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This Dropbox alternative is now as low as $150 for life

Sun, 01/21/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: As of Jan. 21, you can sign up for a lifetime subscription to Internxt cloud storage with 2TB for $149.50 (reg. $599), 5TB for $249.50 (reg. $1,099) or 10TB for $499.50 (reg. $1,599). That's up to 77% in savings.

Following the trend of subscription-based services, lifetime offers shine as an antidote. They take us back to the way things should be, where you only have to pay once to keep a product for life. 

Internxt is an outstanding contender for cloud-based storage, offering several tiers of lifetime plans to fit your needs: 2TB at $149.50 (reg. $599), 5TB at $249.50 (reg. $1,099), or 10TB at $499.50 (reg. $1,599). 

Internxt: a whole new realm of privacy

The platform offers multiple unique layers of security. For one, each photo, video, or document is end-to-end encrypted, meaning only those with explicit permission (like yourself or anyone you share with) can access your files. 

Additionally, Internxt’s code is completely open source, which means anyone can review, audit, and verify there are no hidden functions or vulnerabilities in place. They really show that they have nothing to hide. Well, except for your privacy.

Which lifetime plan should you get?

That depends entirely on your needs. Those who are just looking to back up their photos and videos may opt for the 2TB, while anyone who wants to upload their entire digital life might grab the 10TB plan. Here are some approximations of what each plan could store:

  • 2TB: 400,000 pictures, 2,000 video hours, or 2 million MS files.

  • 5TB: 1 million pictures, 5,000 hours of video, or 5 million MS files.

  • 10TB: 2 million pictures, 10,000 hours of video, or 10 million MS files.

With desktop and mobile apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS, plus a browser-based app, you’ll be able to upload and access files from anywhere.

Grab these  prices while they last:

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage (2TB) lifetime subscription $149.50 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage (5TB) lifetime subscription $249.50 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage (10TB) lifetime subscription $499.50 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

Why are tweens so obsessed with Sephora? We asked them to find out.

Sun, 01/21/2024 - 05:00

My first trip to Sephora was made possible by a popular girl in my grade who had a 13 Going On 30-themed birthday party. The whole affair was wildly elaborate: the host's mom gave me a $15 gift card that burned a hole in my pocket as I wandered the aisles alongside a handful of my classmates. I bobbed about like a buoy in a vast, glittering bay of products I had only ever heard mentioned by people older than me. The pair of eyeshadows I returned home with were more than a purchase. To me, they were souvenirs of a brief foray into womanhood.

Over the past few weeks, creators on TikTok have bemoaned the growing presence of young girls in Sephora. Some claim that the tweens and teens they've encountered in the store are rude and pushy. Others say the girls drain, steal, or trash the store’s sample products. But most question their presence in Sephora at all. "Should girls that age be buying Sephora’s pricey creams?" they ask.

SEE ALSO: TikTok is criticizing young girls who shop at Sephora. They're missing the point.

It seems people are less concerned with young girls' obsession with beauty than with their obsession with the right kind of beauty. If these young girls were clearing drug store aisles of Neutrogena and Aveeno, the discourse may not have reached such a fever pitch.

We asked half a dozen girls, three of their mothers, and a handful of Sephora employees to address some of the internet's biggest questions about why young women are so drawn to the beauty giant.

Are more girls shopping at Sephora?

On the Saturday after New Year's Day at a Sephora in the East Bay of San Francisco, about half of shoppers appeared to be under the age of 15. Some were dressed in pajamas and Crocs, others in jeans and Uggs. No Sephora employee would speak to me on the record but when I asked one if there were more tweens and teens at Sephora, one employee nodded her head "yes" in slow, solemn silence, as if I had just spoken of the dead. Another employee confirmed the increase in young girls and added hastily, "We are happy to welcome them."

Outside the store, I find 11-year-old Lulu shopping with her friends Isla, Paige, Lucia, and Maeve. They stopped by Sephora before seeing a movie nearby, an outing chaperoned by Lulu's mom, Laura. Standing in a semi-circle in the brisk afternoon breeze, the girls tell me they adore skincare and are sparing with makeup. They like a natural look and can't wear much more than mascara and blush without violating their private school's no-makeup rule. Of today's Sephora purchase, Lulu says, "I just wanted a highlighter. I don't like wearing concealer or any of that stuff."

Alexia, 14, stopped at Sephora while her mom, Jeannie, perched elegantly on a bench outside. Alexia says she began shopping at Sephora when she was 10, perhaps earlier, to address her acne. "It's all younger girls," Jeannie says of the shift in Sephora's customer base over the past two years, "When we walk in on the weekends, under 18 is the predominant age which is surprising because it's not an inexpensive store, and you would think that maybe they would gravitate more to Ulta because it has both sides: the more wallet-friendly brands as well as the upscale brands."

What's fueling Gen Alpha's love of Sephora?

Everyone I spoke to about this phenomenon points to TikTok. "Most of my feed would be like skincare products or makeup or just like stuff that you would find in Sephora," Alexia says. She says her friends see the same content.

Jeannie, her mom, credits the Sephora craze to girls on social media "taking off their masks and filters and exposing their skin," by which she means that young women are being more real about what their skin looks like and how they treat and cover it up.

In particular, the popularity of Get Ready With Me (GRWM) content — where someone styles themselves while talking to the camera — boosts interest in skincare and makeup among tweens. In general, Alexia says girls her age "follow people their age but also follow girls who are like in their 20s." These older content creators "use retinol and stuff like that which is for older skin that [the tween viewers] don't know better" than to use the same products.

