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Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you can take the heat.

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 January 17, 2026 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 January 17, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

In flames.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

FIERY

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 January 17, 2026

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.

Critics are raving about Nia DaCosta's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and a big part of why is the absolutely sensational climax, in which Ralph Fiennes channels his inner metal god to perform Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast" before an awed Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell) and his remaining Fingers. 

Last year, O'Connell himself stunned audiences with a dizzying collision of horror and dance with Sinners, in which he played the singing, Irish-jigging vampire Remmick. With The Bone Temple, O'Connell counted himself lucky to witness three-time Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes transforming from the mild-mannered Dr. Ian Kelson into a fire-twirling Satan, rocking out to an epic song.

In Mashable's Say More episode with DaCosta and O'Connell, the English actor described his reaction watching Fiennes perform this on set as "mindblown," saying, "Here's this legend of the game, fully going for it." 

For more from Mashable's Say More interview, check out the full episode on YouTube.

How did the Iron Maiden dance number in The Bone Temple come together?  Credit: Sony Pictures

DaCosta reveals this devilish lip sync was in the Alex Garland screenplay, which as a whole made her eager to come on as director. However, reading this particular scene on the page, she thought, "Well, this could end my career. It's like, how do you make this work?"

Across 28 Years Later and The Bone Temple, Dr. Ian Kelson is a bit of an odd duck in the post-apocalypse. He lives in a bunker under a towering ossuary he's made of the bones of the dead. Between that and staining his skin an orangey-red with iodine, he's an intimidating figure at a distance — mistaken for Satan himself by Jimmy Ink (Erin Kellyman) and her sir, Lord Jimmy Crystal. But up close, he's a soft-spoken, educated man, eager to offer comfort and compassion however his skills and dwindling supply of drugs will allow. 

However, under threat of torture and death, the good doctor must masquerade as Satan himself to con the Fingers, as Jimmy demands. Cue Iron Maiden. 

Using the hand-crank record player he's had squirreled away in his bunker and a flurry of remarkable DIY theatrics, Kelson not only awes Jimmy and the Fingers — who admittedly have never seen a rock show of any sort — but also excites the theater audience. 

Both times I've seen Bone Temple (so far), once Kelson's performance concluded, the audience broke into applause and cheers of elation. But staring at the script, DaCosta was aware of how big a swing such a scene is. 

"I think at this point in my career, I've learned to just, like, trust the process and the collaborators," she said. "And that was, like, absolutely that. So Shelley Maxwell, my choreographer; Gareth [Pugh] and Carson [McColl], our costume and production designers; the special effects team; stunts; hair; makeup — like, everyone just came together. And once we [could] see what we want[ed] to do… It was just amazing. And then Ralph having to do that [performance] for hours and be basically naked."

She then deferred to O'Connell, asking, "There was one day where you guys just came at night to see the full thing, right?"

"Yeah," O'Connell concurred, adding, "It was a bit of a crescendo moment. All departments, set design, costumes, a big, big ring of fire and things. They are amazing moments anyway, them crescendo times. But for me, it was very hallucinogenic." 

DaCosta shared his affection for this time on set, declaring, "It was just so insane. It was so fun." She cheered her production team for their detail-oriented work, saying that in the end, they had so much they could "only do the very best ideas." The director added, "I had the best collaborators. Then Ralph killed it. And then the way that Jack and the other Jimmies responded to it was just so — because [their] response is really what the scenes about — like, what he's doing is amazing, but it's really about how these Jimmies are seeing this person." 

For DaCosta, whatever doubts she had looking at the script for the first time were allayed once she saw the first rough cut of Fiennes' dance footage. "On the [shoot] day, I was like, 'That's amazing," she recalled, adding, "When [editor Jake Roberts] sent me that [scene], while we were still shooting, I was like, 'All right, thank God. We're good."

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is now in theaters.

When 28 Years Later hit theaters last summer, audiences were awed not only by Danny Boyle's blistering new vision of zombie horror, but also by the curious introduction of Jimmy Crystal. 

Played by Sinners' Jack O'Connell, Jimmy instantly captivated audiences, who were ravenous to see more of him in the 28 Years Later direct sequel The Bone Temple. But can you handle what director Nia DaCosta has in store as she takes the reins for the second film in this emerging trilogy? 

