwed-up situation in the spectacularly funny The Lovebirds. When our titular lovebirds are blamed for a vehicular homicide, date night becomes a race against the clock to solve the crime they didn't commit. It's the perfect popcorn flick with enough heart to get you invested in its leads. — A.F.

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

14. Wedding Season

Fluffy, energetic, and fun, Wedding Season is a cheerful, low-stakes rom-com. Pallavi Sharda and Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi, How I Met Your Father) are Asha and Ravi, two thirty-somethings tired of being set up on Indian dating websites by their parents. So what do they do when faced with a long season of weddings where they’ll face endless questions about their dating lives? You guessed it! They fake-date! It’s the only reasonable course of action!!!

The best romantic comedy trope gets new life in Wedding Season, with its super-charismatic cast and delightful wedding montages. If you like bright and shiny rom-coms and romantic leads with great chemistry, then RSVP "yes!" to Wedding Season.* — K.G.

How to watch: Wedding Season is streaming on Netflix.

13. The Half of It Credit: Netflix

Director Alice Wu's The Half of It hinges on straight-A student Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) and her journey toward self-acceptance. It does wonders for the streaming service's rom-com catalog, not because it's especially new in its ideas, but because Wu executes them with a flair all her own.

A charming combination of unique subject matter and clichéd storytelling, The Half of It explores the perspectives of characters rare to the genre — namely, Ellie who is a queer Chinese-American teenager — with some pretty predictable narrative turns. You haven't seen this story done with these characters anywhere else before, but you'll feel like you have. That's a victory for the genre in its own right.* — A.F.

How to watch: The Half of It is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Easy, Seasons 1-3 Credit: Netflix

Joe Swanberg's Easy covers a lot of emotional ground, but the more romantic episodes definitely stand out.

An intimate anthology examining relationships in Chicago, this series weaves together so many genuine displays of feeling that it can be hard to keep your heart in check. Not all the characters fall in love, but you'll absolutely fall in love with all the characters. Start anywhere during any of the three seasons, and see where it gets you. (Tears. Tears is where it gets you.) — A.F.

How to watch: Easy Seasons 1-3 are now streaming on Netflix.

11. The Incredible Jessica James Credit: Netflix

Get a masterclass in self-confidence and healthy communication from The Incredible Jessica James. Jessica Williams stars opposite Chris O'Dowd, with a supporting performance from LaKeith Stanfield. This charming tale of a woman who will stop at nothing to be loved the way she deserves explores so much of what makes romance the sticky business that it is. But this rom-com boasts just the right amount of optimism to keep you invested until its stunningly grounded happily ever after. — A.F.

How to watch: The Incredible Jessica James is now streaming on Netflix.

10. XO, Kitty, Seasons 1-2

Sometimes you just want to watch teens fall in love, and XO, Kitty — a spinoff of To All The Boys I've Loved Before — delivers in spades. Lana already has her match; now it's her younger sister Kitty's turn. 

Tired of the inconvenience of a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend Dae (Choi Min-young), Kitty (an exuberant Anna Cathcart) gets herself a year's scholarship to his boarding school in Korea. Here's hoping her perfectly planned romantic surprise goes exactly how she dreams it will, without any external complications whatsoever!!! With a boppy K-pop soundtrack, an endless series of juicy, if somewhat convoluted, plot twists, and a bright, cheerful vibe, XO, Kitty is the perfect kind of fun summer fluff.* — K.G.

How to watch: XO, Kitty Seasons 1-2 are now streaming on Netflix.

9. Alex Strangelove Credit: Walter Thomson / Netflix

To find true love, you've first got to find yourself.

Featuring heartbreaking performances from Daniel Doheny, Antonio Marziale, and Madeline Weinstein, Alex Strangelove is a coming-of-age story designed to make your palms sweat. A poignant and touching look at coming out, this world is filled with good people doing good things that will make any viewer need a handhold. — A.F.

How to watch: Alex Strangelove is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Always Be My Maybe Credit: Netflix

Fans of Netflix comedy special Baby Cobra were long overdue for a fictional Ali Wong fantasy, and Always Be My Maybe really, really delivers. Wong and Randall Park make for a delightful will-they-won't-they, complete with love triangles, awkward childhood flashbacks, Keanu Reeves in the role he was born to play, and authentic representations of the Asian-American experience. — A.F.

How to watch: Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Emily in Paris, Seasons 1-4 Credit: Netflix

Created by Darren Starr (Sex and the City, Younger), Emily in Paris is the poppy Parisian fantasy you'll lap up like a "chatte" drinking "lait." Lily Collins stars as the titular expat, a young marketing professional from Chicago who gets an unexpected promotion that takes her to France. There she sells perfume, eats fine cheese, and, of course, falls for a hunky chef, played by Lucas Bravo. This show isn't 100% rom-com, but it's at least 75% rom-com. — A.F.

How to watch: Emily in Paris Seasons 1-4 are now streaming on Netflix.

6. Sex Education, Seasons 1-4 Credit: Sam Taylor / Netflix

Sex Education had us from the moment its lead pretended to pretend to masturbate.

There's plenty to love about this perfectly cast teenage dramedy. But in light of the events of Seasons 2 and 3, nothing feels more pressing than the relationship between Otis (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve (Emma Mackey) — except maybe Eric's (Ncuti Gatwa) ongoing love antics. At the heart of every great story is a great romance, and Sex Education has more than its fair share. — A.F.

How to watch: Sex Education Seasons 1-4 are now streaming on Netflix.

