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These days I have a couple Roku Sticks and a pair of Roku TVs, and they handle almost all of my daily streaming. But even after dialing in my setup, including tweaking Roku’s privacy settings to cut down on tracking, one thing still drives me up the wall: buffering. Nothing is more frustrating than sitting down to watch something and seeing that little circle spin again and again.

You've probably seen developers and power users running secondary displays vertically. To me, it always looked weird and unnecessary—we’re used to seeing monitors in landscape orientation. However, once I actually gave portrait mode a real try on my secondary monitor, it was surprisingly hard to look back.

Smartphones are an essential aspect of our lives, and that includes a slew of important apps we all use daily. But there's one app in particular we all probably use the most, and Google's slowly but surely ruining it. Of course, I'm talking about Google Messages, which I have a love-hate relationship with, and here's why.

In a world dominated by wireless accessories, it’s easy to get swept up in the trend—especially when listening to music.

Can't get enough Critical Role after finishing Season 1 of The Mighty Nein or getting all caught up on Campaign 4? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

SEE ALSO: Which Critical Role campaign is funniest? The cast weighs in.

In the latest episode of Mashable's Say More interview series, Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards tasks Critical Role cast members Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Liam O'Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, and Travis Willingham with a daunting mission. They must draft teams of player characters from their first three Dungeons & Dragons campaigns to square off in the ultimate Critical Role battle royale. That means usual allies and even romantic pairings like Keyleth (Ray) and Vax (O'Brien) could be going up against each other in a no-holds-barred fight to the finish.

For this edition of Choose Your Squad, the rules are simple: Once you choose a character, they're off the board for good. Try not to choose your own characters unless you absolutely have to, and most importantly, try to have a good time. Just kidding — crush your opponents in any way you see fit!

Which PC will be the first pick in the Critical Role draft, and are they the same PC O'Brien believes to be the obvious choice? Most importantly, is there any world in which Bertrand Bell (Willingham) doesn't get picked last? (Sorry, Bertrand.)

Watch the video above to find out, and let us know which Critical Role squad you think would take the win.

The Mighty Nein Season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.

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

Are you tired of monthly software subscriptions eating into your budget? Wondering whether free alternatives can actually match paid tools? Here are three underrated open-source apps that helped me cancel my subscriptions to TickTick, Trello, Google Drive, and Mailchimp.

If you don't have a lot of experience working with the terminal, it might seem like an obtuse or intimidating black box. What you might not know is that the terminal can be fun to use. So much so, that you're inclined to use the command-line over a GUI whenever possible. There is definitely a learning curve and the more you work with the terminal, the more fluent you become. However, there are some commands that everyone should know.

Many people write Excel formulas for the computer, but experts write them for people. If your logic looks like a wall of text, it's a liability. These five simple habit shifts will help you tidy your syntax, simplify your logic, and make your spreadsheets easier to audit.

You don't need to reinstall your whole operating system just because you forgot your Linux login. It's actually pretty easy to reset your Linux password. All you need to know is the username (which is usually visible on the login screen). I'll show you two ways you can reset the password.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a quick read.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 1, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 1, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A short story.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

FABLE

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 1, 2026

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a good cup of joe.

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 January 1, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 1, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Not your average joe

The words are related to a popular drink.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe java.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Coffee.

NYT Strands word list for January 1

• Bold

• Nutty

• Bitter

• Strong

• Coffee

• Aromatic

• Smooth

• Velvety

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're into witchcraft.

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 Pips hints, answers for January 1, 2026 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: Sorcery

• Green: To strip a layer

• Blue: A nerd

• Purple: They have the same beginning

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Bit of magic

• Green: Remove the covering from

• Blue: "Enthusiast" equivalent

• Purple: Butter___

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 #935 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Bit of magic: CHARM, CURSE, HEX, SPELL

• Remove the covering from: PEEL, SHELL, SHUCK, SKIN

• "Enthusiast" equivalent: BUFF, HEAD, HOUND, RAT

• Butter___: FINGERS, FLY, NUT, SCOTCH

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 January 1, 2026

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 Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know collegiate sports.

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

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

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

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

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

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: Defense

• Green: Homes

• Blue: Teammates

• Purple: Same second word

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Try to stop a basketball shot

• Green: Locations of college football playoff teams

• Blue: First names of Philadelphia Eagles

• Purple: ____ six

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 #465 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Try to stop a basketball shot - CHALLENGE, CLOSE OUT, CONTEST, DEFEND

• Locations of college football playoff teams - ATHENS, BLOOMINGTON, EUGENE, OXFORD

• First names of Philadelphia Eagles - COOPER, DALLAS, JALEN, SAQUON

• ____ six - KICK, NEW YEAR'S, ORIGINAL, PICK

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.

