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Our Milky Way galaxy is a cannibal.

It has grown by consuming other galaxies. Yet, it too, may be destined to collide and merge with an even bigger galaxy: Andromeda. Though galaxy collisions are normal events and NASA suspects this collision is inevitable (in billions of years), new research argues that with our current knowledge about Andromeda, such a future impact is still not certain — and has about 50-50 odds.

You might wonder what would happen if our disk-shaped spiral galaxy were to one day collide with Andromeda, which is over twice the size of the Milky Way. Astronomers anticipate such a cosmic crash would ultimately create a giant, egg-shaped galaxy.

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

But what would happen to the stars and planets of the Milky Way? And what would be the destiny of Earth?

In a hypothetical view from Earth, the warped Milky Way and Andromeda (on right) after their initial collision. Credit: NASA The Milky Way and Andromeda collision

Such a galactic collision doesn't sound pretty.

After all, these objects pack at least hundreds of millions of stars, millions of black holes, and likely trillions of planets. If you were, hypothetically, standing on a rocky world like Earth, would catastrophe be imminent?

Thankfully, no.

Galaxies collide because they harbor unimaginable amounts of gravity, and are attracted to each other. "It's very likely that a galaxy will encounter a galaxy comparable or smaller over the course of its lifetime," Diego Muñoz, an astrophysicist at Northern Arizona University, told Mashable.

Yet these encounters don't spell doom for a solar system like ours. "The solar system will in all likelihood be almost unaffected," Muñoz said.

"The solar system will in all likelihood be almost unaffected."

A prominent reason why is because space is immensely vast; there are huge distances between the stars, and stars are comparatively tiny. "In fact, if you were to shrink the sun to the size of a sand grain, the distance to the nearest star would be measured in miles. That makes close encounters with other stars extremely unlikely, even during a galaxy merger," Sally Dodson-Robinson, a planetary scientist at the University of Delaware, told Mashable.

What's more, stars and their solar systems can't match the gravitational power of the greater galaxy. Solar systems will orbit around the galaxy's core — just like our system completes an orbit around the Milky Way every 240 million years —and aren't pulled into one another as galaxies merge.

A graphic of the Milky Way galaxy, with the sun show below the galactic center. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / R. Hurt (SSC / Caltech) The star-filled center of the Andromeda galaxy, also known as "M31." Credit: NASA / ESA / B. Williams and J. Dalcanton (University of Washington, Seattle)

The impact between the older galaxies, however, may spawn some stellar activity as the galaxies' gasses collide and condense. The resulting weighty clouds of gas can collapse, driving the formation of new stars.

"It will create some fireworks," Nelson Caldwell, an observational astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, told Mashable.

What will change after a galactic collision

A galactic collision won't violently throw planets and stars around like billiard balls. But it will change things — some visibly.

When hundreds of millions of stars merge, objects are reorganized. Stars and their planetary systems may move to a new place. The sun, for example, could end up much farther away from the center of its new egg-shaped galaxy, called an "elliptical galaxy," Muñoz said.

And our literal view of the cosmos — if we were around to see it — would likely change considerably. "Planets will keep on orbiting as usual, though the constellation patterns visible from each planet will change," Dodson-Robinson said. Andromeda would also gradually become a dominant, imposing feature in our night sky, as NASA has depicted in visualizations. The giant galaxy, just a faint (but poignant) presence in the sky today, would grow larger and larger, eventually colliding with the Milky Way and stoking vivid star formation.

Eventually, after billions of years, a view from Earth, or a planet like Earth, may look like the view depicted below: the bright center of an enormous elliptical galaxy.

A giant elliptical galaxy formed after the merger of the Milky Way and Andromeda, as hypothetically seen from Earth. Credit: NASA

These changes in the sky, of course, wouldn't be rapid. They'd happen over billions of years. An immensely long-lived civilization may observe these incredible cosmic changes, but not the relatively short-lived lifespan of a person. "Any individual person would not be able to see things moving," Jackson Taylor, a PhD student at West Virginia University researching pulsars, exoplanets, and gravitational waves, told Mashable.

It's not certain, however, this space event will occur, according to some popular new research, mentioned above. That's because both the Milky Way and Andromeda inhabit a "local group" of galaxies, and two in particular (M33 and the Large Magellanic Cloud) may exert gravitational influences that deter such a collision. There are still too many unknowns to say, with certainty, what will happen in billions of years, the researchers argue. After all, similar to weather forecasting today, a small error or inaccurate assumption will amplify over time, dramatically deviating from the initial prediction.

"In the full system, we find that uncertainties in the present positions, motions, and masses of all galaxies leave room for drastically different outcomes, and a probability of close to 50 percent that there is no Milky Way - Andromeda merger during the next 10 billion years," the researchers, whose paper is under peer review (a process of healthy scientific scrutiny), wrote.

Yet Earthlings, if we manage to avoid self-annihilation and persist for billions of years upon our shape-shifting continents, might still never witness such a merger — from Earth, anyhow. In some 5 billion years' time, the aging sun will have vastly expanded into a red giant star, either boiling away our oceans or consuming us entirely.

"The sun will be much older," Muñoz noted, "but that's a different problem."

The company, founded in the city as Twitter, is moving its headquarters to Texas as a shadow of its former self.

Twitter Blue, a revamped subscription service that let users buy verified badges, was the first big test for the platform’s new owner. It didn’t go well.

On Thursday, at the Democratic National Convention, a rumor took hold. Someone tweeted that Beyoncé would perform, and an anticipatory buzz commenced. TMZ confirmed it. Viewers waited with bated breath for the arrival of Queen Bey. And then, nothing. No Beyoncé. On Friday morning, in the cold light of day, the jokes began. "They’re saying Beyoncé might come to the Lunch and Learn seminar at work today," someone wrote on X. 

In a 2011 interview with Collider, actor Christopher Heyerdahl said, "Fandom can keep something alive, and fandom can take it down." He was talking about fans' passion for his work in the Twilight movies because — 13 years ago, as the internet stretched its young legs — fandom was a powerful vehicle driving the success of YA fantasy novels and franchises.

In 2024, fandom is helping to decide the outcomes of elections. And fandom may finally put a woman in the White House.

Once the purview of nerds and wonks, fandom has been mainstreamed in monoculture. In its annual trends report from this year, YouTube found that 80 percent of respondents between the ages of 14 and 44 consumed content about something they’re a fan of at least weekly on YouTube. Research conducted by Amazon's advertising arm in 2023 found that 70 percent of respondents consider their fandom and fan community part of their everyday lives, and almost 90 percent share their passions and fandoms with other people in their lives.

Fandom has also become intertwined with identity. For example, 47 percent of Gen Z respondents (ages 14-24) in the YouTube survey said they belong to a fandom that no one they know personally is a part of.

Over the past decade, as politics has become more personal, fandom and the fight for freedom of expression have merged. Pop stars are increasingly outspoken about political issues and have become powerful mouthpieces for the causes that matter most to them and their fans. It's no coincidence that a large faction of pop star fandom comprises women and LGBTQ people, two groups with bodily autonomy at risk in a second Trump presidency. 

Megan Thee Stallion performs at a campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign rally at the Georgia State Convocation Center on July 30, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Credit: Megan Varner/Getty Images

Olivia Rodrigo, for example, has been particularly outspoken about abortion. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, she dedicated the song "Fuck You" to the court of record. This year, Rodrigo partnered with the National Network of Abortion Funds to provide free contraception, lubricant, and Plan B to attendees of her Guts World Tour until her team swiftly reversed course after widespread media attention. Concert handouts read "Funding abortion? It's a good idea. Right?" in reference to Rodrigo's song "bad idea, right?"

