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2025 has been a stupendous year for cinema, whatever your tastes.

For action fans, Tom Cruise dazzled in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. The MCU returned with Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, respectively. Martial arts movie legends Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio joined forces with Ben Wang in the rousing Karate Kid: Legends. Jack Black's A Minecraft Movie has action scenes so bonkers it drove audiences absolutely wild. Then Paul Thomas Anderson awed critics and audiences alike with his epic action thriller One Battle After Another.

Horror movie fans were spoiled for choice when it came to excellent scares and sinister twists. With Mashable's best horror films of 2025, we celebrated the 25 best, ranging from eerie indies like Shelby Oaks and Good Boy to studio stunners like Bring Her Back, Weapons, and 28 Years Later.

When it came to comedy, stars like Keke Palmer, Ben Affleck, Keanu Reeves, Benicio del Toro, Pedro Pascal, and Liam Neeson had us howling with One of Them Days, The Accountant 2, Good Fortune, The Phoenician Scheme, The Materialists, and Naked Gun. Meanwhile, dramas like Hamnet, The Life of Chuck, Hedda, and Marty Supreme had us cheering and tearing up. And lovers of musicals got to swoon over Song Sung Blue, KPop Demon Hunters, Sinners, and Wicked: For Good.

And yet these genre labels fall short of properly capturing all the sensationally surprising things 2025 cinema brought us. As Mashable's entertainment team looked over the movies hitting so far this year, we found a lot of our favorites didn't snugly fit into one genre. They could best be described as post-apocalyptic rom-com, espionage family comedy, body horror fairy tale, political thriller/screwball comedy, and vampire historical drama/musical. But no matter how you categorize them, these films are absolutely awesome.

So with no further ado, here are the 25 best movies of 2025, and where you can watch them.

25. Die My Love

You know that thing where a fiery — even feral — romance turns sour? That's the story at the center of Die My Love, the latest from We Need to Talk About Kevin helmer Lynne Ramsay. And as you might expect from this fantastic filmmaker, this drama pulls no punches as it explores domestic discomfort churning into fiery loathing.

Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson star as Grace and Jackson, a pregnant couple settling down in a fixer-upper home in a rural part of America. At first, Grace relishes her role as mother and the forest surroundings, which speak to her animalistic passions. But as her husband's work pulls him away, she grows lonely, resentful, and angry. While this film takes some dramatic turns, it works best as a showcase for Lawrence, whose performance shows her early fire still burns, but with a mature intensity.

In my review, I declared, "Grace's journey will make you squirm, perhaps cackle. But in her messy quest for something beyond being boxed in, she offers a radical freedom to her audience. In the discomfort of watching her bicker, battle, and act out, an excitement of possibility burns. Where could this lead, not just for her — but for us? Will you walk away from Die My Love rattled? Feeling recognized? Or dared to be reborn?" — K.P.

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Nick Nolte, and Sissy Spacek

How to watch: Die My Love is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

24. Mickey 17

As follow-up to his Best Picture-winning Parasite, Bong Joon Ho delivered a scathing and silly political satire with Mickey 17.

Robert Pattinson stars as the eponymous protagonist, a low-level criminal who flees earth by taking a pretty brutal gig on a colonizing spaceship. He's an expendable, meaning a human test dummy who dies over and over only to be human printed again to, well, die again. Despite all these deaths, Mickey makes a cozy life for himself on the ship, falling for the tough-as-nails Nasha (Naomi Ackie). But their love life is thrown into a spin when human error leads to two Mickeys — 17 and 18 — existing at once. That's a threat to the snarling rich folk (Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette) who rule the ship. And, man, we haven't even gotten to the "creeper" aliens who live on the surface of the humans' new home world!

SEE ALSO: Toni Collette and Naomi Ackie on Bong Joon Ho's filmmaking process in 'Mickey 17'

A film rich in plot and twists, Mickey 17 is a rollicking ride, mainly because its celebrated writer/director refuses to be predictable. The movie shifts tones and genres freely, reflecting the tumultuous life (or lives) of Mickey. And it's an absolutely mind-blowing blast. As I wrote in my review for Mashable, "The journey Mickey goes on is winding and wild, bucking the conventional flow of a sci-fi action movie by being only gently sci-fi and barely action. Instead, Mickey 17 plays as a political comedy with cross-genre flare, ultimately urging the audience to see the similarities, and perhaps find our own inner Mickey 17." — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo

How to watch: Mickey 17 is now streaming on HBO Max.

23. Arco

French director Ugo Bienvenu's animated film Arco is part fanciful tale of rainbows, time travel, and childhood friendship, part climate change fable. It all kicks off when 10-year-old Arco (voiced by Juliano Valdi in the English-language dub) steals his sister's time-traveling cloak and journeys from 2932 to 2075. There, he becomes fast friends with young Iris (voiced by Romy Fay), and the two endeavor to get him home. The pair's efforts play out against a sobering backdrop of ecological disaster, creating a poignant portrait of a world in crisis, and the hopeful young souls who will inherit it.

With its climate change angle and unlikely friendships, Arco recalls two of 2024's animated standouts:  Flow and The Wild Robot. But it also forges an identity of its own thanks to its stunning 2D animation, which plays like a combination of the styles of Jean Giraud (aka Mœbius) and the films of Studio Ghibli. As I wrote in my review, "In a mainstream animation landscape dominated by 3D-animated films, Arco's visuals are a testament to the enduring power of 2D work, as well as French filmmakers' commitment to the medium. If you love animation, run, don't walk — or better yet, fly by rainbow — to catch it." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Romy Fay, Juliano Krue Valdi, Natalie Portman, Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, Flea, America Ferrera, and Mark Ruffalo

How to watch: Arco is coming soon to Apple TV.

22. Black Bag

Black Bag marks the third collaboration between director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp, the first being the riveting techno-thriller Kimi, and the second being the superbly unique haunted house movie Presence. Both creators relish the opportunity to shake up a genre. With this movie they do that to the espionage thriller, with Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender.

SEE ALSO: 'Presence's Steven Soderbergh and David Koepp on ghosts, horror, and hating winks

When UK intelligence tells agent George Woodhouse (Fassbender) that his wife Kathryn (Blanchett) might be a turncoat, he does what any master spy might: He throws a dinner party, inviting all the suspected double agents. While Black Bag offers espionage standards like globe-trekking, covert surveillance, and lie detector tests, it's Koepp's dialogue over dinner that makes this movie absolutely electrifying. Soderberg's direction of a crackling cast makes the most of every cutting line.

In my review for Mashable, I was especially elated to see a portrayal or marriage that didn't fall into the tedious cliches of stagnation. I wrote, "As soon as Black Bag was over, I felt that dizzying high one gets from a proper spy thriller, the rush of vicarious adrenaline from the case cracked and the day saved. But I also had the deep urge to see this movie again immediately. Because as generous as the filmmaker and stars are with slathering this story in George and Kathryn's mutual attraction, I couldn't get enough. I wanted to go back to feel the thrill of their love for each other all over again." — K.P.

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan

How to watch: Black Bag is available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

21. The Mastermind

A story in two acts, Kelly Reichardt's autumnal art heist film The Mastermind is as far from Ocean's 11 as the genre can get. Set in Massachusetts in the '70s and based on the Worcester Art Museum robbery, the film leans on realism instead of glitz and action to explore why a person might decide to pluck a masterpiece from the wall of a public cultural institution. Here, the film's true gem is Josh O'Connor, whose magnetic, understated leading performance feels as worn-in as his character's collection of cozy sweaters. 

The Challengers star plays middle-class family man and carpenter J.B. Mooney, whose unemployment weighs heavily on his conscience and his ability to provide for his wife Terri (Alana Haim) and young sons (Jasper and Sterling Thompson). So, he cases his town's main art gallery in order to steal four works by American modernist Arthur Dove, with his family in tow. However, it's just the first chapter in J.B.'s tale, as he's set for a rambling road trip through America amid the constant presence of the Vietnam War.

The Mastermind has been celebrated by critics, including myself, for Reichardt's ability to thread this tense historical context through the heist and comedy genres. As I wrote in my review, "There are no heist movie archetypes here, only crunchy leaves, modernist art, and bumbling realism. It's a combination worth the steal." — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Josh O'Connor, Alana Haim, Jasper Thompson, Sterling Thompson, Hope Davis, Bill Camp, John Magaro, Gaby Hoffmann, Cole Doman, Eli Gelb, Javion Allen

How to watch: The Mastermind is available for pre-order on Prime Video.

20. Song Sung Blue

"Sometimes you just need a feel-good movie and a good tearjerker, and writer/director Craig Brewer delivers both with Song Sung Blue," I wrote in my review.

Based on the incredible true story of Lightning and Thunder, a Neil Diamond cover band out of Milwaukee, Song Sung Blue tells a story of love, music, and how both can help us overcome incredible tragedy. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as the married musical couple at the film's center. Together they craft electric chemistry, rousing song numbers, and a love story that hits with the force of a runaway car.

As I concluded in my review, "All this makes for a feel-good movie that can be jarringly intense, because the bad times can come out of nowhere. (C'est la vie!) But like a great Neil Diamond song, Song Sung Blue will find its way into your heart, where it will linger." — K.P.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Jayson Warner Smith, Hudson Hensley, Fisher Stevens, and Jim Belushi

How to watch: Song Sung Blue opens in theaters on Dec. 25.

19. KPop Demon Hunters

Officially the most popular Netflix original movie of all time, KPop Demon Hunters delivers a little bit of everything: romance, action, comedy, and a totally addictive soundtrack that's gone platinum.

Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans begin their enthralling musical with K-pop trio HUNTR/X, who, when they aren't making bops like "Golden," are battling demons to protect the very souls of their fans. But just as the girl group thinks they're on the verge of building an impenetrable barrier with their songs, the demons fight back with a boy band of their own.

SEE ALSO: 'KPop Demon Hunters' stars Arden Cho and May Hong react to fans' TikTok videos

The Saja Boys are comically hot, delivering smooth moves, devious plans, and plenty of slapstick. Plus, they've got a tiger who is cute, creepy, and silly to boot! Whether it's the martial arts action sequences, the swoon-worthy song-and-dance numbers, or the cheeky sense of humor that's grabbed fans of all ages, KPop Demon Hunters is sure to thrill again and again. And hey, there's a sing-along version too. What more could we ask for? How about a sequel?* — K.P.

Starring: Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun

How to watch: KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

18. It Was Just an Accident

Iranian director Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident picked up the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival, and it's not hard to see why. Part revenge odyssey, part oddball road trip, the film is a unique rallying cry against authoritarianism.

It Was Just an Accident introduces mechanic Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri), who kidnaps a customer of his (Ebrahim Azizi), believing him to be the soldier who tortured him in prison. He's not entirely sure he has the right man, though, prompting him to reunite with his fellow prisoners in order to determine whether he's correct. The ensuing investigation proves darkly funny and unnerving, as Vahid and his motley crew ponder what to do with the man who caused them so much pain — if he even is the right man. And if he is, what then? Would their vengeance be justified, or would it be more of the same kind of cruelty they endured in prison?

The story behind It Was Just an Accident is just as remarkable as the film itself. The Iranian regime has arrested Panahi in the past and banned him from traveling and making movies, although he continued to do so in secret. It Was Just an Accident is his first film following the lifting of the ban, but even then, he shot it covertly, adding an extra layer of urgency to the film's blistering portrayal of how authoritarianism stifles the lives of everyone living under it. — B.E.

Starring: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr, Afssaneh Najmabadi, and George Hashemzadeh

How to watch: It Was Just an Accident is available for pre-order on Prime Video.

17. No Other Choice

Boasting a corporate jargon title long-deployed to evade responsibility, Park Chan-wook's anti-capitalist parable No Other Choice might feel a little too real to those burned by the job market. This wicked social commentary is one of the director's most comedic films to date, but that doesn't mean it's not dark as hell. 

Based on Donald E. Westlake's 1997 novel The Ax and written by Park, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee, and Don McKellar, the film follows hardworking paper company employee Yoo Man-soo (an outstanding Lee Byung-hun), who gets the chop in a merciless company restructure. With his family to provide for, including his wife Mi-ri (Crash Landing on You's Son Ye-jin) and two kids, Man-soo scrambles to find a job — and when the perfect opportunity comes along, he takes drastic measures to ensure he'll land it.

Critics praised No Other Choice for its moral ambiguity and biting social satire. As I wrote in my own review, "As a viewer, we're simultaneously rooting for Man-soo and unnerved by his capacity for calculated manipulation and murder. No Other Choice poses the question: Would you kill for the life you want? In fact, the film doesn't even ask it, instead presenting a man believing himself forced into making such a decision due to cold, hard corporate strategy. It's out of his hands." — S.C.

Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran

How to watch: No Other Choice opens in theaters on Dec. 25.

16. The Ugly Stepsister

2025 is proving a great year for great horror movies, kicking off with The Ugly Stepsister out of the Sundance Film Festival. This twisted fairytale plays like the grubby baby of Wicked and The Substance. Hear me out.

This gnarly body-horror movie reimagines Cinderella by focusing on the heroine's much-maligned stepsister Elvira (Lea Myren). Writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt delivers not only a deeply empathetic tale of a young girl grappling with a princely crush, sibling rivalry, and crippling societal pressures to conform to cruel beauty standards, but also the grisly scenes to back up its social critique. This one isn't for the faint of stomach.

SEE ALSO: 'Sinners,' 'Black Mirror,' and 'The Ugly Stepsister': Film critics weigh in on what's worth watching and what's skippable

In my review for Mashable out of Sundance, I cheered, "The Ugly Stepsister is a deranged and dizzying achievement, folding in a classic story with a bitingly modern satire and bold body horror. Blichfeldt weaves these elements together to make a film that feels both of this moment and aesthetically nostalgic... And yet, her journey, as gross and grim as it is, is threaded with a ribbon of exhilaration, rebellion, and even defiant joy. Simply put, The Ugly Stepsister is savagely brutal and yet strangely beautiful."* — K.P.

Starring: Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, Flo Fagerli, Isac Calmroth, and Malte Gårdinger

How to watch: The Ugly Stepsister is now streaming on Hulu and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

15. The Life of Chuck

When people think of the works of Mike Flanagan (The Fall of the House of Usher, Midnight Mass) or Stephen King, they don't usually think life-affirming stories. But The Life of Chuck will change that.

Based on a King novella, this genre-bending wonder is post-apocalyptic thriller meets feel-good coming-of-age drama meets ghost story. And yet, it's more! Tom Hiddleston stars as Chuck Krantz, whose life, at a glance, might be considered average. But in this rapturous movie, filled with a wonderful ensemble cast, King and Flanagan weave a tale of love, loss, and dance that's sure to enthrall audiences.

SEE ALSO: Every single Stephen King movie adaptation, ranked

In Mashable's review out of the film's Toronto International Film Festival premiere, I cheered, "The Life of Chuck is masterfully told. Like King's most moving adaptations, it doesn't play by standard rules of structure or audience expectations. It demands we follow the winding road through playful dialogue, painful lows, and rollicking highs to an unknown beyond. It's surprising and upsetting, funny and profound. I laughed hard, cried 'til my eyes ached, and once gasped so loud that I heard it echo across a theater struck silent by a moment both shocking and tender."* — K.P.

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tom Hiddleston, Annalise Basso, Benjamin Pajak, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Matthew Lillard, Carl Lumbly, Samantha Sloyan, Harvey Guillén, Jacob Tremblay, Kate Siegel, and Mark Hamill

How to watch: The Life of Chuck is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

14. Bunny

After Hours. Do the Right Thing. In the Heights. When Harry Met Sally. They're movies with very different plots and vibes, and yet all are definitively New York. Now the canon of exceptionally New York movies has grown, thanks to Bunny. 

The directorial debut of Ben Jacobson, Bunny centers on an East Village tenement resident (Mo Stark) whose very bad birthday is a tapestry of chaos, community, and characters that are undeniably the fabric of New York City. Like the iconic cinema listed above, Bunny channels the energy of this great city, while also embracing its funkier elements. This fantastic, funny, and surprising indie is also an unapologetic and unsentimental love letter to New York.* — K.P.

Starring: Mo Stark, Ben Jacobson, Liza Colby, Anthony Drazan, Linda Rong Mei Chen, Genevieve Hudson-Price, Eleonore Hendricks, Kia Warren, Richard Price, and Henry Czerny

How to watch: Bunny is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

13. Jay Kelly

"George Clooney delivers one of the best comedic performances of his career in Jay Kelly," I wrote in my NYFF review of Noah Baumbach's latest.

In a bit of masterful casting, Baumbach has Clooney play a world-famous movie star who is unflappably charming and a bit of a buffoon. Thus, when Jay Kelly (Clooney) is faced with a mid-life crisis, he orders his entourage to follow him on an impromptu European tour, where he hopes to find solace in his cinematic legacy while reconnecting with his daughters. This makes for an ensemble comedy that's as hilarious and smart as it is star-stuffed. As I concluded in my review, "In the end, Jay Kelly is a clever crowd-pleaser, guaranteed to amuse and make you think." — K.P.

Starring: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy Keach, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, and Greta Gerwig

How to watch: Jay Kelly is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Sorry, Baby

Since its debut at Sundance last January, critics have been raving about Sorry, Baby, championing the uniquely bristling comedy of writer/director/leading lady Eva Victor in her debut feature.

The internet-famous comedian reinvents herself with a touching tale of a grad student named Agnes (Victor), who's struggling to cope after a bad thing happens to her. What's the bad thing? And how does it shape this challenging but charming movie? In my review out of Sundance 2025, I dig into all that, so check that article for trigger warnings/spoilers.

What you need to know now is: "Bittersweet, brilliant, and heartwarmingly funny, Sorry, Baby is a movie that is sure to find an audience beyond Sundance. And not just because A24 is a master of marketing offbeat cinema, but because Victor has a voice that is strong, strange, and demands to be heard."* — K.P.

Starring: Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, Louis Cancelmi, Kelly McCormack, Lucas Hedges, and John Carroll Lynch

How to watch: Sorry, Baby is now streaming on HBO Max.

11. Bugonia

The dynamic duo of Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone reunite with their tin foil hats on for Bugonia, a brilliant, complex conspiracy caper that will put you in a perpetual state of flux and doubt. 

A remake of Jang Joon-hwan's Save the Green Planet! with a script by The Menu's Will Tracy, Bugonia sends us into the conspiracy theory twilight zone with Teddy, a bike-riding beekeeper played by Stone and Lanthimos' Kinds of Kindness collaborator Jesse Plemons. His theory? The world's pitiful state is due to a covert alien race living among us, one of which is buzzword-dropping big pharma CEO Michelle Fuller (Stone). So, Teddy ropes in his young cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) to kidnap Michelle and extract the truth. From here, the film plunges Teddy and Michelle into a brutal, uncomfortably timely tête-à-tête about humanity, capitalist greed, class politics, and whether the human race is actually worth saving. 

SEE ALSO: Emma Stone reveals how 'Good Luck, Babe' wound up in 'Bugonia'

Critics have been divided on Bugonia, especially around the bleak barrage of topics the characters wade through. Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko writes in her review, "Bugonia, despite having a sensational cast and clear vision for its world, lacks profundity in its smorgasbord of hot topics. Environmentalism, oligarchy, the manosphere, healthcare for profit — all of these make for a dizzying brew from which Teddy and Michelle arise on opposing sides." Thankfully, Stone and Plemons deliver such subjects with formidable, hilarious, and dark performances and an ample helping of Chappell Roan. — S.C.

Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Alicia Silverstone, Stavros Halkias

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

10. Marty Supreme

Timothée Chalamet is on fire in Mary Supreme, which at first glance might look like a sports drama. But under its greasy and gritty surface, it's much, much more.

Co-written and directed by Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme takes the true story of a charismatic ping-pong player and makes it the stuff of New York legends. Chalamet stars as Marty Mauser, a skilled pro table tennis player whose mouth is regularly writing checks his ass can't cash. Though set in the 1950s, Safdie chooses an '80s soundtrack of synth pop that makes Marty feel like an anti-hero ahead of his time, with a hustle and frenetic energy better suited to an era of big egos and bigger ambitions. Chalamet and an incredible ensemble build on this energy to the point where at times, as in Safdie's Uncut Gems, Marty Supreme can feel like a masterfully orchestrated panic attack.

As I roared in my review, "This zinging dialogue, racing score, and electric cast collide to create cinema that celebrates New York, while recognizing its warts with a bleeding grin. All of this makes Marty Supreme an unusual crowdpleaser. Full of wild humor and shocking turns, it has its audience in a chokehold of tension and surprise, rarely letting up for us to breathe. And yet, what a thrill to be breathless." — K.P.

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher

How to watch: Marty Supreme opens in theaters on Dec. 25.

9. Hamnet

Academy Award–winning director Chloé Zhao finds herself back in the awards race thanks to Hamnet, an exquisite historical drama that offers up a different look at the life of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal). Based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell, who co-wrote the screenplay with Zhao, Hamnet's focus isn't really on the Bard. Instead, it's on his wife Agnes (a stellar Jessie Buckley), whose connection to nature and strange visions defy convention. But when Agnes and her husband lose their youngest son Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), the pair weather their grief in vastly different ways, resulting in the kind of film the word "heart-wrenching" was invented for.

SEE ALSO: Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley reveal the real surprise in 'Hamnet'

Poised to wring every last ounce of water from your tear ducts, Hamnet charts its own bold course away from other Shakespeare-adjacent films. As Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review, "Not only does Zhao reject the temptations of glossy Hollywood biopics, but also the regal romance or cerebral theatricality of a barrage of Oscar-adored Shakespeare adaptations, from a handful of intense Hamlets to The Tragedy of Macbeth to the winsome Shakespeare in Love. Her Shakespeare and company are more feral, bringing this historic tragedy fresh blood and true grit." — B.E.

Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, and Joe Alwyn

How to watch: Hamnet is now in theaters.

8. The Baltimorons

No movie this year has hit me quite like The Baltimorons. A scrappy indie written by director Jay Duplass and the film's star Michael Strassner, this is a comedy that offers a masterful blend of feel-bad and feel-good. Because to truly appreciate the sweet, you need the salty.

SEE ALSO: 'The Baltimorons' creators play 'Say Action' with hilarious results

Strassner stars as Baltimore native Cliff Cashen, an improv comedian who's having a comically bad Christmas Eve. It all begins with a broken tooth that sends him on a hasty quest for a dentist who'll work a holiday. That's how he meets Dr. Didi (Liz Larsen), a no-nonsense DDS who doesn't find Cliff's constant jokes nearly as funny as he does. But as the holiday delivers blows to both these strangers, they begin to form a beautiful bond. Shenanigans silly and sometimes lightly criminal will follow. And along the way, Strassner and Larsen shine, an odd couple hilarious and humane.

In my review out of SXSW, I proclaimed, "The feel-good movie of 2025 has arrived." And I stand by it. — K.P.

Starring: Michael Strassner, Liz Larsen, and Olivia Luccardi

How to watch: The Baltimorons is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

7. The Ballad of Wallis Island

You might have missed this feel-good movie when it hit theaters, but don't sleep on the chance to enjoy it at home. Perhaps while wearing a cozy sweater to be lavish in comfort.

Written and starring Tom Basden and Tim Key, this Focus Features gem imagines what would happen if a lonely but lovely folk-rock fan won the lottery. In The Ballad of Wallis Island, Charles (Key), who lives on the remote island, uses heaps of cash to reunite his favorite band, McGwyer Mortimer. There's just one problem. This folk duo — made up of Herb McGwyer (Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) — weren't just a band, but also a couple, who broke up hard. So, this reunion concert is socially awkward, to say the least.

Adapted from an award-winning short film Basden and Key made with director James Griffiths, The Ballad of Wallis Island creates an enveloping village atmosphere. Then it plops down a flailing rock star and his chipper ex to create some sparks and lots of laughs. In my review out of SXSW 2025, I cheered, "The Ballad of Wallis Island is not only deeply charming and laugh-out-loud funny for all its social foibles and comedy duo banter, but it's also cathartic....as Basden and Key strike their final chord of this masterfully charted comedy, you feel it reverberate warmly in your heart, carrying you out of the theater with a song still playing there." — K.P.

Starring: Tim Key, Tom Basden, Sian Clifford, Akemnji Ndifornyen, and Carey Mulligan

How to watch: The Ballad of Wallis Island is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

6. 28 Years Later

23 years ago, director Danny Boyle rewrote the rules of zombie movies with his hit thriller 28 Days Later. This year, he reteamed with the first film's screenwriter, Alex Garland, to resurrect this frightening franchise with a sequel that basically shrugs off Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's schlocky follow-up 28 Weeks Later. And we're elated for it.

28 Years Later evolves this film series in ways both epic and gloriously horrifying. Centered on the coming-of-age of an adolescent boy named Spike (Alfie Williams) in a post-apocalyptic Scotland, this sequel delivers heart-wrenching family drama, intriguing lore, and a harrowing evolution of the infected persons, including monstrous beasts known as Alphas. Perhaps the scariest single sequence of 2025 is when this towering terror races after Spike and his desperate dad (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), while a gorgeous twilight shines behind them. Its beauty in contrast to their peril reflects the indifference of the wider world, which has left the UK to fend for themselves against these marauding monsters.

