Mashable

TL;DR: Live stream Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations continues with another day of action from Morocco, this time with Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in Group E.

Neither country is known as a major player in world soccer, but they'll both want to notch up points here before coming up against Algeria and Sudan in other Group E games. That said, Burkina Faso are former AFCON finalists and Equatorial Guinea have reached the quarter finals on a couple of occasions. Equatorial Guinea's captain and star player Emilio Nsue was also the top scorer at the 2023 AFCON. Be sure not to miss this Christmas Eve clash.

If you want to watch Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea?

Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 7.30 a.m. ET on Dec. 24. This fixture takes place at Stade Mohamed V.

How to watch Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea for free

Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea 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 the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea for free from anywhere in the world

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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 AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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).

Watch Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

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 December 24, 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 December 24, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 24 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 24 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 24 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this green space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (0): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

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 December 24, 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 December 24, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 24 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 24 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 24 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

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

Equal (2): Everything in this green space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (0): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

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 love to eat.

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 December 24, 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: Currency

• Green: To nibble

• Blue: Marine life

• Purple: Melodic sounds

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Slang for money

• Green: Masticate

• Blue: Fish

• Purple: Ways to vocalize musically plus a letter

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 #927 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Slang for money: BACON, BREAD, CHEESE, PAPER

• Masticate: BITE, CHAMP, CHEW, MUNCH

• Fish: CHAR, POLLOCK, SOLE, TANG

• Ways to vocalize musically plus a letter: HUMP, RAPT, SINGE, WHISTLER

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 December 24, 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 yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love to eat.

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 December 24, 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: Currency

• Green: To nibble

• Blue: Marine life

• Purple: Melodic sounds

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Slang for money

• Green: Masticate

• Blue: Fish

• Purple: Ways to vocalize musically plus a letter

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 #927 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Slang for money: BACON, BREAD, CHEESE, PAPER

• Masticate: BITE, CHAMP, CHEW, MUNCH

• Fish: CHAR, POLLOCK, SOLE, TANG

• Ways to vocalize musically plus a letter: HUMP, RAPT, SINGE, WHISTLER

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 December 24, 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 prioritize comfort.

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 December 24, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 24, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Gather around

The words are related to relaxation.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe comfort.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Snug as a Bug

NYT Strands word list for December 24

• Comfy

• Warm

• Soft

• Homey

• Snug as a Bug

• Cozy

• Pleasant

• Relaxing

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you prioritize comfort.

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 December 24, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 24, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Gather around

The words are related to relaxation.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe comfort.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Snug as a Bug

NYT Strands word list for December 24

• Comfy

• Warm

• Soft

• Homey

• Snug as a Bug

• Cozy

• Pleasant

• Relaxing

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 love to sew.

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 December 24, 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 December 24, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

What a roll of thread sits on.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SPOOL

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 December 24, 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 yesterday's Wordle.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love to sew.

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 December 24, 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 December 24, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

What a roll of thread sits on.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SPOOL

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 December 24, 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.

"iPhone Storage Full."

It's a dreaded notification that some iPhone users have come to experience. It happened to me at my most recent holiday gathering while taking family photos. It wasn't the first time, but it was certainly an inconvenient time.

Like most people who receive the storage full prompt, I immediately went to Settings, followed by General, then the iPhone Storage option in order to see what was taking up 256GB of space. Sure, I snap a lot of photos and there are dozens of apps on my phone that I no longer use that could be taking up much needed storage space. I hoped that if I found what was taking up so much space, I might be able to delete it and clear up some storage.

But, no. It wasn't photos, or apps, or files, or documents that were filling up my iPhone this time. It was "System Data." Eighty whole gigs of my iPhone, roughly one-third of its entire 256GB of storage, were being taken up by "System Data."

System Data on the author's iPhone ballooned to 80GB on Thanksgiving. Credit: Mashable screenshot

When I looked online, I found posts and threads on social media where other iPhone users shared their own System Data storage issues. One Reddit user had their System Data taking up as much as 128GB of their 256GB iPhone!