Pop star endorsements of Harris range from overt to implicit. Megan Thee Stallion, for example, performed at a Harris rally in Atlanta, wearing a cropped pantsuit. She introduced her song "Body" by addressing the audience: "I know my ladies in the crowd love they body, and if you want to keep loving your body, you know who to vote for." And, after fans of Charli XCX transformed memes about her brat album into a cultural commentary about Harris's social capital, the Brit tweeted, "Kamala IS brat" in a show of support.

Perhaps rumors of Beyoncé's appearance at Thursday night's DNC caught on quickly because she has only offered a tacit endorsement of Harris, allowing the campaign to use her song "Freedom" while threatening legal action against the Trump campaign for its recent use of the same track. 

The Harris campaign has cleverly leveraged this perceived alignment with the pop star constituency. It sponsored a "This is Charli XCX" playlist on Spotify. References to Chappell Roan, a pop artist with a recent meteoric rise, are woven into the literal fabric of the campaign: it raised more than $1 million through sales of a hat that resembled the pop star's merch. The singer's "Good Luck, Babe" played during the DNC roll call for Roan's home state of Missouri.

Tweet may have been deleted

Winking at fans in these ways is not just smart; it's critical. Fandoms are excellent grassroots organizers. They unite across religion, race, sexuality, and geography to help their idol win awards and gain media coverage through methodical, consistent action. K-pop fans organizing against Trump became one of the biggest stories from the 2020 presidential election. In 2024, fandoms have learned from past attempts to effect change and are faster and fiercer than ever.

That may be why no pop star endorsement is more anticipated than that of Taylor Swift. When Harris replaced President Biden as the de facto Democratic nominee in July, Swifties created a flurry of organizing activity under the moniker Swifties4Kamala. In a widely shared screenshot, one overseas Swiftie earnestly asked where they could cast a vote for Harris online. It was a delightful example of the modern fan's instinct to effect change through purely digital channels.

In a statement to Mashable, Laura Brounstein, Spokesperson for Harris for President, said, "Trusted and authentic messengers can be some of the most effective in today's media environment, so when the Swifties talk to their friends and family about why they’re voting for VP Harris, they’ll be listened to!" The campaign expressed gratitude for other fandoms, too. "There is nothing like organic, heartfelt support!" said Brounstein. "We are so grateful to have such diverse, passionate, and creative supporters using their platforms to talk about the stakes of this election."

Though she has been silent thus far, it would make sense for Swift to endorse Harris. She endorsed Biden and Harris in the 2020 presidential election. Before that, in 2018, she made her first-ever political statement in an Instagram post rebuking the views of Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who was seeking election in Tennessee. "[Blackburn's] voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me," Swift wrote in a caption. "She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values."

A delegate wears a "Swiftie" hat during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. Credit: Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images

In this election, those values remain most closely aligned with the Harris/Walz campaign, which would seek to codify reproductive rights for women and protect the LGBTQ community from gender and sexuality-based hate and violence. And Swift — who is unmarried, does not have children, and is a loud and proud owner of three cats — could take issue with past comments from Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance that called Democratic leaders "a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too." Swift's fans have already pounced on the prospect of her reclaiming the label in a show of support for Harris. As one X user put it, "hell hath no fury like a certain childless cat lady who has yet to endorse a presidential candidate."

Over the past week, two developments have strengthened the argument for a Swift endorsement. On Aug. 20, the singer concluded the European leg of her billion-dollar Eras Tour and won't tour again until October. That means she could shift her focus to an endorsement in the interim. And on Aug. 18, Trump published AI-generated photos of women in "Swifties for Trump" shirts on his Truth Social account. Some suggested that his accompanying caption, "I accept," implied that the artist had endorsed his campaign. (The Trump campaign did not respond to Mashable's request for comment.) Swift, who is notoriously litigious and fiercely protective of her likeness, could see the move as a final straw. 

Of course, Trump himself is a lesson in the power of fandom. Despite having no political experience, a shady business background, and a damning, decades-long record of racism and misogyny, he radicalized a riotous base to become president. Now, even with a few felonies under his belt, his campaign is still alive and kicking. But can Trump's cult of personality outlast the pulsating tides of pop fandom? As one pop star puts it, "Good luck, babe!"

A new study on boredom prompts a question you should consider: When was the last time you watched a video from start to finish? 

If it feels like forever, and all you can remember is a flurry of skipping or clicking away in order to find a more entertaining video, you might be interested to learn that "digital switching" can actually lead to more boredom, not less. 

The research, published this week in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, included a series of studies testing whether people thought they'd prevent feeling bored while watching YouTube videos by clicking away from them to view something else, and what happened in different scenarios when they either had or didn't have a choice to switch.

Though the study participants predicted they'd be more bored if they didn't click away, the study's co-author, Dr. Michael Inzlicht, said the researchers found the exact opposite situation occurred. Instead, the participants' boredom increased. They also experienced reduced satisfaction and attention, and found the videos less meaningful. 

SEE ALSO: I used an AI journal for a week. What I learned about myself surprised me.

Inzlicht added that the findings might help explain our modern boredom paradox. While we have far more entertainment options than ever before, surveys suggest that young people are experiencing more boredom than in the past. 

"I think we have a deeply held belief that if I'm free to choose…that, in fact, I will enjoy it more," said Inzlicht, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. "But sometimes too much choice can not only paralyze us in terms of what to choose at any given moment, but it can actually lead to outcomes that are less desirable than if we had fewer choices altogether." 

For someone watching videos online, convinced that hopping from clip to clip will ultimately bring more satisfaction, that less desirable outcome could be feeling more bored, and having wasted their time. 

What to do instead of impulsively video switching

So what should you do if you suspect this is happening? Inzlicht has an idea: Immerse yourself in the content. 

Inzlicht and his co-authors found that, in most cases, people who had no choice but to watch the video presented to them had more positive experiences than their freely choosing counterparts. 

Inzlicht said that people inclined to video-switch to avoid boredom might try a range of other tactics instead. Whatever you choose, the goal is to increase your ability to experience discomfort or even mild distress, and to practice greater acceptance of the current moment. 

"Can you cultivate a tolerance for boredom?" Inzlicht said. "Can you sit with those feelings and maybe push through and realize, 'Oh, this video was actually OK.'" 

In terms of practical strategies, Inzlicht recommends reducing stimuli that grab your attention outside of the video, so it's harder for you to video-switch. 

If you're streaming Netflix on a laptop, for example, expand the screen to full-size and leave your phone in another room, so you're not tempted to switch to TikTok or YouTube or use a second screen while viewing. 

When watching short-form videos on platforms like TikTok or YouTube, try to remain mindful of any desire to change what you're viewing and remain curious about why it comes up. If you do skip to another video, reflect on how that made you feel. 

Inzlicht said that an app or device or platform feature that lets you restrict access to your internet browser or one of your go-to apps during certain time periods can also foil any attempts to start watching something else. 

However, Inzlicht doesn't recommend watching genuinely terrible or boring videos for the sake of it. 

He also cautions that his study's findings should be replicated by others in order to fully understand the effect of digital switching on boredom. As Inzlicht and his co-authors found, this behavior may not affect everyone in the same way or apply equally to all forms of content, like written articles. 

