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20 of the best University of Michigan courses you can take online for free

Mashable - Mon, 12/16/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: A wide range of free online courses from the University of Michigan are available to take on edX.

Have you every wished you could become a student of a famous school, but don't have the time or money to apply? Well look no further than edX. This popular hub for online courses offers free lessons on a wide range of subjects from some of the biggest and best educational institutions in the world, including the University of Michigan.

You can find free online courses from the University of Michigan on Python programming, JavaScript, and so much more. We have checked out everything on offer and lined up a standout selection of courses to get you started.

These are the best free online courses from the University of Michigan this month:

The catch is that these free courses do not come with a certificate of completion, but you can still learn at your own pace with unrestricted access to all the course materials. So what's stopping you from enrolling?

Find the best free online courses from the University of Michigan on edX.

Opens in a new window Credit: University of Michigan University of Michigan Online Courses Free at edX Get Deal

How to watch Atlanta Falcons vs. Las Vegas Raiders online

Mashable - Mon, 12/16/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Atlanta Falcons vs. Las Vegas Raiders on YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

NFL Week 15 action continues with a matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders. The Atlanta Falcons are at 6-7 and the Las Vegas Raiders are at 2-11 for the season.

During their last game, the Atlanta Falcons lost 21-42 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Las Vegas Raiders lost 13-38 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

When is Falcons vs. Raiders?

Falcons vs. Raiders takes place at 8:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 16. The two teams will play at the Allegiant Stadium in Paradise.

The game will air on ESPN, where Chris Fowler is expected to do the play-by-play. Louis Riddick and Dan Orlovsky will join him in the booth. Laura Rutledge will be the sideline reporter.

How to stream Falcons vs. Raiders

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Falcons vs. Raiders:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

Falcons vs. Raiders is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (including other NFL fixtures).

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most popular: Hulu + Live TV Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV Fro $82.99/month Get Deal

Hulu + Live TV offers three plans that support ESPN+. The lowest plan that includes ESPN+ is $82.99 per month. To stream more networks without ads, such as Disney+, you can also choose a plan that's $87.99 per month or $95.99 per month.

Hulu + Live TV's sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, ESPN, BTN, FOX, FS1, CBS, ACC Network, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Falcons vs. Raiders from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Falcons vs. Raiders from anywhere in the world 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 the U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Falcons vs. Raiders from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

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

How to watch Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings online

Mashable - Mon, 12/16/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Live stream Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings on YouTube TV or Sling TV.

During NFL Week 15, the Chicago Bears play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon. The Chicago Bears are at 4-9 for the season and the Minnesota Vikings are at 11-2.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, the Minnesota Vikings won their game against the Atlanta Falcons at 21-42, while the Chicago Bears lost against the San Francisco 49ers at 13-38.

When is Bears vs. Vikings?

The Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 16. The two teams will face off at the Soldier Field in Chicago.

The game will air on ABC, where Joe Buck is expected to do the play-by-play. Troy Aikman will join him in the booth. Lisa Salters will be the sideline reporter.

How to stream Bears vs. Vikings

We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Bears vs. Vikings:

Most live sport: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Watch Now

The Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings is available to live stream via YouTube TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV, as well as other NFL fixtures.

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and the NFL Network.

The NFL Sunday Ticket is an add-on for $209 per year, or four non-cancellable payments of $52.99. Sunday Ticket provides access to all NFL games, including out-of-market games and split-screen viewing.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Sports Plan Watch Now

Sling TV offers its Orange & Blue package of 48 channels at $55 per month that would serve your needs for locally available NFL games. Sign up to enjoy a first-month discounted rate of $27.50.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Bears vs. Vikings from anywhere in the world

If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of the NFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bears vs. Vikings from anywhere in the world 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 the U.S.

  4. Sign in to your favorite streaming service

  5. Watch Bears vs. Vikings from anywhere in the world

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.

