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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.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 4 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: Butt

• Green: Sporting equipment

• Blue: Wedding day essentials

• Purple: They sound similar

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

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

• Yellow: Derriere

• Green: Used to hit a ball in sports

• Blue: Components of a bride's ensemble

• Purple: Rhyming compound words

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 #796 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Derriere: BACKSIDE, CABOOSE, SEAT, TAIL

• Used to hit a ball in sports: BAT, MALLET, RACKET, STICK

• Components of a bride's ensemble: BOUQUET, BUSTLE, TRAIN, VEIL

• Rhyming compound words: BACKPACK, COOKBOOK, HUBBUB, NITWIT

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 August 4

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Honest-to-goodness

The words are authenticity-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to describe realness.

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 Bonafide.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for August 14

• Real

• Authentic

• Genuine

• Bonafide

• Legitimate

• Kosher

• True

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.

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for August 4 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 4, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A toll.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter K.

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...

KNELL.

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 August 4

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.

Nicole Byer has only been guest hosting on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for three days, but she's already managed to land some solid blows on the president.

Wednesday night was no exception, with Byer playing a clip of Donald Trump announcing that he'll be hosting the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors.

Her response? "No you guys, I'm glad he's hosting this! I mean let him host the Emmys, the Grammys, a podcast with Theo Von, he could be the host at an Applebee's — anything that distracts him from running this country into the ground."

SAVE $170: As of Aug. 14, the 75-inch 2025 Roku Smart TV is on sale for $529.99 at Amazon. This is 24% off its list price of $699.99, allowing you to save $170.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 75-Inch Smart TV (2025) $529.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $170 Get Deal

Finding a good TV deal doesn't just happen during major sales. Occasionally, retailers like Amazon will drop some great deals outside of these events that are worth jumping on, which is certainly the case today. If you've been on the hunt for something special, Amazon is offering an excellent discount on a 75-inch 2025 Roku Smart TV right now.

The 75-inch 2025 Roku Smart TV is usually listed for $699.99, but it's currently marked down to $529.99. This offers 24% in savings, allowing you to keep $170. It also marks its lowest-ever price on Amazon.

SEE ALSO: Need a new TV? The 75-inch TCL QM6K Mini LED TV is on sale for under $800

Not only does this Roku Smart TV boast a massive 75-inch size that's great for creating a mini movie theater at home, but you'll get great picture quality as well thanks to 4K resolution with colorful and bright HDR10 picture. And since it's a smart TV, you can have all of your favorite streaming apps in one convenient location to kick off your next movie night or TV show binge.

It's currently listed as a limited-time deal, so act fast to save on the 75-inch 2025 Roku Smart TV at Amazon. And if you're looking for a smaller TV to pick up instead, you can also save on the 43-inch Sony Class 4K Ultra HD Bravia 3 TV right now at Amazon.

SAVE $0.96: As of Aug. 14, the Pokémon TCG White Flare Elite Trainer Box is $83.99 at TCGPlayer, compared to $84.95 at Amazon. Plus, key singles from Black Bolt and White Flare are now cheaper than launch.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG White Flare Elite Trainer Box $83.99 at TCGPlayer
$84.95 Save $0.96 Get Deal

If you have been holding off on picking up the Scarlet & Violet White Flare Elite Trainer Box, the price gap between TCGPlayer and Amazon is not huge right now, but it is still in TCGPlayer’s favor at $83.99 vs. Amazon’s $84.95. Every dollar counts, especially if you are also looking to grab a few singles while the market is soft.

Amazon’s listing is already heavily discounted from the $109.99 list price, but what is interesting is that we are now seeing both sealed product and the set’s most valuable cards trending downward in price since launch. That is great news for collectors aiming to lock in their chase cards before they rebound.

SEE ALSO: Save over $16 on the Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Binder Collection when you skip Amazon’s markup

The ETB comes loaded with nine Scarlet & Violet White Flare booster packs, a full-art Tornadus promo, 65 matching sleeves, 45 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, two plastic condition markers, and a collector’s box with dividers. There is also a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

For players, it is a well-rounded package with both cards and accessories for league play. For collectors, it is a chance to get the promo and themed storage while the singles market is favorable. Buying both sealed product and high-value singles right now could be the best play if you want to avoid paying more later.

With prices easing on the biggest pulls from Black Bolt and White Flare, this could be the perfect time to build your collection without breaking your budget.

Most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards Credit: The Pokémon Company

Here are the most valuable cards you can pull in Black Bolt and White Flare right now. Don't want to leave it to chance? You can just buy them for the best price on TCGPlayer right now:

1. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $450
   Market price: $474.25
   Value at launch: $500

2. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $420
   Market price: $445.20
   Value at launch: $488.50

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $400
   Market price: $406.80
   Value at launch: $499.50

4. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $430
   Market price: $430
   Value at launch: $440

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $203
   Market price: $208.05
   Value at launch: $210.56

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $190
   Market price: $203.13
   Value at launch: $210.56

SAVE $10.66: As of Aug. 14, the Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box is $88 at TCGPlayer, compared to $100.66 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box $88 at TCGPlayer
$100.66 Save $12.66 Get Deal

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to grab the Scarlet & Violet — Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box, this might be it. TCGPlayer is offering it for $88, coming in $10.66 cheaper than Amazon’s $100.66 listing. That’s enough savings to put toward extra packs, a playmat, or some upgraded sleeves.

Amazon’s price is already lower than the $109.99 list price, but TCGPlayer still takes the lead for the best price on a sealed ETB. With this set’s popularity, shaving another 10% off is a win for both players and collectors.

SEE ALSO: Save over $16 on the Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Binder Collection when you skip Amazon’s markup

Inside, you’ll find nine Scarlet & Violet — Black Bolt booster packs, a full-art foil promo featuring Thundurus, 65 matching card sleeves, and 45 Energy cards. It also comes with a player’s guide to the set, six damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, two plastic condition markers, and a collector’s box with dividers. A code card for Pokémon TCG Live rounds out the package.

