Mashable

Five stunning animation films are competing for the gold at the 96th Academy Awards. The Boy and The Heron, Elemental, Spider Man: Across the Spider Verse, Robot Dreams, and Nimona have all been nominated for Best Animated Feature.

The five films offer a wide variety of stories and visual styles that testify to the boundless possibilities of the form. So, instead of guessing who the winner will be, we decided to pay tribute to them all.

The Boy and the Heron and Robot Dreams are not yet streaming but you can watch Nimona on Netflix, Elemental on Disney+, and Spider Man: Across the Spider Verse on Apple TV+.

Disney+ is cementing its password-sharing crackdown, bringing the policy to ESPN+ and Hulu – the latter of which is soon merging with Disney.

Hulu subscribers received an email announcing the ban on Wednesday, with the company saying it will be "adding limitations on sharing your account outside of your household."

This week, Hulu's Terms of Service was updated to reflect the company's new approach: "Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household," the ToS states, defining a household as "the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein."

The changes are set to be implemented starting on March 14.

The user agreements for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ each explicitly prevent impersonating another person by using their account and password. Last updated on January 25, the agreement states: "You agree not to impersonate or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity, including using another person’s username, password or other account information, or another person’s name or likeness, or provide false details for a parent or guardian."

As CNN points out, it is unclear when the language surrounding password-sharing was added to the agreements of Disney+ and ESPN+.

Already, Disney began restricting password-sharing towards the end of 2023, imposing the rule on the company's Canada-based subscribers. Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed his intentions to stop password sharing back in August 2023, likely following in Netflix's footsteps.

SEE ALSO: Netflix is axing its cheapest ad-free tier

"We certainly have established this as a real priority," Iger said on the subject of password-sharing during Disney's fiscal third-quarter earnings call. "We actually think that there’s an opportunity here to help us grow our business."

Since Netflix propelled the no-password-sharing initiative, the streaming service announced a bump in subscribers, with its user base hitting 247 million globally.

We know The Bear star Ayo Edebiri is adept at kitchen-themed pep talks, but can she also encourage of group of despondent Saturday Night Live writers?

In the skit above the answer is no, no matter how many inflated facts she makes up about viewing figures.

The thing that finally gets everybody excited and ready to work, though? When Edebiri casually mentions that Jennifer Lopez is the musical guest. To be fair, that is pretty exciting.

The life of a college student is a hectic one. Classes to attend, papers to write, tests to take, and tuition to pay — it's a lot.

And while we can't take all that stress off your plate — you'll have to ace those tests on your own — we can help you check one stressful task off your to-do list: Buying the right laptop for college.

SEE ALSO: All the best laptop deals you can get this month

Mashable shopping reporters have reviewed dozens of laptops, and in this guide, we'll give you our top hand-on-tested picks for the best laptops for college students (with more recommendations coming in future updates).

How do I choose a laptop for college?

For the student lifestyle, portability, performance, and price are key. Because you'll be hopping around from class to class on a tight schedule, you'll need a laptop that you can carry around easily without weighing you down. You're too young for back problems.

In terms of performance, you probably won't need anything too fancy, but you will want a device with a CPU, GPU, and RAM that can handle multiple tasks at once. If you're an art student who will be using your laptop to edit photos and videos, you should aim for something with higher processing power like the M3 Apple MacBook Pro.

As for price, college students already have a huge financial burden on their shoulders, so don't buy something that's going to make life even harder. There are plenty of affordable laptops that'll do what you need them to do.

What are the best laptops for college?

We're excited to help you pick out your new college companion. Below, our hands-on-tested recommendations for the best laptops for college students in 2024.

Gaming is an expensive hobby. Dedicated gamers already know that we spend way too much money on consoles, gear, games, and more year after year. But we do it anyway, because we love it. Being a gaming hobbyist requires a big investment of both time and money, but the unforgettable experiences you reap from playing your favorite games are worth every second, and every penny.

So, you're thinking about picking gaming up as your new 2024 hobby? We're happy to hear it, and we want to help you start building your dream gaming setup. Let's get into what you'll need for your gaming starter kit.

SEE ALSO: The 50+ best gifts for gamers that they won't already have Which console should I get?

You'll hear purists say that you're either a console gamer or PC gamer, but to us, there's no reason you can't be both. We think having at least one of the big-name, non-handheld consoles is absolutely necessary to have a well-rounded gaming setup. But which one should you choose? Well, you have two main choices: PlayStation or Xbox.

Eventually, you'll probably want to have one of each, but the first one you get should be chosen wisely. You can't go wrong with either a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S, although each does certain things better than the other.

For those who prefer single-player narrative games that are packed to the brim with showstopping set pieces and cinematic cutscenes, we say go for the PlayStation 5. PlayStation is king when it comes to exclusives — The Last of Us, God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, and others among them. The PS5 also has speedy processing power thanks to its internal SSD and comes with immersive features like enhanced haptics and adaptive triggers within the console's controller.

The Xbox Series X and S are also powerful gaming machines in their own right, but in our minds, the main draw is the ability to take advantage of Xbox Game Pass. It's basically the Netflix of video games, unlocking access to a massive library of titles that you can download and play at your leisure. If you want to try out a large number of games without spending an unbelievable amount of money, this is the route you'll want to go. Plus, Game Pass memberships are pretty affordable. Oh, and the Xbox's Quick Resume feature is a game-changer.

SEE ALSO: CES 2024: This 14-inch gaming laptop is so light, I thought it was a toy Should I build a PC?

Eventually, you may want to build a custom PC rig from scratch. Why wouldn't you? They're super cool. But we don't recommend it for beginners just starting out in the gaming space. Building a gaming PC can get really complicated (and expensive), and you probably won't want to spend the early moments of your new hobby frustrated about what parts you should or shouldn't buy. Let's save that for somewhere down the line.

If you really want the PC gaming experience right off the bat, we recommend starting with a gaming laptop (like the Lenovo Legion Slim 7i) or even a Steam Deck if you prefer going handheld.

What do I need for my beginner gaming setup?

We're going to assume you're at least starting with a decent TV and WiFi connection; so as long as you have that baseline established, we're ready to move on to our top picks. (Need a gaming TV recommendation? Our favorite is the LG C2 OLED Evo.)

Below, all the products we think you need to build the perfect beginner's gaming starter kit.

Wondering how to edit a photo?

Perhaps you took a great selfie over the weekend, or just got back from a trip, and are looking to post your photos on social media.

Whether it's cropping out that unaware photobomber in the corner or brightening the image, it’s easy to edit a photo. You don’t need to be a photography savant. With a few basic steps, your images can be elevated in mere moments.

How to edit a photo

There are several free services available like Canva, BeFunky, etc. However, many users default to using Adobe’s Photoshop simply because of its toolset and array of features. Be aware that Photoshop does cost $22.99 per month.

Step 1: Import your photo by selecting File and Open. Next, select your image. 

Step 2: To adjust vibrancy and color, select Filter from the top menu and Camera Raw Filter. Select Auto from the right-hand bar to use Photoshop’s suggested adjustments. 

Credit: Steve Vegvari

Alternatively, scale Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, etc. manually to your preference. 

Step 3: To crop an image, select the Crop tool from the left-hand sidebar (or C key). Select and adjust the grid to your liking. You can also type in the desired width and height in the top menu bar.

Credit: Steve Vegvari

You can also straighten a photo by selecting the Straightening tool. Draw a line across the photo and Photoshop will automatically straighten it to match the line.

Step 4: To clean up an image, select Spot Healing from the left-hand bar. This can help remove unwanted pixels, spots, and blemishes on the photo. 

Step 5: Clone Stamp, also found on the left-hand bar, can be used to select a reference point and paste those referenced pixels elsewhere. This is useful for removing or adding subtle elements to the photo. 