  • 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

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

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 16, 2024

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 22:00

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 today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 16 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: Radios

  • Green: Kid fights

  • Blue: Snacks that are also sounds

  • Purple: Corny joke openers

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: Types of Radio

  • Green: Kinds of Play Fights

  • Blue: Snack Cakes

  • Purple: Classic Joke Staples

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #554 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Types of Radio: AM, HAM, SATELLITE, WALKIE-TALKIE

  • Kinds of Play Fights: FOOD, PILLOW, SNOWBALL, WATER BALLON

  • Snack Cakes: DEVIL DOG, DING DONG, HOHO, YODEL

  • Classic Joke Staples: BAR, CHICKEN, KNOCK-KNOCK, LIGHT BULB

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 16

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

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

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

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 16

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 22:00

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 16 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Extra man on different sports teams

  • Green: Where to sit

  • Blue: Creators of collectibles

  • Purple: Played by comedian & singer behind 'Eight Crazy Nights'

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

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

  • Yellow: Bench player

  • Green: Stadium seating sections

  • Blue: Sports card brands

  • Purple: Adam Sandler characters in sports films

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #84 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Bench player - PINCH HITTER, RESERVE, SIXTH MAN, SUB

  • Stadium seating sections - BLEACHERS, MEZZANINE, SUITE, UPPER DECK

  • Sports card brands - BOWMAN, LEAF, PANINI, TOPPS

  • Adam Sandler characters in sports films - BOUCHER, CREWE, GILMORE, SUGARMAN

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

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

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

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

Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 16

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 22:00

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for December 16 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 16 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Loud and excessively prideful.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BOAST.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 16

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

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

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

NYT Strands hints, answers for December 16

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 22:00

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 16 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Crossed words

These words are combined.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are made up of a crossover of two other words.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Portmanteaux.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 16
  • Smog

  • Brunch

  • Zorse

  • Spork

  • Anklet

  • Athleisure

  • Portmanteaux

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

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

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

Women in congress are 70 percent more likely to be victims of AI-generated deepfakes than male counterparts

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 12:35

The field of politics has become even more complicated for women leaders, with the rise of generative AI posing an even greater risk for female politicians than men, according to a report released this week.

The analysis, published by disinformation think tank the American Sunlight Project (ASP) via The 19th on Dec. 11, uncovered more than 35,000 pieces of digitally altered nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) depicting 26 members of Congress. ASP's numbers, when broken down, outline a stark reality for victims of NCII: Of those thousands of images, the organization found 25 women politicians depicted by AI. Only one man was the subject of such content.

Throughout the entire study, women members of Congress were 70 times more likely than men to be targeted by non-consensual synthetic images and 1 in 6 congresswomen (or 16 percent) are the victims of nonconsensual intimate imagery.

SEE ALSO: Defense Department going big on generative AI to 'meet critical warfighter problems'

Leaders across the political aisle have attempted to address the rise of both NCII and synthetic AI-generated images, but have been slow to reach consensus. In January, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (Defiance Act), intended to criminalize the act of spreading nonconsensual, sexualized "digital forgeries" made with AI. It was passed in July but is still being considered by the House.

Last week the Senate passed the Take It Down Act, introduced by Senator Ted Cruz in June. The bill similarly criminalizes the publishing of digitally manipulated deepfakes online but also metes out penalties for companies who fail to remove such content within 48 hours of it being reported.

But the gendered reality of AI-boosted images can't be understated, especially as women leaders navigate a precarious online environment putting them at greater risk for sexual abuse. In August, the Center for Countering Digital Hate published a study on the rise of online hate and negative engagement on the social profiles of women politicians. According to an analysis of the Instagram profiles of 10 female incumbents, one in 25 comments was "highly likely" to be toxic. Instagram failed to act on 93 percent of reported abusive comments targeting female politicians.

"We need to kind of reckon with this new environment and the fact that the internet has opened up so many of these harms that are disproportionately targeting women and marginalized communities," said American Sunlight Project founder and author Nina Jankowicz. "My hope here is that the members are pushed into action when they recognize not only that it’s affecting American women, but it’s affecting them. It’s affecting their own colleagues. And this is happening simply because they are in the public eye."

