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TL;DR: Skoove Premium Piano Lessons uses advanced AI to give you curated virtual piano lessons, and right now a lifetime subscription can be yours for just $149.99 (reg. $299). 

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription $149.99
$299.99 Save $150 Get Deal

Whether you've dabbled in lessons as a kid or never sat on a piano bench, Skoove Premium Piano Lessons can help you master the keys from the comfort of home. All you'll need is a tablet, a keyboard, and this AI-powered app. 

Right now, you can save 50% on a lifetime subscription and keep honing your craft for life for just $149.99 (reg. $299). 

Learn piano on your lunch break

Skoove offers AI-powered piano lessons that let you tickle the ivories in your spare time. That means even people with the busiest schedules can pencil in time to pound the keys and elevate their skills, with Skoove providing curated feedback and useful resources as you learn. 

These virtual piano lessons only require a piano or keyboard and your tablet, so you don't need to buy anything else to get started. And this lifetime subscription lets you work at your own pace.

You'll get access to 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos, but don't think you'll just be sitting back and repeating after the video. Thanks to AI, you play and Skoove listens, recognizing your notes and offering real-time feedback so you can continuously improve. 

Learn what you love, thanks to Skoove's wide range of genres. Practice playing with tunes from Adele or John Legend, or go old school and work on some Bach or Beethoven. Monthly updates bring new song choices, so you never have to worry about running out of material. 

While learning from the AI is interactive, there's also backup if needed. If you ever get stumped, Skoove's music instructors are available for one-on-one support. 

Ready to join over one million people already mastering piano with Skoove?

Get a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for just $149.99 (reg. $299) right here. 

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TL;DR: Learn the native language before your next trip abroad with this lifetime subscription to all languages with Rosetta Stone for just $179.99 (reg. $399).

Opens in a new window Credit: Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $179.99
$399 Save $219.01 Get Deal

With spring break just around the corner, vacation season is about to commence. If you've got big plans for the summer or beyond, you can make your trip even more memorable by learning the local language. It's easier than ever with Rosetta Stone. 

A lifetime subscription to all 25 languages offered on Rosetta Stone is available now for just $179.99 (reg. $399) right here for a limited time. 

Learn languages for life with Rosetta Stone

What do NASA, Calvin Klein, and TripAdvisor have in common? They all have trusted Rosetta Stone with language learning for the past 27 years.

Rosetta Stone has a trusted, immersive training method that teaches you new languages the way you learned your native one as a kid — starting out with matching words and pictures. 

After working with images, you'll gradually move on to their interactive lessons that use Rosetta Stone's proprietary speech-recognition technology. It analyzes the words you say 100 times a second and offers instant feedback so you can improve your pronunciation as you go. 

Hoping to use your new skills on a trip? Rosetta Stone starts you out with basic conversational skills on topics like shopping, ordering, or taking a taxi, so you should have a good foundation by the time the plane touches down. 

This award-winning interactive software is yours for life, so you can learn languages one at a time forever... and even conquer all 25 offered if that's your goal. 

Secure your lifetime subscription to all 25 languages on Rosetta Stone for only $179.99 here for a limited time. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Outfit your PC with a license for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows for just $29.97 (reg. $229) through March 30. 

When something has serious staying power, you know it's good. And what's been around longer in the computer world than Microsoft Office? These go-to programs got us through school in the '90s and '00s, and they're still helping us tackle our 9-to-5s today. 

Rediscover the power of these beloved apps with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license. It's just $29.97, $200 off the usual price, now through March 30. 

These Microsoft Office apps have always been there for us

If you've been living without Microsoft Office staples, you're in luck. You can rekindle your love for these classics with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 license for less than $5 an app.

You'll get lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher and Access on your PC with this deal. It's an instant delivery and download, so right after purchase, you'll have your software license keys and download links to get started.

Wondering why you would want to go vintage with this 2019 version? Though it's not the newest, it's the most cost-effective. By owning your license, you avoid monthly subscription fees that Office 365 requires.

You can also easily work offline, a great option for those who spend a lot of time traveling. And there's no reliance on the cloud, offering better security and more control over your data.

Despite being an older version, all documents made with Office 19 are fully compatible with Office 365 and Office 2021. 

This Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 license is compatible with Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019, so it's a great option if you haven't yet moved to Windows 11. 

Secure your own license for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows for just $29.97 now through March 30. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $29.97
$229 Save $199.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get access to 1TB of secure and private data storage with this lifetime subscription to Koofr Cloud Storage, now $119.97 with code KOOFR through April 27. 

Trying to consolidate your monthly subscription expenses? If you're tired of shelling out a small fortune on your cloud storage solution, a swap to Koofr Cloud Storage can help. 

Keep 1TB of your important data safe for life with this deal on Koofr Cloud Storage, now just $119.97 (reg. $810) with code KOOFR through April 27.

Stop the madness of monthly cloud storage fees

Koofr is a trusted cloud storage option that's been around since 2013. And though it may not have the same brand recognition as the big names, there's another thing it doesn't have — monthly storage fees.

With Koofr, you can secure a lifetime subscription for 1TB and pay once. That's enough room for 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million PDF files.

There are other great perks to swapping to Koofr, like their unique Koofr Duplicate Finder feature. It finds and removes duplicate files, helping save you time and freeing up space. And you don't have to worry about data tracking — your files will be encrypted both during transfer and rest. 

They even make moving your files from your former storage provider a breeze. Koofr features convenient integration with other external cloud accounts so that you can connect and access your files from Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, and OneDrive easily. 