5. Never Have I Ever, Seasons 1-4 Credit: Netflix

Created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, this smart, sweet coming-of-age story was among the most fulfilling new Netflix binges of 2020. And it just keeps wowing us.

Lead Maitreyi Ramakrishnan will steal your heart as Devi, a high school sophomore reeling from the loss of her father the year before — but with big plans for a future as vibrant and fearless as she is. As culturally important as it is authentic, Never Have I Ever serves not only as a critical step for representation, but also as a dreamy teen rom-com you'll adore.* — A.F.

How to watch: Never Have I Ever Seasons 1-4 are now streaming on Netflix.

4. Bridgerton, Seasons 1-3, plus Queen Charlotte, A Bridgerton Story Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Where to begin with the scandalous, sexy, and silly sensation that is Bridgerton? In this period dramedy, Regency-era Londoners look for love under the critical eye of the Queen and a host of courtiers while dodging scandal at every turn. It's Gossip Girl meets Downton Abbey with a How to Get Away with Murder-type twist that's undeniably Shonda Rhimes. You're going to love it, so much so that you should plan on bingeing both seasons straight through. — A.F.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, is a lavish, ebullient triumph, and further evidence that Shonda Rhimes just doesn't miss. Delving into the personal history of the tragic, impulsive, and steely queen we know and love from Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 2, we watch a young girl transform into a formidable monarch — and fall in love along the way. The costumes are sumptuous, the drama juicy, and the romance slow-burning. It checks all the boxes while still making space for a thread of sadness that lends gravitas and complexity to the entire Bridgerton world. An ambitious and beautiful show that fully earns its shining crown as Netflix's newest darling.* — K.G.

How to watch: Bridgerton Seasons 1-3 are now streaming on Netflix, as is Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

3.Younger, Seasons 1-7

Bright, bubbly, and addictive, Younger is primed and ready to be your next rom-com binge. The plot is ridiculous, the outfits are loud, and the cast is beautiful — is this heaven? Sutton Foster is Liza Miller, a 40-year-old mom attempting to reenter the workforce after a messy divorce. But when no one will hire her because of the gaps in her resume, she gets hair extensions and pretends to be 26. And everyone believes her! Without Botox!!! With a new assistant job, a new young boyfriend, and a new twentysomething life, Liza is finally feeling like herself again… But how long can she go before the lies catch up with her?

Younger was a 2015 hit for creator Darren Star (Sex and the City, Emily in Paris) and it's still as juicy and fun as ever — as well as a nice nostalgic trip to a time when millennials were the young ones! — K.G.

How to watch: Younger Seasons 1-7 are now streaming on Netflix.

2. Set It Up Credit: Netflix

An enticing combination of The Devil Wears Prada and Jim and Pam's The Office romance, Set It Up makes workplace love almost seem like a good idea. Almost.

Starring Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell as two overworked assistants intent on making their bosses fall for one another, this breezy comedy delivers on laughs and butterflies in equal measures. Plus, Taye Diggs and Lucy Liu hook up and it is very, very appealing. You're welcome. — A.F.

How to watch: Set It Up is now streaming on Netflix.

1. To All the Boys I've Loved Before Credit: Netflix

If you're reading this list, there's just no way you haven't seen To All the Boys I've Loved Before and its two sequels, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and To All the Boys: Always and Forever. Then there's XO, Kitty, the spinoff series about the fan-favorite little sister played by Anna Cathcart, which has a season two on the way. As you wait for it, go ahead: Bask in the chemistry of Lana Condor and Noah Centineo. Delight in the drinkable yogurt representation. Consider why you never dressed this well in school. Then, send out your letters. — A.F.

How to watch: To All the Boys I've Loved Before is now streaming on Netflix.

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

UPDATE: Nov. 7, 2025, 2:50 p.m. EST This story was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated since to reflect Netflix's catalogue.

Opens in a new window Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Netflix   Get Deal

Sexting can open up a whole new frontier for your sex life. In my experience, it’s an exciting form of digital foreplay that builds anticipation like nothing else. But you can't just slide into someone's DMs on a random dating app and start a spicy conversation (unless you're on a site like AdultFriendFinder, where that's the whole point). Real sexting requires more thought, especially when it comes to your privacy.

As Mashable's resident dating app expert for the last three years, I've tested dozens of platforms to find the best and most discreet apps for the job. My highest priority is always user safety. I spoke with security expert Gary Orenstein, who stressed that for sharing intimate content, "privacy features cannot be optional — they’re essential." He recommends looking for apps with three key features: end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and screenshot detection.

SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to sexting

After all, if you believe in safe sex, you should practice safe sexting, too. Based on my hands-on testing and these expert criteria, I’ve picked the best sexting apps that will keep your chats private.

Recent updates to this guide:

We regularly test new apps and dating platforms. For our most recent update to this guide in November 2025, we made the following changes:

• Added a new section explaining why some apps (especially those using paid chat operators) didn't make our list of recommendations.

• Confide: We've once again named this the best overall sexting app, replacing Signal as the top pick. We still recommend Signal as the best free secure messaging app. On balance, we think Confide's security and privacy tools give it the edge.

• Lovesense Remote: We added Lovesense Remote as the app that's "Best for Group Sexting." Lovesense Remote is also a fun way for couples (and polyamorous folks) to incorporate sexting and Bluetooth sex toys to their love life.

