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Tis the season for holiday horror!

Whether you're baking cookies or fantasizing about setting the tree on fire, holiday horror films are perfect for any Christmas mood. They're that ideal blend of thematic cheer and commercial cynicism that screams, "I'm having a good time, but only because it could be worse!" that you probably feel most holiday seasons — but especially during this one.

From mutant gingerbread men and rosy-cheeked killers to stories of betrayal and twisted tragedies, the creepy Christmas catalog is vast. We've combed through and selected 25 of the best to get your horrifying holiday started.

Not sure if a title is for you? Check the scare level! Based on our Best Scary Movie guide, we've ranked all of the films below on a scale from: family-friendly, Halloweenie (more spooky than scary), scary, and very scary. There's also labels for funny and WTF, which are pretty self-explanatory. But when we say WTF, we mean hold onto your Santa hat, because things are going to get wild!

25. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

OK, I know The Nightmare Before Christmas doesn't belong on here — but it also doesn't not belong on here. Tim Burton's animated Halloween-meets-Christmas classic is only a horror film if you choose to deeply meditate on some of Oogie Boogie's grosser behaviors (and honestly, who is doing that?) Still, it's got enough of that wintery spookiness to make it a worthy title for anyone looking to scratch that Christmas-time horror itch. Plus, ya just gotta love Zero. Who's a good ghost dog?! — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

Scare level: Family-Friendly

How to watch: The Nightmare Before Christmas is now streaming on Disney+.

24. Inside (2007)

This is basically the Die Hard of this list, more set during Christmas than it is a horror movie about Christmas. Inside is a gore-soaked jewel in the crown of the French Extremity craze of the 2000s, a time when "torture porn" horror was all the rage. 

But director Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo's freaky film works because of its très important holiday vibes, which emphasize our main character's state of loneliness. On Christmas Eve, pregnant widow Sarah (Alysson Paradis) is in a deep depression mourning her husband, who was killed in a car accident just a couple of months previously.  

That's when a stranger — known simply as The Woman (Béatrice Dalle) — comes knocking on her door. And like the Grinch before her, The Woman has come to take, not give. Specifically, she wants to take the baby right out of Sarah's belly to be her own. What follows is a bloody battle royale between the two women that will test even the heartiest of gorehounds. — Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter

Scare level: WTF, Very Scary

How to watch: Inside is now streaming on Tubi.

23. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) Credit: Filmcamp / Kobal / Shutterstock

Alright, this hidden gem — which I cannot believe I only found out about in 2020 — is so good it almost makes me want to learn Finnish. (Yes, it has subtitles and some of it is in English, but I want the whole essence!) Directed by Jalmari Helander, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale tells the story of a father and son, played by real father and son Jorma and Onni Tommulia, who discover the horrific origins of Santa Claus amid an archaeological dig. Better off not spoiled, just watch this one now. — A.F.

Scare level: Scary

How to watch: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale is now streaming on Tubi, The Roku Channel, AMC+, and Shudder, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

22. Black Christmas (1974)

Ah, one of the longest-lasting franchises in the holiday horror subgenre. Director Bob Clark's 1974 slasher Black Christmas has been remade twice; once in 2006 and again in 2019. Both revisits were pretty good, but it's tough to outdo a film as timelessly terrifying as the original. Following a group of sorority sisters hunted by a sadistic killer, Black Christmas delivers a staggeringly believable portrayal of murder at the holiday season you won't soon forget. — A.F.

Scare level: Scary

How to watch: Black Christmas is now streaming on Shudder.

21. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

Silent Night, Deadly Night gained much of its fame by pissing off Green Bay Packers fans with a poorly timed TV advertisement. (OK, it's more complicated than that; but honestly, not by much. People in the '80s needed to chill.) Since then, the killer Santa slasher has gained a cult following for its bizarre portrait of a dude deeply warped by a childhood misunderstanding of naughty and nice. There's Christmas light stranglings, tons of ax throwing, and a surprising amount of nudity. — A.F.

Scare level: Scary

How to watch: Silent Night, Deadly Night is now streaming on Shudder.

20. Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) Credit: DMcCallum Orion / Vertigo / Kobal / Shutterstock

Zombieland meets Broadway-level Christmas carols in this bonkers holiday apocalypse musical. Starring Ella Hunt as the titular Anna, Anna and the Apocalypse tells the story of a high school senior in Scotland struggling to face the end of her childhood when a zombie outbreak hits her small town. With great songs and some extremely fun undead choreography, Anna and the Apocalypse isn't all that scary — but it is screamingly festive. — A.F.

Scare level: Funny, Halloweenie

How to watch: Anna and the Apocalypse is now streaming on Shudder, and is also available for rent or purchase on Apple TV and Prime Video.

19. The Lodge (2019)

OK, The Lodge is the bleakest title on this list, bar none. If you're looking for a fun holiday horror flick, this is not it. I repeat: this is NOT it. Now, that said, this psychological nightmare is a great choice if you're looking for an unnerving horror experience that combines The Shining with occultism. Intrigued? Starring Riley Keough as an unwelcome girlfriend on Christmas vacation with her boyfriend's kids, played by Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh, The Lodge foregoes traditional scares for slow-burn tension and shocking implications. — A.F.

Scare level: WTF

How to watch: The Lodge is streaming on Tubi, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV and Prime Video.

18. Jack Frost (1997)

No, this is not the 1998 holiday film starring Michael Keaton as a snowman — that Jack Frost is far better. This Jack Frost, directed by Michael Cooney and released in 1997, instead serves as a stand-in for all those holiday horror movies that are great to have on in the background... but not all that fun to actually sit down and watch. Killer snowmen could definitely make for a super fun horror movie, but that's just not what happens here — what with Jack Frost's ridiculously awkward pacing and barely coherent plot structure. Still, it is a great visual to enjoy while you wrap presents or bake cookies. If you need more recs along those lines, try The Gingerdead Man and Santa Jaws. — A.F.