Store 1TB for life for the one-time low price of $119.97 (reg. $810) with code KOOFR through April 27 with this Koofr Cloud Storage lifetime subscription deal. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) $119.97
$810 Save $690.03 Get Deal

The best ways to watch 'Queer' at a glance: BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION Rent or buy 'Queer on Prime Video $5.99 or $19.99 Get Deal BEST DEAL OVERALL Max (With Ads) annual subscription $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal BEST AD-FREE DEAL Max Ad-Free annual subscription $169.99/year (save $33.89) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save $5 per month) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Disney+, Hulu, and Max with ads $16.99 per month (save $8.98 per month) Get Deal GET MAX FOR FREE Max (With Ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99 per month) Learn More GET MAX FOR FREE Max (With Ads) Free for DashPass annual plan subscribers (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal

Challengers' titillating sexual tension made for a major hit in early 2024, and Luca Guadagnino and Justin Kuritzkes teamed up once again for Queer. An adaptation of the 1985 novel by William S. Burroughs, the A24 film is yet another sexually explosive and emotionally infuriating tale from the duo.

"Queer is a languid journey that meanders through flirtations, fucking, dream sequences, and willfully anachronistic music to chart a passionate but also baffling tale of unrequited love," writes Mashable Film Editor Kristy Puchko in her review of the A24 period drama.

Starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, Queer made its theatrical debut in November 2024 — just seven months after Challengers. Though it may have earned less hype from the internet, it still nabbed a handful of award nominations. For those who missed it in the theaters, it's now available to watch at home. Here's everything you need to know.

What is Queer about?

Based on William S. Burroughs’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, Queer is a scintillating and steamy tale set in 1950s Mexico City. It follows William Lee (Daniel Craig), an American expat in his late forties who fuels his sense of loneliness with booze, bravado, and loveable loser pal Joe (Jason Schwartzman). When he meets Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey), a young student visiting the city, it's a stirring and intoxicating connection that forces him to come to grips with his own sexuality.

Check out the official trailer:

Is Queer worth watching?

"Queer is both visually lush, sexually explosive, and emotionally infuriating. It is not a journey that leaves our hearts full, but open and aching," Puchko writes. However, it's certainly worth watching. The film holds a 77 percent critic rating and 65 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Plus, it earned Daniel Craig Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and SAG Award nominations. Sadly, his performance was snubbed at the Oscars, which is a shame because Puchko says, "Craig is mesmerizing as Lee, swanning from catty gossip sessions to carnal encounters to body-rattling withdrawals and psychedelic splendors. It's easy to be beguiled by his charms, including a suave sex appeal made less intimidating by his tendency toward silliness."

Read our full review of Queer.

How to watch Queer at home Credit: A24

Queer made its theatrical debut on Nov. 27, 2024, and just a month and a half later, it hit digital retailers. You can buy or rent the film from on-demand sites like Prime Video or Apple TV+ for $19.99 or $5.99. Note: rentals give you 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish once started.

Here are some quick links to purchase or rent Queer:

• Prime Video — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• Apple TV — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy it for $19.99, rent it for $5.99

• Google Play — buy it for $19.99, rent it starting at $4.99

• YouTube — buy it for $19.99, rent it starting at $4.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Buy or rent 'Queer' on digital $19.99 or $5.99 Get Deal Is Queer streaming?

Queer made its streaming debut on Max on March 28. Thanks to a multi-year output deal between A24 and Warner Bros. Discovery, all of A24's recent theatrical releases have landed on the streamer. There, you'll also find recent films like We Live in Time, Heretic, A Different Man, and soon enough, Y2K and The Brutalist.

Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few ways to save money on your plan. We've rounded up the best Max streaming deals for you below.

The best Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on Max with ads annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (with ads) yearly subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

A Max with ads subscription costs $9.99 per month, but you can knock the price down to $8.33 per month by paying for a year in advance. If you're in it for the long haul, the annual subscription goes for $99.99, which ends up saving you about 16%. Of course, you can also just sign up for a single month at $9.99 and cancel once you've watched Queer.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save 16% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (No Ads) annual subscription $169.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

Hate dealing with ads? The same annual deal applies: save 16% by committing to a yearly plan of one of the Max ad-free tiers. You can choose either the Max Ad-Free or Max Ultimate Ad-Free plan. The basic ad-free tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.17 per month), while the Ultimate tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month). Both tiers offer an ad-free viewing experience, but the Ultimate tier comes with 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Get Deal

The best way to score Max for free is by switching your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month unlimited plan. Max with ads — a $9.99 per month value — is included for no extra charge on this plan. Once you sign up, just head over to the Max app, choose Cricket as your provider, then enter your Cricket credentials to log in. Boom — you're free to watch whatever you want, whenever you want, including Queer and any other A24 film on Max. Check out the terms and conditions on Cricket's website to learn more.

Best Max deal for DoorDash users: Free Max with ads with DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash / Max Max (with ads) Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

With a DashPass annual plan for $96 per year ($8 per month), you'll unlock Max with ads for free — along with $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on DoorDash orders. That's a $9.99 per month value for $0. Eligible Subscribers must activate their Max subscription in their DoorDash account. Don't want ads? You can upgrade for a discounted rate.

Best Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max with ads Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can get an entire year of Max with ads for just $4.99 per month instead of $9.99. That's 50% in savings. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS to retrieve the unique discount code that will drop the price. And don't share your code, as each unique code can only be used once.

Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / Max Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

It may not be the cheapest way to get Max, but you can get more bang for your buck if you choose a streaming bundle deal instead of a single service. For only $16.99 per month (reg. $25.97), you can sign up for Max, Hulu, and Disney+ with ads or $29.99 per month (reg. $48.97) without ads. That's up to 38% in savings for access to three full streaming libraries.

It's outrageous that in the same year that Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino gave audiences the high-tension love triangle of Challengers, he's also served up a Daniel Craig-fronted adaptation of William S. Burroughs' novella Queer. Both films were written by Justin Kuritzkes, and both offer bold explorations of love, lust, and longing, with steamy sex scenes that serve as punctuation. And yet, they are wildly unalike.

Challengers is a propulsive love story that zings back and forth its timeline, keeping the audience on their toes, just like its tennis-playing trio. Queer is a languid journey that meanders through flirtations, fucking, dream sequences, and willfully anachronistic music to chart a passionate but also baffling tale of unrequited love.

It's a marvel of a movie that feels as if it is precisely what it intends to be, and yet it's ultimately unsatisfying. Perhaps that's intended too?

Daniel Craig is a dynamic thrill-seeker in Queer.  Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis

Echoing elements of Burroughs' own life, Queer ushers audiences into 1950s Mexico City, where a band of American expats — many of whom are gay men — lounge about cafes, bars, and cheap motels looking for illicit thrills, be it booze, hard drugs, or casual sex. Wearing a white linen suit, a crisp fedora, and a crooked smile, William Lee (Craig) has a breezy American swagger with a hint of comic buffoonery that beckons to the English actor's acclaimed portrayals of Southern gentleman detective Benoit Blanc in Knives Out and roguish bomb-maker Joe Bang in Logan Lucky. Yet his Lee is distinctive, with an unapologetic sleaziness that's edged with gawping insecurity, which urges him toward playing the fool more often than not. 

Craig is mesmerizing as Lee, swanning from catty gossip sessions to carnal encounters to body-rattling withdrawals and psychedelic splendors. It's easy to be beguiled by his charms, including a suave sex appeal made less intimidating by his tendency toward silliness. He smoothly seduces local trade and amuses scene queens like the chic John Dumé (Drew Droege, who became internet famous with his cheeky impersonations of Chloë Sevigny), and lovable loser/rousing raconteur Joe (Jason Schwartzman). And yet, Lee cannot firmly claim the love of his crush, a young discharged American Navy serviceman named Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey). 

The romantic interest of Queer proves its central mystery.  Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis

Lee throws himself at his could-be paramour ardently, plying him with affection, booze, and even a flashy getaway when all else fails. Maybe a journey into the jungle to try the mind-altering psychedelic ayahuasca will unlock the gate that seems to stand between them. 

The first act is an intoxicating portrait of Lee's Mexico City, rich in color, music, and romantic possibilities — or at least enthralling ones. In tender moments, Lee's dream of being intricately partnered with Eugene is expressed beautifully through simple dissolves. Footage of what is — the two sitting side by side in a movie theater — is overlaid faintly with what Lee wishes: to stroke Eugene's face, softly and publicly. More vivid dream sequences use jarringly bright red sets and stark female nudity to express Lee's doubts about Eugene's interest in the older man. But as his desperation to keep Eugene close intensifies, the audience might wonder what it is Lee is even fighting for. 

Defined chiefly by his wandering eye and an interest in playing chess with a red-headed female acquaintance, Eugene is not a fleshed-out character but a sketch, unknowable between the slight lines that are his only details. Is he into Lee? Is he even queer? These are questions that might seem answered by the torrid love scenes between the two. But for every moment approaching intimacy, Eugene offers a follow-up that is at best casual, and at worst cruel.

Tall, white, preppy, and neatly pressed even when wearing a T-shirt, Eugene is presented visually as a tidier, younger version of Lee. Perhaps this is meant to echo that what Lee is chasing is not this man but his past, or a version of himself that was less ravaged by drugs, trauma, and heartache. Or perhaps the supremely unrumpled persona is all Lee can understand of this mysterious man.

Queer's third act is its biggest risk.  Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis

In any case, as Lee drags a reluctant (and infuriatingly stoic) Eugene into the jungle to find a mythic medicine woman (Lesley Manville), Guadagnino's movie asks more patience of its audience than his most heralded offerings. In I Am Love, it's easy to see why Tilda Swinton could be seduced by such photogenic food. Call Me by Your Name captured the heat and sweetness of young love through a well-placed peach. Bones and All masterfully turned a tale of teenage cannibals into a sizzling subtextual queer romance, not despite of its gore but because of it. Then, Challengers sold the electrifying love triangle between its players through the breath-taking onscreen chemistry of Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor. Queer, on the other hand, asks us to follow Lee to fight for a love that feels like an illusion.

Since the film's world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, critics have jeered Queer's turn from its vivacious first act to its lumbering third. Yet there's something in the film's aesthetic that gently warns of this change.

In the beginning, production design by Stefano Baisi paints Lee's Mexico City as a quaint yet deliciously seedy paradise, where towering windows in cafes and warm street lights allow for layers of lives to unfurl all at once, without feeling cluttered or claustrophobic. The palette of yellows, reds, and sickly greens favored by cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom as tracking shots follow Lee in slow motion down lively streets evoke the faded colors of pulp novels, promising decadent delights around every corner. Queer's soundtrack boasts smooth, smokey songs like Nirvana's "Come as You Are," Sinead O'Connor's cover of Nirvana's "All Apologies," and Radiohead's haunting "Talk Show Host." Through the jarring anachronism of this collection of songs, Guadagnino knowingly blends the nostalgic sentimentality of the film's visuals with the sharper-edged sounds of '90s pop disillusionment. Essentially, the visual and audio are thematically at war, reflecting Lee's inner doubts about his life and his lover. 

Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis

At two hours and 15 minutes, Queer is a movie that indulges its protagonist more than its audience, following him through meandering mental exercises to an unfulfilling epiphany. Viewers may grow restless as Craig's charms are swallowed by Lee's raw need and his ruthless vices. Undeniably, the experience of living vicariously through Lee shifts from pleasurable to uneasy as the glamor is stripped away from this expat holiday, revealing crude realities like the decidedly unromantic subterfuge required to cop drugs in a new locale, or the subsequent toll of withdrawals on Lee's body — and Eugene's patience. That certainly seems to be Guadagnino's goal: not to tell a story of formative first love or world-altering romance, but the ugly truth of unrequited love. It's not easy to experience, but it is undeniably masterfully made. So, in the end, Queer is both visually lush, sexually explosive, and emotionally infuriating. It is not a journey that leaves our hearts full, but open and aching.

Queer is now streaming on Max.

UPDATE: Mar. 26, 2025, 9:46 a.m. Queer was reviewed for its theatrical release on November 27, 2024. This article has been updated to reflect its current streaming accessibility.

Have you every had a day so terrible that it felt like the world was out to get you specifically? If so, you might relish the hilarious indignities inflicting the grumbling protagonist of The Ballad of Wallis Island. Written by and starring Tom Basden and Tim Key, this charming comedy centers on the bond that builds between a (folk) rock star and an eccentric millionaire. But not in any way you might expect, in that neither is living some enviably glitzy high life, and they're both shades of goofy. 

SEE ALSO: The SXSW premieres you need to know about

Their story begins with Herb McGwyer (Basden), of the 2010's folk rock band McGwyer Mortimer, arriving at a remote island, where he's been contracted to play a private concert for an obscene amount of money. But the price tag sets an expectation that the host will not meet. Not only is this island a bit of a fixer-upper with no dock, much less a harbor, but the private concert is for an audience of one, a super-fan desperate to reconnect to the music of his youth. 

Far from a highfalutin snob, the affluent Charles Heath (Tim Key) is a humble man who wears waders to meet his famous guest, then accidentally causes Herb and his baggage to tumble into the tides. It's a rough start, and things will only get rougher for Herb when he learns that his ex-girlfriend/former bandmate Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) will soon be arriving too — along with her new husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen). 

What should have been an easy gig quickly becomes a cavalcade of embarrassments, forcing Herb to revisit the romance that defined his work and his past, and to reassess what he wants of his future. Unexpectedly, this story of rock stars and a millionaire super-fan is deeply relatable, warmly funny, and profoundly sweet. 

The Ballad of Wallis Island features a finely tuned comedy duo.  Carey Mulligan, Tom Basden, and Tim Key sit on a beach in "The Ballad of Wallis Island." Credit: Alistair Heap/Focus Features

Key plays a lovable fool who can't read the room but is quick to offer a bowl of rice pudding, even if that won't save Herb's cellphone from its ocean swim. Basden is his straight man, exuding a self-seriousness that practically demands to be dressed down. This happens quite literally as Herb's fall into the water forces him to abandon his soaked-through cool guy clothes for Charles' hand-me-downs, which include concert merch from McGwyer Mortimer. Imagine running into your ex while wearing a T-shirt with an old photo of the two of you on it, and you'll have some idea of the hell that is Herb's stay on Wallis Island. 

Even dressed similarly, the two are perfect foils. Herb is reedy, arrogantly stiff, and a pessimist, endlessly vexed by each new surprise about Wallis Island, such as the revelation that it has no arena, theater, or bandshell, so he will be playing on a stone beach. By contrast, Charles is portly and endlessly chipper, an optimist seeking to reconnect to the world through the music (and musicians) that have given him such joy, even in the hard times. They don't battle as much as Herb fusses and Charles rushes to soothe, only to cause further frustrations. Basden and Key have the comedy balance of these two finely tuned, not only because they wrote the script but also because this feature film is based on their award-winning short film, "The One And Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island."

The short's director James Griffiths reteams with the pair for The Ballad of Wallis Island, and together they hone a more sophisticated vision of their story, one of love, loss, and moving on. Simple beats of Charles missing the social cue are not just hit but lovingly luxuriated in, creating a sort of cringe comedy where we can laugh at this buffoon and recognize how often we've been just as bumbling. Yet these two connect, because as different as they are, they are lonely and yearn not to be anymore. 

Carey Mulligan is smartly cast in The Ballad of Wallis Island.  Co-writer/actor Tom Basden, director James Griffiths and actor Carey Mulligan on the set of their film THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND, a Focus Features release. Credit: Alistair Heap/Focus Features

Basden and Key have had years to adjust the balance of their comedic interactions as Herb and Charles. Nell is a new addition, not appearing in the short film. Basden and Key carefully evolved their script, weaving in Nell and Michael, who bring with them a breezy attitude and new complications for Herb. With a radiant smile and a chicly bohemian energy, Mulligan strides into Wallis Island, confidently bringing a less indulgent perspective that only makes Charles and Herb funnier in comparison. 