For players, the ETB provides a solid stack of boosters to build from and plenty of accessories to keep your cards organized for league night. For collectors, the Thundurus promo and themed sleeves make it a must-have display piece.

Given the contents and the current savings, now’s a smart time to pick up a Black Bolt ETB before prices climb or sell out entirely.

Most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards Credit: The Pokémon Company

Here are the most valuable cards you can pull in Black Bolt and White Flare right now. Don't want to leave it to chance? You can just buy them for the best price on TCGPlayer right now:

1. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $450
   Market price: $474.25
   Most recent sale: $450

2. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $420
   Market price: $445.20
   Most recent sale: $418

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $400
   Market price: $406.80
   Most recent sale: $445

4. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $430
   Market price: $430
   Most recent sale: $438.60

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $203
   Market price: $208.05
   Most recent sale: $199.95

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $190
   Market price: $203.13
   Most recent sale: $188.99

SAVE $4.73: As of Aug. 14, the Pokémon TCG Prismatic Evolutions Eevee two-pack blister is $29.03 at TCGPlayer, compared to $33.76 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Prismatic Evolutions Eevee 2-Pack Blister $29.03 at TCGPlayer
$33.76 Save $4.73 Get Deal

If you want a quick hit of the Scarlet & Violet — Prismatic Evolutions expansion without committing to a bigger box, the Eevee two-pack blister is a great entry point. Right now, TCGPlayer has it for $29.03, which is $4.73 cheaper than Amazon’s $33.76 listing. That’s enough of a gap to make it worth skipping the Prime checkout button.

Amazon’s price is already slightly discounted from its typical $35.88, but TCGPlayer still wins out here with a better per-pack value and the same contents. If you’re collecting the promos, you won’t miss anything by choosing the cheaper option.

SEE ALSO: Save over $16 on the Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Binder Collection when you skip Amazon’s markup

This blister comes with a foil Eevee card stamped with the Pokémon Day 2025 logo, a metallic coin, two booster packs from Prismatic Evolutions, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

For collectors, the Pokémon Day-stamped Eevee makes for a fun keepsake tied to the set’s launch. For players, the blister offers a low-cost way to crack packs and test your luck on some of the set’s high-value cards.

With prices on sealed product always creeping up after release, grabbing these at under $30 is a nice move, especially if you’re chasing one of Prismatic Evolutions’ big-ticket pulls.

Most valuable Prismatic Evolutions Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Here are the most valuable cards you can pull in Prismatic Evolutions right now. Don't want to leave it to chance? You can just buy them for the best price on TCGPlayer right now:

1. Umbreon ex – 161/131 – SV: Prismatic Evolutions
   Price: $875
   Market price: $850
   Most recent sale: $860

2. Sylveon ex – 156/131 – SV: Prismatic Evolutions
   Price: $284.75
   Market price: $365.38
   Most recent sale: $359.44

3. Leafeon ex – 144/131 – SV: Prismatic Evolutions
   Price: $206
   Market price: $280.35
   Most recent sale: $285.26

4. Vaporeon ex – 149/131 – SV: Prismatic Evolutions
   Price: $203.78
   Market price: $241.38
   Most recent sale: $243.04

5. Espeon ex – 155/131 – SV: Prismatic Evolutions
   Price: $201.27
   Market price: $210.57
   Most recent sale: $271.30

SAVE $100: As of Aug. 14, the Anker Solix C300 portable power station is on sale for $149.99 at Amazon. This is 40% off its list price of $249.99, allowing you to save $100.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C300 DC Power Bank Station $149.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $100 Get Deal

The weather is still perfect for an outdoor adventure, and if you're looking to get in a little camping trip before cooler weather blows in, it helps to have a portable power station with you. With this, you can keep all of your devices charged up in case you're not ready to go fully off-grid just yet. And thankfully, there are some great deals available on various models right now, including the Anker Solix C300 portable power station.

The Anker Solix C300 portable power station is usually listed for $249.99, but right now it's marked down 40% to $149.99. This allows you to save $100. It's currently listed as a limited-time deal, meaning it might not stick around for long. Act fast to grab it at this price.

SEE ALSO: Record-low price alert: The 40-liter Anker Solix EverFrost 2 electric cooler is under $630 at Amazon

This power station offers 288Wh of power for all your devices, alongside multiple ports for charging. The Anker Solix C300 portable power station actually comes with seven ports, including a car socket, two 140W USB-C ports, one 100W USB-C port, one 15W USB-C port, and two 12W USB-A ports. And with its helpful portable design, it's easy to pack up and take on your travels.

Don't miss out on this limited-time deal on the Anker Solix C300 portable power station at Amazon. And if you're looking for a bit more power to take on your journeys, you can also save on the hefty Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus right now at Amazon.

In yet another rambling press conference, President Donald Trump has announced that he will be hosting the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors, telling a story about how he kept being asked to host the awards ceremony and kept saying no before finally caving in.

Reacting to the clip on Late Night, Seth Meyers was anything but convinced.

"Well, I think you deserve the award for best original screenplay, because that's definitely a fake conversation that did not happen," Meyers says, before launching into his Trump impression. "They said 'Sir, we want you to host,' and I said 'You're fools, I'm so busy,' and they said 'The ratings will be huge because everyone loves you!' and I said 'That's true,' and I said 'What'll I wear?' and they said 'Don't worry, we'll make a special tuxedo that's big enough for your incredibly large penis — their words, not fools on that, they wised up — and I said 'OK, if you say so.'"

It's not the first time Meyers has roasted a Trump press conference and it probably won't be the last.