Rich with earnest and intense performances, jaw-dropping gore, and nerve-shredding tension, 28 Years Later isn't just an epic horror film — it counts as cardio. — K.P.

Starring: Alfie Williams, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell

How to watch: 28 Years Later is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Pee-wee as Himself

Between Pee-wee's Playhouse and Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Pee-wee Herman was an '80s icon adored by kids and grown-ups alike. But a scandal in 1991 brought Paul Reubens, the man behind the children's show, into a cruel tabloid spotlight. Since then, Reubens had rebuilt his reputation and broadened his career, appearing in movies like Mystery Men, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Matilda. But the scorch of scandal kept Reubens reluctant to be open with the public about his life and loves — that is, until documentarian Matt Wolf began collaborating with the comedian for Pee-wee as Himself.

SEE ALSO: Say More: R.L. Stine on 'Fear Street: Prom Queen' and Matt Wolf on 'Pee-wee as Himself'

Though Reubens died of cancer before the film was wrapped, Wolf has built an empathetic and comprehensive portrait of the man, the artist, and the enigma. Told in two parts, this HBO documentary explores not only Reuben's inspirations for his most popular character, but also his queerness, and why he chose to go back into the closet to pursue a career in Hollywood.

In my review out of Sundance, I wrote, "Pee-wee as Himself is not a simple love letter to the iconic character or Reubens. That would suggest Wolf goes easy on either, fawning over them without reservation. This is something greater...Thought-provoking, boldly funny, and emotionally riveting, Pee-wee as Himself is [Reuben's] gift to us as grown-ups, as it reveals how hard that lesson can be, and how we must keep pushing ourselves to learn it." — K.P.

Starring: Paul Reubens, Lynne Marie Stewart, Laurence Fishburne, Natasha Lyonne, Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira: Mistress of the Dark), Debi Mazar, and David Arquette

How to watch: Pee-wee as Himself is now streaming on HBO Max.

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4. Frankenstein

Frankenstein is the monster movie Guillermo del Toro was born to make. The heralded filmmaker behind Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, and the Oscar–winning wonder of The Shape of Water poured his heart and soul into this stirring adaptation of Mary Shelley's landmark 1818 novel. Pulling from his passion for monsters and from his personal life, del Toro makes this not just a story of mankind and monsters but also fathers and sons.

Oscar Isaac stars as the titular doctor, a mad scientist determined to overcome his childhood trauma of losing his mother (Mia Goth) by resurrecting an exquisite corpse (Jacob Elordi). However, this creature proves more than a science project or a pet. He yearns to grow, to learn, and to love. But in a world that cannot understand him, his quest will be violent and heartbreaking.

In my review out of TIFF, I proclaimed, "As a whole, del Toro's Frankenstein is a marvel. His vision is clear and mesmerizing. His ensemble is electrifying. His adaptation is unique, soulful, and unforgettable. The man who loves monsters has just made his masterpiece: It's rich, rapturous, and ruthlessly interrogates what it means to be human, with all of our glory and our flaws." — K.P.

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz

How to watch: Frankenstein is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Hedda

We fell hard for Hedda. Writer/director Nia DaCosta reimagined Henrik Ibsen's classic anti-heroine Hedda Gabler as a queer Black intellectual, enraged by the confines of a predominantly white, straight, and patriarchal society in 1950s England. Tess Thompson, who's previously worked with DaCosta in Little Woods and The Marvels, is not just radiant in the title role, but burns so ferociously with passion, rage, and regret that it's a mesmerizing marvel to watch her Hedda sow chaos and social carnage.

Nina Hoss, as Hedda's gender-flipped love interest Eileen Lovborg, is entrancing from her first entrance. Their chemistry is not only captivating but also volatile. Even if you know where Ibsen's story goes, DaCosta's bold take reveals new angles, fresh energy, and a lustiness that is almost smothering. Cheers to composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, who fuels this fevered atmosphere with a score made up of human groans and heavy breathing.

SEE ALSO: 'Hedda's Tessa Thompson, Nia DaCosta, and Nina Hoss reveal the secrets to that sexy entrance

As I raved in my review out of Hedda's TIFF premiere, "Sumptuous, hot, and challenging, this is a drama of love, sex, and regret that burns like a shot of whisky, so good you'll want to go at it again." — K.P.

Starring: Tessa Thompson, Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nicholas Pinnock, and Nina Hoss

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

2. One Battle After Another

Paul Thomas Anderson returned to theaters with a truly epic father-daughter story. As I wrote in my review, "One Battle After Another is sure to be one of the most critically heralded movies of the year. On paper, that might seem obvious. This film is written and directed by 11-time Academy Award nominee Paul Thomas Anderson, maker of Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, Inherent Vice, Phantom Thread, and Licorice Pizza. True to Anderson's form, it boasts a compelling ensemble cast that includes big names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor, as well as incendiary new talent Chase Infiniti. And on some level, it's inspired by a dense novel, Thomas Pynchon's Vineland. But don't let the wild praise make you think you know what to expect."

Beyond being a political thriller about a former revolutionary (DiCaprio) flailing to protect his teen daughter (brilliant newcomer Chase Infiniti) from a menacing military antagonist (Sean Penn), One Battle After Another is also a comedy about parenthood. Action scenes that are truly dizzying are followed by slapstick and almost vaudevillian banter between rebels and a shady white supremacists called the "Christmas Adventurers." The result is a film that, even at two hours and 50 minutes, flies by, thrilling audiences while tugging at our heartstrings and giving some sharp satire to our current socio-political climate. Rarely has a movie with so much to say been so damned entertaining. — K.P.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti

How to watch: One Battle After Another is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

1. Sinners

Not just one of the best horror movies of 2025, but one of the best movies of 2025 full stop, Sinners is a celebration of genre and cinema. Writer/director Ryan Coogler reimagined vampire lore as a way to explore what it means to be young, Black, and gifted in America.

Michael B. Jordan stars as the Smokestack Twins, Black gangsters turned juke joint proprietors whose opening night is crashed by a vicious white vampire (Jack O'Connell) thirsty for the blood of their magical bluesman, Sammie (Miles Caton in a jaw-dropping debut). The character-building in this 1932-set period piece is rich, developing emotional plotlines of love, loss, and injustice. Supporting cast like Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo had audiences cheering — in packed 70mm IMAX theaters and online. So, by the time O'Connell shows up, you might have been so entranced by this deep Southern drama you'd forgotten vampires were even going to be a part of it. But he proves to be a unique and mesmerizing monster, earning awe and screams in equal measure.

Critics praised the epic scope Coogler applied to his genre-fluid drama — which might be a horror musical. In my review of the film, I wrote, "Sinners is more than a hell of a thrilling vampire movie. Like Black Panther, it expands beyond the expectations of its genre to become a magnificent film, emanating with spirit, power, and purpose. Smoothly blending vampire horror into a unique tale of regret, resilience, and redemption, Coogler and Jordan have made a cinematic marvel that is terrifying, satisfying, and unforgettable." — K.P.

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Li Jun Li, Yao, Lola Kirke, and Delroy Lindo

How to watch: Sinners is now streaming on HBO Max, and available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

2025 was a massive year for Netflix — and not just because of its planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Pictures.

In many ways, 2025 was the end of an era for the streamer's TV offerings, as two of its biggest hits, Squid Game and Stranger Things, came to a close. Elsewhere, though, new original series like Adolescence captured the cultural zeitgeist (and countless awards).

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

But of the seemingly countless shows that premiered on Netflix this year, which were truly the cream of the crop? Lucky for you, we've sorted through the streamer's massive list of offerings and determined the series you absolutely must check out. There's something for everyone on this list, from quirky new comedies and YA romances to devastating mini-series and nightmare-inducing dystopias. Read on for the 20 best Netflix shows of 2025.

20. Wednesday, Season 2

All hell (and Hyde) broke loose in Wednesday Season 2, with Alfred Gough and Miles Millar's spooky series returning with all the energy of a teen werewolf at a full moon party. Back in the braids, Jenna Ortega is a macabre marvel as the show's titular storm cloud, with a murderous avian case to crack, a stalker to unmask, and a haunting vision about her bestie Enid (the delightful Emma Myers) to decrypt. And that's aside from the hell that is dealing with her Bruce Springsteen-loving new Nevermore Academy principal (Steve Buscemi, a slam dunk of a cast addition), and her tempestuous relationship with her mother, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones), which reaches a literal sword-clashing point. As Mashable's Belen Edwards writes in her review, "[M]ake no mistake: Wednesday remains the star of the show. Ortega remains the cold, dead heart of the series — and I mean that as a compliment in tribute to Wednesday!"

Season 2 not only infests its episodes with even more Edgar Allan Poe references and nods to the '90s Addams Family movies (including Christopher Lloyd himself), it solves the pesky problem of Wednesday's love triangle and lets her get back to the business of scalping serial killers and quoting Machiavelli as relationship advice. In addition, this season served up a bubbling cauldron of treats, including a long-awaited, very short cameo from Lady Gaga and the season's highlight, director Tim Burton delivering an exquisite stop-motion sequence to weave "The Tale of the Skull Tree" in his signature Gothic fantasy style. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Jenna Ortega, Isaac Ordonez, Victor Dorobantu, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joanna Lumley, Fred Armisen, Emma Myers, Hunter Doohan, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, Noah B. Taylor, Evie Templeton, Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Christopher Lloyd, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Jamie McShane, and Thandiwe Newton

How to watch: Wednesday, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Squid Game, Season 3

It's the end of an era on Netflix, as Hwang Dong-hyuk's smash hit Squid Game comes to a bloody close. Following the end of Season 2's unsuccessful player rebellion against the games, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is basically a shell of his former self. As he battles through new twisted games and faces down increasingly greedy contestants, will he find any last shreds of hope for his future and humanity? Or has the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) successfully ground down his faith in his fellow players?

Honestly, Squid Game's grand finale is a bit of a mess, one that loses whatever little subtlety it had left. (Those masked billionaires tank the show whenever they're on screen!) But even at its most ridiculous, the show remains stomach-churningly captivating. Even after three seasons, it's tough not to get invested in the games, or to scream at the screen every time disaster strikes. So thank you, Squid Game, for the many heart attacks you've given over the years. I think this season's hide-and-seek game alone took months off my life. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-Wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Roh Jae-won, and Jo Yuri

How to watch: Squid Game, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Black Mirror, Season 7

Charlie Brooker's sci-fi anthology series can be patchy, but when the show hits, it really hits. Opening with one of the all-time most devastating episodes (one that may be better not to watch first, in fact), Season 7 is a mixed bag with some very high highs (or lows, if you're talking from an existential dread perspective) and plenty of its trademark, technology-based terror. Fans of "USS Callister" will be happy, as there's a sequel, as will anyone who likes their futuristic fear with a side of moving nostalgia (hello, "Eulogy"). — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

Starring: Will Poulter, Awkwafina, Peter Capaldi, Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, Cristin Milioti, Chris O'Dowd, Emma Corrin, Jimmi Simpson, and Issa Rae

How to watch: Black Mirror, Season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Ginny and Georgia, Season 3

After a few stumbles, Ginny & Georgia pulled its best season out of the hat this year. By Season 3, Sarah Lampert's series has become a show of both high drama and powerful, relatable themes, especially when it comes to continuing to raise the bar for mental health representation on TV. As Liv Facey writes for Mashable, "By depicting characters struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma in authentic ways, the show validates viewers' own experiences and challenges, helping to normalise these struggles and encourage open conversations about mental health."

This season sees Brianne Howey at her most impressive yet as single mother Georgia Miller, who ended Season 2 in handcuffs. Season 3 plunges Georgia into past trauma as she endures her high profile court case, and as her teen daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry) puts it, "the carefully constructed house of cards finally crumbles." Gentry is equally excellent this season, as Ginny finds power in poetry, and we're also treated to strong performances by Felix Mallard as the seriously struggling Marcus, and Sara Waisglass as his proud theater kid twin sister, Maxine, who basically has to scream to be heard. It's not every day a series truly finds its feet in its third season, but Ginny and Georgia genuinely broke me this year. — S.C.

Starring: Brianne Howey, Antonia Gentry, Felix Mallard, Sara Waisglass, Diesel La Torraca, Jennifer Robertson, Scott Porter, Raymond Ablack, Katie Douglas, Chelsea Clark, Nathan Mitchell, Katelyn Wells, Ty Doran, and Noah Lamanna

How to watch: Ginny & Georgia, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Running Point

Cross Ted Lasso with the NBA, and you get Running Point. Created by Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, this sports comedy centers on the wealthy Gordon family, owners of the Los Angeles Waves. When the family's sole daughter, Isla (Kate Hudson), unexpectedly gets appointed team president, she faces the steep challenge of turning a lifeless team around — all while being underestimated at every turn by her skeptical brothers.