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 January 1, 2026

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 January 1, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 1 Pips

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

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 1 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (10): Everything in this green space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally..

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 1 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

Number (1): Everything in this purple space must add up to 1. 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 (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

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

The 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 SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026:

AcrossWord on either side of "___-eat-___"

• The answer is Dog.

Word on either side of "___, all ___!"

• The answer is Mine.

Word on either side of "___ say ___"

• The answer is Never.

First-string squad

• The answer is ATeam.

Causes injury to

• The answer is Harms.

DownSomeone who might be swimming with the fishes

• The answer is Diver.

An hour past midnight

• The answer is One AM.

Hand sanitizer targets

• The answer is Germs.

Like a crossword clue about crossword clues

• The answer is Meta.

"I'll pass, thanks"

• The answer is Nah.

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

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 today's Mini Crossword.

Astronomers have found a planet-forming disk that looks like a solar system on steroids. 

New images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have revealed an enormous, oddly shaped disk of gas and dust around a single massive star or pair of stars about 1,000 light-years away in space. This thing spans nearly 400 billion miles — 40 times the width of everything around the sun, including the outer edge of the Kuiper Belt of comets.

The telescope has captured the system from its side profile, allowing researchers to study its structure in unusual detail. This makes the object, known as IRAS 23077+6707, a sort of laboratory for the planet-making industry, said Kristina Monsch, lead author of the new paper, which was published in The Astrophysical Journal. 

And what researchers found was that making new worlds can be a messy business. 

"Planet nurseries can be much more active and chaotic than we expected," said Monsch, an astronomer with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, in a statement. 

SEE ALSO: Here's what we know about the real alien planet inspiring 'Pluribus' What is a protoplanetary disk?

So-called "protoplanetary disks" form naturally when stars are born. They supply the raw material that later becomes exoplanets, moons, and smaller bodies, like asteroids and comets. To understand how planetary systems develop, scientists need to know how these disks are structured inside and how that structure changes over time.

When disks are seen almost exactly from the side, like this one, it's especially valuable. From this angle, the disk itself blocks the star’s direct light, like placing your hand in front of a bright lamp. This makes the disk appear as a dark band across the middle, with bright regions above and below where light scatters off dust. 

That's why the researchers say IRAS 23077+6707 resembles a burger (though we prefer the image of a macaron cookie, in an elegant pastel hue). The researchers — one of whom calls Transylvania home and another from Uruguay, where the national dish is a sandwich called a chivito — have dubbed it "Dracula's Chivito" to reflect their heritage.  

Hubble's vantage point allowed scientists to observe how material is distributed around the central star or stars. The amount of dust and size of the grains, as well as how the dust interacts with gas and is vertically stacked, all influence what kinds of planets can eventually form.

What astronomers saw in Dracula's Chivito was surprising. Smoky wisps rise high above the disk instead of settling into a flat layer. Long, thread-like filaments stretch outward on one side of the disk but not the other. Its lopsided brightness and shape also change depending on the light wavelength observed, showing that different kinds of dust are arranged at different heights.

The largest forming solar system disk

In theory, Dracula's Chivito could host a vast planetary system, Monsch said. The disk's mass is estimated at 10 to 30 times that of Jupiter — ample material for forming multiple gas giants.

This diagram depicts Dracula's Chivita, a distant planet-forming disk of dust and its surrounding structures, at different wavelengths of light. Credit: Kristina Monsch et al. / DOI 10.3847/1538-4357/ae247f

But the images do not reveal whether planets are already forming, or how many might eventually appear. Instead, they show something more fundamental: The environment where planets grow may stay off-balance and active far longer than anyone thought. Because the researchers didn't see any jets of material shooting away from the system, the disk is believed to be relatively mature, no longer pulling in bulk material from its surroundings.

Despite its age, Dracula's Chivito still essentially looks like a work in progress. Future observations with other telescopes might help astronomers find out whether this sprawling, imbalanced disk will eventually settle down, said Joshua Bennett Lovell, a co-investigator from the Center for Astrophysics. 

"We were stunned to see how asymmetric this disk is," Lovell said in a statement. "Hubble has given us a front row seat to the chaotic processes that are shaping disks as they build new planets — processes that we don't yet fully understand but can now study in a whole new way."

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!

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.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate Christmas movie streaming list for 2025

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of the week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're looking for the final chapter of Netflix's major series, twisted true crime stories, a heavy dose of nostalgia, or some divine comedy, we're here for you.

