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SAVE $100: As of March 29, the iRobot Roomba Q011 is on sale for $149.99 at Amazon. This is a 40% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Q011 $149.82 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $100.17 Get Deal

We'll always be shouting about robot vacuums here at Mashable, especially now, when you can find great deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale.

If you've been shopping around for something for a while, the name Roomba won't be new to you. And as of March 29, we've found you an incredible deal at Amazon on the iRobot Roomba Q011, now down to just $149.99.

This model has a three-level cleaning system that delivers customizable suction for carpets and hard floors. It comes with smart navigation that cleans in neat rows, dodges furniture, and steers clear of stairs or any other obstacles in your house. And for those hard-to-reach corners and edges, the Edge-Sweeping Brush won't miss any dust buildup.

Controlled from the iRobot Home App, you can do things like schedule cleans while you're away from home, check to see where it has cleaned, and more. And with up to 120 minutes of cleaning on one charge, if it doesn't manage your whole house, it'll return itself to the charging station to reboot.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so if you don't want to miss out, move fast.

SAVE $320: As of March 29, the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop is on sale for $379.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you 46% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop $379.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $320 Get Deal

We're big fans of robot vacuums here at Mashable. Anything that reduces your chore list is a plus in our book. So, with Amazon's Big Spring Sale currently underway, we've been tracking all the best vacuum sales for you to enjoy, and this latest on the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop deserves your attention.

As of March 29, you can take home this impressive model for $320 less than usual, now $379.99.

This is a great vacuum because it doesn't just pick up dirt; it mops your floors, too. It uses Sonic Mopping to scrub hard floors 100 times per minute, and if you know it's about to encounter an extra deep stain, head to the app and initiate Matrix Mop to get 50% better stain cleaning in certain spots.

This vacuum also boasts an impressive precision matrix grid, meaning it takes multiple passes over dirt and debris to ensure it is all removed. And the smart features don't end there: the CleanEdge Detect system uses blasts of air and corner recognition to remove debris from edges and corners pulling the debris into the cleaning path. Plus, there's no need to manually map out the path for this vacuum because it uses 360-degree LiDAR vision to learn your space, detect obstacles, and pick up dirt.

Like all high-end vacuums worth shouting about, this machine self-empties, self-charges, and holds up to 60 days' worth of dirt, limiting your work even further. The base is bagless, so it is both useful and environmentally friendly as it eliminates the need for waste bags.

This is only a limited-time deal at Amazon, so act quickly so you don't miss out.

SAVE $147: As of March 29, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is on sale at Amazon for $832.99. That's a 15% discount on the list price, and the lowest it's ever been.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max $832.99 at Amazon
$979.99 Save $147 Get Deal

There are still a few days left of the Amazon Big Spring Sale, and you can find discounts on pretty much anything. Whether you're after a new TV, new earbuds, or a new phone, there really is something on sale for everyone.

And if a new phone is top of your list, we've found a fantastic deal on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, currently at its lowest-ever price. As of March 29, you can save 15%, as it is now down to $832.99. This deal is specific to the 1TB storage option, but you can find discounts across all models.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a top-tier phone. It’s got a titanium frame, so it’s lighter but still super durable if you're someone who likes to drop it a lot. The camera quality is next to none, boasting a 10x zoom lens and 48MP main camera.

It's built with the new A17 Pro chip, making everything run fast and smooth, whether gaming or texting. It's also one of the most impressive iPhone batteries, promising to last all day.

And you can enjoy work, play, streaming, and all sorts on the clear 6.7 inch Super Retina XDR display screen.

This great deal will end with the Big Spring Sale on March 31, so don't miss out.

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 preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 29 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Power plants

The words are related to food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are vegan foods.

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 VeganProteins.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 29

• Tofu

• Nuts

• VeganProteins

• Seeds

• Beans

• Seitan

• Yeast

• Tempeh

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.

Aliens aren't terraforming Mars, but one of NASA's rovers just found something with a strange texture that might entice a cauliflower lover to do a double-take. 

Curiosity, a Mini Cooper-sized lab on wheels, was ambling over rugged terrain a few days ago this March when its navigation camera spotted some Martian rocks unlike any others. The scientists leading the rover's expedition say they've never seen anything quite like this on the Red Planet. 

"Oh my glob," the anthropomorphic Curiosity account posted on X. "What are these lumpy rocks?"  

But Curiosity wasn't the only one with a geological mystery. At the same time, roughly 2,300 miles away on the other side of the planet, Perseverance found bumpy rocks of a different kind, calling to mind the famous "Martian blueberries" discovered by the Opportunity rover in 2004.

SEE ALSO: Scientists found huge beaches on Mars likely from a long gone ocean Curiosity took close-up pictures of a strange bumpy rock it discovered on Mars in March. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

Since its mission launched in 2011, Curiosity has traveled about 352,000,020 miles: some 352 million whizzing through space and another 20 over the rusty-dusty terrain. Right now it's on its way to an unexplored part of Gale Crater, called a "boxwork" region, which likely necessitated warm groundwater to form eons ago.

Often outshined by its younger twin rover Perseverance, Curiosity stole back the limelight earlier this week for a monumental discovery based on one of its rock samples. Within it, researchers detected the largest organic molecules yet on Mars, suggesting the chemistry needed for life may have progressed further on the Red Planet than once thought. The molecules, which contain long chains of carbon atoms, could be pieces of fatty acids, key ingredients for Earth life. 

Though the organic molecule find, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, isn't proof of life, it does encourage scientists that other more complex molecules linked to life could still be on Mars. Previously, researchers have been skeptical over whether such evidence could remain on the planet after millions of years of radiation and environmental changes. 

Suffice to say, Curiosity is not to be underestimated in its scientific value. The team gave Curiosity's new rocks official names — Manzana Creek and Palo Comado — and took pictures for the record. The leftward rock in the image at the top of this story has jagged, vertical surfaces and "a lot of crazy rough texture," according to the mission journal. 

Perseverance discovered a bumpy rock on the rim of the Jezero Crater in March. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / LANL / CNES / IRAP

"The rocks were shaped by a combination of wind and water over time, resulting in the cool textures we see today," Abigail Fraeman, Curiosity's deputy project scientist, told Mashable.

Perseverance's bumpy rock, on the other hand, looks a little more like a cluster of miniature peas than cauliflower. It's covered in millimeter-scale beads, some pierced with tiny pinholes. The rover found the rock, officially dubbed St. Pauls Bay, around the rim of Jezero Crater.  

And it seems both rovers' sightings have flummoxed their humans.

"What quirk of geology could produce these strange shapes?" wrote Alex Jones, a researcher working on the Mars 2020 mission team, in a blog post. 

A Martian rock, dubbed St. Pauls Bay, stands out in gray in a field of reddish-brown terrain. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU

Spherical features can form on rocks when water flows through them, creating concretions of minerals over time. But they can also form in other ways, like in volcanic eruptions and meteorite strikes. When droplets of molten rock are thrown into the air by volcanoes or impacts, they cool as they travel, hardening in little balls.

Scientists will continue studying the rocks using the tools available to them on the rovers, but such finds reinforce the desire for NASA to bring samples back to Earth for more rigorous studies.

Right now the space agency is trying to figure out how to save its Mars Sample Return mission, the plan to fly home bits of rock, dust, and air collected by Perseverance. NASA will spend the next year working on engineering plans for two potential new approaches that are considered less complicated and expensive.

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn't—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 20+ robot vacuums and these are the best for every budget in 2025 The new 2025 Roombas just changed everything

This would have been a very different article to read had you stopped by any time before March 2025. Before then, iRobot and Shark were both kind of plateauing in terms of the variety of their respective lineups. It was like a competition to see who could be the most mid — especially compared to the robot vacuums announced at CES.

But the lukewarm rivalry got interesting when iRobot went rogue and overhauled the whole Roomba fleet outside of its typical schedule (the company had previously been saving its big product drops for late summer). The new batch consists of eight new Roombas falling under four different umbrellas: the Roomba 105 or 205, or Roomba Plus 405 or 505, ranging in price from $299 to $999. (This may or may not be a last ditch effort to save the company from a reportedly bleak financial situation.)

These Roombas are so new that I haven't gotten to test them out at home yet. But just based off of descriptions and prices, iRobot seems to have patched up several weak spots in the lineup and prioritized budget friendliness without skimping on features that consumers really care about, like smart mapping in even the cheapest models.

And up until iRobot's March 2025 announcement, neither iRobot nor Shark measured suction power in Pascals (Pa) like most of their competitors do. iRobot finally made the switch, but Shark still insists on keeping an air of mystery by solely comparing suction power to other vacuums in its own family tree. (That's what iRobot was doing with its older models, too.) Shark has also been known to make claims like "50% better suction than the best-selling iRobot. Whatever that means — the weakest Roomba is probably technically one of its best sellers.

Where iRobot and Shark agree: Being weird about suction power disclosure

Pinning down whether iRobot or Shark robot vacuums are stronger is always a challenge, and not just because each offers multiple different vacs with different levels of power at different prices. The two longstanding brands aren't keen on using the standard unit of Pascals (Pa) to measure suction power like the Roborock and Eufys of the world are — an effort that could only be perceived as a secret pact to make my life as a robot vacuum reviewer more difficult than it needs to be.

Instead, both Shark and iRobot like to keep their suction power comparisons within their own families. For instance, they might say a new model offers "x times the suction power" that an older or more basic model of theirs does. iRobot did originally float the idea of switching over to Pa with its March 2025 releases, but actual Pa numbers are still hard to track down online.

Where Roomba wins: Small obstacle avoidance and more models to fit more needs

iRobot simply has more robot vacuums, and that variety alone gives it a leg up on Shark. More models to choose from means more opportunities to customize the features and budget to a shopper's main goals for automated cleaning.

Let's say you're willing to pay a little extra for a premium robot vacuum that achieves the most hands-off experience possible. iRobot has several options with features that make a robot vacuum increasingly self-sufficient, including mopping pads that automatically lift over carpet, self-empty docks that also wash and dry the mopping pads, and small obstacle avoidance cameras.

The Roomba Combo 10 Max has a retractable mop that lifts over carpet. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The new Roomba Plus 405 Combo has two spinning mopping pads — a first for iRobot. Credit: iRobot

But floor type is far from the most impressive thing the smarter Roombas recognize. All j series Roombas, the Roomba Combo 10 Max, and the Roomba Plus 505 Combo all have small obstacle avoidance technology, which solves the main gripe that many robot vacuum non-believers have: robot vacuums get stuck so often that they're more trouble than they're worth. These Roombas use a special camera system to help them recognize and avoid small obstacles that less-advanced robot vacuums would typically eat, like a phone charger, extension cord, rogue sock, or pet waste.