Tips from a meditation teacher who video-switches

Alexis Santos, a meditation teacher on the app Ten Percent Happier, said that he's found himself switching from one video to the next to avoid boredom. 

In order to respond to this dynamic thoughtfully, Santos recommends both being aware of what you're viewing and also understanding something about yourself in that moment. 

Asking yourself things like whether you're on autopilot, laughing or feeling at ease, getting tired, or becoming hooked on scrolling or skipping can help you understand why you feel the urge to change what you're viewing. 

"It's natural not to want to feel bored — when we’re bored, we've lost connection with the present moment."  - Alexis Santos, meditation teacher, Ten Percent Happier

When that urge hits, Santos suggests slowing down, then trying to lift your gaze, look away from the screen, and notice what happens. 

"Sometimes this can pause the endless grasping-for-more cycle," Santos wrote in an email. "It's natural not to want to feel bored — when we’re bored, we've lost connection with the present moment." 

To ground yourself in the moment, Santos said to check in with your body and its sensations, such as the feeling of a phone in your hand and the temperature of your skin. Consider your mood, too, which may be driving your behavior.  

There's no need to judge yourself for getting lost in video-watching, either, Santos said. 

Instead, use the experience as a learning opportunity and reflect on what you really want to be doing. 

"There’s so much to learn. None of it is wrong," Santos wrote. "But some decisions will make us feel better and return us home."

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A new film in the Alien franchise has arrived in theaters. That means it's time to catch up on the collection of films that came before it. Sci-fi movie marathon, anyone?

Unlike many other film franchises, all of the Alien films are currently housed in one place in the streaming-verse. It's a modern-day miracle, truly. Here are all the juicy details you need to know to watch every film online (and in order!) before you head to the theaters to see Alien: Romulus.

How many Alien movies are there?

There are seven films in the classic Alien franchise, including the new release, Alien: Romulus. Prior films include Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997),  Prometheus (2012), and Alien: Covenant (2017). There are also two crossover films to add to your binge if you really want to complete the saga: AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).

How to watch the Alien films in order

Like any good franchise, the official release order of the films differs from the actual narrative. The order you watch the films is completely up to you. If you want to simply watch the films in release order, it would go like this:

• Alien (1979)

• Aliens (1986)

• Alien 3 (1992)

• Alien Resurrection (1997)

• AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

• Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

• Prometheus (2012)

• Alien: Covenant (2017)

• Alien: Romulus (2024)

If you're more into the timeline jumps and lore of it all, you'll probably want to watch the films in chronological order. Romulus takes place somewhere in the 57-year gap between Alien and Aliens, so you'll have to head to the theater midway through your streaming session if you want to do it correctly. Story-wise, your marathon would go something like this:

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• Prometheus (2012)

• Alien: Covenant (2017)

• Alien (1979)

• Alien: Romulus (2024)

• Aliens (1986)

• Alien 3 (1992)

• Alien Resurrection (1997)

How to watch every Alien movie online

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Looking to get lost in a postapocalyptic world of oversexed teenage superheroes who wield emotions as heightened as their spiky hairdos? Sounds like you want to watch yourself some anime. The Japanese word for "animation" is really so broad in meaning that it covers multiple genres and styles — anime can be deeply somber, it can be utterly terrifying, or it can be total goofballs. Heck, sometimes it's all of these things in the span of a single scene. But as Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart infamously said about pornography in 1964, we know it when we see it. And we know the best ones when we see them even more so.

Here are the 10 best anime series currently streaming on Hulu.

1. Cowboy Bebop

The legendary Cowboy Bebop ran for two seasons and 26 episodes back in 1998, and tells the story of the space cowboy Spike Spiegel and his merry band of bounty-hunter outlaws aboard the spaceship Bebop. The year is 2071 and Earth is uninhabitable — humanity now lives on moons and space-rocks where lawlessness pervades, which… well, if I had to live on a space-rock, I'd probably turn to a life of crime, too. Not a lot of lifestyle choices on a space-rock! The series follows Spike and his team as they hunt down different criminals each episode to earn their bounty, with the big bad of Spike's ex-bestie, Vicious, lurking about doing his own damage until their inevitable big showdown. One of the most beloved anime series ever made, Netflix live-actioned it in 2021 with John Cho in the lead, to little acclaim. Just watch the classic!

How to watch: Cowboy Bebop is now streaming on Hulu.

2. One-Punch Man

It's the same problem that plagues Superman movies — if your superhero is too superpowered, finding somebody for them to fight that's an actual challenge becomes an issue. For Saitama, the lead hero of One-Punch Man, it's all right there in the title: He can obliterate anybody with a single punch. So where do you go from there? Smartly, the manga artist called ONE who created this series put this problem right at the center of it. Basically Saitama is just bored most of the time, and the series gets a lot of humor out of that. But it also leads Saitama to seek out bigger and bigger duels, needing that sweet real challenge high, until he's literally fighting "God." Talk about an overachiever.

How to watch: One-Punch Man is now streaming on Hulu.

3. Sonny Boy

Written and directed by Shingo Natsume (who also worked on One-Punch Man), Sonny Boy tells the story of a student named Nagara who finds himself and his entire school class suddenly and inexplicably transported to a different dimension. As the students try to figure out not just what happened to them but also the strange rules of this new world — where physics itself works differently — they discover they have all gained different superpowers as well. The fascinating thing about how Sonny Boy handles all of this, though, is that the focus remains on the young people's relationships. The big action happenings are usually skipped right over, and we watch how they deal with the aftermath instead. Naturally, they start forming cliques and rivalries in what reveals itself to be an excellent metaphor for everybody's isolating and strange high school experience.

How to watch: Sonny Boy is now streaming on Hulu.

4. Yu-Gi-Oh!

One of the better-known stateside mangas thanks to its aughts-era Saturday morning airings and the tremendously successful card game that goes along with it, Yu-Gi-Oh! tells the story of young Yugi Moto. A picked-on nerd at series' start, Yugi solves an ancient Egyptian artifact called the "Millenium Puzzle" which has two immediate effects — it possesses him with the spirit of a gambler, and it unleashes the "Shadow Games" upon the world. Caught up in an endless tournament of "Duel Monsters" card battles with various foes (including his main nemesis, a corporate prick named Seto Kaiba), Yugi and his gang of good-natured pals travel around throwing their magical cards down at the bad guys, endlessly one-upping one another with bigger, badder creatures, over and over again. And again. It's basically the same thing every episode. And let someone who intimately knows via the experience of watching this on Saturday mornings during his early 20s tell you, this is exquisitely mindless hangover television. The epitome of veg-out TV.

How to watch: Yu-Gi-Oh! is now streaming on Hulu.

5. Assassination Classroom

I think most of us had that one substitute teacher in school who grabbed our attention and made us wonder who the heck this person was and what their story might be. Well, in Assassination Classroom, a 2015 series based off Yusei Matsui's manga, this fascinating homeroom substitute called Koro-sensei turns out to be, uhh, an enormous space octopus who's just eaten the moon and is currently threatening to destroy the world. But he somehow also finds the time to befriend the misfits of Class 3E in Kunugigaoka Junior High School, and it turns out that Koro-sensei is the best teacher they've ever had! So things get complicated when the government tasks the school kids with killing their teacher before he can gobble up Earth. Besides this series, the Assassination Classroom manga has been turned into a video game and two live-action films, but the 22 episodes of this wildly over-the-top anime are really where it's at.