• FetLife: We named FetLife "Best for Niche Kinks & Fetishes." This social networking platform is popular in the kinkster community and can be a good way to connect with sexy new friends.

What about other sexting sites?

You've probably seen other "best of" lists that include apps I've left off. As Mashable's dating expert, I've tested dozens of platforms, and my goal is to recommend apps for genuine connections that prioritize your safety. Here's why some popular platforms didn't make the cut.

• A note on "paid operator" sites: Many platforms marketed for sexting (like InstaBang, Arousr, SweetSext, and SextLocal) don't primarily connect you with other real users. Instead, they often use "paid operators" or "professional chat partners" to provide a fantasy-driven, transactional experience. While there's nothing wrong with that, it's a paid fantasy service, not mutual sexting. My list (with the clear exception of SextPanther, which we've labeled as the "Best Sexting Service" for connecting with actual adult performers) focuses on apps for genuine, user-to-user interaction.

• Couple's apps: You also won't find apps like Between on this list. While it's a private messenger for couples, it's not really a sexting app. For couples who want to enhance their digital intimacy, our picks (like We-Vibe and Lovesense Remote) offer a much more interactive experience by integrating with teledildonics.

If you're on a budget and things look bleak in the relationship department, don't panic. You don't need to shell out hundreds to find a genuine connection. There are dating apps you can use for free — so you can meet a partner with potential without shelling out cash up front.

Yes, dating itself will cost you between the commute, the drinks, and the time, but why should dating apps eat at your wallet? You don't have to resort to dating an AI to save money. Simply use a dating app's free tier. The good news is, the most popular apps are free to use — no credit card required.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps, reviewed: I swiped until my thumb hurt

(And you shouldn't have to pay someone to keep talking to you either. If you're being pressured to, you might be involved in a romance scam.) 

What dating apps are completely free?

Mainstream dating apps like Tinder, OkCupid, and Hinge all have robust free membership tiers that compete with paid subscriptions. Some free, more niche dating apps, like Archer and Lex, are also worth checking out. It just depends on what you're looking for and how much work you're willing to put in to get it.

These days, some people argue that big-name dating apps (read: Match Group apps, such as Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge) are all the same and have formed a single, amorphous dating platform. However, these apps still have distinct differences between them, as you can see below. 

And even though a lot of daters want to meet someone IRL, let's face it: Dating apps aren't going anywhere. Whether you're an introvert, a college student, or just looking for some steamy sexting action, we've got you covered.

Below, find our top picks for the best free dating apps. Use them to find your forever partner, a casual encounter, or something in between — all without paying a dime.

Note: All the free dating sites listed below offer a free membership option that allows you to talk and match with people at no cost. Though most offer paid premium memberships, these aren't apps like Match or eharmony, where you need to pay to match or chat with other users.

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

Whether you work from home, spend a lot of time on airplanes, or simply want to turn down the volume of the outside world, noise-cancelling headphones are a worthwhile investment — especially during Black Friday season.

Even the best value headphones will feel lacking if they don't come equipped with halfway decent noise cancellation. Besides, there are simply too many headphones on the market (our testing pool gets bigger by the month) for you to pay hundreds only to get subpar ANC.

SEE ALSO: How we test headphones and earbuds

To help you wade through the top options from brands like Apple, Beats, Bose, Sony, and Sonos, Mashable editors and reviewers tested dozens of headphones and earbuds. From flagship models to budget buds, we picked out the best noise-cancelling headphones of 2025.

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones?

Bose is often a top name (and in our top picks) when it comes to noise-cancelling audio, often leading the industry for the best ANC available.

With that said, it's not the only brand worth checking out. If you want top-notch ANC with great sound quality, Sony makes excellent options. On the other hand, folks looking for a more affordable option might be drawn to EarFun, which brings great value to the noise-cancelling space. Essentially, what makes the best noise-cancelling headphones depends on what other features and price range you're looking for in a pair of headphones — our guide below lays out where each of our picks shines.

We also expect most, if not all, of these options to get at least minor price cuts during Black Friday, barring the second-generation Bose QC Ultra headphones (as they were released in Oct. 2024). Still, the September-released QC Ultra 2 earbuds did get a small discount shortly after their release, so it's not impossible.

How do noise-cancelling headphones actually work?

Even cheap headphones can block some noise from the outside world. And you can always blast your music loud enough to drown out nearby conversations and street noise via passive noise cancellation. However, if you really want to turn the volume of the world down to the limit, then you need headphones with active noise cancellation.

Active noise-cancelling headphones electronically cover up the sounds coming from your surroundings. They use internal microphones to listen to the world around you, then invert the noise and send it to the speakers. The idea is that both the output and the input will cancel out, leaving you with near-silence. The best over-ear headphones also create a tight seal around your ears, providing an extra layer of passive sound blocking.

Testing the Apple AirPods Max headphones, which didn't make the final cut for this guide. Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable Getting up close and personal with Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones. Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

If you've tried a pair of noise-cancelling headphones before and haven't been impressed, don't be discouraged, as not all ANC performs equally. For instance, cheaper ANC headphones may have a more noticeable hissing sound that you'll hear when the noise cancellation is turned on, which can be distracting for some folks.

Other headphones may be great at blocking low tones, but more prone to letting in high-pitched tones. Typically, premium headphones will yield better results all around, but we have budget picks below that still do a solid job.

In the past, not many wireless earbuds featured active noise cancellation that was comparable to over-ear headphones, but newer iterations like the AirPods Pro and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds hold their own in the ANC space. However, even these earbuds can't quite get the same seal (or fit as many mics) that headphones can, so if you're looking for maximum silence, stick with over-ear headphones.