One of Drunk Elephant's "smoothie" kits of mini travel essentials, called "The Littles." Credit: Drunk Elephant

I talk to Annabelle, 12, over FaceTime. She plays five sports and attends an all-girls school in San Francisco. She's been interested in skincare for "about a year" and says her favorite TikTokker is Isa Escu, who shares daily GRWM videos about her friends and college classes. Annabelle notes that Escu doesn't focus on promoting particular products, in the same way as, say, 18-year-old TikTokker Katie Fang, whom Alexia and Annabelle credit with popularizing Glow Recipe's Watermelon Glow toner. "I think she really blew up [that] toner because she used it so much and then like everybody started buying it," says Alexia.

Sometimes it's honestly not the result [of the product], it's just the packaging.

The Watermelon Glow toner is the color of pink lemonade and comes in a clear glass bottle with smooth, gelatinous curves. In the glow of a ring light, it looks practically edible. When asked why they're attracted to the products they buy, one of Lulu's friends, Maeve admits, "Sometimes it's honestly not the result [of the product], it's just the packaging." On TikTok and at school, "I see people I know getting stuff. And I realize that like I actually want to get it. I didn't know I wanted it and then when I see that someone else has it and how they use it, I realize it's something I'd actually use a lot."

What are girls buying at Sephora?

"Whenever I walk into Sephora, I always go straight to the Drunk Elephant section," says Annabelle, "Their packaging is very colorful and intriguing." Packaging appears crucial to the success of Drunk Elephant and second-place favorite Glow Recipe. Sol de Janeiro, Summer Fridays, and Charlotte Tilbury are also popular among young women and girls.

"I see a lot of girls buying Drunk Elephant, and I think that it's very, like, strong," says Alexia, who says she avoids the brand. "I guess they kind of target younger groups [with] all their, like, colorful stuff. I think that young girls want stuff like that because it's cute. But I don't necessarily think it's best for younger skin."

Sephora staff conveyed similar concerns when asked about brands popular with young women. One employee noted that Drunk Elephant's neon-capped concoctions, which are part of skincare routines the company calls "smoothies," appeal directly to young women. The same employee said that Glow Recipe applies a similar approach, describing their products as "fruit-forward" and marketing edible-sounding products like their "watermelon glow pink juice" moisturizer to kids. Another example, the brand's "Fruit Babies" collection, is a travel-sized set of best-sellers that "visibly tighten pores, soothe, brighten under eyes and hydrate for glowing skin" using avocado, guava, watermelon, and plum.

Glow Recipe's "Fruit Babies" collection features products made with avocado, guava, watermelon, and plum. Credit: Mashable composite; Glow Recipe Do these products actually work?

Annabelle goes to a dermatologist who has evaluated her routine to ensure it's safe for her skin. "I was ready for her to say all of it is junk, right? It's all marketing," says her mother Dorene, "But I was pleasantly surprised to hear her say, 'No, these are good and you can keep these.'"

The derm underscored the importance of SPF. ("I can tell her but it's different coming from someone else," notes Dorene) and told her she needed to apply her serums before she put on moisturizer. The only product they nixed was the oh-so-popular Glow Recipe toner, and that was mostly for its fragrance.

What's left is mostly from Drunk Elephant: a jelly cleanser ($34), hydration serum ($49), eye balm ($60), polypeptide cream ($68), and bronzer drops ($38). Supergoop sunscreen ($38) goes on top. The total price of her routine is around $287.

What if the derm had rejected all of her Drunk Elephant favorites? "I probably wouldn't have kept using it," says Annabelle. "I don't see the point in using skincare if it's not helping."

Drunk Elephant founder Tiffany Masterson has gone on the offensive, using the brand's Instagram and an interview with Ad Age to make her case. "There’s not an effort on our part to target or make money off kids or anything like that," she told the outlet. "We have products for all skin, and not every product in our line is appropriate for every person. Acids and retinols are certainly not appropriate for pre-pubescent skin. We’re gonna keep repeating that as much as we need to repeat it."

View this post on Instagram Who is paying for it all?

Alexia's mom buys her skincare and says there is a limit. "I've always said with her and her [older] sister, 'If it's skincare I will buy it for them.' If it's makeup, I'm kind of like, 'You kind of have to pay for that.'"

"They are very expensive," Dorene says of the products she gifts Annabelle. "I put a great deal of importance in taking care of your skin ever since she's been little... I want her to have a good routine. So I feel like investing in it is OK." Regardless, Dorene says she still treats skincare like a reward for Annabelle. "Most of these items have been things that she's asked for [and] earned…doing what she's supposed to do…helping around the house, helping with her brother, doing her homework on time, getting up… That being said, I'm sure that it is difficult for people with different socioeconomic [considerations]."

During our conversation, Annabelle often emphasizes how long a product will last her or how little she uses to make it go further. This seems to be a larger trend. While Lulu's mother doesn't share whether or not she buys products for Lulu, she does note that "for some reason, they're attracted to full-size products." In a matter-of-fact tone, Lulu explains, "It's because it lasts longer."

Drunk Elephant products come in an enticing rainbow shades. Credit: Mashable composite; Drunk Elephant Is TikTok's skincare obsession fueling the erosion of tweendom?

Teens have always wanted to grow up faster, to rush into adulthood.

"I was into [makeup and skincare], just in different ways," says Dorene, Annabelle's mom. "I would use my mom's stuff. And when I was a teenager or tween, my parents would drop us off at the mall with friends and we would go to the different beauty counters and ask for samples." For inspiration and trends, "We looked in magazines. Models like Cindy Crawford were who we looked up to."

For Dorene, "The TikTok thing is really difficult because it's not like a vetted source. [Annabelle will] say something to me that she got from the 'news,' something that's gone viral, and it's absolutely not true. There's no accountability," she explains, "We were influenced by magazines [where] there were checks and balances. Now there's nothing."