And worst of all, there's nothing we could do about it.

What is System Data?

When clicking on System Data, the very last thing on the iPhone Storage settings page where all your apps and their file sizes are listed, iOS provides a very general explanation of what System Data is.

"System Data includes caches, logs and other resources currently in use by the system," it reads. "This value will fluctuate according to system needs."

Here's how the iPhone describes "System Data." Credit: Mashable screenshot

To be clear, this isn't the drive space that the operating system needs. That's listed completely independently under iPhone storage. The same with data connected to each individual app. That's rolled into the size of each app. This is some vague other thing. I reached out to Apple for more information. 

"System Data encompasses caches, logs, and other resources currently in use by the system," Apple said. "This also includes temporary files that have a short lifecycle and are actively being used by iOS to keep the iPhone running smoothly."

You'll find that System Data fluctuates wildly. That 80GB of System Data on my iPhone that I mentioned earlier? It was down to 50GB the next morning.

"The size of System Data is managed by the system," Apple said. "When the temporary files are no longer needed, the system cleans them up automatically, so changes to the size of System Data are expected."

How can users clear iPhone's System Data?

According to Apple, System Data is basically what iOS decides it needs to store pertaining to apps and other processes that are currently running or being used. But, what if a user wants to remove those temporary files immediately to open up space. Is there anything a user can do?

"iOS is designed to monitor and optimize storage usage, removing as many temporary files and caches as possible to free up space as needed without any required action from the user," Apple said. "This automatic management takes into consideration the amount of available storage and helps ensure iPhone maintains optimal performance while preserving storage space. There isn’t a need for users to do this manually."

So, in short, no. There's nothing iPhone users can manually do to clear up unnecessary System Data when storage space is needed. iOS decides when and what to clean up. One Redditor on the previously mentioned Reddit thread even shared how their iPhone's 167GB of System Data suddenly dropped down to 4GB on its own.

However, based on what Apple says and my own experience, this is what I'd recommend:

As soon as you notice your System Data is getting out of control, close all your unused apps out completely. To do this, simply swipe starting from the bottom of the screen and go upwards. All of your open app windows should appear stacked one behind the other. Swipe those windows up to completely close out the app. The System Data won't clear up immediately. Again, Apple says users can't control this. However, closing those apps did appear to move the process along as those temporary files are no longer needed once the apps are closed.

Hopefully, one day, Apple will allow users to force iOS to clear up System Data. But, until then, this is the best iPhone users can do.

SAVE 50%: Get your first box of dog food from The Farmer's Dog for half off.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Farmer's Dog The Farmer's Dog Save 50% on your first box Get Deal

Pet owners often treat their animals as if they were their children — the term "pet parent" exists for a reason. If you fall in that boat, you've probably heard about The Farmer's Dog. The brand creates healthy meals for dogs that are fit for humans. Genuinely, they use human-grade meats and veggies that are gently cooked to maintain nutrients.

SEE ALSO: The best gifts for pets (and their parents): 35+ ideas that the internet and Mashable reporters stand by

To get started, you'll work through a brief questionnaire about your dog(s) to create your personalized plan with portions to meet your dog's nutritional and caloric needs. The Farmer's Dog boasts on-staff vets and on-staff board-certified nutritionists, so you know your dog's food is being handled with care.

If you've been thinking about giving The Farmer's Dog a try, now is a great time to do it. You can save 50% on your first box.

SAVE $39.01: As of Dec. 23, get the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $209.99 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $249. That's a discount of 16%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirPods Pro 3 $209.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $39.01   Get Deal

Looking for a new pair of earbuds for yourself or to gift someone else? You can't go wrong with AirPods, especially if you're already using devices that are part of the iOS ecosystem. And you can save a significant amount on the latest model right now, if you hurry over to Amazon.