Recent testing updates

In September 2025, we replaced the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds with the updated second-gen model.

As of July 2025, we replaced the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones with their newer counterpart, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

Our testing in February 2025 saw the addition of the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds as our favorite earbuds pick under $100. We decided that they deserved to knock the Beats Studio Buds+ off the list (after the Apple-owned earbuds beat out the newer AirPods 4), due to the Air Pro's superior noise cancellation, battery life, and value. We also added the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones as an alternate pick for the best battery life headphones in March 2025.

In September 2024, we tried out the JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds, and we enjoyed their sound, unique design, and touchscreen case that made it easy to check the headphones' battery life and control audio. However, their noise cancellation wasn't quite up to par for $200 earbuds. We've also added the Dyson OnTrac headphones as our pick for the best battery life, thanks to the impressive 55-hour battery life.

In August 2024, we said goodbye to the Bose 700 headphones as our recommendation for the best noise-cancelling headphones with adjustable ANC. This was a long time coming — these headphones have technically been discontinued since the release of the Bose QC Ultra headphones in September 2023, but remained available from retailers other than Bose. We'll be on the lookout for any new models that match the adjustable noise cancellation that these Bose headphones once offered.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you like combat sports.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Fighting words

• Green: The Pitt

• Blue: The silver and black

• Purple: Types of boxes

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Fight

• Green: A Pittsburgh Athlete

• Blue: Parts of the Las Vegas Raiders' Logo

• Purple: ____Box

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 #411 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Fight - BOX, DUKE, SCRAP, SPAR

• A Pittsburgh Athlete - PANTHER, PENGUIN, PIRATE, STEELER

• Parts of the Las Vegas Raiders' Logo - EYE PATCH, HELMET, SHIELD, SWORDS

• ____Box - BATTER'S, LUXURY, PENALTY, PRESS

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

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

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream Ireland vs. Japan in the Autumn Internationals for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Ireland kicked off the Autumn Internationals with a tough defeat to the All Blacks. Now they are back at the Aviva Stadium to face off against Japan, a team that lost 61-7 to South Africa last weekend. Surely it can't get any worse than that for Eddie Jones?

If you want to watch Ireland vs. Japan in the Autumn Internationals from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ireland vs. Japan?

Ireland vs. Japan in the 2025 Autumn Internationals kicks off at 12:40 p.m. GMT on Nov. 8. This fixture takes place at the Aviva Stadium.

How to watch Ireland vs. Japan for free

Ireland vs. Japan in the 2025 Autumn Internationals is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Autumn Internationals for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ireland vs. Japan for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Ireland vs. Japan for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Autumn Internationals without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream all of Ireland's Autumn Internationals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Ireland vs. Japan in the Autumn Internationals for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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

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

A little person.

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

PYGMY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

The globe.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

EARTH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Mushy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 8 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 8, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SOAPY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Deranged.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8 Hurdle Word 4 answer

MANIC

Final Hurdle hint

A kitchen appliance.

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

STOVE

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

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

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 8 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 8 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add to 9. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 8 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this purple space must add to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a good communicator.

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 Pips hints, answers for November 8, 2025 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 obstruct

• Green: To declare

• Blue: Ways to communicate

• Purple: Not U

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Block, as an opening

• Green: Put forward, as an announcement

• Blue: Kinds of language

• Purple: Words after "I"

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 #880 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Block, as an opening: CLOSE, PLUG, SEAL, STOP

• Put forward, as an announcement: DELIVER, GIVE, PRESENT, PRONOUNCE

• Kinds of language: BODY, PROGRAMMING, SIGN, SPOKEN

• Words after "I": BEAM, CHING, ROBOT, SPY

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 November 8, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love to make an entrance.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 8, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Knock, knock!

The words are related to passageways.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe gateways.

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 Let Me In.

NYT Strands word list for November 8

• Entrance

• Portal

• Gate

• Let Me In

• Doorways

• Threshold

• Ingress

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're an early riser.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 8, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 7, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To get up.

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 A.

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...

ARISE

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 November 8, 2025

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.

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In 2023, Celine Song made a name for herself as an emerging queen of relationship dramas with her Academy Award-nominated debut feature Past Lives. In 2025, her second movie, Materialists, has audiences swooning over yet another love triangle. This time around, we're given a cast that the internet is already obsessed with in Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans, and Dakota Johnson.

A24 gave us a masterclass in marketing over the summer with Materialists, which made it a surprising box office hit. If you missed the star-studded rom-com in theaters, it's now officially streaming. Here's what you need to know to tune in — including where and when to watch it, and the cheapest way to do so.

What is Materialists about?

The logline from A24 teases: "A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex." Lucy (Johnson) is the matchmaker who helps other couples find their happily ever after, while dubbing herself an "eternal bachelorette." Of course, that's about to change when two potential suitors crash into her life: Harry (Pascal), a rich and attractive bachelor looking to sweep her off her feet, and John (Evans), Lucy's equally attractive ex-boyfriend, looking to give it another go.

Check out the gorgeous love triangle in the official trailer:

Is Materialists worth watching?

"On paper, Materialists is perfection," Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes in her review. "It's a love triangle romantic comedy, headlined by three movie stars with which the internet is absolutely obsessed: Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, and Pedro Pascal." If you're a fan of those three, that's reason enough to tune in. However, as Puchko notes, it's hard to divorce the actors' larger-than-life personas from the characters they're trying to portray. "As grounded and real as Materialists aims to be, it's hard to overlook its big, shining stars to see that gritty authenticity," she writes.