SEE ALSO: Slugging, gua sha, rice water, and more: How stolen cultural beauty practices feed viral videos

The tweens I spoke to seem to genuinely enjoy using skincare. "I think they like the idea of the routine," says Lulu's mom Laura. "They like having a ritual." Throughout our 90-minute conversation, Annabelle used the word  "fun" to describe her use of skincare more than a dozen times. She makes Get Ready With Me videos of herself because "they're fun to do," but she never posts them anywhere and often deletes them.

Annabelle tells me that her skincare routine is driven by "trends," and I assume she means content trends like "douyin makeup" or glass skin. But as we chat, I discover that she thinks of trends in terms of products. "Glass skin is a trend, but I don't see what I can do to participate in that," she says, "I participate in buying the products."

The participation even goes beyond consumerism. It's a way to connect with other girls and form stronger bonds. Most of the products Annabelle shows me have been gifted to her not just from her family but her friends, too. They swap online wishlists ahead of birthdays and holidays or give each other new products to try out. A few girls I interviewed said skincare was also a way to connect with older sisters or cousins who are further along in their beauty journey.

Honestly, we're just starting to go through puberty and, like, we know that we're starting to explore makeup. It's just judgy because we're younger.

They know what people online are saying about them. "It's kind of judgy because, like, they don't know what we're getting," says Maeve. "Honestly, we're just starting to go through puberty and, like, we know that we're starting to explore makeup. It's just judgy because we're younger."

"I don't think I'm one of those people though," Annabelle tells me. "They kind of say like, we're people that like steal the products. I don't use retinol. I just feel like I don't tick the boxes of things that people get really annoyed about, and I hope I don't because I wouldn't like someone to do that to me."

She usually wears makeup to go out in public, and even at home to make sure she is ready for whenever BeReal goes off, but "I don't really feel the need to be presentable. I just enjoy it, I guess… I don't see a reason to stop. If the makeup was, like, making me break out or something like that, then I probably would stop, but since it's just...you know, making me feel happier, there's no reason to stop using it. 

What should Sephora, influencers, and parents do about it?

Liah Yoo, founder of Krave Beauty, says this is an opportunity for Sephora and influencers to "step up their merchandising game." In an Instagram Reel about the phenomenon, Yoo noted, "If [tweens and teens] are going to go into Sephora, it might as well have a tween or teen section that curates a collection of products that are safe for these teenagers to use." Yoo adds that Sephora's efforts can't end there. "That should come with an educational component with a lot of masterclasses for skincare beginners."

Yoo also opined that "if you're a creator or influencer with a lot of tweens and teens watching you, I think it's a good opportunity for you to also do a lot of skincare content for teenagers."

But some of these young influencers, like Katie Fang, are just learning to be adults themselves. Why should they shoulder the impossible weight of teaching girls their age how to care for their skin?

The discourse has, unsurprisingly, evolved into a parenting debate. Former Real Housewives star Bethenny Frankel, for example, weighed in on TikTok saying, "It's psychotic that kids would think that they could spend $50 on a blush or hundreds of dollars in a beauty store… Girls that are my daughter's age, that are her peers, talk to me like I'm their peer," continued the reality star. "'So what do you think of the Dior? Do you have the Drunk Elephant, do you have the Charlotte Tilbury?' and I'm like 'Bitch, you're 14. We're not on the same level.'" She lays the blame squarely on the parents.

In her interview with Ad Age, Masterson blames parents, too. "We have a responsibility as a brand, but part of this is a parenting issue. When do you allow your kids on social media? Do you allow your kids to storm Sephora with your credit card? I’m grateful for parents who choose to buy the brand for their kids, but I wish that wasn’t happening in Sephora because I don’t think that it’s appealing."

She also tells the publication that the brand doesn't gift products to influencers under the age of 18, though Ad Age astutely notes that Drunk Elephant has sent products to tween Kardashians North West and Penelope Disick. "People want me to just do a kids line and a teenage line, that’s what I’m hearing right now," she told Ad Age.

SEE ALSO: 7 skills to teach your daughter by age 13

The bottom line is that young girls don't need older women looking down on them, they need guidance and compassion. Plus, they're smart enough to know that they're being marketed to. When I tell Annabelle that I remember the Glow Recipe Watermelon Mask craze of 2018, she nods. "I remember I looked at their Shark Tank video [from 2015], and I noticed the products were so unappealing. They got some funding, and I feel like what boosted their company the most was the packaging."

Before we hang up our FaceTime call, Annabelle says thoughtfully, "I feel like Sephora is for everybody. I feel like this is the generation that we're living in. I guess like there's gonna be a lot of kids that go to Sephora and, you know, it's just like the trend now."

'The Woman In the Wall' blends horror and crime caper to tell a shameful part of Irish history

Sun, 01/21/2024 - 05:00

What do you know about the Magdalene Laundries? If you grew up in Ireland, or perhaps the UK, you’ve probably heard about this dark part of Irish history. But if you’ve been living elsewhere, chances are you might not have, despite how recently it happened. A criminally underrepresented part of history, it’s the basis of the BBC’s latest genre-blending crime series. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Woman in the Wall' stars Ruth Wilson and Daryl McCormack on playing haunted characters

Set in West Ireland with Calm with Horses writer Joe Murtagh and director Harry Wootliff at the helm, The Woman in the Wall spotlights this heinous part of Ireland history, without residing solely in the well-trodden genres of true crime or social realism. Instead the series, led by Ruth Wilson and Daryl McCormack, blends these elements with psychological horror, crime procedural, historical drama, and, somehow, black comedy. It all makes for a compelling, well-paced story about the survivors of the Magdalene (pronounced as "maudlin") institutions, including the Church's mother and baby homes. 

