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After two seasons examining the interplay of class, privilege, sex, and fidelity, Mike White's The White Lotus turns its gaze on wellness and spirituality in its Thailand-set third season.

SEE ALSO: 'The White Lotus' Season 3 trailer teases debauchery in Thailand

That's because the White Lotus hotel we venture to this season isn't just a luxury resort — it's also a world-renowned spa and wellness retreat. Massages, guided meditations, and personalized health plans are all a part of the package, offering guests the promise of a new, better them by the end of their stay. (Given the personalities we meet this season, a lot of them could use it!) But a vacation isn't a cure-all, and the outside world inevitably comes crashing into the guests' perfect vacation bubbles.

Like the prior two White Lotus seasons, what follows is a pressure cooker of social tensions and personal crises, all leading up to a deadly conclusion. But where Seasons 1 and 2 felt more thematically focused and physically contained — the latter more so in Season 1 due to COVID-19 restrictions — Season 3 threatens to spiral into bloat, only thinly skimming the surface of its heady themes.

The White Lotus Season 3 welcomes a few too many guests. Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan, and Leslie Bibb in "The White Lotus." Credit: Fabio Lovino/HBO

That bloat kicks off with Season 3's extensive cast, a White Lotus staple from season to season. On this outing, though, the disparity between which group of guests gets the most airtime is much higher, making for a more disjointed season.

Among our main groups is the Ratliff family, headed up by businessman Timothy (Jason Isaacs, Baldur's Gate 3) and his Lorazepam-loving wife Victoria (Parker Posey, Beau Is Afraid). They've headed to Thailand so their daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook, First Kill) can work on her college thesis about Buddhism, and their sons Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger, Gen V) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola, White Noise) are along for the ride.

If you thought Season 2's Cameron (Theo James) was a nightmare, you aren't ready for the toxic finance bro energy Schwarzenegger brings to Saxon. Lochlan, for his part, seems torn between which two of his eldest siblings to emulate. Should he try to be more like the spiritual yet naive Piper? Or should he embrace Saxon's protein shake-chugging masculinity?

SEE ALSO: 'White Lotus' star Meghann Fahy reveals what she thinks really happened in THAT scene

Lochlan's identity crisis isn't the only one at the White Lotus. When Timothy learns he's been implicated in a major white collar crime, he reflects on who he could be if he loses everything, and how he might break the news to his family. Elsewhere, conflicted traveler Rick (Walton Goggins, Fallout) grapples with long-ago family trauma, while his younger girlfriend, Chelsea, (Aimee Lou Wood, Sex Education) encourages him to take in everything the wellness resort has to offer. Maybe he's one life-changing massage away from being less stressed-out. Questions of identity extend to the White Lotus staff too, with security guard Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) trying to decide what kind of man he wants to be in order to impress his crush, hotel health mentor Mook (Lalisa Manobal, also known as BLACKPINK's Lisa).

White spends the meat of the season with the Ratliffs and Rick and Chelsea, each of whom use different coping mechanisms, from drugs to meditation, to be "well." Ironically, many of these guests seem to get little relief from the treatments they traveled thousands of miles to receive.

The White Lotus is doing too much in Season 3. Natasha Rothwell in "The White Lotus." Credit: Fabio Lovino / HBO

But in the midst of the Ratliff and Rick and Chelsea storylines, The White Lotus loses focus on some of its other compelling new additions. The story of longtime friends Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan, MaXXXine), Kate (Leslie Bibb, Juror #2), and Laurie (Carrie Coon, His Three Daughters) reuniting for vacation is rife with juicy power dynamics, commentary on aging, and sniping gossip — all of which are heightened by Jaclyn's status as a famous TV actress. Yet there's little connective tissue between the trio and the rest of the goings-on at the White Lotus, to the point that Monaghan, Bibb, and Coon often feel like they're in a bubble off to the side.

SEE ALSO: Sex workers are the heroes in 'The White Lotus' Season 2

Suffering the same fate is The White Lotus Season 1's spa manager Belinda (Natasha Rothwell, How to Die Alone), who's in Thailand to learn more about their world-class offerings. The first six episodes sent to critics for screening make it clear that her story is building to something major, but for now, her presence feels like too little, too late. (Especially considering how wonderful Rothwell is in the role.)

Belinda and the trio aren't the only characters who seem to be getting the short end of the stick this season. Hotel manager Fabian (Christian Friedel, The Zone of Interest) doesn't get much to do compared to his predecessors Armand (Murray Bartlett) and Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore). Plus, his dreams of singing at the hotel feel like leftovers from Season 2, when Mia (Beatrice Grannò) begged Valentina to let her perform in the White Lotus lounge.

The White Lotus Season 3 still offers up great performances and juicy drama. Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood in "The White Lotus." Credit: Fabio Lovino / HBO

Despite its many shortcomings, The White Lotus Season 3 still nails many aspects of its formula. Its cast (even the underused members) is aces across the board, with special shout-outs in order to Posey and Wood. Even though Victoria and Chelsea's partners are the ones who go on the most emotionally fraught journeys, neither Posey nor Wood fade into the background as accessories to tortured men. Instead, the pair are delightful mirrors to one another: Victoria experiences life through a lens of judgment and old money, while Chelsea is a free spirit raring to go wherever life takes her. Their differences aside, these characters both end up with some of the funniest lines and scenes of the show.

The White Lotus continues to gift us with outrageous moments ready for internet notoriety this season, although nothing so far has topped, "These gays, they're trying to murder me." Dinner scenes remain rife with awkward conversations and nasty one-liners (most of them from Saxon), with White clearly reveling in skewering out-of-touch wealthy people, no matter where they fall on the political spectrum. White also pushes the envelope further this season, exploring new threats and taboos that left me freaking out.

Overall, though, the season so far feels like The White Lotus is floundering in its attempts to both expand on its formula and stay true to it at the same time. It wants to have everything at once: soapy drama and spiritual commentary, the resort's claustrophobia and a long side excursion to Bangkok. Unfortunately, the result is at once overstuffed and underdeveloped, albeit with a slim glimmer of hope that the finale can pull all these disparate threads together in spectacular fashion.

The White Lotus Season 3 premieres Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Think tanks and universities have helped expose problematic Chinese business practices. Now, those businesses are accusing them of defamation.

SAVE $80: As of Feb. 11, get a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $169 at Amazon. That's a discount of 32%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

A good pair of earbuds can be hard to find. There are tons of choices out there, but you've got to make sure the pair you buy fit in your ears first and foremost. And if you like the fit, you also want to make sure they sound good. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are an excellent pick all around. But while they can be a bit pricey for some budgets, they're on sale right now at a great price that make them a no-brainer when it comes to audio.

As of Feb. 11, get a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $169 at Amazon. That's $80 off their normal price of $249. That's a discount of 32%.