As of Dec. 23, get the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $209.99 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $249. That's $39 off and a discount of 16%.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best earbuds of 2025, tested by audio experts

These Mashable Choice Award-winning earbuds boast "outstanding ANC, excellent battery life, and intuitive connectivity and controls", according to Mashable reviewer Adam Doud. They're smaller than their predecessors, the AirPods Pro 2, and better in njust about every way.

They feature improved audio, better active noise cancellation with transparency mode, simple connectivity to your iOS device, and an even sound profile that you can tweak to your liking. Plus, with their included charging case, you can juice them back up to full capacity when their lengthy battery life has been depleted.

They're just about perfect in every way for iOS users, and If you're looking for a better pair than what you have, you won't want to miss out on this deal. It's well worth locking yours in at this discount so you can listen to your favorite songs with the quality they deserve.

The best streaming deals to watch 'The Smashing Machine' at home: Watch now Rent or Buy on Prime Video $5.99 or $19.99 Shop Now Watch now Rent or buy on Apple TV $5.99 or $19.99 Shop Now Watch as of Jan. 23 HBO Max (With Ads) $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Watch as of Jan. 23 Max Standard $184.99/year (save $36.89) Get Deal Watch as of Jan. 23 HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal Watch as of Jan. 23 HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month) Get Deal Watch as of Jan. 23 Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 41%) Get Deal

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is ready for a change of pace. Known for his larger-than-life personality and smoldering action-comedy performances, The Smashing Machine sees him take on a heavier, more dramatic role as MMA fighter Mark Kerr.

It world premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, then played at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where Mashable's film editor, Kristy Puchko, reviewed the film. It earned mostly positive reviews, with tons of praise for Johnson's performance. The movie also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr's partner Dawn, Ryan Bader as UFC champion Mark Coleman, and Oleksandr Usyk as MMA fighter Igor Vovchanchyn.

If you missed it in theaters, you can now watch The Smashing Machine at home. Here's what you need to know to tune in — including where it's streaming and when.

What is The Smashing Machine about?

Written and directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), The Smashing Machine tells the true story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr (Johnson) during the early days of the UFC in the '90s. It's set across several years, ushering audiences to Japan for the Pride FC competition and back to the U.S. for training. It dives into his personal struggles and tumultuous romantic relationship with Dawn Staples (Blunt) as he strives to be the best in the ring.

Get a glimpse at Johnson's transformation in the official trailer:

Is The Smashing Machine worth watching?

The Smashing Machine may not have been a knockout at the box office, but Johnson's transformation into Mark Kerr and his performance alone make it worth watching. The film took home the Silver Lion during the Venice International Film Festival and has racked up a 70 percent critic rating and 75 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Mashable's own reviewer writes, "In the end, Johnson gives a career-defining performance that should well prove he can handle meatier, even artier fare. Blunt gives her all in a thankless role, and Safdie, in his feature-length directorial debut without his brother/Uncut Gems co-helmer Josh Safdie, takes some big swings. It's a shame he didn't have a sharper eye on what was hitting, and what was leaving his audience needing more."

Check out Mashable's full review of The Smashing Machine.

How to watch The Smashing Machine at home Credit: A24

A24 has officially announced a streaming date for The Smashing Machine. You can tune in at home by purchasing or renting via digital video-on-demand as of Nov. 4, 2025 or streaming as of Jan. 23, 2026. We've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

As of Nov. 4, The Smashing Machine is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms. You can buy the movie for your digital library or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, 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 $19.99, rent for $5.99

• Apple TV — buy for $19.99, 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 'The Smashing Machine' at Prime Video $5.99 or $19.99 Get Deal Stream it on HBO Max

A24 has a multi-year output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, so new A24 theatrical releases exclusively stream on HBO Max before anywhere else.

