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For years, Google’s Pixel A-series line has been one of the best deals in smartphone-land. As long as you can tolerate (or hell, even prefer) Android to iOS, these are generally the best phones that can be had for $500.
That hasn’t changed with the new Pixel 9a, but the market landscape has...somewhat. Apple recently introduced its version of a budget phone with the iPhone 16e, a $599 device that offers something close to the Pixel A-series experience, but on iOS. However, if you’re not enamored with the Apple ecosystem and need a good mid-range phone with flagship features, the Pixel 9a is still the champ in that regard.
I don’t love the Pixel 9a’s new design all that much, but that’s small potatoes compared to its good battery life, solid everyday performance, and feature parity with the comparatively more expensive Pixel 9, which didn't quite justify its $799 price tag for me.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 16e review: Battery life king Google Pixel 9a: Impressive specs, generic design The new design doesn't do much for me. Credit: Joe Maldonado/MashableFor a starting price of $499, here’s what you get inside the Pixel 9a:
Display: 6.3-inch display
Resolution: 1080x2424 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate
Processor: Google Tensor G4 processor
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB storage
Battery: 5,100mAh battery (24-30 hours in our testing)
Google’s entire gimmick with the A-series Pixel phones is that each one is very close in specs to the previous fall’s flagship Pixel phone, and that’s no different here. The Pixel 9a has the exact same display specs as the Pixel 9, the same processor, and the same starting storage. You’re getting less RAM here (8GB compared to 12GB), but as a trade-off, you’re also getting a bigger battery. The Pixel 9’s measured in at 4,700mAh.
You can also pay an extra $100 to get 256GB storage, but that’s the only variance here.
We’ll get into the practical, everyday differences afforded by those specs in a minute, but the biggest difference between the two phones by far is how they look. The Pixel 9 had the same horizontal camera bar that sat atop the center of the phone’s backside as several other Pixel models before it. That, to me, was sort of an iconic look for the Pixel series, which doesn't really have any other unique visual signifiers.
Google dropped that entirely with Pixel 9a. Instead, the two rear camera lenses live in a slightly raised little oval-shaped housing on the left-top side of the phone’s back. Put simply, it looks very generic. It looks like a prop phone in a movie where they don’t want to do any product placement. I don’t think it looks bad, mind you, but Google took something that was immediately visually identifiable as a Pixel and turned it into something that, from a distance, just looks like any other generic phone.
That said, it does feel nice in the hands and is just about the right size for me. I also love the color selections this time around: Peony, Iris, Porcelain, and Obsidian. I had the Peony model for review purposes, and it looks just lovely, though not quite as lovely as my pink iPhone 16.
Google Pixel 9a: A flagship display The display is still solid, but unchanged from the Pixel 9. Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableThere isn’t a lot to say about the Pixel 9a’s display as compared to the Pixel 9’s because they’re exactly the same. However, compared to the iPhone 16e, there’s one major difference worth noting.
Specifically, Google’s cheaper handset offers a substantially higher refresh rate than Apple’s budget phone. You get up to 120Hz performance on Pixel 9a, while the iPhone 16e is still inexplicably locked to 60Hz. I don’t really understand why Apple is so behind the times on this, locking 120Hz support to its Pro phones only, but that’s still unfortunately the reality we live in.
On its own merits, though, the Pixel 9a’s display didn’t give me anything to complain about. 6.3-inches is about as big as I want a phone to be without it feeling too tall in the hands, and its 2,700 nits of peak brightness more than do the job on a bright, sunny day in Brooklyn.
Google Pixel 9a: Rock-solid performance Get charged up. Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashablePixel 9a is powered by the exact same Google Tensor G4 chip as the Pixel 9. At a certain point, you begin to wonder why the Pixel 9 exists at all. Fortunately, this isn't a review of the now-overpriced Pixel 9.
Anyway, I found no performance hiccups to speak of during my time with Pixel 9a. Setup is a breeze, as always, and apps load as quickly as can be expected during daily use. Multitasking doesn’t seem to slow it down much at all, either. The only thing I would note is that I found the Pixel 9a to get a little warm while watching YouTube videos. Granted, I was using it without a case, so that might mitigate this issue. But just be warned that, if you decide to go caseless, you might feel a tiny bit of heat after prolonged use.
On the metrics side, Pixel 9a doesn’t finish as an elite contender, but it’s also a $500 phone, so it doesn’t need to. Its multi-core score in the Geekbench 6 benchmarking software is 4,229, which is very close to the Pixel 9’s score of 4,358. That’s obviously not even close to the 10,049 you’d get from a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but that’s a flagship phone, and this isn’t.
The point is that Pixel phones sometimes have underwhelming benchmark scores compared to the competition, but the actual everyday performance is totally fine. I didn’t even notice the reduction in RAM from 12GB to 8GB compared to the Pixel 9 I tested.
The Pixel 9a comes with Gemini built inPretty much every phone released in 2025 is now described as an AI smartphone, and the Pixel 9a is no exception. It comes equipped with Google Gemini built-in, including access to Gemini Live and Circle to Search. These are the same AI features that graced the Pixel 9 lineup last year. None of these features has been substantially upgraded in any way, but they're at least there if you want them. Personally, I find these AI tools quite gimmicky, but if you're interested in AI bells and whistles, this phone's got 'em.