SEE ALSO: '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' review: Nia DaCosta delivers an exhilarating horror epic

Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko welcomed O'Connell and DaCosta to our Say More couch to dig into all things Bone Temple. When it came to Jimmy Crystal, the pair shared how they made sense of the madman whose biggest influences are The Teletubbies, Jimmy Savile, and his horrific childhood trauma. 

Bone Temple's Jimmy was shaped by tragedy and TV.  Credit: Sony Pictures

Jimmy bookends 28 Years Later, beginning as a boy fleeing his family's home — which is under attack by the infected — seeking sanctuary in the nearby church where his father is a vicar. But before you can say "Amen," Jimmy's father gives himself over the infected horde while preaching it’s what God wanted.

This harrowing intro leaves Jimmy alone and terrified, cradled around the cross necklace his father has just given him. Then Alex Garland's screenplay winds into the coming-of-age story of a young boy named Spike (Alfie Williams), who is on his own 28 years after we see Jimmy in the opener. The two cross paths in the film's bonkers finale, where Spike is being chased by the infected only to be rescued by Jimmy and his fighting "Fingers," a youth gang of seven who all dress like their "lord." 

SEE ALSO: Nia DaCosta and Jack O'Connell dive into '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'

At the time of 28 Years Later's release, Mashable covered how the costumes and sound effects of this zombie-slaying sequence mirrored the Teletubbies show that played on the TV as young Jimmy's sisters were slain. We also noted how Jimmy's blond Lancelot haircut and favoring of tracksuits with gaudy gold chains echoed the look of British TV personality Jimmy Savile, who would later be outed as a serial child predator. 

Where audience members might have seen these Savile signatures as a warning that Jimmy might not be trustworthy, we speculated that Jimmy wouldn't know that's the signal he's dropping, because he wouldn't have known the horrible truth about Savile. 

DaCosta confirmed our suspicions. "He perverts a lot of things," she said of Jimmy, but noted that in the world of 28 Years Later and Bone Temple, "Culture ended in 2001." Notably, Savile wasn't publicly exposed as a sexual predator until after his death in 2011. So, to Jimmy, Savile was worth admiring, just as he admires the Teletubbies. And his fixation on these elements of 2001 culture extend to his Fingers, like Jimmima (Emma Laird), who dutifully performs the "Dipsy dance" from Teletubbies while wearing jelly sandals and carrying a long-dead Tamagotchi. 

O'Connell said he could relate to Jimmy on this level, saying, "I was finding myself quite enthusiastic, because I was nostalgic about that period anyway." 

Beyond that, O'Connell spoke of how Jimmy has "deep-seated trauma based on seeing his family get mauled to death in front of his very eyes." Yet O'Connell was pleased that Garland's script and DaCosta's vision didn't let Jimmy off the hook for the violence he enacts because of his trauma. Instead, it gave him a foil in Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). "What I love — also — about the film is we see Jimmy's unfettered depravity," he said, "with Dr. Kelson, with his advancements in medicine and the inquisitive mind, wanting to know what it was about the infected — and if it is curable. You have these two plots unfolding simultaneously and then they meet… You've got ultimate darkness meeting hope." 

Nia DaCosta digs into the twisted faith of Jimmy Crystal.  Credit: Miya Mizuno / Sony

Some of the most ghoulish moments in Bone Temple are not when the infected attack, but when Jimmy and his Fingers do. Invading a farmhouse, they take four people captive, and then give them "charity" — a term Jimmy has twisted to mean torture, like flaying the skin from their torsos. When he's not giggling over violence or recounting Teletubbies episodes to his amused apostles, he's twisting his own story into one where he is Satan's son, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, born to raise hell. 

"Jimmy corrupts everything," DaCosta said, "Even with, like, the Teletubbies, he calls them the 'Teletummies.' It's also about how he remembers a thing. His entire dogma is built around this misremembered death of his father. You know, like, 'Oh yeah, my dad is Satan, because he thinks that's what he saw [when his dad was mobbed by the infected in the church]." 

Speaking to when Jimmy preaches, the director said, "Those scenes in particular were so fun, because for me, that's when, when reading the script, I thought, 'OK, I know this character now.'" 

Nia DaCosta reveals what Jimmy and Samson have in common.  Credit: Miya Mizuno / Sony

When shooting scenes involving Jimmy's dark dogma and its violent rituals, DaCosta had a clear vision of how it would look. "It was really important to me to hold on to like, we're gonna sit on these actors and watch them," she explained, "Because this is when we as an audience get to see the person that he is, not just the monster. Because every monster has a person in there, which is also sort of like the infected." 