These earbuds are top of the line, and net you fantastic noise cancellation, crystal clear sound quality, and quick and painless integration with any Apple device you use with them. Their H2 chip gives them better clarity, improved battery life, and zippiness that the previous models were a bit lacking in. Plus, Apple's Adaptive Transparency mode helps to cut down on any background noise you may be hearing at any given time.

They're not just good for listening to music or podcasts in silence, though. They're the perfect choice for whipping out and talking to friends and family on the phone if you need to do so hands-free. You can adjust the ear tips size with four different tips that are included, and you also get up to six hours of use with Active Noise Cancellation on. That number jumps to 30 when you re-up with the included USB-C charging case.

Whether you're an Apple user or not, you'll find that these earbuds are just about everything you're looking for and more, and at a great price right now.

Simone Ashley stole our hearts as Kate Bridgerton (née Sharma) in Bridgerton. Now, she takes on a modern romantic comedy in Prime Video's upcoming Picture This.

SEE ALSO: 2025 movie preview: All the films you'll want to know about

Ashley stars as Pia, a struggling single photographer who receives a staggering prediction: She'll find true love in her next five dates. As her sister's wedding approaches, her family will set her up with new suitors — played by an ensemble including Starstruck's Nikesh Patel and Ted Lasso's Phil Dunster — in the hopes that she finds her perfect match.

But things get complicated when Pia's first love (and ex) Charlie (Hero Fiennes Tiffin, The Woman King, After) re-enters the picture. According to the trailer, he still thinks about Pia, an admission which throws her love life into chaos. Will Pia and Charlie be able to work things out and have their own happily ever after?

Picture This premieres March 6 on Prime Video.

Speaking in Paris at an artificial intelligence summit, the vice president gave an America First vision of the technology — with the U.S. dominating the chips, the software and the rules.

Male bonding moves way too fast in the trailer for Andrew DeYoung's Friendship, starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson.

The upcoming A24 comedy promises a nightmare of friendship between the I Think You Should Leave and Only Murders in the Building stars. Robinson plays Craig, a man encouraged by his wife (Kate Mara) to befriend his charming neighbour (Rudd), who appears to collect male friends like baseball cards and ditch any he's done with.

When the friendship suddenly comes to a halt, Craig's sense of self and connection is thrown into the air, and signature Robinson yelling begins.

Friendship hits cinemas in May.

Naomi Watts and Bill Murray lead The Friend, an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez's novel about a woman who adopts her late best friend's Great Dane.

Directed and written by David Siegel and Scott McGehee, The Friend sees Watts starring as Iris, whose mentor Walter (Murray) leaves four-legged pal Apollo (played by a Great Dane called Bing) to her in his will. He's a large dog and an even larger reminder of the person she's mourning, so their bond is a little rocky to start. But, as the Sharon Van Etten-scored trailer indicates, isn't that always the start of a beautiful friendship?

The cast also features Carla Gugino (The Fall of the House of Usher), Constance Wu (Hustlers), Noma Dumezweni (The Undoing), Ann Dowd (The Handmaid's Tale), Felix Solis (Unfrosted), Sarah Pidgeon (Tiny Beautiful Things), and Owen Teague (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes),

The Friend hits select New York cinemas on March 21 before its U.S. release on April 4.

The Witcher fans know how to wait.

It's been six months since we farewelled The Witcher in Henry Cavill mode, with Liam Hemsworth's Geralt gauntlet expected later this year. We've been lightly thriving on news of the fourth RPG game in The Witcher franchise, the first since 2015's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but it's going to be a while before we're roaming the Continent, as Ciri this time.

So, for those missing The Witcher, there's a new animated Netflix film that's quite the crossover between the books, the voice talents of the games, and the live action series. The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep sees Doug Cockle, who voiced titular witcher Geralt of Rivia in the games, returning to the role alongside Joey Batey and Anya Chalotra, who played Jaskier and Yennefer in the TV show.

SEE ALSO: How does Henry Cavill finish up as Geralt in 'The Witcher'?

Directed by The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf's Kang Hei Chul and animated by South Korean animation studio Studio MIR, Sirens of the Deep functions like a side quest for Geralt and his unrelentingly chipper bard pal Jaskier, sending them into a simmering, potential war between humans and merpeople, with spectacular fight scenes, impressive monsters, and characteristically awkward love scenes in store. And it's more than close to the tale of The Little Mermaid.

What is The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep about? Credit: Netflix

Sirens of the Deep is set in Season 1 of the Netflix series, between episodes 5 and 6, after Geralt meets Yennefer for the first time amid the whole djinn business. Written by Mike Ostrowski and Rae Benjamin, produced by The Witcher series showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich with The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski as a creative consultant, Sirens of the Deep effectively functions as a canon side story, based on the short story "A Little Sacrifice" from the second Witcher book, Sword of Destiny. 

Geralt and Jaskier investigate the seaside kingdom of Bremervoord, run by King Usveldt (Simon Templemen), where violence between sea creatures and humans is on the rise, threatening all-out war. The conflict could be resolved through the wedding of the merprincess Sh'eenaz (Emily Carey) and human prince Agloval (Camrus Johnson), but instead their union is scorned by their families — aside from the princess' scheming aunt Melusina (Mallory Jansen) — and folks on both sides keep turning up dead.

Featured Video For You Henry Cavill dug deep into 'The Witcher' games and fantasy fiction to get his Geralt just right

How does Geralt get caught up in this political mess? As he always does: by being hired to kill a monster, avoiding doing so thanks to his moral compass, and finding himself hauled into a pompous royal throne room full of bearded accusations and knee-jerk declarations of retribution. Writers Ostrowski and Benjamin include plenty of banter between Geralt and Jaskier between these moments, and importantly bring one of Sapkowski's less known characters to the screen: Jaskier's Bremervoord bard bestie Essi Daven (the closest we've come to seeing Essi onscreen was through the character of Priscilla in Wild Hunt).

In what feels like an unexpected turn for The Witcher universe, Sirens of the Deep mirrors Disney's version of Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale The Little Mermaid right down to an undeniably "Poor Unfortunate Souls" moment between Sh'eenaz and Melusina. However, the film pushes the story of a mer-human romance into more violent territory, probably more akin to the dark mood of the original tale, sending the humans and merfolk into a brutal war after several bloody attacks. Just as Ursula made a whirlpool of aquatic hell, Melusina has her tentacles stirring an evil plan.

The fight scenes in Sirens of the Deep are phenomenal Credit: Netflix

Throughout Sirens of the Deep there's some dabbling in a lukewarm romantic storyline between Geralt and Essi, and a middlingly moving reflection on Jaskier's childhood in Bremervoord. But the real star is the action scenes.