Based on the theater-to-streaming trajectory of other recently released A24 movies — like Sorry, Baby, Materialists, and Bring Her Back — we estimated that The Smashing Machine would hit HBO Max sometime in February or March 2026. We're happy to report that A24 is blessing us a bit early (likely due to awards season). You can stream The Smashing Machine on HBO Max as of Jan. 23, 2026.

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

The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads annual subscription $109.99 per year (save $21.89) Get Deal

The HBO Max Basic plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year upfront, that price drops down to just $9.17. With the annual plan, you'll pay $109.99, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on HBO Max Standard annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual subscription $184.99 per year (save $36.89) Get Deal

If you'd rather go ad-free, the annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over the monthly plans. The Standard tier costs either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (about $15.42 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). Both tiers offer ad-free viewing, but the Premium tier also features 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan Get Deal

The only current way to get HBO Max for free is to switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic with ads for free — a $10.99 per month value. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can watch The Smashing Machine when it hits streaming by signing up for 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.

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

For the most bang for your buck, check out the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $19.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $34.97 per month if you paid separately for each, so you'll keep an extra $15 in your pocket monthly. If you prefer an ad-free experience, the bundle will run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47. That's up to 41% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries.

UPDATE: Dec. 23, 2025, 11:16 a.m. This article has been updated to include the official streaming release details for "The Smashing Machine" on HBO Max.

Grocery prices continue to rise for many Americans. Federal food assistance programs are pleading their case with a hostile administration. Food banks across the country are trying to keep up. 

Households, caught in the crosshairs of political and economic decisions by federal leaders, are trying to cut costs where they can and still feed themselves and their families balanced, whole meals. 

How do they do that? Some strategic decision making, online deal hunting, and, as always, help from their communities.

Know your grocery stores 

While the cost of groceries has increased across the board — soaring more than 29 percent since 2020 — prices and access still vary based on a shopper's location. States and counties may see their own price disparities, while households that shop in-person versus through delivery services are seeing a widening gap on receipts. Areas that have been left without major grocers, often referred to as food deserts, have long faced inflated prices, only set to worsen. 

Meanwhile, advocates like New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani are pushing for more publicly-funded grocers, expanding on nonprofit co-ops and military store models that could counter the profit-driven price setting in corporate grocery chains. 

Until then, shoppers are navigating what's near them, so knowing which grocery stores offer consistently low prices is a good place to start. 

According to shoppers, your best bets among mainstream grocers are Walmart, Aldi, Lidl, Grocery Outlet, WinCo, and Trader Joe's — most offer a majority of privately labeled products. If you can manage wholesalers, like Costco, head there to compare unit prices (and often get them lower).

A tip: Try to check prices against those of your local mom-and-pop grocer or, if you're fortunate enough to live near one, your local farm. They may be better than the big markets.  

SEE ALSO: Walmart denies tariffs caused reinstatement of 'basket fee' Find digital deals 

It never hurts to scour the pages of your local newspaper for the best grocery deals, but many of those old school circulars have moved online. 

Once you find which store you can rely on, check out if they have any online or app-exclusive bargains. Aldi and Kroger stores, for example, post weekly digital deals. 

There are also general apps that share coupons, deals, and low-cost to free food in your area. One of the most popular is Flipp, a digital circular offering that also has its own app and which lets you connect your loyalty accounts all in one place.

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Before placing orders online, though, check to make sure you're not being charged extra money, like Walmart's reinstated basket fee. (And if you're privacy minded, signing up for a grocery store account may not be the best idea.)

Another option is Flashfood, which hooks up local shoppers with nearby deals, online ordering, and pickup. General coupon sites like Slickdeals (as well as its app) and Coupons.com often include deals from large retail and grocery stores, like Walmart and H-E-B.  

For cheap prepared food and surplus check out sites like Too Good To Go, which connects users with surprise bags of food, prepared meals, and more from local restaurants and grocers. 

There's also apps like Lemontree that focus on getting entirely free produce and pantry items, hot meals, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) money into the hands of those in need. Lemontree is available only in select cities, mostly on the East Coast. 