She added that Jimmy had a commonality with the infected Alpha, Samson, saying, "It's like they're infected — they're not actually monsters. They're sick. So, that was just super important to me." 

Tying this back to Jimmy and Kelson, the Satanist tyrant and the "atheist doctor," DaCosta said, "It is really beautiful to watch Kelson tease out — sort of like in a psych eval — 'So you talk to your dad in your head?' But also you realize, like, Jimmy actually did think he might see his dad [at the Bone Temple], and he's lonely, you know? You kind of feel that in the scene," she concluded, turning to O'Connell to add, "I thought you played that beautifully."

How's that.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple opens in theaters Jan. 16.

TL;DR: Pok Pok is a calm, Montessori-inspired app that gives kids meaningful screen time parents can feel good about, no ads, no pressure, just play — and lifetime access is on sale for $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pok Pok Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription $59.99
$250 Save $190.01   Get Deal

For many parents, screen time can feel like a constant balancing act. You want something engaging for your child — but not loud, addictive, or filled with ads. That’s exactly the space Pok Pok was designed to fill.

Pok Pok is a Montessori-inspired app created for children ages 2–8, offering a digital playroom full of open-ended games that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and independent exploration. There are no levels to beat, no points to rack up, and no overstimulating sounds competing for attention.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Instead, kids learn through curiosity, cause and effect, and imaginative play at their own pace.

Inspired by the Montessori philosophy developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, Pok Pok focuses on hands-on discovery and self-directed learning. Each “toy” inside the app supports foundational skills like early STEM thinking, numbers, spatial awareness, language development, and emotional growth without feeling like a lesson.

The experience is intentionally calm. All artwork, animations, sounds, and music are hand-crafted in-house to create a peaceful environment that doesn’t overwhelm young minds. Pok Pok is also completely ad-free and offline-friendly.

Kids can explore themed worlds like space, dinosaurs, puzzles, dress-up, music, and islands, with new content added regularly. One subscription works across all family devices, and everything is intuitive enough for even toddlers to navigate independently, though many kids love exploring alongside a caregiver.

A Pok Pok Lifetime Subscription is available for $59.99 (reg. $250) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: If you’re tired of time-wasting language apps, Babbel’s lifetime plan is just $129.99 (reg. $646.20) thanks to the StackSocial code LEARN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $129.99
$646.20 Save $516.21   Get Deal

If you’ve bounced between language-learning apps before, you already know how easy it is to spend time without actually building confidence. Babbel takes a more practical, adult-focused approach — one that prioritizes real conversation over endless tapping and guessing.

Babbel works across desktop and mobile, with progress synced automatically, so you can learn wherever it makes sense. Lessons can also be downloaded for offline use, making it easy to practice on a commute, while traveling, or anytime WiFi isn’t available.

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With access to 14 languages and more than 10,000 hours of learning content, the platform is designed for long-term progress, not quick wins. Each language course is broken into 10- to 15-minute lessons built around situations people actually encounter — ordering food, navigating transportation, handling everyday conversations, or communicating in professional settings.

The curriculum was developed by over 100 expert linguists and informed by academic researchers from institutions such as Yale University.

Babbel also includes speech recognition technology to help fine-tune pronunciation and an AI-powered conversation partner that encourages learners to respond naturally in real time. Personalized review sessions reinforce what you’ve learned, so progress feels steady and measurable.

For anyone serious about learning a language — and actually using it — Babbel offers a thoughtful, proven path to fluency.

StackSocial is offering a Babbel Lifetime Language Learning subscription with access to all 14 languages for $129.99 (reg. $646.20) when you use code LEARN for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The pressure is mounting on social media companies to enforce their rules and protect children on the platforms. Australia recently instituted a ban on children under the age of 16 from social media platforms. Gaming platforms like Roblox are now using facial recognition technology to prevent kids from interacting with adults in chats.

And now TikTok, the social media platform well known for its popularity with young people, will be rolling out its own age verification system in Europe to detect underage users on its site, according to a Reuters report.

TikTok's age-detection system analyzes a user's profile information, published videos, and behavioral signs to estimate if a user is under the age of 13. Per TikTok policy, users must be at least 13 to sign up for the platform. Once the age detect system flags an account, the user will be reviewed by specialist moderators. User accounts will not be banned automatically.