At the very least, it’s another notch in the, “Why even buy a Pixel 9?” argument.
Google Pixel 9a: 24 hours of battery life It stays alive for a long time. Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableThe Pixel 9a’s 5,100mAh battery is bigger than the 4,700mAh cell in the Pixel 9, but let's be real: those numbers don’t mean much of anything to the average person.
I tested both phones with Mashable's standard mobile battery-testing protocol: running videos on loop at 50 percent brightness until they died. When I did this for the Pixel 9 last year, it petered out after 19 hours and 20 minutes. The Pixel 9a, however, was able to last 24 hours and 24 minutes under the same conditions.
That’s a pretty big gap, and the takeaway is that this smartphone lasts a long time for a $500 phone. General use bears this out, too, as I was able to go roughly 24 hours between charges in everyday circumstances, too. Google rates it for 30 hours, which I could see being achievable if you turned off 120Hz mode, but then you’d be giving up one of the big advantages the Pixel 9a has over most iPhone models, so why would you do that?
Google Pixel 9a: How good are the cameras?I would say the biggest discrepancy between Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a exists in the camera array, which is to be expected. Budget phones rarely have amazing cameras, but for what it’s worth, I think the Pixel 9a does just fine for the price.
You get a 48MP main lens and a 13MP ultra-wide lens on the back, which pale in comparison to the 50MP/48MP equivalents on Pixel 9. The front-facing camera’s 13MP spec is a little bigger than the 10.5MP selfie cam on Pixel 9, at least. Still, if you want better specs, you’re going to want to get a Pixel 9. That much is certain.
Still, the Pixel 9a can take some very vivid, sharp, and colorful shots in its own right.
The Pixel 9a does this graffiti justice. Credit: Alex Perry / MashableOne reason the 9a takes such a big step up from the Pixel 8a? The addition of Macro Focus, which lets you get in real close on small objects like budding flowers and capture granular amounts of detail. I don't love the lack of a clear visual sign that Macro Focus is in effect while using the camera app, but you can see which photos use it in your gallery afterward. It works pretty well!
Macro Focus is a nice addition. Credit: Alex Perry / MashableThis isn't anything new for Google, but as always, Night Sight is a godsend in low-light conditions. My backyard is impossible to shoot in at night without it. See the before and after for yourself:
Grill without night sight This is without any software assistance. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable Grill with Night Sight This is with software assistance. Credit: Alex Perry / MashableUnsurprisingly, you only get up to 8x zoom in Pixel 9a, which is the same as Pixel 9. It's definitely not the incredible 30x zoom you'd find in a Pixel 9 Pro, but it'll do.
Church, no zoom No zoom. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable Pixel 9a, 8x zoom Full zoom. Credit: Alex Perry / MashableLastly, portrait mode still looks nice. Not much else to say about it.
Bokeh for days. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable So, is the Google Pixel 9a worth it?Android lovers who just want a mostly clean version of the OS with a full feature set and good battery life probably don’t need to look anywhere else. For now, the Pixel 9a is the budget smartphone to beat in 2025.
This conversation is made slightly more interesting by the recent addition of the iPhone 16e, but the Pixel 9a’s display superiority alone kinda settles the argument in my mind, even as a devoted iPhone guy. Aside from that, this is basically just a cheaper Pixel 9 that doesn’t look quite as cool.
For just $500, though, you’re not trying to make a fashion statement. You’re trying to get a quality phone with a decent camera, and the Pixel 9a accomplishes that.
Opens in a new window Credit: Google Pixel 9a $499 at Google StoreSAVE $7.99: As of April 26, the Anker Soundcore V20i open earbuds are marked down to just $31.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 20%, but it's only available until April 28.
Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Anker Soundcore V20i open earbuds $31.99 at AmazonIf you need an affordable new pair of wireless earbuds, but also value situational awareness, this deal might be for you. They may not be the swankiest new AirPods Pro, but Anker's Soundcore V20i headphones are substantially cheaper on Amazon right now, and may just be what you're looking for out of a pair of wireless earbuds. They're available on Amazon for 20 percent off right now, but only until April 28. Look for an on-page coupon that knocks 20% off the price.
In our guide to the best cheap wireless earbuds, two Anker Soundcore products made the list, and the V20i headphones are a top contender for 2025 (they're also very popular among Mashable readers).
Featuring 16mm drivers to deliver big sound in a small body, the V20i wireless earbuds also have adjustable ear hooks for maximum comfort. They can be worn in different positions and allow for greater awareness of your surroundings due to an open-ear design. In other words, they don't have active noise cancellation of any kind, but that's the point. You can wear these, enjoy your music and podcasts, and pay attention to the world around you at the same time.
Aside from that, they come with multiple microphones so you can make phone calls, and even customizable lights for a little stylistic flair. Anker also promises 36 hours of playtime, if you include the charges in the charging case.