SAVE $90: As of Aug. 14, the Jackery Explorer 300 is on sale for $169 at Amazon. That's a 35% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 300 $169 at Amazon
$259 Save $90 Get Deal

A portable power station is always something to have on hand. Whether you want to stay connected on camping trips or just want to be prepared for power cuts, having something stashed away is always a good idea. And this latest deal on the Jackery Explorer 300 is well worth a look if you're in the market for a reliable option that doesn't break the bank.

The Jackery Explorer 300 is a handy, portable option. At just 7.1 pounds, this is perfect for camping, roadtrips, or on the go connection. There are enough ports to keep several devices going at once, boasting two AC outlets, a PD 60W USB-C port that works for both input and output, a fast charge 3.0 port, a standard USB-A port, and a DC car port. That’s enough for your phone, laptop, camera, drone, and more.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

Recharging is pretty quick too: about two hours to get to 80% if you use a wall outlet and the 60W PD USB-C port at the same time. You can also charge it from a car outlet while on the road, an AC adapter at home, or via a Jackery SolarSaga 100 solar panel.

Get this deal from Amazon before stock drops.

The Xenomorph isn't the only powerful being in FX's Alien: Earth series, with the heads of five major corporations calling the shots on our planet and its neighbours. The newest of these organisations, Prodigy, is led by young founder Boy Kavalier, a bratty trillionaire with a massive ego played to perfection by Mary and George, Black Mirror, and The French Dispatch star Samuel Blenkin.

Though Blenkin told Mashable that Boy Kavalier isn't based on anyone from real life, he said it was a wildly fun exercise to play someone who can do whatever they damn well want.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

"I was so excited to play this role, because I don’t normally get to play people who have this kind of massive ego," he said. "I tend to play young people who are pretty broken and vulnerable in some way, so the fact that Noah [Alien: Earth creator, writer, and director Noah Hawley] gave me a chance to inhabit somebody who can walk into a room and do literally whatever he wants, I just tried really hard to get on set and embody that."

Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier in "Alien: Earth." Credit: FX

In Blenkin's hands, Boy Kavalier intentionally uses disrespectful body language and behaviour as a power play. He refuses to wear shoes as he wanders around his secret Neverland facility, helming a complex and dangerous science project. He puts said bare feet up on desks while pushing his staff's ethical boundaries, takes an extremely important business call with rival corporation Weyland-Yutani in bed (holding the tablet with his feet), and generally throws his authority around with the click of his fingers.

"That feeling of freedom and collaboration meant that I could go on set and say, 'Well, yeah, you know what? I think I will hold it with my feet.' But that was not planned," says Blenkin. "There were so many moments that weren’t planned that I just was cheeky and asked. And that feeling of freedom and collaboration only comes from being on a really generous set."

"That feeling of freedom and collaboration meant that I could go on set and say, 'Well, yeah, you know what? I think I will hold it with my feet.'"

When we first meet the prodigious leader, Boy Kavalier is helming the company's hybrid project, one that transfers the consciousness of terminally ill children into synthetic bodies. We see the character become a kind of Peter Pan figure, naming his facility Neverland, developing his hybrid troupe of "Lost Boys" led by Wendy (Sydney Chandler), and reading J.M. Barrie's story to them each night. Blenkin said he worked with costumer designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb to craft playsuits for Boy Kavalier to complete the show's Peter Pan theme: "Originally we were almost going to go for pyjamas, going full Peter Pan vibes, and we came up with these brilliant playsuits."

Exactly what drives Boy Kavalier will be unravelled over the course of Alien: Earth. We get a small clue in episode 2, when he describes his need to win the "intelligence race." "People always think it's about money with trillionaires. Or ego. You know what I really want? I want to talk to somebody smarter than me," he says in a scene, munching away at an apple. "At the very least my hope is that by giving Wendy a supercomputer for a brain and training by the best geniuses money can buy, I'll finally be able to have an interesting fucking conversation."

You can watch Mashable's interview with Blenkin, as well as Hawley's insight into the opening scene of Alien: Earth, below:

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, then weekly on Tuesdays.

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

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

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

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

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

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 Mini crossword answers, hints for August 14, 2025 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: Regionally specific athletics

• Green: Same state

• Blue: Gaming names

• Purple: Same second word

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

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

• Yellow: SEC teams

• Green: Georgia teams

• Blue: Video game namesakes

• Purple: ___ Corner

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 #325 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• SEC teams - ARKANSAS, AUBURN, MISSISSIPPI, VANDERBILT

• Georgia teams - BRAVES, DREAM, GEORGIA, GEORGIA TECH

• Video game namesakes - HAWK, MADDEN, SLATER, WOODS

• ____ corner - AMEN, COFFIN, HOT, PENALTY

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

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

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

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

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, August 14, 2025:

AcrossAnimals holding "Eat Mor Chikin" signs, in a classic ad campaign

• The answer is Cows.

Suffix with Beatle or Wrestle

• The answer is Mania.

"Au revoir!"

• The answer is Adieu.

Ugly poster?

• The answer is Troll.

Be likely (to)

• The answer is Tend.

DownCore group

• The answer is Cadre.

Vegetable combined with celery and carrot to form "mirepoix"

• The answer is Onion.

Handle, as a sword

• The answer is Wield.

"Better Call ___" ("Breaking Bad" spinoff)

• The answer is Saul.

Damon of "Oppenheimer"

• The answer is Matt.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

AI-generated video has gotten way too good. Scary good, actually. Because of that, our feeds are flooded with suspiciously perfect clips — like impossibly cute animals bouncing on trampolines — racking up millions of views across TikTok, Shorts, and Reels.

With AI content blending seamlessly into our scroll, it's not always easy to know what’s real. So, how can you tell if a viral video is AI-generated?

Truth be told, there’s no perfect checklist for spotting an AI-generated video. “Even if I don’t find the artifact, I cannot say for sure that it’s real, and that’s what we want,” Negar Kamali, an AI research scientist at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, told Mashable Tech Reporter Cecily Mauran last year.