Scare level: WTF, Funny

How to watch: Jack Frost is streaming on Prime Video, Tubi, and The Roku Channel, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV.

17. Black Christmas (2019) Credit: Universal Pictures / Kobal / Shutterstock

If you want a more modern spin on slashers, this remake will satisfy, as it's ripe with violence with a sharp political edge. Writer/director Sophia Takal and co-writer April Wolfe take the framework of the original and weave in a tale of toxic masculinity and the horrors of rape culture. When a mysterious cyber stalker takes his sinister schtick to home invasion, the sisters of Mu Kappa Epsilon must band together to survive the holiday. With a PG-13 rating, this one's less gory than the original, but still presents plenty of scares. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Scare level: Funny, Scary

How to watch: Black Christmas is streaming on Hulu, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

16. Sint (2011)

This pitch-black horror comedy (aka Saint) from Dutch director Dick Maas dives into the mythic origin of one Mr. Claus. Known Europe-side as the Sinterklaas, he's a terrifying hooded figure on horseback who carries a birch stick to beat bad children who he tosses in his sack to carry them away from their families forever. 

Sint ratchets all of that up 10 notches, claiming that when the festive night of celebration overlaps with a full moon, Saint Niklas rides in on his white steed and just starts murdering everybody in sight. Stopping him falls to a teenager on the lam (Egbert Jan Weeber) and the cop (Bert Luppes) who was the only survivor the last time Nicklas went on one of his murder sprees. Way over the top to the point of being downright silly, Sint is a mean-spirited holiday hoot. Cutting a bloody swath through town, wielding a golden staff and crown, the diabolical Saint alone makes this one worth a spin. — J.A. 

Scare level: Scary

How to watch: Sint is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

15. Better Watch Out (2016) Credit: Storm Vision / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Better Watch Out may have some awkward pacing and confusing character development. But thanks to its one truly spectacular Home Alone reference, it makes this list. Dying to see what I mean? In this surprising home invasion story, Levi Miller stars as a preteen with a crush on his teenage babysitter, played by Olivia DeJonge. The two enjoy a relatively normal (albeit awkward) Christmas night in together, until a strange voice calls the house. — A.F.

Scare level: WTF

How to watch: Better Watch Out is now streaming on Prime Video, Peacock, Tubi, and The Roku Channel, and and is available to rent or purchase on Apple TV.

14. Christmas Evil (1980)

When it comes to the rampaging Santa hall of holiday infamy, the slasher Christmas Evil (aka You Better Watch Out, aka Terror in Toyland) always gets overshadowed by the 1984's Silent Night, Deadly Night. Which is a shame because Christmas Evil makes that festive cult classic seem like child's play. A favorite of no less than John Waters, this thing is one eggnog off the deep end.

In an opening flashback we meet a little boy named Harry (Gus Salud) who spies on Mommy doing more, a lot more, than just kissing with Santa Claus. Cut to years later and adult Harry (Brandon Maggart) gets his holly-jollies off by gluing a beard to his face and keeping a list of whether the local kids are "naughty" or "nice." Harry's deranged reindeer games all have a tinge of sexual perversion to them that makes Christmas Evil really get under your skin, but it's all so deeply bizarre that you'll laugh as much as you squirm. — J.A.

Scare level: WTF

How to watch: Christmas Evil is now streaming on Prime Video.

13. Holidays (2016)

Vertical Entertainment's shabby Holidays isn't strictly a Christmas joint — but it does crescendo with a bizarre Black Mirror-meets-Dexter Christmas short good enough to earn a spot on this list. Comprising eight short horror films based on eight holidays (Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve, in that order), Holidays reimagines the greeting card aisle through its grimy, offbeat lens. It's uneven and often unsatisfying. Still, it gets at the very spirit of holiday horror with excess camp and great effects. — A.F.

Scare level: Halloweenie

How to watch: Holidays is now streaming on AMC+ and Shudder, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

12. Silent Night (2021) Credit: RLJE Films / Moviestore / Shutterstock

An affluent family of beautiful, well-dressed Brits (led by Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode) annually gather at their mansion to celebrate the holiday. This year, however, is a little bit different, as news arises of a "toxic gas cloud slowly enveloping the earth and killing everyone and everything in its path" happening outside their manor walls. This turns the yuletide festivities into a big, fancy end-of-days party — instead of peppermint canes or even coal, everybody's getting a cyanide pill in their stockings this year!

Pitch-black but mordantly funny, writer/director Camille Griffin delivers an apocalyptic family drama a la Melancholia, just with glittery ornaments and old feuds taking the place of descending planetoids and Kirsten Dunst tasting ash. It's like The Ref, but with poisonous tornados obliterating grandma. — J.A.

Scare level: WTF, funny

How to watch: Silent Night is streaming on AMC+, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

11. Into the Dark: Pooka! (2018)

The first Christmas installment in Hulu's Into the Dark anthology, Pooka! tells the surprisingly sad story of Wilson, played by Nyasha Hatendi. A down-on-his-luck actor tasked with promoting a new toy for the Christmas season, Wilson begins the film the victim of a campy premise. Soon, however, the story morphs into a far more complex portrayal of selfishness and guilt.

If you love Pooka!, then definitely check out its sequel, Pooka Lives! The second one doesn't touch on any Christmas themes at all, but think of it like Pooka!'s Evil Dead 2. It takes everything that Pooka! did seriously, and turns it up to a hilarious extreme. — A.F.

Scare level: Halloweenie

How to watch: Pooka! is now streaming on Hulu.