What were the Magdalene Laundries? The exterior of the now derelict Sisters of Our Lady of Charity Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott St in Dublin. Credit: Julien Behal/PA Images via Getty Images

While the history of the Magdalene Laundries is no secret, it isn’t something taught in every classroom. In fact, it was only launched as a pilot education program for schools in Ireland in 2021. 

From approximately 1837 to the closure of the last laundry in 1996, around 10,000 women and girls were forcibly sent to workhouses across Ireland owned by the Roman Catholic church and run by nuns. The inmates of these institutions were deemed “fallen women” — pregnant women who were unmarried or survivors of sexual assault, or simply women branded "flirtatious" or "promiscuous" — and forced into unpaid labour for undetermined lengths of time.

The former Marianvale mother and baby home in Newry, run by the Good Shepherd Sisters, photographed in 2021. Credit: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

In addition, the church operated a series of “mother and baby homes” — former workhouses which housed predominantly unwed pregnant women, who were socially ostracized in the conservative, Catholic country. There, they would give birth, and often their babies were taken away for adoption — a grief shared by Ruth Wilson's character, Lorna Brady, in The Woman in the Wall. Conditions were abysmal and infant mortality rates soared. A proper investigation into these homes only began in the 2010s, and research was published by amateur historian Catherine Corless, which led to the discovery of a mass, unmarked grave containing the remains of hundreds of babies and children at a former home in Tuam, County Galway, where it is alleged approximately 800 died. While a 2021 report by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission found no single cause of death, major causes were identified as "respiratory infections and gastroenteritis" as well as "marasmus [severe undernutrition] suggesting that it indicated that many children in mother and baby homes died because of wilful neglect."

It wasn’t until Feb. 2013 that a State Apology was issued to those incarcerated in the Magdalene institutions and a restorative justice scheme launched, following years of campaigning from the organizations including Justice for Magdalenes, established in 2003, and Magdalene Survivors Together, formed in 2009 following the documentary The Forgotten Maggies. The government ran an inquiry into the mother and baby homes and published a report in 2021, issuing a formal apology to former residents.

If you'd like a brief overview of the history, the podcast Criminal has a comprehensive episode.

The Magdalene Laundries in TV and film Judi Dench and Steve Coogan in the 2013 film "Philomena". Credit: BBc/Baby Cow Prods/Bfi/Magnolia Mae/Pathe/Kobal/Shutterstock

The Woman in the Wall is not the first film or television series to shed light on the history of the Magdalene Laundries. The Oscar-nominated 2013 film Philomena saw Judi Dench and Steve Coogan delving into the plight of one mother’s five-decade search for her son, based on Philomena Lee's real experience in a convent laundry, as investigated by journalist Martin Sixsmith. A decade earlier, Peter Mullan’s 2002 Golden Lion-winning film The Magdalene Sisters followed three teen girls forcibly sent to a Magdalene asylum.

The Woman in the Wall writer Joe Murtagh decided to pen a series about this part of Ireland's history about 10 years ago when he watched Mullan’s movie at film school.

"I knew nothing about the Magdalene Laundries until I saw that film," Murtaugh told reporters in London. “That was my introduction to the Magdalene Laundries despite being from an Irish family. I've since gone on to learn that for people outside of Ireland, The Magdalene Sisters tends to be their introduction to the Magdalene Laundries, that or Philomena or Patricia Burke Brogan's play Eclipsed in the '80s.”

“I was just absolutely horrified and couldn't believe that this had happened," he said.

2002's "The Magdalene Sisters" by Peter Mullan. Credit: Film Council/Momentum/Kobal/Shutterstock

What’s even more striking about these events is their recency. As Phillippa Dunne's character Niamh points out in The Woman in the Wall, "It wasn’t medieval times, the fucking ‘Macarena’ was in the charts."

"I obviously grew up hearing about it; I assumed everyone else had heard something about it," Dunne said in London. "More people need to know. Like Niamh says, they can never happen again. I'm very proud to be part of a storyline that involves allowing other people to discover the themes of the mother and baby homes and the laundries and what happened to the survivors."

The real story, told right

To create The Woman in the Wall, beyond their research into the truths of the laundries and mother and baby homes, the production team enlisted the help of campaigner and author Katherine O'Donnell, who was heavily involved with the Justice for Magdalenes movement and co-wrote a book on the path to justice, Ireland and the Magdalene Laundries.

“She introduced us and Joe to a number of survivors," said producer Susan Breen. "We obviously made sure that we were talking to those people, but at the same time, just always trying to tread a really careful line of being sensitive.”

"It wasn’t medieval times, the fucking ‘Macarena’ was in the charts."

“Having done all of that research, nothing quite prepared you to speak to the survivors themselves," said Murtaugh. "What I found absolutely incredible about these women, after having read and having a sense of what they've gone through and then hearing it from them themselves, to know that they've gone through as harrowing experience as that and specifically being conditioned by their abusers...to feel absolute shame about themselves as people, for them to then be able to just jump on a Zoom with us and talk about their experiences was genuinely incredible."

Amy Kane (Hilda Fay), Niamh (Philippa Dunne), and Anna (Lynn Rafferty) in "The Woman in the Wall". Credit: BBC/Motive Pictures/Chris Barr

In The Woman in the Wall, a group of survivors of the Magdalene Laundries meets to support each other and make plans to lobby for not only compensation but a public apology, an admission of the church’s treatment of these women. Led by Niamh, this group want justice, they want the history taught in the Irish school curriculum, they want the world to stop denying what happened to them, and they want an official recognition and public apology — marking parallels to the real work done by JFM. But there's an air of wholehearted despondency and resistance from some of the group, understandably suspicious and cynical about law enforcement and the justice system, having watched previous investigations into the laundries dismissed.