TikTok told Reuters the age-detection system will be rolled out across Europe in the coming weeks after testing the program in Britain for the past year. The system was specifically designed to comply with European regulatory requirements.

EU regulators have been pushing for social media platforms to act on child safety issues, including ensuring users are of the minimum age required for a platform. The European Parliament is looking into potentially instituting a social media ban similar to the one in Australia for children under the age of 15.

As Mashable covered earlier this week, some online platforms are discovering the difficulties with online age verification. Roblox users, for example, have been uncovering simple workarounds to the platform's age verification, which involved simply uploading animated avatars or even drawing facial hair on their image with a Sharpie.

TikTok's method is bound to pick up some false positives on users who are over 13 but mistakenly get flagged or even removed for being underage. We'll have to see just how accurate it is, and how many disgruntled users it leaves in its path once it rolls out more broadly.

Elon Musk's X may still be permitting the posting of Grok-generated, sexualized images of real people, despite the company’s recent announcement that such content had been banned, according to reporting by The Guardian.

The British newspaper reported that its journalists were able to generate and upload videos depicting real women being undressed into bikinis, using images of fully clothed individuals.

SEE ALSO: Grok ban: The nations considering blocking AI chatbot over nonconsensual sexual content

In its reporting, The Guardian wrote:

"The Guardian was able to create short videos of people stripping to bikinis from photographs of fully clothed, real women. It was also possible to post this adult content on to X’s public platform without any sign of it being moderated, meaning the clip could be viewed within seconds by anyone with an account."

According to the newspaper, the sexualized images were created using the standalone Grok app and then successfully posted to X. Earlier this week, X said it had banned AI-generated, sexualized images of real people.

"We have implemented technological measures to prevent the [@]Grok account on X globally from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis," the X safety account wrote in an update. "This restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers."

X has faced criticism in recent weeks over the circulation of sexualized, AI-generated images on the platform. Earlier this month, governments in multiple countries said they were investigating or moving to restrict Grok following reports that it had enabled the creation of sexualized images of minors. X's safety update also stated that the company maintains a "zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content."

SAVE $35: As of Jan. 16, the Soundcore C30i open earbuds are on sale for only $34.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount from their usual cost and the lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore C3i open earbuds $34.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

Open earbuds are everywhere at the moment. Several new pairs debuted during CES 2026, but they've been on the market for awhile now (check out our roundup of the best ones). If you've been curious about these air conduction-based earbuds, but don't want to spend a fortune, the Soundcore C30i open earbuds are majorly discounted at Amazon so you can give them a shot.

As of Jan. 16, the Soundcore C30i open earbuds are on sale for only $34.99 at Amazon. That's 50% or $35 cheaper than usual and their lowest price on record.

Open earbuds are designed for folks who want to actually stay in tune with the world around them and/or find in-ear designs uncomfortable. Instead of sitting inside of your ear canal, they use air conduction to transmit sound to your ears. While they come in several different varieties, the Soundcore C30i feature a clip design (similar to the popular Bose Ultra Open earbuds). They attach to the outer edge of your ears like a cuff and stay in place with the help of attachable ear grips.

Since they don't sit in your ear canal, the C30is don't offer noise cancellation. So in order to boost sound, they offer a surround sound mode through the Soundcore app to make listening more immersive. If you're a runner, cyclist, commuter, or anyone who wants to stay in tune with the outside world, the Soundcore C30is are a low stakes way to see if open earbuds are right for you (without breaking the bank).

SAVE $199.01: As of Jan. 16, get the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699. That's a discount of 28% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor $499.99 at Amazon
$699 Save $199.01   Get Deal

Now that we're at the start of a new year, we're facing down plenty of new games coming down the pipelines in 2026. Why not be ready with a monitor that can handle all the action with ease? You can do just that with this deal on one of our favorite gaming monitors right now, as it's available for its lowest price yet.

As of Jan. 16, get the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor for $499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699. That's a discount of 28% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Odyssey G5 ultra-wide gaming monitor just dropped to under $300 at Amazon

This 34-inch curved OLED monitor is all about making you feel like you're right in the middle of your favorite games. It offers a gorgeous, crisp picure with sharp details, deep hues and contrasts, and two HDR modes to offer the best possible performance: HDR 400 True Black and HDR Peak 1000.