Materialists did well at the worldwide box office, likely due to its star-studded cast, and the reviews are largely positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 78 percent critic rating and 66 percent audience rating, with a consensus that Song is a "modern master of relationship dramas."

Check out Mashable's full review of Materialists.

How to watch Materialists at home Credit: A24

The A24 rom-com made its at-home debut via digital video-on-demand platforms like Prime Video and Fandango at Home back in July, following a successful summer theatrical run. After a few months of waiting, it's now made its streaming debut on HBO Max. See all the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

Materialists is available on digital video-on-demand platforms as of July 22. You can either buy the movie for your digital library or rent it for 30 days. Just note that although you'll have 30 days to watch, you'll only have 48 hours to finish watching once you begin.

You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

• Prime Video — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Apple TV — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99

• YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent starting at $4.99

• Google Play — buy for $19.99, rent starting at $4.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or Buy 'Materialists' at Prime Video $5.99 to rent, $12.99 to buy Get Deal Stream it on HBO Max

A24 has a multi-year output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which means new A24 theatrical releases exclusively stream on HBO Max before anywhere else. Materialists is no different. It made its streaming debut on HBO Max on Nov. 7, 2025.

HBO Max subscriptions now start at $10.99 per month (thanks to a recent price hike), but there are a few different ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

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College students can get an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Just verify your student status through UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $10.99 to $5.49 per month for 12 months.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 41% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

Even with the rising costs, Disney's bundle deals are still the best streaming deals around. You can get Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $19.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers separately would cost you $34.97, so you'll keep an extra $15 in your pocket each month by bundling them together. If you want to go ad-free, it'll cost you $32.99 per month for the bundle as opposed to paying $56.47 separately. That's up to 41% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries.

The weekend is here, and it’s time to continue on your self-hosting journey! This weekend, we're going to focus on getting some self-hosted cloud storage and media servers running in your homelab.

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Opens in a new window Credit: NanoPhone NanoPhone - A Mini 4G Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! $89.97
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SEE ALSO: 10 Apple deals that prove Black Friday 2025 is starting earlier than ever

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The '90s are back, baby, and we don’t just mean biker shorts, middle parts, and platform shoes! '90s movies are the perfect dose of nostalgia for a time when you were too young to notice the rampant injustices of the world around you. Sorry! You grew up! 

Though some '90s movies have been robbed of their rose-colored sheen by modern revelations about their cast or creators, many still hit just right. They were made in a time when all movies were meant to be seen in a theater — when budgets were big and the explosions were even bigger. In no particular order, here are the best '90s movies available via Prime Video for your next movie night.

25. Fever Pitch Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

This British rom-com has a disappointingly low American profile, likely because we went and remade it with Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore as Red Sox fans. The original Fever Pitch, itself based on a Nick Hornby book, stars Colin Firth (!!!) as a schoolteacher whose love for his soccer team, Arsenal, gets in the way of his budding romance with Ruth Gemmell. Guys and their sports, huh? If the tagline doesn’t thrill you (“Life gets complicated when you love one woman and 11 men”), then the kick of watching Mr. Darcy become a likable slob definitely will!*

How to watch: Fever Pitch is streaming on Prime Video.

24. Rounders

When Mike McDermott loses $30,000 at a high stakes poker game, he promises his girlfriend he’ll stop the gambling for good. But when his old childhood friend, Worm, starts joining games on Mike’s credit and losing, Mike gets drawn back into the high stakes world he’s been trying to escape. 

1998’s Rounders is a fun sports flick about poker; the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat on full display. Matt Damon is young and charming as the well-intentioned Mike, Edward Norton is appropriately shifty as the hustling Worm, and John Malkovich is indulgently, preposterously, delightfully campy as a temperamental Russian mobster. 

How to watch: Rounders is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

23. FernGully: The Last Rainforest

That’s right, the movie that traumatized '80s and '90s kids is still around to traumatize the next generation! Crysta and her friends are fairies that care for and protect their rainforest. When she discovers humans are cutting down their trees, she accidentally shrinks one of them (the hottest one), Zak, to fairy size. As Zak learns more about the fairies, his appreciation for the forest grows, as does his determination to stop human encroachment. If that plot sounds familiar, it’s because FernGully: The Last Rainforest is more or less the '90s animated version of Avatar, but with kicky mullets, throwback slang (bodacious babe!), and Robin Williams as a rapping bat. 

How to watch: FernGully: The Last Rainforest is streaming on Prime Video.

22. Armageddon Credit: Frank Masi / Touchstone / Kobal / Shutterstock

Very few movies can encapsulate the rampant American exceptionalism of the '90s like Armageddon. With a meteor barreling toward earth, the only people with the skills to save the human race are a group of blue-collar, American off-shore oil drillers led by a rugged and curmudgeonly Bruce Willis. With minimal training and the eyes of the world upon them, they’re blasted into space to drill a nuclear bomb into the meteor’s core. Of course, not everything goes to plan. 

Ben Affleck is at his dreamiest as a young oil driller, hopelessly in love with Willis’ daughter, one of Liv Tyler’s most iconic roles. Packed with American flags, a star-studded cast, tons of explosions, and a bunch of wives sitting at home while their husbands become heroes, Armageddon is a classic Hollywood blockbuster. It’s a nostalgic, fun piece of action-packed fluff, and somehow, it’s an Academy–Award nominee! Don't forget: Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want a Miss a Thing” was in the running for Best Original Song.