Step 6: Go to File and select Save As. You’ll then want to select whether to save it on your PC or via Adobe Creative Cloud. If saving on your PC, the file will automatically save as a .psd file. 

Credit: Steve Vegvari

Once your photo is saved, you can then upload it as you see fit. Even the smallest edits can do wonders for a photo. 

Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) may be known in Olympian circles as the son of Poseidon (Toby Stephens), but let's be real: He's Sally Jackson's (Virginia Kull) son first.

Rick Riordan's original Percy Jackson and the Olympians novels highlight Percy's mortal mother, emphasizing her love for her son and the sacrifices she's made to keep him safe. The TV adaptation builds on this base, taking advantage of its new medium to expand on Sally's perspective. In the show, Sally plays a more active role in telling Percy about his parentage, and we get several flashbacks to the struggles she faced while raising Percy.

SEE ALSO: How is 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' different from the books?

"A bad version [of Percy Jackson and the Olympians] could have just been a humdrum YA series, but this was going off-script a little bit and adding these moments for older fans or the parents of kiddos who are watching, these moments of real, complicated, messy human life," Virginia Kull told Mashable in a video interview. "We see a parent trying their best, and it's funny and odd and hard and sad."

Even though Sally is trapped in the Underworld for most of Season 1, her presence in the first episode and in flashbacks keeps Percy's quest grounded. Yes, he's on a journey to stop an all-out war between the Olympians, but he's also just a kid trying to save his mom from harm. It's a role reversal from their usual dynamic, where she worked tirelessly to hide him from any dark forces that wished him harm.

These efforts range from giving Percy swimming lessons to marrying a smelly mortal in order to disguise Percy's half-blood scent from denizens of the Olympian world. In a particularly painful series of memories that play out in episode 7, we also see how Sally tried to send Percy to boarding schools that would distance him from the monsters of New York City. An upset Percy, believing Sally just wants to push him away, refuses to get out of the car at one school, causing Sally to yell at him.

"I was excited about giving audiences a glimpse of Sally when she's not at her best, when she loses her cool, because that's real," Kull said. "Every parent has had to hold their kid down in the doctor's office to get something done. You don't want to do it, but you have to because it's to keep them safe. And so showing something like that, although it might not be fun, I think it feels true."

Virginia Kull and Azriel Dalman in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

To further ground her performance in reality, Kull drew inspirations from the architects of Percy Jackson, Rick and Becky Riordan themselves. Both serve as executive producers on the series and were on set while shooting. "When I've heard Becky speak about her own children and what it is to be a parent, I find the clear-headed, truthful way in which she speaks really inspiring," said Kull. "And I tried to take from that and infuse some of that into Sally."

Sally is, in many ways, one of the most key storytellers in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Our introduction to her is a scene in which she tells Percy the story of Perseus, a moment whose purpose is not just one of fun, but of education and preparation for the day when Percy inevitably learns the truth.

"Sharing the stories with him is a daily reminder that life for him and her is going to change irrevocably and seismically very soon," said Kull. "So, on the one hand, she's telling stories to connect. On the other hand, she's telling stories to prepare him and also say goodbye."

In taking on the role of "reluctant storyteller," as Kull describes it, Sally has some of the show's most impactful lines — many of which could also serve as thesis statements for the series. Take her assertion that not everyone who looks like a monster is a monster, and apply it to Percy's encounter with beings like Medusa, who have their own painful backstories. And when she tells Percy, "You are not broken, you are singular," it serves as a reassurance to both Percy and to every viewer who's ever felt different.

Another line that resonated with Kull comes from Sally's discussion with Poseidon in episode 7, when she says, "I want him to know who he is before your family tries to tell him who they want him to be." It's moments like that, where Sally emphasizes Percy's humanity and individuality over his half-blood nature, where Kull really found her character's heart.

"To her, Percy's more than just a demigod. He's a kid who wakes up with bad breath and messy hair, and who cries when he stubs his toe. His humanity is his superpower and the thing she adores most about him and is trying to protect," Kull said. "That's why she doesn't want him to go to camp yet, because she can't bear that her days with him are numbered. I think that's the devastating, beautiful tragedy of her story."

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is now streaming on Disney+.

TL;DR: As of February 1, get this lifetime subscription to Wordplay AI Content Generator for only $89.97 — that's 54% off.

With Valentine's Day almost upon us and everyone busier than ever, a practical gift could be a welcome surprise for your sweetie. Ditch the flowers for something a marketer, blogger, vlogger, or any other content creator or writer could use. For instance, the Wordplay AI Generator can help make their workdays easier, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for just $89.97 (reg. $199).

Wordplay allows users to create articles with 5,000+ words instantly, made to give you high-quality content that should require only minimal editing. It can be a helpful tool when creating websites, blog articles, marketing material, and more. Plus, you have the option to create AI-generated content in more than 20 different languages.

It also has built-in features that make your content more appealing to Google's algorithm, including higher accuracy, remaining on topic, and more.

Subscribers have a handful of different modes to choose from. In Guided Mode, you'll start with a keyword, and then Wordplay guides you through the next steps, which include selecting your title, intro, and sections. It then works its magic to create a complete article for you.

In Outline Mode, you simply put in a blog outline, and it will quickly write a post draft for you. If you have questions along the way, Bulk FAQ Mode allows you to enter them and get detailed answers to all of them in seconds. To top it off, you can use Wordplay to publish content easily with the WordPress plugin. 

This offer gets you a maximum of 10,000 words per 30 days for life. Updates are also included.

Get a lifetime subscription to Wordplay AI Generator while it's on sale for $89.97 (reg. $199) until February 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Wordplay Wordplay AI Content Generator: Lifetime Subscription $89.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of February 1, get a one-year subscription to Incogni Personal Information Removal Service for $49.97 — that's 67% off.

With the internet as prevalent in everyday life as it is, it's important to keep your digital life protected. This innovative software works to remove your personal information from a list of 180+ data brokers.

The Incogni personal information removal service subscription automatically makes scammers remove your data so it stays secure and private. Incogni constantly searches for new data brokers with your information and conducts regular sweeps for future protection.

Here’s how it works: 

1. Use your primary email to sign up and create your account 

2. Confirm the email address

3. Fill in your personal information (Name, Surname, Address)

4. Complete the Authorization form

5. Add discount. (you will be asked to validate your payment card with 1 USD/afterward will be returned) 

6. Provide your credit card information 

Incogni helps lower the chances of your personal information being compromised in data breaches, thus reducing the risk of falling victim to online criminal activity. You’ll notice a decline in spam emails, telemarketing calls, and other scams. Incogni makes it easy to take back control of your private information.

Until February 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get a 1-year subscription to the Incogni personal information removal service for only $49.97 (originally $155). No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Incogni Personal Information Removal Service: 1-Yr Subscription $49.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of February 1, get Four Preserved Roses in a Box for Only $28.88 shipped — a 67% discount.

Roses are a timeless and classic way to let that special someone in your life know you’re thinking of them. But one of the downsides of buying flowers is that they don't last very long, especially if your giftee doesn't always remember to take care of them. This Valentine’s Day, surprise a loved one or friend with a stunning box of four preserved "everlasting" roses.

The Chounette L' Etonnante roses come in a beautiful 4-inch square black or white box — depending on your preference. Choose your color (lavender, pink, white champagne, red, yellow, and black) and enjoy their eternal beauty for years to come. This unique quartet of roses will brighten any room and are sure to be the center of attention.

Upon purchase, customers will instantly receive a digital voucher. The code must be redeemed on Chounette's website in order for your flowers to ship. Be sure to select a delivery date one to two days before Valentine’s Day (or any other special occasion) to guarantee on-time delivery.

Give a gift that won't wilt this Valentine’s Day.