I first experienced this sense of relief when reviewing the Roomba j7+ and Combo j7+, and it was never easy to get back into the habit of pre-tidying when trying another robot vacuum that didn't have that. I'd easily sacrifice more intense cleaning for a robot vacuum to have the brain cells to do that.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

One of the coolest parts about the Roomba lineup is that you can mix and match several of these features to stay within a certain budget. You can skip all of the other fancy features while still bringing home small obstacle avoidance with the standalone Roomba j7 for as little as $299 on sale, or try out the space-saving DustCompactor design with or without mopping for under $500. Even the cheapest 2025 Roombas guarantee LiDAR-powered smart mapping and 70 times (read that again) the suction power of the 600 series Roombas, which were the go-to base tier Roombas two years ago.

I'd just like to say that I basically called iRobot's most recent move in an older version of this piece from spring 2024, saying that "iRobot would also be wise to drop a more budget-friendly option with carpet-centric suction power." People sticking to a certain budget shouldn't inherently have to settle for a rinky-dink cleaner, and iRobot finally realized that that's the piece that was missing in its entry-level tier.

Where Roomba loses: The ultra-affordable end of the spectrum

Plummeting earnings one month, a random revamp of the entire Roomba line the next month — if we're trying to read between the lines, I'd say it became glaringly obvious that people were getting sick of Roombas costing a lot but not doing enough.

While the 2025 Roomba releases do show that iRobot is pandering to the value-minded crowd harder than ever before, the cost-per-feature situation is still stiff in the $400-and-under category. Is it too overpriced, too late for iRobot?

SEE ALSO: The Roborock Saros 10R aces one thing that most other robot vacuums can't

For instance, I think that the perfect starter robot vacuum is one with smart mapping and self-emptying — suction can be pretty basic. In Roomba world, the cheapest option for this is the Roomba 105 + AutoEmpty Dock, going for $449.99. In Shark world, the same capabilities can be secured for $329 at full price.

Then, iRobot's $200 to $300 assortment is almost comically Not Worth It. In April 2024, iRobot fumbled a low-hanging opportunity to right the disappointments of its budget section. Admittedly, the $249.99 Vac Essential, $274.99 mopping Roomba Combo Essential, and slightly more expensive self-emptying versions do provide a more powerful clean than the older 600 series. But the cheap Roomba's fatal flaw remains: they still don't have smart mapping, a feature I feel is ~Essential~ in any robot vacuum. A handful of Sharks at the same prices with comparable suction power do smart map.

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential was more of a pain than a help in my apartment. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Sure, all of these base-tier Roombas do go on sale often. You could technically score the absolute cheapest Roomba for around $130 or a mopping, self-emptying Roomba for $280. But settling for no specific room cleaning just isn't worth it, especially when a similar wad of cash could get you way further if you were buying a Shark (or a Eufy or a Dreame model).

In my experience, just hitting "go" and letting a robot vacuum clean aimlessly is a recipe for coming home to a robot vacuum lost under the bed. The zigzag pattern feels like a hit-or-miss guessing game made more annoying by getting stuck and missing spots on the floor that I'd rather just hit with my Dyson stick vacuum, anyway.

Where Shark wins: Spot cleaning and affordability

Shark has been much more in tune with what the average person is willing to spend on a robot vacuum. The brand consistently offers core capabilities like smart mapping and mopping at lower prices than its Roomba counterparts — a level of cost-effectiveness that should be particularly enticing to strict budget shoppers or first-time robot vacuum owners.

Shark's more approachable price points don't necessarily mean it skimps on cleaning performance, though.

I have both my beloved cordless Dyson and, for Mashable testing purposes, at least one robot vacuum at my fingertips at all times. I get a true sense of any given robot vacuum's value when an unexpected mess within a room in my apartment needs to be taken care of right now. So my favorite thing that I've noticed about Shark robot vacuums is that they make spot cleaning easier than Roombas do. While the iRobot app insists that you create and name an official cleaning zone, even if this is a one-time thing, Shark lets you skip the labeling charade to drag and drop a square on your map in the designated spot cleaning tab. It's just one step, but there's something to be said for streamlining.

SEE ALSO: Tons of robot vacuums also mop, but only these 4 hybrids actually ace the job

Shark also gets a bit more nitty gritty with the spot cleaning itself. This all started with its Matrix line from 2023, which introduced Matrix mode. These Sharks clean in a grid pattern, approaching the area several times from multiple angles to grab anything it may have missed in the first pass or two. iRobot and Shark can duke it out over suction power on paper all they want, but in my testing, I found the low and mid-range Shark models (like the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 and Shark Detect Pro) to be much less likely to leave a rogue crumb or pile of hair behind than the 600 series, Essential series, and lower-end j series Roombas.

During regular vacuuming, Sharks in Matrix mode dish out 30 percent better carpet cleaning than the older RV Shark models. For the 2-in-1 Shark models, Matrix mode also works with mopping when the mopping pad vibrates 100 times per minute to scrub at stains that would likely not budge when wiped with a stationary cloth. Matrix mopping came in clutch for keeping up with the constant layer of shoe prints by my front door.

The Shark RV2300, which comes in a cute gray color. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Shark even extends the Matrix cleaning mechanism to its cheapest robot vacuum, making it one of our favorite — if not the favorite — budget-friendly robot vacuums in 2024. The Shark RV2310 and Walmart-exclusive Shark Matrix RV2300 and RV2300S are incredibly reliable robot vacuums for the price, often on sale for $199.99 for the standalone version and $299.99 for the self-emptying version. (If this model is sold and shipped by a third party rather than Walmart when you click, we'd advise waiting until more stock from Shark itself comes in.)

I experienced no noteworthy issues with navigational accuracy when sending the Shark RV2300 to specifically sweep my bathroom or Matrix clean the floor surrounding the kitchen counter, which is an area I dragged and dropped in the app on a case-by-case basis. Though the suction power is expectedly just OK, it was enough for surface-level daily upkeep of the big, visible debris.

In September 2024, Shark finally caught on to the whole "self-sustaining mopping pads" thing with the release of the Shark PowerDetect line. And naturally, even the most premium Sharks debuted at $1,199.99 and $999.99 — several hundred less than the Roomba with self-washing and drying mopping pads (at the time).

The Shark PowerDetect robot vacuum with NeverTouch Pro dock. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

This is the first mopping Shark that knows to stop mopping on carpeted areas without you having to specifically designate so. For good measure, the PowerDetect is also equipped with large wheels that hoist the vac over carpet to keep it dry during mopping mode. Those hydraulics also helped the PowerDetect to be one of the only robot vacs I've tested to not swirl my bath rugs up every single time.

Where Shark loses: Small obstacle avoidance

Shark's shortcomings stem from sparseness in its family tree and a long wait period between product drops that often have it playing catch up with other brands. The existing Shark models are also a little more basic than some of the Roombas, especially mid-tier ones.

For instance, the one big thing Shark was missing forever was a premium hybrid robot vacuum that could wash and dry its own mopping pads. That gap was finally closed when Shark released the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro in September 2024. But small obstacle avoidance is the other premium robot vac feature that's come to simply be expected in vacs near the $1,000 point, and Shark's NeverStuck technology still hasn't mastered it yet. A handful of Roombas, most of them reasonably priced (at least when on sale), do check the small obstacle avoidance box.

SEE ALSO: Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark FlexStyle: Here's which hot air tool is worth your money

This means that things like cords, pet toys, laundry, and slippers aren't really on a Shark vac's radar yet. And you have to be around to clear the floor of those before sending a Shark out. Maybe you don't mind that, maybe you do — depending on how seriously you're taking the hands-off approach in your robot vacuum search.

One Roomba counterpart, the $649.99 (or $499 on sale) Roomba Combo j5+, also self-empties, mops, and maps, and does the last part with small obstacle avoidance built in to take on a job even if the floor is a little chaotic. Compared to the other main brands like iRobot, Roborock, Eufy, and Dreame, who all have more than one botvac with small obstacle avoidance tech, it wouldn't hurt Shark to prioritize small obstacle avoidance across multiple models in its next product drop.

Similarly, only one hybrid Sharks automatically stops mopping when carpet is sensed. This means vacuum and mop mode aren't possible at the same time in the other 2-in-1 Shark Matrix models, and a person needs to manually attach the water tank to switch to mopping mode. With Matrix Mopping being such a solid feature, it's a bummer that it can't be deployed more freely.

The most advanced non-mopping Shark does way less than the most advanced non-mopping Roomba. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Though I was satisfied with the floor coverage, thoroughness, and mapping accuracy when testing the $599.99 Shark Detect Pro, it seems overpriced for the negligible differences between it and a regular old self-emptying Shark. "Detect" sounds like it should refer to the capability to detect phone chargers or socks, but alas, it's actually talking about a feature that increases suction when an edge, corner, or extra dirty spot is detected. This is nice, but heightened corner coverage isn't major enough to justify $600, especially when there are several Roombas in this price range that also work harder on dirtier spots, as well as mop and avoid small obstacles.

You've never seen unicorns quite like those at the center of Death of a Unicorn.

Not the sparkly, sweet unicorns of modern-day pop culture, these are primal beings with sharp fangs, killer horns, and a bloodthirsty need for revenge. They're movie monsters in the vein of Alien's Xenomorph or Jurassic Park's T. rex: larger than life and utterly captivating, even as they make mincemeat of their victims.

SEE ALSO: 'Death of a Unicorn' review: A24's fantastical monster parable is rich in laughs and gore

It's no wonder, then, that creature features like Alien and Jurassic Park also served as inspiration for writer/director Alex Scharfman's unexpected monster movie. That inspiration extends to the execution of the monsters themselves, which the film brings to life through a combination of practical puppetry and digital effects.

To learn more about how Death of a Unicorn's enchanting beasts came to life, Mashable spoke with Scharfman about historical and real-world inspirations for the film's unicorns, and why it was necessary for the film to use puppets.

Death of a Unicorn's unicorns are rooted in centuries of history. Jenna Ortega films "Death of a Unicorn" with the foal puppet. Credit: A24

Death of a Unicorn centers on lawyer Elliot (Paul Rudd) and his daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega), who accidentally run over a unicorn on their way to a retreat with Elliot's wealthy employers, the Sackler-like Leopold family. While the Leopolds plan to exploit the dead creature's magical healing properties, art history major Ridley turns to the past — including the Unicorn Tapestries from the Middle Ages — to prove why that path would be a bad idea.