The three-time Academy Award-nominated actress doesn't outshine her co-stars. Instead, the lightness she brings as Nell neatly knits in pathos. It's easy to see why Herb fell for her, and why he still longs for her. In scenes where they sing together, the audience may well be with Charles in wishing for their reunion, on stage and maybe in love. Yet, Mulligan is careful not to divulge too much as Nell, who seems keenly aware of Herb's feelings and sagely mindful not to toy with them. The dance she does around his mercurial moods suggests a deeply developed intimacy that Nell still honors in some sense. Then, when the two sing together, the movie shifts from silly to sublimely sincere. 

But beyond this central trio, The Ballad of Wallis Island also boasts some shrewd supporting players. As Nell's husband, Ndifornyen is sharp, quick to stand up for his wife and smart to be suspicious of Herb. Yet Basden and Key are sure to give Michael more to do than play romantic rival, giving him quirks that add complexity amid the conflicts. Then, there's Sian Clifford, who might be best recognized as the tightly wound Claire from the brilliant Fleabag. ("I look like a pencil!") Here in Wallis Island, her vibe is more relaxed as she plays Amanda, a friendly but comically oblivious shopkeeper who is mystified by requests for dried rice and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. (She offers a can of peanut butter and a coffee cup, because Amanda is nothing if not obliging.)

Completing the picture of The Ballad of Wallis Island is a terrifically chosen setting. The island itself is cobbled together by a rocky beach, winding footpaths, chipped paint houses, rich greenery, and a precariously placed tennis court. There are some signs of wealth in its remoteness, among other outlying signifiers. Its rough-and-tumble charm is well suited to its resident millionaire, though an understandable frustration to its visiting rock stars. But just as Charles grows on Herb, so too do the virtues of this less-than-cozy island grow on all of us. 

Ultimately, 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. The careful crafting of the relationships herein makes for a story you can't help but get tangled in, perhaps relating to one figure then another. So, by the end, 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. 

The Ballad of Wallis Island opens in limited release on March 28, a nationwide expansion will follow on April 18.

UPDATE: Mar. 26, 2025, 9:28 a.m. The Ballad of Wallis Island was reviewed out of the 2025 SXSW Film Festival on March 8, 2025. The article has been updated with the latest theatrical release information.

It's time for horror fans to get to know James Ashcroft. The New Zealand actor turned writer/director awed critics in 2021 with Coming Home in the Dark, a movie so scary that it literally knocked me out of my seat. Now, he's back with a sophisticated yet elegantly demented follow-up, The Rule of Jenny Pen, a psycho-biddy thriller that pits heralded actors John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush against each other in a deranged battle of wills. 

Traditionally, this horror subgenre — which is also referred to as hagsploitation and includes classics like What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? — centers on an aging woman who is so isolated that she's become mentally unstable, and a threat to any who crosses her path. This distinctly disturbing subgenre is often used to explore the way aging women are disregarded by society, to our peril. Essentially, though aging and forgotten, these women still carry the power to torment or even kill. It might even be viewed that their petty grievances and gnarly obsessions are what keeps them alive. With The Rule of Jenny Pen, Ashcroft places men in a psycho-biddy scenario, reflecting how some horrors of aging aren't reserved just for women.

SEE ALSO: John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush reveal their character inspirations for 'The Rule of Jenny Pen'

This makes for a movie that is in turn manic, eerie, disturbing, and shocking. It's little wonder The Rule of Jenny Pen has been praised by icon of horror Stephen King as "one of the best movies I've seen." 

The Rule of Jenny Pen hauntingly echoes What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? John Lithgow as Dave Crealy with Jenny Pen in James Ashcroft's "The Rule of Jenny Pen." Credit: Stan Alley / An IFC Films and Shudder Release.

Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush stars as Judge Stefan Mortensen, who uses his bench not only to determine justice but also to morally reprimand the defendants who come before his snarling gaze. That is, until a near-fatal stroke forces him into a retirement home. Partially paralyzed, the judge must use a wheelchair and depend on the care workers for some of his more intimate needs. While he's insistent this is temporary, just until he can recover, a creeping dread suggests there is no escape from his failing body and this institution dedicated to housing — and hiding away — the old and infirm. 

Notably, Ashcroft paints the retirement facility itself as a cheery place, portrayed in cool pink tones, where the residents are offered a variety of activities from games to dancing, and the caregivers are devoted and kind, if not always receptive. The horror creeps in with the introduction of Dave Crealy, played two-time Academy Award nominee John Lithgow. A longtime resident of the facility, Crealy is regarded by the caregivers as a jolly eccentric who laughs loudly, loves to sing and dance, and treasures his dolly, an eyeless hand puppet he calls Jenny Pen. But when they're not looking, Crealy is a brutal bully, tormenting the other residents through intimidation, violence, and humiliation. But he may have met his match in the proud Mortensen. 

John Lithgow is a terrific terror in The Rule of Jenny Pen.  John Lithgow as Dave Crealy with Jenny Pen in James Ashcroft's "The Rule of Jenny Pen." Credit: Stan Alley / An IFC Films and Shudder Release.

Known for everything from 3rd Rock From the Sun to Trial & Error to Conclave, Lithgow has long been an actor who can leap from comedy to drama without missing a step. Here, Lithgow's natural height of 6'4" is brilliantly used to have Crealy tower over Mortensen, who uses a wheelchair that he feels showcases his infirmity. In an interview with Mashable, Lithgow, who executive produced alongside Rush, shared how he sought out silvery contact lenses and gnarly prosthetic teeth to build his concept of Crealy, adding on a scruffy beard for good measure. The effect is realistic and unnerving, transforming the beloved performer's face into something just off of what we've come to know. His smile becomes more easily menacing, his stare sharper and colder. 