How to watch: Assassination Classroom is now streaming on Hulu.

6. Attack on Titan

Running for four seasons spread out across a decade, Attack on Titan was a massive success both in its native country and in the U.S., where Hulu actually premiered episodes during its last season at the same time they aired in Japan. It finished its run last year, so you can binge all 94 episodes of the series, which is set (where else) in a post-apocalyptic future. This specific post-apocalyptic future is due to the Titans, a race of evil giant humanoid creatures that have wreaked total destruction across the globe. That brings us to our lead character, Eren Jaeger, who watched his mother get gobbled up by one, only to later discover he has the ability to transform into a Titan himself. Which Eren then uses to get his revenge, one evil giant humanoid creature at a time. 

How to watch: Attack on Titan is now streaming on Hulu.

7. My Hero Academia

If you watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then you know that the big deal with the character of Xander (Nicholas Brendon) was that he was a powerless regular dude amid a bunch of super-slayers and witch-champions and immortal demons who fought the good fight anyway. His ordinariness was what made him special. My Hero Academia is basically that — Deku is a young boy born without powers in a world where nearly everybody has powers. But he manages to become a hero despite that, lifting himself up by his bootstraps and getting into the big academy for superheroes anyway, winning the more powerful people he meets along the way over through sheer force of can-do attitude. Which is a good thing, because a big League of Super Villains just formed, and it's comin' this way!

How to watch: My Hero Academia is now streaming on Hulu.

8. Star Wars: Visions F in a scene from "Star Wars: Visions" short, “The Village Bride." Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM

One of the best received of the current Star Wars spin-off-mania programs we find ourselves buried beneath, Star Wars: Visions succeeds because of its willingness to be different. Different not just for telling stories unrelated to the 40-year Skywalker Saga we've all come to know so intimately, but wildly different in tone and execution from episode to episode. The show accomplishes this by having each episode of the anthology tell its own standalone story that's designed and delivered by an entirely different animation studio. One week you're watching the Sith-Jedi War get turned into a feudal-era revenge tale from the animators behind JoJo's Bizarre Adventure; the next, the folks behind the Scott Pilgrim anime are telling the story of a droid who dreams of becoming a Jedi. And at approximately 13 minutes each, none of these outstay their welcome — heck, you'll probably want spin-offs of their own for several.

How to watch: Star Wars: Visions is now streaming on Hulu.

9. Undead Unluck

With shades of Pushing Daisies and X-Men's Rogue, Undead Unluck (based on Yoshifumi Tozuka's manga) tells the story of 18-year-old Fuuko Izumo, whose mere presence causes people to drop dead. After an accident leaves hundreds of people (including her own parents) exactly that, Fuuko goes into hiding for years. Ultimately she decides she can't continue living with this curse and is going to end it all… only to stumble upon her perfect foil, a dude named Andy who's immortal. 

The two hit it right off and find in each other reason to keep going, but before they can celebrate too much, they find themselves being chased by a shadowy group called The Union that wants to use their powers for mysterious reasons. They propose teaming them up with the other "Negators," a collection of people who "negate" the rules of the world — you know, little things like life and death. And on the other side of the battlefield? Oh, just God. These anime sure do love to make shit epic, huh?

How to watch: Undead Unluck is now streaming on Hulu.

10. One Piece

If you'd like to set yourself a viewing challenge, tackling One Piece is your ticket — the show premiered in 1999 and now has nearly 1,200 episodes under its belt. That's 50 percent more episodes than The Simpsons! That said, you should prepare yourself going in that Hulu doesn't yet have all 20 seasons of the show streaming; they're up to season 11 at this point. But that's still hundreds of hours adapting Eiichiro Oda's manga, so by the time you make it through, they'll probably have added more. One Piece tells the story of treasure hunter Monkey D. Luffy and his team of Straw Hat Pirates, who're on the (long, long, long) hunt for the ultimate treasure of the title, which crowns the person that finds it Pirate King. Although at this point, one wonders if they're very good at their job, to be honest. It’s been 1,200 episodes and you're still looking. Come on, Monkey, get your act together.

How to watch: One Piece is now streaming on Hulu.

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During a solar storm, the sun unleashes a torrent of radiation into space. 

If you're on Earth, the planet's atmosphere and magnetic field shield you against the most harmful health impacts. But if you were on Mars some 140 million miles away, how those gusts of energy would affect you and the rest of the Red Planet are less clear. 

Scientists know Mars once had a much thicker atmosphere, perhaps one capable of supporting life. But the planet's climate has changed dramatically over billions of years, from an Earth-like world bathed in lakes and rivers to an arid desert. The question is where did the atmosphere go?

A new NASA-funded science mission will get to the bottom of how solar radiation strips away the tattered Martian atmosphere, and it doesn't involve the usual cast of contractors. The company at the center of this mission is Rocket Lab, started in New Zealand in 2006.

Of all the new space ventures, that name might come as a surprise, given how relatively unknown the company is to the general public — and how obsessed its competitor SpaceX, or rather its founder Elon Musk, is with getting to Mars. 

"I always joke that we're the only non-billionaire led space company right now," Peter Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab, told Mashable. "Our two biggest competitors are the two wealthiest people on the planet, and — most unfortunate for our PR and comms department — I'm probably a really boring kind of CEO. I don't post controversial things and don't do crazy stuff. I'm just trying to build rockets."

SEE ALSO: A little-known U.S. spaceport shoots into the big rocket scene How exactly Mars lost its thick atmosphere remains a mystery to scientists. Credit: NASA

Not just rockets, though. Rocket Lab built two spacecraft for the upcoming Mars mission, Escapade, short for the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers. The pair are expected to launch this October. 

If successful, the mission could set an example for how NASA and the commercial space industry approach interplanetary missions at a lower cost in the future. From soup to nuts, Escapade had a budget of $80 million, under NASA's Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (Simplex) program. Rocket Lab built the twin probes in just 3.5 years for $57 million, a bargain basement price relative to the multi-billions the agency would normally spend for a complex mission beyond Earth's orbit.

While legacy NASA contractors usually work under a cost-plus-fixed-fee deal, which means if they have to spend more money, the space agency foots more money, Rocket Lab provided the probes at a fixed price. 

The NASA-funded Escapade mission, led by UC Berkeley, will seek to answer questions about how solar wind impacts the Red Planet's atmosphere with twin spacecraft built by Rocket Lab. Credit: Rocket Lab USA / UC Berkeley illustration

"Rocket Lab undertook a task that, to be honest, I'm not going to name names, but at least one of those prime contractors said, 'We're not interested in this because if you need to fit everything into a $57 million cost cap, we can't build you two spacecraft for the price you'd be willing to pay us,'" Rob Lillis, the mission's principal investigator based at UC Berkeley, told Mashable. "Actually, two said that."

The Escapade probes, one dubbed Blue and the other Gold in honor of UC Berkeley's school colors, are each about the size of a stacked washer and dryer. They were recently shipped to Cape Canaveral, Florida, where they will be integrated onto a competitor's rocket, Blue Origin's New Glenn. Rocket Lab's own Electron rocket isn't powerful enough to carry the load. Though the company is developing a multi-ton, medium-lift launch vehicle, to be called Neutron, it won't be ready for another year, Beck said. 

"I'm just trying to build rockets."