Seizing on the gravity-defying benefits of animation, Sirens of the Deep features some truly magnificent fights. Brutal, bloody, and artfully choreographed, these scenes outshine the film's narrative and allow Geralt to do some pretty damn fancy footwork — the film opens with an acrobatic battle with an Allamorax sea monster that would cost a mint in live action. South Korean animation studio Studio MIR, who've worked on The Legend of Korra, Dota: Dragon's Blood, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge and the first Netflix Witcher animation, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, really show off those skills in these scenes of pure violence. Eyeballs bulge, bodies are unceremoniously ripped in half, and giant tentacles are hacked at.

But aside from these chaotic chapters of combat, what makes it truly feel like a win for Witcher fans is the return of one very familiar voice.

It's damn good to hear Doug Cockle's voice Credit: Netflix

The instant satisfaction that comes from hearing Cockle's voice as Geralt of Rivia is honestly worth watching Sirens of the Deep for. Cavill took cues from Cockle for his own characterisation, so it's deeply fulfilling to hear Game Geralt's gravelly vocals within the Netflix series. No one quite delivers the line "Fuck" quite like Cockle, and Sirens of the Deep knows it. And while several moments in the film hinge on cringeworthy and cheesy, not one moment of Cockle's delivery misses. 

Cockle's performance combined with Studio MIR's spectacular animated fight scenes make Sirens of the Deep a worthy watch for The Witcher fans. If you can survive the awkwardness of the romance scenes, can run with The Little Mermaid parallels, and have long yearned for a Joey Batey bard banger moment, you'll have a decent time.

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is now streaming on Netflix.

BBC Radio One's "Unpopular Opinion" game – in which radio callers phone in with their unpopular opinions celebrities share their thoughts – has a history of inciting some entertaining bickering — and Anthony Mackie's appearance is no exception.

In the clip above, the Captain America: Brave New World star and host Greg James react to opinions on everything from donuts needing to be banished to concert encores being pointless.

Come for the debate, stay for Mackie's British accent.

SAVE $600: As of Feb. 11, the 55-inch Samsung The Frame TV is on sale for $899.99 in Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale. This is $600 off its list price of $1,499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch LS03D The Frame QLED TV $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,499.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal

Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale is full of excellent discounts on tech. If you've been on the lookout for a new TV, there are plenty on sale at the retailer right now that are worth a look, including the Samsung The Frame TVs. These sleek little two-in-one TVs and art displays have gotten some very nice deals, but the 55-inch model is one that definitely caught our eye with a $600 discount.

This has dropped the price of the 55-inch Samsung The Frame TV to $899.99 from its list price of $1,499.99, which is definitely worth taking advantage of while the deal is still live. Not to mention, your purchase also comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, so gamers can have a test run on this new TV with Game Pass's massive library for free for a month.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Presidents' Day sale is live — find all the best deals here

As mentioned earlier, The Frame's are known for being both a high-quality TV and a display for art. When it comes to the former, it boasts 4K resolution that makes images on your screen appear crisp and vibrant so you can savor every detail. It also features a matte display that reduces glare so you don't have to deal with any annoying light reflecting off it. This is especially helpful with the art you can put up.

There's a wide variety of art pieces you can choose from to display in your home as well, including a selection of pieces from New York's Museum of Modern Art. Some of the artworks included in this collection are from the likes of Vincent van Gogh, Henri Rousseau, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Frida Kahlo, so you can have plenty of amazing options to show off.

Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale comes to an end on Feb. 17, so act fast to save on this 55-inch Samsung The Frame TV.

To see even more TV deals, have a look through our breakdown of Best Buy's Presidents' Day sale event, which features discounts on other Samsung models, Toshiba TVs, and a few from LG.

You get two Jo(h)n's for the price of one in the latest episode of The Daily Show, with host Jon Stewart being joined by Last Week Tonight host John Oliver for a cameo at the end of the monologue.

The topic in hand? The way Donald Trump's America is quickly regressing, going so far back in time that Oliver encourages Stewart to embrace his country's "monarchy era".

"I'm here to gloat," Oliver says. "America had its little fun, experimenting with democracy. You fought so hard to get away from us. Acting up, throwing all that tea into the harbour — you still owe us for that, by the way."

Stewart's tearful realisation, after Oliver lays the current state of affairs out plainly for him? "We really have become our father."

SAVE $10: As of Feb. 11, the Echo Dot is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. That's 20% off its list price of $49.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Dot $39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

With Valentine's Day right around the corner and Presidents' Day sales starting to kick off, there are plenty of deals to look through right now. Over at Amazon you can save on quite a few of the retailer's own devices, including the Echo Dot smart speaker.

The Echo Dot smart speaker — in charcoal, deep sea blue, and glacier white — has dropped from its list price of $49.99 to $39.99, saving you 20%. Amazon has this listed as a limited-time deal, which means it may not stick around for long. If you've had the Echo Dot on your shopping list, now's the time to grab it.

SEE ALSO: 30 Valentine's Day gifts for all the sweethearts in your life

Alongside offering excellent sound quality, the Echo Dot can serve as a hub to control compatible smart devices. We also rank it in our roundup of the best Amazon Echo devices as the best pick for smaller spaces, saying that "the Echo Dot is just about the same as its spherical older brother, except in a smaller form." In our breakdown of Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop we also found that, "The Echo Dot is the quintessential budget smart home assistant, allowing you to summon Alexa with your voice and control other smart gadgets in your home."

Don't miss out on this limited-time deal on the Echo Dot at Amazon.

There are a few more deals on Amazon devices that are worth checking out right now, too. You can also save on the latest Kindle Paperwhite and the Echo Show 5 has gotten a nice discount as well.

When tech luminaries talk about their Christian faith, people listen.

TL;DR: This week only, get a Microsoft Office 2024 lifetime license for PC or Mac at $139.97 (reg. $149.99).

You know those tasks that eat up way more time than they should, like rewriting a paragraph in Word, creating a graph in Excel, and perfecting formatting in PowerPoint? Microsoft’s newest AI features could mean these struggles are finally over.

Office 2024 is loaded with built-in AI tools that don’t take over your workflow but complement it. And, unlike a Microsoft 365 subscription that comes with recurring fees, this version only requires a one-time payment. Own it now for PC or Mac for $139.97 (reg. $149.99).

Another way AI is making your life easier

The newest version of Office includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, each with its own AI features. But first, know that you won’t have to re-learn any of your favorite apps — they all have a fresh look, but they’re still familiar.

Let’s start with Word. Smart Compose will help you brainstorm ideas when staring at a blank page with a blinking cursor. And for those times when you’re stumped on how to finish a sentence, it can suggest text based on the context of your writing.

AI in Excel now eliminates the need to memorize how to create those complicated charts and graphs manually. Plus, you’ll get AI-powered insights on your data.