Join online communities 

There's a vast community of deal hunters and creators sharing grocery hacks online that are worth checking out, too. Many of them congregate on subreddits like r/budgetfood (77,000 weekly visitors) and r/frugal (1 million weekly visitors), and share strategies on how to meal plan and shop in more cost effective ways.

Rebecca Chobat, the creator behind the viral account Dollar Tree Dinners, has been posting extremely low cost meals and grocery hauls for years, and now shares her ideas with more than 3.5 million followers. Other TikTok accounts like Nicole Svenson, @itsmekatevee, and @at.home.cook share budget dinners and grocery hauls. There's also budget-friendly YouTube channels, like Frugal Fit Mom and Julia Pacheco. 

Get help from food assistance organizations 

If you are in need, do not hesitate to ask for help. Federal food assistance benefits like SNAP, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) work alongside a network of national food banks to fill gaps where your weekly grocery budget can't stretch. 

To find food banks in your area, check out hunger nonprofit Feeding America's online search tool or call 866-3-HUNGRY (866-348-6479). 

SAVE $100: The 11-inch M5 iPad Pro is on sale at Amazon for $899, down from the list price of $999. That's a 10% discount that matches the lowest Amazon has ever offered.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 11-inch M5 Apple iPad Pro (WiFi, 256GB) $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100   Get Deal

Need a last-minute gift that'll earn you the title of superstar gift giver? We're cutting it close now to get gifts delivered on time for Christmas, but you're not totally out of luck at Amazon. If you're shopping for a generous gift for someone who could use a tablet, check out this Apple deal.

As of Dec. 23, the 11-inch M5 Apple iPad Pro (WiFi, 256GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, marked down from the standard price of $999. That's a savings of $100 from a 10% discount. Today's sale matches the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

On Mashable's list of the best iPads, the iPad Pro with M5 chip earns the spot as the best option for professionals. In part, that's thanks to the powerful M5 chip, but we also love the battery life and super thin, portable design. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "Professionals planning on using an iPad as their tablet should go for the new iPad Pro". "This 2025 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power thanks to the M5 processor, giving it way more power than the average user really needs. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage."

SEE ALSO: Last-minute gifts on sale that'll arrive before Christmas: DoorDash gift cards, Fire Sticks, the Shark Glossi, more

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth said, "It's the kind of gadget that makes you feel like you're living in the future," in his full review of the Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5). He pointed out extra impressive stats like the ability to reach up to 1,600 nits peak brightness with HDR content and the ultra-light design.

Before this deal disappears or delivery times push beyond Christmas, secure the powerful 11-inch M5 Apple iPad Pro (WiFi, 256GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899. Get the wrapping paper ready and you'll be in great shape for top-tier gifting this year.

As we get into the final hours of Christmas shopping, don't stress about how long your list is. There's still time to get holiday shopping done. While it may be too late to place an online order (unless you're shopping on Amazon,) but you can always shop in store. Most retailers will be open on Christmas Eve, which falls on Wednesday, Dec. 24 in 2025. However, these retailers will have truncated hours.

Generally, retailers will close on Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25, so Christmas Eve is your last chance to stock up on groceries and gifts. So whether you're scrambling to pick up AirPods for mom or just ran out of wrapping paper, here's where and when you can shop on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve Store Hours for Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and more

Apple: Apple Stores will open by 9 am local time and close by 6 pm on Christmas Eve. Store hours vary locally so check local hours.

Best Buy: Best Buy stores open from 8 am to 7 pm local time.

Costco: Costco stores open from 10 am to 5 pm local time.

The Home Depot: Home Depot stores open at regular hours but will close early at 5 pm local time. Check local store hours.

Lowe's: Lowe's stores will open at 6 am and close by 6 pm local time. Some stores will close by 5 pm, check local store hours.

Macy's: Macy's stores will open from 8 am to 7 pm local time.