SEE ALSO: 'Running Point' review: Mindy Kaling's latest combines 'Ted Lasso,' 'Succession,' and basketball

What follows is pure fun: part Ted Lasso fish-out-of-water sports story, part Succession-style examination of a messed-up wealthy family. Leading it all is Hudson, who proves herself quite the comedic playmaker, alongside a hilarious ensemble including Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, and Scott MacArthur. Whether you love basketball or are on the hunt for a glossy new sitcom, Running Point is a sure bet, one that I praised in my review as "a sharp comedy that skewers both professional basketball and dysfunctional families with glee." — B.E.

Starring: Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Jay Ellis, and Justin Theroux

How to watch: Running Point is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Forever

Judy Blume's seminal coming-of-age novel Forever… provided young readers with refreshingly honest depictions of teen romance and sexuality. Now, her classic gets a thoughtful adaptation in Netflix's Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends). Brock Akil follows the core storyline of Blume's work but shifts the setting from 1970s New Jersey to 2018 Los Angeles. She also reimagines the novel's leads as two Black teens, Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), each of whom is facing big choices about college and the future.

SEE ALSO: 'Forever' review: Netflix series strays from Judy Blume classic, but that's a good thing

Brock Akil's big adaptation changes pay off, allowing her to examine issues of race and class, as well as how modern-day technology impacts intimacy. Plus, she deepens our understanding of both Keisha and Justin's home lives. The pair are already extra compelling together thanks to Simone and Cooper Jr.'s immaculate chemistry, but Forever makes you just as interested in their individual goals as in their relationship. Still, their romance remains one of the sweetest TV love stories of the year. As I wrote in my review, "[Forever] is a sweet, heart-wrenching account of young love, one that significantly diverges from Blume's original novel but is still very much a companion piece to it." — B.E.

Starring: Lovie Simone, Michael Cooper Jr., Xosha Roquemore, Marvin Lawrence Winans III, Wood Harris, Barry Shabaka Henley, Niles Fitch, Paigion Walker, and E’myri Crutchfield

How to watch: Forever is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Too Much

The title of Lena Dunham's Netflix rom-com series Too Much has a versatile application, but it's likely most often heard by women constantly told to rein it in. Carly Rae Jepsen gets it. And so does Megan Stalter's protagonist, Jessica, a New Yorker who takes a job in London to get away after a horrendous break-up. There, she meet-cutes discombobulated musician Felix (Will Sharpe). (The Girls creator wrote Too Much loosely based on her experience meeting her husband, British musician Luis Felber, who co-created the series.) The supporting cast is absolute gold, from uncharacteristic appearances from Andrew Scott, Stephen Fry, and Jennifer Saunders to the practically perfect casting of Rita Wilson, and a chillingly real performance from Michael Zegen as Jessica's ex. But nothing beats these two leads.

Hacks/Cora Bora star Stalter brings every last element of her signature, internet-beloved comedy to the series, as Jessica makes a lot of chaotic decisions while processing her seriously toxic past relationship. Equally, Sharpe's Felix has his own complex personal past and shit to figure out, with The White Lotus star offering his own messy version of the rom-com male lead. As Belen Edwards writes in her Mashable review, "Dunham, Stalter, and Sharpe stir up sparks during even the most awkward or cringeworthy moments of Jessica and Felix's relationship. (And given that it's a Dunham project, there are many such moments.) In the end, this cross-continental pairing often teeters on the edge of disaster, but Too Much finds joy in their messy journey of trying to pull back from the brink." — S.C.

Starring: Megan Stalter, Will Sharpe, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Adwoa Aboah, Andrew Rannells, Daisy Bevan, Dean-Charles Chapman, Emily Ratajkowski, Janicza Bravo, Kaori Momoi, Leo Reich, Michael Zegen, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Rhea Perlman, Richard E. Grant, Rita Wilson, Andrew Scott, and Stephen Fry

How to watch: Too Much is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Toxic Town

The first of two limited series from writer Jack Thorne on this list, Toxic Town tells a fictionalised version of a real-life story. Following a group of mothers who've given birth to children with limb differences, Thorne's drama follows their legal battle against the local council as they attempt to get to the bottom of whether or not they were poisoned due to negligence and corruption at the nearby steelworks. It's an emotional and frustrating story that's brought to life by a strong script and incredible performances across the board, especially from Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) and Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus), who star as two of the real-life mothers leading the fight. — S.H.

Starring: Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, Rory Kinnear, Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle, Joe Dempsie, Claudia Jessie, Ben Batt, Stephen McMillan, Lauren Lyle, Michael Socha, Karla Crome, and Matthew Durkan

How to watch: Toxic Town is now streaming on Netflix.

12. The Four Seasons

Tina Fey reinvents Alan Alda's 1981 comedy The Four Seasons in this charming series from Netflix. Fey and an all-star cast including Colman Domingo, Steve Carell, and Will Forte play three couples who go on vacation together every season. Despite the picturesque locations, tensions inevitably rise within the friend group when Nick (Carell) leaves his wife Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) and begins dating a younger woman (Erika Henningsen).

SEE ALSO: 'The Four Seasons' review: Tina Fey and Steve Carell go on vacation in winning comedy

While The Four Seasons boasts its fair share of dry wit, cringe comedy, and the occasional slapstick, it's the group's interpersonal tensions that truly make this show stand out. Fey and co-creators Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield deftly examine the pitfalls of adult friendships and long-lasting marriages, creating a comedy that doubles as an aching reflection on the work that goes into even the most enduring friendships and romances. As I wrote in my review, "It's the substance that sneaks up on you that really makes The Four Seasons a winner, even if it's a slower burn from the jump." — B.E.

Starring: Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Marco Calvani, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Will Forte, and Erika Henningsen

How to watch: The Four Seasons is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Dept. Q

The Queen's Gambit creator Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani strike mystery gold in Dept. Q, adapted from Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen's series of the same name. The show centers on Detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), an English cop in Scotland who's disliked by practically everyone he comes into contact with. As Carl recovers from a traumatic gunshot wound, he's put in charge of a new department, one tasked with solving cold cases. It's a publicity stunt dressed up as a public service, but with the help of some unlikely assistants, Carl may just be able to turn this department into a powerhouse. Their first case? The disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie), whose current plight is nothing short of a claustrophobic nightmare.

Dept. Q toggles between taut mystery and intriguing character study, delving deep into Carl's growth toward someone who's maybe slightly pleasant, as well as the journeys of Carl's fellow detectives Akram (Alexej Manvelov), Rose (Leah Byrne), and Hardy (Jamie Sives). Together, they create a lovable squad with the potential for a long run of case-cracking on Netflix. The streaming gods demand it! — B.E.

Starring: Matthew Goode, Kelly Macdonald, Chloe Pirrie, Kate Dickie, Alexej Manvelov, Jamie Sives, and Leah Byrne

How to watch: Dept. Q is now streaming on Netflix.

10. The Diplomat, Season 3

Debora Cahn's lauded drama The Diplomat returned for another round of red hot political tête-à-tête with Season 3, with the West Wing writer notably reuniting Bartlet administration alumni Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford as the U.S. president and her husband. However, as we've come to know The Diplomat over three seasons, the top brass aren't necessarily the main focus here. Amid the intricate dance of diplomacy, Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell return in fine form as U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler and her husband, Hal, with Season 3 throwing a colossal spanner into their already turbulent relationship. Russell hits every damn note as the series' no-bullshit protagonist is pushed to her limit, and Sewell crafts Hal as obscenely punchable this season. 

Meanwhile, the rug is pulled from under CIA Chief Eidra Park (an always-impeccable Ali Ahn), and Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Hayford (the ever-charming Ato Essandoh) continues to be Kate's best chance at staying sane in the embassy. Thankfully, Season 3 also brings back David Gyasi as Kate's dashing crush, foreign secretary Austin Dennison, and Rory Kinnear as dreadful UK PM Nicol Trowbridge, while giving more screen time to Nana Mensah as matter-of-fact White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah. Cahn proves The Diplomat is still the best political series on Netflix, as Season 3 skyrockets the stakes and pushes its now-lived-in characters to the brink. — S.C.

Starring: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, and Ato Essandoh

How to watch: The Diplomat, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Stranger Things, Season 5

Stranger Things continued its trend of going as big as possible in its fifth and final season. Demogorgons fighting the military! Driving into the Upside Down! Will (Noah Schnapp) getting show-stopping powers of his own! While I may not know how Stranger Things will stick the landing at the time of writing this, that last scene is worth a spot on this list for sheer hype alone.

Season 5 struggles with the same problems Stranger Things has been fighting for the latter half of its run, especially when it comes to overstuffing episodes to the point of exhaustion. Still, as I wrote in my review, "The flashy battles and lore bombshells can get the blood pumping, but it's the characters who have kept viewers coming back for many, many years. Knowing we'll be saying goodbye to them only makes these episodes sweeter, exhaustion be damned." — B.E.

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

How to watch: Stranger Things, Season 5, Volume 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

8. A Man on the Inside, Season 2

Move over, Only Murders in the Building — Netflix's A Man on the Inside is coming for your cozy mystery crown. The series reunites creator Michael Schur (The Office, Parks and Recreation) with The Good Place star Ted Danson, and the pair's partnership continues to sparkle with wit and warmth.

Danson plays Charles Nieuwendyk, a newly minted PI whose next case takes him undercover on a liberal arts college campus. As he unravels a mystery involving a stolen laptop, blackmail, and an insufferable billionaire alum (Gary Cole), he also gets closer to his friends and family — not to mention a new love interest, played by Danson's real-life wife Mary Steenburgen. It's here that A Man on the Inside really shines, building dynamic communities and families and lovingly examining the ties that bind them together. If you're looking for the most comforting watch of the year, this is up there. — B.E.

Starring: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, and Stephanie Beatriz

How to watch: A Man on the Inside, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Wayward

Canadian comedian Mae Martin delivered a compelling drama mini-series with Wayward, led by the one and only Toni Collette as an enigmatic cult leader. Serene and intimidating, Evelyn Wade (Collette) runs Tall Pines Academy, a reform school for teenagers with some peculiar practices. Some rebellious teens are desperate to get out, and a new-to-town cop (Martin) may be their best chance for rescue.

In my review for Mashable, I cautioned: "All this makes for a show that's very easy to binge-watch. So now a warning: Don't hit play on Wayward unless you're ready to surrender yourself to eight hours of this sensational series. Like the town at its center, it's hard to walk away from."* — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Mae Martin, Brandon Jay McLaren, Sarah Gadon, Patrick J. Adams, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Patrick Gallagher, Sydney Topliffe, Joshua Close, and Toni Collette

How to watch: Wayward is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Haunted Hotel

My personal favorite new Netflix show is Haunted Hotel, an animated series Mashable TV critic Belen Edwards rightly summarized in her review as "The Shining meets Bob's Burgers."

Following a single mom, her two trouble-seeking kids, and her ghost brother and his demon ward (who is in the body of a little boy from centuries before), this wild cartoon from Rick and Morty writer Matt Roller balances the sweet, family-focused plotlines of a sitcom with a slew of horror movie references that give the show a darkly comic edge. The collision of macabre humor and a charming family makes the first watch through a breeze. But the iconic horror Easter eggs, the hilariously cheery Will Forte as a ghost uncle, and Jimmi Simpson's addictively chaotic take on demon boy Abaddon will have you coming back for rewatches again and again. It's an unlikely comfort show, but a solid one. — K.P.

Starring: Eliza Coupe, Will Forte, Skyler Gisondo, Natalie Palamides, and Jimmi Simpson

How to watch: Haunted Hotel is now streaming on Netflix.

5. North of North

The small-town comedy genre gets a lovely new entry in Netflix's North of North, which transports viewers to the Arctic town of Ice Cove. There, young Inuk woman Siaja (Anna Lambe) decides to leave her stale marriage to local legend Ting (Kelly William) and start over. That's easier said than done in an isolated town of 2,200 people, but Siaja is determined to succeed — although things get complicated when her estranged father (Jay Ryan) returns to town.

Don't let the frigid setting fool you: North of North is as heartwarming as TV shows come. Siaja's journey to independence is equal parts inspiring and amusing, as it takes several ridiculous mishaps for her to learn what she wants. Also touching is her troubled relationship with her mother, Neevee (Maika Harper), whose rocky past has led her to put up a tough exterior. These two flawed, lovable women head up a charming ensemble, with Ice Cove and its townspeople coming to life through detailed character work and specific town traditions like elders' night and walrus dick baseball. You read that right: walrus dick baseball. To watch how that plays out, and to fall in love with Lambe's wonderful turn as Siaja, be sure to journey North of North.* — B.E.