How to watch: Armageddon is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

21. Empire Records

Liv Tyler, Rory Cochrane, Ethan Embry, Robin Tunney, Renee Zellweger are young employees of a failing independent record shop that band together to try and save the store. We’ve got teenage drama, nostalgic music, '90s fashion, and Rex Manning Day — Empire Records has it all! It’s a quintessential hangout comedy that embodies the spirit of early '90s and launched the careers of some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Critics hated it; teens loved it — and if that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is!

How to watch: Empire Records is streaming on Prime Video.

20. GoldenEye

In this installment, Bond is sent by M (Judi Dench) to St. Petersburg to investigate an electromagnetic weapon, but he soon discovers a spider web woven frighteningly close to home. Pierce Brosnan’s first turn as James Bond was his best and a necessary breath of fresh air for a franchise that had been stalling in its Timothy Dalton years. GoldenEye boasts all the Bond hallmarks: plot twists, explosions, sadistic villains, beautiful Bond girls (Izabella Scorupco), cool gadgets, sexy cars, and Bond’s own smooth, unflappable flair, which Brosnan exudes in spades. 

How to watch: GoldenEye is streaming on Prime Video.

19. She’s All That Credit: Claudette Barius / Miramax / Kobal / Shutterstock

A romantic comedy hall-of-famer, 1999’s She’s All That gives us one of the most iconic and absurd examples of nerdy-girl-isn’t-hot-until-you-take-her-glasses-off movie magic. Freddie Prinze Jr. is lovably smug as the high school top dawg who bets his bros he can turn any girl into the prom queen in six weeks, even social outcast Laney Boggs. That’s right, it’s a 1990s Pygmalion/My Fair Lady — and you already know how it ends! 

This is a teen comedy that retains some of its edge; the teens were still allowed to be mean to each other in the '90s. Rachael Leigh Cook became a household name as the artsy high school misfit who was obviously cute long before she got contacts. Matthew Lillard, Paul Walker, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Kieran Culkin, Anna Paquin, Gabrielle Union, and more help cement She’s All That in the hallowed halls of rom-com history, and its soundtrack is a full-fledged nostalgia bomb. It’s time for a rewatch.*

How to watch: She’s All That is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

18. Cruel Intentions

Les Liaisons Dangereuses is a 1782 French novel where two bored aristocrats, skilled in social politics and manipulation, bet that if Vicomte de Valmont can seduce a virtuous newcomer, then the Marquise de Merteuil will sleep with him. Cruel Intentions takes this story and plops it in a world as gossipy, hierarchical, and sexy as an 18th-century French court — a NYC private high school. 

Ryan Phillippe is the charmer looking for a challenge, Sarah Michelle Gellar the queen bee who dangles her sexuality over him like a carrot, and Reese Witherspoon the prudish fresh face caught in their little game. But as Phillippe’s Sebastian dedicates himself more and more to his seduction, he begins to wonder if he’s still playing a part… or does he actually have feelings for his mark? Gleefully dark and comically corrupt, Cruel Intentions is a superbly entertaining teen drama that holds up enough to have inspired a 2024 series, also on Prime.

How to watch: Cruel Intentions is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

17. Total Recall

Based on a Philip K. Dick short story (like most of the best science fiction movies!),Total Recall is a mind-bending cyberpunk exploration of the relationship between memory and the self. In 2084, Earthman Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) begins having dreams about Mars, currently under the control of an oppressive regime. Looking to learn more about his visions, he visits Rekall, a company that embeds fake memories on demand. Directed by Paul Verhoeven (who also directed RoboCop, Starship Troopers, and… Showgirls?), Total Recall is a gritty, action-packed, dystopian blockbuster. It’s got its fair share of '90s machismo, but many controversial elements at its time — like a three-breasted prostitute — have become iconic with age. 

How to watch: Total Recall is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

16. Forrest Gump Credit: Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock

Directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth, Forrest Gump is a family-friendly comedy-drama about a big-hearted but slow-witted man who finds himself directly involved in some of the major historical events of the last half of the 20th century. Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his earnest portrayal of Forrest, and the film won five more Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture. (Plus it launched a popular casual seafood chain!) The cast here is unmissable, with Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field each shining in their respective roles. Charming, nostalgic, and sweet, Forrest Gump overcomes its sentimentality with its abundant good-heartedness. 

How to watch: Forrest Gump is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

15. The Joy Luck Club Credit: Buena Vista / Hollywood / Kobal / Shutterstock

Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, The Joy Luck Club should be required viewing for anyone with a mother. In San Francisco, four women, all Chinese immigrants, form a mahjong group. Over the course of the film, each woman shares her story, from their lives in China to the modern struggles they are each having with their American-born daughters. The Joy Luck Club is a lovely, moving film about the generational divide, self-respect, and most crucially, mother-daughter relationships. It’s full of heart, the kind of movie that requires a box of tissues but leaves you feeling warm and renewed.

How to watch: The Joy Luck Club is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

14. True Romance

Elvis superfan Clarence (Christian Slater) and former call girl Alabama (Patricia Arquette) fall in love, get married…. and then murder her former pimp, steal his cocaine stash, and head to California. Unfortunately for the lovebirds, there are a few people with a financial interest in their suitcase of drugs, and they’re not going to stop until they recoup their money. 