Target: Target stores open from 7 am to 8 pm local time.

REI: REI stores open from 9 am to 6 pm local time.

Walmart: Walmart stores open from 6 am to 6 pm local time.

Will any stores be open on Christmas?

Most retailers will be closed on Christmas Day. However, some pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens will remain open. 24 hour locations of both CVS and Walgreens will remain open on Christmas Day.

Otherwise, CVS locations will open from 10 am to 8 pm local time on Christmas Day. Check store hours before shopping. Walgreens locations will open from 8 am to 5 pm but like CVS, not all locations will be open so verify hours before shopping.

SAVE $34.98: As of Dec. 23, new and returning subscribers can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for only 99 cents. Typically $11.99 per month, that saves you nearly $35 across three months.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Unlimited Kindle Unlimited $0.99 for three months (save $34.98) Get Deal

One of our favorite hidden gems on Cyber Monday was the Kindle Unlimited 99-cent deal. While that deal should technically be long gone, it actually just reappeared as a rebranded holiday deal. If you missed out during Cyber Week, you have been granted another chance.

As of Dec. 23, new and returning subscribers can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for only 99 cents. Usually $11.99 per month ($35.97 total for three months), that's $34.98 in savings — the next-best thing to free.

Kindle Unlimited unlocks instant access to a library full of millions of books across every genre you can imagine. And unlike the beloved Libby app, these books require no wait times. From bestsellers like Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides to recent books-turned-movies like Regretting You by Colleen Hoover and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden to subscription to magazines like People or Time, the Kindle Unlimited library is brimming with excellent reads. You can borrow up to 20 books at a time (magazines don't count toward your borrowing limit) and you don't even need a Kindle device to access Kindle Unlimited (although we suggest grabbing one while they're on sale!). You can just download the app onto any device and read at your own leisure — your laptop, smartphone, iPad, or web browser.

After the three-month promotional period, your subscription will automatically renew at full price ($11.99 per month), so be sure to set a remind to cancel if you want to avoid that charge. I personally think it's worth the monthly fee if you want to read a lot of brand new releases, as there is no wait time like Libby. If you don't mind waiting, I'd cancel before your three-month period is up.

When the trailer for Anaconda hit, I was giddy. At a glance, this seemed like a sublime elevator pitch: Two childhood best friends reunite to reboot the 1997 Jennifer Lopez/Ice Cube creature feature Anaconda. With Jack Black and Paul Rudd as the aforementioned besties, the promise of hilarious hijinks seemed sky-high. The zany trailer gave a taste of comedic chaos the filmmakers had in store, like a bumbling amateur film crew crossing paths with a real — and really monstrous — anaconda. It seemed like a perfectly wrapped gift for comedy lovers, just in time for Christmas. 

SEE ALSO: The 25 best movies of 2025, and where to stream them

I'm sorry to Grinch the vibe. But this Anaconda is not what we wished for. 

Written by Kevin Etten and Tom Gormican, and directed by the latter, this haphazard reboot gets tripped up in clumsy attempts at cleverness. Far from keeping it simple and stupid, the screenplay wedges in a thriller subplot that's far from thrilling, and gives the female characters all the depth of a shot glass. 

The male characters don't fare much better. Anaconda's hapless heroes natter on about what makes a great movie in passionate debates, so we know Etten and Gormican can talk the talk — but they can't walk the walk. 

Anaconda (2025) is not the scrappy sister film to Be Kind Rewind.  Credit: Matt Grace / Sony

Maybe you aren't coming to a 2025 action-comedy looking for a "spiritual sequel" to Michel Gondry's 2008, Jack-Black-fronted buddy comedy about two VHS rental store employees who dedicatedly make "sweded" versions of blockbuster films. But frankly, the premise and Black's casting had me hoping for this unconventional vibe: a celebration of determined filmmakers, doing their damndest with whatever they have at their disposal, turning junk into art. Instead, Gormican offers an action-comedy that's overstuffed with intrigue and underwhelming in-jokes.