Similarly, Scharfman turned to historical depictions of unicorns to inform their appearance in the film. "I was interested in recontextualizing unicorns and subverting our modern expectations, which are all relatively recent," Scharfman explained. "The idea of the rainbows and white horse, that's only 50, 75 years old. If you go deeper, there were a lot of different associations with them, so that really informed a lot of the creature design."

One of the Unicorn Tapestries featured in "Death of a Unicorn." Credit: A24

There are three unicorns in the film: Elliot and Ridley's victim is the foal, while its parents, the mare and the stallion, attack the Leopolds in order to get their child back. Each came with its own set of inspirations.

SEE ALSO: 'Death of a Unicorn' trailer promises Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, and murderous mythical beasts

The foal is the smallest of the bunch, with its white fur and goatee making it the closest unicorn, visually, to that depicted in the Unicorn Tapestries. More goat-like overall, Scharfman described it as being most similar to medieval unicorn descriptions.

"And if you really want to go back deeper, a lot of those accounts were based on animals off the Tibetan steppe, like kiangs and chiru," Scharfman said.

If the foal is the most goat-like of Death of a Unicorn's trio, then the mare is most equine, closer to a contemporary unicorn. Meanwhile, the stallion is the largest and most ancient of the bunch.

At the end of the day, we wanted the creatures to feel real. - Alex Scharfman

"It's this big, bruising brute of a creature that is based on a lot of older accounts of unicorns where they were being conflated with rhinoceroses, since Indian rhinos have one horn," Scharfman said. "That's kind of believed to be what the first written account of a unicorn was, someone describing an Indian rhino to a Greek who'd only understood African rhinos, which have two horns and are slightly different."

Another ancient touchpoint for the stallion? A specific translation of the Old Testament. The King James Bible follows the Latin Vulgate in translating the Hebrew word re'em into unicorn. However, re'em actually refers to wild oxen, including the now-extinct aurochs. Their spinal geometry served as a reference point for the shape of the stallion.

"You take all these references and all these historical accounts, and then at the end of the day, we wanted the creatures to feel real," Scharfman said.

The unicorns in Death of a Unicorn are inspired by nature. The foal puppet in "Death of a Unicorn." Credit: A24

In order to ground the unicorns in reality, Death of a Unicorn's design team pulled inspiration from real horses, including Clydesdales for their shape, Icelandic horses for their shaggy fur, and Belgian Draught horses for their almost "bell bottom"-like hoof shape.

Other animals entered the fray as well. Lion tails inspired the unicorns' tails, adding a predatory edge to their movement. Their vicious teeth, meanwhile, were modeled on those of mandrils and wolves — all the better to snarl with, after all.

"[We were] trying to pull from nature as much as possible so that it didn't feel like we were just creating a monster in a lab, but rather it felt like something you believed could exist," Scharfman said. "A unifying umbrella over all of that was that they're almost like Ice Age creatures in terms of their aesthetic."

SEE ALSO: 'Mickey 17's creeper plushes are the movie's real red carpet stars

Still, this reliance on nature didn't stop Death of a Unicorn from incorporating more fantastical elements into its unicorns, a combination of subverting and satisfying audience expectations.

"A general design principle and rule of mythology of the creatures is that we're playing a game of telephone with the past," Scharfman explained. "Today we might associate unicorns with purple and rainbows, so we made their blood purple, and we gave the meat and the blood a little bit of iridescence."

We're playing a game of telephone with the past. - Alex Scharfman

Wētā Workshop developed early unicorn concepts for the film, then Zoic Studios designed the creatures and completed the film's digital effects. For shooting, Budapest-based special effects studio Filmefex built Death of a Unicorn's many practical puppets.

Death of a Unicorn's practical puppets are total "movie magic." Puppeteers man a unicorn puppet in "Death of a Unicorn." Credit: A24

For Scharfman, practical effects played a large part of his pitch for Death of a Unicorn; that way, it could remain in conversation craft-wise with his original creature-feature inspirations. The film combines practical and digital effects, but even in scenes where the unicorns are rendered entirely digitally, Scharfman kept the puppets on set as a reference point.

"It's invaluable to have the practical element there in terms of giving an actor something to perform against," he told Mashable.

And what practical elements these unicorns are! Massive, fur-covered rigs (with all the longer hairs individually punched in), these unicorns were manned by multiple puppeteers at once. According to Scharfman, it took three to four puppeteers just to control each unicorn head, but rigs of individual elements like hooves or snarling jaws could be operated solo, as hand puppets. The puppeteers were also involved in the actual building of the puppets, giving them an intimate knowledge of how they worked.

The foal puppet in "Death of a Unicorn." Credit: A24

Scharfman recalled falling under the spell of the foal puppet during one of the film's first scenes, when Elliot and Ridley approach the dying unicorn.

"That puppet was incredible. It breathed, its neck moved, it had leg twitches," Scharfman said. "One of those things Guillermo del Toro talks about is how early in the movie, you need to sell the illusion. That was something we definitely were conscious of. That opening scene with the unicorn, the first time you see it really needs to do a lot to make you believe it. I was blown away, and I'd been watching [the Filmefex team] construct the things over months."

That illusion held throughout shooting. "You stop looking at the puppeteers, and you just start looking at the creature in the eye as if it's real," Scharfman said.

Even during early cuts of the film, Scharfman and editor Ron Dulin sometimes forgot to remove the puppeteers in frame, as they were so focused on the unicorns. The unicorns' spell persists, it seems.

"It's just movie magic, completely," Scharfman said.

Death of a Unicorn is now in theaters.

Scientists have spotted a defiant galaxy.

Located nearly 1 billion light-years from Earth, the galaxy 2MASX J23453268−0449256 is a spiral, like our home the Milky Way. Yet it does something galactic researchers only thought possible in much more massive elliptical galaxies, which form through mergers of galaxies: It hosts an enormous supermassive black hole that emits powerful jets of energy into space — the type that would wreak havoc and destabilize such a spiral galaxy.

"This discovery upends conventional wisdom, as such powerful jets are almost exclusively found in elliptical galaxies, not spirals," Suraj Dhiwar, a researcher at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in India who coauthored the new study, told Mashable.

The research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Spiral galaxies are often considered too delicate to support the kind of extreme black hole activity seen in this galactic system, Joydeep Bagchi, an astrophysicist at Christ University in India who led the research, told Mashable. But this galaxy maintains its well-ordered spiral structure in the face of extreme blasts of energized particles and radiation from a black hole billions of times the mass of the sun, as you can see in the Hubble Space Telescope imagery above and below.

"This discovery upends conventional wisdom."

Black holes themselves — so gravitationally powerful not even light can escape their grasp — produce no radiation or light. But galactic material can rapidly spin around black holes, forming a vibrant "accretion disk" that radiates light. And sometimes material falling into a black hole can be rerouted into two giant jets, firing in opposite directions out into the universe.

The Milky Way (bottom) compared to the larger galaxy 2MASX J23453268-0449256. Credit: Bagchi and Ray et al / Hubble Space Telescope

The cosmic quandary of the expansive spiral galaxy 2MASX J23453268−0449256 calls for more telescopic investigation, the researchers emphasize. "It forces us to rethink how galaxies evolve, and how supermassive black holes grow in them and shape their environments," Dhiwar explained.

So far, observations gathered by the Hubble Space Telescope, the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array reveal that the galaxy doesn't only have an orderly, tranquil spiral appearance. It also maintains a bright nuclear bar-shaped mass of stars near its core (as many spiral galaxies do) and an undisturbed outer stellar ring — home to some vigorous star formation.

Imagery from a radio telescope show two colossal jets shooting out from the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy 2MASX J23453268−0449256. Credit: Bagchi and Ray et al / Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope

The unusual circumstance of galaxy 2MASX J23453268−0449256 also has relevance to our galaxy. While the central supermassive black hole in the Milky Way, called Sagittarius A*, is much smaller and currently dormant, it could (one far-off day) awake. A mighty gas cloud or small dwarf galaxy could accrete around the black hole, providing the fuel needed for powerful jets of radiation to blast through our galaxy. These rapidly moving particles could pose a danger to planets.

"If such jets were to form and be directed toward our solar system, they could potentially strip away planetary atmospheres, increase radiation exposure, and even trigger a mass extinction event on Earth," Bagchi said.

Life on Earth has indeed thrived over eons, and eventually bounced back following mass extinctions. But might another, stoked by our massive black hole, be in the cards? Grasping how such active black holes behave in spiral galaxies can help us not just grasp the fate of our galaxy, but others.

"Ultimately, this study brings us one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos, reminding us that the universe still holds surprises beyond our imagination," Dhiwar said.

TL;DR: Only while supplies last, you can buy Microsoft Office for $54.97 and get Windows 11 Pro free (normally a $418 value).

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $54.97
$418 Save $363.03 Get Deal

Watching web pages spin endlessly? Dealing with apps crashing? Before you spend your weekend laptop shopping — or throw the thing out the window — consider that it might be the software, not your machine, weighing you down.

Upgrading your operating system can speed things up, and a fresh download of Microsoft Office can give you new tools for work, school, or home projects. Right now, you can get Windows 11 Pro free with Office priced at $54.97 until we sell out of codes. We have fewer than 75 left in stock.

How this deal works

This is a two-for-one Microsoft offer with no coupon required. Simply complete your purchase, and you’ll receive an email almost immediately after with download links and software activation keys for both Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro.

We recommend upgrading to Windows 11 Pro first for the most seamless setup. This deal comes at an opportune time, with Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 later this year. Or, if you currently have the free version of Windows 11 Home, this adds additional features like remote desktop access, hard drive encryption, and Hyper-V.

You’ll also get the AI-powered assistant, Windows Copilot installed right onto your computer. Created from a custom version of ChatGPT-4, it’s like having a paid version of the world’s favorite chatbot at your service to answer questions, generate content, or make images.

Once you’re acquainted with the new operating system, download Microsoft Office for Windows. The 2021 suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Punisher, and Access — all downloaded to your PC for lifelong use.

Don’t miss your chance to get this Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro bundle deal, now $54.97 (reg. $418). No coupon is needed to get this price.

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Keep track of important property with the KeySmart® Smart Card, a slimmer tracking option that works with Apple's Find My app. A three-pack is now just $79.97 (reg. $119.97) through March 30. 

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart SmartCard (3-Pack) $79.97
$119.97 Save $40 Works with Apple Find My Get Deal

Looking for an AirTag alternative that actually fits in small compartments? The KeySmart SmartCard improves upon the bulky shape of the AirTag, offering a sleek alternative that works with wallets and other tight spots. 