ASP informed the offices of affected politicians, alerting them to AI-generated NCII. The images were almost entirely removed following the notice, although the organization didn't receive any comments.

If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

How The War of the Rohirrim connects to the original The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 11:28

Brian Cox, Gaia Wise and Luca Pasqualino are joined by the filmmakers of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim to do a deep dive into how the prequel film sets the stage for the epic Peter Jackson trilogy.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is now in theaters.

SNL Weekend Update on Trump headlines and the Supreme Courts Broadway era

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 10:50

Nothing makes our current reality feel more surreal than when Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update headlines are more truth than punchline.

SEE ALSO: Adam Sandler as a bloody surgery patient completely breaks 'SNL' cast

Co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che ran through several Trump-related headlines on this week's show, hosted by Chris Rock. The lineup included the president-elect being named TIME's Person of the Year, Elon Musk insinuating that Trump and late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg were reproductive justice allies, and the leader's recent pledge to end Daylight Savings Time (Thanks, I guess?).

From the Starbucks-drinking United Healthcare CEO assassin to Amazon donating $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration, this week has felt far too long.

Adam Sandler as a bloody surgery patient completely breaks SNL cast

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 10:25

How best to signal to an audience that a sketch is about to go off the walls? You throw Adam Sandler's sliced artery on the operating table. Literally.

In a surprise appearance on this week's episode, Sandler is the unfortunate, tropical shirt-wearing victim of a baffled surgical team led by Saturday Night Live host Chris Rock.

SEE ALSO: 'SNL' cold open questions why the internet finds Luigi Mangione so hot

There's blood everywhere, the fourth wall no longer exists, and just about everything in this operating room is going haywire, mostly due to an inept (but really hot) nurse named Leslie (Sarah Sherman). She's a Gen Z-coded, AirPod-wearing questionable medical professional who the doctors, and Sandler, keep sticking up for, because everybody needs that one coworker you can rag on. Where are Dr. Please and Jeffrey Thank You when you need them.

SNL cold open questions why the internet finds Luigi Mangione so hot

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 09:53

Nancy Grace is on the case of why the internet finds United Healthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione so hot, in this weekend's Saturday Night Live cold open.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 15

With questionable uses of the phrases "BDE" and "twunk," Sarah Sherman, donning a gravity-defying Nancy Grace wig and over-the-top accent, embraces the legal commentator's YouTube era, complete with annoying interrupting ads.

Sprinkle in appearances from a guy who was in the McDonald's where Mangione was arrested, and new cast member Emil Wakim finally fulfilling the internet's dream of seeing him play Mangione (or his lookalike... close enough), and the sketch is a quick rundown of the week's favorite, thirst-filled memes.

Tweet may have been deleted

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for December 15, 2024

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 09:24

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday December 15, 2024:

AcrossHalloween costume with a bedsheet
  • The answer is Ghost.

Role for Leonardo DiCaprio in a '90s romantic tragedy
  • The answer is Romeo.

Thwart, as disaster
  • The answer is Avert.

"Switching gears here ..." or "On a similar note ..."
  • The answer is Segue.

British baby buggies
  • The answer is Prams.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 15, 2024 DownWrap one's mind around
  • The answer is Grasp.

Float like a hummingbird
  • The answer is Hover.

Upscale Swiss watch that shares its name with a Greek letter
  • The answer is Omega.

Truth ___
  • The answer is Serum.

Slangy "For sure!"
  • The answer is Totes.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

How Student Phones and Social Media Are Fueling Fights in Schools

NYT Technology - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 08:15
Cafeteria melees. Students kicked in the head. Injured educators. Technology is stoking cycles of violence in schools across the United States.

Plan your dream 2025 trip for less with this AI-powered travel tool

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to the OneAir AI Travel Elite Plan for $49.97 and save big on flights for your 2025 adventures.

You’ve spent ages dreaming about your 2025 getaway plans — but finding affordable flights? That’s a headache waiting to happen. Luckily, OneAir AI Travel makes it easier to book smarter and stress less while saving big. December 15 is your last chance to grab this low price on an Elite Plan before its price increases again — just $49.97.