Black stars as Doug McCallister, a lifelong Buffalo resident who once dreamed of moviemaking but now makes wedding videos for a living. ("It's a B, B+ life!") Meanwhile, his childhood best friend, Ronald "Griff" Griffen Jr., chased his dreams of movie stardom all the way to Los Angeles, only to wind up a struggling thespian whose greatest success is four guest appearances on S.W.A.T. But what if they could make their dream come true by rebooting Anaconda in the Brazilian Amazon? 

Their childhood buddies, Kenny (a daffy Steve Zahn) and Claire (a woefully underused Thandiwe Newton), join them on this quest, employing a slippery snake handler (Selton Mello) and a curious riverboat captain (Daniela Melchior) to shoot their Anaconda with a live snake. Things go dangerously awry when they bumble into the territory of an enormous and aggressive anaconda. But while they're dealing with all of this, there's also a macho band of men chasing down their "badass" riverboat captain for reasons unknown — and ultimately reasons not all that interesting. 

This is set up as a movie about friendship and the love of making movies with your friends. However, the amount of the film that actually features Doug and his friends making a movie is shockingly small. Where there could have been a DIY charm to seeing the footage, Gormican is solidly uninterested in showing the crew at work, offering one lazy montage of a successful shoot day. 

As soon as the enormous snake shows up, they all forget they're making a movie about the giant snake. As much as Doug and Griff claim to be horror fanatics, it seems they've never even heard of found footage, much less understood the rule that you never stop shooting! 

Jack Black is catastrophically miscast as the straight man.  Credit: Matt Grace / Sony

What an absolutely bonkers choice Gormican makes here. You've got an actor whose comedic charisma is so intense that he's not only been the best part of movies like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Holiday, and A Minecraft Movie (not to mention School of Rock, which he headlines), but also fronts a comedy-rock band known as Tenacious D. And you attempt to make him the level-headed guy, who's supposed to set up the punchlines for the zanier characters? It's not that Black can't manage that. It's that it's a waste of his dynamic energy and unparalleled comedic brilliance. Anaconda feels like it's constricting his potential. 

He and Rudd, who has been a solid straight man in Role Models and I Love You Man, have an awkward chemistry. It's as if they're not sure who is supposed to hit the punchline, as the latter bops around like a Muppet. To his credit, Zahn thrives amid this chaos, as he's always been a character actor who can make the most of any situation. Here, he's that wildcard friend who insists he's "Buffalo sober," meaning he only drinks "wine, beer, and the light liquors." And Mello manages some silliness as the eccentric snake handler. 

The rest of the cast, however, is so tangled in the convoluted plot that they have little opportunity to be funny or even amusing. Newton's role is so thinly written that Claire seems to exist only to be the object of Rudd's affections. Melchior's role is so dry and clichéd that she practically poses the whole of her screentime. That's infuriating, considering she's previously managed to be compelling in supporting roles in The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and American Sweatshop. Yet Gormican gives her more screentime and less to do! 

Anaconda is too slick and stupid in the wrong way.  Credit: Bradley Patrick / Sony

Look, the original Anaconda wasn't good. But it was fun. It understood what people wanted to see: famous people fighting a giant snake. This Anaconda has a setup that suggests Gormican knows what we want: Jack Black and Paul Rudd being goofy while making a silly snake movie. And yet, what we get is an overlong, convoluted action-comedy where neither the action nor the comedy is worthwhile. 

It's the same issue I had with Gormican's The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, which starred Nicolas Cage as himself. It's just not weird enough. Gormican's premises promise something next-level bonkers, but fail in his execution, which feels weird only in how safe they are. 