Starring: Anna Lambe, Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Zorga Qaunaq, Bailey Poching, and Kelly William

How to watch: North of North is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Death by Lightning

Imagine Deadwood meets Veep, and you'll have a good idea of what Death by Lightning brings to the table as it unfurls the stranger-than-fiction story of how President James A. Garfield was assassinated by the rogue Charles J. Guiteau.

This four-part mini-series is adapted from Candice Millard's sensational non-fictional book Destiny of the Republic (seriously, give it a read), and it boasts some incredible performers and some very beard-forward acting. Michael Shannon stars as Garfield, reigning in his volatile energy to become a portrait of quiet nobleness, while "Matthew Macfadyen brings Tom Wambsgans energy to Charles Guiteau," as Belen noted in her review. There are also dynamic turns from Nick Offerman, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham. A lot of power-grubbing, machismo, and madness come into play, and watching how some things just don't change is alternatively amusing and troubling. And truly, the wildest parts really happened. — K.P.

Starring: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham

How to watch: Death by Lightning is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Long Story Short

Long Story Short is exactly what you'd expect from BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg: witty as hell one moment, downright devastating the next. The series invites viewers into the lives of the Schwooper siblings (voiced by Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, and Max Greenfield), spanning decades from their chaotic childhoods to their equally chaotic adulthoods. From disastrous bar mitzvahs to awkward interventions, you've got a seat at the family table for it all.

Long Story Short cleverly collapses time in each episode, demonstrating how small incidents in our youth can snowball into major hangups in our later years. That nonlinear chronology turns the series into a thought-provoking examination of trauma and ever-shifting family ties. And what a family the Schwooper clan is, bursting with clashing personalities, inside jokes, and grievances that feel equal parts grounded and absurd. Spend just a few minutes with them, and you'll feel like you've known them your whole life, a quality that led me to call them "an instant classic TV family" in my review.* — B.E.

Starring: Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, Max Greenfield, Lisa Edelstein, and Paul Reiser

How to watch: Long Story Short is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Mo, Season 2

Not only is Mo one of the best TV shows of 2025 — it's also essential viewing. Co-created by Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef, this semi-autobiographical series centers on Palestinian refugee Mo (Amer) and his family's lives in Houston. Season 2 opens with Mo struggling to get back to the U.S. from Mexico. Detention centers and perilous border crossings await, all sobering reflections of the real-life journeys of immigrants trying to make it across the U.S.-Mexico border.

SEE ALSO: 'Mo' Season 2 review: Here's why it's still one of TV's most important shows

As UK Editor Shannon Connellan wrote in her review, "Mo's second season comes at a volatile time for Palestinians and undocumented immigrants alike, with those in power enforcing heartless, brutal decisions from disengaged, lofty offices that impact real people. Somehow, beyond all belief, amid a sense of transience and fear, of stacked odds and starting from scratch, Mo finds levity, surrealism, and personal solidarity in the dark, while being a genuinely funny and moving show."* — B.E.

Starring: Mo Amer, Farah Bsieso, Teresa Ruiz, Tobe Nwigwe, and Omar Elba

How to watch: Mo, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Adolescence

Likely to be the most harrowing viewing experience you'll have this year, Adolescence traps you in a nightmare over the course of its four episodes, each filmed in one take. Co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and directed by Boiling Point's Philip Barantini, Netflix's much buzzed-about mini-series examines the aftermath of a chilling murder committed by 13-year-old Jamie (newcomer Owen Cooper). Each episode focuses on a different perspective around the case, from a detective (Ashley Walters) investigating Jamie's school to Jamie's family reckoning with his actions.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Adolescence' review: One of the best, most devastating shows of 2025

These vignettes, coupled with Barantini's one-take technique, create an unflinching portrait of a crime that feels all too rooted in reality. As UK Deputy Editor Sam Haysom wrote in his review, "Adolescence's story isn't a crime mystery so much as a psychological study — it's an exploration of the manosphere culture that's having a real world affect on teenagers, and the societal and familial triggers that might lead to a seemingly ordinary 13-year-old doing something unthinkable. On this level, and on almost all others, the show is chillingly effective."* — B.E.

Starring: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, and Amelie Pease

How to watch: Adolescence is now streaming on Netflix.

(*) denotes a blurb has come from a prior list.

2025 was a massive year for Netflix — and not just because of its planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Pictures.

In many ways, 2025 was the end of an era for the streamer's TV offerings, as two of its biggest hits, Squid Game and Stranger Things, came to a close. Elsewhere, though, new original series like Adolescence captured the cultural zeitgeist (and countless awards).

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

But of the seemingly countless shows that premiered on Netflix this year, which were truly the cream of the crop? Lucky for you, we've sorted through the streamer's massive list of offerings and determined the series you absolutely must check out. There's something for everyone on this list, from quirky new comedies and YA romances to devastating mini-series and nightmare-inducing dystopias. Read on for the 20 best Netflix shows of 2025.

20. Wednesday, Season 2

All hell (and Hyde) broke loose in Wednesday Season 2, with Alfred Gough and Miles Millar's spooky series returning with all the energy of a teen werewolf at a full moon party. Back in the braids, Jenna Ortega is a macabre marvel as the show's titular storm cloud, with a murderous avian case to crack, a stalker to unmask, and a haunting vision about her bestie Enid (the delightful Emma Myers) to decrypt. And that's aside from the hell that is dealing with her Bruce Springsteen-loving new Nevermore Academy principal (Steve Buscemi, a slam dunk of a cast addition), and her tempestuous relationship with her mother, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones), which reaches a literal sword-clashing point. As Mashable's Belen Edwards writes in her review, "[M]ake no mistake: Wednesday remains the star of the show. Ortega remains the cold, dead heart of the series — and I mean that as a compliment in tribute to Wednesday!"

Season 2 not only infests its episodes with even more Edgar Allan Poe references and nods to the '90s Addams Family movies (including Christopher Lloyd himself), it solves the pesky problem of Wednesday's love triangle and lets her get back to the business of scalping serial killers and quoting Machiavelli as relationship advice. In addition, this season served up a bubbling cauldron of treats, including a long-awaited, very short cameo from Lady Gaga and the season's highlight, director Tim Burton delivering an exquisite stop-motion sequence to weave "The Tale of the Skull Tree" in his signature Gothic fantasy style. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Jenna Ortega, Isaac Ordonez, Victor Dorobantu, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joanna Lumley, Fred Armisen, Emma Myers, Hunter Doohan, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, Noah B. Taylor, Evie Templeton, Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Christopher Lloyd, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Jamie McShane, and Thandiwe Newton

How to watch: Wednesday, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Squid Game, Season 3

It's the end of an era on Netflix, as Hwang Dong-hyuk's smash hit Squid Game comes to a bloody close. Following the end of Season 2's unsuccessful player rebellion against the games, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is basically a shell of his former self. As he battles through new twisted games and faces down increasingly greedy contestants, will he find any last shreds of hope for his future and humanity? Or has the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) successfully ground down his faith in his fellow players?

Honestly, Squid Game's grand finale is a bit of a mess, one that loses whatever little subtlety it had left. (Those masked billionaires tank the show whenever they're on screen!) But even at its most ridiculous, the show remains stomach-churningly captivating. Even after three seasons, it's tough not to get invested in the games, or to scream at the screen every time disaster strikes. So thank you, Squid Game, for the many heart attacks you've given over the years. I think this season's hide-and-seek game alone took months off my life. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-Wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Roh Jae-won, and Jo Yuri

How to watch: Squid Game, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Black Mirror, Season 7

Charlie Brooker's sci-fi anthology series can be patchy, but when the show hits, it really hits. Opening with one of the all-time most devastating episodes (one that may be better not to watch first, in fact), Season 7 is a mixed bag with some very high highs (or lows, if you're talking from an existential dread perspective) and plenty of its trademark, technology-based terror. Fans of "USS Callister" will be happy, as there's a sequel, as will anyone who likes their futuristic fear with a side of moving nostalgia (hello, "Eulogy"). — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

Starring: Will Poulter, Awkwafina, Peter Capaldi, Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, Cristin Milioti, Chris O'Dowd, Emma Corrin, Jimmi Simpson, and Issa Rae

How to watch: Black Mirror, Season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Ginny and Georgia, Season 3

After a few stumbles, Ginny & Georgia pulled its best season out of the hat this year. By Season 3, Sarah Lampert's series has become a show of both high drama and powerful, relatable themes, especially when it comes to continuing to raise the bar for mental health representation on TV. As Liv Facey writes for Mashable, "By depicting characters struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma in authentic ways, the show validates viewers' own experiences and challenges, helping to normalise these struggles and encourage open conversations about mental health."

This season sees Brianne Howey at her most impressive yet as single mother Georgia Miller, who ended Season 2 in handcuffs. Season 3 plunges Georgia into past trauma as she endures her high profile court case, and as her teen daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry) puts it, "the carefully constructed house of cards finally crumbles." Gentry is equally excellent this season, as Ginny finds power in poetry, and we're also treated to strong performances by Felix Mallard as the seriously struggling Marcus, and Sara Waisglass as his proud theater kid twin sister, Maxine, who basically has to scream to be heard. It's not every day a series truly finds its feet in its third season, but Ginny and Georgia genuinely broke me this year. — S.C.

Starring: Brianne Howey, Antonia Gentry, Felix Mallard, Sara Waisglass, Diesel La Torraca, Jennifer Robertson, Scott Porter, Raymond Ablack, Katie Douglas, Chelsea Clark, Nathan Mitchell, Katelyn Wells, Ty Doran, and Noah Lamanna

How to watch: Ginny & Georgia, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Running Point

Cross Ted Lasso with the NBA, and you get Running Point. Created by Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, this sports comedy centers on the wealthy Gordon family, owners of the Los Angeles Waves. When the family's sole daughter, Isla (Kate Hudson), unexpectedly gets appointed team president, she faces the steep challenge of turning a lifeless team around — all while being underestimated at every turn by her skeptical brothers.

SEE ALSO: 'Running Point' review: Mindy Kaling's latest combines 'Ted Lasso,' 'Succession,' and basketball

What follows is pure fun: part Ted Lasso fish-out-of-water sports story, part Succession-style examination of a messed-up wealthy family. Leading it all is Hudson, who proves herself quite the comedic playmaker, alongside a hilarious ensemble including Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, and Scott MacArthur. Whether you love basketball or are on the hunt for a glossy new sitcom, Running Point is a sure bet, one that I praised in my review as "a sharp comedy that skewers both professional basketball and dysfunctional families with glee." — B.E.

Starring: Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Jay Ellis, and Justin Theroux

How to watch: Running Point is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Forever

Judy Blume's seminal coming-of-age novel Forever… provided young readers with refreshingly honest depictions of teen romance and sexuality. Now, her classic gets a thoughtful adaptation in Netflix's Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends). Brock Akil follows the core storyline of Blume's work but shifts the setting from 1970s New Jersey to 2018 Los Angeles. She also reimagines the novel's leads as two Black teens, Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), each of whom is facing big choices about college and the future.

SEE ALSO: 'Forever' review: Netflix series strays from Judy Blume classic, but that's a good thing

Brock Akil's big adaptation changes pay off, allowing her to examine issues of race and class, as well as how modern-day technology impacts intimacy. Plus, she deepens our understanding of both Keisha and Justin's home lives. The pair are already extra compelling together thanks to Simone and Cooper Jr.'s immaculate chemistry, but Forever makes you just as interested in their individual goals as in their relationship. Still, their romance remains one of the sweetest TV love stories of the year. As I wrote in my review, "[Forever] is a sweet, heart-wrenching account of young love, one that significantly diverges from Blume's original novel but is still very much a companion piece to it." — B.E.

Starring: Lovie Simone, Michael Cooper Jr., Xosha Roquemore, Marvin Lawrence Winans III, Wood Harris, Barry Shabaka Henley, Niles Fitch, Paigion Walker, and E’myri Crutchfield

How to watch: Forever is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Too Much

The title of Lena Dunham's Netflix rom-com series Too Much has a versatile application, but it's likely most often heard by women constantly told to rein it in. Carly Rae Jepsen gets it. And so does Megan Stalter's protagonist, Jessica, a New Yorker who takes a job in London to get away after a horrendous break-up. There, she meet-cutes discombobulated musician Felix (Will Sharpe). (The Girls creator wrote Too Much loosely based on her experience meeting her husband, British musician Luis Felber, who co-created the series.) The supporting cast is absolute gold, from uncharacteristic appearances from Andrew Scott, Stephen Fry, and Jennifer Saunders to the practically perfect casting of Rita Wilson, and a chillingly real performance from Michael Zegen as Jessica's ex. But nothing beats these two leads.