When you’re working in PowerPoint and OneNote, you’ll get intelligent suggestions for text, formatting, and design elements. Whether you’re creating a presentation or organizing your notes, let AI do the heavy lifting.

Download Microsoft Office 2024 for PC or Mac while it’s $139.97 this week only (reg. $149.99). No coupon is needed to get this price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time Purchase $139.97
$149.99 Save $10.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: Save 81% on a 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan lifetime subscription with our unbeatable offer.

ChatGPT-5 is coming … eventually. But why wait for an updated version of a single AI model when there’s a tool that combines all top AI models into one platform? It’s called 1min.AI, and its lifetime subscription may be a better investment than an OpenAI subscription. Here’s why:

• 1min.AI gives you lifetime access to GPT, Gemini, Llama, Midjourney, and more AI models for a one-time payment

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Get lifetime access to this all-in-one AI tool for $99.99 (reg. $540). You won’t find a better deal anywhere else.

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Opens in a new window Credit: 1min.AI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $99.99
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Frustration with dating apps isn't hard to find in 2025. Between talk of dating app fatigue and dating apps becoming increasingly similar online, you can hardly swipe on your FYP without some complaint about being on "the apps."

Dating app executives seem to be aware of this. Both Hinge's CEO and Bumble's former CEO mentioned burnout and exhaustion, respectively, and Tinder is enlisting influencers to try to entice young adults into swiping. 

SEE ALSO: How does orientation affect the dating app experience?

Increasingly, new feature drops utilize AI, at least in their marketing. Could AI be the way to save dating apps?

Why dating sucks right now

Tinder launched in 2012, and since then, it and other dating apps have reshaped how singles meet. Now, according to the Pew Research Center, one in ten partnered adults met their partners on a dating app, and that figure increases for adults under 30 and LGBTQ people.

Despite some people having success on dating apps (if success to you means meeting a partner), users complain about them for multiple reasons. 

One is "swipe fatigue," the feeling that you're repeating the motions and it's not leading to meaningful outcomes, according to sexologist, sociologist, and relationship expert Dr. Jennifer Gunsaullus. 

Then there's the issue of having an amazing interaction with someone on the app, but then you meet them in person and they can't carry a conversation. "I could see how dating apps could feel less and less authentic because they're more and more curated," Gunsaullus said. "That gets frustrating."

Gunsaullus also mentioned the paradox of choice: When presented with many options, we can have more trouble deciding on one than if we were only presented with two or three options. 

This abundance of choice, coupled with how photo-focused the most popular apps are, can lead to feeling like these interactions are superficial. Snap judgments about a whole person based on a profile can lead to bad behavior (like ghosting) and feelings of rejection and jadedness, said Gunsaullus, a PhD in sociology.

Trust in dating apps has also waned in recent years. Last year, Match Group was sued in a class action lawsuit claiming that its platforms are "addictive" and "predatory" and that it prioritizes spending more time and money on the app than facilitating matches. (Match Group is a conglomerate that owns Tinder, Hinge, and other dating apps.) The lawsuit has since been sent to arbitration.

A common gripe in recent years is that dating apps paywalled good features that used to be free.

"Match Group has slowly put more and more things behind the paywall, removed useful features, and a lot of the apps have become homogenized," said custom software developer and dating app user Ben Smith. Like other app users, Smith blamed encroaching paywalls on companies' incentives to monetize. 

Match Group, like Bumble, is publicly traded, and waning public opinion for dating apps may be reflected in the stock market: Prices for Match Group and Bumble have fallen in the last year as of publication. Despite Bumble's stock price being up in the last six months, its CEO is out after a year to be replaced by founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, and Match Group just announced a new CEO too. (Grindr, which is also publicly traded, is also up in the last year.)

In the UK, major apps also saw a decrease in users year-over-year from 2023 to 2024: Tinder lost 600,000 users, while Bumble lost 368,000, and Hinge lost 131,000, according to UK communications watchdog Ofcom.

A spokesperson for Bumble said they had nothing to share with Mashable about the stock market or user loss. Match Group wouldn't confirm or deny third-party data, but did share that Hinge's monthly active users are up 20 percent year over year. Tinder's monthly active users are down, which it attributes to safety enhancements.

Additionally, distrust about AI has entered the mix: How are apps training AI? What data is it using? What data is it storing? These answers are sometimes answered in an app's privacy policy, but not always.

Dating coach Erika Ettin said daters she knows aren't comfortable using Tinder's Photo Selector tool. According to Tinder's Photo Selector FAQ, the tool requires access to a user's partial or full camera library to pick out the "best" photos. This is done on-device, and Tinder only stores photos you pick to go on your profile, but Ettin said it "creeps [her] out a little."

"On Tinder, users can take advantage of Photo Selector when they're having trouble picking a profile pic. We found that 52 percent of singles struggle with choosing the perfect photo, and this AI-driven feature takes the hassle out of the process," a Tinder spokesperson told Mashable. "And at the end, you still have the final say on which photo gets uploaded."

But maybe dating apps suck because dating itself sucks.

"All of this shifting attention from 'the apps don't work in terms of long-term relationship building' is really just a smokescreen for what really has been going on forever," said relationship and online dating expert Dr. Jess Carbino, "which is people have frustrations with dating."

There hasn't been a significant innovation in the online dating space since Tinder's development in 2012, Carbino said. Carbino, a PhD in sociology, used to work as a sociologist for Tinder and Bumble. "This [AI] is truly the new frontier."

Pros of AI features on dating apps

What AI can be useful for is weeding out spam and inappropriate messages. Bumble's Deception Detector (which weeds out spam and fake accounts) and Private Detector (which finds and blurs lewd images) are examples. The app told Mashable that it blocked over 2.2 million spam, scam, and inauthentic profiles in 2024. Tinder has several ways to red flag bad behavior, like "Are You Sure?" (to stop a user from sending a potentially harmful message) and "Does This Bother You?" (to let a user on the receiving end report a harmful message). Hinge has similar features to detect harmful or illegal behavior on the app.

Carbino is hopeful that AI features and development will help apps deliver better matches to people and initial messaging between strangers. "I think that this is just a way of enhancing the experience that's fundamental and the steps that are necessary to do what dating apps are meant to do, which is to create connections," she said. "And then people have to take it from there."

Gunsaullus agrees that AI algorithms could lead to better matches. She also likes the idea of using AI as a coach to help daters learn some communication skills.

Potential drawbacks of AI dating features

While Gunsaullus thinks AI has the potential to be a helpful coach, the initial use of AI in dating isn't as helpful. When you have ChatGPT write messages for you, for example, you're not developing skills of talking to strangers — and you're not presenting your true self to a match. It's like posting highly-filtered photos of yourself.