Directed by Tony Scott and written by Hollywood newcomer Quentin Tarantino (!!!!), 1993’s True Romance is a dynamic, unpredictable ride. For a large portion of the film, Alabama and Clarence seem to think they’re in a romance flick — while everyone else around them is in a pulpy, violent thriller. It’s a darkly comic look at the destructive power of two idiots falling in love. Being a Tarantino film, True Romance does not shy from using the n-word, but it also has a sinister James Gandolfini, a stoned Brad Pitt, and an absolutely unhinged, and possibly offensive, Gary Oldman. 

How to watch: True Romance is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

13. Titanic Credit: 20th Century Fox / Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock

Kate Winslet is Rose, a young, upper-class Brit aboard the RMS Titanic, who soon finds herself in a whirlwind romance with the handsome, charming, and penniless Jack — Leonardo DiCaprio’s star-making role. Their class difference isn’t the only obstacle their love faces, as Rose’s wealthy fiancé Cal (Billy Zane) is also on the ship. And the ship is about to run into an enormous iceberg and become the world’s most famous maritime catastrophe. 

James Cameron’s Titanic is an epic in every sense of the word. The love story is melodramatic and all-encompassing, made even more urgent by the impending doom we know is waiting for the lovers. When the action hits, it is visceral, harrowing, and breathtaking: an incomprehensible disaster seen through the eyes of its human victims. There’s also a whole bit about Rose in the present as an old woman and the team trying to find the ships’ wreckage. But no one really remembers that part. 

How to watch: Titanic is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

12. The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley walked so Saltburn could run. This iconic psychological thriller features a young Matt Damon as Tom Ripley, a poor New Yorker who finds himself in the entourage of the rich and impossibly charismatic Dickie as he lounges and carouses his way across 1950s Europe. But is it luck that brought Tom into Dickie’s orbit, or something more sinister? 

Jude Law is at his Jude-est Law-iest as Dickie, exuding the effortless grace of a young, handsome aristocrat who can’t help but charm everyone meets. Gwyneth Paltrow glows as Dickie’s girlfriend, Marge, and Philip Seymour Hoffman is pitch-perfect as another of Dickie’s rich friends, who mistrusts Tom from the get-go. Based on the Patricia Highsmith novel and directed by Anthony Minghella, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a suspenseful, captivating classic.* 

(If you can’t get enough of this psychosexual story, don’t miss Netflix’s excellent 2024 series, Ripley, starring Andrew Scott.)

How to watch: The Talented Mr. Ripley is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

11. The Long Walk Home Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Whoopi Goldberg is Odessa Cotter, a maid for Miriam Thompson (Sissy Spacek), in Montgomery, Alabama, during the 1955 Montgomery bus boycotts. Unwilling to take a bus, Odessa must endure long walks to and from the Thompson home. Against the wishes of her husband and her neighbors, Miriam offers Odessa a ride a few days a week to ease her burden. If made today, the film would certainly have not opted for a white narrator to tell the story of these two well-developed women from different communities, but nonetheless, The Long Walk Home remains a complex and powerful exploration of injustice.

How to watch: The Long Walk Home is streaming on Prime Video.

10. October Sky Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Based on a true story, October Sky is a touching drama about a West Virginian coal miners’ son (Jake Gyllenhaal), who is developing an interest in aerospace engineering. Alongside his friends and against the wishes of his father (Chris Cooper), he tests homemade rockets and teaches himself the necessary science to eventually become a NASA engineer. October Sky is a masterclass in inspirational, feel-good movie-making. It’s both sincere and emotionally complex, refusing to simplify its characters into archetypes. You’ll be left with a warm, fuzzy feeling, contemplating both your relationship with your father and how to go about building your own backyard rocket. Don’t miss Laura Dern as a truly wonderful high school science teacher!

How to watch: October Sky is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

9. The Sixth Sense

Doesn’t matter if you’re old enough to have witnessed The Sixth Sense twist first-hand, you have definitely made an "I see dead people" joke. The endurance of this movie’s cultural relevance — no matter how you feel about M. Night Shyamalan today — is a testament to just how groundbreaking it was when it debuted in 1999. 

Bruce Willis is a child psychologist whose newest patient (Haley Joel Osment) claims to speak to the dead. The Sixth Sense is a breathlessly tense psychological thriller — some of us have had nightmares about Mischa Barton puking in a tent for the last 20 years — that’s as emotionally affecting as it is surprising. If somehow you haven’t seen this smart, sophisticated, and just plain excellent film, it’s time to right that wrong. 

How to watch: The Sixth Sense is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

8. Reservoir Dogs

Quentin Tarantino’s feature-length directorial debut, Reservoir Dogs, is violent, coarse, nonlinear, and irreverent. He’s known his brand since day one. Paying homage to multiple Hollywood classics like Stanley Kubrick's The Killing, 1992’s Reservoir Dogs is chaotic and energetic, celebrated as an independent hit thanks to an intelligent script and an idiosyncratic cast (Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Michael Madsen, and more). Decades later, though Tarantino’s profile and production budgets have gotten significantly bigger, this first entry, full of pluck and passion, is still one of his best. 

When a diamond heist goes wrong, eight men try to determine who sold them out, using any means necessary to extract the truth. 