"There’s no Earthly justice for what they did to us in that place," says survivor and hotel owner Amy Kane (Hilda Fay).

The Woman in the Wall goes beyond historical drama

While the cruel history of the events of The Woman in the Wall is true, the series spans genres beyond historical drama in order to tell this compelling, harrowing tale. Instead of being set at the time of the Magdalene Laundries, the series takes place in the very recent past in the small town of Kilkinure, County Mayo, home of several women who were shamed, gaslit, and traumatised during this time, including protagonist Lorna Brady, played by Ruth Wilson.

It's quickly clear Lorna is a survivor of the mother and baby homes, with no knowledge of her child's whereabouts — having been sent away to a Magdalene institution by her parents after she became pregnant (“all in your best interests,” they insist), Lorna had her child taken from her immediately after giving birth. Suddenly, in the present, a priest connected to the Magdalene Laundries is murdered, and a mysterious body turns up in Lorna's home, bringing a detective from Blackrock, Dublin (a superb Daryl McCormack) into the small town.

Ruth Wilson as Lorna Brady in "The Woman in the Wall". Credit: BBC/Motive Pictures/Chris Barr

Masterfully weaving the series’ core mysteries, the whodunit crime procedural element of the series allows the characters to focus on the investigation while remaining constantly connected to the broader, harrowing history. The series doesn’t lean on social realism to tell the story, as we've seen already with The Magdalene Sisters, instead wielding horror, drama, crime, and other genres in appropriate moments. 

“Joe is dramatising trauma in a really interesting way, through psychological horror, through black comedy, crime caper,” Wilson told reporters.

“Everyone involved felt a real weight of responsibility to get it right and to represent the stories of these institutions with truthfulness but also with respect for the survivors,” said producer Breen. “But of course, the show is a very unusual mix of genres. It's not maybe the most obvious approach to telling a story of this nature.

"We talked about it every step of the way and I hope we all help to keep each other right, when it came to making sure that we were putting together, hopefully, an entertaining and gripping drama, but at the same time, something that always at its heart was being sensitive towards the many women and their children who, in one way or another, were affected by the system.”

How to watch: The Woman in The Wall is now streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Showtime in the U.S. from Jan 21.

20 best comedies streaming on Netflix right now

Sun, 01/21/2024 - 05:00

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

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

Here, in no particular order, are the 20 funniest movies now streaming on Netflix.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: All those 'Glass Onion' cameos, ranked

19. My Best Friend's Wedding Credit: Tri-Star / Kobal / Shutterstock

P.J. Hogan's 1997 offering blew up the traditional rom-com standards. Forget the tale of boy meets girl that ends in a happily-ever-after wedding between the two. America's Sweetheart Julia Roberts playfully torched her casting niche by playing the masterfully (and hilariously) manipulative ex-girlfriend, hellbent on getting her old flame (Dermot Mulroney) back before he can marry a much younger woman (Cameron Diaz). Cultures clash as this city girl invades the bride's Southern-charmed family. Plus, there are dangerous flirtations, outrageous jokes, an infectious sing-along, and Rupert Everett as the gay bff who proves to be the movie's MVP. — K.P.

How to watch: My Best Friend's Wedding is now streaming on Netflix.

18. The Holiday

There’s no better balm for heartbreak and loneliness than ditching your life to fly to another country for a cute solo vacation. That is, until the loneliness and heartbreak follow you there. In The Holiday, Kate Winslet’s depressed British journalist Iris decides to do a house swap with Cameron Diaz’s newly single Amanda, a Hollywood trailer editor (the least believable part of the film, but we’ll take it). Amanda heads to a dreamy cottage in the English countryside where she meets a charming single father played by Jude Law, while Iris gets a taste of L.A. glamour living in Amanda’s modern Hollywood Hills home. Mind you, this is a Nancy Meyers film, so every set is a magazine-worthy dream house. Plus, there's a Jack Black musical interlude!

As much as The Holiday is a perfectly cozy rom-com, it’s also an excellent comedy about Hollywood itself. If you love movies that humorously wink at the industry, complete with fabulous cameos, this one hits the spot. — Oliver Whitney, Contributing Writer

How to Watch: The Holiday is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Jack Black’s totally brill video store scene in 'The Holiday' is prime flirting that died with Blockbuster 17. California Split

Most gambling movies are suspense, stylish capers or heavy with drama. However, California Split is a breezy buddy comedy — and it’s one of the best and most entertaining films about the world of bets, cards, and dice. In this 1974 Robert Altman film, a perfectly cast Elliott Gould plays Charlie, a rakish jokester who’s always itching for the next big score. He meets the less seasoned Bill (George Segal) at a poker parlor, and the two become quick friends. They set out on a gambling journey that takes them into high-stakes poker games, private parties, and card tables across Reno, as well as pawn shops when desperation hits. — O.W.

How to Watch: California Split is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Bullet Train

If you like your comedy with in-your-face action, you should race to check out this 2022 romp from Deadpool 2 director David Leitch. It's a high-octane film that asks the classic question: "What happens if you pile a bunch of assassins onto one bullet train through Japan?" The answer is delightfully daffy carnage.

Brad Pitt leads a star-studded cast as a merc who's lost his bloodlust. What's supposed to be a simple snatch-and-go job turns dangerously complicated as he crosses paths with a cavalcade of curious characters, all of whom are rocking code names like Tangerine, Lemon, Wolf, The Prince, The Hornet, and White Death. Rapid-fire wit is wielded by the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Shannon, Bad Bunny, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Joey King, Zazie Beetz, and Sandra Bullock. Also wielded? Every form of weapon you can imagine, from guns and knives to poison, wild animals, and even a well-traveled water bottle. Sound cool? Catch it while you can. — K.P.