SEE ALSO: How to identify AI-generated videos

The old giveaways — warped faces, mangled fingers, impossibly smooth textures — are getting harder to catch as the tech improves. Temporal inconsistencies are being cleaned up. But just like with those surreal animal clips captured on fake doorbell cams, the truth still lives in the little details. That’s where the synthetic mask always slips.

The rise of ultra-realistic AI video tools

Part of the challenge is the technology itself. Tools like OpenAI’s Sora and Google Veo 3 can now generate cinematic clips with complex camera movements, realistic lighting, and believable textures. These platforms aren’t just toys — they’re edging into professional-grade filmmaking territory, making the gap between human-shot footage and AI-generated content thinner than ever. This means spotting the "tells" in viral AI videos takes sharper eyes and a bit more skepticism.

Take the video above, for example, an entire workshop’s worth of bunnies bouncing in perfect rhythm. It's absolutely adorable (and easy to make), but it’s also deeply suspicious when you look a little closer.

With that in mind, here are the best ways to identify AI-generated viral videos.

1. Look at the context first

Many AI videos are staged in oddly specific scenarios — often at night, using onyx-filter night vision. That’s not just for "aesthetic."

Dark filters conveniently hide the small glitches and frame-to-frame inconsistencies common in AI footage.

2. Check for missing device hallmarks

If the video claims to come from a doorbell cam or security feed, look for timestamps, brand logos, and interface overlays. A total absence of these is suspicious. At the same time, the presence of these hallmarks doesn't necessarily mean the video is real.

3. Watch the physics

Real-world motion obeys real-world rules. Animals, for example, don’t execute perfectly timed, repetitive jumps for 10 seconds straight. Look, for example, at the tip of this whale, which literally sucks a worker into the deck of this ship.

4. Mind the runtime

Shorter clips give AI less opportunity to reveal its flaws. That’s why so many viral synthetic videos cut off right before something looks “off.”

“If the video is 10 seconds long, be suspicious. There’s a reason why it’s short,” Hany Farid, a UC Berkeley professor of computer science and digital forensics expert, said to Mashable.

Likewise, if a longer video is made up of very short clips stitched together, be suspicious. Most AI video generators can only produce short clips. Google Veo 3, the most advanced generative AI video model, produces 8-second clips. Sora, by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, produces videos between one and 20 seconds long.

5. Listen for sound (or the lack of it)

Synthetic clips often have strangely clean audio, mismatched ambient noise, or none at all. “Fabrication coming from them, distorting certain facts…that’s really hard to disprove,” Aruna Sankaranarayanan, a research assistant at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, said to Mashable. Silent or overly clean soundscapes can be a big clue.

6. Spot AI-text artifacts

AI still struggles with legible writing. Check clothing, signage, or packaging in the frame — warped letters, random symbols, or gibberish text are persistent giveaways. “If the image feels like clickbait, it is clickbait,” Farid said to Mashable.

For example, this viral video of an emotional support kangaroo. Look closely at its vest as the video zooms in.

7. Watch for impossible movements

Humans and animals have subtle weight shifts, irregular gait patterns, and micro-movements. AI creations often lack these subtleties. And if you look closely, you can often spot bizarre inconsistencies, such as multiple figures melting into one, or vice versa.

“The building added a story, or the car changed colors, things that are physically not possible,” Farid said to Mashable, describing temporal inconsistencies.

8. Look for (or notice the absence of) watermarks

Some AI video generators — including Sora and Veo 3 — automatically embed watermarks or metadata to identify synthetic content. These marks can appear in corners, as faint overlays, or as hidden digital signatures in the file. While digital watermarks like SynthID from Google DeepMind are promising, watermarks can also be removed or cropped out of viral videos.

9. Check the account's history

Many AI videos are churned out en masse by AI slop farmers. If you see a video that seems off, check the account behind the video. Often, you'll find they've posted dozens — or even hundreds — of nearly identical AI videos in a short period of time. That's a big red flag that the video you just watched was generated by AI.

As scientists delve deeper into a star system with seven rocky worlds, the prospect of one being a habitable planet seems to be quickly fading. 

Researchers who used the James Webb Space Telescope, a joint partnership of NASA and its European and Canadian counterparts, determined the third planet from the TRAPPIST-1 star is unlikely to have air. For anyone keeping count, that's strike three for the system, which lies about 40 light-years away from Earth in space. 

The new findings on exoplanet TRAPPIST-1d, published in The Astrophysical Journal on Wednesday, mirror similar results for TRAPPIST-1b and TRAPPIST-1c, which orbit closer to their red dwarf host, a tiny-yet-violent type of star found throughout the galaxy.

"On a personal level, of course, there's a part of me that would have loved to see signs of air on TRAPPIST-1d," Caroline Piaulet-Ghorayeb, a University of Chicago fellow and lead author of the paper, told Mashable. "Science isn't about hoping for a yes, it's about finding what's real. So here we've learned that TRAPPIST-1d is not an Earth twin." 

SEE ALSO: Scientists find temperate planet in nearby system full of rocky worlds

Astronomers discovered the TRAPPIST-1 system about eight years ago with the now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope. Soon they made the swarming exoplanets a priority for investigating their potential for life, with all seven roughly the size of Earth.

Scientists were particularly interested in finding out whether the TRAPPIST planets have atmospheres, because red dwarfs are the most ubiquitous kind of star in the Milky Way. If these planets can retain atmospheres, even while subjected to close-range blasts of stellar radiation, perhaps an abundance of other worlds out there could, too.

Scientists are trying to determine whether any of of the rocky worlds orbiting TRAPPIST-1, a red dwarf star about 40 light-years away from Earth, could have an atmosphere. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech illustration

When TRAPPIST-1b and TRAPPIST-1c didn't appear to have atmospheres, the research community wasn't deterred, as neither sibling planet was predicted to have one, given how close they are to the star. 