Right now, you can snag a three-pack of KeySmart SmartCards for just $79.97 — making them under $27 a piece — with free shipping. But act fast; this deal lasts only one more day through March 30. 

Keep tabs on important items with this three-pack of KeySmart SmartCards

Looking for a way to easily find your passport? What about your wallet? The KeySmart SmartCard lets you keep track of your possessions via Apple's Find My app, just like an AirTag. But unlike AirTags, these actually fit in super thin places. 

The KeySmart SmartCard measures just 2mm thick, roughly the size of two credit cards. This lets it easily slide into wallets, luggage, pet carriers, or other small compartments. 

Aside from fitting in more items, this sleeker stature makes this a more discreet tracker. It's a great option if you're hoping to track things without bringing extra attention. 

The KeySmart SmartCards offer an IPX8 rating, besting the AirTag's IPX67 rating and allowing them to be submerged in water for longer (one hour in 3.3 feet of water, to be exact). This makes it a great tracking choice for items that may have to brave the elements.

When powering the KeySmart SmartCard back up, its rechargeable battery works with a Qi-enabled wireless charger. This is another benefit, making it easier and more eco-friendly to recharge than the AirTags, which require entirely new batteries. 

Find important items by checking your phone with the KeySmart SmartCard, now $79.97 (reg. $119) for a three-pack for just one more day. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Outside my apartment’s living room during work hours, there’s a regular cacophony: revving motorcycles, emergency sirens, honking horns. I love working from home, but a quiet oasis it is not.

That's when I seek restorative, calm bliss from an unlikely source: YouTube.

The age of being extremely online has produced many unusual meditative practices. Many of us apparently enjoy singing bowl TikToks. Others prefer Spotify's spa-like sounds, or their "deep focus" study playlists.

But lately I've come to see YouTube as the most effective option. The world's largest video service has hundreds, if not thousands, of channels claiming to offer white noise and calming music. Nearly all have accompanying images with equally soothing zen vibes, even the AI generated ones.

SEE ALSO: A mindfulness-themed browser is (calmly) shaking up search

The variety of options is astounding and eclectic, far more so than any white noise machine. To list just five: Birds chirping, waves crashing, gentle electronica beats, the calming engine noise of 24th-century spaceships, the sounds of the DisneyWorld monorail snaking around theme parks. (For many of us, staying on the monorail without plunging into the world of hectic rides is the most soothing thing imaginable.)

Many of these channels run for hours on end and manage to soothe without being redundantly annoying. One plus for videos like this, in my experience: Even without the $13.99 a month YouTube premium service, these content-light channels are rarely interrupted by ads.

Take a video on the Cafe Relaxing Jazz Music channel entitled “Warm Jazz Piano Music with a Sweet Cup of Coffee.” The easy listening jazz runs for nearly two hours. Staring at the steam wafting off its coffee mug can induce a trance-like state.

More suggestions for your white noise YouTube starter kit:

View Escape takes visitors on a "journey to distant locations - particularly those in space." I can recommend the Blade Runner-esque sounds emanating from "Ambient Echoes overlooking Cyberpunk City." You may often wish to return to the channel's imagined bedrooms of spaceships with large windows. Unseen engines gently whir as planets and stars pass by.

MyTranquilitee
This beach channel features the calming sounds of gentle waves, perfect for background sounds or help with sleep. A personal favorite: The Mountains of Moorea, featuring the crystal clear waters of French Polynesia and a perfect green mountain backdrop. Take a quiet journey around the world with beach images and sounds of Anguilla, The British Virgin Islands, St. Barth, Hawaii, and Malibu.

baby.murcielaga
This odd little channel features seriously meditative music and dreamy titles like "Lost in 1983" and "back to 1991." Nevertheless there's a timelessness to these images of drenched parking lots and cloud-covered skyscrapers, which could be from anywhere in the last 60 years. There's something evocative about the expansive sounds paired with the lonely urban landscapes.

"It feels like what I lived when I wasn’t afraid of being alone, or in the dark, or in the cold, or in the open," one commenter wrote in the channel's "For Peaceful Nights" video.

Disney Parks
This channel features lots of fun content for the Disney maniac in your life, including food tours, park updates, and even POV shots of rides. It also features relaxing park-related videos including the Space Mountain Soundscape and the Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana.

We're also partial to the 4 Hours of Monorail Ambience — don't worry, the whining children and screaming parents have been excised. Please stand clear of the doors, Por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas, the monorail says simply, as you drift at a distance from the happiest place on Earth.

Severance — Music To Refine To feat. ODESZA
Plugging away at your own version of Lumon Industries? AppleTV has you covered with this "exclusive ODESZA set designed for eight hours of focus—perfect for your innie’s workday." The images chronicle the daily machinations of the hit show's innies — plugging numbers, making coffee, cleaning their spartan offices.

The electronica-infused music certainly has more fast-paced moments than the aforementioned channels, but for some, that's the perfect noise diffuser. And you can keep the music on for your transition to outie life.

TL;DR: These VPN routers are selling out fast: Save $69 and get free shipping while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Network Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $149.97
$219 Save $69.03 Get Deal

Instead of paying for digital VPNs each month, some people are switching to this VPN router, which only requires a one-time payment. The Deeper Connect Air portable VPN router may actually give you more features and security than what you’re currently paying for. They’re hot items and hard to keep in stock, but we have them for $149.97 with free shipping right now (reg. $219).

How do VPN routers work?

Using these routers is a lot less complicated than it sounds. Simply plug the router into your USB-C computer for power, connect it to your Wi-Fi network, select a server from over 150,000 options, and pair up to five devices.

Then, each paired device is protected with military-grade encryption. Essentially, this means that your browsing activities, downloads, and other data are broken into smaller pieces that cannot be read by anyone who isn’t supposed to be viewing or tracking you. 

Another thing this lifetime VPN router can do is unblock content on your streaming services. All you need to do is connect to an overseas server where the show or movie you want to watch is available, then open Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ to watch it.

The Deeper Connect Air will also block ads as you stream — yes, even if you don’t pay to eliminate them on your subscription services — which we think is worth the purchase price alone. 

Get a VPN with no subscription fees while we still have these routers in stock at $149.97 with free shipping (reg. $219). No coupon is needed to get this price.

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Learn 14 different languages at your own pace with a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning, now on sale exclusively through StackSocial for just $124.99 with code LEARN through March 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $169.99
$599 Save $429.01 Get Deal

Fancy yourself a lover of languages? Whether you're fluent in five or trying to stay fluent in your second, learning languages is a fun pastime that's great for your brain. 

If you're ready to pick up a few more, get a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning with access to all 14 of their language options for just $124.99 (reg. $599) with the exclusive StackSocial code LEARN through March 31. 

Learn languages at your own pace with this lifetime subscription

We put our poor brains through a lot. Want to give them a boost? Learning new languages helps your brain form new neural connections while your existing ones are strengthened. This Babbel Language Learning deal lasts for life, so you can continuously keep building those connections forever. 

Babbel lets you tackle their 14 language options in a way that works with your busy schedule. Their 10-15 minute sessions can be tackled in line at the grocery store, on your lunch break, or right before you nod off to sleep. 

It's a far cry from the boring Spanish classroom in high school, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, researchers at City University of New York discovered that novice learners picked up the equivalent of one semester of Spanish with just 15 hours of Babbel's learning strategy. 

Pick up some knowledge on your smartphone or tackle a lesson or two on your laptop. Babbel syncs your progress across devices, so you can always pick up right where you left off. And there are three learning levels offered, beginner, intermediate, and advanced, so you can keep your skills sharp. 

Their advanced speech recognition technology helps you with pronunciation as you progress. And Babbel's AI conversation partner is a great way to work on skills in real-time.

Learn German, start speaking Swedish, or immerse yourself in Italian. There are 14 languages to choose from, and this lifetime subscription lets you tackle them all. 

Get a lifetime subscription to all languages with Babbel Language Learning for just $124.99 (reg. $599) with StackSocial's exclusive code LEARN through March 31. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Let this 9-inch wireless car display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and phone mirroring give your car's entertainment system an upgrade for just $79.99. 

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 9-inch Wireless Car Display $79.99
$179.99 Save $100.00 with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Compatibility & Phone Mirroring Get Deal

Got a road trip planned this spring or summer? Make sure your car is ready to keep you entertained with some help from this 9-inch wireless car display. It's on sale just in time for long drives at just $79.99 (reg. $179), no coupon code needed. 

Enjoy your ride with this feature-packed car display

This wireless car display makes your car feel brand new again, offering a stunning 1024x600 FHD touchscreen display screen ready to work with your smartphone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. 

Enjoy all your smartphone's apps, maps, music, videos, and more, thanks to the easy compatibility. See your next turn on the crisp screen while using your favorite navigation app, or turn on your favorite playlist on your go-to music platform. 

Take advantage of the touchscreen or go totally hands-free, as the display can be controlled with your voice by using Siri or Google Assistant. iPhone users can also use Apply AirPlay to sync your phone's video app and enjoy YouTube content or other videos right on the screen.

Use Bluetooth to seamlessly transmit the audio to your car stereo speakers, or score clear and authentic sound with FM wireless transmission or AUX output audio. 

This also supports a 1080p reversing camera, so you can make sure you're aware of your surroundings in reverse. And the screen has adjustable brightness so you can make sure you can see adequately any time of day. 

This 9-inch wireless car display is compatible with all car models — it's just powered by a wide-voltage cigarette lighter, so installation is a breeze. 

Save $100 and bring this 9-inch wireless car display home today for just $79.99, no coupon code required.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Looking to fuel up your Netflix queue with some high-octane action?

Whether you're a fan of wild Westerns, cunning detectives, high-swinging superheroes, ravenous zombies, rowdy thieves, or hard-hitting heroines, Netflix has a movie pitch-perfect for every kind of adrenaline seeker.

We know scrolling through the streaming app can be a chore when all you want to do is Netflix and chill. So, we've taken out the hard step by highlighting the most stunt-stuffed, battle-powered, high-speed films the streamer has to offer.

SEE ALSO: Netflix just made it easier to stan their shows

Here are the 25 best action movies on Netflix, streaming right now.