Until February 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get the Chounette L' Etonnante four preserved roses box (shipping included) for only $28.88 (originally $89). 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Chounette Chounette L' Etonnante 4 preserved roses box (shipping included) $28.88 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

Poking around for TVs on sale on any given day of the year is all but guaranteed to turn up at least some results. (We would know. We track TV deals weekly.)

Of course, retailers don't casually offer their best TV prices of the year all the time. The amount of TV deals may be bigger or smaller depending on when you're shopping, and if you do spot a discount, patience and a calendar check could render you more savings down the road.

What time of year do TV prices drop?

Times with an "s" would be a more accurate question, because you're not screwed if you don't have the time or the budget to scope out a new TV on Black Friday (though that is one of the best times to shop). Aside from Black Friday, the NFL playoffs and spring are two other times that you'll find the most TVs on sale at lower-than-usual sale prices, including premium flagship models that don't get much action otherwise. Let's break down your options.

Time #1 to find the best TV deals: Black Friday

Month: Late October, November, and early to mid-December

People may not be throwing down in a Best Buy at the crack of dawn like they used to, but Black Friday TV deals are still unmatched — they're just not nearly as fleeting.

Black Friday is trending toward a month-or-more-long affair at this point, with retailers shifting into Black Friday mode online as early as October. The extended time frame raises the question of whether TV sale prices will drop even further closer to Black Friday. Thankfully, most of the big retailers aren't trying to trick you — in fact, Best Buy and Samsung will straight-up tag a certain deal as a Black Friday deal if they drop it ahead of time, confirming to buyers that there's no need to hold out until the week of Thanksgiving.

This is an especially clutch time for budget shoppers looking for the cheapest possible version of a 4K TV at a certain size. During Black Friday, basic budget-friendly 4K TVs are typically the doorbusters that sell out soon after they drop — and are much less likely to return in the next few months. While premium QLED and OLED TVs will definitely also be on sale, many of those deals tend to stick around for a few months in the new year, and might drop even further in price when football deals start.

Walmart's $148 50-inch onn. 4K Roku TV sold out quickly during Black Friday. Credit: Roku

Post-holiday sales and New Year sales are absolutely a thing, but you can be confident that most TV prices are generally better before Christmas than after. We've seen firsthand how sale prices on TVs subtly go up by $100 or two (or three) during sales after the holiday compared to their Black Friday and pre-holiday prices. Of the TV deals that fluctuate after the new year, you can expect their Black Friday prices (or a price better than Black Friday) to pop up during the next big time to shop — NFL playoff season.

Time #2 to find the best TV deals: NFL playoff season

Month: Mid-January to early February

The people want to know: Are TVs cheaper after the holidays? The answer is technically yes, but not in the "after-Christmas sales slash New Year's sales" way that you're thinking. If you didn't snag your TV during Black Friday, your next best bet is to wait in the wings until the end of January for football-fueled deals, which kick off near the start of the NFL playoffs (sometime in mid to late January) and last until the big game (some in early to mid-February).

SEE ALSO: Best streaming deals: Here's how to get a discounted Netflix subscription before its cheapest ad-free tier is gone

The month-long lead-up to the biggest football game of the year — one of the most-watched sporting events of the year — is prime time to find a TV on sale. In particular, these deals may focus more on TVs that are good for watching sports: i.e., big-screen QLEDs. The vibrant lighting supplied by a QLED panel is ideal for following small details like a ball or tiny score box, as well as the brightness of the team's colors and the field to make your experience feel as live and in-person as possible. It's not uncommon for most of these deals to be identical to what we saw during Black Friday, or in some cases, drop even lower in price due to proximity to CES. (See explanation below.)

There is one group of TVs that still may not be seeing their lowest possible sale price during football sales: If you're eyeing one of the most premium, most recent models from a certain brand and still aren't seeing a discount of more than $100 or two, you might consider pumping the breaks until spring.

Time #3 to find the best TV deals: Spring

Month: March and April

Flagship TVs from big brands don't go on sale that often (we typically see more deal action happening with their mid-tier and base-tier counterparts). When the deals do happen on these expensive models, the discount may barely even be big enough to feel like a deal. ($200 off a $2,000 TV? Wow, you shouldn't have.)

Until CES happens, that is. CES is a Las Vegas-based tech trade show where the latest and greatest consumer tech is unveiled to gadget enthusiasts in the industry ahead of release to the public. The annual TV release cycle mostly revolves around CES, as it's where brands like Samsung, LG, TCL, and Hisense show off their new TV designs for the year. While these fresh releases aren't the ones going on sale, TV deal shoppers should care about those new TVs because they force last year's TV models to go on sale.

SEE ALSO: The best of CES 2024

The key here is that the best deals start not when the TVs are announced at the event in January, but once they're officially up for grabs to the public in the spring. In 2024, we'll be on the lookout for premium stragglers (the LG C3 and G3 OLEDs or the latest version of Samsung's The Frame, for example) that have been at a plateaued price for months to finally see a new noteworthy discount during post-CES sales.

Now that LG has announced the M4 OLED, the popular LG C3 OLED should get receive a more intense discount. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The one outlier here is Sony, which has been sitting CES out for the past few years in favor of its own release schedule — a very Apple and iRobot-coded tactic. In 2023, Sony announced its new line of TVs for the year in March (the month that most competitors begin shipping the TVs they announced at CES two months prior) and began shipping those new TVs in the fall. With this logic, you could only assume that Sony's TVs from the previous year will be seeing their best discounts in the fall, which could coincide with early Black Friday deals.

Honorable mention: Prime Day(s)

Amazon is typically pretty low on the list of best places to buy a TV. While it does sell most of the same brands of TVs as competing retailers do, its sale prices are more volatile and often plagued by inflated original prices that make discounts look more intense than they are. (Pro tip: You can get a good idea of what an actually-good sale price range for any TV at Amazon by pasting the listing URL into Camelcamelcamel, a free Amazon price tracking site.)

However, Amazon stands out as a TV destination during the shopping holidays it made up for itself: Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days (basically a second Prime Day). These events usually happen in July and October, respectively.

SEE ALSO: How to recycle Amazon packaging (yes, all of it)

Naturally, Fire TVs are the focal point during Prime events, and these deals go hard — hard as in a 43-inch Amazon Omni 4K Fire TV for $99.99 for Prime Day 2023 and a 50-inch Hisense QLED TV for $149.99 for Prime Big Deal Days 2023. (These are wild screen size to price ratios that can only be rivaled by similar Walmart doorbusters on its TV brand, onn.) Both of those jaw-dropping deals were invite-only deals that you have to request to unlock, but it's still a first come, first served situation that would be the case with any doorbuster deal. Interestingly enough, Amazon's Black Friday invite-only deals for 2023 didn't include a TV.

Speaking of other retailers, Amazon Prime events also trigger competing sales at Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. Unless Fire TV is already your comfort streaming platform, your best bet for finding TV deals during July and October Prime events is still to peep the wider variety of TV deals at Amazon's competitors.

The launch may have been confusing, but Max eventually landed on its feet and became a streaming service we can't live without.

The library boasts thousands of hours of endless movie magic, from hallowed Hollywood favorites in the Turner Classic Movies collection to nerdy essentials like The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, and Aliens to the works of directors like Chantal Akerman, Wong Kar-wai, Robert Altman, and Akira Kurosawa.

Picking the best (and distinguishing them from our personal favorites) was no easy task, but we somehow managed.

In no particular order, here are the 26 best movies on Max.

1. Parasite (2019) Credit: Curzon Artificial Eye / Kobal / Shutterstock

Four years have passed, and it’s still wild that a film like Parasite took home the Best Picture trophy at the Oscars back in 2020. Not only was Bong Joon-ho’s black comedy thriller the very first non-English language film to grab Hollywood’s highest honor, but it was also by far the most audacious film to do so. The South Korean filmmaker’s anti-capitalist parable follows the Kims, a poor family just barely getting by, who decide to infiltrate the lives of the wealthy Park family, who reside in a luxurious modern home. First Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) pretends to be a student to get a job tutoring the Parks’ daughter. Then he gets his sister Ki-jung, aka “Jessica” (cue air quotes) a job as their son’s art therapist. Eventually, the entire Kim family is on the Parks’ payroll, without the Parks realizing they’re related. 