The UC Berkeley-based science team would not want to wait that long. Not only would they miss the planetary alignment that shortens the travel time, but they might blow their chance to observe how the sun's peak activity affects Mars' atmosphere. Escapade was already sidelined for a couple of years due to changes NASA made to the mission's original rocket. It was once intended to ride along with the agency's Psyche asteroid mission, before NASA altered that probe's trajectory. 

The spacecraft were recently shipped to Cape Canaveral, Florida, where they will be integrated onto a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket. Credit: Rocket Lab

The Escapade spacecraft will travel for about 11 months before reaching Mars. Both will adjust their orbits over several months before beginning their primary science mission in April 2026. 

Auroras on Mars

When the sun blasts out radiation, charged particles travel along Earth's invisible magnetic field lines, interacting with the atmosphere. When these particles strike gasses, they heat up and glow. The side effects are colorful light displays known as auroras.

For nearly two decades, scientists have known Mars also has auroras, but these lights aren't isolated to the polar regions of the planet as they are on Earth. Rather, Martian auroras can be found in a hodgepodge of places around the planet and come in at least four varieties: localized discreet auroras, global diffuse auroras, proton auroras on the side facing the sun, and a large wormlike aurora stretching to the nightside of the planet. Some of the auroras sprout from the ground, thought to form around what's left of an ancient magnetic field in the planet's crust. 

A graphic from the United Arab Emirates Space Agency shows a green wormlike aurora wrapping from the dayside of the planet to the nightside. Credit: UAE Space Agency / Emirates Mars Mission

Other orbiters have studied how solar wind interacts with the Martian atmosphere but have been hamstrung: One spacecraft alone can't measure the real-time consequences of solar storms. 

"It only takes one or two minutes for one of these space weather disturbances to propagate through the system and, for example, tear out a whole bunch of atmosphere," Lillis said. "Single spacecraft missions cannot separately measure the cause and the effect."

In addition to their instruments, the probes will be equipped with cameras to take the first global snapshots of Martian auroras. The United Arab Emirates' orbiter Hope has obtained images in ultraviolet light, and NASA's Perseverance rover just detected the first aurora from the planet's surface in March following a particularly strong solar flare. But Blue and Gold could be the first to capture overviews of auroras in visible light — likely glowing in shades of ruby and emerald. 

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Scientists emphasize this study has practical implications. In order for astronauts to land on Mars and explore one day, they'll need navigation and communication systems that pass signals through the planet's upper atmosphere. The more accurate scientists' models are of Mars' ionosphere, the layer of charged particles surrounding the planet, the better those technologies will work. 

For Beck's part, he hopes Rocket Lab's role in the mission will show off the company's engineering prowess for difficult interplanetary assignments and that they can deliver quickly at a competitive price. 

"If you can build a spacecraft to go to Mars," he said, "you can build anything you want."

Blink Twice is a thriller so rich with twists and clues you ought to see it twice. Sure, it begins like a dream: A cocktail waitress named Frida (I Wanna Dance With Somebody's Naomi Ackie) gets swept away to the private island of a debonair tech billionaire named Slater King (Channing Tatum). But beyond bountiful brunches and endless streams of champagne and plumes of pot smoke, something sinister slinks in the shadows of this seeming paradise. 

If you've seen Blink Twice and found your head spinning, we're here with the medicinal venom to set your mind straight. Let's dig into Zoë Kravitz's sensationally twisted thriller one burning question at a time. 

As we delve into Blink Twice's ending, we'll be getting into spoilers. Consider yourself warned. 

What does "red rabbit" mean?  Frida (Naomie Ackie) chills in a pool in "Blink Twice." Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

"Red rabbit" is first spoken by an unnamed maid who spooks Frida while she's getting settled in her guest room. She later runs into the woman again, in a grubby prep area that adjoins the glossy gift bag room. (Perhaps this drastic aesthetic shift is another hint that under the glitz is something grim.)  

"Red rabbit!" The older woman says over and over to Frida, leaving the heroine bewildered. But once she takes a sip of the eyelash viper venom offered by this savior of few words, Frida will remember what "red rabbit" refers to: It's the animal (or "an-nail-mals") that adorned her fingernails the year before, when she first came to the island. 

Ahead of her meet-cute with Slater at the King-Tech Gala, there are clues she's met him before. Her boss chides her for getting too "chatty" last year, and she defends herself by noting Slater talked to her first! It seems her roommate/co-worker Jess (Alia Shawkat) also knows about this encounter, as she conspires with Frida to help her reconnect with her celebrity crush, bringing the bag with the two glamorous cocktail dresses to change into, ditching their cater-waiter uniforms. 

Flashbacks reveal Frida and Slater's interaction was more than a flirtation at a party. She'd been to the island before and forgotten. The abandoned lip gloss she finds in the bathroom drawer is hers; she'd left it there last year, back when her DIY nail art featured 10 little red rabbits, leaping across her fingers. 

How did Frida get her scar?  Naomi Ackie stars as Frida and Channing Tatum as Slater King in director Zoë Kravitz’s "Blink Twice." Credit: Carlos Somonte / Amazon MGM Studios

Flashbacks reveal that during her first trip to Slater's island, she was knocked down and hit her head on a rock. At that time, one of the men even scoffs, "That'll leave a mark." But Frida will leave one too. 

What happened to Vic's finger? 

Rewatching Blink Twice you might notice that Vic (Christian Slater), Slater's "right and left-hand man," doesn't like Frida. He antagonizes her with pointed remarks over cocktails. When she says she has a good memory, he raises an eyebrow and insists she looks familiar, asking if they've met before. 

He takes this risky joke at her expense a step further when Slater's therapist Dr. Rich (Kyle MacLachlan) comes to visit. He asks if the two have met, and Frida chirps they had, at the gala. Rich looks surprised, not because he doesn't remember her but because the assaults against her are ongoing; he witnessed one himself the previous night. Rich is stunned that the perfume means Frida remembers nothing of the trauma she's endured on the island.

Vic uses this exchange to prove the power of the perfume, but he also relishes the power it gives him over Frida. She doesn't remember what's come before, but she can't keep her eyes off the nub of his amputated pinky finger. He catches her staring in the sauna, and stares back hard. Flashbacks explain his animosity and her connection to that missing digit. In the climactic showdown, Vic lies bleeding and likely paralyzed from Heather's vengeance, and Slater reveals to Frida it was she who bit off Vic's finger last year during her "vacation" here. She may have forgot, but Vic sure as hell didn't. 

What happened to Jess?  Naomi Ackie stars as Frida and Alia Shawkat as Jess in director Zoë Kravitz’s "Blink Twice." Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

The first to die in this mind-bending thriller, Jess got wise to Slater's scheme after being bit by the indigenous viper, as we see in a flashback.

Frida realizes the perfume Slater gave her — and all the female guests — is not only from a flower native to the island, it's also a memory-erasing drug. Essentially, l'eau du roofie! But in the gift bag hut, the maid gives Frida the venom of the eyelash viper, which serves as an antidote to the forgetfulness that's caused by breathing in the perfume.

Jess's death, however, implies the venom isn't just a quick fix. Once you remember, you remember for good. Otherwise, Slater and his bros could have doped her again. Instead, in a flashback, Frida remembers him noting Jess's bite, then fatally breaking her neck. 