When Crealy begins creeping into Mortensen's room at night to harass him, he carries an eerie stillness, like a tiger stalking its prey. The contrast between the tall man and the small, battered puppet is unnerving on its own. But Ashcroft amplifies the energy of malice by slicing through his daytime color palette of pinks with a giallo red, punctuated by sharp lines or quick cuts that turn this everyday setting into a surreal prison. This perturbing posturing is what Crealy effects as he abuses his fellow residents, forcing them into embarrassing submission or tugging mercilessly on catheters. Yet Crealy is at his most frightening during the day, in plain sight. 

There, where any aide or resident might see, he taunts the judge with a song and dance. The tune itself is a Cockney pub song, "Knees Up Mother Brown." And Crealy sings it with the enthusiasm that its name might suggest. But Crealy's focus, as he lifts his knees high and sings loudly, is to rub in Mortensen's face his mobility, his autonomy, his power. Because of course Mortensen has reported Crealy to the carers, but who could believe such a jovial old fool could be as cruel as described? This song then becomes about Crealy pouring salt into the wounds he's already inflicted. With a love of cheerful performance (and his own version of "I've Written a Letter to Daddy"), Crealy is a mercurial Baby Jane Hudson to Mortensen's Blanche (Joan Crawford), who also uses a wheelchair in Baby Jane. However, Mortensen hasn't been battered down by decades of abuse and guilt, and so will fight back in his own way. And the results are sensational and scary. 

The Rule of Jenny Pen unblinklingly reveals the indignities of aging.  Nick Blake as Tobias in "The Rule of Jenny Pen." Credit: Stan Alley / An IFC Films and Shudder Release.

The titular puppet is suitably creepy. The man who wields her like a weapon is enchantingly horrifying. But the most penetrating terror of The Rule of Jenny Pen is that Crealy's campaign of abuse can exist at all. In the opening scene, Mortensen is presented as a man infallible, with the power of privilege, respect, and status. But one stroke and he is struck down, losing his autonomy because of his disability. More than that, he loses his voice because of the agism that urges society to ignore the elderly. 

Mortensen is ignored like the pleas for love or attention of any psycho-biddy. His claims about Crealy written off with a banal smile from a caregiver more determined to clean him up than hear him out. Desperate to not lose himself to this wall of ignorance, Mortensen does battle with his bully. But like Coming Home in the Dark, Ashcroft sets up a story that can have no happy ending. For there is no escape from the decay aging brings, not only psychically but also psychologically and — perhaps most crucially — socially. 

Like in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? someone will lose this battle of wills, but no one will win. And in that, The Rule of Jenny Pen leaves us with a harrowing final image, simple yet unforgettable. In the end, The Rule of Jenny Pen becomes not just a frightening warning but also a haunting call for empathy — a memento mori of sorts, reminding the viewer, "As I am, you will be."

The Rule of Jenny Pen is now streaming on Shudder.

UPDATE: Mar. 26, 2025, 9:37 a.m. The Rule of Jenny Pen was reviewed for its theatrical release on March 7, 2025. The article has been updated to reflect the latest streaming options.

Fresh off a spectacular total lunar eclipse, millions of Americans will soon witness a solar eclipse on March 29, 2025.

The good news is, it's happening at a decent hour (beginning around 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. ET). Yet it'll be visible to far fewer people. Everyone in the lower 48 states and much of the Americas could see (weather-permitting) the recent lunar eclipse, but in the U.S., the coming partial solar eclipse will be largely limited to the Northeast region.

It'll be, quite literally, a sunrise event.

"In much of the Americas, including the Northeastern United States, the partial solar eclipse will already be in progress during sunrise," NASA explained.

SEE ALSO: Solar eclipses were once extremely terrifying events, experts say

Here's what you need to know about the looming celestial event:

Where will the March 29, 2025, solar eclipse be visible?

It will be visible in parts of many global regions, including North America, Europe, slivers of South America, Northern Asia, and remote areas beyond. For those in the Northeastern U.S., you can see your general viewing time in the NASA-provided chart below.

Partial solar eclipse viewing times for those in the Northeastern U.S. Credit: NASA

Large swathes of Europe will see the partial eclipse, too, though in the later morning. NASA has an expansive list of those viewing times.

What will you see during the partial solar eclipse?

During a partial solar eclipse, the moon passes between Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on Earth. But, unlike during a total solar eclipse, the moon doesn't totally block the sun. Hence, the partial eclipse. It's like seeing a crescent of the sun.

Different regions will be in different parts of the moon's shadow, meaning the people therein, weather-permitting, will be able to see different amounts of our star eclipsed by the moon (as depicted in the chart above). Folks in places like Boston, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine, will see a considerable part of the sun eclipsed. New York City will see nearly a quarter of the sun eclipsed.

People in the colored boundaries will see, weather-permitting, a partial solar eclipse on March 29, 2025. The orange loops show where sunset or sunrise are happening during the event. Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio Do you need to wear eye protection for the partial solar eclipse?

Absolutely.

"When watching a partial solar eclipse directly with your eyes, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses ('eclipse glasses') or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times," NASA emphasizes. (Also, don't view it through a telescope or binoculars without eye protection.)