With a lifetime membership, you’ll have an AI-powered travel assistant scanning for the best flight deals — real-time updates included. Whether you’re planning a beach retreat, a family reunion abroad, or a solo escape, OneAir keeps you ahead of price drops and promotions so you can lock in the best deals without endless searching.

OneAir’s features go beyond just finding cheap tickets. It includes fare protection services, helping you secure refunds if ticket prices fall after booking. Plus, personalized deal alerts and a streamlined dashboard let you focus on where you’re going, not how to get there.

Don’t wait to book your next adventure. Take those dream 2025 trips with confidence — and keep your budget intact.

For just $49.97 until December 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT, this lifetime OneAir AI Travel Elite Plan sets you up with all the tools you need for hassle-free travel planning.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: OneAir OneAir Elite: Lifetime Subscription (Book Unbeatable Hotel and Flight Deals + Earn Up to 10% in Cash Rewards on Most Bookings) $49.97
$790.00 Save $740.03 Get Deal

Bring your PC into the future with Windows 11 Pro for life for only $18

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for life for only $17.97 through Dec. 22 and unlock smarter tools for work and play.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $18.97
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Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for only $17.97 through December 22 and unlock smarter tools for work and play.

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Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Own Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac for $39.99 through Dec. 22 and get premium tools for work and home use.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac $39.99
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Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get secure, ad-free, and unrestricted internet access anywhere with the Deeper Connect Air VPN router for $169 with free shipping.

Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Connect Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $169.00
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Online privacy is an integral part of life, no matter how old you are or where you are. However, it's probably even more important to have safeguards when you travel and need to rely on random networks.

The Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router is made to be an all-in-one internet security solution. Compact and lightweight, it’s designed to deliver military-grade encryption, blazing-fast speeds of up to 300Mbps, and access to 150,000+ worldwide servers — all without a subscription.

For just $169 (reg. $219) with free shipping, this sleek device lets you browse securely, block ads, and unlock geo-restricted content wherever you go.

Whether you’re catching up on Netflix abroad, accessing sensitive work files at a café, or keeping your kids safe online, the Deeper Connect Air has you covered. Plug it in, select a server, and connect up to five devices wirelessly, with no complicated setup required. It’s privacy, speed, and convenience in one pocket-sized package.

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Need to stream your favorite show or access restricted sites? This router bypasses geo-blocks effortlessly, making it perfect for travelers, remote workers, or anyone tired of digital limitations. 

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Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 05:00

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Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription $15.99
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25 best movies on Netflix to stream right now

Mashable - Sun, 12/15/2024 - 05:00

All right, you want the best of the best? Then we're gonna give it to you.

After scouring Netflix for the best thrillers, best action flicks, best romantic comedies, best horror movies, best family films, and more, it's finally time for us to narrow down our streaming suggestions to the best movies, period.

That's right — it's superhero sagas vs. biopics vs. war dramas vs. musicals vs. comedies vs. so much more. This is the ultimate film list for when you have no idea what you want to watch outside of the general concept of an excellent movie that delivers top-tier performances, a killer script, and an engaging world.

Without further ado and in no particular order, here are the 25 best movies now on Netflix.

1. Godzilla Minus One

You don't know Godzilla until you see Godzilla Minus One. The American movies featuring the classic kaiju go for huge monster-vs.-monster face-offs — bogged down by tedious human characters. But writer/director Takashi Yamazaki reclaims the Japanese icon with a movie that gets the balance between rampaging monster action and human drama just right.

Set near the close of World War II, Godzilla Minus One proves a fascinating tale of atomic-age terror. Ryunosuke Kamiki stars as a kamikaze pilot who first flubs his mission, then crosses paths with the giant lizard with atomic breath. Survivor's guilt torments him, even as he cobbles together a found family of survivors. This cast of characters is dynamic, making the scenes of simple home-cooked meals just as satisfying as sequences of town-trampling destruction. Actually, one deeply informs the other. Because while Kamiki's jaw-dropping special effects rightfully won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, it's the emotional impact of them that makes his Godzilla hit harder than any contemporary. Even on the small screen, you'll be in awe. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Godzilla Minus One is streaming on Netflix.