"Forgetting is a gift."  Naomi Ackie stars as Frida and Adria Arjona as Sarah in director Zoë Kravitz’s "Blink Twice." Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

Frida says this to Slater early on in their (second) island courtship. But as others repeat the phrase  — like his assistant Stacy — it's hinted this is a Slater catchphrase that some part of Frida remembers. Another element that slips past the perfume potion is the lizard. Blink Twice's opening shot is a bright green lizard on a rock, which stares at the camera lens while distorted sounds roar in the background. Then, the film cuts to a cute little green lizard painted as nail art being posted to Frida's Instagram grid. This shows some part of her remembers her first trip to the island.

Talking with Slater, Frida notes she wishes she could forget the trauma of her past, and Slater smiles, adding he has forgotten "everything before I was 10." 

In the climax, the tech billionaire brings up his sister, saying she's miserable and she can't understand why he can play tennis with "that man" after what he did to the siblings. Implied is that their father abused them horrendously, but Slater thinks that because he doesn't remember anything, the abuse doesn't affect him. However, this flimsy rationalization is what he uses to abuse others. If forgetting allows them to be happy, what's the harm of hurting them if you make them forget? Frida shows him the harm. 

Why did Slater stop his rampage?  Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

In the film's climax, Frida looks on, seemingly helpless, as Slater holds a knife to the neck of Sarah (Adria Arjona). Once rivals for his attention, the two women trauma-bonded over the horrors of this island. Frida begs for Sarah's life — but she's stalling. While Slater wrestles Sarah to the ground, Frida gets her hands free, thanks to quick thinking and broken glass, then pours Slater's proprietary potion of forgetfulness into his trusty vape. So, after taking a few hits while threatening Sarah, he forgets his scheme, the knife, and why there's a pile of bodies around him. Shocked, he slips and falls. In a bit of symmetry, he cracks his head on a stone table, and earns a forehead scar of his own, just like Frida. 

"Success is the best revenge."  Naomi Ackie stars as Frida in director Zoë Kravitz’s "Blink Twice." Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

While primping for the gala at the beginning of the movie, Frida shares this adage with Jess, crediting it to her long-lost mother. The film's final sequence sees this line pay off big, at the next annual King-Tech gala. 

This time, Frida isn't serving drinks; she's serving as CEO of the company as Mrs. Frida King. Slater — with his forehead scar and his trusty vape filled with forgetting potion — is less her partner and more her pleasant puppet. She can even goad him into giving up his vegetarianism for a thick steak now. His plans to spread the perfume seem to have been squashed, as she has security lead the nefarious Dr. Rich away from her husband. Then, Frida accepts the praise of the dinner party, who raise their glasses to her. All the while, the funky song Frida listened to on her headphones on her way to work the last gala plays over the events. It is, quite fittingly, James Brown's "The Payback."   

Could there be a Blink Twice sequel? Channing Tatum, Naomi Ackie, director Zoë Kravitz, and actor Levon Hawke on the set of their film "Blink Twice." Credit: Carlos Somonte / Amazon MGM Studios

While the story feels pretty self-contained, there's a curious thread left dangling. What of Slater's sister? The way Slater talks about her — even avoiding the use of her name — suggests they are estranged. But could the news of him turning over a new leaf and getting a new wife bring her back into his life? What would that mean for Frida? Could exposure to his sister resurface dark memories from his past? Could this sister come to question his reliance on his vape and throw Frida's safety into question? 

Or, consider the bigger picture. Sarah and Frida know the truth of the island, and they have some idea of how its dastardly perfume has reached out to the wider world through gifts to vile men. Will they seek to bring the others down? Or perhaps vice versa? When memory isn't guaranteed and money is no object, Blink Twice 2 could go even wilder. 

Blink Twice is now in theaters.

Seeking some exciting escapism? What could be more satisfying than fabulous fantasy films? This wonderous genre leads viewers down a path into magical realms, where myths and monsters roam, surprises lurk around every corner, and heroes set forth on adventures epic and enthralling.

Whether you’re searching for a movie that's frightening, family-friendly, mind-bending, heartbreaking, or pulse-pounding, we’ve got you covered with a curated selection of fantasy films from around the world...and beyond.

Here are the 20 best fantasy films on Netflix now available.

1. Damsel Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) accepts her impending arranged marriage with a sense of duty. After all, her starving people need the riches her new family will provide. But she starts to get her hopes up when she meets the handsome prince (Nick Robinson). Unfortunately, the prince's family has a dark secret, one for which they intend to sacrifice Elodie's life. Damsel is not your average fairy tale. It's an action-packed adventure about survival… and vengeance. Ray Winstone, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Angela Bassett, and Robin Wright also star in this entertaining twist on the damsel-in-distress narrative. — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Damsel is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil

If you love Pan's Labyrinth, then you'll enjoy this fantasy period piece, which pitches a plucky young heroine into a world of war-ravaged men and manipulative monsters.

Co-written and directed by Paul Urkijo Alijo, Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil begins in 1835, when the First Carlist War plagued Basque Country, Spain. There, a blacksmith makes a deal with a devil, which will have a wicked impact on his village and the life of one brave little girl (Uma Bracaglia) on a quest for answers about her dearly departed mother. Folding folklore and religious horror in with a cheeky sense of humor and dark thread of adventure, this fascinating film takes audiences to hell and back. Literally! — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor

How to watch: Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Okja Credit: Netflix

If you ever dreamed of being besties with a fantastical beast, then you'll relish every step of this buddy adventure from Bong Joon Ho. With Okja, the internationally acclaimed South Korean writer/director spun a story about a big and lovable "super pig" named Okja and the farm girl who'd do anything to save it from slaughter. Along the way, this adorable duo will meet zealous animal-rights activists, an unnervingly energetic TV personality (Jake Gyllenhaal), and an elegant entrepreneur (Tilda Swinton) whose good intentions are as false as her smiles. Racing through fertile jungles, crowded shopping malls, and the bustling metropolis of New York City, Okja is a wild ride that brings fantasy into reality. — K.P.

How to watch: Okja is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Nightbooks  Credit: Netflix

From David Yarovesky, the director of Brightburn, comes a spooky tale that'll thrill on family night.

Based on the horror-fantasy novel of the same name by J. A. White, Nightbooks centers on a Brooklyn bookworm (Winslow Fegley) who is kidnapped by a wicked witch (Krysten Ritter). Held captive in her magical apartment, he's forced to tell her a new scary story each night in exchange for his survival. Thankfully, he's not alone. A hard-nosed fellow prisoner (Lidya Jewett) not only helps him avoid the pitfalls of this precarious prison, but also helps him unlock the secrets that could get them both out!

Peppered with PG-level scares and plenty of style (we'd die for Ritter's witch wardrobe), Nightbooks is a rollicking good time for kiddos (and grown-ups) who appreciate a good bump in the night. — K.P.

How to watch: Nightbooks is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Over the Moon Credit: Netflix

Pining for a fantasy adventure threaded with fantastic songs? Then, you'll revel in the animated musical Over The Moon.

SEE ALSO: Chang'e's elaborate character design is the superstar of Netflix's 'Over the Moon'

After decades of working in Disney animation, Glen Keane takes the helm in his directorial debut, which is inspired by the Chinese legend of Chang'e, the goddess of the moon. When a 13-year-old girl (Cathy Ang) decides a DIY rocket will jettison her not only to their celestial deity but also to a better life, she discovers happiness is much closer than she could have dreamed. In addition to pop jams and  plenty of charismatic characters — among them a star-bright pangolin — this Netflix Original boasts a star-studded voice cast, including Sandra Oh, Kimiko Glenn, Phillipa Soo, John Cho, Margaret Cho, and Ken Jeong. — K.P.