25. Mad Max: Fury Road Credit: Village Roadshow / Kobal / Shutterstock

Reports of a chaotic, sprawling shoot in the desert that drove everybody involved (including co-stars Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron) to the brink, Fury Road dispelled worries of a disaster the second people that actually laid their eyeballs on the black magic George Miller had crafted. A world-expanding mash-up of his earlier trilogy starring Mel Gibson, Fury Road is also a streamlined dream of propulsive action. It's just a single chase scene, really, one that doubles back on itself, ending where it started. And it's pure cinema, total sound and fury, like a riff shredded by the Doof Warrior himself. — Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Mad Max: Fury Road is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Upgrade

The always-welcome Logan Marshall-Green stars here as Grey, an auto mechanic who gets sucked into a nefarious world of cyber-horror when a car crash leaves him paralyzed and his wife dead. Implanted with an untested computer chip that can control his limbs and "fix" his paralysis, Grey's mind starts communicating with the technology, which in turns starts egging him on. After all, why just walk when you can be a kick-ass super-soldier? Needless to say, as in any good RoboCop spin, the corporations are not to be trusted when it comes to our best interests. — J.A.   

How to watch: Upgrade is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Spider-Man 2

Landing two years after the first flick with Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), his spider bite, his twisty romance with Mary-Jane (Kirsten Dunst), and all that good stuff, Sam Raimi's sequel found itself with dramatically higher stakes and a most excellent new villain in Dr. Otto Octavius, played with operatic gusto by Alfred Molina.

The vertiginous battles between our hero and his multi-armed antagonist across the New York skyline remain a thrill today because yes, they still look super cool. (Raimi kept them bright and cartoony enough that they look timeless.) Spider-Man 2 is also a classic also because Raimi and his actors made us really feel for the characters and their messed-up relationships, all tangled up in a destructive web of their own spinning. — J.A.

How to watch: Spider-Man 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Land of Bad

On paper, Land of Bad seems fairly generic at first glance. A ragtag group of soldiers (portrayed by both Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth, American Gods star Ricky Whittle, and former Gilmore guy Milo Ventimiglia) find themselves stranded behind enemy territory in the Philippines and they must, you know, get the heck out of there. Russell Crowe plays "Reaper," a drone pilot who provides air support to the group on the ground by yelling into a telephone a lot. This is nothing we've not seen before!

And yet the movie's actually a solid B-movie slice of old-fashioned action movie entertainment. The film is directed and co-written by William Eubank, whose previous credits include one of the most underrated action-thrillers of recent times, 2020's Underwater with Kristen Stewart. Like that film, Land of Bad doesn't rewrite its genre, but it does bring the action and thrills efficiently and well. — J.A.

How to watch: Land of Bad is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Sniper

A somewhat forgotten slice of 1990s action entertainment starring at-the-time B+ actors, Sniper would make for a great double feature with Land of Bad. This one stars Tom Berenger and Billy Zane as a pair of mismatched military snipers dropped into the Colombian jungle together; they're tasked with killing a drug lord, but they don't know or trust each other just yet, so everything goes wrong until they learn that old saw about team work making the dream work. A tale as old as time, really! But director Luis Llosa (who'd go on to make the also super fun flick Anaconda four years later) has created a well-oiled machine of exactly what we're here for. And the bullet shots — where Llosa's camera follows the path of a fired bullet toward its target — were considered super cool and creative at the time, setting the stage for The Matrix's revolutionary Bullet Time effects in 1999. — J.A.

How to watch: Sniper is now streaming on Netflix.

20. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Credit: Shutterstock

Is there anything more surprising than an old TV show that everybody had forgotten about getting turned into a terrific and enormously cinematic movie experience five decades later? (Maybe a video game movie that actually works?) Guy Ritchie somehow pulled it off with this 2015 spy romp, which stars Henry Cavill as the debonair C.I.A. agent Napoleon Solo, who's forced to team up with his KGB counterpoint, Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer). 

The plot, as they always inevitably are in such instances, is all convoluted nonsense. But to his credit, Ritchie embraces the fun that can be had in that. Basically, the two spies are trying to rescue the daughter of a nuclear physicist (Alicia Vikander) before she falls into the hands of evil yet fabulous siblings Alexander and Victoria (Italian hunk Luca Calvani and a deliciously diabolical Elizabeth Debicki). So while Daniel Craig was off making 007 all tortured and gloomy, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. recalled the sillier Technicolor escapades of superspies in years past, only to unceremoniously flop at the box office for its efforts. It really shouldn't have. — J.A.

How to watch: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Kraven the Hunter

Okay. So you're probably thinking, "Why is a movie with a 15% on Rotten Tomatoes on a best-of list? Is Netflix really so thin on good action?!" I hear you. But look, while Kraven the Hunter is not a great film, or even a good one, it is wildly fun. And the action is a major part of that! 

SEE ALSO: 'Kraven the Hunter' is bad. But what if I love it?

This Spider-Man spinoff centers on the comic book villain Kraven the Hunter (Aaron Johnson), but makes him less a poacher and more a bad-guy hunting vigilante. And along the way, there's other Spidey characters haphazardly looped in, like Aleksei "The Rhino" Sytsevich (Alessandro Nivola), Calypso (Ariana DeBose), and The Foreigner (Christopher Abbott). But the real fun comes in some fight scenes so violently that Sony's sheer reckless rebellion in the face of MCU PG-13 standards is worth the watch. Like, Kraven bites off a dude's nose. And that's not the climax of a fight. Come on. You want to watch that.  — K.P.

How to watch: Kraven the Hunter is now streaming on Netflix. 

18. The Union

Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry team up for an action-comedy that is surprisingly charming! He's a Boston everyman who works construction by day and by night hooks up with local hotties (including his former seventh-grade English teacher). She's a globe-trekking secret agent — and his high school girlfriend — who shows up at their old dive bar out of the blue to invite him in on a secret mission. Together, they're working for The Union.

Explosive espionage action blends with rom-com chemistry as Wahlberg and Berry delve into car chases, gun fights, and plenty of bouncy banter. J.K. Simmons brings gruff bravado, while Evil's Mike Colter delivers breathtaking swagger. Full of thrills, fun, and verve, The Union is a great pick for movie night at home.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Union is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Dune: Part Two

Starting up not long after where the first film left us, Dune: Part Two follows princeling on the run Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he traverses the twinkling spice-laden sands of the desert planet Arrakis. On one arm is his mother, the pregnant space witch Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), and on the other is warrior gal-pal-with-benefits Chani (Zendaya). Hunted by the pasty Harkonnens (now including Austin Butler's lithe madman Feyd-Rautha) Paul must learn to embrace his terrifying destiny, one worm at a time. 

While Denis Villeneuve's Oscar–nominated blockbuster sequel packs a truly awesome punch on the biggest screen you can watch it on, with the loudest bone-rattling sound system to lean into those Hans Zimmer bass notes, it remains a great watch at home on your couch too. Just proof that the French-Canadian writer-director gets just as much juice from his wide cast of stellar performers and plotting as he does from his much-lauded visuals and soundscapes. — J.A. 

How to watch: Dune: Part Two is now streaming on Netflix. 

16. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Coming back onto the scene 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III flopped, this fourth installment of the comedic crime-solving adventures of Detroit police officer Axel Foley has no right to be as good as it is. Not only did screenwriters Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten have to manage how public opinion has shifted when it comes to cops who play by their own rules, but also how to approach Axel's wise-cracking sense of humor that traditionally put just about everyone in its crosshairs. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F manages both in a way that gives fresh life to the character without casting aside the fans who loved his wild ways.

As I wrote in my rave review, "Eddie Murphy is as good as ever as Axel Foley." Plus, he's got his old friends, like John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot back and in action. It's an absolute blast to see all these energies colliding, and yet there's room for newcomers, like the dynamic Taylour Paige and the ever-solid Joseph Gordon-Levitt, both of whom prove to be compelling foils to the ever-quipping Murphy. "In the end, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F isn't just a great sequel, or an awesome action-comedy; it might just be the most entertaining movie of [2024]."* — K.P.

How to watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Want something fun, funny, and full of adventure? Then you'll be game for this rollicking movie, based on the long popular and controversial role-playing game. 

Chris Pine stars as bard Edgin Darvis, who's on a quest to reclaim his lost daughter and an ancient relic that might bring back his deceased wife. At his side is a motley band of heroes who include a potato-loving barbarian (Michelle Rodriguez), a self-conscious sorcerer (Justice Smith), a shapeshifting druid (Sophia Lillis), and an almost annoyingly glorious paladin (Regé-Jean Page). Together, they'll have to battle beasts, as well as a traitorous rogue (Hugh Grant, perfectly cast) and a ruthless necromancer (Daisy Head). Written and directed by Game Night's creators Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (along with Michael Gilio on screenplay), Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves not only boasts a sparkling sense of humor and plenty of thrilling combat but also a treasure trove of Easter eggs for D&D fans. — K.P.

How to watch: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Bad Boys: Ride or Die Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return in "Bad Boys: Ride or Die." Credit: Frank Masi / Sony Pictures

Nearly 30 years after their first adventure as cop buddies Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back with the Bad Boys' franchise's fourth installment. Bad Boys For Life co-helmers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah also returned, bringing their high-octane brand of action into a stunt-packed epic about loyalty and redemption.

When the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) gets dragged for alleged ties to corruption, it's up to Mike and Marcus to find the truth and clear his name. In her review of this action-comedy, Mashable contributor Monica Castillo praised this rousing return, writing, "Bad Boys: Ride or Die is an entertaining reminder of what made the original movie work all those years ago." — K.P.

How to watch: Bad Boys: Ride or Die is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Damsel Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Netflix has invested big in Millie Bobby Brown. Not only has the English ingenue been leading Stranger Things for years, but also she's becoming an outright action star through movies she has headlined and produced for the streamer, including a pair of Enola Holmes adventures and the fearsome fairy tale Damsel. Here, Brown stars as Elodie, a dutiful damsel destined to wed a handsome prince (Nick Robinson)! But rather than happily ever after, her deceitful groom pitches her into a dragon's pit. However, that's far from the end of her story. She'll fight her way to salvation and vengeance, one fiery sequence at a time.

In her review, Mashable's Belen Edwards wrote, "Boasting some inventive twists and a heartfelt lead performance from Brown, Damsel may not be groundbreaking fantasy, but it is a thrilling ride." — K.P.

How to watch: Damsel is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Damsel' trailer will put you in distress 12. RRR

You've never seen an action movie quite as bombastic or as bromantic as RRR. Director S.S. Rajamouli draws loosely from history to tell the story of Indian freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.). Over the film's three-hour runtime, the two unwittingly face off in the search for a kidnapped girl, become the best of friends, and square off against villainous English colonizers.

SEE ALSO: Was 'RRR' snubbed at the Oscars?