Hacks/Cora Bora star Stalter brings every last element of her signature, internet-beloved comedy to the series, as Jessica makes a lot of chaotic decisions while processing her seriously toxic past relationship. Equally, Sharpe's Felix has his own complex personal past and shit to figure out, with The White Lotus star offering his own messy version of the rom-com male lead. As Belen Edwards writes in her Mashable review, "Dunham, Stalter, and Sharpe stir up sparks during even the most awkward or cringeworthy moments of Jessica and Felix's relationship. (And given that it's a Dunham project, there are many such moments.) In the end, this cross-continental pairing often teeters on the edge of disaster, but Too Much finds joy in their messy journey of trying to pull back from the brink." — S.C.

Starring: Megan Stalter, Will Sharpe, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Adwoa Aboah, Andrew Rannells, Daisy Bevan, Dean-Charles Chapman, Emily Ratajkowski, Janicza Bravo, Kaori Momoi, Leo Reich, Michael Zegen, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Rhea Perlman, Richard E. Grant, Rita Wilson, Andrew Scott, and Stephen Fry

How to watch: Too Much is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Toxic Town

The first of two limited series from writer Jack Thorne on this list, Toxic Town tells a fictionalised version of a real-life story. Following a group of mothers who've given birth to children with limb differences, Thorne's drama follows their legal battle against the local council as they attempt to get to the bottom of whether or not they were poisoned due to negligence and corruption at the nearby steelworks. It's an emotional and frustrating story that's brought to life by a strong script and incredible performances across the board, especially from Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) and Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus), who star as two of the real-life mothers leading the fight. — S.H.

Starring: Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, Rory Kinnear, Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle, Joe Dempsie, Claudia Jessie, Ben Batt, Stephen McMillan, Lauren Lyle, Michael Socha, Karla Crome, and Matthew Durkan

How to watch: Toxic Town is now streaming on Netflix.

12. The Four Seasons

Tina Fey reinvents Alan Alda's 1981 comedy The Four Seasons in this charming series from Netflix. Fey and an all-star cast including Colman Domingo, Steve Carell, and Will Forte play three couples who go on vacation together every season. Despite the picturesque locations, tensions inevitably rise within the friend group when Nick (Carell) leaves his wife Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) and begins dating a younger woman (Erika Henningsen).

SEE ALSO: 'The Four Seasons' review: Tina Fey and Steve Carell go on vacation in winning comedy

While The Four Seasons boasts its fair share of dry wit, cringe comedy, and the occasional slapstick, it's the group's interpersonal tensions that truly make this show stand out. Fey and co-creators Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield deftly examine the pitfalls of adult friendships and long-lasting marriages, creating a comedy that doubles as an aching reflection on the work that goes into even the most enduring friendships and romances. As I wrote in my review, "It's the substance that sneaks up on you that really makes The Four Seasons a winner, even if it's a slower burn from the jump." — B.E.

Starring: Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Marco Calvani, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Will Forte, and Erika Henningsen

How to watch: The Four Seasons is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Dept. Q

The Queen's Gambit creator Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani strike mystery gold in Dept. Q, adapted from Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen's series of the same name. The show centers on Detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), an English cop in Scotland who's disliked by practically everyone he comes into contact with. As Carl recovers from a traumatic gunshot wound, he's put in charge of a new department, one tasked with solving cold cases. It's a publicity stunt dressed up as a public service, but with the help of some unlikely assistants, Carl may just be able to turn this department into a powerhouse. Their first case? The disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie), whose current plight is nothing short of a claustrophobic nightmare.

Dept. Q toggles between taut mystery and intriguing character study, delving deep into Carl's growth toward someone who's maybe slightly pleasant, as well as the journeys of Carl's fellow detectives Akram (Alexej Manvelov), Rose (Leah Byrne), and Hardy (Jamie Sives). Together, they create a lovable squad with the potential for a long run of case-cracking on Netflix. The streaming gods demand it! — B.E.

Starring: Matthew Goode, Kelly Macdonald, Chloe Pirrie, Kate Dickie, Alexej Manvelov, Jamie Sives, and Leah Byrne

How to watch: Dept. Q is now streaming on Netflix.

10. The Diplomat, Season 3

Debora Cahn's lauded drama The Diplomat returned for another round of red hot political tête-à-tête with Season 3, with the West Wing writer notably reuniting Bartlet administration alumni Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford as the U.S. president and her husband. However, as we've come to know The Diplomat over three seasons, the top brass aren't necessarily the main focus here. Amid the intricate dance of diplomacy, Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell return in fine form as U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler and her husband, Hal, with Season 3 throwing a colossal spanner into their already turbulent relationship. Russell hits every damn note as the series' no-bullshit protagonist is pushed to her limit, and Sewell crafts Hal as obscenely punchable this season. 

Meanwhile, the rug is pulled from under CIA Chief Eidra Park (an always-impeccable Ali Ahn), and Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Hayford (the ever-charming Ato Essandoh) continues to be Kate's best chance at staying sane in the embassy. Thankfully, Season 3 also brings back David Gyasi as Kate's dashing crush, foreign secretary Austin Dennison, and Rory Kinnear as dreadful UK PM Nicol Trowbridge, while giving more screen time to Nana Mensah as matter-of-fact White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah. Cahn proves The Diplomat is still the best political series on Netflix, as Season 3 skyrockets the stakes and pushes its now-lived-in characters to the brink. — S.C.

Starring: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, and Ato Essandoh

How to watch: The Diplomat, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Stranger Things, Season 5

Stranger Things continued its trend of going as big as possible in its fifth and final season. Demogorgons fighting the military! Driving into the Upside Down! Will (Noah Schnapp) getting show-stopping powers of his own! While I may not know how Stranger Things will stick the landing at the time of writing this, that last scene is worth a spot on this list for sheer hype alone.

Season 5 struggles with the same problems Stranger Things has been fighting for the latter half of its run, especially when it comes to overstuffing episodes to the point of exhaustion. Still, as I wrote in my review, "The flashy battles and lore bombshells can get the blood pumping, but it's the characters who have kept viewers coming back for many, many years. Knowing we'll be saying goodbye to them only makes these episodes sweeter, exhaustion be damned." — B.E.

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

How to watch: Stranger Things, Season 5, Volume 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

8. A Man on the Inside, Season 2

Move over, Only Murders in the Building — Netflix's A Man on the Inside is coming for your cozy mystery crown. The series reunites creator Michael Schur (The Office, Parks and Recreation) with The Good Place star Ted Danson, and the pair's partnership continues to sparkle with wit and warmth.

Danson plays Charles Nieuwendyk, a newly minted PI whose next case takes him undercover on a liberal arts college campus. As he unravels a mystery involving a stolen laptop, blackmail, and an insufferable billionaire alum (Gary Cole), he also gets closer to his friends and family — not to mention a new love interest, played by Danson's real-life wife Mary Steenburgen. It's here that A Man on the Inside really shines, building dynamic communities and families and lovingly examining the ties that bind them together. If you're looking for the most comforting watch of the year, this is up there. — B.E.

Starring: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, and Stephanie Beatriz

How to watch: A Man on the Inside, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Wayward

Canadian comedian Mae Martin delivered a compelling drama mini-series with Wayward, led by the one and only Toni Collette as an enigmatic cult leader. Serene and intimidating, Evelyn Wade (Collette) runs Tall Pines Academy, a reform school for teenagers with some peculiar practices. Some rebellious teens are desperate to get out, and a new-to-town cop (Martin) may be their best chance for rescue.

In my review for Mashable, I cautioned: "All this makes for a show that's very easy to binge-watch. So now a warning: Don't hit play on Wayward unless you're ready to surrender yourself to eight hours of this sensational series. Like the town at its center, it's hard to walk away from."* — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Mae Martin, Brandon Jay McLaren, Sarah Gadon, Patrick J. Adams, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Patrick Gallagher, Sydney Topliffe, Joshua Close, and Toni Collette

How to watch: Wayward is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Haunted Hotel

My personal favorite new Netflix show is Haunted Hotel, an animated series Mashable TV critic Belen Edwards rightly summarized in her review as "The Shining meets Bob's Burgers."

Following a single mom, her two trouble-seeking kids, and her ghost brother and his demon ward (who is in the body of a little boy from centuries before), this wild cartoon from Rick and Morty writer Matt Roller balances the sweet, family-focused plotlines of a sitcom with a slew of horror movie references that give the show a darkly comic edge. The collision of macabre humor and a charming family makes the first watch through a breeze. But the iconic horror Easter eggs, the hilariously cheery Will Forte as a ghost uncle, and Jimmi Simpson's addictively chaotic take on demon boy Abaddon will have you coming back for rewatches again and again. It's an unlikely comfort show, but a solid one. — K.P.

Starring: Eliza Coupe, Will Forte, Skyler Gisondo, Natalie Palamides, and Jimmi Simpson

How to watch: Haunted Hotel is now streaming on Netflix.

5. North of North

The small-town comedy genre gets a lovely new entry in Netflix's North of North, which transports viewers to the Arctic town of Ice Cove. There, young Inuk woman Siaja (Anna Lambe) decides to leave her stale marriage to local legend Ting (Kelly William) and start over. That's easier said than done in an isolated town of 2,200 people, but Siaja is determined to succeed — although things get complicated when her estranged father (Jay Ryan) returns to town.

Don't let the frigid setting fool you: North of North is as heartwarming as TV shows come. Siaja's journey to independence is equal parts inspiring and amusing, as it takes several ridiculous mishaps for her to learn what she wants. Also touching is her troubled relationship with her mother, Neevee (Maika Harper), whose rocky past has led her to put up a tough exterior. These two flawed, lovable women head up a charming ensemble, with Ice Cove and its townspeople coming to life through detailed character work and specific town traditions like elders' night and walrus dick baseball. You read that right: walrus dick baseball. To watch how that plays out, and to fall in love with Lambe's wonderful turn as Siaja, be sure to journey North of North.* — B.E.

Starring: Anna Lambe, Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Zorga Qaunaq, Bailey Poching, and Kelly William

How to watch: North of North is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Death by Lightning

Imagine Deadwood meets Veep, and you'll have a good idea of what Death by Lightning brings to the table as it unfurls the stranger-than-fiction story of how President James A. Garfield was assassinated by the rogue Charles J. Guiteau.

This four-part mini-series is adapted from Candice Millard's sensational non-fictional book Destiny of the Republic (seriously, give it a read), and it boasts some incredible performers and some very beard-forward acting. Michael Shannon stars as Garfield, reigning in his volatile energy to become a portrait of quiet nobleness, while "Matthew Macfadyen brings Tom Wambsgans energy to Charles Guiteau," as Belen noted in her review. There are also dynamic turns from Nick Offerman, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham. A lot of power-grubbing, machismo, and madness come into play, and watching how some things just don't change is alternatively amusing and troubling. And truly, the wildest parts really happened. — K.P.

Starring: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham

How to watch: Death by Lightning is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Long Story Short

Long Story Short is exactly what you'd expect from BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg: witty as hell one moment, downright devastating the next. The series invites viewers into the lives of the Schwooper siblings (voiced by Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, and Max Greenfield), spanning decades from their chaotic childhoods to their equally chaotic adulthoods. From disastrous bar mitzvahs to awkward interventions, you've got a seat at the family table for it all.

Long Story Short cleverly collapses time in each episode, demonstrating how small incidents in our youth can snowball into major hangups in our later years. That nonlinear chronology turns the series into a thought-provoking examination of trauma and ever-shifting family ties. And what a family the Schwooper clan is, bursting with clashing personalities, inside jokes, and grievances that feel equal parts grounded and absurd. Spend just a few minutes with them, and you'll feel like you've known them your whole life, a quality that led me to call them "an instant classic TV family" in my review.* — B.E.

Starring: Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, Max Greenfield, Lisa Edelstein, and Paul Reiser

How to watch: Long Story Short is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Mo, Season 2

Not only is Mo one of the best TV shows of 2025 — it's also essential viewing. Co-created by Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef, this semi-autobiographical series centers on Palestinian refugee Mo (Amer) and his family's lives in Houston. Season 2 opens with Mo struggling to get back to the U.S. from Mexico. Detention centers and perilous border crossings await, all sobering reflections of the real-life journeys of immigrants trying to make it across the U.S.-Mexico border.