How to watch: Over the Moon is now streaming on Netflix.

6. 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 fantasy romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx.

Oz Perkins' PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens, who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and 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 (just 85 minutes!) full of rewards.* — K.P.

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

7. Suzume

Suzume is hard to describe. Within the first 15 minutes of the movie, teenage Suzume meets a handsome stranger, discovers a mysterious free-standing door to an ethereal plane she can't access, picks up a rock that turns into a talking cat, and unknowingly sets off a series of events that threaten to devastate Japan under a cataclysmic earthquake. And that's just how the movie begins!

Makoto Shinkai's emotional and optimistic adventure is a beautiful story that gives physical stakes to personal introspection. The animation, like his other films (Your Name, 5 Centimeters per Second, and The Garden of Words), is characteristically stunning, and the story is unlike any you've ever seen. Suzume might be the only movie in existence where a three-legged stool will make you cry. — K.G.

How to watch: Suzume is now streaming on Netflix.

8. The Old Guard Credit: Netflix

For fantasy with a superhero flare, check out this action-packed thriller from critically cheered director Gina Prince-Bythewood.

Charlize Theron stars as Andy, the leader of a covert band of almost-immortal mercenaries. For centuries, they have fought together to save humanity from ruin. However, as a new member is added to the team (a mesmerizing Kiki Layne), this old guard tangles with a threat that could tear them to shreds for good. Adapted from Greg Rucka’s graphic novel of the same name.

SEE ALSO: 'The Old Guard' is a slick and smart action blockbuster from Netflix

The Old Guard brings a sharp edge and an R-rating to the glossy and bloodless superhero standard. The sprawling and graphic fight scenes hit hard, but the incredible ensemble, which includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, hits harder. Together they bring a sophisticated pathos that doesn’t tend to fit with the flashy capes crowd. — K.P.

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

9. Bleach

Few things are as fantastical and fun as a Manga made live-action. Based on the popular Japanese comic by Tite Kubo, Bleach follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a moody teen who turns into a Soul Reaper through a twist of face and brave sacrifice. By day, he must endure all the drama inherent in high school. By night, he—with the help of his pestering mentor Rukia Kuchiki—must guide good ghosts to their peaceful afterlife and battle back sinister spirits. Director Shinsuke Sato brings an anime-like verve to the film, employing zipping graphics, a lively soundtrack, a bouncy tone, a barrage of frightful foes, and kick-ass martial arts action. Stars Sôta Fukushi and Hana Sugisaki are totally in tune, delivering performances that pop with personality. — K.P.

How to watch: Bleach is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Orion and the Dark

Eleven-year-old Orion (Jacob Tremblay) is afraid of everything: bees, bullies, bears, you name it. But what keeps him up at night is his deepest fear, the biggest and baddest of them all: the dark. All that is about to change when The Dark (Paul Walter Hauser) decides to pay Orion a visit and prove that he's not so scary after all. 

Orion and the Dark is a lovely, moving, and fun family adventure that's smarter and more introspective than a whole heck of a lot of grown-up movies. That's because this charmer was written by Charlie Kaufman, the Hollywood veteran behind existential favorites like Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and I'm Thinking of Ending Things. While Orion and the Dark is a much lighter and kid-friendly film than Kaufman's most iconic work, its subject matter is no less weighty and its message no less affecting. A winner for all ages! — K.G.

How to watch: Orion and the Dark is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Matilda the Musical

You know this story: Matilda, a kind, isolated kid with newly discovered powers of telekinesis, finds herself enrolled at a horrible school run by the detestable Miss Trunchbull. Trunchbull abuses and humiliates her students, and Matilda uses her powers to try to change things for her and her peers. 

It's a beloved Roald Dahl children's book that was adapted into the hit 1996 film, then a successful stage musical, and finally, a 2022 movie based on the musical. And yes, it is just as lively and lovable as its predecessors! Matilda has high energy choreography, fantastic performances (Emma Thompson as a truly repulsive Trunchbull is a stand-out), and a score you won't be able to stop singing. — K.G. 

How to watch: Matilda the Musical is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Nimona Credit: Netflix

Nimona transports us to a futuristic medieval world where knight Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) is on the run for a crime he did not commit. However, it's his label as a "villain" that brings shapeshifter Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) into his life. More comfortable as a shark than a human girl, Nimona is a delightfully deviant fiend who wants nothing more than to stick it to the all-powerful Institute. She and Ballister make quite the odd pair — she wants to wreak havoc, he just wants to clear his name — but together, they may just defeat an evil lurking in their kingdom.

Between some electrifying fight scenes and its graphic animation style, Nimona is a blast of a viewing experience. But its message and LGBTQ visibility is what truly sets it apart. Not only is Ballister's relationship with knight Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang) a key element of the film, but Nimona's own fluidity and negotiation of her identity calls to mind transness in a meaningful, important way.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Nimona is now streaming on Netflix.

13. The Imaginary

The Imaginary was written by Yoshiaki Nishimura and directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, both formerly of Studio Ghibli, so you know it's going to be visually stunning, fantastical, and full of feelings. 

When Rudger, an imaginary friend, is separated from his creator Amanda, he must enlist help from other imaginaries to find his way back home. But the journey is nothing but simple — lurking in the shadows is the inescapable, existential dread of being forgotten, as well as the very present threat of Mr. Bunting, a despicable man who consumes imagined beings. The Imaginary is both whimsical and dark in equal measure, elegantly tackling big subjects like death and loss alongside lighter themes, like the importance of play. — K.G.

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

14. Troll

Inspired by Norwegian folklore, 2022's Troll is a monster movie that feels both fresh and familiar. We've got an enormous creature wreaking havoc, a unique mythology, and satisfying spectacles — there's something for everyone!  

When a drilling operation results in the deaths of multiple workers, Norwegian scientists blame a pocket of methane. Young Nora (Ine Marie Wilmann), however, suspects something bigger and more sinister: a troll.  Fortunately for Nora, when a 300-foot behemoth emerges from the mountains, she's proved correct! Unfortunately for Norway, the troll is pissed, and it's headed straight for Oslo. — K.G.

How to watch: Troll is now streaming on Netflix.

15. The Sea Beast

In a world where oceans are terrorized by massive and ferocious beasts, no sailors are more famed for their monster-killing exploits than the crew of the Inevitable. And no one is a bigger fan of the beast hunters than young orphan Maisie Brumble, who stows away on the Inevitable to become a hunter herself. But when she and crewmember Jacob Holland are thrown overboard and swallowed by the mightiest monster of them all, the Red Bluster, they're forced to consider a less violent approach, perhaps even working with the beasts, to get themselves to safety. A thrilling, kid-friendly adventure with a top-notch voice cast (Karl Urban, Jared Harris, and more), The Sea Beast is a swashbuckling — and heartwarming — trip across the high seas. — K.G.

How to watch: The Sea Beast is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Wendell and Wild Credit: Netflix

Written by Jordan Peele and directed by Henry Selick (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas), Wendell and Wild has all the makings of a new classic. Featuring the beautiful and macabre stop-motion animation reminiscent of Selick's past masterpieces, this latest installment adds a touch of teen angst to his ghoulish canon. Kat (Lyric Ross) is a hardened foster kid who blames herself for her parents' death. So when two bombastic demons (played with glee by Key and Peele themselves) promise they know how to bring her parents back, she puts her fears aside and makes a deal. 