But Parasite is so much more than a class-conscious story about a scheming family. Bong has long been a master of genre mash-up filmmaking, and with Parasite, he further blends tingling suspense with biting humor, startling violence, and unforgettable set pieces. Parasite is one of those rare films that was fully deserving of the massive hype around it, and still is.

How to Watch: Parasite is now streaming on Max.

2. Aliens (1986)

Every sequel faces the challenge of living up to its predecessor, but Aliens had the particularly tough challenge of following sci-fi horror masterpiece Alien. They’re two phenomenal, though different, films. The beauty of James Cameron’s sequel is how it does its own thing and takes Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) story in an exhilarating, action-packed direction, instead of trying to recreate the slow, atmospheric horror of Ridley Scott’s Alien.  

Aliens reunited us with our heroine 57 years after the events of the first film. After awakening, Ripley decides to go back to the planet where she first encountered the Xenomorph, now that the Weyland corporation has lost contact with a human colony living there. Joined by a crew of Marines including Michael Biehn's Hicks, Bill Paxton's Hudson, and Jenette Goldstein’s Vasquez (one of coolest female action characters cinema's seen), Ripley heads back to LV-426 and takes the young orphan Newt (Carrie Henn) under her wing.

How to Watch: Aliens is now streaming on Max.

3. In the Mood For Love (2000)

In the Mood For Love is a favorite among many cinephiles (including this one!) for a reason — it’s one of the most sublime examples of how to tell an emotional story through the language of cinema. But you don’t need to be a film scholar or know anything at all about filmmaking or foreign movies to enjoy this romance, which relies on the power of showing over telling. 

It’s a simple story about two neighbors who soon discover a secret about their respective spouses. Set in 1960s Hong Kong, Tony Leung’s Chow Mo-Wan and Maggie Cheung’s Su Li-Zhen hardly speak more than a few words to each other, but through their encounters in the hallway of their apartment building and the staircase of a local noodle shop, something begins to blossom — a longing, a sadness, a desire to be seen. The incredible thing about In the Mood for Love is how filmmaker Wong Kar-wai captures these universal emotions and tells a relatable story about love and yearning through visuals, sound, and performances using minimal exposition. Bursting with a radiant red and golden color scheme, stunning ‘60s womens’ fashion, and a soundtrack of multinational music, In the Mood for Love is more of an experience than a traditional romance, and one that grows more beautiful with each rewatch.

How To Watch: In the Mood for Love is now streaming on Max.

4. Moonlight (2016) Credit: David Bornfriend / A24 / Kobal / Shutterstock

You can look back on some Oscar Best Picture winners and wonder, “Was that movie really that good?” That’s far from the case for Moonlight. Barry Jenkins’ stunning triptych about queer Black masculinity is a film that’s only grown with beauty and emotional depth in the years since it rocked the Oscars with the infamous La La Land mix-up. 

For the uninitiated, Moonlight tells a coming-of-age story about Chiron, a young Black man from Miami, over the course of three chapters in his life. First we meet him as 10-year-old Little (Alex Hibbert), who’s taken under the wing of a compassionate local drug dealer named Juan (Mahershala Ali) and his girlfriend (Janelle Monáe). In the next chapter, Little has grown into a teenager (Ashton Sanders), who’s picked on by bullies and starts to notice feelings emerge for his best friend Kevin (Jharrel Jerome). Then we reunite with Chiron as a grown man in the form of the hulking Trevante Rhodes, who goes by the name Black. Every bit of Moonlight is coursing with lyrical poetry, from its sumptuous blue-infused visuals to Nicholas Britell’s tear-inducing score and the lead trio’s performances. It’s the rare Best Picture winner you don’t forget about easily.

How to Watch: Moonlight is now streaming on Max.

5. Paris, Texas (1984)

Paris, Texas opens on a man named Travis (Harry Dean Stanton) wandering through the Texas desert wearing a red ball cap and an old dusty suit, carrying nothing but a jug of water. Travis doesn’t speak much, but in time we learn bits and pieces of the happy life he once had with a young son and a wife who’s gone missing, and of the future he’s dreaming of. Wim Wenders’ film is a difficult one to categorize, but probably best described as a road movie about dreamers and wanderers. We spend lots of time in cars and dingy motels with Travis and his brother, Walt (Dean Stockwell), as they drive from Texas back to Los Angeles, and later, as Travis searches for his wife. It’s a slow, meditative film about loneliness and uncertainty, brimming with sun-soaked landscape shots and images lit by neon signs. Once you tune into its wavelength, Paris, Texas is a film that will smack you right in the heart. 

How to Watch: Paris,Texas is now streaming on Max.

6. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

If a movie could feel like getting a shot of adrenaline injected straight into your eyeballs — again, and again, and again — then that movie would be Mad Max: Fury Road. George Miller’s road warrior action epic is an absolutely bonkers ride from the very first scene to the last. After Tom Hardy’s apocalypse survivor Max escapes from the white-haired and pasty-skinned baddie Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), he teams up with Charlize Theron’s brutal-as-hell Furiosa to outrun the evil warlord. Really, Fury Road is just one continual chase sequence filled with tricked-out apocalyptic cars and semi-trucks, flame-throwing and guitar-playing sickos, a crew of badass female survivors, and some of the most gorgeous desert battles you’ve ever seen. With its eye-popping production design, blazing orange desert look, roaring sound design, and unrelenting suspense, Mad Mad: Fury Road remains an action spectacle like no other. 

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

7. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Need I waste time explaining why The Devil Wears Prada continues to be one of the most rewatchable and quotable comedies? Meryl Streep never misses a note as the scathing Anna Wintour-esque Miranda Priestly. Stanley Tucci is at his Tucci-est as a fashion magazine art director who comedically balances pity and concern for Anne Hathaway’s Andy. Emily Blunt is delightfully unlikable as Miranda’s vicious personal assistant. And, of course there’s the joyous Hathaway, whose Andy we can’t help but root for. The Devil Wears Prada has given us so much, from the perfect needle drop of Madonna’s “Vogue” for Andy’s makeover montage to gifting the internet with the Chanel boots meme. It’s also the film that pops into your mind every time you pass a brick of Jarlsberg in the cheese aisle and think, “Good god, $8 worth is a lot of cheese for a sandwich.”

How to Watch: The Devil Wears Prada is now streaming on Max.

8. Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

You may have never heard of the 1975 Belgian-French film Jeanne Dielman until recently, when the magazine Sight and Sound named it the greatest film of all time. “But wait, don’t film people consider Citizen Kane the best movie ever?” you may be thinking. For 40 years, that Orson Welles classic dominated the list, soon followed by Hitchcock’s Vertigo. Not anymore. The boys got bumped down for Chantal Akerman’s radically feminist, avant-garde marvel to reign, and deservingly so. 

So what makes Jeanne Dielman so incredible? On paper it admittedly doesn’t sound like much, but the act of watching it is almost hypnotic. Throughout the movie we slowly see a lonely widow and mother (Delphine Seyrig) meticulously do housework, like peel potatoes, grocery shop, and make the bed. Jeanne also earns money through sex work, hosting men at her home before her son returns from school. Throughout the monotony of it all, a palpable dread grows until Akerman’s character study culminates in one of the most shocking endings of all time. If a film could somehow be tedious and enthralling at the same time, Jeanne Dielman is it.

How to Watch: Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles is now streaming on Max.