Again, head to Amazon to pick up the Anker Soundcore V20i open earbuds for 20% off the usual price. You'll need to "clip" the 20% on-page coupon to save, and you'll see the discounted price when you check out.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump unveiled a new line of presidential swag, including a bright red cap emblazoned with the words "Trump 2028." Pundits and journalists honed in on the new swag immediately, as the president and his allies have previously alluded to poking at presidential term limits. In March, Trump said he was "not joking" about a third term, citing unspecified "methods" for winning another term in the White House.
The hat, dropped unceremoniously on the Trump Organization's official store with the description "break the rules," runs for a whopping $50, which doesn't include the cost of the potential constitutional crisis it opens up.
SEE ALSO: Slate's $20K made-in-America electric truck is the opposite of a CybertruckAmericans are well aware of Trump's touted business acumen, but some might know that the now iconic red baseball cap is simply the tip of a vast merchandising iceberg, with the official Trump store a veritable treasure trove of questionably branded objects.
Presidential merch is extremely common and there are items that make sense for the Trump brand, given its longstanding place in the world of hospitality — pickleball paddles and golf accessories, for example, and the Trump Organization's Mar-a-Lago line, which includes unsurprising array of resort logo robes and slippers.
But then there's some truly fascinating listings (among, let's be clear, hundreds of products). Fine jewelry featuring presidential motifs? Or maybe a Trump candle is more your vibe? Mother's Day creeping up on you and still giftless? Visit the Trump store's Mother's Day gift guide (maybe mom would appreciate MAGA stud earrings?).
If you have a few spare minutes (read: an entire afternoon) to scroll through every listing, don't! We've picked out some highlights below.
Trump sweets Credit: TrumpStoreMovie night lovers and candy aficionados can stock up by shopping the Trump Sweets line, which definitely don't appear to be the same wholesale repackaged candy that TikTok creators peddle to millions on livestreams everyday.
Trump brand coffee Credit: TrumpStoreWhen I slither out of bed in the morning, dreading my daily news scroll, nothing can help me wake up quicker than a mug of Trump-branded gold roast coffee, made in America at the Albemarle Estate at Trump Winery. "Locally sourced java for Big Thinking."
Trump EarPods Credit: TrumpStore"Add a touch of luxury" to your daily music listening, reads the product listing for these golden Trump earbuds that cost only $35. The specs? Fast pairing, rechargeable, 2-3 hours of music and talk, Trump logo.
Trump USB drive Credit: TrumpStoreIf I'm looking to store some precious family photos or international war plans, I am definitely NOT going to upload them to a cloud service or an encrypted messaging app full of investigative journalists. Instead, I will store them on my trusty gold bar Trump USB drive!
'USA bear' clothing line and plushies Credit: TrumpStoreThe official store boasts dozens upon dozens of pieces of attire, including official MAGA merch lines, Mar-a-Lago swag, and other America-themed outfits. And I would be remiss to leave out the store's only exclusive designer collection: Lara Trump's own line of athleisure wear.
However, it's the "USA Bear" line that really stands out. Who can afford a real Ralph Lauren bear crewneck in this economy? Give me USA Bear any day.
Trump flag wrapping paper Credit: TrumpStoreAmerican flags aren't just for the Fourth of July people! They work great for birthdays, anniversaries, and even Christmas gifts, as is proven by the stunning pattern on Trump's own presidential wrapping paper.
Trump beach set Credit: TrumpStoreFamilies will be flocking to the beach and setting up lakeside this spring and summer, especially as our planet is increasingly warmed by our ongoing climate crisis. A classic sand bucket and beach ball, sporting the all-caps Trump marquee, would be the perfect addition.
Trump skincare Credit: TrumpStoreA little self care never hurt anyone. So throw on your Trump rose chemise slip, light up your Trump incense, and indulge in the Trump store's polish and plump skincare offering from brand HydroPeptide, strangely, one of the only third-party products on the site.
It's okay, though, the store has a Trump (ignore the EOS resemblance) brand lip balm.
Scientists have found an unusual neon glow near the center of the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy for the first time.
This gas needs an enormous amount of energy to shine — more than normal stars can supply. The discovery, based on data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, likely means the barred spiral galaxy, sometimes called Messier 83 or M83, has been harboring an active, supermassive black hole in secret.
The new research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, upends prior thinking about the galaxy. Previously, it was assumed that if there were a hole in its heart, it would be dormant and certainly not shooting out high-energy radiation.
"Before Webb, we simply did not have the tools to detect such faint and highly ionized gas signatures in M83's nucleus," said Svea Hernandez, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, in a statement. "We are finally able to explore these hidden depths of the galaxy and uncover what was once invisible."
SEE ALSO: These scientists think alien life best explains what Webb just found Dust and gas obscure the view to extremely distant and inherently dim light sources, but infrared waves can pierce through the clouds. Credit: NASA GSFC / CIL / Adriana Manrique Gutierrez illustrationBlack holes are some of the most inscrutable phenomena in outer space. About 50 years ago, they were little more than a theory — a kooky mathematical answer to a physics problem. Even astronomers at the top of their field weren't entirely convinced they existed. Today, not only are black holes accepted science, they're getting their pictures taken by a collection of enormous, synced-up radio dishes on Earth.
Unlike a planet or star, black holes don't have surfaces. Instead, they have a boundary called an "event horizon," or a point of no return. If anything swoops too close, it will fall in, never to escape the hole's gravitational clutch.