10. Into the Dark: A Nasty Piece of Work (2019)

Fans of Ready or Not can enjoy another brutal game night in the house of a conceited rich dude with Into the Dark's A Nasty Piece of Work. In this Belko Experiment-meets-National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation mash-up, Kyle Howard stars as Ted, a corporate underling vying for his holiday bonus at a terrifying work dinner party. Julian Sands and Molly Hagan undeniably steal the show as Ted's evil boss and his equally evil wife, but the whole cast nails it in this ensemble horror-comedy. — A.F.

Scare level: Halloweenie

How to watch: A Nasty Piece of Work is now streaming on Hulu.

9. Krampus (2015) Credit: Universal / Legendary / Kobal / Shutterstock

Wow, where to begin with Krampus? From Adam Scott and Toni Collette as a sniping couple to the best demonic toys since Child's Play, Krampus delivers a nativity of cinematic terror through an eerie, apocalyptic tone vaguely akin to The Mist. It takes a long time for the chaos of Krampus to kick off, and the deeply unlikable family at its center does not make that waiting easy. But once the demon of European folklore does appear, this hellish sleigh ride is frightfully fantastic. — A.F.

Scare level: Funny, Scary

How to watch: Krampus is now streaming on AMC+, Peacock, and Shudder, and is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV.

8. Deadly Games (aka Dial Code Santa Claus)(1990)

Imagine Home Alone, but with a homicidal mall Santa going after Kevin McCallister in his booby-trapped home, and you'll have some sense of what writer/director René Manzor created with Deadly Games. This no-holds-bar French film was made before Home Alone hit theaters, but didn't get much attention internationally until it hit the U.S. festival circuit in 2018. Trust us, you won't want to overlook this holiday horror treasure any longer. Far from the family-friendly romp that was Home Alone, this thriller (which has several titles) focuses on a clever kid who is understandably terrified as a vengeful stranger dressed as Santa invades his home, threatening the boy, his dog, and his half-blind grandfather. What follows is a ghoulish good time that will have you laughing, cheering, screaming, and even crying. — K.P.

Scare level: Funny, Very Scary

How to watch: Deadly Games is now streaming on Shudder.

7. Tales From the Crypt (1972) Credit: Amicus / Kobal / Shutterstock

Get those visions of the cackling skeleton Crypt Keeper out of your head. This British film from Hammer director and David Lynch cinematographer Freddie Francis has nothing to do with that legendary HBO series from the ‘90s (nor the updated version on Shudder). The only thing they have in common is that this is an anthology format consisting of five unrelated stories, each shared in a wraparound tale that's told by a character that is indeed called The Crypt Keeper (Ralph Richardson wearing a hooded robe). 

Admittedly, only one of the stories is a Christmas story! But "And All Through the House" is so much fun it alone justifies the film’s inclusion on this list. Legend Joan Collins stars as a wicked glamourpuss who murders her husband on Christmas Eve. But before she can get away with it, a deranged Santa Claus shows up at her door to attempt his own brand of ho-ho-homicide. There are only so many perfect pleasures in life, but seeing Joan Collins battle a murderous Santa is so obviously one of them. — J.A.

Scare level: Scary

How to watch: Tales From the Crypt is now streaming on Tubi. 

6. Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022)

Killer Santa, but a robot? That's the goofy fun premise of Christmas Bloody Christmas, which fully embraces sheer absurdity from its start. A news broadcast tells us everything we need to know right upfront — a bunch of robotic Santas have been recalled because a glitch in their systems has reverted them to their original programming, which came from the Department of Defense. OK? Sure. Naturally. Why wouldn't it? And if that nonsense makes you giggle, this movie's got your number. It's basically Terminator in tinsel focusing on a young woman (Riley Dandy) who is stalked by a robo-Claus that kills everybody in its way. That is, until the two showdown in a sparking neon-lit extravaganza! — J.A.

Scare level: Funny

How to watch: Christmas Bloody Christmas is now streaming on Shudder.

5. It's a Wonderful Knife (2023) Credit: RLJE Films and Shudder

If you couldn't tell from the wordplay in the title, this wintry gem is a slasher riff on Frank Capra's holiday classic It's a Wonderful Life. This time around, the world-weary protagonist is a high-schooler named Winnie (Jane Widdop), who wishes on a star that she'd never been born… unfortunately forgetting that she was the Final Girl a year earlier who'd stopped a murderer called The Angel from killing a bunch of people. 

When Winnie's Christmas wish comes true, she finds herself transported to an alternate timeline — one in which she'd never stopped the killer. So it becomes her duty to once again stop The Angel in his or her tracks, before they can slash the entire town to ribbons and bows. All this while she feels adrift in a weird reality where nobody she knows and loves recognizes her. It's no surprise that Winnie finds herself bonding with a girl named Bernie (Jess McLeod) that she barely noticed in her old timeline. This opens up a whole other can of worms, though, as feelings start to develop between the two that complicate which timeline Winnie feels the most tied to. 

Written by Michael Kennedy (the screenwriter behind the 2020 body-swapping slasher Freaky) this high-concept (and queer as hell) Christmas horror proves home is where the heart is. And then stabs a really big fucking knife through it. Again and again and again and again. — J.A.

Scare level: WTF

How to watch: It's a Wonderful Knife is now streaming on Hulu.

4. Violent Night (2022)

Dead Snow director Tommy Wirkola flips the script on the killer Claus concept by presenting a Santa who kills for good! Starring Stranger Things' David Harbour as the man in red, Violent Night sees the jolly gift-giver minding his own damn business one Christmas Eve, delivering toys as he does every damn year. When what should appear … but a hostage situation. It's up to this hard-headed Santa to kick ass and save the (holi)day, one defenestration at a time.