Many of you may still have eclipse glasses from 2024's total solar eclipse. If not, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) has vigilantly vetted products and sellers, so you can make an informed purchasing decision. Here's their carefully vetted list of suppliers of safe solar filters and viewers. "But don't just randomly order them online," Richard Fienberg, an astronomer and senior advisor at the American Astronomical Society, told Mashable before the 2024 solar eclipse. "Check the AAS list."

"It will still look cool with eclipse glasses."

Approved eclipse glasses block out much more sunlight than sunglasses, and comply with an ISO 12312-2 international standard. They block so much light, you shouldn't be able to see anything other than the sun while wearing them.

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As noted above, those viewing the partial solar eclipse will see a poignant crescent of the sun as the moon passes by. It's not anything like a total solar eclipse — wherein the moon completely blocks out the sun and reveals our star's ghostly atmosphere emanating into space — but it's certainly worth witnessing the movement of these dominant celestial objects.

"It will still look cool with eclipse glasses," Emily Rice, an astronomer at Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York, told Mashable.

This story first published on March 20, 2025, and has been updated.

Data from several U.S. officials' Venmo accounts has been found exposed online, including their contacts and even transaction histories for some. This follows Signalgate earlier this week, and the subsequent revelation that involved officials' private contact information and passwords could be found online.

If I had a nickel for every time a breach of tech security by the Trump administration was revealed this week, I'd now have three nickels. 

SEE ALSO: U.S. security officials' passwords found online, including people in Signal chat

On Wednesday, WIRED reported that it had discovered a public Venmo account ostensibly belonging to national security advisor and Signal chat participant Michael Waltz, showing a list of over 300 of his associates. Now the publication is reporting the discovery of further Venmo data belonging to several more U.S. officials, at least three of whom were also members of the infamous Yemen bombing Signal group chat. 

Specifically, WIRED reporters found Venmo data belonging to Department of Treasury chief of staff Dan Katz, Counselor and Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State Mike Needham, and President Donald Trump's nominee for director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent. Venmo data was also located for National Security Council staffer Brian McCormack, who is suspected of being on the Signal chat, and Morgan Ortagus, deputy to Trump's special envoy for the Middle East and Signal chat participant Steve Witkoff.

All of these individuals' Venmo contact lists were viewable, while Katz, McCormack, and Ortagus had also left their transaction histories exposed.

U.S. officials' contact lists and transaction histories may not seem like something to worry about on the fact of it (though we do have questions about Katz' 2018 payment reportedly annotated solely with an eggplant emoji). However, such information could theoretically be used for nefarious purposes if individuals attempted to reach or influence officials via their associates or frequent haunts. It also revealed connections such as Kent's payments to a far-right 2020 election conspiracy theorist.

It's been a bad week in security scandals for the Trump administration, but this is one that could have easily been avoided. Last July, WIRED reported that Signal chat participant and then-vice presidential nominee JD Vance had also left his Venmo friends list public. Yet despite this cautionary tale, U.S. officials such as McCormack only recently set their Venmo accounts to private after WIRED reached out to them.

In a statement to WIRED, a Venmo spokesperson said, "We take our customers’ privacy seriously, which is why we let customers choose their privacy settings on Venmo for both their individual payments and friends lists — and we make it incredibly simple for customers to make these private if they choose to do so."

The revelation of exposed Venmo data is just the latest dancer in a conga line of U.S. officials' tech security breaches recently. On Monday, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported that Waltz had mistakenly added him to a Signal group chat in which officials shared seemingly classified information. Days later, German publication DER SPIEGEL reported that passwords for some of the officials involved were found online, stating that it was "conceivable that foreign agents were privy to the Signal chat group."

Now with WIRED's reports added to the growing list, it seems that the Trump administration is in dire need of a data security training course at minimum.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Good try at the plate

• Green: Bad moves on the ice

• Blue: Mascots in the City of Brotherly Love

• Purple: Characters in a 90s basketball movie

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

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

• Yellow: Attempt to hit a baseball

• Green: Hockey penalties

• Blue: Philadelphia mascots

• Purple: NBA players whose talents were stolen in "Space Jam"

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #185 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Attempt to hit a baseball - CUT, HACK, RIP, SWING

• Hockey penalties - BOARDING, KNEEING, SLASHING, TRIPPING

• Philadelphia mascots - FRANKLIN, GRITTY, PHILLIE PHANATIC, SWOOP

• NBA players whose talents were stolen in "Space Jam" - BARKLEY, BOGUES, BRADLEY, EWING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A freshwater fish.

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

TROUT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Amnesia.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 28, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FUGUE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

An overly modest person.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 28, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

PRUDE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A conference.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 28 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PANEL

Final Hurdle hint

Husky.

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

BURLY

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

To successfully transition from a public to a private sector job, you need to rethink how you present your experience on your resume, as well as who’s in your professional network. Start with these five strategies if you’re making the leap from a government career to a corporate one. Understand the differences in work. Many […]

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

TL;DR: Ditch the AI clutter and get one tool that does it all — for life. At the Mashable Shop, the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan with lifetime membership is now available for a one-time payment of £61.74 (reg. £416.90).

Opens in a new window Credit: 1min.AI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription £61.74 at the Mashable Shop
£416.90 Save £355.16 Get Deal

Managing multiple subscriptions for all your creative and professional needs? That’s more juggling than anyone needs — and it’s pricey, too. Now, instead of signing up for separate subscriptions for ChatGPT, Gemini AI, Anthropic, Midjourney, Claude, Llama, and other AI tools, you can access them all in a single platform.