The most common kind, called a stellar black hole, is thought to be the result of an enormous star dying in a supernova explosion. The star's material then collapses onto itself, condensing into a relatively tiny area.
But how supermassive black holes, millions to billions of times more massive than the sun, form is even more elusive than typical stellar black holes. Many astrophysicists and cosmologists believe these invisible giants lurk at the center of virtually all galaxies. Recent Hubble Space Telescope observations have bolstered the theory that supermassive black holes begin in the dusty cores of starburst galaxies, where new stars are rapidly assembled, but scientists are still teasing it out.
The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy — about 15 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra — is one such starburst galaxy. It has baffled scientists for decades as they struggled fruitlessly to find signs of a black hole at its center.
Webb, a collaboration with the European and Canadian space agencies, was mainly designed to study the early universe, star formation, and distant galaxies. But its extreme sensitivity to infrared light, invisible to peoples' eyes, gave it the power to find clues that other telescopes couldn't, said Linda Smith, a co-author on the paper.
Infrared light can shine through dust, which often blocks other forms of light. This gives Webb an advantage in studying cloudy areas where stars are forming or giant black holes might be active.
Though the detected signals strongly suggest the presence of a black hole, the team is considering other possible sources, such as powerful shock waves moving through space or inordinately massive stars. The researchers plan to follow up their observations with other telescopes to look at the galaxy in different ways.
"Now we have fresh evidence that challenges past assumptions," Smith said.
From the moment I laid eyes on the baby Ochi in The Legend of Ochi's first trailer, I knew I had a new fantasy film creature to obsess over.
SEE ALSO: 'The Legend of Ochi' review: This beautifully crafted fantasy adventure will make you feel like a kid againThe baby Ochi love didn't just start with his physical appearance, although he is unfathomably adorable: golden fur, small blue face, elongated ears, and precious eyes you could just get lost in. Instead, I was also struck by the filmmaking techniques used to make the Ochi a reality. The adult Ochi were portrayed by performers in suits, while the baby Ochi came to life through a combination of animatronics and puppetry. The result is both tactile and otherworldly, like a real creature caught just out of time.
The Legend of Ochi draws inspiration from real animals. Isaiah Saxon directs the mother Ochi. Credit: A24For director Isaiah Saxon, who makes his feature debut with The Legend of Ochi, that realism was key to developing the Ochi's look. "The intention behind the design of the Ochi was that a kid or even an adult could believe or maybe misunderstand these animals as being a real species that they just hadn't seen the BBC nature documentary on yet," Saxon told Mashable over Zoom
Saxon turned to real-life animals as opposed to other film creatures for inspiration. Chief among them was the Chinese golden snub-nosed monkey, as well as lemurs and tarsiers.
"The hope was that [the Ochi] felt like a real, undiscovered primate," Saxon said.
SEE ALSO: The unicorns in 'Death of a Unicorn' are total 'movie magic'To capture that primate feel, The Legend of Ochi creative supervisor John Nolan, who has worked on animatronics for the Harry Potter and Jurassic World franchises, suggested Saxon bring in primate expert performer Peter Elliott to consult on the Ochi's movement. Elliott, who has played apes in films including Gorillas in the Mist and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, started by leading a half-day "ape out" for puppeteers to understand how to move like primates. His work proved especially vital for the shaping of the adult Ochi's movement, as they have a similar heft and strength to gorillas.
Baby Ochi carries some of that type of ape-like movement, but there's more baby-like wriggling and uncertainty to him, too. "Baby Ochi is still figuring out his body," Saxon said. "He's a lanky little guy."
Baby Ochi is a result of masterful puppetry. Helena Zengel and the Baby Ochi puppeteers. Credit: A24The mastermind behind Baby Ochi's movement is lead puppeteer Robert Tygner, who helmed the team of puppeteers controlling the baby Ochi puppet (four controlling the body and two controlling the animatronic face), and whom Saxon describes as the "quarterback and choreographer" of Baby Ochi.
During filming, Tygner would call out emotions and reactions for the baby Ochi puppet. Three were used during shooting: a principal puppet, a stunt puppet, and a backpack puppet for the scenes the Ochi spends riding on Yuri's (Helena Zengel) back.
"It felt almost like you [were] the internal monologue of the baby Ochi," Saxon told Tygner on a joint Zoom call.
Tygner's credits include 1986's Labyrinth, 1990's The Witches, and 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, all of which fit into a tradition of puppetry and animatronics that The Legend of Ochi carries on. (Tygner isn't the only Labyrinth alum on the film: Labyrinth hair and fur specialist Vicky Stockwell also worked on the Ochi's fur.)
"A lot of the legends are around," Saxon said.
"We're still here!" Tygner added.
That these legendary craftspeople who worked on projects that inspired The Legend of Ochi ended up working on the film itself was a gift to Saxon.
SEE ALSO: Watch the incredible puppets from A24's 'The Legend of Ochi' in action"The greatest privilege of the whole project is when you get the best people in the world at their craft, just give them a spotlight and let them cook," Saxon said. "I feel the same way about Robert as I do about Willem Dafoe [who plays Maxim in The Legend of Ochi]."