9. Blood Simple (1984)

The Coen brothers’ very first film is a must-see for fans of the versatile filmmakers, or just anyone who loves Fargo. Blood Simple is a lean crime thriller that’s oozing with style, taut with suspense, and features an early taste of the duo’s signature dark humor. It has all the makings of a slick neo-noir with a simple story involving a secret affair, a murder plot, and a private eye.

Frances McDormand, in her feature film debut, plays Abby, a Texas housewife who begins an affair with a bartender named Ray (John Getz). But Abby’s husband, Marty (Dan Hedaya), is Ray’s boss, and when he starts to suspect her of infidelity, he hires a private detective (an incredible M. Emmet Walsh) to snoop around and spy on the new couple. The neon and blood-drenched visuals paired with an eerie electronic score from beloved composer Carter Burwell and killer performances all around make Blood Simple one of the all-time best first films. Fun fact: This is also the film where McDormand met now-husband Joel Coen.

How to Watch: Blood Simple is now streaming on Max.

10. Jennifer’s Body (2009) Credit: Fox Atomic / Kobal / Shutterstock

Name a more perfect pitch for an early 2000s horror comedy: A cheerleader turns into a man-killing demon after a local indie rock band tries to sacrifice her in exchange for fame. 2009’s Jennifer’s Body was a gift, a brilliant blend of gore and satire wrapped up in a stylized feminist revenge tale led by Megan Fox as the titular possessed cheerleader. But that gift from director Karyn Kusama and screenwriter Diablo Cody also took on a curse of its own when male film critics and audiences tore it to shreds — classic misogyny at work! Thankfully, Jennifer’s Body has gained well-deserved praise in the years since. Kusama’s film was great to begin with, because what’s better than Fox transforming into a terrifying monster gnawing at the throats of horny high school dudes who just view her as a sex object? Jennifer’s Body will live on as a hilarious bloody queer horror comedy that also happens to have some of the best one-liners.

How to Watch: Jennifer’s Body is now streaming on Max.

11. 20th Century Women (2016)

Set in 1979, 20th Century Women is a coming-of-age film told through the eyes of a young teenage boy raised by women. 15-year-old Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) lives with his single mother, Dorothea (Annette Bening playing the kinda cool mom you wish was your own), who runs a boarding house for women out of their old Santa Barbara home. Twentysomething photographer Abbie (Greta Gerwig) lives there, and 17-year-old Julie (Elle Fanning) slips in and out of Jamie’s window to tell him about the boys she’s hooked up with. Surrounded by these women, Jamie’s introduced to books on feminism and conversations about birth control, cervical cancer, heartbreak, and menstruation. He goes to his first punk concert, jams out to The Strokes records, and gets drunk for the first time. 

20th Century Woman isn’t just any run-of-the-mill coming-of-age movie, though. Filmmaker Mike Mills constructs the film like a cinematic scrapbook, using voiceover montage sequences full of archival footage, found photos, and object portraits to tell each woman’s story. It’s a unique artistic approach that lends a stylish edge to a story bursting with sweetness.

How to Watch: 20th Century Women is now streaming on Max.

12. Eighth Grade (2018)

Coming-of-age movies love to revel in the nightmarish drama and humor that is high school, but what about middle school? We’re talking a time of peak excruciating awkwardness, of pimples and puberty, of popular mean girls and gross boys. Now add in social media and you’ve got Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade, a film that captures all the embarrassing particulars of being a tween in the digital age. 

We follow Elsie Fisher as Kayla Day, a shy girl in her last week of eighth grade. She uploads makeup tutorials to her YouTube channel and selfies to Instagram, a strong distinction from the quiet persona she has at school. She tells her crush she gives blow jobs before Googling what those even are. She goes to a pool party and has a full-blown panic attack — the most relatable scene for any person who was the anxious, quiet kid at a party full of cool kids. Really, it’s a horror movie about adolescence in the age of social media, but one that’s fresh with a sharp sense of humor and compassion for those tough coming-of-age hurdles.

How to Watch: Eighth Grade is now streaming on Max.

13. The Player (1992) Credit: Spelling International / Kobal / Shutterstock

The Player opens with an eight-minute tracking shot across a Hollywood movie studio as executives and assistants panic over a Variety headline, hear a terrible pitch about a sequel, and chat about the decline in quality filmmaking. “The pictures these days are all cut, cut, cut,” one character laments as he praises classic film tracking shots… during a literal tracking shot. 

Robert Altman’s 1992 film isn’t just a meta film about Hollywood, it’s one of the best, funniest, and smartest satires about the movie business. Tim Robbins plays the vice president of a major studio who’s been getting threatening postcards from a scorned screenwriter he never called back. Paranoia builds as his life starts to mirror the plot of a classic crime thriller — there’s a murder, a mysterious girl, and probing detectives — all while he greets celebs at elite restaurants at his day job. It’s all hilarious and perfectly meta, poking fun at the state of Hollywood and modern blockbusters in commentary that remains relatable even today. Come for the sharp sardonic humor, stay for the 65 cameos of celebrities playing themselves, which are some of the film’s best punchlines.

How to Watch: The Player is now streaming on Max.

14. Brooklyn (2015)

If you’re a sucker for tender period romances that lead to wholesome cries, Brooklyn is the film. Saoirse Ronan is as Irish as ever as Eilis Lace, a young girl from a small town in southeast Ireland. It’s the early 1950s, and after struggling to find stable work at home, Eilis decides to emigrate to New York City. She gets a job at a department store and moves into a Brooklyn boarding house, but she can’t help missing home and feeling so alone in her new world. Then she meets Tony (Emory Cohen), a charming Italian guy, and a sweet love story takes hold. But back home there’s another great guy (Domhnall Gleeson) who may stir things up a bit. While on first glance, Brooklyn could easily be mistaken as any mid-rate period drama, it’s elevated by its trio of strong performances (most notably Ronan, who is nothing short of wonderful in a role that earned her a second Oscar nom), an excellent screenplay by author Nick Hornby (About a Boy), and its stunning cinematography that glows with warmth.

How to Watch: Brooklyn is now streaming on Max.

15. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) Credit: Searchlight Pictures / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Colm (Brendan Gleeson) and Pádraic (Colin Farrell) are best friends. One day Pádraic goes to his friend’s house to ask him to go for a pint — a daily ritual for the duo — but Colm doesn’t answer. Then later, Colm refuses to sit near Pádraic at the pub, and eventually tells him the truth: “I just don’t like you no more.” Colm is so over their friendship that he threatens to cut off one of his fingers each time Pádraic bugs him. But that’s just a silly exaggeration… right?

Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin is as thick with dark humor as it is with existential despair — but in a funny, cathartic kinda way. Set amid the rolling green hills of a small Irish island during the end of the Irish Civil War, Banshees isn’t so much a literal story about two middle-aged dudes going through a friend breakup as it is one that reflects how inner sorrow and turmoil can weigh heavily on the human mind and soul. The film’s humor isn’t as crude as McDonaugh’s previous work, like In Bruges (which also starred Farrell and Gleeson), or, thankfully, as racist and offensive (*ahem* Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri). Sad, funny, and human, it hits just the right sweet spot for a tragicomedy, and is a showcase for Farrell’s best acting yet.

How to Watch: The Banshees of Inisherin is now streaming on Max.

16. A Woman Under the Influence (1974)

In A Woman Under the Influence, Gena Rowlands gives what many have rightfully deemed one of the greatest performances in film. She plays Mabel Longhetti, a mother and housewife who’s known to exhibit some rather erratic behavior. Mabel is often giddy and bursting with childish excitement one moment, then erupts into angry outbursts or desperately clings at affection the next. Perhaps she struggles with bipolar or borderline personality disorder. Or maybe her troubled marriage to Nick (Peter Falk) and the housewife box she’s been confined to are ushering her into a full-on nervous breakdown. That’s essentially what the John Cassavetes film is — a harrowing portrait of a woman, and a marriage, falling apart at the seams. 