How to watch: Bullet Train is now streaming on Netflix.

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

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

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

14. Do Revenge Credit: Netflix

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Sophie Turner steals Netflix's 'Do Revenge' in 5 outrageous minutes 13. Hunt for the Wilderpeople Credit: Piki Films / Kobal / Shutterstock

This 2016 adventure about bad egg Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) and his curmudgeonly foster father Hec (Sam Neill) is the kind of eccentric delight that writer/director Taika Waititi specializes in (this time co-writing with Barry Crump, who wrote the original book).

After losing his foster mother, Ricky flees into the forests of New Zealand; Hec pursues him, only to realize he doesn't feel the need to return to civilization either. Together, they become the wilderpeople, living off the land and evading capture from authorities, including Thor: Ragnarok's Rachel House. Wilderpeople is equal parts stirring, hilarious, and absurd — a silly yet sentimental story of found family and adventure that can be loved by all. — Proma Khosla, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Hunt for the Wilderpeople is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Always Be My Maybe Credit: Netflix

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: 20 best romantic comedies to fall in love with on Netflix 11. Lady Bird Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Being a teen girl is a unique (and hilarious) hell. Few films capture this frenzy of hormones, angst, obstinacy, insecurity, and recklessness as deftly and humorously as writer/director Greta Gerwig's coming-of-age dramedy.

Saoirse Ronan stars Lady Bird, a self-named 16-year-old girl who views her Catholic high school, working-class constraints, and hovering mother as insufferable obstacles to her inevitable greatness. Ravenous to carve out her own identity, she throws herself at boys, into fights with her exasperated mother (Laurie Metcalf), and out of a car! Yet even in her most outlandish moments, this gonzo girl's journey feels achingly relatable. If you're game to feel 16 again, check out this critically heralded stunner that is specific, insightful, and achingly vulnerable. Tracy Letts, Beanie Feldstein, Lucas Hedges, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Timothée Chalamet co-star, sprinkling in humor, heartbreak, and f*ckboi-style hotness.* K.P.

How to watch: Lady Bird is now streaming on Netflix.

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

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

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

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

9. The Polka King Credit: Netflix

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Love me like a Polka King 8. The Mitchells vs. The Machines Credit: Netflix

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

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

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

7. The Nice Guys Credit: Misty Mountains / Bloom / Silver / Kobal / Shutterstock

If you're a sucker for black comedy, witty dialogue, '70s style, and/or odd-couple comedic duos, it doesn't get much nicer than The Nice Guys. Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) and Holland March (Ryan Gosling) play a pair of washed-up private investigators who reluctantly join forces to search for a missing woman (Margaret Qualley) in 1977 Los Angeles — with occasional assistance from March's clever teenage daughter, played by Angourie Rice.

Though the mystery takes the gang to the farthest reaches of the city, burrowing deep into rabbit holes and brushing up against all manner of eccentrics, it's the unexpected chemistry between Crowe and Gosling that really keeps this engine running, and it'll leave you wishing for more where that came from.* — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: The Nice Guys is now streaming on Netflix.

6. The Forty-Year-Old Version Credit: Jeong Park / Netflix © 2020

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

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

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

5. Vampires vs. the Bronx Credit: Netflix

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

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

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

4. School of Rock Jack Black rocks out in "School of Rock." Credit: Andrew Schwartz/Paramount/Scott Rudin Prods/Mfp/New Century/Sor Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

If only every substitute teacher was half as cool as Jack Black’s Dewey Finn. In director Richard Linklater and writer Mike White’s School of Rock, a class of kids get lucky when a broke rock musician pretends to be their sub. Black’s Dewey poses as his roommate Ned Schneebly (played by White) and takes a job at a prep school as a fifth-grade sub. But his Mr. S. doesn’t just pop an old VHS into the classroom TV and kick back — he introduces the kids to rock music. In no time, the kids start to learn instruments and form a band to play at the upcoming local Battle of the Bands. The rest is the most charming comedy you could ask for, along with a killer soundtrack and a gang of fifth graders dressed cooler than you ever looked at that age. — O.W.

How to Watch: School of Rock is now streaming on Netflix.

3. The Breaker Upperers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail Credit: FilmPublicityArchive / United Arch

Made up of Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam, the comedy troupe Monty Python are the uncontested kings of comedy. So it's only fitting that we raise a glass to their most popular film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Sure, Life of Brian has iconoclastic fun with Bible stories — and a toe-tapping sound number to boot! But many of the crew's most memorable characters tumble forth in this parody of Arthurian lore.

From the knights Who Say "Ni!" to the dreaded Rabbit of Caerbannog to a taunting Frenchman to the Black Knight who'll never say die, Holy Grail is overflowing with madcap comedy. It's endlessly quotable, stupidly funny, and captures everything that made this comedy team spectacular. Not to mention, it forever changed how we see coconuts, swallows, hamsters, and elderberries. — K.P. & A.F.

How to watch: Monty Python and the Holy Grail is now streaming on Netflix.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Sign up for Netflix Get Deal

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

UPDATE: Jan. 19, 2024, 5:11 p.m. EST This story has been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.

This AI-powered travel app is on sale for 89% off

Sun, 01/21/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to a OneAir Elite Plan is on sale for £63.10, saving you 89% on list price.

With the OneAir Elite Plan, you’ll get lifetime access to a vast selection of first, business, premium, and economy-class flight deals to destinations all over the world. Get a lifetime subscription to a OneAir Elite Plan, a deal-finding app, and treat yourself to an excursion.

Booking travel can be time-consuming and expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Leave the grunt work to technology and let the AI-powered search engine scan and track fares for you. The OneAir Elite plan lets you select up to 10 departure airports, get access to mistake fares, and helps you find exclusive savings on hotels, rental cars, flights, and airfare.  