7. The Home

Craving something creepy? Well, if you want holiday horror, we got you covered. If you want the best horror movies of 2025, we have 25 films to offer. If none of that appeals, there's also The Home, which managed a 30 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Saturday Night Live alumnus Pete Davidson stars as Max, a young vandal who's been tasked with community service at an old folks home as recompense for his offenses. But something sinister is happening within the walls of the home. Max begins to notice strange occurrences and uncovers wild secrets, leading to gnarly revelations, but few satisfying scares.

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Starring: Pete Davidson, John Glover, and Bruce Altman

How to watch: The Home is now playing on Starz.

6. Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story

The twisted story of Jodi Hildebrandt and how she harmed the family of YouTuber Ruby Franke has been the subject of a lot of true crime television. But this film, clocking in at an hour and 41 minutes, dives more deeply into Hildebrandt's background. Documentarian Skye Borgman (Abducted in Plain Sight, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish) talk to Hildebrandt's former patients and experts to get an understanding of how she built a cult around the promise of a healthier, happier Mormon marriage.

Along with outlining the crimes of Hildebrandt and Franke, which included child abuse, Evil Influencer considers how the disgraced therapist's own trauma tied to sexist gender dynamics in the church may have led to her perverse form of empowerment. Make no mistake, though: Borgman probes for an explanation without suggesting any of it is an excuse for what happened to the Franke kids.

How to watch: Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Good Night, and Good Luck: Live From Broadway

OK, if you don't keep up on Broadway news, this one is a bit confusing. 20 years ago, George Clooney co-wrote, directed, and co-starred in a historical drama called Good Night, and Good Luck, which featured David Strathairn in the lead role of American journalist Edward R. Murrow.

In 2025, Clooney took a play version of Murrow's story to Broadway, with himself in the lead. After five Tony nominations, the show closed. But on June 8, 2025, Clooney and company performed it live on CNN for all of the nation to see. Now, you can stream this recording of Good Night, and Good Luck whenever you want. See for yourself if it lives up to the hype.

Starring: George Clooney, Ilana Glazer, Glenn Flesher, Clark Gregg, Carter Hudson, Paul Gross, Christopher Denham, Fran Kranz, Marc Brandt, Will Dagger, and Georgia Heers

How to watch: Good Night, and Good Luck: Live from Broadway is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

4. Eternity

One of the best comedies of 2025 is now on digital. Co-written and directed by David Freyne, Eternity imagines an afterlife where you get to pick what your heaven looks like. But there's one catch: You only get to pick once. So, when Larry Cutler (Miles Teller) dies after decades married to his lovely wide Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), he decides to wait in a purgatory that looks like a train station for his bride to rejoin him. There's just one problem: Larry is Joan's second husband. Her first was Luke (Callum Turner), a handsome war vet who died in their youth, and he's also waiting at the not-so-pearly gates. So, who will she choose?

In my review out of the film's TIFF premiere, I cheered, "Eternity delivers a charming parody of romantic comedies without mocking the viewers who love them. The conflict between two kinds of romantic love, and the two robust love interests on offer, makes for exciting tension. The wild spin of their stories leads to moments silly, sexy, and warm. Yet Eternity's afterlife backdrop allows for a slew of more provocative jokes to sneak through. The result is a rom-com that's smart, sensational, and swoon-worthy. "

Starring: Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, John Early, Olga Merediz, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph

How to watch: Eternity is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

3. The X-Files

Cue the theme song, and let's time travel back to 1993, when two very different FBI agents were paired up for cases strange and supernatural. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) was a woman of science, a doctor, and skeptic. Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) was a true believer in all things conspiracy and paranormal, or generally seen as "spooky."

For 11 seasons, these two not only cracked strange cases of monsters and madmen, but also waltzed the will-they-won't-they so intensely that a generation of nerds was in a chokehold. Now, ahead of Ryan Coogler's re-imagined X-Files reboot, you can revisit Chris Carter's original series for all the chills, thrills, and sex appeal.

Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish, and Mitch Pileggi

How to watch: All 11 seasons of The X-Files are now streaming on Pluto TV.

2. Indiana Jones film series

The word "iconic" gets thrown around a lot these days. But Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones is truly iconic. Put that man in some khaki, with a brown fedora and a whip in hand, and generations swoon over the rugged masculinity and sharp intellect that is Indiana Jones.

If the holidays have you craving, action, adventure, sex appeal, nostalgia, or Nazis getting annihilated by divine force, you can't do better than the Indiana Jones movies. And Disney+ is kicking off 2026 by offering the lot. From Raiders of the Lost Ark and Temple of Dune to The Last Crusade, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the 2023 treasure that is Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, you can enjoy the hottest man in archaeology fighting, flirting, and facing off against evil foes, vicious rituals, and snakes. (Why'd it have to be snakes!?)