Co-starring John Leguizamo as "Mr. Scrooge," the leader of the festively nicknamed nogoodniks, and Beverly D'Angelo (ye icon of Christmas Vacation) as a rich matron, Violent Night has nothing in its sights but delivering scenes of Jolly Saint Nick committing extremely gratuitous spectacles of action-hero violence. As such, it's 10 trays full of cookies and a hundred glasses of milk — comfort food for the seasonally dubious. — J.A.

Scare level: Funny

How to watch: Violent Night is now streaming on Peacock, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

3. The Sacrifice Game (2023) Credit: Shudder

Nothing says deck the halls quite like Satanic rituals, and director Jenn Wexler's The Sacrifice Game has boughs of horror and blazing yule logs a'plenty. Nestling in among the students of the all-girls boarding school the Blackvale Academy, a couple of girls with nowhere to go for the holiday — and nothing in common but these momentarily difficult circumstances — hunker down for a depressing week together. (Yes, it's very The Holdovers.) 

The girls soon find out they'll have to bond fast though, because a bad moon's a'rising outdoors where a roving band of Manson Family-esque serial killers are lurking about. Turns out one of them (Olivia Scott Welch) is a Blackvale alum, wielding plenty of inside knowledge about the grand old home. When the gang find themselves in need of a hideout — and a virgin for a demon-summoning spell — it's back to school they go, hoping to turn their dark magicks into darker reality. The Sacrifice Game, a twisty one indeed, keeps undoing our assumptions about who's good and who's bad behind this school's gates. Nobody's quite who they seem on the skin of it, and their school-girl secrets make for a quick spin straight into holiday hellfire. — J.A.     

Scare level: Scary

How to watch: The Sacrifice Game is now streaming on Shudder.

2. There's Something in the Barn (2023)

This offering out of Norway lays like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with a killer elf. (Side note: Why the heck didn't one of the National Lampoon Vacation movies have a killer elf in it???) There's Something in the Barn stars Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead's Martin Starr as the optimistic family man Bill, who's relocated his wife (Amrita Acharia) and two kids from the U.S. to his ancestral family farm in the snowy mountains of Norway. And the rest of the family isn't thrilled about it. 

But little did cheerful Bill realize that there would be a territorial barn elf (Kiran Shah) living on the property. Before you know it, a clash between American culture and barn elf tradition erupts — for one, barn elves can't stand loud music or bright lights, which really messes with Bill's loud, bright holiday-decorating plans. There's Something in the Barn is really more of a comedy than it is horror for most of its runtime, but its last act lets fully loose as the blood turns the snow red in the two sides' war for merry dominance. — J.A. 

Scare level: Funny

How to watch: There's Something in the Barn is now streaming on Hulu, Starz, AMC+, and Shudder, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

1. Gremlins (1984) Credit: Warner Bros / Kobal / Shutterstock

What horror fan doesn't want a mogwai for Christmas? In Joe Dante's horror comedy classic, Zach Galligan stars as Billy Peltzer — a young bank teller gifted a dangerous creature for the holidays. Iconic for its adorable main "monster" and spectacular vignettes (I will never get over the gremlins drinking at a bar), Gremlins is a sci-fi tour through classic Christmas nostalgia that never disappoints. Well, except for Phoebe Cates' whole "Dad got stuck in a chimney" monologue. That bit is always kind of a bummer. — A.F.

Scare level: Funny, Scary

How to watch: Gremlins is now streaming on Max.

UPDATE: Dec. 12, 2025, 5:00 p.m. EST This article was originally published on Dec. 15, 2020. It has been updated to included the latest streaming options.

The central locked room mystery of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery sees writer-director Rian Johnson drawing on a long literary history. The film takes many cues from the likes of authors including Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe, but one particular novel is crucial to the core puzzle: John Dickson Carr's The Hollow Man.

The American author's 1935 mystery novel, which features his recurring investigator protagonist Gideon Fell, functions as a key text in Benoit Blanc's (Daniel Craig) investigation into the murder at Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude. But what exactly is this important book?

SEE ALSO: 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery': What's on the book club list? What is The Hollow Man in Wake Up Dead Man?

Early on in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, new Chimney Rock resident and priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor) is reckoning with the impossible crime that is the murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). Stabbed in the back in a small room with only one way in or out, in front of an entire congregation? It's "the stuff of detective fiction," as Blanc declares, the famous detective now on the case.

In his clue-gathering, Blanc mentions Carr's novel The Hollow Man and the methods of Gideon Fell, Carr's fictional detective. And according to a list Father Jud finds in the church office, The Hollow Man just so happened to be the Spring Book Club title for Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude — it seems the killer was inspired by the novel.

Featured Video For You Rian Johnson on 'Wake Up Dead Man,' Josh O'Connor's neck tattoo, and AI slop The Hollow Man gives "a syllabus of how to commit the perfect crime." Credit: Orion / Mashable

In The Hollow Man, a murderer shoots a professor and vanishes from a locked room, then kills another victim in a public street with witnesses and without leaving footprints in the snow. However, there's one very famous chapter, 17, which has become synonymous with defining the elements of an impossible crime. Here, Carr has Fell giving this famous "locked room lecture" to the reader, describing "the general mechanics" of how a murder (like Wicks') could be committed in impossible circumstances.

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Blanc describes The Hollow Man in Wake Up Dead Man as "a syllabus of how to commit the perfect crime," as Fell maps out a number of scenarios, including the following:

1. It is not murder, but a series of coincidences ending in an accident which looks like murder.

2. It is murder, but the victim is impelled to kill himself or crash into an accidental death.

3. It is murder, by a mechanical device already planted in the room, and hidden undetectably in some innocent-looking piece of furniture.

Carr would deploy the locked room framework in many novels, like The Problem of the Wire Cage (a murder on a tennis court) and The Crooked Hinge and Castle Skull (murders which at first appear supernatural).

Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue (both also on Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude's book club list), Gaston Leroux's The Mystery of the Yellow Room, Soji Shimada's The Tokyo Zodiac Murders, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and The Adventure of the Speckled Band and The Adventure of the Crooked Man — all locked room mysteries, impossible crimes that it would take a real Jonathan Creek to solve.

Or, a Benoit Blanc.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will open in select cinemas on Nov. 26, then debut on Netflix on Dec. 12.

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

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

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

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

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

A charge.

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

DEBIT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A singing voice.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 20, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TENOR

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A link.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 20 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 20, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

JOINT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Awesome!

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 20 Hurdle Word 4 answer

GOODY

Final Hurdle hint

A household appliance.

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

DRYER

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

Tonight, the Moon is still very thin, marking the start of the waxing crescent phase in the U.S. However, in some parts of the world (depending on the time zone) the New Moon is officially occurring tonight.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, Dec. 20, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent (if you're in the U.S). There is little to be seen tonight, with NASA's Daily Moon Observation stating 0% of the moon will be lit up. So, of course, there's little to no chance of spotting any features on the Moon's surface tonight.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3. The last full moon was on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. This is known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this time, it passes through a series of phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes, which is why it can appear fully illuminated, partly lit, or completely invisible at different points in the cycle. This process is divided into eight main lunar phases:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 20, 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 20, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 20 Pips

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 20 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 20 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this yellow space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 1-2, 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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know tactics.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Sports planning

• Green: Universities

• Blue: Same player, different teams

• Purple: Teammates

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: X's and O's

• Green: Teams with colorful nicknames

• Blue: LeBron James teams

• Purple: Members of the Detroit Lions

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #453 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• X's and O's - PLAYBOOK, SCHEME, STRATEGY, TACTIC

• Teams with colorful nicknames - ALABAMA, COLUMBUS, TEXAS TECH, TULANE

• LeBron James teams - CLEVELAND, LOS ANGELES, MIAMI, ST. VINCENT-ST. MARY

• Members of the Detroit Lions - BRANCH, MONTGOMERY, READER, ST. BROWN

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a rock music fan.

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 20, 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: They hold things

• Green: Clothing maintenance

• Blue: UK musicians

• Purple: Solid as a ___

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Containers

• Green: Laundry services

• Blue: British bands formed in the 1970s. with "The"

• Purple: Rock ___

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 #923 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Containers: BUCKET, CAN, DRUM, TIN

• Laundry services: DRY, FOLD, PRESS, WASH

• British bands formed in the 1970s. with "The": CLASH, CURE, DAMNED, FALL

• Rock ___: BOTTOM, LOBSTER, MUSIC, SALT

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 20, 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're in the holiday spirit.

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 20, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 20, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: All the trimmings

The words are related to decorating.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ways to commemorate a winter holiday.

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 Christmas Tree.

NYT Strands word list for December 20

• Ornament

• Star

• Christmas Tree

• Lights

• Ribbon

• Angel

• Tinsel

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 don't like bright colors.

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 20, 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 20, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Blank.

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 W.

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...

WHITE

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 20, 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.

TL;DR: Make binge-watching TV productive with a lifetime subscription to the unique streaming service Curiosity Stream, on sale now for just $149.99 (reg. $399.99).

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Want to feel productive while lying on the couch? How about learning something new during your next binge session? Curiosity Stream makes it possible — you can get cozy while watching content from this documentary service that educates as it entertains.

Right now, you can score a lifetime subscription to Curiosity Stream’s Standard Plan for just $149.99 (reg. $399.99).

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If you’re tired of your usual streaming services and want to feel better about the content you’re watching, you need to check out Curiosity Stream. It’s a streaming service filled with documentaries, so whatever you choose will be informative, and you can learn something new while you relax.

John Hendricks, the mastermind behind Discovery Communications, is the creator of Curiosity Stream. It’s filled with the top-quality content you would expect on subjects ranging from history and science to art and technology. They even have an Emmy Award-winning series, Stephen Hawking’s Favorite Places.

There are series like Planet of Treasures and Deep Time History, with new content added every week. They also have multiple search options, so you’re bound to find something that interests you. You can bookmark or download content to watch later, too.

Enjoy documentaries for life with a lifetime subscription to Curiosity Stream’s Standard Plan, now for just $149.99 (reg. $399.99).

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TL;DR: Bring home a MacBook Pro for just $429.99 (reg. $1,799) while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Macbook Pro (2020) i5 2GHz Touchbar 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Silver (Refurbished) $429.99
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Looking for a laptop that can keep up with your demands? You can’t do much better than a MacBook Pro. Apple’s most powerful and portable device typically comes with a steep price tag. Luckily, this deal arrived just in time for the holiday season.

Right now, you can put a MacBook Pro under the tree for just $429.99 — 76% off its regular $1,799 price tag — while supplies last.

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The MacBook Pro was built to keep up with your busy life. A 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor has a 2GHz base speed with a boost up to 3.8GHz when you have a heavier workload, so all your multitasking needs are met.

All that power won’t weigh you down — this sleek silver laptop weighs just 3.1 pounds. It includes some of Apple’s most helpful features, like the Touch Bar, which offers customization and puts shortcuts at the top of your keyboard. A Magic Keyboard makes typing comfortable for hours, and True Tone technology on the 13.3-inch display adjusts to your lighting to help reduce eye strain.

This MacBook Pro offers 512GB of storage, so you have plenty of space to store files locally and download your must-have apps. And you won’t need to be tethered to an electrical outlet because a full charge lasts an impressive 10 hours.

You’re saving over $1,300 on this model thanks to its grade A refurbished status. That means it will arrive on your doorstep in near-mint condition with virtually no signs of prior use, while you score a deep discount.

Act fast to get a MacBook Pro for only $429.99 (reg. $1,799) while supplies last.