For Tygner, The Legend of Ochi is both a continuation of great practical filmmaking, as well as proof of how technology has shifted on-screen puppeteering.
"When we were doing Labyrinth, there weren't any computers around," Tygner told Mashable over Zoom. "Nothing could be digitally removed. Everything had to be done in camera, so a puppeteer is always at the end of that puppet, and they had to be out of shot. Now with the advent of digital technology, the puppeteer can be in shot and then be digitally removed."
Other changes in puppeteering in the decades between The Legend of Ochi and Labyrinth include new materials — older puppets used latex foam, whereas silicon is more common now — and improved animatronics. Look no further than Baby Ochi for proof.
"Baby Ochi is a marvel of miniaturization because the actual animatronics that are inside that head are the size of a grapefruit," Saxon said. "It you peel back that skin, it's so dense with gears and servos and little wires that it makes your head spin looking at it."
The Legend of Ochi celebrates the magic of practical effects. Helena Zengel in "The Legend of Ochi." Credit: A24To perfect Baby Ochi's movement, Tygner and his puppeteers underwent an extensive rehearsal period, breaking down every scene beat by beat to figure out the creature's emotion. Before heading to Romania for the actual film shoot, The Legend of Ochi team also recreated cardboard and duct tape replicas of every set so that the puppeteers could practice operating the puppets within the exact dimensions needed.
"That's a benchmark for me now," Tygner told Saxon.
The Legend of Ochi budget was $10 million, with a $1 million creature budget, and after years of development — Baby Ochi prototype development began in 2018 — the results are spectacular. Like the movie as a whole, Baby Ochi's existence is a celebration of puppetry and practical effects.
"It's fun to build stuff and do real things," Saxon said of The Legend of Ochi's reliance on practical effects. "But it also has this benefit: When you see something and you know it's practical because there are imperfections, but you can't fathom how it exists, you ask, 'How could it be real? How did they do this?'"
He continued: "There's so many techniques happening. We're shooting on location with matte paintings, with a puppet, with suit performers, mixing it with real actors. Hopefully the brain can just surrender and say, 'I don't know how they're doing this. This is magical.'"
NOTE: HIGHLIGHTED ENTRIES HAVE BEEN EDITED AND FACT CHECKED
This year's cinema has started off strong thanks to "genre-fluid" crowdpleasers like Ryan Coogler's Sinners and Bong Joon Ho's Mickey 17. But summer is fast approaching, and with it studios will be dropping their splashiest, star-studded, spectacle-packed movies for us to eat up like so much buttery popcorn.
Summer 2025 will be bringing the heat. Not only will theaters get new superhero cinema like Thunderbolts*, Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Superman, but we'll also see sequels to A Simple Favor, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, Fear Street, The Naked Gun, M3GAN, and 28 Weeks Later. Plus, fresh films are coming from Nicolas Cage, Paul Rudd, Kerry Washington, Wes Anderson, Keanu Reeves, Ari Aster, Tom Hiddleston, Al Pacino, and Pedro Pascal.
Between theatrical releases and streaming debuts, it's a lot to take in! But fear not, film lover. We got you covered.
Below are highlights from 2025's summer movie schedule, listed chronologically by release. You'll know what's coming, how to watch it, and which stars are lighting up every single one.
MayAnother Simple FavorLeading ladies Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reunite with director Paul Feig to serve up a splashy sequel to the funny thriller A Simple Favor. Set five years after the first film, Another Simple Favor reveals single mom Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) has gone from vlogging to true crime memoirist, but her book tour gets a major boost when her near-fatal frenemy Emily Nelson (Lively) is sprung from prison and bound to be wed in Capri. Naturally, this femme fatale wants her former bestie to be her maid of honor. What could go wrong?
In Mashable's SXSW review of Another Simple Favor, I cheered the zany premise and all the wild twists it brings. "Like Emily Nelson, Another Simple Favor is a shapeshifting creature, transforming in tone moment to moment to revel in biting humor, relish in mob drama, plunge into the delicious depths of mad women in the psycho-biddy subgenre, and showcase fashion, telling, sensational, and shocking." It mostly works, and it's undoubtedly a good time. So raise a martini glass, and cheers to the bride! — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Elena Sofia Ricci, Alex Newell, Henry Golding, and Allison Janney
How to watch: Another Simple Favor debuts on Prime Video on May 1.
The SurferNicolas Cage wages war on hostile Australian surfers who thieved his board in The Surfer, a film that's as much about riding the waves as it is about unprocessed grief and toxic masculinity. Directed by Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium) and written by Thomas Martin, this psychological thriller and coastal Western is set in the fictional beach suburb of Luna Bay. As the titular boardrider, Cage plays a man essentially trapped in a carpark of his own making, slowly melting into the actor's signature brand of unhinged rage as he attempts to retrieve his property. But he'll have to go through the gang's beach-poncho-clad leader, Scally, played to chilling perfection by Julian McMahon.