2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Credit: Sony Pictures

In 2018, we got what remains one of the best superhero movies of all time with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. That's an incredibly hard act to follow, and yet the sequel to Miles Morales' journey, Across the Spider-Verse, is absolutely fantastic. 

SEE ALSO: 'Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' is full of glorious Easter eggs. Here are 13 of the best.

In the second part of the Spider-Verse saga, Miles is grown up, but he's struggling to balance his life as Brooklyn's web-slinger with his studies and being a good son to his parents. After a visit from Gwen (Spider-Woman in her universe), Miles becomes tangled up with a daunting new villain, a whole new team of Spider-Peoples, and a mission that could change the fate of the multiverse. I know, I know, we're all a little burnt out by the overabundance of multiverse narratives these days, but Across the Spider-Verse manages to inject its story with some truly clever world-building. The newest characters are a blast, with a killer voice cast that includes Issa Rae, Oscar Isaac, Daniel Kaluuya, Karan Soni, and Greta Lee, among other fun cameos. The action set pieces are exhilarating and funny, and the animation is somehow more dazzling than the first film. We can only hope the third Spider-Verse film is half as good as the first two. — Oliver Whitney, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is streaming on Netflix.

3. Boyz n the Hood

Director John Singleton gave us one of the best dramas of the 1990s in what just so happened to be his directorial debut. A raw portrait of Black life in South Central Los Angeles, Boyz n the Hood tells the story of Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who moves in with his stern father Furious (Laurence Fishburne, as outstanding as ever) as a young boy. We follow Tre, now a teen who aspires to go to college, as he gets entangled in a world of gang rivalries with his friends. 

Boyz n the Hood isn't a film simply about gang violence, but one that showcases the ways America's long history of systemic racism and anti-Blackness have trapped its characters in a cycle of violence and poverty. It marked a major shift in the ways Black stories were told in American cinema through the lens of Black filmmakers, and laid the groundwork for more to come, from Menace II Society to Juice and beyond. It also launched the careers of its stellar cast with breakout roles for Gooding Jr., Nia Long, Regina King, Ice Cube, and Morris Chestnut. — O.W.

How to watch: Boyz n the Hood is streaming on Netflix.

4. May December Credit: Francois Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix

On its surface, the latest from Todd Haynes (Carol, Velvet Goldmine) may seem like a thinly veiled reexamination of a true crime tale that had '90s tabloids absolutely obsessed. Screenwriter Samy Burch uses this familiar framework to construct a story that not only delivers a dishy parody of a melodrama, down to a string-zinging score and comically banal dialogue about hot dogs. She's also built a keen device to evaluate our obsession with true crime, for better or for ghoulish.

In May December, Julianne Moore plays a wife and mother who has a shameful (and criminal) past, which involves how she met her current husband (Charles Melton). When a TV actress (Natalie Portman) wants to turn their lives into a movie, old wounds are reopened. Beneath the blistering domestic drama, Haynes and Burch weave in a sharp and sophisticated humor that invites audiences to bark with laughter, even as their jaws drop in shock.* — K.P.

How to watch: May December is streaming on Netflix.

5. Crossroads

Hollywood gave teenage girls the greatest gift of all time in 2002: a little film called Crossroads. The Britney Spears-led coming-of-age movie is about three best friends from Georgia who go on a road trip to LA for a record label audition, and for Spears' Lucy to reconnect with her estranged mom along the way. 

Crossroads — which, fun fact, was written by Shonda Rhimes — is honestly a strange movie. On one hand, it's bubbly and silly and fun as Lucy and her friends (Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning) spend much of the runtime singing along to pop songs on the radio and doing the most unforgettable karaoke performance of “I Love Rock 'n' Roll.” On the other hand, it's a pretty devastating story about trauma and abuse with some shocking plot twists. But what could be a more fitting movie for millennial teens than one with sing-alongs and over-the-top drama? — O.W.