Get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI on sale for a one-time purchase of £61.74 — it's a single platform packed with the tools you’d normally need a bunch of apps to accomplish. From content writing and image editing to data analysis, 1minAI has you covered — all in one convenient spot.

1minAI makes it easy to handle a variety of tasks with a user-friendly setup, so you’re not wasting time hopping between different tools. It includes everything from AI-driven writing assistance to design and photo editing options, letting you switch between projects without the constant app shuffle.

Plus, 1minAI gives you 4,000,000 credits each month, plus the chance to earn up to 450,000 extra credits monthly, giving you plenty of space to test, create, and explore without worrying about extra fees.

While AI tools are incredibly helpful, they aren’t perfect — and 1minAI is straightforward about that. You’ll get support with drafting, designing, and brainstorming, but human editing and oversight can still bring your projects to the next level. Think of it as an AI sidekick that keeps things running smoothly, while you remain the creative mastermind.

Simplify your creative process and boost efficiency with 1minAI’s Business Plan lifetime subscription — all for £61.74 (reg. £416.90), with no monthly fees.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 28 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Wise ones

The words are related to people.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are people with valuable insight.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is GuidingLight.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 28

• Philosopher

• GuidingLight

• Sage

• Elder

• Visionary

• Thinker

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

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

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 28 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Throw

• Green: To enclose

• Blue: Worn by the annual cookie sellers

• Purple: The second word is the same

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

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

• Yellow: Hurl

• Green: Be on both sides of

• Blue: Parts of a classic Girl Scout uniform

• Purple: ___ Hall

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #648 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Hurl: CHUCK, PELT, PITCH, SLING

• Be on both sides of: BOOKEND, BRACKET, FLANK, SURROUND

• Parts of a classic Girl Scout uniform: BADGE, BERET, SASH, SKIRT

• ___ Hall: BINGO, CITY, MONTY STUDY

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 28

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for March 28 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 28, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Part of a song or poem.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter V.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

VERSE.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 28

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

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

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

Best Dyson Airwrap dupe deals from Amazon's spring sale Best for people with wavy or curly hair Shark FlexStyle for curly and coily hair $219.99 (Save $80) Get Deal Best Airwrap dupe for curling hair (and storage) T3 Aire 360 254.99 (Save $45) Get Deal

I will be the first to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the Dyson Airwrap.

After testing it for the first time in 2022 (and several times since), I can't deny that it's a fun and luxurious way to style my hair — but I've never quite been able to wrap my head around its $600 price tag. After trying so many Airwrap dupes, I feel even more firmly that most people who want the Airwrap experience can get it for much cheaper.

So, if you're bummed out that the Big Spring Sale is one of the rare Amazon sales that hasn't brought the usual $100 markdowns the multi-styler gets, I have three pieces of good news for you: one, Prime Day usually happens in July, so another chance is coming up soon. Two, the Shark FlexStyle and T3 Aire 360, two of my favorite Airwrap dupes, are currently on sale. And three, I'm going to tell you where each of these dupes excels, all based on my own experience testing them directly in comparison to the Airwrap.

Best Airwrap dupe for people with wavy or curly hair Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle for curly and coily hair $219.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $80 Get Deal Why we like it

Fun fact: the Shark FlexStyle was the first multi-styler to include a diffuser attachment. While Dyson now offers an Airwrap for folks with textured hair, I still prefer the FlexStyle — the twisting base mechanism makes it easier to get the best angles possible for both hover and pixie diffusing. While $219.99 isn't the FlexStyle's lowest sale price ever, both the Airwap and FlexStyle with diffusers can be harder to find on sale, making this a great opportunity to pick it up for cheaper.

Best Airwrap dupe for curling hair (and storage) Opens in a new window Credit: T3 T3 Aire 360 $254.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $45 Get Deal Why we like it

A lot of people think the Dyson Airwrap is a great tool for curling your hair, but the curling barrels that come with it actually give more of a loose wave, blowout-type look. I'm sure the tinier barrels you can purchase separately might help you achieve a tighter curl, but if you'd rather not spend even more, the T3 Aire 360's ceramic barrels gave me more defined curls that lasted longer.

Plus, the Aire 360 comes with a vegan leather pouch, making it the best storage option out of every multi-styler I've ever tested. Trust me, these tools are bigger than you think, and the case Dyson provides is massive, so if you're short on space, the Aire 360 and its pouch may be the way to go. While this $45 discount isn't huge, this hair tool doesn't go on sale often.

Save $10: Through April 7, Amazon Prime users with a Grubhub+ membership can save $5 on two orders of $20 or more with the code HOOP5.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Get $5 two orders of $20 or more with code HOOP5 For eligible Prime users with a Grubhub+ subscription Get Deal

It turns out one of the best deals during Amazon's spring sale isn't even technically part of the sale.

Through April 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime members signed up for Grubhub+ through their Amazon account are eligible to get $5 off two orders of $20 or more with the coupon code HOOP5 when using the Grubhub or Amazon app or website to place their order.

Whether or not you're following along with March Madness, it's a pretty solid deal. That said, there are a few restrictions: the discount code can't be applied to orders with alcohol, or any group or catering orders. And as mentioned above, you do need to be signed up for Grubhub+ through your Amazon Prime account, which became a permanent perk to all Prime users last year.

SEE ALSO: The best deals under $50 in Amazon's Big Spring Sale

If you haven't yet already, you can activate your Grubhub+ subscription through Amazon. Once you're connected, Amazon will cover the $9.99 a month cost for membership, granting you lower service fees and $0 delivery fees on every order.