As I wrote in my review for the film, "Everything about The Surfer's one-line pitch sounds ridiculous (Nicolas Cage versus mean Australian surfers), but the film itself is a haunting set piece about localism, repressed memory, and toxic masculinity, boasting the wild ride we've come to associate with Cage. It's as far from a wipeout as you can get." — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julian McMahon, Nic Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand, and Justin Rosniak
How to watch: The Surfer opens in theaters on May 2.
Thunderbolts*What superhero fatigue? The MCU is back again with its 36th installment, Thunderbolts*, which is sort of the Marvel version of Suicide Squad, boasting a star-stuffed cast playing chaotic antiheroes.
United by CIA director Valentina de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), misfits like Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) take on an even bigger Big Bad. But don't expect them to be all noble about it. They're more about the snarking and the smoldering. Lucky us.* — K.P.
Starring: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen, Rachel Weisz, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman, David Harbour, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus
How to watch: Thunderbolts* opens in theaters May 2.
Fight or FlightWe're absolutely loving Josh Hartnett's repossession of his thriller faculties, with unsettling runs in Black Mirror, M. Night Shyamalan's Trap, and now, in lighter thrills mode, James Madigan's Fight or Flight. In the action film penned by Brooks McLaren and D. J. Cotrona, a bleach-blonde Hartnett plays Lucas Reyes, a man on a mission to track down a black hat hacker known as "The Ghost." Problem is, the target has a worldwide bounty on their head, and the plane they're suspected of being on is now full of contract killers eager for the gold — including Lucas. So, amid the plane bathroom punch-ups, he might need a little help from Bridgerton's Charithra Chandran as flight attendant Isha. — S.C.
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Charithra Chandran, Marko Zaror, and Katee Sackhoff
How to watch: Fight or Flight opens in theaters on May 9.
FriendshipMale bonding rises and falls at speed in Andrew DeYoung's Friendship, a nightmare of fickle connection between comedy kings Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave) and Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building). The A24 film focuses on Craig Waterman (Robinson), a socially awkward guy whose wife Tami (Kate Mara) encourages him to befriend his charismatic neighbour Austin Carmichael (Rudd), who seems to be absolutely surrounded by male pals. When Austin suddenly bins their friendship, Craig's sense of himself is sent into a volatile spin and he's about to demand an explanation incredibly loudly. — S.C.
Starring: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra, and Billy Bryk
How to watch: Friendship opens in limited release on May 9 and nationwide on May 23.
Shadow Force2025 loves a married spies story! First we had Netflix's charming Back in Action, then Steven Soderbergh's sexy thriller Black Bag, then the lackluster Robert Littell adaption The Amateur. Now, Kerry Washington and Omar Sy team up for their own action movie full of fighting and flirting.
Smokin' Aces director Joe Carnahan helms Shadow Force, which centers on a couple who once led a spy unit named... you guessed it, "Shadow Force." But after falling in love and having a son, Kyrah (Washington) and Isaac (Sy) bailed on their super-secretive jobs. And, as Mark Strong snarls in the trailer, there's only one rule in Shadow Force: "No one leaves." Discovered years later, this couple will need to risk their lives to save themselves and their son. Bring on the speedboat battles! — K.P.
Starring: Kerry Washington, Omar Sy, Mark Strong, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Cliff "Method Man" Smith
How to watch: Shadow Force opens in limited release on May 9.
Final Destination: BloodlinesThe Final Destination franchise has cheated death for 25 years, ever since Devon Sawa's Alex and his classmates evaded a fatal plane crash in the original 2000 film. Now, the sixth installment of Jeffrey Reddick's horror series, Final Destination Bloodlines, finds new, creative, horrible ways for people to perish through seemingly accidental circumstances.
Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, the film follows Stefani Lewis (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), a student plagued by visions of her family's horrific deaths from what looks like carelessness. She's not the only one in the family with the gift, as her grandmother Iris (Gabrielle Rose) skipped out on an early exit herself in the past — and she's got the creepy journal Stefani will need to survive. It's notably one of the last cinema roles of late horror legend Tony Todd, reprising his Final Destination recurring character William Bludworth. — S.C.
Starring: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Gabrielle Rose, Brec Bassinger, Teo Briones, Tony Todd, Richard Harmon, Anna Lore, and Owen Joyner
How to watch: Final Destination: Bloodlines opens in theaters on May 16.
Fear Street: Prom QueenLeigh Janiak's superb, deeply referential slasher trilogy Fear Street is getting a spinoff with another foray into R.L. Stine's seminal horror novels. From director and co-writer Matt Palmer, Fear Street: Prom Queen takes us back to the town of Shadyside, this time in 1988, where it looks like someone wants to win the senior prom crown enough to start killing off the competition. — S.C.
Starring: India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazza, David Iacono, Ella Rubin, Chris Klein, Ariana Greenblatt, Lili Taylor, and Katherine Waterston
How to watch: Fear Street: Prom Queen debuts on Netflix on May 23.
Lilo & StitchDisney's live-action remakes continue with Lilo & Stitch, which revisits the beloved story of the unlikely friendship between human Lilo (newcomer Maia Kealoha) and alien Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders, who co-directed and voiced Stitch in the original film).