Simply set up destination-specific deal alerts, and snag that cheap round trip to paradise you’ve been lusting over. Should you ever need assistance, the OneAir Elite plan comes with customer support, where you’ll get 1-on-1 business and first-class flight planning consultation. 

The OneAir Elite plan makes a great present for the friend or family member who’s always looking for their next adventure. Give the gift of affordable travel this holiday season.

Get a lifetime subscription to the OneAir Elite Plan for only £63.10.

Opens in a new window Credit: OneAir OneAir Elite Plan (Lifetime Subscription) £63.10 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

How to watch Chiefs vs. Bills playoff game without cable

Sat, 01/20/2024 - 22:21
Wondering how to watch the 2024 NFL Playoffs? Here are your best options: Most affordable Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal Most channels FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills are scheduled to meet in the 2024 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York, on Sunday, Jan. 21. The game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT. 

Kansas City comes into the matchup after a 26-7 win against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 13 during the NFL Playoffs Wild Card Round. The Chiefs’ Harrison Butker kicked four field goals in the victory, and starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 262 yards and one touchdown on 23-for-41 passing. Earlier this season, Buffalo beat Kansas City 20-17 on Dec. 10. 

Buffalo enters the contest following a 31-17 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday in the NFL Playoffs Wild Card Round. In the victory, Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for three touchdowns, and he went 21-for-30 passing to rack up 203 passing yards.

SEE ALSO: How to watch NFL games without cable

Sean McDermott is the Buffalo Bills head coach. Andy Reid is the Kansas City Chiefs head coach. 

NFL Playoffs: Chiefs vs. Bills kickoff time and network

The Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills game is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, Jan. 21. The CBS broadcasters are scheduled to be Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Tony Romo (analyst). 

Cable and satellite TV are no longer necessary for enjoying live sports. Consider live streaming options to watch Sunday’s game via services like Paramount+ and FuboTV.

Best streaming services for the Bills vs. KC Chiefs game 

Watching the 2024 NFL Playoffs requires a streaming service if you don’t have cable or satellite TV. For the Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday, here are your top streaming options.

Most affordable: Paramount+ Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal

If you want to watch just CBS or just the Bills vs. Chiefs football game, Paramount+ offers a solution.  

New subscribers to Paramount+ get a seven-day free trial. Then for the Paramount+ plan that includes live streaming CBS, you need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, which is $11.99/month. If you choose the annual plan, it is $119.99 for a year, saving about $1.99/month. 

For students, Paramount+ will give you a 25% discount.

Most channels: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

With FuboTV, new subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial and more than 250 live TV channels, along with the ability to stream on 10 devices simultaneously. NFL fans who want access to CBS for matchups such as the Chiefs vs. Bills football game will want the FuboTV Pro tier, which has a rate of $79.99 per month.  

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Buccaneers vs. Lions playoff game without cable

Sat, 01/20/2024 - 22:17
Wondering how to watch the NFL Playoffs? Here are your best options: Most affordable for multiple channels Sling TV Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal Best nationwide for NBC Peacock $5.99 per month Get Deal

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions are scheduled to meet in the 2024 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 21. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET. 

Tampa Bay enters the matchup after a 32-9 win against the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 15 during the NFL Playoffs Wild Card Round. Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and three extra points in the win against Philadelphia. Bucs starting quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for three touchdowns and 337 yards to beat the Eagles. 

Detroit returns to action after beating the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 on Jan. 14 in the NFL Playoffs Wild Card Round. Lions starting quarterback Jared Goff threw for a touchdown and 277 yards on 22-for-27 passing. Earlier this season, Detroit beat Tampa Bay 20-6 on Oct. 15.

SEE ALSO: How to watch NFL games without cable

Dan Campbell is the Detroit Lions head coach. Todd Bowles is the Tampa Bay Bucs head coach. 

NFL Playoffs: Bucs vs. Lions kickoff time and network

The Tampa Bay Bucs vs. Detroit Lions game is scheduled to be broadcast on NBC at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT on Sunday, Jan. 21. The NBC broadcasters are scheduled to be Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst). 

To enjoy the game without the constraints of cable or satellite TV, pick an online live-streaming platform such as Peacock, FuboTV, and Sling. 

Best streaming services for the Lions vs. Bucs game

Opt for a streaming service if you want to watch the NFL Playoffs without cable or satellite TV. These are your prime streaming selections for Sunday’s Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. 

Best nationwide for NBC: Peacock Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock $5.99 per month Get Deal

You can catch the excitement of the Buccaneers vs. Lions game with Peacock Premium for $5.99/month to watch NBC’s live sports. Opt for an annual subscription at $59.99 to enjoy a 17% discount.

Note that live sports broadcasts will still contain commercials, even with the Premium Plus package, available at $11.99/month.

Most affordable for multiple channels: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month Get Deal

Sling TV offers NBC in specific regions, notably Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Hartford/New Haven, Los Angeles, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, and Washington, D.C. 

If your location isn't among these markets, Sling TV won't be the solution for viewing the Tampa Bay Bucs vs. Detroit Lions game. Residents within these areas can benefit from Sling TV to watch the Buccaneers vs. Lions by opting for the Blue Plan, priced at $20 for the first month and $40 for the following months.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

On the FuboTV website input your zip code to check the NBC broadcast availability in your area. If accessible, FuboTV offers a seven-day trial period at no charge, featuring over 250 live TV channels and the convenience of streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously. 