But TRAPPIST-1d, which circles the star every four days, is a different story. This exoplanet is on the cusp of the star’s theorized habitable zone — the region of space where worlds might be able to have lakes and oceans on their surfaces.

"Science isn't about hoping for a yes, it's about finding what's real."

Webb observed TRAPPIST-1d with a method called transmission spectroscopy. When a planet crosses in front of its host star, starlight should shine through its atmosphere, if there is one. Molecules within an atmosphere absorb certain light wavelengths, or colors, so astronomers can look for missing segments of the rainbow to figure out chemicals in its composition. The researchers looked for things like water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.

But first, the team had to account for so-called "stellar contamination." Just like the sun, red dwarfs can get sunspots, so their starlight isn't completely uniform. Variability in the light signals can obscure or even imitate signals coming from a planet. After correcting for this problem in the data, the researchers found no clear signs of gases.

That means scientists can rule out certain types of atmospheres, like the thick hydrogen-rich atmosphere of Neptune, or a cloud-free atmosphere akin to that of early Earth. But a few other potential scenarios could explain the results without the planet having to be a barren rock. It could have an extremely thin atmosphere, sort of like Mars, that would be difficult to detect with this method, Piaulet-Ghorayeb said, or it could have thick, high-altitude clouds blocking atmospheric signatures, perhaps like Venus.

"We also learned something about what the best way to even look for water in the atmosphere of these temperate planets might be," she said. "Maybe transmission spectroscopy isn't it."

Whether red dwarf stars, sometimes called M-type, can harbor planets with atmospheres is a key question for Webb to answer. The observatory has begun a massive study of rocky worlds, first reported by Mashable, specifically to figure out if planets orbiting closely around them could have air. Rather than transmission spectroscopy, the survey will rely on a different method, called the secondary eclipse technique, which avoids some of the stellar contamination issues. 

The team says not to give up on the TRAPPIST system just yet. After all, planets E, F, G, and H could have a better chance of holding onto their atmospheres because they're farther from the star's flares, which can strip away a planet's atmosphere. In particular, TRAPPIST researchers are looking forward to studying E, the fourth planet from the star. 

The challenge for Webb will be overcoming the planets' more extreme distance and colder environments, which make atmospheric readings more difficult. 

What makes Piaulet-Ghorayeb hopeful about the continued quest for rocky worlds with water and air is the milestone achieved. 

"For the first time, if there had been an Earth-like atmosphere on a temperate terrestrial planet, we could have found it," she said. "And I don't think that in any study before, with any instrument that we had before, we could really get to that level of precision."

The Supreme Court has been asked to take up a case that could overturn the 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, and Tefi Pessoa, a lifestyle creator with 1.9 million TikTok followers, can't understand why more LGBTQ+ creators aren't talking about it.

"How is anyone LGBTQIA+ in America right now and not talking about gay marriage?" she posted to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday.

In another corner of the internet, Israel's actions in Gaza — which Amnesty International and the UN have described as genocide — prompted music creator Zay Dante (1.8 million TikTok followers, plus sizable audiences on YouTube and Instagram) to post a video five weeks ago questioning the silence of his peers.

"I was under the impression that we are gathering community to help better people's lives," Dante said, "but I’m realizing that a lot of you [sic] get into this job so you can be posted up on a brand trip and get paid $10,000 to say 'I love Sprite.'"

Earlier this summer, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids swept through Los Angeles. Lifestyle, beauty, and comedy creator Jenny Solares — who has 3 million followers on TikTok — broke from her usual content to share a raw message about how "families are being torn apart."

"It was word vomit," she told Mashable at VidCon 2025 in June. "It was this thing I had to say: Look what's happening." 

"It was word vomit," Solares told Mashable at VidCon 2025. Credit: Instagram screenshot / Tefi Pessoa / Zay Dante / Jenny Solares

These creators don't typically make political content, but they're speaking out anyway. Many others remain quiet. Is it shame over their political leanings, as Pessoa suggests in her Stories? A lack of confidence in understanding a complex news story, as Solares noted? Or fear of losing income, as Dante argued?

SEE ALSO: 4 big mistakes creators made — and what they did to fix them

For creators, silence can be strategic. Speaking out on politics can alienate followers, trigger harassment, and scare off brand deals that pay the bills. But silence carries its own cost: missing the engagement that comes with topical discourse, feeling complicit in injustice, or losing the trust of an audience. This is one of the central tensions influencers and content creators face — the constant calculation between moral obligation and professional survival. Every post is work, and each decision to speak is shaped by the same forces that govern any workplace: risk, reward, and job security.

Audiences are right to want influencers who reflect their values. But until creators are treated as workers with rights, every political post is a gamble with their income and safety — not just a moral choice, but a labor rights issue.

Why the stakes are so high now

If there was ever a time to signal to your followers where your politics — and by extension, your morals — lie, it’s now. President Donald Trump expanded deportation efforts, ordering ICE officers to "do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History." Protests erupted across Los Angeles, New York City, and other cities across the country. Creators’ silence or outspokenness about human rights violations in Gaza has been a constant undertone online, and during elections, influencers are implored to speak out in favor of their candidates of choice. 

This public expectation isn’t new, says Emily Hund, the author of The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media and a research affiliate at the Center on Digital Culture and Society at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication. She told Mashable that it began in the late 2010s as audiences became more aware of how the influencer economy worked, then spiked in 2020 as political unrest collided with the pandemic’s surge in online engagement. The result: speaking on current events began to feel urgent, and conspicuous silence more suspicious. Staying quiet started to look like taking a side.

SEE ALSO: Why pro-Palestinian content is at the center of the TikTok ban

The mounting pressures influencers face to speak up about political crises aren’t just about morality or authenticity. It’s a question of labor. These are workers navigating a new and volatile industry without collective bargaining power, industry standards, or platform accountability; for many, their livelihoods depend on algorithms, brand deals, and audience approval. The question of whether influencers should speak up — about politics, really, about anything — is inseparable from the question of whether they’re allowed to safely do so at work. 