A Woman Under the Influence is a prime example of what makes Cassavetes’ filmmaking so riveting, and it’s a great introduction for anyone interested in exploring the filmmaker who’s known for laying the foundation for American independent cinema. But still, this is Rowlands' film. She captivates every moment she’s on screen with a performance that feels so real, off-the-cuff, and lived in that you may mistake it for improvisation. It isn’t, and proves why Rowlands was one of the best of her generation.

How to Watch: A Woman Under the Influence is now streaming on Max.

17. I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

James Baldwin died 37 years ago, but his writing and wisdom remain as relevant, as urgent, and as necessary as ever. Raoul Peck’s 2016 Oscar-nominated documentary is a powerful artistic experiment that spotlights Baldwin’s potent examinations of anti-Blackness and white supremacy in America. Those insights don’t merely speak of the past or Baldwin’s lifetime, but directly to the circumstances of today regarding movements for Black and brown liberation and police abolition.

I Am Not Your Negro pairs some of Baldwin’s most famous TV interviews with footage of Black Lives Matter protests, imagery of anti-Black police violence, archival footage, and clips from Hollywood films to tell a story the late author never got to finish himself. Peck takes Baldwin's unfinished manuscript, which discusses the lives and assassinations of Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X through Baldwin’s eyes, and attempts to complete it through his own film. It’s a bold vision that elevates I Am Not Your Negro beyond your average doc into something rousing and alive by using lessons of the past to understand the present, and to help us craft a better future. It’s necessary viewing for any and everyone working to unlearn white supremacy and America’s history of anti-Black racism, and a great introduction to Baldwin’s work.

How to Watch: I Am Not Your Negro is now streaming on Max.

18. The Lobster (2016) Credit: Bfi / Irish Film Board / Canal+ / Film4 / Cnc / Greek Film Center / Kobal / Shutterstock

For fans of brutally dark humor, or of recent Oscar-nom Poor Things, may I introduce you to the delightful chaos that is The Lobster. Also from Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, the 2015 black comedy stars Colin Farrell as a lonely divorcee who checks into a hotel for singles. But there’s a catch to this matchmaking service: Residents have only 45 days to find a new partner or else they’ll be, literally, transformed into an animal. Don’t worry, they get to choose the animal! 

Farrell’s David choses a lobster. He’s having a hard time finding a mate, though, despite attending dances, going on hunting trips, and having other weird experiences involving hot tubs, sexual offers, and silent discos. Eventually he meets a woman played by Rachel Weisz and things take a turn. The rest of The Lobster, an outrageously absurd film with shocking violence and morbid humor, is best left discovered on your own. 

How to Watch: The Lobster is now streaming on Max.

19. The Dark Knight (2008)

It's daunting to pick just one Batman movie from the literal dozens available on Max, but in the end the top spot could only go to 2008’s The Dark Knight, written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Mask of the Phantasm, we will avenge you — someday).

The Dark Knight is more than the obvious peak of Nolan’s Batman trilogy and the final, mesmerizing performance that won Heath Ledger an Oscar. Over a decade later, the film’s exploration of nuance within the poles of good and evil remains as prescient as ever. We’re drawn to the chaos and fury of Ledger’s Joker, yes, but we are as compelled by Bruce’s struggle (Christian Bale) and Harvey’s fall from grace (Aaron Eckhart). You don’t get a line like “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain” without seriously contemplating its meaning. — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: The Dark Knight is now streaming on Max.

20. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Easily one of the greatest movie musicals ever made, Singin’ in the Rain tells the story of Hollywood’s shift from silent films to talking pictures. Caught in this transition is leading man Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly), whose leading lady Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) has the most grating voice imaginable. With the help of his best friend Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor) and aspiring actor Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), he plans to make a movie musical. What follows are some of the best musical numbers in history, with showstopping choreography accompanying catchy tunes. The title number is an absolute joy, as are “Good Morning” and the comedic masterpiece “Make ‘Em Laugh.” But it’s the 13-minute “Broadway Melody” sequence in all its Technicolor glory that solidifies Singin’ in the Rain as one of the all-time greats. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Singin' in the Rain is now streaming on Max.

21. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) Credit: Pierre Vinet / New Line / Saul Zaentz / Wing Nut / Kobal / Shutterstock

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy remains the gold standard for fantasy adaptations: It’s epic in scope and full of memorable characters and performances. Most impressively, the trilogy is consistently great. Choosing the best movie from the three is tricky, but I’ve got to give the edge to The Two Towers. The battle of Helm’s Deep is still the best fantasy battle put to film, and the introduction of Rohan, the Ents, and Gollum (Andy Serkis) deepens the already well-established world of Middle Earth. Gollum in particular elevates the movie to a whole new level, with Serkis and the visual effects team nailing one of the most iconic characters of the books. Max has the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy in its library, as well as the extended editions if you want even more Middle Earth goodness. — B.E.

How to watch: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is now streaming on Max.

22. Drive My Car (2021)

The first Japanese film to ever be nominated for Best Picture, Drive My Car is a quietly moving masterpiece that examines an unlikely connection between two fascinating characters: widowed actor Yūsuke (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and his driver Misaki (Tôko Miura). The two are at odds with each other at first — Yūsuke would prefer to drive himself — but Drive My Car sees them gradually let down their defenses and find comfort in each other. Don't let the three-hour runtime scare you off: Drive My Car is engaging throughout. — B.E.

How to watch: Drive My Car is now streaming on Max.

23. Rashomon (1950) Credit: Daiei / Kobal / Shutterstock

Akira Kurosawa is rightly considered one of Japan’s greatest filmmakers, and Rashomon is his best known film in the United States. When it premiered in 1950, its unique storytelling device in which the same events are told from the perspective of four different witnesses (one of whom is actually dead) was such a revelation in filmic structure that the movie became eponymous with the concept — hence, the Rashomon Effect. Through this effect, the relatively simple tale of a priest, a bandit, a samurai, a woodcutter, and a woman becomes a complex analysis of truth and perspective that earns its place as a keystone of 20th century filmmaking. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Rashomon is now streaming on Max.

24. The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix has been imitated, referenced, and parodied so frequently in the past two decades, it's almost easy to forget how mind-blowing it once felt. Almost. Watch the real thing in 2021, and it's still plain to see that Lana and Lilly Wachowski's sci-fi thriller is a true original. Keanu Reeves stars as Neo, a computer programmer haunted by the sense that something's just off — only to be proven right when he discovers he's been living in a simulation all along. The Wachowskis weren't the first to raise the idea that reality might not be real (and there are other, less literal ways to interpret that central concept), but The Matrix did so with such panache that it forever embedded it into our pop culture consciousness. The sequels may not have the sterling reputation as the original, but they're also worth watching for the Wachowskis' unparalleled action sequences and trippy philosophizing — and they're on Max, too. — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: The Matrix is now streaming on Max.

25. Grey Gardens (1975) Credit: Archive photos / Getty Images

In their famed 1976 film Grey Gardens, brothers and documentary team Albert and David Maysles pay a visit to a dilapidated mansion in the Hamptons. There, they profile the intriguing and tragic lives of a reclusive mother and daughter, both named Edith Beale, in a strange and winding character study unlike any other.

Relatives of First Lady Jackie Kennedy, the life stories of "Little Edie" and "Big Edie" are sensationalized in the documentary, and many argue that the film takes an inherently exploitative view of its subjects and their apparent mental health conditions. But as far as fascinating footage goes, Grey Gardens is a must-watch — capturing a unique family at the heart of a broader dialogue about the decline of political royalty and ‘60s-era Americana. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Grey Gardens is now streaming on Max.