"We have filters now for people's personalities and communication skills or lack of skills," Gunsaullus said, and those skills take time, commitment, and a willingness to be bad at first to learn.

It's understandable why young people are especially drawn to AI features during COVID lockdowns, given their reliance on phones for social interaction. While face-to-face interaction is best for combatting loneliness, according to experts, digital interactions fill in the gaps when you can't be around each other in person. Early research suggests that this has had negative impacts on social skills. 

Putting yourself out there in person is vulnerable and can be awkward, and young people may not want to do it. But, because of this, digital dependency may continue to get worse due to AI, Gunsaullus said. While relying on technology like AI is easy and convenient and allows us to be less vulnerable and awkward, that may not breed happiness and well-being in the long run.

Ettin personally doesn't like AI features on dating apps and doesn't think they've greatly improved their usage. 

"In my opinion, all of the sites would be better off hiring a bunch of me's or a bunch of experts on how to use the apps and coaches to do a seminar or help people in a group setting," she said. "It'd save a lot of money and it would be a lot more personal."

SEE ALSO: A mindfulness-themed browser is (calmly) shaking up search

Smith, meanwhile, is very pro-AI and believes it's going to transform the world to a greater extent than the internet did. However, he also believes we're currently in the trough of disillusionment stage of the hype cycle around AI, meaning interest is waning as early adaptation of AI fails to deliver.

"Right now, we are in the painful buzzword phase where everyone is just tossing it into their products and hoping that it makes the number go up," Smith said. "But once we get through this, the trough of disillusionment, we'll start getting actual innovation that actually makes them better."

Both Tinder CEO Faye Iosolatuno and Hinge CEO Justin McLeod mentioned the use of AI at Match Group's Investor Day back in December, suggesting that AI features aren't going away on the major dating apps. 

Can we even meet 'offline'?

You might see someone on TikTok bemoan that they just want to meet their partner "organically" — aka having an offline meet cute. But it may not be that easy. 

Social, economic, and demographical reasons make technology the mechanism or institution we rely upon to meet people, Carbino said. For example, fewer people live in their neighborhood of origin as they did in the past, breaking the social ties they have there. Fewer people are going to religious places of worship, which used to be a prime place to meet a partner. 

At the same time, young adults have less financial independence than in years past. They live at home with parents longer than previous generations, making it potentially harder to date in-person.

Not to mention that people just spend a lot of time on their phones.

"I think that technology is going to be more and more present because no other institution that we have seen historically has intervened or developed in a way in recent years to overcome that," Carbino said.

Despite daters' frustrations, Ettin doesn't think they'll quit the apps. Dating apps aren't at fault for the issues people have with them — like people looking at you more like a commodity than an individual, or people thinking there's someone better around the corner, she said. 

"I think it's human nature," said Ettin, "and technology and wanting instant gratification."

Even though there is annoyance over meeting people online, where else do singles find supper clubs, speed dating events, or ClassPass's Valentine's Day singles event? Online.

"What's ironic to me is that the ways people are now trying to meet in person are harnessing technology," Carbino said. "Digital is IRL, and IRL is digital. You can't divorce the two."

Daters are inherently curious about AI and are open to the idea that it can be helpful. "I think that people want to be hopeful," said Carbino. "That's why they stay on the apps."

TL;DR: Stay powered up anywhere with this 10,000mAh solar power bank on sale for $37.99 for a limited time.

Losing power when you’re off the grid is never fun. The SolPro 10K Fast Charge Solar Power Bank for $37.99 keeps your devices charged no matter where you wander, with a high-speed 10,000mAh battery and an integrated solar panel for emergency recharging.

Equipped with a 20W USB-C Power Delivery port and dual 18W USB Adaptive Fast Charge ports, this rugged power bank can juice up your iPhone or Android from 0 to 50% in just 30 minutes. Charge up to three devices at once and get back to your adventure without missing a beat.

Designed for the outdoors, the power bank features a certified IPX5 water-resistant body, making it tough enough to handle rain and splashes. The built-in LED flashlight includes strobe and SOS modes for emergencies, while the integrated compass helps you stay on course. Bright LED battery indicators let you check power levels at a glance, and the durable, high-visibility design makes it easy to spot in your gear.

Need a quick recharge? Plug it in via USB-C PD for a full refuel in just two hours, or use pass-through charging to power your devices while recharging the bank itself.

Stay powered up, stay prepared, and never let a dead battery slow you down.

At just $37.99 (reg. $44), this SolPro 10K Fast Charge Solar Power Bank is perfect for camping, hiking, and travel.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: HyperGear SolPro 10K Fast Charge Solar Power Bank with 20W USB-C PD $37.99
$44.99 Save $7.00 Get Deal

TL;DR: Improve your swing at home with the Phigolf sensor and simulator for $99.99 — get real-time feedback, track performance, and play on 38,000+ courses.

Golf season is right around the corner, and there's no better time to fine-tune your swing. The Phigolf World Tour Edition home simulator on sale for 50% off of $199 at $99.99 lets you practice indoors with a 9-axis motion sensor that tracks your club path, head speed, and shot distance in real-time.

Paired with the Phigolf app, it offers a fully immersive training experience with 38,000+ GPS-mapped courses from around the world.

The smart motion sensor fits into your real clubs or the included swing stick, making it easy to train at home. It provides detailed 3D analysis of every movement — from driving to chipping and putting — so you can adjust your technique and improve consistency. Plus, you can connect with golfers worldwide for virtual tournaments and head-to-head matches.

This open-box set includes a Phigolf sensor and a generic swing stick, both in new condition. While it won’t come in branded packaging, you’ll get the same high-quality training experience at a lower price.

With real-time data feedback and an expansive course library, this simulator is the perfect way to get back in the game before the season starts.

Skip the crowded driving range and start practicing from home with the Phigolf Home Golf Game Simulator Sensor and Swing Stick Set for just $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Phigolf Phigolf Home Golf Game Simulator Sensor & Generic Swing Stick Set (Open Box) $99.99
$199.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Buzz buzz, Yellowjackets fans! We're almost ready to be dragged back into the creepy woods of teen chaos, with the arrival of Season 3 of the Showtime series.

It's been a minute since we've checked in with the hungriest football team on TV, and in two seasons, there's been more than a few people who have buzzed off to the afterlife in various grisly ways.

SEE ALSO: 'Yellowjackets' ending explained: Season 2 bids farewell to a fan favorite

Which characters have died on Yellowjackets Seasons 1 and 2? Who's been eaten? Who's been murdered? Let's recap all those currently either pushing up daisies or lining the bellies of our lost teammates.

Who died in the wilderness?Jackie Left: Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime Right: Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime

Froze to death sleeping outside the cabin, was eaten.