How to watch: Crossroads is streaming on Netflix.

6. The Fast and the Furious

The very first Fast and the Furious movie may not be the best in the franchise, but it's where it all began. In the first movie in the probably never-ending franchise, Paul Walker's Brian is an undercover cop who hasn't yet joined the drag racing fam. Vin Diesel's Dom takes Brian under his wing without knowing he's a cop watching his every move. The 2001 movie is almost nothing like the rest of the wacky franchise with its more grounded action-thriller premise and believable chase sequences, but it introduces us to the family and sets the stage for all the outrageous chaos that will unfold over the next nine movies. Lucky for us, the first six Fast and Furious movies are all on Netflix, so make sure to clear your schedule for a proper marathon. — O.W.

How to watch: The Fast and the Furious is streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 'Fast and Furious' films, ranked 7. Nimona Credit: Netflix

Nimona transports audiences 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.

8. Phantom Thread 

If Daniel Day-Lewis is really and truly permanently retired from acting (and let's hope he's not, for acting's sake), then he went out on a darn high note with this profoundly romantic anti-romance from director Paul Thomas Anderson. DDL's persnickety couture bastard Reynolds Woodcock (a name the director and his star came up with as a gag, which stuck) and his right-hand sis Cyril (Lesley Manville, who will go right through you) have the disgustingly wealthy eating out of their satin-lined gloves when the film begins.

SEE ALSO: Why has 'Phantom Thread' given us so many great memes?

So, how does a stumbling bumbling nobody waitress named Alma (Vicky Krieps in a blow-the-doors-off performance) flip their entire pristine world upside down with nothing but a well-calculated blush and a basket of mushrooms? That's the stuff of romance, in all of its violent, push-pull swirl. And Phantom Thread captures the dunderheaded swoon of that first blush, plus all of the fallout that necessarily falls after in order to keep that flame forever burning. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Phantom Thread is streaming on Netflix.

9. Closer

Horny melodrama, toxic straight couples, and a group of talented dramatic actors shouting some of the most obscene dialogue you've ever heard in an R-rated movie — that, my friend, is Closer in a nutshell. The romantic drama from director Mike Nichols (The Graduate, The Birdcage) is a thrilling ride through the most intimate moments of two very messy couples' lives. There's Natalie Portman's stripper Alice who's dating Jude Law's brooding novelist Dan, and Julia Roberts' photographer Anna who starts seeing Clive Owen's doctor Larry after an awkward set-up. Soon lust, jealousy, and secrets spiral as the couples intermingle, cheat, and lie, culminating in some very juicy, explosive drama. Is Closer total trash, or is it great for its cast's total commitment to the melodrama? You decide. — O.W.

How to watch: Closer is streaming on Netflix.

10. Da 5 Bloods Credit: David Lee / Netflix

Mashable's Adam Rosenberg reviewed Da 5 Bloods in summer 2020, writing: "In the midst of widespread IRL social upheaval that many hope will finally start to undo the trauma wrought by centuries of deeply embedded prejudice, this new movie delivers a powerful sense of perspective." Spike Lee's war film, a keenly impactful meditation on systemic racism, stars Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, the late Chadwick Boseman, and more. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Da 5 Bloods is streaming on Netflix.

11. The Mitchells vs. The Machines Credit: 2021 SPAI

Take your typical family road trip comedy, toss in a robot apocalypse, and top it all off with a heavy smattering of meme-worthy filters, doodles, and GIFs, and you might end up with something like The Mitchells vs. The Machines: a truly fun-for-the-whole-family feature that hinges on whether an artsy teen (voiced by Abbi Jacobson) and her luddite dad (voiced by Danny McBride) can set aside their differences long enough to save all of humanity from being launched into space by Siri Pal.