The expectation of political engagement despite labor

There’s a joke to be made about how influencers are basically the personality hires of the internet, and while sharing that personality has some risks, it’s also the job.

The influencers are pulled between their many bosses — tech platforms, algorithms, brand partners, and audiences. Tech platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok limit the spread of political content, making it a difficult tool for creator growth. Some users have complained that the algorithm punishes them for talking about politics, going so far as to claim shadowbanning. And brands don't want to partner with anyone who might be considered partisan. All the while, audiences want creators to be funny, relatable, transparent about their political leanings, and to use their platforms in ways that reaffirm the viewers’ beliefs. There is no HR department.

Take Madison Humphrey, for example. She has never spoken about politics overtly — in fact, none of the content that has garnered her 3.8 million followers on TikTok has much to do with her own personality at all. 

But the suggested search term in a recent video about her engagement was "Madison Humphrey MAGA." 

Click on the search, and you'll see dozens of videos worrying that she doesn't align with her fans' political views — in one case, to the tune of 24,000 views. There's an expectation for creators, even those like Humphrey and Brittany Broski who aren't explicitly political, to inform their viewers where they stand politically. That's part of the job now.

Hund pointed out that taking a stand on anything "means risking a lot," both by alienating brands or followers. 

"Alienating either can result in a financial hit. In the case of alienating followers, there are also personal consequences in the form of dealing with hate messages or worse," Hund said.

SEE ALSO: Zay Dante on the Drake vs. Kendrick beef, music fandom, and going full-time on TikTok

Audiences demand authenticity, but the brands that pay creators want that authenticity with boundaries: Be yourself, but only if that self is as palatable as possible. Dante told Mashable that he missed out on brand deals because he's been so outspoken on Palestine. But this, too, is difficult to track outright. No one said they wouldn't partner with him once he started speaking out — the well simply dried up. He said that losing money is "what I ended up having to do. Was it hard for maybe a little bit? Yeah. But was it harder than working a 9-to-5 job? Absolutely not."

Power without protections

It's hard to measure exactly how much power influencers have, but even a mild understanding of the grassroots campaigns that political parties stage every year to fundraise, get out the vote, and ultimately shift elections is a good indicator. During the 2024 election, for example, influencers became integral to the success of political campaigns. 

Think about Taylor Swift: After she posted on Instagram encouraging her fans to register to vote in 2023, there was a 22.5 percent increase in registrations compared to the previous year, and a 1,226 percent jump in participation in the hour following the post, according to NPR. Of course, the influencers we follow online don't have the same impact as Swift, but that doesn't mean their impact is negligible.  

"Influencers are increasingly integral to election campaign strategies," The Conversation wrote in April. "Political campaigns work with influencers to reach audiences traditional media often misses, or to target specific groups with tailored messaging."

Beyond swaying votes, influencers also spread news. The Pew Research Center reports that nearly 40 percent of young Americans say they regularly get their news from TikTok and are as likely to trust information from social media as from national news outlets. Unlike journalists, influencers and content creators are allowed and encouraged by their viewers to share opinions, too, which can lead to raising money for those in need.

"I feel a personal responsibility to be vocal and be on the right side of history and do good because I'm lucky enough to have this platform." - Ayamé

While many influencers monetize their content to pay their own bills, some creators also use their influence to fund causes. Three creators — Ayamé, Yuval, and Oliver — created a faux love triangle to raise huge funds for families in Palestine. Ayamé told Mashable in April that raising over a million dollars for Palestinian families made it clear to her the reality of how much power and influence she holds, and how much good she could do with her platform.

"I feel a personal responsibility to be vocal and be on the right side of history and do good because I'm lucky enough to have this platform," Ayamé said. "I'd feel almost irresponsible not using it for good on some level. I'm not a political creator. I don't do a lot of political content, but when there are things that are screaming at you to speak on, I think a lot of other people in the industry also do the same."

But even that reach doesn't come with the benefits or job security that usually accompany high-impact work. Political speech from influencers isn't just "using their platform"— it's labor performed without the wage protections, benefits, or rights that other workers leverage when their jobs intersect with politics.

A labor rights issue

The disconnect between public expectation and system protection is stark. Influencers are, in effect, gig workers in an unregulated industry. Freelancers have some protections in some states, but the Department of Labor doesn’t even consider influencing a job in the same way it does other gig workers and independent contractors. According to the Washington Post, there’s no specific date for when the Department of Labor began considering influencing a job, but in 2024, the DOL did write that “potentially some content creators” are indexed under gig workers. 

Influencers have some protections. Tech companies and platforms have implemented protections for creators’ mental health, like the ability to block accounts, automatically filter hate comments, or disable them altogether. SAG-AFTRA, the labor union that represents actors and other workers in the media, has an influencer agreement, but it’s still in the early stages. 

Without established industry standards, creators are forced to navigate public scrutiny and brand politics alone.

Dante hopes for a world in which creators can band together — like a union — to demand respect and protections from the tech companies that make money from their content. This would allow creators to feel more comfortable speaking their minds without fearing backlash from the platforms themselves.

And, as Hund says, "systems, not individuals, need to hold influencers accountable."

"Social media platforms, brands, marketing agencies, and influencers need to come together as an industry and set some shared standards of the trade, as other media industries do," Hund said. "There needs to be a better shared understanding of what it means to be an influencer, both in practical terms and in terms of their social role."

Whether or not it is important to you that a creator speaks out about politics, human rights violations, or genocide is a remarkably similar argument to separating the art from the artist. Do that, or don’t do that. But perhaps there’s a way to give creators space to speak up if they want to.

"At the end of the day, if we bog ourselves down with fear about the algorithm and with fear about what it's gonna do to our money, then I question where our humanity is gone," Dante said.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025 (so far), and where to stream them

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand-new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're in the mood for Alien prequels, the new Superman, or incredible action, we've got something just for you.