It boasts 1,000 nits of brightness with a 0.1ms respnse time as well as AMD FreeSync and VESA AdaptiveSync. It's perfect for twitchier games where you need to make sure you're as precise as possible, so if you need a bit of help improving your game, this very well may do it for you.

You can customize the look and feel of the monitor thanks to its RGB lighting, and adjust and tilt it to your liking when placed on a desk. All of these features come together to give you one of the most comprehensive suites possible in terms of gaming monitors, which almost certainly means you'll be seeing some true improvement with your games. Just be sure you grab it now before it's no longer on sale.

SAVE 18%: As of Jan. 16, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is $89, down from $109, at Amazon. That’s an 18% discount, or $20 in savings.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 $89 at Amazon
$109 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy

Whether you're determined to become a TikTok star by year's end or you just genuinely like filming life, a gimbal (aka support so your videos don't look like they were filmed during an earthquake) could do you some good.

As of Jan. 16, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is $89, down from $109, at Amazon. That’s an 18% discount, or $20 in savings.

SEE ALSO: DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review: A phone gimbal for content creators on a budget

The Osmo Mobile 6 is super easy to use. Just unfold it, and it's ready to go. It uses ActiveTrack 6.0 to lock onto subjects, which is perfect for keeping up with energetic kids or pets. You can even use it to track yourself, making it much easier to film solo without needing someone else to hold the camera.

It features a built-in extension rod for better selfie angles or crowd shots, and it only weighs about 305g, so it’s easy to toss in a bag. And, if you have an Apple Watch, you can use it as a remote to view your camera feed and adjust the gimbal’s angle from your wrist.

SAVE $450: As of Jan. 16, get the 65" TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV for $450 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's a discount of 50%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy 65" TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV $449.99 at Best Buy
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If you've been thinking about adding a new TV to your home entertainment setup, Best Buy has your number. A big display can do a lot for you when you want to add a new screen for your favorite shows and movies, and you can get one now for an excellent price.

As of Jan. 16, get the 65" TCL QM5K 4K UHD TV for $450 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $899.99. That's $450 off and a discount of 50%.

SEE ALSO: Level up your living room with $400 off this TCL 85-inch QLED TV

This 65-inch UHD QD-Mini LED TV boasts 4K resolution (2160p) with a crisp screen that brings you a crystal clear picture. It has up to LD500 precise dimming series with black levels of up to 500 with QLED hues and high HDR brightness as well to give you the most realistic image possible. Thanks to its AIPQ processor, it can even upscale content and control contrast, clarity, color, motion, and more all on its own.

It has an Onkyo 2.1 speaker system with subwoofer built in, and support for Dolby Atmos audio as well, so it's not just your eyes that get a treat. Gamers also get a leg up on the competition with Game Accelerator 144 with a 144 VRR, so games go lag-free.

What's more, all this comes with Google TV support, so you can watch and stream your favorite content directly from the display. That means no need for an additional streaming device or anything of the sort.

If you're ready for a new TV that ticks all the boxes for you while remaining budget-friendly, don't miss out on this Best Buy deal.

Boasting a corporate jargon title associated with evading responsibility, Park Chan-wook's anti-capitalist parable No Other Choice might feel too real to those burned by modern employment.

Based on Donald E. Westlake's 1997 novel The Ax and written by Park, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee, and Don McKellar, the film provides biting social commentary by asking the question: Is killing for the role you want a morally sound choice in this economy?

Mashable UK Editor Shannon Connellan sat down with Park and No Other Choice star Lee Byung-hun to discuss the film's skewering of the hyper competitive job market.

"We all live in the capitalist system, we all comply to it, and we're all trying very hard to survive in it as well. And we don't often question the system itself," Park told Mashable. "But when we do come upon the question of 'what if we could live in a different situation?' it leads to a very tricky state where you're considering ideas of getting rid of the system, or we're brainstorming ideas to take action to destroy the system. It's a very difficult state to be in.

"Regardless, in order to maintain the system, we still need to question the system as well. So in the film, I didn't want to make it too theoretical. I wanted to follow the individual and through that process, lead the audience to ask themselves their own questions about the system."

SEE ALSO: 'No Other Choice' review: Park Chan-wook's anti-capitalist parable skewers the job market

Said individual in No Other Choice is paper company employee Yoo Man-soo (Lee), who loses his job in a cruel company restructure. With his family to provide for, including his wife Mi-ri (Crash Landing on You's Son Ye-jin) and two kids, Man-soo scrambles to find work — and when an opportunity arises, he takes drastic measures.