26. Spirited Away (2001)

If you want to get into the beautiful, captivating films of Studio Ghibli, the vast majority of which are on Max, Spirited Away is a great place to start. It’s the story of Chihiro, a young girl trapped in a spirit world who must work to free her parents from a witch’s curse, and it’s a perfect movie. Everything about it, from the visuals to the characters to the score, grabs you tightly and immerses you in director Hayao Miyazaki’s imaginative world of spirit bathhouses, soot sprites, dragons, and more. There’s beauty in Spirited Away’s most elaborate sequences, but also in its quiet moments too, like a train ride or a meal shared between friends. These are the moments when you’ll find yourself crying without fully knowing why. All you’ll know for sure is that Spirited Away is amazing and you’ll never want it to end. — B.E.

How to watch: Spirited Away is now streaming on Max.

UPDATE: Jan. 31, 2024, 2:30 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect the latest streaming options.

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Polestar 4, the SUV coupé from Volvo's performance EV sub-brand, is now available in Europe and Australia.

The slick electric coupé was unveiled in April 2023 and first launched in China at the end of that year, but this is its first expansion globally. And while it's available for pre-order in some European countries and Australia today, production won't start until mid-2024, with first deliveries being expected in August.

Is it a SUV? Is it a sedan? Is it a coupé? Credit: Polestar

The Polestar 4 is a big deal for the brand, as it's the company's first model that fits into the extremely popular mid-size SUV category; the fact that it's styled like a sporty coupé will probably make it even more desirable. It's a slightly smaller cousin to the Polestar 3 SUV, which will also arrive in Europe and Australia this year.

The starting price for the Polestar 4 is 63,200 EUR (81,500 AUD in Australia). This is for the long range, single motor variant; the long range dual motor version starts at 71,200, and this can go up further if you add one of the additional equipment packages, including the 4,500 EUR Performance Pack. The price also varies by market; in Ireland, for example, the Polestar 4 starts from 68,600 EUR; in Germany, the starting price is 63,200 EUR, and in the UK it's 59,990 pounds (70,342 EUR). It's also worth noting that Polestar currently accepts orders only from 19 European countries; there's no word on when the rest of them will get their turn.

A 10.2-inch driver display, a 14.7-inch HUD, and a 15.4 inch main display. Credit: Polestar

We've covered the Polestar 4's specs in detail here, but the short version is that it's a futuristic-looking hybrid that sits smack in the middle of an SUV and a sporty sedan (think Volkswagen ID.5 or Mercedes GLC Coupé). Inside, it's sparse but very stylish, with Google's Android Automotive OS powering the infotainment, and large displays all around.

SEE ALSO: Polestar's new electric car will have a smartphone to match

Performance-wise, the Polestar 4 is pretty quick, with a 3.8 second 0-100 km/h time and a maximum power output of 544hp. With a 100 kWh battery installed in both the single and the dual motor variant, range is either 610 km, or 580 km WLTP. Charging is fast, with up to 200 kW DC charging supported on both versions of the car.

Look, ma: No rear window! Credit: Polestar

Finally, a curiosity: The Polestar 4 has no rear window; instead, a roof-mounted rear camera lets you see what's behind you.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a four-hour hearing concerning children's online safety this week, entitled "Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis." Unfortunately, you'd have no idea this was the subject if you only heard Senator Tom Cotton's questions for TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.

Congress heard testimony from a who's who of social media CEOs on Wednesday, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter/X's Linda Yaccarino, Snap's Evan Spiegel, and Discord's Jason Citron (though the latter three had to be subpoenaed). Each big tech exec was questioned about safety on their platforms, with Zuckerberg even turning to directly apologise to parents whose children had been harmed by social media.

TikTok's CEO is more likely to become American than Chinese

Yet despite the importance of the topic, the hearing took an aggravating detour when it came time to question Chew, the CEO of ByteDance subsidiary TikTok. Rather than focus on what the video sharing platform is doing to protect children, Arkansas senator Cotton turned his attention to the subject of Chew's nationality, seemingly unable to comprehend that while TikTok's CEO is Asian, he is not Chinese. 

"Of what nation are you a citizen?" Cotton asked Chew in an exchange that is being widely shared on Twitter/X. 

"Singapore, sir," responded Chew. Singapore is a small, independent island nation in Southeast Asia which is not and has never been a part of China.

"Are you a citizen of any other nation?" continued Cotton. 

"No, senator."

Others in this situation would move on, or present evidence to the contrary if they had any. Instead, Cotton proceeded to pursue this line of questioning for a full minute, seemingly unable to take the truth for an answer. Finding new ways to repeatedly pose the same question, Cotton asked if Chew has ever applied for Chinese citizenship ("No, I did not"), whether he has a Singaporean passport ("Yes, and I served my military for two and a half years in Singapore"), and whether he holds any other passports ("No, senator").

In fact, Chew indicated that he may apply for American citizenship, as his wife and children are U.S. citizens. Still, this didn't satisfy Cotton.

Tweet may have been deleted

"Have you ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party?" asked Cotton.

"Senator, I'm Singaporean," said Chew, beginning to sound a bit incredulous at this stage. "No."

"Have you ever been associated or affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party?"

"No, senator. Again, I am Singaporean."

Then, bizarrely, Cotton pressed Chew on his view of the events in Tiananmen Square, Beijing in 1989, whether the Chinese government is committing genocide against the Uyghur people, and whether Chinese president Xi Jinping is a dictator.

Again, this hearing was about children's online safety.

SEE ALSO: U.S. judge blocks Montana's TikTok ban

Cotton's line of questioning was disappointing, and not only because it bore little relation to the actual subject of the hearing. The issue of Chew's nationality had been thoroughly addressed before this week, with TikTok's CEO having constantly and consistently restated that he is Singaporean, born, raised, and currently residing.

The exchange between Cotton and Chew drew significant attention online, with many criticising the senator for his "xenophobic," "racist" questioning and likening it to McCarthyism. Others compared it to a scene from King of the Hill in which protagonist Hank asks Kahn whether he is Chinese or Japanese despite being clearly told he is Laotian.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted There are legitimate concerns about TikTok's safety. This is not one of them.

Overall, Cotton's aggressive interrogation appeared more like a grandstanding waste of time than a productive portion of the hearing. Still, the senator stood behind it. Hours after the hearing concluded, Cotton claimed on Fox News that "Singapore unfortunately is one of the places in the world that has the highest degree of infiltration and influence by the Chinese Communist Party.

Setting aside Cotton's apparent belief that there is a real and significant likelihood of Singaporean citizens being agents for the Chinese Communist Party — a belief he failed to voice at the hearing — the senator was unable to provide any evidence to support his implication that Chew is sympathetic to the Chinese government. When asked on Fox News, Cotton merely cited the fact that TikTok's CEO has previously worked for other Chinese companies.

Though Cotton's allegations about TikTok's ties to the Chinese government were by far the most tenuous, he wasn't the only senator who expressed concern. Known TikTok enemy Senator Josh Hawley grilled Chew about TikTok's Chinese employees accessing U.S. users' data, accusing the company of essentially being "an espionage arm for the Chinese Communist Party." 

An internal investigation by TikTok in 2022 did find that four employees in China had improperly accessed the data of two U.S. journalists, however the company addressed the situation and has since made efforts to wall off American users' data. This included investing $1.5 billion and dedicating 2,000 employees to Project Texas, an initiative to restructure TikTok so that U.S. data is stored in the U.S. by U.S. company Oracle.

Chew became a TikTok meme and internet hero after a congressional hearing last March, with users posting fan edits of the CEO and praising him for his patient answers to lawmakers' stunningly misinformed questions. Sadly, it seems Congress hasn't learnt much in the year since.

TikTok certainly isn't a perfect company, and its efforts to protect American users' data still have flaws. But if U.S. lawmakers want to make any sort of impact when it comes to addressing online safety, or even just earn the support of their internet-savvy constituents, they're going to have to significantly rethink their approach.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional 2019 for Windows or Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac for £31.47.