Honorable mention: Stand Up to Cancer 2025 Telecast

Cancer charity Stand Up to Cancer's ninth televised fundraising special airs this week, with the goal of continuing to raise funds for cancer research. Filmed in Nashville, Tennessee, the Stand Up to Cancer special is hosted by Sheryl Crow, and will feature appearances from artists like Dolly Parton and the Jonas Brothers. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: The Stand Up to Cancer special will air on ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC at 8 p.m. ET. It will also be streaming live across major streaming platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and Prime Video.

11. And Just Like That..., Series Finale: Part 2

And just like that, it's come to an end. Again. Sex and the City spinoff And Just Like That… will air its very last episode on Aug. 14, after showrunner Michael Patrick King announced Season 3 would be its last. The second of a two-part finale, this week's episode will be a farewell to Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her well-dressed New York friends and lovers. It's been a wild ride, through the series' engagement with modern dating, vaginal suppositories, new tech, and making a mess of Diwali — and all the wild cameos they could muster. Though it's tested us at times, the spinoff has shown how much Sex and the City fans will do for real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love.* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Mario Cantone, Sarita Choudhury, Evan Handler, David Eigenberg, Nicole Ari Parker, John Corbett, Sebastiano Pigazzi, Dolly Wells, Mehcad Brooks, Jonathan Cake, and Logan Marshall-Green

How to watch: The series finale for And Just Like That... premieres Aug. 14 on HBO Max.

10. Love Is Blind: UK Season 2

Ready for more juicy reality TV mess? Love Is Blind: UK Season 2 is heading back to the pods, continuing Netflix's "experiment" of seeing if people can fall in love without ever having seen one another. Does this experiment work? Not often. Does it provide viewers with delicious drama? You bet. — B.E.

How to watch: The first four episodes of Love Is Blind: UK Season 2 are now streaming on Netflix, with new episodes dropping Wednesdays.

9. Butterfly

Daniel Dae Kim jumps into spy mode in thriller series Butterfly, where he plays a retired agent named David Jung. Despite leaving the game years ago, David jumps back into action for a highly important mission. This is not your typical spy mission, like preventing nuclear codes from falling into the wrong hands or assassinating any dangerous figures. Instead, David wants to save his daughter Rebecca (Reina Hardesty), who's joined the spy business herself.

There's just one problem: Rebecca believes that David died. So when he bursts back into her life, she has a tough time accepting that he's back. Expect plenty of spy thriller action, along with a large share of father-daughter fights. — B.E.

Starring: Daniel Dae Kim, Reina Hardesty, Louis Landau, Piper Perabo, Kim Tae-hee, Park Hae-soo, Charles Parnell, and Kim Ji-hoon

How to watch: Butterfly is now streaming on Prime Video.

8. Night Always Comes

Need a Vanessa Kirby fix after her turn as Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Then check out Night Always Comes. Based on the novel by Willy Vlautin, this gritty crime drama sees desperate anti-heroine Lynette (Kirby) set off on a harrowing one-night quest through Portland's criminal underbelly, all in the hopes of getting enough money to keep her family from eviction. Brace yourselves: Based on the trailer, it looks like things are going to get dark. — B.E.

Starring: Vanessa Kirby, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Zack Gottsagen, Stephan James, Randall Park, Julia Fox, Michael Kelly, and Eli Roth

How to watch: Night Always Comes hits Netflix Aug. 15.

7. Eddington

Ari Aster has birthed a barrage of mind-blowing cinema, ranging from the heart-wrenching horror of Hereditary and Midsommar to the gnarly humor of Beau Is Afraid. His latest is the weird Western Eddington. 

SEE ALSO: 'Eddington' review: Ari Aster misfires as Pedro Pascal and Joaquin Phoenix face off

Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal face off in as the sheriff and mayor of the titular small town, waging a war of ideas at the start of the COVID-19 lockdowns in the U.S. The result is a film that's at times funny and thrilling, but most often frustrating, which is kind of the point. In my review for Mashable, I wrote, "While the cast is committed to Aster's vision of this New Mexico town, the depth is lacking. That a cop has a thirst for control, that a smiling politician has a dark side, that a depressed woman has a hidden heartache — none of this is a surprise. Yet Eddington treats each reveal with a ghoulish giddiness, as if they're all deeply transgressive. The result is a movie that feels passionate, but is ultimately shallow and messy." – K.P. 

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Luke Grimes, Austin Butler, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Clifton Collins Jr., William Belleau, Cameron Mann, Matt Gomez Hidaka, and Amélie Hoeferle

How to watch: Eddington is now available to rent or buy on Prime Video.

6. Fixed

Animation legend Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack) delivers an outrageous comedy with his extremely NSFW new film, Fixed. The movie centers on a dog named Bull (voiced by Adam DeVine), who learns he's about to be neutered. With that awful news hanging over his head, he embarks on one last night of debauchery with his doggie friends — and his balls.

SEE ALSO: 'Fixed' fulfills the promise of the 'Cats' butthole cut: Review

Those balls are on full display throughout the film, which leaves little about dog genitalia (or dogs' sex lives) to the imagination. (If you've ever clamored for the Cats "butthole cut," then Fixed is for you.) The movie only ups the crassness from there, but it also sprinkles in some surprisingly touching discoveries about friendship and self-esteem. As I wrote in my review, Fixed features, "an earnest, sweet message in a purposefully crude package, and one that leaves room for more character development and self-discovery than Fixed's initial premise may have you think." — B.E.

Starring: Adam DeVine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn, Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, Bobby Moynihan, Michelle Buteau, River Gallo, Grey DeLisle, and Aaron LaPlante

How to watch: Fixed is now streaming on Netflix.