Come for the jokes about our impending AI-led dystopia, stay for the heart-tugging moments of Mitchell family bonding. Seriously, we might never hear T.I. and Rihanna's "Live Your Life" without tearing up ever again.*Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor

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

12. The Power of the Dog Credit: Kirsty Griffin / Courtesy of Netflix

The Power of the Dog is a masterful Western from director Jane Campion, who made history as the third woman to win the award for Best Director. Benedict Cumberbatch dazzles with quiet menace as cowboy Phil Burbank, while his co-stars Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, and Kodi Smit-McPhee also deliver award-worthy performances. A gorgeous film layered with subtle dangers, The Power of the Dog is proof that it's Campion's world. We're all just living in it.*B.E.

How to watch: The Power of the Dog is streaming on Netflix.

13. Hit Man

Richard Linklater and Glen Powell reunite for Hit Man, a rom-com that is killer in all sense of the word.

Powell plays Gary Johnson, a college professor whose side gig as an undercover hit man leads to an unexpected meet-cute with would-be client Madison (Andor's Adria Arjona). The pair's connection (and electrifying chemistry) sparks a delightful game of false identities, reinvention, and twisted love that toggles between hilarious, thrilling, and sexy at a moment's notice. Oh, who am I kidding; sometimes it's all three at once!*B.E.

How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Okja Credit: Jae Hyuk Lee / Netflix / Kobal / Shutterstock

Fall under the spell of Parasite director Bong Joon-ho once more with Netflix's Okja. When a terrible fate befalls a genetically modified kind of "super pig" named Okja thanks to the evil Mirando corporation, Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun) will stop at nothing to save her friend and take down Mirando's CEO Lucy (Tilda Swinton). — A.F.

How to watch: Okja is streaming on Netflix.

15. Marriage Story

Yes, interpretations of Noah Baumbach's Academy Award–winning film have varied substantially among audiences. But, for the most part, critics agree that the character-driven divorce film saga represents a resonant and important viewpoint in modern relationships. Career-best performances from Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver will turn you into a sobbing puddle while Baumbach's artful narrative-building slowly makes you whole again. — A.F.

How to watch: Marriage Story is streaming on Netflix.

16. tick, tick... Boom!

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature directorial debut packs a potent musical theater punch from every angle. He brings to life the selective reality and theatrical phantasmagoria of Rent writer Jonathan Larson’s life and career, based on an autobiographical show from 1992.

Miranda, whose In the Heights was spectacularly adapted for film by Jon M. Chu, proves as adept at moving from stage to screen as he does sucking the marrow of his medium. Andrew Garfield fully inhabits Larson, from voice to body to towering, buzzing hair and a frenetic urgency to create — to write, to sing, to matter, as Larson so clearly did to legions of dreamers who followed.*Proma Khosla, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: tick, tick...Boom! is streaming on Netflix.

17. Collateral

Jamie Foxx's Max is just a guy who drives a cab in LA and dreams of starting his own luxury chauffeur business. One night a mysterious man in a suit named Vincent (Tom Cruise in the scariest role of his career) gets into his cab and offers Max a wad of cash to drive him to multiple stops throughout the night. Max reluctantly agrees, only to soon learn that Vincent is a stone-cold assassin who's picking names off a hit list. Now a LAPD detective (Mark Ruffalo) is onto them.

Michael Mann's neo-noir is one of the great LA-set crime thrillers. It's an action film pulsing with suspense and sudden bursts of violence, but it's also just as interested in spending quieter emotional moments with its characters in car back seats and jazz clubs. While Cruise gives a haunting performance as a stoic killer, Collateral is where Foxx truly shines as an average working-class guy pushed to his limit over the course of one unbelievably tense, shitty night. — O.W.

How to watch: Collateral is streaming on Netflix.

18. Sing Street

In Sing Street, 14-year-old Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) transfers to a new high school in Dublin where he has a hard time fitting in, mostly due to bullying and a jerk of a principal who won't leave him alone about his shoes. Despite being the new kid, Conor boldly asks a mysterious cool girl named Raphina (Lucy Boynton) to star in his band's music video. She says yes, but there's one problem — Conor doesn't have a band. He quickly recruits a crew of misfits from school who learn to play covers of '80s hits. They're a bit goofy, but eventually the band finds their style and confidence. This Irish coming-of-age musical from Once filmmaker John Carney is sweet, sentimental, and has a few great original songs that will absolutely be stuck in your head.