Now, If you're feeling fatigued from Disney's barrage of live-action films, I don't blame you! But director Dean Fleischer Camp helmed 2022's poignant Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, so I'm cautiously optimistic. Plus, Lilo & Stitch's trailers already look fairly charming, promising alien chaos and the enduring message that "Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis, and Maia Kealoha
How to watch: Lilo & Stitch opens in theaters on May 23.
Mission: Impossible — The Final ReckoningTom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, the sequel to 2023's explosively entertaining Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.
Picking up where the seventh entry left off, this movie will chase Hunt as he seeks the key-like MacGuffin to topple a worrisome AI known as "The Entity." That means facing off against power-hungry foes, putting his loyal team at risk, plunging into a flood submarine, and lots, and lots, and lots of running. What can we say? Mission: Impossible knows what we want.* — K.P.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, Ving Rhames, Pom Klementieff, and Esai Morales
How to watch: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning opens in theaters May 23.
Pee-wee as HimselfCome on in, and pull yourself up a chair — like Chairry! For decades, children and grown-ups alike have relished the wacky antics of Pee-wee Herman. But personal scandals repeatedly threatened to derail the career of Paul Reubens, and taint his artistic legacy. Pee-wee as Himself grapples with all of this over the course of two parts, with help from the late Reubens himself.
Director Matt Wolf had a difficult task ahead of him, not only in condensing Reubens' rich life and complicated tabloid notoriety into two feature-length films, but also with Reubens himself. From the movie's opening frames, the star pushes for control of his narrative, and that battle informs much of this deeply moving and thought-provoking doc.
Out of the film's debut at Sundance 2025, I raved in my review for Mashable, "Pee-wee as Himself is not a simple love letter to the iconic character or Reubens. That would suggest Wolf goes easy on either, fawning over them without reservation. This is something greater." — K.P.
Starring: Paul Reubens, Lynne Marie Stewart, Laurence Fishburne, Allison Berry, Debi Mazar, and David Arquette
How to watch: Pee-wee as Himself: Part One debuts May 23 at 8:00-9:40 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max. Part Two will follows at 9:40-11:20 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max.
Karate Kid: LegendsThe original Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio, returns as Daniel LaRusso in Karate Kid: Legends. This, the sixth film in the martial arts franchise, brings together the stories of Karate Kid 1 to 3, plus the 2010 reboot, which starred Jackie Chan as a Mr. Miyagi-like mentor named Mr. Han.
In Karate Kid: Legends, Daniel and Mr. Han team up to train a new prodigy named Li Fong (American Born Chinese's Ben Wang), hoping to give him a path to a bright future. "Li means to me what you meant to Sensei Miyagi," Han tells Daniel (aka Sensei LaRusso). Together, they'll build more than a legend, they'll build a family. — K.P.
Starring: Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Ming-Na Wen, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, and Ralph Macchio
How to watch: Karate Kid: Legends opens in theaters May 30.
Bring Her BackIn 2023, YouTubers and brothers Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou made their directorial debut with the haunting horror film Talk to Me. Now they're back with a fresh vision of terror: Bring Her Back.
Sally Hawkins stars as a foster mom who takes in a brother and sister — they need a home but find a slice of hell on Earth instead. Based on the first trailer, we can't be sure what is going on between all the blood, talk of angels, and strange ritualistic behavior. But we're champing at the bit to see what the Philippou brothers do next. — K.P.
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, and Sally-Anne Upton
How to watch: Bring Her Back opens in theaters on May 30.
The Phoenician SchemeWes Anderson returns with a new film, stocked with visual splendor and a star-studded cast.
Co-written by Anderson and Roman Coppola, The Phoenician Scheme stars Benicio del Toro as a scheming businessman who is bringing his novitiate daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton) into the family business. As he exposes her to his complicated Phoenician Scheme, this confounding father-daughter duo will cross paths with eccentric titans of industry, sloppy assassins, a mild-mannered tutor, and a lot of hand grenades. Basically, if you ever wondered what a Wes Anderson espionage movie looks like, you're closer than you've ever been before! And isn't that thrilling? — K.P.
Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Imad Mardnli, and Benedict Cumberbatch
How to watch: The Phoenician Scheme opens in limited release on May 30 before expanding wide June 6.
MountainheadSuccession creator Jesse Armstrong makes his directorial debut with Mountainhead, a dark comedy whose concept may as well be ripped right from the headlines. The film stars Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef as four tech billionaires on a ski retreat. But just as their boys' trip gets going, they receive news of global chaos (as well as a call from the president of the United States). What are these four titans to do? Will they contemplate the role their "racist and shitty" platforms have played in this crisis? Or will they celebrate and enjoy a lifetime without consequences? It sounds like an all-too-real stress bomb, but given Armstrong's track record, we're seated for some strong satire and killer one-liners. — B.E.
Starring: Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef
How to watch: Mountainhead premieres May 31 on Max.
JuneDangerous AnimalsSharks. A serial killer. Jai Courtney. Do you need anything else to be convinced Dangerous Animals is a must-see summer movie?
Sean Byrne (The Loved Ones, The Devil's Candy) directs this gnarly thriller, which centers on the battle between a free-spirited swimmer (Hassie Harrison) and a shark-obsessed serial killer (Courtney) who treats the ocean as his slaughterhouse. Ready to dive in? — K.P.