Lee Byung-hun in "No Other Choice." Credit: BFI London Film Festival

"When [Park] approached me to say, 'let's tell the story together,' I really enjoyed the message [of the film] and the questioning. I found it very meaningful to tell as an actor," Lee told Mashable. "To play this very ordinary man, a family man who faces a very tragic reality, and is scrambling desperately to make things work, and eventually ends up making this very extreme decision."

Notably, the film makes a modern nightmare out of the job interview, as Man-soo faces the dreaded, often dehumanising process in his search for work.

"I guess I haven't gone on a lot of job interviews, personally, but I have been in many instances in which I have to evaluate actors for auditions, so I've seen how nervous people are when they are in the state of getting evaluated," said Park. "In addition, earlier in my career, I had a lot of meetings with producers to pitch my stories to them, which is also like an interview. So because I've been on both sides of a so-called interview, I know how difficult it is to be in that situation.

"Especially as an Asian, we are always taught to be humble, and humility is considered a very important trait in our lives. So to be in a situation where you have to sell yourself and hide your weakness while also being humble, it's even harder, which I think is especially harder for us in Eastern culture more than people in the West."

Watch the full interview above. No Other Choice is now in cinemas in the U.S., with the UK release set for Jan. 23.

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 16, you can get NBA League Pass for only $49.99 for the rest of the season. That's about 55% off the usual cost of $109.99.

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$109.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal

With new broadcast partners for the first time since 2002, watching NBA games got a lot more complicated this season — but only if you want to watch your home team. For those looking to watch every out-of-market game, NBA League Pass has you covered. And as of Jan. 16, you can sign up for the rest of the season for only $49.99.

Typically, the NBA League Pass costs $16.99 per month or $109.99 per season, but since we're about half way through the regular season, the league has lowered the price by about 55%. The 82-game regular season wraps up April 12, 2026, so you'll still get access to about 12 weeks of games for just under $50. That's just over $4 per week. You can sign up via Prime Video or directly through NBA League Pass.

Similar to NFL's Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass gives fans access to live out-of-market games, as well as games from the NBA's archive, analysis, documentaries, highlights, and more. Local games on NBA TV, as well as nationally broadcast games, will be blacked out live. So, if you live in New York City, you'll be able to watch every team except the Knicks and Nets. You can tune into locally blacked-out games three days after the live broadcast and nationally broadcast games three hours after.

The basic League Pass allows you to watch on one device with commercials, but if you spend a bit more on League Pass Premium (which is discounted from $159.99 to $74.99 for the rest of the season), you'll get to watch on up to three devices with in-arena streams instead of commercials.

SAVE $30: As of Jan. 16, get the Soundcore P41i earbuds for just $49.99. That saves you $30, knocking 38% off its list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore P41i earbuds $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Even as an iPhone user, I'm not the biggest fan of AirPods. Unless you go for the AirPods Pro, the standard AirPods have a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn't work for me. As an alternative, I tried the Soundcore P41i earbuds, and think they're the perfect replacement. And they're even better when they're on sale for 38% off.

As of Jan. 16, the Soundcore P41i earbuds are just $49.99. That saves you $30 off its $79.99 list price, and the earbuds lowest price ever. Less than $50 is an extremely affordable price to pay for earbuds with active noise cancellation.

The Soundcore P41i earbuds are a compact earbud with up to 12 hours of battery life. With active noise cancellation, it blocks out sound and keeps you focused and in the zone. Once you connect them to your phone, they reconnect every time as soon as you put them in, just like AirPods. But the best part is its many different sizes of ear tips so you can make sure they have a secure, snug fit. Oh and did we mention the case can even charge your phone?

Grab the Soundcore P41i earbuds for just $49.99 and save $30 when you buy them at Amazon.

SAVE 38%: As of Jan. 16, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $24.99 at Amazon, down from $39.99. That’s a 38% discount, or $15 in savings.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $24.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $15.00   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’re still using a regular TV that isn't exactly "smart," or if your current setup is just painfully slow, this is the easiest way to fix it.

As of Jan. 16, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $24.99 at Amazon, down from $39.99. That’s a 38% discount, or $15 in savings.