Any of RRR's action sequences would be the pinnacle of a lesser action movie, but the film seems determined to outdo itself with showstopper after showstopper. Take when Raju faces down hundreds of protesters and wins, or when Bheem fights a tiger bare-handed. Would you believe me if I told you those happen within the first 20 minutes? The action — and the movie — only get more awesome from there. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: RRR is now streaming on Netflix.

11. The Harder They Fall Credit: David Lee / Netflix

Put 'em up, as this is hands-down one of the best action movies in the Wild West.

Directed by Jeymes Samuel, The Harder They Fall defiantly redefines the predominantly white Western, boasting an incredible cast of Black stars: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield, and Delroy Lindo. A tale of heroes and villains, the film follows Nat Love (Majors) on his quest for revenge against the formidable Rufus Buck (Elba). But he'll have to make his gunslinging way through "Treacherous" Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (Stanfield) first. Even before the opening credits roll, you'll fall hard for this one. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: The Harder They Fall is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Enola Holmes Credit: Netflix

Sherlock Holmes's much cooler little sister is an overlooked young action hero in Enola Holmes. Based on author Nancy Springer's popular book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries, the film puts the great detective's savvy 16-year-old sibling on the case, played with energetic spoonfuls of gumption by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. She's set to solve the greatest mystery of her young life: to find her missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter) through a series of deliberately cryptic clues — all while breaking the fourth wall and confiding in the audience, thanks to Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer and His Dark Materials' Jack Thorne's sharp screenplay.

Stepping into the footsteps of her famous brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and avoiding those of her stuffier misogynist brother Mycroft (Sam Claflin), Enola's case leads her on a wild ride through Victorian-era England, with more than a few fistfights and butts to kick along the way. And lucky for you, the sequel is even better. — S.C.

How to watch: Enola Holmes is now streaming on Netflix.

9. They Cloned Tyrone Credit: Netflix

With this 2023 release, co-writer/director Juel Taylor pulls plenty of inspiration from Blaxploitation. John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris star as a drug dealer, a pimp, and a sex worker who undercover a nefarious conspiracy that's happening underneath their neighborhood. Taylor and fellow screenwriter Tony Rettenmaier weave in wild twists, fly fight scenes, irreverent humor, and swaggering style for what our critic called "a propulsive comedy-thriller with weight." As bold as it is star-studded, you won't want to miss They Cloned Tyrone. And stay for the credits, trust us. — K.P.

How to watch: They Cloned Tyrone is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: We need to talk about 'They Cloned Tyrone's ending 8. Kill Boksoon Credit: No Ju-han / Netflix

Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-yeon) is a single mother who often finds herself at odds with her teenage daughter. She's also a highly skilled and successful assassin. Kill Boksoon is a fantastic action film that sees its main character head straight from a brutal killing to the grocery store so she can get dinner on the table. It's one hell of a hook that sucks you in immediately. The fight scenes are hypnotic and the cinematography ambitious and exciting. It's a gripping thriller that makes plenty of space for the complex emotional reality of its characters.* — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Kill Boksoon is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Triple Frontier Credit: Netflix

This Netflix adventure has Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal coming together as a group of former Special Forces who plan an elaborate heist in South America. But after things get out of hand, their survival skills are put to the ultimate test.

Putting a talented cast in a tension-filled scenario, Triple Frontier is the type of gritty thriller that's hard to turn away from. — Brooke Bajgrowicz, Entertainment Fellow

How to watch: Triple Frontier is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Okja Credit: Netflix

Blending drama with fantasy/adventure and weaving in a very real message about the horrors of the meat industry, Bong Joon-ho's Okja is a beautifully unique creature feature, striped with action.

The film follows Mina (Ahn Seo-hyun), the granddaughter of a farmer in South Korea who has spent the last 10 years rearing a genetically modified super-pig called Okja as part of a breeding project spearheaded by a grim U.S. corporation. This movie is dark in places, magical in others, and poignant overall, asking us to stop and reflect on the dark side of an industry the majority of us are complicit in. Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal make for an entertaining pair of villains, too.* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: Okja is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Da 5 Bloods Credit: Netflix

Spike Lee copters audiences back to the Vietnam War with Da 5 Bloods, a daring film that's part drama, part war movie, and part heist flick. Named for a squad of Black U.S. Army soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, Lee's critically heralded 2020 joint follows this band of brothers through a treacherous war zone, then rediscovers them in a present where they're seeking to uncover the past — and a big payday.

Sequences of brutal battles, narrow escapes, and high-tension hijinks make Da 5 Bloods an enthralling watch. Though inspired by history, it's impossible to predict where Lee's story will lead. Our guides on this intense journey through time, loss, war, and brotherhood are Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and the late Chadwick Boseman. Together, they and Lee create an American war film that can't be missed. — K.P.

How to watch: Da 5 Bloods is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Army of the Dead Credit: Netflix

Sometimes all you want is to grab hold of that action-o-meter and crank the dial, hard, to a solid 11. Army of the Dead more than delivers on that front, opening with a musical montage of guns and exploding body parts — and it only gets gorier from there. Zack Snyder's story follows a band of mercenaries hired to steal $200 million from a casino in Las Vegas. The problem? Vegas has been invaded by zombies, the city is quarantined, and the military is planning to blow the entire thing up with a tactical nuclear strike. The sprawling cast includes Dave Bautista, Omari Hardwick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Garret Dillahunt, and Ana de la Reguera, as well as a digitally added Tig Notaro.

What follows is a gloriously silly romp that refuses to take itself too seriously, propelling us through a series of explosions and bullets while the story twists and turns through a 148-minute runtime that feels oh, so much shorter. — S.H.

How to watch: Army of the Dead is now streaming on Netflix.

3. The Old Guard Credit: Netflix

Folks looking for that summer blockbuster thrill, search no further than The Old Guard. Based on the superhero comic books of the same name, director Gina Prince-Bythewood's movie sucks viewers into a slick, well-crafted world of action and narrative that isn't particularly unique but delivers its formulaic pieces with enough precision to keep you invested.

Charlize Theron crushes as the ass-kicking leader of an immortal warrior fight crew, with performances by Harry Melling, Marwan Kenzari, KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Veronica Ngo, Matthias Schoenaerts, and more.* — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter 

How to watch: The Old Guard is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Gwen Stacy and Peter B. Parker in "'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Credit: Sony Pictures

The Spider-Verse movies continue to raise the bar for superhero movies, and it’s hard to imagine one better than the latest installment, Across the Spider-Verse. The sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse manages to have even more dazzling animation, more jaw-dropping action sequences, and even bigger doses of clever humor.

Miles Morales is a little bit older (and taller) than when we last saw him, but he’s having a rough time now that he’s hardly seen Gwen Stacy and the rest of his Spider-People crew. A new villain enters the picture, majorly upping the stakes for Miles and the fate of the whole Spider-Verse. We also meet a handful of new characters voiced by some truly delightful actors, like Issa Rae’s badass pregnant Spider-Woman, Oscar Issac as Spider-Man 2099, Daniel Kaluuya’s rocker Spider-Punk, and Karan Soni as Spider-Man India. While the sequel clocks in at two hours, every minute is bursting with entertainment. — Oliver Whitney, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Godzilla Minus One Godzilla chases a boat. Credit: Toho Company Ltd / Everett / Shutterstock.com

You don't know Godzilla until you see Godzilla Minus One. The American movies featuring the classic kaiju go for huge monster-versus-monster face-offs, bogged down by tedious human characters. But writer/director Takashi Yamazaki reclaims the Japanese icon with a movie that gets the balance between rampaging monster action and human drama just right.

Set near the close of World War II, Godzilla Minus One proves a fascinating tale of atomic age terror. Ryunosuke Kamiki stars as a kamikaze pilot who first flubs his mission, then crosses paths with the giant lizard with atomic breath. Survivor's guilt torments him, even as he cobbles together a found family of fellow survivors. This cast of characters is dynamic, making the scenes of simple home-cooked meals just as satisfying as sequences of town-trampling destruction. Actually, one deeply informs the other. Because while the movie's jaw-dropping special effects rightfully won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, it's the emotional impact of them that makes this Godzilla hit harder than any contemporary. Even on the small screen, you'll be in awe.* — K.P.

How to watch: Godzilla Minus One is streaming on Netflix.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Get Deal

* denotes the entry comes from a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: Mar. 27, 2025, 12:00 p.m. EDT This list was first published on May 24, 2020. It has since been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.

Nothing feels as good as a deep, genuine laugh. It's an expression of joy! It's a workout. It's a sign that you're having a good time.

Netflix has a dazzling selection of comedy movies that put that good-time feeling on demand. Whether you're craving action-spiked shenanigans, quirky coming-of-age adventures, awkward humor, stranger-than-fiction silliness, madcap musical numbers, or crime with a spree of laughs, there's a perfect pick for you. And we've made singling it out all the easier by highlighting the most hilarious below.

Here are the funniest movies now streaming on Netflix.

25. Logan Lucky Adam Driver, Channing Tatum, and Daniel Craig are mid-heist in "Logan Lucky." Credit: Trans-Radial Pictures / Kobal / Shutterstock.com

Returning to his love of a wacky heist, Ocean's Eleven helmer Steven Soderbergh delivers fresh thrills and laughs with this 2017 gem, which is absolutely stacked with a dazzling cast.

Channing Tatum and Adam Driver star as the Logan brothers, who come from a family supposedly cursed to baffling misfortune. But could their fate be turning when older brother Jimmy (Tatum) concocts a convoluted scheme to steal millions from a bustling race speedway during their biggest event of the year? Younger, one-armed brother Clyde (Driver) will be his right-hand man. Their spunky hair-stylist sister Mellie (Riley Keough) will be their getaway driver. Now all they need is to break out the infamous safecracker Joe Bang (Daniel Craig with a daffily entertaining Southern accent), and bring on his Bible-thumping brothers (Brian Gleeson and Jack Quaid) as backup. Also starring are Katie Holmes, Dwight Yoakam, Sebastian Stan, Seth MacFarlane, and Hilary Swank. Divulging anything more about this Southern-fried romp would be to spoil the fun. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Logan Lucky is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Eddie Murphy is back as Axel Foley. Credit: Netflix

Eddie Murphy returns as wise-cracking Detroit police officer Axel Foley. 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III, this sensational sequel sees Foley returning to Los Angeles to fight a new foe, reunite with old friends, and reconnect with his estranged daughter.

SEE ALSO: 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' review: Netflix's sequel shouldn't work and yet...