Javi Left: Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime Right: Credit: Kimberley French / Showtime

Fell through the ice while being chased, was eaten.

Laura Lee Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime

Exploded in plane escape attempt.

Shauna's baby Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime

Stillborn. This was a sad one.

Crystal Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime

Pushed off a cliff by Misty, still "missing".

Coach Bill + Rachel Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime

One was impaled after the plane crash. One was impaled during the plane crash.

Unknown Pit Girl Credit: Paul Sarkis / Showtime

Whoever fell into the pit in Season 1, episode 1 remains a mystery. But what's not in doubt is their fate, impaled by pit sticks.

Who died in the present?Travis Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime

Accidentally hanged himself while attempting to talk to the darkness. Lottie was supposed to save him but had a technical malfunction.

Natalie Credit: Colin Bentley / Showtime

Accidentally stabbed with poison by Misty, who was aiming for Lisa.

Adam Credit: Michael Courtney / Showtime

Murdered by Shauna via stabbing, covered up by Shauna, Misty, Nat, Taissa, and Jeff.

Kevyn Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime

Poisoned by Walter via laced coffee.

Jessica Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime

Poisoned by Misty via laced cigarette.

Biscuit Credit: Kailey Schwerman / Showtime

Murdered by Night Taissa, head placed on creepy basement altar. Justice for Biscuit.

Who'll make it through Season 3 of Yellowjackets? Mashable's got you covered this season.

Yellowjackets Season 3 is streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime from Feb. 14, with new episodes weekly.

There's nothing like a feature-length chance to fall in love. And there's no better time to see it than right now.

Whether you're preparing a cozy evening for two, having a long-distance hang with friends, or embarking on a private, solo cry over love lost/love won/the state of the planet/etc., romantic comedies are one of our greatest resources for emotional catharsis. Roll into the romance and humor of it all with abandon (and our help). Mashable has combed through every rom-com on Hulu to assess the best of the best for your streaming buck.

Here are the best romantic comedies now on Hulu.

1. Palm Springs Credit: Hulu

In one of the best movies of 2020, Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti play nihilistic wedding guests who become stuck in a time loop à la Groundhog Day. Stupidly funny and surprisingly sweet, this sci-fi nightmare-meets-rom-com explores a been-there-done-that premise with a fresh approach and two leads you'll fall for instantly. (Fair warning: If you're in the middle of an existential crisis, maybe hold off on this one. Palm Springs isn't your average meet-cute.) — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Palm Springs is now streaming on Hulu.

2. Love, Simon

A heartfelt coming-of-age story, Love, Simon follows a closeted teenage boy as he grapples with coming out to his family and community. Nick Robinson is deeply endearing as Simon, who finds himself in a modern epistolary romance (they emailed each other) with an anonymous male classmate. But when another student, Martin, finds their secret correspondence, he threatens to out Simon unless Simon helps Martin win the heart of one of his friends, Abby. 

Based on a novel by Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda), Love, Simon is an absolute smash hit across the board. The performances are moving, the script is clever, and the tone deftly marries humor with real emotional depth. This is one you don’t want to miss. 

How to watch: Love, Simon is now on Hulu (with Live TV).

3. Easy A

You might not think that a modern movie inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter sounds like a blast — but you'd be dead wrong! Will Gluck's 2010 hit Easy A is a clever comedy with a delightfully updated take on teen sex and double standards that will leave you laughing… and listening to Natasha Bedingfield on repeat.

Emma Stone is perfect as Olive Penderghast, a smart, sarcastic student who lies about having sex with her friend Brandon (Dan Byrd) so that people will think he's straight. But while Brandon receives praise for his "conquest," Olive receives the opposite — some good ol' fashioned 2010s slut shaming. Soon, guys throughout the school are approaching Olive, requesting the same favor: to corroborate a rumor about their hookup so they can seem manly. Olive leans into her new harlot reputation, even though it's getting harder and harder to laugh off the nasty looks or to find a guy interested in anything more than the social clout she can give them.

There's lots to love about this winning teen comedy, but the cast deserves special praise: Amanda Bynes is delightful as a religious and judgmental fellow student, Penn Bagdley is charming as the down-to-earth childhood friend, and Stanley Tucci and Lisa Kudrow steal every scene they're in as hippie parents not quite sure how to handle Olive's new lifestyle.

How to watch: Easy A is now streaming on Hulu.

4. Waiting to Exhale  Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Savannah, Robin, Bernadine, and Gloria are close friends in Phoenix who can’t seem to sort out their love lives. But, thanks to support from each other, over the course of the film, they each find their own kind of happy ending. Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Wesley Snipes, Gregory Hines, Dennis Haysbert, Wendell Pierce, and more all round out this absolutely stacked cast. Adapted from a Terry McMillan novel and directed by Forest Whitaker, Waiting to Exhale examines the beauty of life’s pains and pleasures in equal measure.

How to watch: Waiting to Exhale is now streaming on Hulu.

5. Say Anything

If you're too young to know where the rom-com trope of the guy holding a boombox outside his love's window comes from, it's time to sit down and get an education. Say Anything is a romantic comedy hall-of-famer. John Cusack is Lloyd Dobler, a high school underachiever, and Ione Skye is Diane Court, the valedictorian. Spurred by a desire to break out of her sheltered lifestyle, Diane agrees to a date with Lloyd, and a romance quickly blooms. But Diane's father doesn't approve — Diane is headed to England at the end of the summer, and he's determined to see Lloyd, a distraction, out of the picture.

This 1989 charmer, written and directed by Cameron Crowe, is more complex than your average mindless romance. These people and their problems feel real, and the intensity of their emotion will touch you to your core. Prepare to clutch your chest and sigh from the unshakeable, fathomless depths of Lloyd Dobler's passion, a standard to which all future boyfriends will be compared… and found wanting.

How to watch: Say Anything is now streaming on Hulu.

6. The Proposal

The Proposal is a veritable romantic comedy archetype. Sandra Bullock is the no-nonsense boss reviled by her employees. Ryan Reynolds is the pushover personal assistant she bullies into marrying her for a green card (to keep her from being deported back to, ahem, Canada). It’s not just fake dating — it’s a fake marriage, folks! And these two opposites are going to find what they’ve been missing all along has been right under their noses, but only after they bicker themselves into a slew of ridiculous shenanigans, of course.

There is nothing unpredictable about The Proposal. It hits all the beats. The characters are exactly who you think they are. It’s not really kind to women, in a very 2000s way. But sometimes, a little comforting, mindless, nostalgic indistinguishability from other romantic comedies is exactly what you’re looking for. And for that very specific mood, The Proposal hits just right.

How to watch: The Proposal is now streaming on Hulu.