How to watch: Sing Street is streaming on Netflix.

19. Roma Credit: Netflix

The first foreign-language film to win an Oscar for Best Director, Alfonso Cuarón's Roma greets viewers at the intersection of personal reflection and cinematic excellence. The black-and-white film follows live-in housekeeper Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), an Indigenous woman who works for an affluent family in Mexico City, finding a sense of humanity that is uniquely memorable. — A.F.

How to watch: Roma is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Farha

Based on a real Palestinian girl's story, Darin J. Sallam's debut feature film follows 14-year-old Farha (Karam Taher), who dreams of moving from her Palestinian village into the city so she can go to school instead of getting married. But it's 1948 in Palestine, just as the first Nakba, or "catastrophe" in Arabic, was taking place, and far more horrifying things are about to interrupt Farha's hopes.

Instead of trying to show the expansive historical details of the Nakba, Sallam’s Farha presents everything through the eyes of its young protagonist. We follow Farha as she's forced to separate from her family and best friend as Israel's militia arrives to wreak havoc in her village. Though an incredibly difficult film to watch, it's also a powerful film that tells a rare story of Palestinian history and perseverance through the vantage point of an innocent child. — O.W.

How to watch: Farha is streaming on Netflix.

21. I'm Thinking of Ending Things Credit: Mary Cybulski / Netflix

Emotional demolitions expert/filmmaker Charlie Kaufman destroys audiences once more in the mind-boggling I'm Thinking of Ending Things. Adapted from Iain Reid's novel of the same name, this cryptically titled psychological thriller follows a woman, played by Jessie Buckley, and her boyfriend, played by Jesse Plemons, on a disturbing visit to his parents' remote farmhouse. What follows? Well, that depends on who you ask.

A transfixing meditation on art, existence, value, authorship, isolation, and more, I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a truly one-of-a-kind experience as profound as it is disquieting. You may not have a great time in this house of abstract horrors (especially when Toni Collette is on-screen doing those classically terrifying Toni Collette things), but it will be a lasting one.*A.F.

How to watch: I'm Thinking of Ending Things is streaming on Netflix.

22. RRR 

Put on your dancing shoes and prepare to punch a tiger in the face, because S. S. Rajamouli's three-plus-hour action epic is here to pound you into submission, and you'll be smiling for every second of it. Making Zack Snyder's grandiosity look like a flea circus, RRR (which stands for "Rise Roar Revolt") tells the simple and modest tale of two revolutionaries (played by human supermen N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan) in 1920 who become friends, enemies, friends again, and on and so forth, until they storm and spin and punch and slash their way across half of the British army.

RRR features about a dozen action scenes that should rank among the most phenomenal spectacles ever put on screen (I'm particular to the fight that nearly burns down an entire jungle, myself), but we all know it's the "Naatu Naatu" dance competition that keeps the boys and girls coming back for more. — J.A.

How to watch: RRR is streaming on Netflix.

23. A Simple Favor

Paul Feig's A Simple Favor is a movie that almost shouldn't work as well as it does. This deliciously bonkers crime comedy isn't a straight-forward comedy like his Bridesmaids or Spy, but it's impressively committed to being over the top in every way. 

Anna Kendrick is perfectly cast as a widowed mommy vlogger named Stephanie who posts videos of herself perkily baking and making crafts for fellow parents. Blake Lively's fashionable PR exec mother Emily enters Stephanie's life, and the two quickly become best friends who sip cocktails and spill their darkest secrets. Then suddenly Emily goes missing. There's about half a dozen absolutely wild plot twists in this campy masterpiece of a movie that finds both Kendrick and Lively in some of their best and most enjoyable performances yet. — O.W.

How to watch: A Simple Favor is streaming on Netflix.

24. The Polka King

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.

25. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Credit: John Wilson / 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. — K.P.

How to watch: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming on Netflix.

UPDATE: Dec. 12, 2024, 6:04 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect the current streaming options.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry comes from a previous Mashable list.

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