Starring: Harrison Ford

How to watch: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull all begin streaming on Disney+ on Jan. 1. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is currently streaming on Disney+.

Best of Streaming this week: Stranger Things, Season 5: Volume 3

It's wild to think that it's been nearly 10 years since Stranger Things debuted on Netflix, causing a fresh interest in '80s nostalgia and all things Dungeons & Dragons. We've watched as Eleven and her friends fought monsters from the Upside Down while traversing the tricky terrain of teendom. And after Volumes 1 and 2, Season 5's third and final volume will compete their story.

Well, sort of. Netflix is launching a Strangers Things animated spinoff in 2026 — but it's more a filler adventure that takes place between Seasons 2 and 3. And that show — called Stranger Things: Tales from '85 — doesn't boast the OG cast for its voices. So, as you ready yourself for the final chapter of this not-so-never-ending story, savor the journey and the friends made (and maimed) along the way.

Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke

How to watch: Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 3 premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

TL;DR: Visio Pro 2021 is just $9.97 (reg. $249.99) for a limited time — giving you lifetime access to advanced templates, shapes, data-linked diagrams, and collaboration tools for clearer, smarter presentations.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional: Lifetime License for Windows $9.97
$249.99 Save $240.02   Get Deal

If you’ve ever tried to explain a complex process using words alone, you know how quickly eyes glaze over. That’s exactly why Microsoft Visio exists — and why grabbing a lifetime license for just $9.97 is a rare chance to upgrade your workflow without draining your budget.

Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 is built for anyone who works with data, processes, systems, or teams. Instead of wrestling with clunky descriptions, you can turn complicated information into polished flowcharts, org charts, network maps, floor plans, and more.

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With access to over 250,000 shapes, dozens of templates, and Visio’s online shape library, you’re equipped to create visuals that teams actually understand.

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TL;DR: Surfshark’s three-year VPN plan is on sale for $67.19 (reg. $430), with an extra 20% off available using code SURF.

Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Surfshark VPN Starter Plan: 3-Yr Subscription $67.19
$430 Save $362.81   Get Deal

If you were online long before Wi-Fi was everywhere, there’s a good chance you’ve already left a bigger digital footprint than you realize. Add today’s constant bouncing between streaming services, online shopping, and public Wi-Fi, and it becomes even easier to give away personal data without noticing. You can’t erase what’s already out there, but you can be more intentional going forward. Surfshark is a VPN service that helps minimize that footprint, and with its current discount — $67.19 for a multi-year plan — it’s one of the more affordable privacy upgrades available right now.

VPNs often get pigeonholed as tools for accessing another country’s Netflix library, but they do much more than that — Surfshark especially. It encrypts your internet traffic using AES-256 encryption and masks your IP address so websites can’t easily pinpoint your location. It also follows a strict no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t store data about your browsing activity, connection timestamps, or bandwidth usage.

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Beyond basic privacy, Surfshark offers features that make it practical for everyday use.  With over 3,200 servers across 100 countries, it’s designed to maintain stable speeds whether you’re browsing at home or using public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes, or hotels. There’s also a bypasser feature that lets certain apps or websites sidestep the VPN — useful for things like banking or local services that don’t always play well with encrypted connections.

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TL;DR: As of Jan. 1, Mashable readers can score 50% off their first box at Factor, plus get a free Withings scale with their third box by using the exclusive code CNETWITHINGS. This offer only lasts until Feb. 28.

Opens in a new window Credit: Factor Factor: 50% off first box + free Withings scale with CNETWITHINGS   Get Deal

It's the start of a brand new year, and if you're hoping to kick things off on a healthier note, Factor can help get you started with its ready-made meals delivered right to your doorstep. Mashable readers can even enjoy 50% off their first box right now, plus get a free Withings smart scale with their third box by using the exclusive coupon code CNETWITHINGS.

Keep in mind that this offer is only available to new subscribers, so if this is your first time hearing about Factor's program, this is a good opportunity to test it out for less. The free Withings Body Comp scale can be redeemed through a link that will be sent to your email within 14 days of getting your third box. It's also worth noting that this offer doesn't apply to premiums, meal upgrades, add-ons, taxes, or shipping fees, and it can't be combined with gift cards or other promotions.

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The terms and conditions also note that your third box must be ordered before 11:59 PM E.T. on May 1, 2026 to get the free Withings scale, and the scale itself must be redeemed by May 15. Thankfully, that's still a few months away, but it's worth knowing just how long you've got to take advantage of this bonus item.

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This offer only lasts until Feb. 28, so don't miss out on saving 50% on your first box with Factor and getting a free Withings scale with the third box by using the exclusive code CNETWITHINGS.