SEE ALSO: 4 coolest TVs at CES 2026 are from Samsung, LG, and TCL and feature wildly different tech

What makes this "Select" model different is that it runs on a leaner operating system. It’s designed to be fast without needing massive specs, and it currently holds the title for the fastest 4K stick you can find for under $40 (according to Amazon). It also features AI-powered search, which is great for indecisive or passive viewers. Just ask Alexa to find something to watch instead of scrolling through endless menus.

You'll get the standard 4K Ultra HD with HDR10+ support, plus access to several streaming platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney+. It even supports cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass, so you can play titles like Hogwarts Legacy directly on your TV without actually owning a console.

It’s small enough to hide behind your TV and setup takes about two minutes — just plug it in and connect to your WiFi.

Apple's big annual event, which traditionally unveils the new iPhone, isn't until September. Yet, rumors and leaks surrounding what Apple has in store for the iPhone 18 continue to swirl on the internet.

Is the upcoming iPhone lineup going to bring about a big change to the Dynamic Island? It seems like it.

The latest news about what could potentially be the iPhone 18 lineup comes from leaker Digital Chat Station on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, as noticed by 9to5Mac.

According to the leaker, the iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 will continue to have the standard Dynamic Island design. However, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models will get a new "under-display cutout area." 

SEE ALSO: Leaker reveals iPhone 18 color options. Think purple, red, and that's that me espresso.

This could mean that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models will receive a miniaturized version of the pill-shaped Dynamic Island. Or those more premium iPhone 18 models could get a "hole-punch" design that completely drops the Dynamic Island as we know it. 

In addition to the Dynamic Island-related leaks, the leaker also shared that the screen sizes for the iPhone 18 models should match those of the iPhone 17 line. 

The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro should both offer 6.27" displays. The iPhone Air 2 will have a 6.55" screen. The iPhone 18 Pro Max will continue to offer the largest display at 6.86", according to the information shared. And much like the iPhone 17 lineup, ​​the iPhone 18 family of smartphones will have LTPO 120Hz screens.

SEE ALSO: Should you hold out for iPhone 18? What we know about the next-gen Apple phones.

While the iPhone 18's screen specs don't seem to offer any upgrades from the iPhone 17, it is interesting to see an iPhone Air 2 currently listed as part of the iPhone 18 lineup. Reports suggested that the iPhone Air, introduced last year, had not been selling as well as the rest of the iPhone 17 devices.

This latest leak also doesn't include any news or updates regarding the long-awaited foldable iPhone, which is expected to launch with the rest of the iPhone 18 line.

There's bound to be many more iPhone-related leaks in the coming months as Apple's annual iPhone event gets closer, so more updates should clear up exactly what Apple fans should expect from the iPhone 18 lineup.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: Mega Kangaskhan ex Box is now only $29.45 at Amazon, with 37% cut off its usual $46.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: Mega Kangaskhan ex Box $29.45 at Amazon
$46.99 Save $17.54 Get Deal

A lot of the recent Pokémon TCG sets on sale have only been able to offer a bit of extra value, a symptom of the trading card game’s short supply vs demand, but one surprising box seems to be a proper bargain. 

As of Jan. 16, the Pokémon TCG’s Mega Kangaskhan ex Box is 37% off at $29.45 at Amazon through various merchants doing business on the site. As confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel, that’s the best price we’ve seen through third-party sellers yet.

That’s a $17.54 price cut from its standard $46.99 price tag, and a nice saving, considering what you’re getting. 

To start, here’s exactly what you get with the Pokémon TCG’s Mega Kangaskhan ex Box:

• One Mega Kangaskhan ex foil promo card

• Four Pokémon TCG boosters — two Mega Evolution and two Destined Rivals, based on provided imagery, but the final product’s mixture may be different

• One oversized version of said Mega Kangaskhan ex foil promo card

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While there aren’t any more of the usual flashy extras with some special collections, like a Pokémon TCG coin or a figure, this Mega Kangaskhan ex box is still a great value when you compare market prices. 

Firstly, Amazon’s undercuts TCGPlayer’s listings as usual — with the latter’s cheapest listing being for $64.49 total ($34.49 plus $30 shipping). 

Secondly, due to market conditions, individual booster packs from most modern sets are currently priced between $10 and $15 each. With four included in this box, you’re realistically saving at least $10, and you’re getting a stunning Mega Kangaskhan ex card on top.