7. The Hating Game

Based on a novel by Sally Thorne, The Hating Game is a sexy rom-com about two coworkers who absolutely can’t stand each other. Up for the same promotion at work and bogged down with endless mind games and power struggles, they begin to suspect their knee-jerk antagonism might be a cover for something else entirely. There’s more going on here than your standard hate-to-love romance. It’s unpredictable, and it’s seductive enough to earn an R rating. But The Hating Game’s greatest strength is that the chemistry between lead actors Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell is off the charts. Here, the yearning, burning glances are simply scintillating. 

How to watch: The Hating Game is now streaming on Hulu.

8. Fire Island Credit: Hulu

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice gets a modern makeover with Fire Island. Joel Kim Booster reimagines the rom-com of manners as a gay love story set in the eponymous vacation spot. There, a chosen family of gay men and their lesbian den mother (Margaret Cho) revel with sunshine, champagne, and karaoke. But an unexpected buzzkill arrives in the form of a pretentious and posh lawyer (Conrad Ricamora), who seems to sneer at the group's idea of a good time. Despite an awkward introduction, the lawyer and the group's main character (Booster) kick off a promising romance. But can it be more than a summer fling? — K.P.

How to watch: Fire Island is now streaming on Hulu.

9. 7 Days

Ravi (Karan Soni) and Rita (Geraldine Viswanathan) meet in 2020 on a date their mothers set up through Arranged, a dating site for Indian-Americans looking for marriage. The date is awkward, perfunctory, and cut short by a flood of COVID news about an imminent shutdown. They'll have to shelter in place together at Rita's for a few days until Ravi can get a rental car home. That's where the facades come off and these two opposites really get to know one another. 

Co-written by Soni and director Roshan Sethi, 7 Days is a patiently captivating romantic comedy about the nature of love and marriage. It's an incredibly clever take on an ancient institution —where the COVID shutdown does the work an arranged marriage would — asking with a fresh perspective: Are soulmates destined, or are they created? 

How to watch: 7 Days is now streaming on Hulu.

10. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

It takes maybe five minutes for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar to elicit its first "WTF?" and to the comedy's immense credit, it only gets weirder from there.

There are life-saving culottes, and elaborate lies about turtles, and a mythological sea sprite named Trish, and a villain commanding an army of mosquitos, and a musical number that has Jamie Dornan climbing up a palm tree like a cat up a palm tree who's decided to go up a palm tree, and... Look, you've just got to watch it to get it. And at the center of all of it is the sincerely sweet, reliably rock-solid bond between Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig). Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar ended up being to us what Vista Del Mar was to Barb and Star: the breezy little break from reality we needed to get our shine back.* — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is now streaming on Hulu.

11. Sweet Home Alabama

Reese Witherspoon is simply sublime as Melanie, a high-powered fashion designer about to marry the mayor of NYC's son (Patrick Dempsey). She's worked hard for this fairy tale life, and she only has to do one thing before she can make it come true: Get a divorce. Just days before her wedding, Melanie heads home to Alabama to get her childhood sweetheart and estranged husband Jake (Josh Lucas) to release her from their vows so she can finally put her Southern past behind her. Unfortunately, Jake isn't willing to say goodbye so easily. And, you know, he's gotten pretty handsome in the years since she left…

Sweet Home Alabama is peak 2000s rom-com. The characters are big, the stakes are high, and the chemistry is off the charts. But unlike some of the fluffier romantic comedies of its era, Sweet Home Alabama is positively brimming with heart. You're on board from the get-go.

How to watch: Sweet Home Alabama is now streaming on Hulu.

12. Crush Credit: Hulu

The most refreshing thing about this queer rom-com is that all the characters are super queer. This isn't a coming-out story about the one queer girl at her high school or the shy lesbian who's secretly crushing on the cool, unattainable straight girl — relatable, yes, but we’ve done it. Crush follows a playful (if predictable) love triangle in which very-out Paige (Rowan Blanchard) desperately tries to lock down her longtime crush Gabriella (Isabella Ferreira), the popular girl (guess what, she's queer!), while drumming up a sweet connection with Gabi's twin sister (Auli'i Cravalho), an introverted bi skater-girl type. The flirting is a little elementary at times, but the short-and-sweet Crush excels at showing young queer people being themselves and getting a sappy love story to call their own.* — Oliver Whitney, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Crush is now streaming on Hulu.

13. (500) Days of Summer 

Sometime in the 2000s, romantic comedies stopped trying to be funny and started trying to say something meaningful, none more overtly so than (500) Days of Summer. This indie darling breaks from rom-com formula to tell a nonlinear story of a relationship coming together and falling apart. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's sincerity is palpable, and Zooey Deschanel, as the object of his affection, is a quirky girl so quirky she single-handedly ushered in a new era of messy bangs for millions of women everywhere. With unexpected touches of surrealism and a stellar supporting cast, (500) Days of Summer is a love story that hits you right in the gut.

How to watch: (500) Days of Summer is now streaming on Hulu.

14. How Stella Got Her Groove Back

As promised in the title, this is a movie about a woman named Stella (Angela Bassett) getting her groove back. A single mother in a relationship desert, Stella takes a trip to Jamaica to break out of her rut. There, she luxuriates in the scenic views of the tropical island, as well as the scenic views of a young, hot Taye Diggs. Based on the Terry McMillan novel, How Stella Got Her Groove Back is a warm, breezy story about how hard it can be to make space for love. 

How to watch: How Stella Got Her Groove Back is now streaming on Hulu.

SEE ALSO: The best short-ass movies on Hulu for when you need a short and epic watch 15. Dinner in America

How this punk rock romance went so underseen when it got released in 2022, I'll never fathom. I can only chalk it up to the inexplicable two years that passed between its Sundance premiere and it hitting theaters, because it's so much fun and full of energy and beautifully performed by its leads (Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs) that it deserved far more attention. But now we can all give it that attention together by watching it here on Hulu. 

Skeggs plays a very odd college dropout who's obsessed with a local punk rock band; Gallner is the lead singer of said band, but given he wears a mask onstage, nobody knows that fact except him. The two meet cute (i.e. he's on the run from the police while selling drugs) and yadda yadda romance. The yadda yadda is the good part. And the good part is how Skeggs and Gallner have oodles of chemistry and are an absolute pleasure to watch fall for one another. A true underappreciated gem just sitting here waiting for you to appreciate it.* — Jason Adams, Freelance Entertainment Writer

How to watch: Dinner in America is now streaming on Hulu.

16. You've Got Mail Credit: Warner Bros / Kobal / Shutterstock

Meg Ryan is Kathleen, the owner of an independent bookstore on the Upper West Side who is in the early stages of an email romance with someone she met in an AOL chat room (Gotta love the '90s!). Tom Hanks is Joe Fox of Fox Books, the book store franchise trying to run Kathleen's bookstore out of business. Joe is also in the early stages of an email romance with someone he met in an AOL chat room. There's no way these two enemies could be secretly falling in love with each other, right?!