Reprising their supporting roles are Beverly Hills Cop co-stars John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot. New to the crew is Taylour Paige as Axel's hard-headed daughter, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a local ally, Nasim Pedrad as a flustered real estate agent, and Kevin Bacon as a smirking antagonist. The sparks will fly. The punchlines hit powerfully. The soundtrack is fire. And just like that, the heat is back on! — K.P.

How to Watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Between Two Ferns: The Movie Credit: Adam Rose / Netflix

Zach Galifianakis' awkward celebrity interview web series Between Two Ferns might not seem like fodder for a full-length movie, but Between Two Ferns: The Movie goes double meta by presenting his success on Funny or Die as an insult to the actor's intention to host a "serious" interview show. Galifianakis the character sets off to correct the assumption that his original show is a joke by interviewing even more celebrities, like John Cho, Keanu Reeves, Gal Gadot, Tiffany Haddish, and more. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Between Two Ferns: The Movie is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Do Revenge Credit: Netflix

Looking for a revenge flick that pays tribute to teen classics like Mean Girls, Heathers, Cruel Intentions, and more? Then check out Do Revenge, a dark comedy sure to join the canon of iconic high school movies. Students Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) couldn't be more different... apart from the fact that both have major bones to pick with people who ruined their reputations. They decide to team up and execute one another's revenge plans, which leads down a winding road of morally dubious choices, snappy one-liners, and excellent outfits.

Mendes and Hawke have great chemistry, but it's Sophie Turner who damn near steals the show in a bit part that simply must be seen to be believed.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Do Revenge is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Sophie Turner steals Netflix's 'Do Revenge' in 5 outrageous minutes 21. Always Be My Maybe Credit: Netflix

What if the one who got away got a second chance? Back in the day, Sasha and Marcus were tight as a slap bracelet. But one fumbled night in a sweaty backseat seemed to shatter their future together.

Fifteen years later, she's a world-renowned chef and he's — well — he's working for his dad's HVAC business and playing with his band on the side. Still, fate arranges for them to reconnect, which could mean Marcus (Randall Park) has a shot to show Sasha (Ali Wong) how he feels. Comedy ensues as the stakes get high when Keanu Reeves crashes the party, being all weird and hot and having the audacity to be Keanu Reeves! This Nahnatchka Khan-helmed laffer also boasts appearances by James Saito, Charlyne Yi, Karan Soni, Daniel Dae Kim, and Michelle Buteau.* — K.P.

How to watch: Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 20 best romantic comedies to fall in love with on Netflix

20. Dolemite Is My Name Credit: François Duhamel / Netflix

Chronicling the true story of late comedian Rudy Ray Moore — also known as Dolemite — this Eddie Murphy vehicle is worth every minute of viewing.

An outrageous showbiz comedy, Dolemite Is My Name is at once a poignant look at the life of an underdog and an unbelievably good time. With supporting performances by Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, and more, this biopic offers more beat-for-beat joy than many of its fictional counterparts. Sensational, aspirational, and electric: You'll love it. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Dolemite Is My Name is now streaming on Netflix.

19. The Polka King Credit: Netflix

Sometimes true crime can lead to some pitch-perfect dark comedy. This is the case for this outrageous offering, which stars Jack Black as infamous scammer/local celebrity Jan Lewan. Black brings all the rock star panache you need to understand how Lewan could be so beguiling to the Pennsylvanian retirees who surrendered their savings to the self-proclaimed Polka King.

Screenwriters Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky gave this story of fraud and showmanship shape. But they wisely trusted in the local flair of the terrific 2009 documentary The Man Who Would Be Polka King to provide some of the wildest lines of dialogue. Plucking directly from interviews with the friends, family, and victims of Jan Lewan, this comedy feels stranger than fiction but is jaw-droppingly real. Salty supporting turns from Jenny Slate, Jacki Weaver, and Jason Schwartzman bring added fun.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Polka King is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Love me like a Polka King 18. The Mitchells vs. The Machines Credit: Netflix

Sony Pictures Animation has given audiences such daring and dynamic animated movies as Surf's Up, Hotel Transylvania, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This zany 2021 release centers on a family who's battling back the robo-apocalypse with togetherness, internet savviness, and a wall-eyed pug named Monchi (voiced by social media icon Doug the Pug).

The Mitchells' adventure into chaos begins when daughter Katie (Abbi Jacobson) is poised to go off to college. Desperate for one last family-unifying road trip, her dad (Danny McBride) piles the whole family into his beater of a vehicle, unknowingly charting a fateful route into heroics. Co-directors Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe infuse Katie's excitable perspective throughout the film by working in internet memes, social media-style reactions, and blitz of bonkers visuals. It’s a bold move that might alienate some viewers but has largely won the acclaim of critics and kiddos.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Mitchells vs. The Machines is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Credit: Netflix

Writer/director Rian Johnson follows up his critically heralded whodunnit with a sequel that's even more explosive than Knives Out. Southern gentleman/detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back, drawling deductions and whipping out witticisms, much to the chagrin of a group of wealthy and conniving friends.

It was supposed to be a murder mystery weekend where homicide was just a game. But when tech scion Miles Bron (Edward Norton) brings together his closest friends and worst enemy, real blood will be spilled, and the game is afoot! Joining in on the comically chaotic fun are Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and Jessica Henwick. — K.P.

How to watch: Glass Onion is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: All those 'Glass Onion' cameos, ranked 16. The Forty-Year-Old Version Credit: Jeong Park / Netflix © 2020

The Forty-Year-Old Version isn’t just any film about a struggling New York artist, but one about a Black female playwright who’s continually held back from creating something authentic to her perspective. Radha Blank's autobiographical directorial debut, which she also wrote, produced, and stars in, is a searing, funny, and unabashedly honest look at the compromises Black creatives are pushed to make in a world dominated by whiteness.

A teacher approaching her 40th birthday, Radha (Blank) gets the chance to produce one of her plays — only after she refuses to write a slave musical. But forced to change her vision to appease white audiences, Radha considers a totally different medium to express herself: becoming a rapper. The Forty-Year-Old Version may be one of the most slept-on Netflix originals, and it’s a shame we've yet to see another film from Blank since, itself an indictment of an industry that fails to continually platform raw and honest Black storytelling.* — Oliver Whitney, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: The Forty-Year-Old Version is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Vampires vs. the Bronx Credit: Netflix

Want a movie that's got excitement, comedy, a scorching message about the evils of gentrification, and is a kid-friendly romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx.

Oz Rodriguez's PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and an influx of rich white folks with tote bags means bad news for the neighborhood. Together, they team up Monster Squad-style to take down the bloodsuckers and save their community. With a sharp wit, a warm heart, a rich sense of atmosphere, and an equal appreciation for the Blade movies and '80s Amblin, Vampires vs. the Bronx is an easy watch full of rewards.* — K.P.

How to watch: Vampires vs. the Bronx is now streaming on Netflix.

14. The Breaker Upperers

This hidden gem comes from New Zealand, the fertile comedy ground that gave us Taika Waititi, Flight of the Conchords, and What We Do in the Shadows. Waititi collaborators Jackie van Beek, James Rolleston, and Jemaine Clement team up for a deeply quirky buddy comedy about two long-time besties with a bonkers — but brilliant — business model.

Need someone to dump your partner so you can avoid a messy confrontation? Call on Jen and Mel (co-writers/co-directors/co-leads van Beek and Madeleine Sami). For a reasonable fee, these fearless Breaker Upperers will impersonate police officers, play pregnant, or even fake your death to help you ghost an ex. Whatever the shenanigans, van Beek and Sami sparkle. Booming with wild humor and big heart, this comedy is guaranteed to leave you cackling.* — K.P.

Where to watch: The Breaker Upperers is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

With its reputation for wacky musical numbers, the Eurovision Song Contest is ripe for parody. Luckily for Eurovision lovers, the contest gets the send-up it deserves in this gloriously goofy flick starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. They play the Icelandic musical duo Fire Saga, who find themselves in the Eurovision spotlight. There, they discover that the famed competition is a world of cutthroat competitors, glitzy costumes, and many, many bops.

Eurovision Song Contest is full of larger-than-life characters and ridiculous humor, but it's also teeming with Eurovision references that will have fans laughing and cheering. For every "Jaja Ding Dong," there's a joyful Song-A-Long — and both are great! Pair all that with pitch-perfect comedic performances from Ferrell and McAdams, and you have a comedy that will both have you in stitches and win your heart. (Best of all, if you weren't a Eurovision fanatic before seeing this movie, you'll definitely be one by the time it ends.)* — B.E.

How to watch: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Hit Man

Richard Linklater and Glen Powell reunite for Hit Man, a rom-com that is killer in all sense of the word.

Powell plays Gary Johnson, a college professor whose side gig as an undercover hit man leads to an unexpected meet-cute with would-be client Madison (Andor's Adria Arjona). The pair's connection (and electrifying chemistry) sparks a delightful game of false identities, reinvention, and twisted love that toggles between hilarious, thrilling, and sexy at a moment's notice. Oh, who am I kidding; sometimes it's all three at once!* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Barbie

Greta Gerwig was fresh off of her Little Women success when she took on this 2023 project about the world's most iconic doll. Gerwig, who co-wrote the script with frequent creative collaborator and husband Noah Baumbach, ended up with yet another smash hit on her hands, raking in award noms and massive box office earnings — all while conducting the sweetest and most exhausting-seeming global press tour ever.

SEE ALSO: All the ways the 'Barbie' promotional tour is giving us life

Margot Robbie slips into the titular role like a perfectly molded pink pump, while Ryan Gosling offers hilarious (and also Oscar–nominated!) support as her confusedly devoted Ken. As Barbie stumbles into the real world and charts a course toward Pinocchio-esque self-actualization, Gerwig adds oddness and effervescence to every corner of day-glo Barbieland – raise your hand if you're partial to Weird Barbie, played with deranged glee by Kate McKinnon. But it's not all goofball antics and beach-off musical numbers; the feminist, humanist message burns bright for such an old-fashioned little plaything. — Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Barbie is now streaming on Netflix. 

10. Notting Hill

Rom-coms are deceptively difficult to get right, so why not just steal the plot from a classic, update it to modern times with a pair of big-league charmers in the lead roles, and hope for the best? That formula doesn't always work, but when it does, you get something like Roger Michell's Notting Hill. Richard Curtis' script riffs on the plot of Roman Holiday, but instead of Audrey Hepburn as a princess slumming it up around town with a journalist played by Gregory Peck, here we've got a charismatic American movie star (Julia Roberts) who meets-cute in London with a local floppy-haired bookshop owner played by Hugh Grant. 