This particular deal is slightly hidden on Amazon right now, as you’re unable to see it on the product page until you select the ‘See All Buying Options’ button. When more Pokémon TCG collectors catch on, though, we expect this to sell out quickly.

Speaking of solid Pokémon TCG deals, you can still buy the Fall Edition of the 2025 Collector Chest at over $20 off. Meanwhile, you can also save big on the Pokémon TCG: Mega Lucario ex Figure Collection that’s on sale, too — containing five boosters, a titular promo card, and much more.  

Samsung has a pretty hilarious escape plan for you if you’re stuck watching the national championship on a screen that’s seen better days. The brand just launched its first-ever TV Transfer Portal, which is basically a bribe to get you to a watch party with a better TV.

SEE ALSO: 4 coolest TVs at CES 2026 are from Samsung, LG, and TCL and feature wildly different tech

On Jan. 19 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET, you can "transfer" out of a bad viewing situation. If you’re among the first 900 people to DM @SamsungUS on Instagram or X with a photo of your current non-Samsung setup and your Venmo handle, they’ll send you $50 for a rideshare to a party that actually has a Samsung TV.

Here's the fine print:

• It has to be a real photo of a non-Samsung TV in a home setting. Stock or AI photos will get you disqualified immediately.

• Commercial spots like bars or public spaces don't count (this is for home setups only).

• You can only enter once per person/Venmo account, but a single household or party can have up to three different people submit.

• If you're one of the lucky 900, the money should hit your Venmo on or around Jan. 20.

If you’d rather just be the host with the better setup so your guests don't ditch you, Samsung is also knocking up to 50% off select TVs through Feb. 8.

Updated on Jan. 16 at 11:21 a.m. ET: X appeared to be recovering from its earlier outage. User-reported issues eased on Downdetector. We were successfully able to load the site and browse, about an hour after it went down.

Elon Musk's X appeared to suffer a major outage on Friday.

User-reported issues for X on Downdetector spiked shortly after 10 a.m. ET. (Disclosure: Downdetector is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as Mashable.)

Upon trying to open the social media site, we received an error message that read: "Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot." It was not immediately clear what caused the outage.

The error message on X. Credit: Screenshot: X

X also suffered a relatively brief outage earlier in the week. In fact, it's been quite the week for outages, with Verizon suffering a huge outage, with folks across the U.S. losing cell service for a long stretch.

Users on Bluesky, especially, reacted strongly to X being down, dunking on the site amid the ongoing issue of its AI tool, Grok, being used to create nonconsensual, sexual images. Some users have migrated away from X over time amid its rightwing shift.

X-Twitter is down Oontz oontz oontz oontz

— Ms . Penny Oaken, SkyWitch 🧙‍♀️ (@skywitches.net) January 16, 2026 at 10:47 AM

Brace position BlueSky - X is down

— Tom Jamieson (@tomjam.bsky.social) January 16, 2026 at 10:44 AM

X is completely down, now is BlueSky's chance to shine. So, we're replacing one letter in song titles today?

— Michael Kupperman (@mkupperman.bsky.social) January 16, 2026 at 10:52 AM

This story is developing and will be updated as necessary...

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 16, the DJI Neo 2 Motion Fly More Combo is on sale for $599. That saves you $100 off its $699 list price for 14% savings. That brings the device down to its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Neo 2 Motion Fly More Combo $599 at Amazon
$699 Save $100   Get Deal

There's been so much news about DJI drones being banned in the United States, but are they actually? Technically, yes, however, there's still plenty of ways around the ban. If you already own a foreign made drone you can still operate it. Plus, already imported drones can still be sold, like the DJI Neo 2 Motion Fly More Combo, which happens to be on sale.

As of Jan. 16, the DJI Neo 2 Motion Fly More Combo is down to $599. That saves you $100 off its $699 price tag. That's some pretty good savings and actually, the devices lowest price ever.

The DJI Neo 2 Motion Fly More Combo is a lightweight and easy to use drone. It features palm takeoff and landing, so it'll come right to you after it finishes flying. As we expect in DJI drones, it has stunning 4K image capturing. The Fly More combo includes the DJI RC Motion 3, DJI Goggles N3, DJI Neo 2 Digital Transceiver, three batteries, a charging hub, and propeller guards.

Get the DJI Neo 2 Motion Fly More Combo for $599 at Amazon and save $100.