How to watch: Wendell and Wild is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Mary and the Witch's Flower

Mary is an eager young girl with bright red hair who can't seem to get anything right. When a friendly cat leads her to a mysterious flower that grants her temporary magical powers, Mary discovers a hidden world of adventure where all is not as it seems. Mary and the Witch's Flower is an exuberant, lovable story from Hiromasa Yonebayashi, a former Studio Ghibli animator. Brimming with heart and excitement, this beautifully animated film whose English dub features the voice talents of Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent, will soon become a family favorite.* — K.G.

How to watch: Mary and the Witch's Flower is streaming on Netflix.

18. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar Credit: Netflix

Arch, quirky, and highly choreographed, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a story within a story within a story, and so on. Based on the short by Roald Dahl, the movie opens with Dahl himself (Ralph Fiennes) introducing and then narrating the story of a man, Henry Sugar, who does nothing with his money but gamble. Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch) takes over the narration to tell of the moment he first learned of a doctor who met a man who could see without using his eyes. Within that story is the tale of how this man met a guru who taught him everything he knows. This story-Russian-nesting-doll affects Sugar profoundly; he abruptly changes the course of his life. If you like Wes Anderson, then you'll love this sweet and stylized short film.* — K.G.

How to watch: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Hilda and the Mountain King

In the excellent Netflix series Hilda, a young blue-haired girl (voiced by Bella Ramsey) moves with her mother to the city of Trolberg, a hamlet plagued by angry trolls who attack any who venture outside of the city walls at night. At the start of the 2021 film Hilda and the Mountain King, Hilda has been transformed into a troll herself, lost in a massive cave and unable to tolerate sunlight — but luckily, she can also understand everything the other trolls are saying. Perhaps she might be able to learn something about why they keep attacking the city while she's trying to escape. 

With the trademark animation and emotional grounding of the series, Hilda and the Mountain King is a dark, exciting, and philosophical kids' flick that will easily enthrall any adults in the room. — K.G.

How to watch: Hilda and the Mountain King is now streaming on Netflix.

20. The Lego Movie

Emmet (Chris Pratt) is an ordinary Lego citizen of Bricksburg. He's friendly, follows the rules, and always adheres to the Lego building instructions. But a chance encounter with a mysterious Lego (Elizabeth Banks) and a mythical item called the Piece of Resistance, sends him on an adventure that will break through both the boundaries of his city and his entire understanding of what Legos are capable of. 

The Lego Movie is a smart, fast-paced, and hilarious ride that packs a surprisingly potent emotional punch for a movie about plastic figurines. The cast (Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman) is at the top of their game, and the visuals are a never-ending treat. It's a smash-hit for a reason!* — K.G.

How to watch: The Lego Movie is now streaming on Netflix.

UPDATE: Aug. 21, 2024, 4:13 p.m. EDT This article was first published on Sept. 30, 2021. It has since been updating to reflect current streaming options.

Opens in a new window Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Netflix Watch Now

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TL;DR: Watch Aston Villa vs. Arsenal in the Premier League with a free trial of Fubo. Sign up for a free trial of Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Arsenal are gunning for the Premier League title this year, but Aston Villa shouldn't be too far behind. Both sides are stacked with talent and led by passionate Spanish managers, but something has got to give this weekend. This matchup is arguably the pick of the second round of fixtures, and you can watch without spending anything.

If you want to watch Aston Villa vs. Arsenal in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Aston Villa vs. Arsenal?

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal in the Premier League kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 24. This fixture takes place at Villa Park.

How to watch Aston Villa vs. Arsenal for free

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.

Fubo is offering coverage of all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season, but this package is geo-restricted to Canada. Fortunately, anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Premier League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024-25 Premier League by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Canada

4. Sign up for a seven-day free trial of Fubo

5. Watch Premier League fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Aston Villa vs. Arsenal in the Premier League without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this weekend's Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to Fubo to watch all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Aston Villa vs. Arsenal in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Manchester City vs. Ipswich in the Premier League with a free trial of Fubo. Sign up for a free trial of Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. It often feels like any team can beat another, but that being said, it's going to be tough for Ipswich to take a point from Manchester City. The defending champions started the new season with a confident win over Chelsea, whilst Ipswich fought valiantly but eventually fell to Liverpool.

If you want to watch Manchester City vs. Ipswich in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Manchester City vs. Ipswich?

Manchester City vs. Ipswich in the Premier League kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Aug. 24. This fixture takes place at the Etihad Stadium.

How to watch Manchester City vs. Ipswich for free

Manchester City vs. Ipswich is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.

Fubo is offering coverage of all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season. The problem is that this package is geo-restricted to Canada. That's frustrating, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Premier League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024-25 Premier League by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Canada

4. Sign up for a seven-day free trial of Fubo

5. Watch Premier League fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Manchester City vs. Ipswich in the Premier League without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this weekend's Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to Fubo to watch all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Manchester City vs. Ipswich in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Brighton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League with a free trial of Fubo. Sign up for a free trial of Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premier League is back. The first round of games provided a reminder of what we've been missing over the summer months. Sure, Euro 2024 helped to ease the pain, but there's nothing like the Premier League.

There are many interesting matchups in the second round of fixtures, including Brighton vs. Manchester United. Both sides started with wins in the first week, so will be looking to gain more momentum in this battle on the south coast.

If you want to watch Brighton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brighton vs. Manchester United?

Brighton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League kicks off at 7:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 24. This fixture takes place at the Amex Stadium.

How to watch Brighton vs. Manchester United for free

Brighton vs. Manchester United is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.

Fubo offers coverage of all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season, but this streaming package is geo-restricted to Canada. That's frustrating, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Premier League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024-25 Premier League by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Canada

4. Sign up for a seven-day free trial of Fubo

5. Watch Premier League fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Brighton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this weekend's Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Canada

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Brighton vs. Manchester United in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks for free on DAZN. Watch NFL preseason games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There's just a few days of NFL preseason action left, but fans of teams from both conferences and all eight divisions will have their eyes on the action — it's a great chance to see what could lie ahead in the upcoming season. Among the final batch of games is Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks.

The Browns had a poor preseason outing against the Green Bay Packers last week, which saw them lose 23-10. Though the Browns held back most of their starters. Coach Kevin Stefanski has said that starters will see some game time against the Seahawks. The Seahawks themselves took a loss to the Tennessee Titans last week, following a last gasp field goal from the Titans — but there were promising moments from the Seahawks, which we could see again when they host the Browns.

You can watch the NFL preseason without spending anything. To watch the preseason fixtures for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Browns vs. Seahawks?

Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks takes place at 10 p.m. ET on Aug. 24. This fixture will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

How to watch Browns vs. Seahawks for free

To watch the NFL preseason for free, simply register with DAZN.

The popular UK-based sports platform is showing the NFL preseason games for free — both live and on-demand — to viewers outside the U.S., Canada, and China. The good news is that anyone can access these free streams with a VPN. VPNs are handy tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you with secure servers based in other countries, helping you bypass restrictions and access streaming platforms from around the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL preseason by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the NFL preseason

4. Register with DAZN

5. Watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free to use, but the top VPN providers tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can take advantage of these deals to access free streams of the NFL preseason without spending a dime. It's not a long-term solution, but the trial period gives you enough time to watch NFL preseason fixtures before you recover your initial investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

For a limited time, a one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95. As part of this plan you get an extra three months at no additional cost, a year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.