A remake of Frank Lubitsch's hugely popular 1940 hit, The Shop Around the Corner, 1998's You've Got Mail is what romantic comedy dreams are made of. The two leads, and the writer/director Nora Ephron, are veritable rom-com royalty — which is why You've Got Mail is still so cozy, so universally loved, almost 30 years after it was released. 

How to watch: You've Got Mail is now streaming on Hulu.

17. Which Brings Me to You

Will and Jane meet at a wedding and are about to have a drunken hookup when Will stops and insists they share numbers instead. Over the course of the film, Will and Jane tell each other their heartbreak stories, the long histories of exes which brought them to meeting each other. Based on the Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott novel of the same name, Which Brings Me to You turns the love story genre on its head. We get to meet these characters through their past relationships, not the new and shiny one in front of them. While not much else about this movie will surprise you, the ease of its two leads (Lucy Hale and Nat Wolff) and the simple, engaging setup makes this a perfectly pleasant romance that requires very little critical thinking.

How to watch: Which Brings Me to You is now streaming on Hulu.

18. What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Written by Jemima Khan and directed by Shekhar Kapur, What’s Love Got to Do with It? is a touching British romantic comedy-drama about modern arranged marriages. Zoe (Lily James), a documentary filmmaker, decides to record the process of her childhood friend Kaz (Shazad Latif) embarking on an assisted marriage facilitated by his Pakistani family and community. As the wedding day approaches, Zoe has more and more trouble accepting why Kaz would marry someone he doesn’t know, while Kaz finds himself having difficulty reconciling his responsibility to his family with his own deeper feelings. 

Captivating, compassionate, and substantial, What’s Love Got to Do with It? is a truly lovely watch. Most of the comedy here comes from Emma Thompson’s performance as Zoe’s delightfully daffy mother, which is almost worth the watch alone.

How to watch: What’s Love Got to Do with It? is now streaming on Hulu.

19. 27 Dresses

Sometimes you don’t really want to think while you’re watching a movie. You want to let a wave of genre tropes wash over you, mindless, depth-less, free. For these moments, 27 Dresses is the movie for you. Jane (Katherine Heigl) is a hopeless romantic who has been a bridesmaid a whopping 27 times. Kevin (James Marsden) is a cynical newspaper reporter who doesn’t really understand the appeal of marriage. Do you think these two will find a way to cross the ideological divide between them while he writes a piece about her bridesmaid record? Oh you bet they will, and they’ll sing a little Elton John along the way. 

Written by Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada; Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), 27 Dresses has everything you want from a romantic comedy: charismatic leads, a bubbly tone, and Judy Greer as the BFF. 

How to watch: 27 Dresses is now streaming on Hulu.

20. Rye Lane Credit: Searchlight Pictures

Among the most winsome movies of Sundance 2023 is this South London-set romantic comedy. Directed by Raine Allen Miller, Rye Lane stars David Jonsson (Industry) and Vivian Oparah (Class) as heartbroken twentysomethings who fatefully cross paths and might just tumble into new love. A humbling beginning with a bathroom meet-not-so-cute swiftly spins into a happenstance first date full of fun, banter, surprises, and a wee bit of breaking and entering. (Hey, breakups get messy.)

SEE ALSO: 'Rye Lane' takes cues from an unlikely source: 'Peep Show'

Painted in saturated colors, paced like a dance party, and brought to life by a kinetic ensemble cast, Rye Lane is a pure pleasure to watch. But it's Jonsson and Oparah, with their killer comedic timing and off-the-charts chemistry, that make this movie soar.* — K.P.

How to watch: Rye Lane is now streaming on Hulu.

21. There's Something About Mary

If you prefer your romantic comedies with a helping of gross-out humor, There's Something About Mary is the male-led rom-com for you. Directed by the Farrelly Brothers (Dumb and Dumber; Me, Myself & Irene), There's Something About Mary follows Ted (Ben Stiller) as he tries to woo the hot girl from his high school, Mary, more than a decade after they graduated. Unfortunately for Ted, he's not the only one trying to win Mary's heart. 

Since it was made to be crude in 1998, some of the humor feels hugely inappropriate today — but that has always been the appeal of this movie. There's Something About Mary was marrying crass jokes and genuine emotional beats long before Knocked Up was a glint in Judd Apatow's eye. 

How to watch: There's Something about Mary is now streaming on Hulu.

22. Crazy Stupid Love

Crazy Stupid Love follows multiple interweaving storylines, all looking at love and relationships from different angles. First, is Cal (Steve Carrell), a newly separated father seeking dating advice from womanizer Jacob (Ryan Gosling). Jacob, meanwhile, is finding most of his normal tricks don’t work on Hannah (Emma Stone), an ambitious law school graduate. At the same time, Cal’s 13-year-old son is nursing a serious crush on his babysitter Jessica (Lio Tipton), who herself is in love with Cal. It’s a spider’s web of longing, confusing for its victims, but captivating for its audience. 

How to watch: Crazy Stupid Love is now streaming on Hulu.

23. Happiest Season Credit: Hulu / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis star in this sapphic rom-com co-written and directed by Clea DuVall. But rather than it being a charming tale of falling in love, this is a rocking Christmas-set comedy about the drama of meeting the parents. When metropolitan Abby (Stewart) accompanies her girlfriend Harper (Davis) home for the holidays, she not only meets kooky family members and a smoking hot ex (Aubrey Plaza), but also discovers her lover is closeted. Can this couple have a happy holiday under these conditions? Hijinks, drag queens, and Dan Levy will ensue. — K.P.

How to watch: Happiest Season is now streaming on Hulu.

24. My Big Fat Greek Wedding

30-year-old Toula (Nia Vardalos) strikes up a relationship with charming teacher Ian (John Corbett), and eventually, he proposes! The only problem? Her family is Greek! And while that's not actually a problem, it is for this movie. Her numerous overbearing relatives insert themselves immediately into every aspect of her relationship and wedding planning, threatening to smother the happy couple into a broken-up one. 

Silly and bursting with love, My Big Fat Greek Family warmly pokes fun at the immigrant experience, with Toula's outrageous family members smoking lamb on their front lawn and curing their ailments with Windex. By today's standards, the "OMG they're so different" humor can feel a little outdated, but the knowledge that this movie was written by Vardalos herself, based on her own family and affectionately teasing her own community, ensures this hugely successful independent film is nothing but a winner, through and through. 

How to watch: My Big Fat Greek Wedding is now streaming on Hulu.

UPDATE: Feb. 10, 2025, 5:31 p.m. EST This post has been updated to reflect the current selection available on Hulu.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Get Deal