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When veteran Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo talks, markets listen. That's because Kuo, based in Hong Kong, sits in the middle of Apple's Asia-Pacific supply chain; he knows all the vendors, sees the Apple gears in motion when any new iPhone is in the works, and is usually on the money.

In a new interview, Kuo says that the iPhone Fold — Apple's first smartphone with a folding screen — is real, and it's coming next year. But he also warns that the company is having a hard time building them fast enough to meet the likely massive demand. (Likely massive because ... c'mon. Foldable. iPhone.)

"Development of the foldable iPhone is behind earlier expectations, but the product is still expected to announce" in the second half of 2026, Kuo writes in his summary of the interview. "Due to early-stage yield and ramp-up challenges, smooth shipments may not occur until 2027. With limited supply and expected strong demand, the foldable iPhone could be facing shortages until at least the end of 2026."

SEE ALSO: Apple is reportedly working on 7 new iPhones. Here's all we know.

Translation: The iPhone-making machine in Kuo's part of the world, the one that the Cupertino company still relies on, isn't ramping up fast enough and doesn't have enough materials. So, a lot of customers are going to find they can't get the top item on their Christmas lists in 2026.

And that means we're looking at another iPhone 14 Pro/Max situation. That was where — as Kuo predicted at the time — many customers found them out of stock at the Apple store until 2023, despite an October 2022 launch.

That's not the only reason you might be disappointed by the iPhone Fold. The other reason: Its price tag.

Another analyst in the region pegged the likely cost at $2,399, which is on the high end of other analyst estimates. You could get at least two MacBook Air laptops for that price (and maybe even three with the M4 chip at current prices.)

That may be too much for many consumers, especially if the economy takes a post-AI bubble downturn. Which would mean diminished demand, which in turn would mean that if you really want to shell out all that scratch for an iPhone Fold, you might just have a chance of getting one in time to take candid shots with its cameras (two on the front, two on the back, according to the rumor mill) on New Year's Eve 2026.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon's cloud web hosting platform which provides online services to millions of customers, has confirmed that Russian state actors have been attacking misconfigured customer edge devices for the past five years, according to a new update from the company.

Earlier this week, Amazon Threat Intelligence shared an update on the AWS website that detailed the years-long attack by a Russian cyber threat group. Amazon's team dissected the attack and discovered a link to a threat actor known as Sandworm, which is associated with Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency.

Amazon’s telemetry reveals coordinated operations against customer network edge devices hosted on AWS. This was not due to a weakness in AWS, according to Amazon, but appear to be customer misconfigured devices. 

"The campaign demonstrates sustained focus on Western critical infrastructure, particularly the energy sector, with operations spanning 2021 through the present day," CJ Moses of Amazon Threat Intelligence said in the post.

SEE ALSO: Amazon is throwing one more sale to close out the year — save during the Super Saturday sale

According to Amazon, the attack focused on "energy sector organizations across Western nations, critical infrastructure providers in North America and Europe, and organizations with cloud-hosted network infrastructure." Amazon says the campaign targeted "'low-hanging fruit' of likely misconfigured customer devices," which likely enabled the attacks to continue on for so long.

Moses says that this attack "represents a significant evolution in critical infrastructure targeting" and calls it a "tactical pivot where what appear to be misconfigured customer network edge devices became the primary initial access vector, while vulnerability exploitation activity declined."

SEE ALSO: Russia's advanced robot human immediately face plants at debut

Basically, according to Amazon, there isn't any AWS exploit to patch as bad actors are weaponizing misconfigured devices on the end of AWS' customers. Amazon says it has notified affected customers. Going into the new year, Amazon is urging its customers to monitor and audit network devices and remain vigilant as attacks are ongoing.

UPDATE: Dec. 19, 2025, 5:54 p.m. EST This post has been updated throughout to make it clear that AWS was not a victim in this attack and the coordinated operation did not occur due to a weakness in AWS. It appears to be customer misconfigured devices.

TikTok brought the TikTok Awards to the U.S. for the first time this year — and after attending the underwhelming show in person, I'm not totally convinced it should happen again.

The night was a total disaster: full of tech mishaps, hot mics, and an ever-growing absent crowd.

The red carpet itself looked promising at first. Creators like Yasmine Sahid, Ashby Florence, Alexis Nikole Nelson, and Janette Ok walked the carpet, and there was no shortage of TikTok-famous faces. But the reach stopped there. You might have expected the main cast members from I Love LA, a show deeply rooted in TikTok culture, to make an appearance. Not to mention, there weren't very many celebrities beyond the FYP bubble — despite the fact that actors and musicians use the app constantly to promote their work. Of course, not everyone attends a carpet, but the absence was curious.

Then came the delay. The show started nearly an hour late. Inside the venue, rumors spread quickly that we were waiting on Paris Hilton, but once she got comfortable — trailed by an entourage fit for royalty, including one person whose sole job seemed to be holding a light inches from her face — we still didn't start.

That's when it became obvious where the real problem was.

All around the room, tech crew members dressed head-to-toe in black scrambled in the back of the venue. The screens weren't working, which is a catastrophic issue for any award show, but especially for one built entirely around short-form video.

"We are running a little late because this is quite a powerful room. You are so powerful because you blew out our screens," Kim Farrell, the global head of creators at TikTok, told the room of restless creators before the show finally began. (A TikTok spokesperson confirmed to Mashable that a "venue-specific electrical issue" affected the on-site screens, resulting in the delay.) The relief didn't last long.

Almost every presenter's bit relied on those screens. La La Anthony, hosting alongside Ashby Florence (who was seated in the crowd), opened the show with an interaction that required La La to show her For You Page on the big screen. Without it, the moment landed awkwardly — confusing for viewers watching at home and uncomfortable in the room.

And that set the tone.