5. The Legend of Ochi

Feast your eyes on one of 2025's most visually stunning movies: The Legend of Ochi. The feature directorial debut from Isaiah Saxon transports viewers to the island of Carpathia, where locals live in fear of creatures known as the Ochi. (Think of them as Grogu from The Mandalorian meets real-life golden snub-nosed monkeys.) But when young Yuri (Helena Zengel) runs across a baby Ochi, she embarks on an epic journey to reunite it with its family — and she may just learn something about her own splintered family in the process.

SEE ALSO: 'The Legend of Ochi' is a miracle of puppeteering

While The Legend of Ochi's story occasionally falters, the film itself is a miracle of craft, boasting gorgeous matte paintings and handmade set pieces that call to mind classic fantasy adventures like Labyrinth and The NeverEnding Story. The stars of the show are undoubtedly the Ochi puppets, though, which are truly movie creatures for the ages. As I wrote in my review, "I hope that young audiences have the same reaction to The Legend of Ochi as I did to films like Labyrinth: one of pure awe, and of appreciation for the practical magic of moviemaking." — B.E.

Starring: Helena Zengel, Willem Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard, and Emily Watson

How to watch: The Legend of Ochi hits HBO Max Aug. 15.

4. The Woman King

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood's The Woman King returns to streaming this week, and if you like historical epics, then this banger is a must-watch. Viola Davis stars as General Nanisca, the leader of the real-life Agojie, an all-female regiment of warriors who defended the West African kingdom of Dahomey. As Dahomey is threatened by the Oyo Empire and Portuguese slave traders, Nanisca must train new warriors in order to protect their home. (Although it was critically acclaimed, The Woman King also earned criticism for its softened portrayal of Dahomey's actual role in the Atlantic slave trade.)

SEE ALSO: 'The Woman King' review: Viola Davis leads a groundbreaking and glorious action epic

Anchored by a career-high performance from Davis (whose work, like the film, was snubbed at the 2023 Oscars), The Woman King delivers blazing action and a whole army's worth of characters to care deeply about, from new recruit Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) to seasoned warrior Izogie (Lashana Lynch). As Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review, "Gina Prince-Bythewood has once more created an astonishing action movie, which dazzles with ferocious fight sequences but hits hardest because of its heartfelt storytelling." — B.E.

Starring: Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, John Boyega, Jordan Bolger, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Masali Baduza, and Jayme Lawson

How to watch: The Woman King is now streaming on HBO Max.

3. The John Wick series

Yeah, I'm thinking I'm back… to rewatching the John Wick series. All four films hit Hulu Aug. 15, giving you the perfect opportunity to check out (or revisit) one of the greatest action franchises of all time, all in one place.

What begins as the story of former hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves) avenging the death of his dog spirals out into a global epic of vengeance, redemption, and so, so much ass-kicking. Every movie somehow manages to level up on the action of the last, to the point that you'll finish the series somehow both exhausted and so amped up you'll feel like you can run through a wall. — B.E.

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and Laurence Fishburne

How to watch: All four John Wick films hit Hulu Aug. 15.

2. Superman

Now you can catch one of 2025's biggest films (and dare I say, its best superhero film) at home, as Superman hits digital Aug. 15. Directed by James Gunn, this reboot reintroduces all the Superman staples: Clark Kent/Superman (David Corenswet), Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), along with the film's animal MVP, Krypto the superdog.

SEE ALSO: 'Superman' review: Can James Gunn's reboot get DC back on track?

Gunn doesn't hem and haw over Superman's origin story, instead launching viewers straight into an action-packed adventure. Does it occasionally move too fast? Sure. But the film's optimism and the cast's exquisite chemistry help smooth out even the bumpiest of stretches. Look, I left the theater wanting to work at the Daily Planet, hug my dog, and save a squirrel, and you can feel that way too, with the help of Superman.

However, not everyone is as psyched about the film as I am. In his Mashable review, Siddhant Adlakha wrote, "Superman is big summer fun, with just enough laughs and action to get by. However, it also makes several lofty promises, by way of narrative and theme, that it doesn't always keep. It's a grand old time (until it isn't). But its off-kilter visual approach is surprisingly effective, shaping the contours of a detailed, politically charged comic book universe that, for better or worse, never slows down." — B.E.

Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, and Nicholas Hoult

How to watch: Superman will be available to rent or buy on Prime Video Aug. 15.

1. Alien: Earth

In space, no one can hear you scream. But in reading this article, you can hear me scream about how awesome Alien: Earth is. Set just two years before the events of the original Alien, creator Noah Hawley's (Fargo) prequel series brings the Xenomorphs to humans' home turf. They, along with four other terrifying alien creatures, are part of the cargo of a Weyland-Yutani spaceship that crash-lands on Earth. 

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

Following the crash, trillionaire Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) sends in a squad of soldiers to extract the specimens, but these are no ordinary specimens. They're hybrids: super-strong, super-fast robot bodies with the consciousnesses of human children. How will they fare when they come face to face with their alien foes?

While the Xenomorphs remain awesome (and terrifying) as usual in Alien: Earth, they somehow manage to be the least interesting part of the show, as Hawley expands on the Alien franchise in fascinating new ways. Between the hybrids and the show's new alien beasties, there's so much to love about Alien: Earth, along with plenty of great nods to the original and existential questions about what makes us human. As I wrote in my review, "Unsettling, bizarro, and contemplative in equal measures — just how I like my Alien! — Alien: Earth proves an exciting new entry in the franchise. Come for the Xenomorph, but stay for all the exquisite nightmares Hawley is cooking up." — B.E.

Starring: Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, Essie Davis, Adarsh Gourav, Kit Young, David Rysdahl, Babou Ceesay, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diêm Camille, Adrian Edmondson, Moe Bar-El, and Sandra Yi Sencindiver

How to watch: The first two episodes of Alien: Earth are now streaming on Hulu. New episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hulu and FX.

(*) denotes a blurb comes from a previous list.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular, 45mm) $154.99
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