You can enjoy NBC as part of the FuboTV Pro package at a rate of $79.99/month.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

How to watch UFC 297 without cable

Sat, 01/20/2024 - 22:12
Wondering how to watch UFC 297? Here are your best options: Best for Prelims FuboTV Elite 7-day free trial, then $89.99/month Get Deal Exclusive stream for the main card ESPN+ $10.99/month Get Deal

UFC 297 is scheduled to take place at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday, Jan. 20. The main event is a middleweight title bout between the United States’ Sean Strickland vs. South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis

The 6-foot-1 Strickland comes into the contest with a 28-5 record. He won his last bout via unanimous decision vs. Israel Adesanya in UFC 293 on Sept. 9. Du Plessis, who is also 6-foot-1, has a 20-2 record, and he has not fought since a two-round TKO victory vs. Robert Whittaker in UFC 290 on July 8, 2023. 

UFC 297’s co-main event is a women’s bantamweight title bought between America’s Raquel Pennington and Brazil’s Mayra Bueno Silva. The 5-foot-7 Pennington enters the bout with a 15-9 record, and the 5-foot-6 Bueno Silva comes in with a 10-2-1 record. 

SEE ALSO: WWE, UFC merge to form new sports entertainment company

Other bouts on the main card are America’s Neil Magny vs. Canada’s Mike Malott (welterweight), America’s Chris Curtis vs. Canada’s Marc-Andre Barriault (middleweight), and England’s Arnold Allen vs. Russia’s Movsar Evloev (featherweight). 

UFC 297: Sean Strickland vs. Dicus Du Plessis and streaming service

The Strickland vs. Du Plessis middleweight title bout is the main event for UFC 297, which is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+. The main card is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, Jan. 20. 

Preliminary bouts from UFC 297 will be available on ESPN+ and ESPNEWS. Those four bouts are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. 

Then there are the early prelims, which start at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. Those are exclusively available through UFCfightpass.com

Streaming is the only way to watch the main card on Saturday, but there are other streaming alternatives if you have an interest in the prelims. 

UFC 297 prelim bouts: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Elite 7-day free trial, then $89.99/month Get Deal

ESPNEWS is available through FuboTV’s Elite plan, which is $89.99 per month. It also has 1,000 hours of DVR space, and you can use it on 10 screens concurrently. You don’t have to pay for FuboTV on Day 1 because new subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial and more than 250 live TV channels.  

You will still need ESPN+ to be able to watch UFC 297’s main card, but if you just want the preliminary bouts, those are on ESPNEWS and ESPN+ 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

Exclusive UFC 297 main card: ESPN+ Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN+ ESPN+ $10.99/month Get Deal

ESPN+ has exclusive streaming rights for UFC 297’s main card on Saturday, Jan. 20.

ESPN+ costs $10.99 per month, or you can get it for $109.99 for a year. You can also get ESPN+ bundled with Disney+ and Hulu for $14.99 monthly.

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 21

Sat, 01/20/2024 - 21:00

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 Jan. 21'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:

Upward.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter N.

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 #946 is...

NORTH.

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.

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 21

Sat, 01/20/2024 - 21:00

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 January 21'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: Act of unfairness

  • Green: Things that might melt

  • Purple: Masses of produce

  • Blue: Air travel essentials

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 - RIP OFF

  • Green - THINGS MADE OF WAX

  • Purple - UNITS OF VEGETABLES

  • Blue - PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE

Looking for the Wordle answer today? Here's the solution 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 #221 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Yellow - RIP OFF - FLEECE, HOSE, ROB, STIFF

  • Green - THINGS MADE OF WAX - CANDLE, CRAYON, HONEYCOMB, SEAL

  • Purple - UNITS OF VEGETABLES - BULB, EAR, HEAD, STALK

  • Blue - PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE - CABIN, ENGINE, NOSE, WING

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.

A Jimmy Buffett-parodying horror movie called 'Murdaritaville' exists now

Sat, 01/20/2024 - 16:00

What would it be like if the dearly departed singer and laid-back lifestyle guru Jimmy Buffett were a murderous monster? I'm going to guess that after watching Murdaritaville, a new horror movie from a distributor called Haddonfield Horror, you still won't know the answer to that question.

In the days of grindhouse cinema, making marketable movies on a tight budget often meant choosing subject matter so sensational that the posters caused moviegoers to say, "Good lord! There's a movie about that?" and then pony up for a ticket. The results of this marketing-first approach were known as "exploitation" films, and while some were cynical trash heaps, others were works of secret genius.

SEE ALSO: [Update] Mickey Mouse horror game to change name after Nazi dog whistle accusations

For whatever reason, hitting people right in their sense of propriety and good taste seems to be harder these days, but if the fervor around last year's Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey is any indication — along with the recent streak of irreverent Steamboat Willie adaptations — it seems you can still rattle people by hitting them right in their economic assumptions. Like the Pooh-centric public domain-exploitation film that may or may not have inspired it, Murdaritaville appears to target a loophole in copyright law — the carve-out for parody, in this case — causing potential viewers to go, "Surely someone is going to be sued for this."

Moreover, Buffett only passed away last September.

Murdaritaville, if you're really curious, "follows a group of friends on their way to a concert when they start getting attacked by a parrot man," according to the Haddonfield Horror website. That site refers to the film as a "send up of your Dad’s favorite margarita sipping beach crooner," and although the trailer includes referential snippets of dialogue like "it's my own damn fault," the film doesn't appear to use the terms "Margaritaville" or "Jimmy Buffett," and is almost certainly on the safe side of things in terms of intellectual property law. And since "too soon" is not a strong basis for a lawsuit either, no one will probably be suing Haddonfield Horror for this.

Murdaritaville was directed by Paul Dale and written by Dale and Dylan McGovern. It stars Jenna-Francis Duvic and will be available "via Amazon," according to the Haddonfield Horror site, probably meaning Blu-ray and VHS copies can be bought there on March 1.

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