Ashby, to her credit, carried the night. Her crowd work was charming, quick, and genuinely funny, and she managed to inject life into moments that otherwise would have completely stalled. I hope she was paid extraordinarily well, because she was doing the work of an entire production team.

Rei Ami and Ashby Florence fire off a Labubu cannon. Credit: Phillip Faraone and Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for TikTok

Once it became clear the screens weren't coming back, most presenters didn't adjust their scripts at all. They continued gesturing toward blank screens while audio from unseen montages played. Tefi Pessoa's presentation for Video of the Year worked regardless, but when the award went to Bretman Rock, he wasn’t there to accept it, which was another recurring issue. Roughly a third of the winners weren't in the room.

That absence may have something to do with how the night felt less like a celebration and more like a very long advertisement.

Every award was, of course, tied back to TikTok, but the show was cluttered with sponsor integrations — Carl’s Jr., e.l.f. Cosmetics — and awards branded for TikTok-owned tools. There was a CapCut award instead of a general editing category. TikTok Shop presented an award. It was TikTok giving TikTok Awards to TikTok, and while all award shows are commercial at some level, this one felt especially on the nose.

As the night went on, more and more people quietly left their seats and the venue altogether. There were no seat fillers, so the empty chairs became impossible to ignore. Despite repeated reminders about an upcoming Ciara performance, the room was probably 15 percent empty by the time she finally took the stage.

The princess is here to save us. Credit: Phillip Faraone and Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for TikTok

To be fair, Ciara performed, and she absolutely delivered. Between her performance and Ashby’s relentless effort to keep things fun, the night stayed afloat. But just barely.

When Keith Lee accepted the Creator of the Year award, the tone in the room shifted. Lee was visibly emotional, and TikTok announced a $50,000 donation to Feeding America in his honor. It was a rare moment of sincerity in an otherwise uneven night. And it underscored how creators should be awarded for their work — they entertain us, make us laugh, help us learn, and inspire us. These kinds of creator-led award shows should exist. The Webby Awards and the Shorty Awards play a role in uplifting short-form content and its creators, for instance. But this attempt from TikTok fell short.

And maybe that's because it broke its own unwritten rule. The platform that thrives on spontaneity and creator culture instead opted for moments that felt designed for clips, rather than genuine connection.

Earlier in the evening, before the show began, Mashable asked creators on the red carpet what their word of the year would be. Merriam-Webster had just announced "slop" as its official word of 2025, and we wanted to see what the Extremely Online would have to say. La La Anthony said "change." Alexis Nikole Nelson chose "bold." Kelsey Anderson said, "Period." Tan France went with "C U Next Tuesday" (the actual word, not the phrase). And Ashby offered the most painfully accurate word of all: "conundrum."

After being inside that room all night, though, Merriam-Webster might've nailed it the first time.

Amazon loves to throw a sale. This year we had Amazon's Big Spring Sale in March, Prime Day in July, Prime Big Deal Days in November, and to close out the year, there's a Super Saturday Sale on Dec. 20. It's a last-minute opportunity for shoppers to do some Christmas shopping while saving a buck.

During the sale, Amazon is clearly marking products that will arrive by Christmas. Plus, plenty of items are available for same-day delivery, too. Hopefully, that means you won't be caught waiting for your gifts by the front door on Christmas Eve.

Amazon has provided a sneak peak of the savings to come but these deals are only available to Prime members. Here's what to expect during Amazon's Super Saturday sale.

Amazon Super Saturday savings

During the Super Saturday sale, Amazon seems to be focusing on beauty and fashion deals. Some of the highlights will include:

• Up to 50% off Charlotte Tilbury Calm Bliss Eau de Parfum

• Up to 49% off Hydro Flask Travel Tumbler in Thyme Green

• Up to 40% off Crayola Art Set for Kids

• Up to 33% off T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler & Blowout System 

• Up to 30% off Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Beauty Light Wand

• Up to 25% off Touchland SWEET RUSH Body and Hand Mist Essentials Set

• Up to 20% off Away Medium Checked Luggage in Cloud Gray and Ted Baker Women’s ICON Tote

• Up to 15% off Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Face Moisturizer and Vince Camuto Knee High Boots

More Amazon Super Saturday savings

In addition to the savings on products, Amazon is offering up to 20% off gift cards. And did you know Amazon has a bounty of travel deals. During the sale find savings up to 35% off Disney Cruises, 30% off Avis car rentals, and $30 off experiences booked through Tripadvisor.

How to join Amazon Prime

To shop Amazon's Super Saturday sale, there's one catch — you need to be a Prime member. Membership costs $14.99 a month and in addition to sale access, enjoy the benefit of same-day, one-day, or two-day delivery. Visit Amazon to join.

SAVE $120: As of Dec. 19, get the Roku 4K HDR Streambar SE and Wireless Bass Bundle for $99.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $229.98. That's a discount of 57%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Roku 4K HDR Streambar SE and Wireless Bass Bundle $99.98 at Amazon
$229.98 Save $130   Get Deal

Looking for an affordable way to upgrade your home entertainment center? A great way to stream your favorite content and improved audio is a good way to do that. Amazon has a deal you won't want to miss ahead of the holidays. This is a home entertainment deal you won't want to pass up.

As of Dec. 19, get the Roku 4K HDR Streambar SE and Wireless Bass Bundle for $99.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $229.98. That's $120 off and a discount of 57%.

SEE ALSO: The best soundbars for upgrading your home entertainment

This bundle comes with the Roku 4K HDR Streambar SE and Roku Wireless Bass, both things you can use to enhance your TV viewing routine significantly. First off, the Roku streambar is a soundbar you can use to add some excellent audio to your favorite shows and movis. It gives you seamless streaming options and simple setup that lets you attach a soundbar to your TV setup effortlessly.