SEE ALSO: 'Mo' Season 2 review: Here's why it's still one of TV's most important shows

As UK Editor Shannon Connellan wrote in her review, "Mo's second season comes at a volatile time for Palestinians and undocumented immigrants alike, with those in power enforcing heartless, brutal decisions from disengaged, lofty offices that impact real people. Somehow, beyond all belief, amid a sense of transience and fear, of stacked odds and starting from scratch, Mo finds levity, surrealism, and personal solidarity in the dark, while being a genuinely funny and moving show."* — B.E.

Starring: Mo Amer, Farah Bsieso, Teresa Ruiz, Tobe Nwigwe, and Omar Elba

How to watch: Mo, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Adolescence

Likely to be the most harrowing viewing experience you'll have this year, Adolescence traps you in a nightmare over the course of its four episodes, each filmed in one take. Co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and directed by Boiling Point's Philip Barantini, Netflix's much buzzed-about mini-series examines the aftermath of a chilling murder committed by 13-year-old Jamie (newcomer Owen Cooper). Each episode focuses on a different perspective around the case, from a detective (Ashley Walters) investigating Jamie's school to Jamie's family reckoning with his actions.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Adolescence' review: One of the best, most devastating shows of 2025

These vignettes, coupled with Barantini's one-take technique, create an unflinching portrait of a crime that feels all too rooted in reality. As UK Deputy Editor Sam Haysom wrote in his review, "Adolescence's story isn't a crime mystery so much as a psychological study — it's an exploration of the manosphere culture that's having a real world affect on teenagers, and the societal and familial triggers that might lead to a seemingly ordinary 13-year-old doing something unthinkable. On this level, and on almost all others, the show is chillingly effective."* — B.E.

Starring: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, and Amelie Pease

How to watch: Adolescence is now streaming on Netflix.

(*) denotes a blurb has come from a prior list.

There's a lot of pressure when brainstorming good gift ideas for your mom. She sacrificed a lot for you, and you'd like to show some appreciation back. Part of our larger series dedicated to finding the best gifts for everyone, this list of gifts for your mom (or any mom or mother figure, for that matter) attempts to think outside of the same old generic suggestions that have plagued moms at major holidays for decades.

SEE ALSO: The 71 absolute best stocking stuffers for 2025

Does she have a unique interest or pastime that's a huge part of her life? You could look for hyper-specific items that speak directly to her passions, or pick up an item to finally get her started on that dream hobby. If she'd appreciate a more practical gift, rack your brain for a frustration that she's mentioned more than once — perhaps her coffee machine sucks or she's having trouble sleeping. You can't go wrong with gifting something that'll make her life easier.

Either way, the best Christmas gifts for mom will make her feel listened to, valued, or straight-up pampered. Consider what she does when she has no one putting demands on her time — then shop for those moments. And if you get stuck, visit our guide to the best gifts under $50 for even more winning ideas.

Getting actors to tease their upcoming projects with a word or two is a trend on The Tonight Show, and in the clip above Finn Wolfhard really steps up to the plate.

Stranger Things only has four episodes left of its final season, and host Jimmy Fallon goes through episode by episode, asking Wolfhard to sum them up in one spoiler-free word.

The words Wolfhard picks, in order?

• Crispy

• Shocking

• Enlightening

• Emotional

We'll find out exactly what he means soon enough. In the meantime, we have a lot of burning questions ourselves.

Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 25, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31, both at 8 p.m. ET.

Getting actors to tease their upcoming projects with a word or two is a trend on The Tonight Show, and in the clip above Finn Wolfhard really steps up to the plate.

Stranger Things only has four episodes left of its final season, and host Jimmy Fallon goes through episode by episode, asking Wolfhard to sum them up in one spoiler-free word.

The words Wolfhard picks, in order?

• Crispy

• Shocking

• Enlightening

• Emotional

We'll find out exactly what he means soon enough. In the meantime, we have a lot of burning questions ourselves.

Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 25, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31, both at 8 p.m. ET.

As AI creeps into nearly every realm of our world, it feels like you need to be in investigation mode all the time to sniff it out. The tension between the literary world and AI is especially present these days. ChatGPT is now a tool for creation, with writers being encouraged to use the large language model to write stories — but consumers aren't asking for it. In fact, they're asking how to avoid. Libby users have been especially keen to spot the presence of AI, which has infiltrated audiobooks in a big way.

As pointed out by user @ems.book.shelf_ on TikTok, AI audiobooks have arrived on Libby, the app that connects public library card holders with their library's e-book and audiobook collections.

This isn't the first instance of AI and Libby crossing over. On Nov. 20, 2025, Libby posted an article launching its 'Inspire Me' feature, which uses large-language-model generative artificial intelligence to recommend and suggest books to users.

The 'Inspire Me' feature is easy enough to avoid, but an underlying issue on Libby is the presence of audiobooks that are narrated by AI. For dedicated audiobook listeners, losing the human touch of a real person's narration is devastating. So if you want to steer clear of AI, here's how to spot AI audiobooks in Libby.

How to spot AI audiobooks and Libby

After sharing the news that AI content is available on Libby, TikToker @ems.book.shelf_ also shared how to spot it within Libby. Which AI audiobooks are available will vary from library to library, so rather than provide an extensive list of AI audiobooks, you'll need to do some searching.

Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• Libby app

Step 1: Search for AI voices

In the Libby app, go to the search bar and look at two specific terms: Digital Voice and Synthesized Voice. This will display all the titles that feature AI voice narration, which is commonly referred to as either a digital or synthesized voice.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Step 2: Browse through results

Once you've searched, click into individual book listings. In each book's details, the narrator will be listed. Any books that use AI will have the narrator listed as either a 'synthesized voice' or 'digital voice.' If you're looking to avoid AI, don't borrow these books.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

As AI creeps into nearly every realm of our world, it feels like you need to be in investigation mode all the time to sniff it out. The tension between the literary world and AI is especially present these days. ChatGPT is now a tool for creation, with writers being encouraged to use the large language model to write stories — but consumers aren't asking for it. In fact, they're asking how to avoid. Libby users have been especially keen to spot the presence of AI, which has infiltrated audiobooks in a big way.

As pointed out by user @ems.book.shelf_ on TikTok, AI audiobooks have arrived on Libby, the app that connects public library card holders with their library's e-book and audiobook collections.

This isn't the first instance of AI and Libby crossing over. On Nov. 20, 2025, Libby posted an article launching its 'Inspire Me' feature, which uses large-language-model generative artificial intelligence to recommend and suggest books to users.

The 'Inspire Me' feature is easy enough to avoid, but an underlying issue on Libby is the presence of audiobooks that are narrated by AI. For dedicated audiobook listeners, losing the human touch of a real person's narration is devastating. So if you want to steer clear of AI, here's how to spot AI audiobooks in Libby.

How to spot AI audiobooks and Libby

After sharing the news that AI content is available on Libby, TikToker @ems.book.shelf_ also shared how to spot it within Libby. Which AI audiobooks are available will vary from library to library, so rather than provide an extensive list of AI audiobooks, you'll need to do some searching.

Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• Libby app

Step 1: Search for AI voices

In the Libby app, go to the search bar and look at two specific terms: Digital Voice and Synthesized Voice. This will display all the titles that feature AI voice narration, which is commonly referred to as either a digital or synthesized voice.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Step 2: Browse through results

Once you've searched, click into individual book listings. In each book's details, the narrator will be listed. Any books that use AI will have the narrator listed as either a 'synthesized voice' or 'digital voice.' If you're looking to avoid AI, don't borrow these books.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Sabrina Carpenter has gone day drinking with Seth Meyers, joining the Late Night host for a Christmas-themed edition of his regular alcohol-fuelled segment. Eschewing espresso martinis for beer and Long Island iced tea, the duo began with a game of Truth or Drink, in which Meyers quickly hurt his own feelings by asking Carpenter to rate him. Apparently, seven was not the score he was hoping for.

"I thought seven was sort of giving!" Carpenter later exclaimed, defending her assessment. "Like, I thought seven was sort of like, there's room to grow! I don't know, like, I thought seven was more than five!"

Despite Carpenter's good intentions, 51-year-old Meyers did not agree with her claim that he is still growing.

"I feel like I've just met a ghost on Christmas," quipped Meyers, referencing Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. "You're like, 'I'm from the future! You're an eight!"

They also inexplicably played with red light therapy masks, attempted to make animal noises, and partook in classic Christmas games such as "unwrap alcohol while wearing oven mitts then make the other person drink it" and "drunkenly decorate Meyers like a Christmas tree while singing 'Silent Night.'"

If your team always returns from the holidays more exhausted than energized, you’re likely dealing with the end-of-year productivity paradox: The final weeks of December, when everyone already feels stressed and depleted, are overloaded with deadlines, meetings, and last-minute obligations. This stress ultimately undermines productivity and momentum in the new year. A “Wrap-Up Week” can […]

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Most of you reading this are probably using one of the popular “free” email services, but they aren’t really free, are they? In exchange for letting these companies analyze the contents of your email and track you across the web, you have the “privilege” of looking at targeted advertising stuffed in between your legitimate emails.

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

Empty.

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

BLANK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Unmarried.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UNWED

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Payment receiver.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

PAYEE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Another time.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 17 Hurdle Word 4 answer

AGAIN

Final Hurdle hint

A predatory fish.

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

MORAY

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

The teaser trailer for Disclosure Day has been released, offering a glimpse at Steven Spielberg's upcoming sci-fi film. Ironically, Disclosure Day's teaser doesn't actually disclose all that much. What we do know is that aliens appear to be involved.

Offering more vibes than plot details, the trailer features Emily Blunt as a Kansas City weather presenter who begins making strange sounds while on air — sounds which are definitely not the weather forecast. Meanwhile, Colin Firth is wired up to a machine and appears distressed by whatever is on the screen in front of him, while Josh O'Connor is determined to give "full disclosure to the whole world, all at once." What is he disclosing? It isn't clear. However, the crop circles and extremely suspicious deer may have something to do with it.

Disclosure Day will arrive in theatres June 12.

HBO Max has released the official trailer for The Pitt's second season, bringing back Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) for a fresh shift at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Unfortunately for him, it looks no less gruelling than the first one we saw.

Picking up 10 months on from the last season, The Pitt Season 2 takes place during a busy July 4 weekend in the emergency room. It'd be unsurprising to see some firework-related injuries, which tend to significantly increase around Independence Day. If that wasn't stressful enough, it looks as though a cyber attack will take the emergency room's computer systems offline during this shift, forcing the team to "go analogue." It seems like a perfect recipe for chaos in an already busy emergency department.

Alongside Dr. Robby, Season 2 sees the return of Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball), nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa), Dr. Mohran (Supriya Ganesh), Dr. McKay (Fiona Dourif), Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), Dr. Santos (Isa Briones), and medical students turned interns Whitaker (Gerran Howell) and Javadi (Shabana Azeez). Also joining them will be new physician Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi).

The Pitt Season 2 arrives Jan. 8 on HBO Max.

Reactivate those Pip-Boys and set your Spotify listening age to 87, as Prime Video's adaptation of post-apocalyptic game franchise Fallout is back with a second season. And of course, we're in for more Easter eggs, needle drops, and details from Bethesda's games that you might recognise from your travels through the Wasteland.

For Season 1, showrunners Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner recruited production designer Howard Cummings and set decorator Regina Graves to bring the retro-futurist and post-apocalyptic details of the Fallout games to the screen, from those instantly familiar "Please stand by" screens to the famous T-60 power armor. In Season 2, there's more Sugar Bombs, irradiated enemies, and Vault-Tec facilities where that came from.

SEE ALSO: 'Fallout' Season 2 review: Our introduction to New Vegas is a blast, and more relevant than ever

Here's a handy guide to the game elements the Fallout show includes — one we'll be updating each week as the episodes drop.

Fallout Season 2 includes key locations from the games including Fallout: New Vegas Let's gooooo. Credit: Courtesy of Prime

The Fallout TV series covers a lot of ground within the post-apocalyptic Wasteland featured in multiple Fallout games. In Season 1, the characters came across the games' Red Rocket gas stations, Super Duper Marts, and a thrown-together town akin to the game's cities of Megaton, Rivet City, New Reno, and Diamond City. But in Season 2, it's all about New Vegas, a crumbling, post-apocalyptic version of the City of Lights which forms the core setting for the third Fallout game.

While Episode 1 doesn't reach New Vegas, it's always on the horizon, with Lucy (Ella Purnell) and Cooper Howard/The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) following her father's trail there. But in the very first scene, the pair are in quite a predicament within the The Great Khan raider hideout, a location in Fallout: New Vegas located in the Mojave Wasteland. For the Fallout show, the gang's base is actually the Dino Dee-lite Motel, another location from Fallout: New Vegas, which features that giant T-rex.