How to watch: Reservoir Dogs is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

7. Galaxy Quest  Credit: Murray Close / Dreamworks LLC / Kobal / Shutterstock

Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, and Daryl Mitchell are the fictional crew of a cult TV sci-fi series, Galaxy Quest. Years after the show’s been off the air, they float from convention to convention, signing autographs and wishing their careers had gone in a different direction. Until one day, they’re kidnapped by aliens who saw their TV broadcast from across the galaxy and thought it was real! Uh oh! Now the aliens hope Tim Allen and crew can defend their planet against an invading force, while the hapless band of actors just hopes they can keep up the ruse long enough to find a way home. Galaxy Quest is a deeply silly movie that packs a sneaky emotional punch. An absolute winner, through and through.* 

How to watch: Galaxy Quest is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

6. Run Lola Run

Run Lola Run has a simple premise that translates into an impossibly gripping and entertaining action flick. Right out the gate, the movie starts at a 10: Lola has 20 minutes to find 100,000 bucks or her boyfriend will be killed. Fueled by an infectious, relentless electronic score, Lola runs through the streets of Germany to try to make her deadline — and we’re with her every breathless step along the way. 

Written and directed by Tom Tykwer, Run Lola Run is an electrifying watch, with surprising moments of humanity and surrealism. Don’t let the subtitles stop you — this is one of those gems that reminds you why you love movies so dang much.

How to watch: Run Lola Run is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

5. Fargo Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

There aren't many films out there popular enough to inspire a very popular-in-its-own-right TV show, but Fargo — with its snowy North Dakota setting and offbeat black comedy style — has managed it with aplomb. One of the most memorable roles in Hollywood history, heavily pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) attempts to untangle a messy murder and its links to some hired kidnappers, with things quickly spiraling in the amusingly chaotic way only Coen brothers' movies can. Complimentary characters include a spineless William H. Macy as desperate-for-money car dealer Jerry Lundegaard, a chillingly dead-eyed Peter Stormare as hired kidnapper Gaear Grimsrud, and Steve Buscemi as his slimy partner in crime.* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: Fargo is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

4. Clueless

Clueless, first of all, is iconic. Nearly 30 years have passed, but it’s still a cultural touchstone for today’s teens. Perhaps its staying power comes from its plot, directly lifted from the literal founder of the romantic comedy, Jane Austen. Like Austen’s Emma Woodhouse, Clueless’s Cher (Alicia Silverstone) acts as a matchmaker to everyone around her but can’t seem to get her own love life in order. The story alone does not fully capture the movie’s charm. Clueless is both hilarious and sweet, features unforgettable costumes, and most importantly, is filled to the brim with memorable, quotable lines. Cinema has never heard a more cutting insult than “You’re a virgin who can’t drive.”* 

How to watch: Clueless is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

3. Good Will Hunting

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been such mainstay figures in Hollywood for decades now that it’s easy to forget how mythical and meteoric their entry into filmmaking was. But these two young, relatively unknown bros showed up in Hollywood with the script for Good Will Hunting and walked out with an Oscar and a lifetime on the A-list.

When an MIT professor (Stellan Skarsgård) puts a near-impossible math problem on his blackboard, he’s shocked to find that someone in the school has solved it... And that someone is the janitor, Will (Matt Damon). The professor helps Will, currently on parole, get permission from the court to study mathematics — provided he also receives therapy for his behavioral issues. 

Good Will Hunting is a captivating and heartfelt drama that has been parodied, copied, and referenced, but never repeated. Ben Affleck is perfect as Will’s rough best friend, and Robin Williams won an Academy Award for his performance as the empathetic, unconventional, and no-bullshit counselor who just might be the one to help Will break out of his pattern of self-destruction and make something of his life.* 

How to watch: Good Will Hunting is streaming on Prime Video.

2. Sense and Sensibility Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Directed by Ang Lee, 1995’s Sense and Sensibility is unquestionably one of the best cinematic Jane Austen adaptations to date. Emma Thompson is heavenly as the practical, thoughtful Elinor Dashwood, the “sense” to her changeable, emotional sister Marianne’s (Kate Winslet) “sensibility.” It’s a scenic, romantic, and simply lovely watch that is as poignant now as it was two decades ago (or two centuries ago!).

When their father dies, Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters move to a small cottage in Devonshire and must concern themselves with what all 18th and 19th century women without an inheritance must concern themselves with: an advantageous marriage. Elinor is consumed by caring for others and counseling Marianne, who is absolutely besotted with John Willoughby, a total rake!!!! Will Elinor successfully manage the family's misfortunes? And will she even have time to consider love for herself?

How to watch: Sense and Sensibility is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

1. L.A. Confidential

A fantastically stylized, neo-noir crime thriller, L.A. Confidential is an intricate web of whodunnits and double-crosses set in a sultry, seedy 1950s Los Angeles. Everyone here is operating at the top of their ability: the cast is excellent (Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, David Strathairn, and more); the script is airtight, intelligent, and meticulously plotted; and the cinematography brings color to a moody, noir atmosphere. Even the audience is doing good work here — you’ve got to pay attention to reap the rewards of this spectacular drama that would have swept the 1997 Academy Awards had it not been competing against Titanic. 

Adapted from a James Ellroy novel, L.A. Confidential follows three different cops working to rehabilitate the LAPD’s image after a series of scandals. But in rooting out corruption, they’ll uncover a complex maze of lies, celebrity, sex, and murder that puts them deeper in danger the closer they get to the truth. 

How to watch: L.A. Confidential is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

UPDATE: Nov. 7, 2025, 3:48 p.m. EST This article was first published on April 8, 2022. It has been updated to include current streaming options.