Then, the Wireless Bass adds the booming sound you need to pair with your audio to feel every vibration that's happening onscreen. Connect it via Bluetooth to add some simple but effective bass no matter where you set your Streambar up. Plus, everything is controlled via one remote to make things even simpler.

If you're ready for great audio that doesn't take long to set up (or cost an arm and a leg), grab this bundle while it's still available.

SAVE $500.99: As of Dec. 19, you can get the 16-inch HP OmniBook 5 2K Next Gen AI PC (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for just $439, down from $939.99, at Walmart.

16-inch HP OmniBook 5 2K Next Gen AI PC (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $439 at Walmart
$939.99 Save $500.99   Get Deal at Walmart

If you have a college student in your life who's still lugging around a heavy, dying laptop (or if you’re tired of waiting 10+ minutes for your own computer to wake up), it’s time for an upgrade. A solid laptop is one of those "treat yourself" purchases that actually pays off every single day, especially when it’s fast enough to handle everything from thesis papers to high-res streaming without making those loud, high-wind cries for help.

SEE ALSO: We tested over 30 laptops in 2025. Here are the 12 best for every budget and use case.

Right now, you can get the 16-inch HP OmniBook 5 2K Next Gen AI PC (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for just $439, down from $939.99, at Walmart. You'll also get up to four months of Apple Music and Apple Arcade, and up to three months of AppleTV for free with your purchase.

This is a "Next Gen AI PC," meaning it has a dedicated AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with 50 NPU TOPS built to handle smart features like Microsoft Copilot+ without slowing down. The 16-inch 2K display is a huge step up from the grainy screens you usually see at this price, and the battery lasts for up to 16 hours and 45 minutes of video playback, which is a literal lifesaver if you're jumping between classes or coffee shops all day.

SAVE $100: As of Dec. 19, get the LG 65-inch B5 Series AI OLED 4K TV for $896.99. That saves you $100 off its $996.99 list price for 10% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch B5 Series AI OLED 4K TV $896.99 at Amazon
$996.99 Save $100   Get Deal

We're declaring winter as TV season. When it's cold outside, you want to be inside, not to mention there's plenty to watch. Over the holidays, it's time to gather around watching family favorites like Home Alone. For sports fans, it's the thick of NBA season and NFL playoffs. Not to mention, awards season kicks off on Jan. 11 with the Golden Globes on CBS and Paramount+. So if you're looking to upgrade your TV, we found a deal that arrives in time for Christmas.

The LG 65-inch B5 Series AI OLED 4K TV is down to $896.99 as of Dec. 19. That's the lowest price ever on the TV that delivers 4K resolution with crisp OLEDs. This deal at Amazon saves you $100 off its $996.99 price tag. Not only will it save you 10% off, but it'll arrive before Christmas, too.

The LG B5 Series is a next-level TV. It comes with 4K pictures, powered by OLEDs. It has Perfect Black and Perfect Color technology for the most accurate displays, not to mention Dolby Vision gives it a cinematic boost. This LG TV's big selling point is its new AI features that automatically detect what you're watching and improve the picture and sound settings.

Get the LG 65-inch B5 Series AI OLED 4K TV for $896.99 at Amazon and with Prime, it'll arrive before Christmas.

SAVE 21%: As of Dec. 19, you can get the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer for $299.99, down from $379.99, at Amazon.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer $299.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $80   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at ELEGOO

If you've been interested in giving 3D printing a go, but haven't moved forward due to budget restraints or skill level, we found a 3D printer that's both easy to use and affordable.

Right now, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer is on sale for $299.99, down from $379.99, at Amazon. That’s a 21% discount on what our freelance reviewer, Adam Doud, says is "truly beginner-friendly." It also arrives before Christmas, so you can have it unboxed and printing in about 20 minutes.

This machine is designed to be "plug-and-play." Unlike older printers that require a lot of tinkering, it arrives fully assembled and has a full auto-calibration cycle that levels itself.

SEE ALSO: Like a swarm of bees, these 3D printing robots can build almost any structure

"I'm sure there are more advanced models for hardcore 3D printing hobbyists," writes Doud. "But when I consider that my entire journey from unboxing the printer to printing 24/7 happened over less than a week, I'm impressed both with Elegoo for making an idiot-friendly 3D printer that even I could understand, and with myself for finally embracing a new category of tech that I had previously thought beyond my abilities."

It also has flagship-level features that usually cost twice as much, like a fully enclosed design that keeps noise down and helps maintain the right internal temperature for higher-quality prints. It’s also super fast (up to 500 mm/s print speeds) and comes with a built-in camera so you can monitor your progress in the mobile app while you're in another room.

Maybe it's me, but it sure doesn't seem like a good idea to drive the wrong way on a road. I'm just a measly human being, however, not the technological marvel that is a driverless car.

A recent viral video shows a driverless Waymo robotaxi driving straight into oncoming traffic in Austin, Texas. The post has garnered lots of upvotes on Reddit. In the video, you see that the robotaxi crawls to a halt facing the wrong direction, staring down oncoming traffic. Obviously out of sorts, it has its right turn signal on before whipping left into a gas station. "Just another day in Austin," reads the caption.

Perfectly executed maneuver, no notes.

Reddit

The incident happened on a frontage road near I-35 in Austin, according to MySanAntonio. The local news source reported that neither the Austin Police Department nor the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department had received reports on the issue.

"Safety is our highest priority at Waymo, both for people who choose to ride with us and with whom we share the streets," wrote a Waymo spokesperson in an email to Mashable. "We take situations like this seriously and are committed to improving road safety through our ongoing learnings and experience."

It's been a rough month for Waymo and safety concerns. Earlier this month, it issued a software recall after reports its robotaxis were illegally passing school buses. A a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation found Waymos had passed buses in at least 19 incidents in Austin.