Students, working professionals, and business owners alike would likely agree that Microsoft Office is the one software suite indispensable to their daily tasks and larger projects. However, as you’re probably already aware, accessing those apps isn’t free.

You have two options: Microsoft 365 with renewal fees or a Microsoft Office lifetime license with zero subscription charges. And for a limited time, Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows and Mac is price-dropped to just £31.47.

Whereas Microsoft 365 plans may offer web-based apps with some including mobile access, a lifetime license is strictly for download onto one Windows PC or Mac with the following apps:

• Word: Type essays, reports, and resumes.

• Excel: Organise budgets, make calculations, and build graphs.

• PowerPoint: Design slideshows with templates and animations.

• Outlook: Manage email inboxes and calendars in one place.

• OneNote: Paperless note-taking with seamless media integration.

The Windows download also includes Publisher, an advanced design tool, and Access for managing large databases, while the Mac version includes Teams for easy text and video chatting. PCs must be running on Windows 10 or 11 and Macs on Monterey or newer in order to be compatible with this lifetime download.

Your Microsoft Office 2019 lifetime license arrives in your inbox instantly, including a download link and software license key for activation. Beyond convenience, this digital delivery means the purchase might also make an excellent last-minute gifting option.

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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 Feb. 1's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

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

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Living.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 Wordle #957 is...

ALIVE.

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.

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

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 February 1's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

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

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Cut down

• Green: Absolute beast of a man

• Blue: Ecstatic hobbyist

• Purple: Something with many folds

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: Make Shorter

• Green: Muscular

• Blue: Enthusiast

• Purple: Wrinkly Things

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 Connections #235 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Make Shorter: CLIP, CUT, PARE, TRIM

• Muscular: BUILT, JACKED, RIPPED, SWOLE

• Enthusiast: BUFF, FAN, LOVER, NUT

• Wrinkly Things: BRAIN, PRUNE, PUG, WALNUT

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

January 2024's State of Play stream was, in the aggregate, totally fine. There were several cool-looking games, most of which are coming out in 2024. Some of them are out in the next few months, which is great. However, almost none of it was actually new. Just about everything that was shown had been previously announced.

Still, that doesn't mean there weren't moments of genuine excitement (and side-eyeing skepticism) to be found.

SEE ALSO: WTF was that 'Death Stranding 2' trailer Exciting: Dave the Diver x Godzilla

Dave the Diver is a quirky little indie scuba simulator that stole hearts back in 2023, primarily on PC. As part of the State of Play stream, Sony announced that the game is coming to PS5 in April.

That's all well and good, but the truly exciting part of the announcement was the reveal that Godzilla DLC is coming in May. It's free and it features Godzilla. That's all we need to know.

Exciting: Sonic X Shadow Generations

2011's Sonic Generations is one of the startlingly few 3D Sonic games that are fun to play. It's a charming adventure full of throwbacks to Sonic games good and bad, not to mention some kick-ass music to go along with it.

Sonic X Shadow Generations looks to mostly be a remaster of that game, but with a twist: There's a new campaign starring Shadow the Hedgehog bundled in this new package. This is undoubtedly meant to piggyback off Shadow's appearance in the upcoming third Sonic the Hedgehog movie, but hey, gamers of a certain age who grew up on Sonic Adventure 2 will appreciate this.

Exciting: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

I don't even know where to begin with this one.

2019's Death Stranding was, in our words, a masterpiece. It's a uniquely lonely game about helping others and being helped, with the generous helping of the kind of weirdness creator Hideo Kojima usually injects into his games. The sequel got an extended look at the State of Play, and all you need to know is that it features a man in Joker makeup shooting electricity out of a guitar at cyber samurai dudes.

Just watch the trailer.

Exciting: Mystery Kojima game

Sony capped off the stream with a "surprise" appearance by Kojima himself. However, he wasn't just there to talk Death Stranding. Instead, he announced that he is working on an entirely original "espionage action" game for PlayStation. It didn't get a title or a trailer. Heck, it didn't get any other real information at all.

But that doesn't matter. "Espionage action" is famously part of the tagline for the original Metal Gear Solid. You can read this as Kojima making a new Metal Gear in spirit, if not in name. That's about as exciting as it gets.

Underwhelming: Silent Hill 2 remake

Last and, unfortunately, least is the upcoming remake of Silent Hill 2. The seminal 2001 horror classic is widely considered one of the best video games ever made, and publisher Konami's mismanagement of the series in the last 15 years or so has left a lot of fans wanting.

A remake of SH2 should be thrilling to fans, but the gameplay trailer shown during State of Play may have raised more questions than answers. Put simply, the trailer markets the game like it's an action-packed third-person shooter. If you haven't played the original Silent Hill 2, it's...not that. It's a creepy, psychological exploration of mental illness and abuse.

Maybe the remake has that stuff too. But we didn't see it in this trailer, so all we can do is judge what we've been shown.

Death Stranding has always been a strange and surreal video game but during the latest look of its sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima and co. have amped the weird to 11.

SEE ALSO: You can now play 'Death Stranding' on iPhone. Here’s how to get it.

The first look was the closer to Sony's Playstation State of Play livestream that took place on Wednesday, which featured other games like Metro: Awakening and the Silent Hill 2 remake. None of that, however, could top what Kojima cooked up for his latest game, a sequel to the critically acclaimed post-apocalyptic delivery simulator Death Stranding.

In this 9-minute announcement trailer, we've learned that Norman Reedus' Sam Porter Bridges is back on a new journey around the world to connect the globe lest humanity face extinction. Among many of the dreamlike visuals on offer during the trailer, there's BB spitting a flying ship out of its mouth, Troy Baker's Higgs as an Eric Draven-inspired robot samurai, and oh yeah, the low frame rate talking puppet.

No, I did not make any of this shit up. Yes, it's still a walking simulator. There's no release date yet, but do yourself a favor and go watch the trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach right now.

A new study sheds new light on how influencers make money and how the creator economy may change in 2024. Titled "State of Creators," the report examines the business strategies of 2,000 creators who make more than $100,000 a year posting to social media.

The study was conducted by Kajabi, a platform that helps creators monetize digital content like courses and podcasts, and the company doesn't say if it tapped its own creator clients to answer the survey. However, the study results do support the idea that digital content is one of the most sure-fire ways for creators to make money. We rounded up the rest of its most fascinating findings.

SEE ALSO: Why are cafes, restaurants, and even towns banning influencers? SEE ALSO: YouTube fixture MatPat to retire from The Game Theorists Income diversification is the fastest way to make $100K

Of the creators surveyed, 75 percent of respondents said that multiple revenue streams were needed to be financially successful, which means they don't just rely on payouts from social media platforms to stay afloat. When asked what digital products they made the most money from in the past year, the top answers were: online courses, digital downloads, subscriptions or memberships, and online consulting or coaching.

95 percent of creators making six figures have less than 1 million followers

For top-earning creators, more followers does not equal more income. Just 5 percent have more than 1 million followers, and 25 percent have less than 10,000.

These findings suggest that proper monetization of diversified income streams means you don't have to be a star on social media star to make money off of it.

46 percent of top-earning creators would join a union

Unions could be especially helpful for safeguarding the livelihoods of high-earning creators, who say that their top two concerns in 2024 are impacts from inflation and platform volatility. Creators are vulnerable to algorithmic change and account suspensions that can upend their entire business models, and a creator union could help its members negotiate fair pay, platform policies, content rights, and more.

Kajabi also reports that six-figure creators are more likely than lower-earning creators to seek the employment standards and protections that a union could offer.

Top-earning creators use AI twice as often as other creators

Artificial intelligence is a generative tool, so it's no surprise that 29 percent of creators say they use it every day while an additional 43 percent use it every week. The technology has huge upsides for content creators, 73 percent of whom believe it will help them save over 26 hours a week on work in 2024. And 56 percent think AI tools will be one of the best ways to reduce burnout in 2024.