His Anaconda can't compete with the wildest films from either lead's oeuvre, whether that's Jack Black's Nacho Libre, Be Kind Rewind, or Tropic Thunder, or Rudd's Wet Hot American Summer, Anchorman, or The 40-Year-Old Virgin. This Anaconda could have been a sensationally funny movie that explored the grimy glory of indie moviemaking or the comical challenges of creating art with friends. Instead, it's a meandering mess that wastes the cast's star power and the audience's goodwill. 

I entered the theater optimistic, like I did 28 years ago when I saw Anaconda on a double date. Did that date go well? Absolutely not. But did I have a blast watching that wild movie? I did. And I've had a soft spot for it ever since. So, I was excited to see what could be done with a cast of characters who shared that enthusiasm for lowbrow cinema and a love of making things for the joy of making them. But this Anaconda doesn't have the spirit I'd expected. It's glossy, sloppy, and slick with CGI snakes, but there is no soul. 

Anaconda opens in theaters on Dec. 25.

Last-minute gifts on sale with same-day Amazon delivery Digital delivery $100 DoorDash gift card $85 at Amazon (save $15) Get Deal Same-day delivery Keurig K-Mini Mate $49.99 (save $40 at Amazon) Get Deal Overnight delivery Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $21.99 (save $28 at Amazon with code HOL25FTV) Get Deal Same-day delivery Apple AirTag $24 (save $5 at Amazon) Get Deal Same-day delivery Shark Glossi 2-in-1 Hot Tool and Air Glosser $129.99 (save $50 at Amazon) Get Deal

There are last-minute Christmas gifts bought, like, the week before, and then there are last-minute last-minute gifts bought in the wee 48 hours before the big day. If you're still scrambling on Dec. 23, you're not screwed. We found an impressive handful of solid last-minute gift deals at Amazon that can arrive by Christmas, either with same-day or next-day delivery.

SEE ALSO: We found 35+ unique gifts under $50 for the holidays

If your giftee would appreciate a gift card more than any forced physical gift, our favorite last-minute gift card deal is easily the $100 DoorDash gift card on sale for $85. It has limited inventory, so grab it before the status bar hits 0% left.

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Bah humbug. Just days before Christmas, the U.S. has effectively banned foreign drones, including the most popular drone maker, China-based DJI.

So, what happens next, especially if you already own a DJI drone or have a new one waiting to be unwrapped under the Christmas tree? Here's what we know.

On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially blacklisted foreign-made drones and components, which include DJI's drone products. The ban has been looming for a while now, and DJI, which accounts for a whopping 90 percent of the global drone market share, tried to fight it. The drone maker recently agreed to comply with audits in hopes of being removed from the FCC blacklist, but to no avail. DJI drones are now banned with all the others, on the blacklist.

The FCC instituted the ban in the name of national security, claiming foreign drones pose potential threats to the U.S.

"President Trump has been clear that his Administration will act to secure our airspace and unleash American drone dominance," Trump's appointed FCC chair, Brendan Carr, said in a statement.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What about the DJI drone you already own?

So, where does that leave U.S. consumers who own a DJI drone? These consumers also include many industries that have pushed back on the ban, as drones have become an important tool for everything from law enforcement to agriculture.

According to the FCC, those who already own drones will not be affected by the ban. Consumers in the U.S. can continue to own and operate their DJI drones or any other drones made by companies affected by the blacklist. Additionally, retailers can continue to sell drone models and products from blacklisted companies that have already been approved for sale.

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In a statement, Carr said that the ban "does not disrupt the ongoing use or purchase of previously authorized drones, and with appropriate avenues for excluding drones that do not pose a risk."

DJI released its own statement on the ban, committing to continue serving the U.S. market under these new regulations while criticizing the process by which they were implemented.

"DJI is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission’s action today to add foreign‑made drones to the Covered List," the company said. "While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination."

"DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, supported by years of reviews conducted by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties," DJI continued. "Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market."

The drone maker also reiterated the FCC's claim that consumers who already own DJI drones will not be affected by the ban and can continue to operate their drones. DJI also expressed hope that its future products will be cleared by the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security for release in the U.S.