The movie follows the rom-com playbook to a tee — there's even a supercharged chase to the airport at the end! — but Roberts and Grant really have marvelous chemistry, and Michell surrounds them with a rogue's gallery of British character actors having a hoot. (Rhys Ifans as Grant's flatmate is a particular standout.) In the end, we're all just girls standing in front of boys asking them to love us! — J.A.

How to watch: Notting Hill is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl Credit: Netflix

Our pals Wallace the inventor and his loyal pup Gromit have been running around for nearly four cracking decades now, but this their latest adventure (and only their second feature-length film, after 2005's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) proves they've lost not a whit of their vim and verve. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl happily proves to be yet another gut-busting bit of British whimsy from Aardman Animation head Nick Park and his team of clay-playing creatives.

Vengeance Most Fowl sees our cheese-loving duo facing down a familiar foe – the diabolical penguin mastermind Feathers McGraw, who was last seen being sent off to imprisonment in the City Zoo in the classic 1993 short The Wrong Trousers. Hacking into Wallace's latest invention, a garden gnome robot named Norbot that he's created to do all of the yardwork, Feathers builds himself an army of killer gnomes all programmed to do his bidding. And he wants nothing more than to bid adieu to his nemesis Wallace! — J.A.

How to watch: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Wicked Little Letters

Want something cheeky? Then, you'll relish the bawdy, four-letter fun of this British comedy.Set quaint, seaside town of Littlehampton in 1920, Wicked Little Letters centers on a scandalous batch of missives. Someone in this charming place is writing truly nasty letters and mailing them anonymously. Meek Christian and old maid Edith Swan (Oscar winner Olivia Colman) is convinced the author of these horrid letters is none other than her next-door neighbor Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley), who is not only found of cursing but also Irish and a single mum to boot. But Rose won't take such accusations lying down. A battle of wills kicks off that pulls in much of Littlehampton, including a wide-eyed constable (We Are Lady Parts' Anjana Vasan) determined to crack the case once and for all. While this movie involves swearing, terms like "foxy-ass" mean its the kind of cursing you could comfortably watch with your mum, chuckling all the while. — K.P.

How to watch: Wicked Little Letters is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Shiva Baby

Some people find this 2020 cringe comedy from writer-director Emma Seligman to be so stressful that it stops being a comedy altogether, to which we give a hearty boo. Sure, it's one of the most claustrophobic experiences you can have outside of an escape room that's caught on fire, but Rachel Sennott is a comic genius who spins every moment of horror into gold!

Before the two teamed up again in 2023 for the LOL-worthy Bottoms, Seligman and Sennott gave us this small-scale story of college student Danielle who is attending a Jewish funeral reception where absolutely everything goes wrong. Sitting shiva is never a party, but Danielle's parents (a brilliantly funny Fred Melamed and Polly Draper) are hard on her case. Then her ex-girlfriend Maya (an equally funny Molly Gordon) shows up, and that's awkward. What else could go wrong? Glad you asked! Danielle's secret side gig as a sugar baby is jeopardized when her main client (Danny Deferrari) shows up with his shiksa wife and their newborn baby. Now throw all of this drama into the smallest three rooms you can imagine, all stuffed with the loudest people eating the driest crackers you have ever seen, and enjoy! — J.A.

How to watch: Shiva Baby is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Saturday Night Credit: Hopper Stone / Sony Pictures Entertainment

Unjustly overlooked at release in the fall of 2024, this frantically funny romp from Juno and Young Adult director Jason Reitman details the 90-minute lead-up to the very first episode of Saturday Night Live in October of 1975. The ensemble cast is packed, with Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase, Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd, Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman, Matt Wood as John Belushi, Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris, and Kim Matula as Jane Curtin. 

Add Gabriel Labelle as Lorne Michaels, the man with the wild and crazy plan himself, and the fact that this movie managed to only be 90 minutes long with all of these characters (plus a dozen more I don't even have room to list) is a real miracle in itself. Plenty of people do get shafted time-wise — notably, most of the women, which is pretty crappy the show's own track record shafting women back in the day — but Saturday Night definitely captures the chaos and hilarious mayhem that Michaels managed to funnel into a comedy revolution. — J.A.

How to watch: Saturday Night is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Straddling the line between a faithfulness to the decades-old RPG and introducing mainstream audiences to its world with a deft touch was always a big ask, but co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (who also share writing credits with Michael Gilio) did better than anybody expected to be possible with this 2023 adaptation. Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, and Justice Smith as a band of merry wizards and what-nots hunting down an ancient relic, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is très goofy, but lovingly so. It's honestly a very good time at the movies!

Unfortunately, shifting release dates and other factors led D&D to kinda bomb at the box office. But now that the movie has landed on Netflix, our communal chance to right this infernal wrong has arrived. Let's all slip into our wizarding robes and watch this movie dozens of times, spread the word to all of our friends, and roll the eight-sided die on an improbable sequel! — J.A.

How to watch: Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Between the Temples

Filmmaker Nathan Silver has been churning out extremely oddball indie films for the past 15 years without a whole lot of fanfare, but he finally found a sliver of mainstream attention in 2024 with Between the Temples, a tender and relatively straightforward (for him) comedy starring the one-of-a-kind twosome of Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane. Schwartzman plays Ben, a recently widowed cantor at the local synagogue, while Kane plays his former elementary school music teacher Carla, who comes to him after deciding she wants to have the bat mitzvah she didn't get to have as a child. The two spark, their families clash, and big life lessons are learned. And if you could bottle the off-kilter chemistry between these supreme character actors, you'd have magic, which is just what this movie, singular and sweet, is. — J.A. 

How to watch: Between the Temples is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Kicking and Screaming

Before Frances went Ha or there were any Marriage Stories to tell, writer/director Noah Baumbach made his name with this 1995 post-collegiate comedy starring a who's who of '90s indie icons, including Josh Hamilton, Eric Stoltz, Catherine Keener, Parker Posey, and Chris Eigeman. And it's a very '90s story of life-after-graduation ennui that Baumbach tells too, with everybody paralyzed by decision and the nostalgia for every moment already suffocating them. 

There were so many little movies like this that came tumbling out of nowhere at this time, and we didn't know how good we had it — small character studies full of acidic humor as far as the eye could see! This one lands somewhere between the dry archness of Whit Stillman and the sloppy chaos of early David O. Russell; it's a perfectly lovely little time capsule.  — J.A.   

How to watch: Kicking and Screaming is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Kneecap Credit: Helen Sloan / Sony Pictures Classics

Like 8 Mile with way more vowels, Kneecap tells the true life story of the titular band while starring the band members as themselves. The hip-hop trio of Liam Óg "Mo Chara" Ó Hannaidh, Naoise "Móglaí Bap" Ó Cairealláin, and JJ "DJ Próvaí" Ó Dochartaigh portray their own rise from rough-and-tumble beginnings in West Belfast to their place atop the Irish charts, which stands out since they rapped in the Irish language, which was well out of favor at the time having been usurped by the English colonizers. Their music rises on the tide of the language's popular reclamation, but Kneecap is hardly a linguistics lesson – it's a hilarious and wildly entertaining drug-fueled riot of anarchic artistic expression. Oh, and Michael Fassbender plays Naoise's da, which I guess makes him the Kim Basinger of this situation?  — J.A.

How to watch: Kneecap is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Cunk on Life

Comedian Diane Morgan has been gifting the world with her character of Philomena Cunk for a glorious decade and a half now. A dimwitted investigative journalist who butt heads with the real-world leading minds on each subject, Cunk proved to be a one-woman feast of absolute nonsense. The character Cunk started getting her own specials in 2016 with Cunk on Christmas, followed by Cunk on Britain and the epic globe-trotting mockumentary series Cunk on Earth (also streaming on Netflix).

Morgan's expanded her reach all the way to Cunk on Life, her latest side-splitter that tries to uncover the very meaning of existence itself across its humble 71-minute runtime. Does Cunk succeed? Well, Cunk definitely thinks she does, every damn time. But if not, at least we'll get to hear some Technotronic in the process, dammit! — J.A.   

How to watch: Cunk On Life is now streaming on Netflix.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Get Deal

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list. 

UPDATE: Mar. 27, 2025, 2:21 p.m. EDT This list was originally published on March 26, 2020. It has been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.

LOWEST-EVER PRICE: As of March 29, the 55-inch Samsung Q60D TV is on sale for $479.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. This deal saves you 38% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 55-inch Samsung Q60D TV $497.99 at Amazon
$797.99 Save $300 Get Deal

We can't think of a better way to spend your weekend that perusing the best deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale. OK, there are plenty of better ways to spend your free time. You could be watching paint dry, which honestly at this point sounds a little more interesting than scrolling through thousands of deals.

Let someone else do the work whilst you enjoy yourself. Save the hassle and check out the latest deal on the 55-inch Samsung Q60D TV. This premium TV is on sale or $479.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. This deal saves you 38% on list price, or $300. According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, this impressive TV has never been cheaper.

SEE ALSO: Grab noise-cancelling Soundcore headphones for just $44 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale

The Q60D is a great mid-range TV featuring object-tracking sound and a Pantone Validated dual LED panel for better color accuracy. It's got a lot of the same great features of more advanced models without the huge price tag. If you're looking for real value from the Amazon Spring Sale, this deal offers that in abundance.

Get the best-ever price on the 55-inch Samsung Q60D TV in the Amazon Spring Sale. For more deals like this, check out our roundup of the best TV deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale.

Mashable's favorite deals from the Amazon Spring Sale

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.99 (List Price $249.00)

• Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced Wi-Fi Thermostat — $169.00 (List Price $189.99)

• Soundcore Life Q30 Hybrid ANC Headphones (Black) — $55.99 (List Price $79.99)

• Blink Mini 2 Indoor Wireless 1080p Camera (2-Pack) — $37.99 (List Price $69.99)

• Apple iPad mini 128GB 8.3" Tablet — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

• Sonos Era 100 Wireless Alexa Enabled Smart Speaker (White) — $199.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $39.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Fitbit Inspire 3 Health and Fitness Tracker (Midnight Zen/Black) — $69.95 (List Price $99.95)

• Roku Express 4K+ Streaming Media Player — $30.22 (List Price $39.99)

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

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

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

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

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

A type of syrup.

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

MAPLE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Used to text and call.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 29, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PHONE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Two-legged stand.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 29, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BIPOD

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Part of common sorority names.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 29 Hurdle Word 4 answer

KAPPA

Final Hurdle hint

A pessimist.

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

CYNIC

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

If you're planning on observing the night sky, going for a night hike, or trying to snap a shot of the Moon, the phase is incredibly important. Here's everything you need to know about the current Lunar phase, as well as what you can expect in the near future.