Lucy's sniper spot is straight out of "Fallout: New Vegas." Credit: Bethesda

Vault-wise, this season's underground locations are Vaults 31, 32, and 33, all with their own predicaments and mysteries. But there are also plenty of empty vaults to explore like the game — and in episode 1, Lucy and Coop find Vault 24, a vault that was actually cut from Fallout: New Vegas (meaning the TV series has a blank slate for its backstory). Right near the entrance to this vault, the pair walk through the Starlight Drive-In, an iconic location from Fallout 4. You'll see on the cinema's marquee that the very last movie to be shown here was A Man and His Dog 3, starring none other than Coop.

One of the most intriguing new locations in the series is the underground Vault-Tec tower, where Lucy's dad Hank (Kyle MacLachlan) heads to at the end of episode 1. We can't say much more.

Featured Video For You What tech would the 'Fallout' cast steal from the show? Fallout brings the armor, weapons, and gadgets of the games to life. Back into the vault with Woody Thomas (Zach Cherry). Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime

One of the most impressive elements of the Fallout series is the impeccable production design, especially on details like armor, weapons, and gadgets — but not the games' signature aim-support V.A.T.S. system (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System). In Season 2, there's just as much to delight fans new and longtime.

For one, every Vault Dweller including Lucy still wears the franchise's signature Pip-Boy on their wrist, a wearable computer that's used in Season 1 for its inbuilt map and navigation, Geiger counter, torch, and more. This season, the devices take on additional uses; Lucy uses hers to open Vault 24 in episode 1. The Pip-Boys also feature the game's ubiquitous Vault Boy, Vault-Tec's thumbs-up mascot, who we learned last season is based on Cooper.

Frances Turner (Barb Howard) has her own Pip Boy. Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime

Armor-wise, the Brotherhood of Steel's preferred T-60 power armor from Fallout 4 is back in all its lumbering glory, along with plenty of raider leathers and vault jumpsuits.

That iconic power armor in "Fallout 4." Credit: Bethesda

And weapon-wise, while Season 1 featured game selections from automatic turrets to miniguns and the Junk Jet from Fallout 4, Season 2 starts with a bang and Fallout: New Vegas' grenade launcher.

Fallout relies on aid just like the game. You're gonna need food, drugs, and friends. Credit: Courtesy of Prime.

You can't survive the Fallout games without aid items, and neither can the characters in the series. Season 1 featured the franchise's love for Atomic Age foods made for Vault-Dwellers like YumYum Deviled Eggs, Insta-Mash, Nuka-Cola, and Sugar Bombs, the latter of which is a cereal shaped like tiny nuclear bombs — and it plays an important role at the end of episode 1. Notably, the flea soup Lucy drinks in episode 1 is not from the game and is entirely the messed up creation of the showrunners.

Aid goes beyond food in Fallout, however, with stimulants and anti-radiation meds the tip of the drugberg. The first season included crucial-in game items like RadAway (to clear radiation poisoning), Jet (a chemical stimulant or "chem" used regularly by Cooper), and injections called "stimpaks" that instantly heal. There's not many chems used in episode 1, but there could be ahead.

Plus, it's no fun traversing the Wasteland alone, and in the Fallout games, you can bring your friends along for company (and the perks and storylines you'll unlock). In Season 1, the series included companions like the Mister Handy robot butlers, one of whom was voiced by Matt Berry, and introduced a glorious dog named CX404, otherwise known by the terrible name of Dogmeat. The pooch is back for Season 2.

Fallout's enemies are right out of the game. Watch your back. Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime

Enemies abound in the Wasteland, and the Fallout series has already featured plenty of them, from Raiders (gangs of outlaws) to Fiends (cannibals). Creature-wise, Season 1 included Radroaches (irradiated cockroaches), Yao Guai (mutant bears), Feral Ghouls (zombie versions of the mutated humans), and a giant anglerfish. In Season 2, we've only really seen one band of Raiders — the Great Khans of Fallout: New Vegas —  however the sinister forces within the vaults (and the past?) seem more of a threat at this point.

One famous foe missing from the Fallout TV series? The game's fierce and omnipresent Super Mutants; you can spot one for a second on a "Wanted!" poster in Season 1, episode 6. Our fingers are crossed.

Perhaps all this detail makes you want to play the games for the first time — or all over again? 

Fallout Season 2 premieres Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Prime Video, with a new episode every week.

There's moment in Fallout Season 2 that isn't directly an ode to the late, great David Lynch but it absolutely, 100 percent is.

In the very first episode of the second chapter, there's a fleeting scene that Twin Peaks fans might find unexpectedly heartwarming in the middle of this forsaken Wasteland. And it involves a damn fine cup of coffee.

SEE ALSO: 'Fallout 2' is full of game details. Here's a handy guide.

Late in Season 2, episode 1 of the TV adaptation of Bethesda's Fallout game franchise, we meet up with former Vault 33 overseer Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) who has trudged across the Nevada desert in T-60 power armor all the way to a massive underground Vault-Tec tower. It's completely devoid of life, instead a silent shell of a pristine office building.

Plus, Hank's got over 400,000 unread messages to attend to — it's been at least 200 years since anyone's checked them. With an aim for caffeination and his golden Pip Boy strapped on, Hank makes himself a pot of coffee and takes a sip — and if you don't think MacLachlan's character is about to remark that it's a "damn fine cup of coffee," you need to watch more Twin Peaks.

Featured Video For You What tech would the 'Fallout' cast steal from the show?

In this scene, MacLachlan could very well be paying tribute to his longtime friend and Twin Peaks/Blue Velvet/Dune director, who died at 78 in January this year. The actor has long been synonymous with the phrase after playing Agent Dale Cooper in Lynch's iconic mystery series. The FBI special agent insists on taking a moment for his daily brew, and giving oneself a daily present while investigating horrific crimes, preferring "two cups of good, hot black coffee" for himself.

While Hank doesn't actually utter the words despite subtle "say the line, Bart," teasing, there's definitely a smile and a pause — enough for Lynch fans to fill in the famous line themselves.

If you're a U.S.-based TikTok user who was anxiously counting down the days until the social media app was banned on Dec. 16, 2025, then there's good news. Christmas came early — you can start counting down the days until Jan. 23 instead.

Dec. 16 was, in theory, the latest deadline for TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, to wrap up a sale of its U.S. business. That was supposed to happen by law (the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act of 2024, if you're feeling formal) on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025; in fact, there was a brief shutdown.

The deadline has been extended four times, via executive order, since the Trump administration gained power on that date. The first delay took us to April 4, 2025. On that date, another executive order gave ByteDance until June 19, 2025 to sell. Then, guess what: a June 19 executive order pushed the deadline back until Dec. 16, 2025.

In the meantime, we seem to be no closer to a TikTok sale. By multiple accounts, negotiations have become bogged down, in part because the Chinese government takes a dim view of the U.S. strong-arming one of its companies and views the deal as leverage. Not to mention that a constantly-extended deadline isn't a real deadline at all.

SEE ALSO: How to vote for the TikTok Awards 2025 — plus date, nominees, and how to watch

Trump, who has repeatedly drawn attention to his own following on TikTok, may appear like he's tactically delaying the ban. But he's also keen to take credit for the possibility of a sale, and it doesn't exactly take an international diplomacy expert to see weaknesses in this game of hardball. You just have to know one of 2025's most popular political truisms: TACO.

Indeed, on Sept. 25, Trump issued another executive order directing the U.S. Attorney General to take "no action for noncompliance" against TikTok for "120 days from the date of this order" — which brings us to Jan. 23, 2026. Why? Because, Trump wrote, "a plan has been presented to me to undergo a qualified divestiture of TikTok’s United States operations."

That plan was said to involve a $14 billion sale of the U.S. arm of TikTok to a consortium including Oracle, which is led by Trump backer Larry Ellison. But no further details have materialized, and the Chinese government insists the sale isn't going ahead — leading to widespread confusion.

So will TikTok be officially banned in the U.S. on Jan. 23, 2026, 368 days after the original ban was said to go ahead? Your guess is as good as ours — but given the evidence of the past year, it probably wouldn't be wise to bet your life savings on it.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime of MagellanTV subscription access for $139.97, its lowest price to date, and explore thousands of ad-free documentaries across history, science, crime, nature, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: MagellanTV MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: Lifetime Subscription $139.97
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If you’ve run out of documentaries on mainstream platforms, consider this price drop on a MagellanTV lifetime subscription. The service specializes in documentaries across history, science, nature, crime, and space, and it’s currently available for $139.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time.

MagellanTV is dedicated to documentaries, not sitcoms or reality shows. Every section is curated for viewers who prefer learning over laugh tracks. The library features more than 4,000 films and series, with playlists focused on major events, scientific discoveries, ancient history, and true crime investigations.

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MagellanTV works across mobile, desktop, and most smart TVs, and supports casting with Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, and other compatible devices. The platform is ad-free, with new documentaries added every week, making it a practical plus for viewers who go through content quickly.

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The lifetime subscription, defined as 75 years of access, is most valuable for frequent documentary watchers, households that lean toward factual programming, or those already juggling multiple streaming services. Accounts support up to five devices, and purchasers have 30 days to redeem the code after purchase.

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Some people possess an innate talent for finding gifts on a budget. No matter the occasion (Christmas, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day) or recipient (wife, husband, boyfriend, teens, in-laws), they somehow nail it every time — winning the unofficial "best gift-giver" award among those who are lucky to know them. If you're not the most intuitive gift-giver, fear not. We've put together a list of the best gift ideas for under $50, from expected-but-useful stocking stuffers to cool items they definitely don't have yet. These unique budget-friendly gift ideas span such a variety of categories that you're bound to find something up their alley. You might even catch a few on sale.

ChatGPT Images doesn’t roll off the tongue like Nano Banana, but OpenAI finally has an answer for Google's uber-popular AI image editor. The company's "new flagship image generation model" is available now in ChatGPT Images and in the API under the model name GPT Image 1.5.

OpenAI has been on a tear recently, in fact. The company, which was rumored to be in a “code red” state following the launch of Google Gemini 3, launched GPT-5.2 last week. Today, OpenAI continues its counterattack against Google’s newfound momentum in the AI space with a rather large update to ChatGPT Images, promising to generate better images, edit images more effectively, and do so more quickly. 

“Whether you’re creating something from scratch or editing a photo, you’ll get the output you’re picturing,” OpenAI says in its announcement post. “It makes precise edits while keeping details intact, and generates images up to 4x faster.”

In addition to the update, which does not appear to have a catchy name like Google’s Nano Banana, OpenAI also launched a new Images tab within the ChatGPT app and browser. In addition to being a dedicated space to create images, the new ChatGPT Images also acts as a sort of discovery and brainstorming feed to give you ideas of what to create. OpenAI says that the new feature is “designed to make image generation delightful — to spark inspiration and make creative exploration effortless.”

SEE ALSO: These 6 Nano Banana Pro prompts are wild with the Gemini 3 upgrade

For general performance, the latest update seems like a refinement rather than something totally new. OpenAI says the new ChatGPT Image model will be more reliable, adhere better to user intent, and keep details more consistent across multiple outputs. That last bit has been a bit of a meme in the AI user community, and many have tried the 100x ChatGPT image trend to see what they come up with. 

OpenAI’s announcement post includes the full list of updates with GPT Image 1.5, plus some impressive examples of the new image model at work.

ChatGPT Images vs. Nano Banana

Nano Banana is the nickname for Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, Google's AI image generator. The tool has proven remarkably capable as a fast and easy-to-use AI image editor, and as its popularity has grown, Google has integrated it into Gemini, Google Photos, Search, and Messages. So, how does the new ChatGPT Images compare?

It took all of about 10 minutes, but GPT-Image-1.5 immediately took first place on LMArena’s Text-to-Image leaderboard, bumping Nano Banana Pro to second place. However, real-world examples so far have been a little mixed. 

I asked both Nano Banana and the new ChatGPT Images to edit the same photo, and received very similar results.

Using the same prompt and image, I asked both models to edit a photo of my car from nighttime to daytime.

The original image Credit: Joe Hindy

While both models earn a passing grade, Google's version looks better to my eye.

Left: The result from Nano Banana. Credit: Joe Hindy / Google Gemini Right: The result from ChatGPT Images. Credit: Joe Hindy / OpenAI How to try the new ChatGPT Images

Per OpenAI, the update is rolling out as we speak to all users, so it should be available to try immediately. In short, all you need to do is head to ChatGPT and look for the new Images tab. You can find the tool at chatgpt.com/images. As per usual, free users will have very limited access.

The new image model is also available in the OpenAI API, and you can check the pricing on the OpenAI website. So, developers and people with their own AI tools can start using it right away.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.