Starring: Jai Courtney, Hassie Harrison, and Josh Heuston
How to watch: Dangerous Animals opens in theaters on June 6.
From the World of John Wick: BallerinaThe death of John Wick won't slow this franchise down. Ready for a sexy spinoff?
Knives Out's Ana de Armas headlines Ballerina, which is set during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. New lore is unlocked as the assassin-packed world of The Continental grows.
Like John Wick, Eve (de Armas) is a trained killer on a mission. Where he was "Baba Yaga," the latest trailer for Ballerina suggests she is Kikimora, a spirit that unfurls vengeance on the wicked to protect the good. Her quest may be mysterious, but we know it will involve plenty of action, gunplay, and Keanu Reeves reprising the role of John Wick for a face-off that's sure to have audiences ecstatic. — K.P.
Starring: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves
How to watch: From the World of John Wick: Ballerina opens June 6.
The Life of ChuckWhen people think of the work of Mike Flanagan (The Fall of the House of Usher, Midnight Mass) or Stephen King, they don't usually think life-affirming stories. But The Life of Chuck will change that.
Based on a King novella, this genre-bending wonder stars Tom Hiddleston as Chuck Krantz, whose life, at a glance, might be considered average. But in this rapturous movie, filled with a wonderful ensemble cast, King and Flanagan weave a tale of love, loss, and ghosts that's sure to enthrall audiences.
In Mashable's review out of the film's Toronto International Film Festival premiere, I cheered, "The Life of Chuck is masterfully told. Like King's most moving adaptations, it doesn't play by standard rules of structure or audience expectations. It demands we follow the winding road through playful dialogue, painful lows, and rollicking highs to an unknown beyond. It's surprising and upsetting, funny and profound. I laughed hard, cried 'til my eyes ached, and once gasped so loud that I heard it echo across a theater struck silent by a moment both shocking and tender." Simply put, see it theaters, or you'll be missing out. — K.P.
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tom Hiddleston, Annalise Basso, Benjamin Pajak, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Matthew Lillard, Carl Lumbly, Samantha Sloyan, Harvey Guillén, Jacob Tremblay, Kate Siegel, and Mark Hamill
How to watch: The Life of Chuck opens in theaters on June 6.
The RitualAcademy Award–winner Al Pacino joins with modern horror icon Dan Stevens for a tale of terror and religious trauma in The Ritual.
Based on true events, co-writer/director David Midell's horror movie follows two priests in America who are battling Satan for the soul of a young girl. Now, if you're thinking, "Hang on, isn't that the plot of The Exorcist?" you're not wrong. Both movies are inspired by real-life accounts of possession, but as the tagline for The Ritual boasts: Before there was The Exorcist, there was Emma Schmidt. An American woman believed to be possessed in 1928, Schmidt's salvation lay in the hands of renowned exorcist Father Theophilus Riesinger, whom Pacino plays here. With a cast like this, you won't want to miss this religious horror offering. — K.P.
Starring: Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, Patricia Heaton, and Abigail Cowen
How to watch: The Ritual opens in theaters on June 6.
MaterialistsIf you're one of the many Pedro Pascal fans who have been champing at the bit for the beguiling leading man to try his hand at romantic comedy, Materialists has come to answer your prayers. But that's not all.
Dakota Johnson stars as a matchmaker who's caught in a love triangle between a dashing millionaire (Pascal) and her broke but alluring ex (Chris Evans). If this cast plus that premise isn't enough for you to be wooed by Materialists, what if I tell you this A24 offering comes from Celine Song, the renowned writer/director of the critically acclaimed Past Lives? Match made? I thought as much! —K.P.
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal
How to watch: Materialists opens in theaters on June 13.
How to Train Your DragonCressida Cowell's enchanting book series How to Train Your Dragon first launched a fleet of high-flying animated movies and spinoff cartoon series. Now, writer/director Dean DeBlois, who's been at the helm of these movies since the first outing in 2010, is back with a live-action re-imagining.
The Black Phone's Mason Thames will step into the shivering shoes of Hiccup, while The Last of Us' Nico Parker will play his crush, Viking girl Astrid. Gerard Butler is reprising his role as Hiccup's hard-nosed dad, Stoick the Vast, while Nick Frost, Y2K's Julian Dennison, and The Fall of the House of Usher's Ruth Codd join the cast as Vikings.* — K.P.
Starring: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gerard Butler, and Ruth Codd
How to watch: How to Train Your Dragon opens in theaters June 13.
28 Years LaterFirst, there was 28 Days Later, then 28 Weeks Later. Now, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland are back with 28 Years Later, delivering a devastating new dose of dystopia on a zombie-laden (well, infected-persons-laden) planet.
The film's first trailer reveals that human civilization has been chucked back to humbler times, from Teletubbies for leisure to archery for survival. The infected still run and terrorize. But other horrors abound in the ravaged new world, including strange masked figures, gunfire fights, and mountains of human skulls.* — K.P.
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, and Cillian Murphy
How to watch: 28 Years Later opens June 20.
ElioDisney and Pixar are offering audiences a fresh vision of alien-human interaction this summer with Elio.
Named for its eponymous underdog, Elio centers on a young boy who is mistakenly identified as the head of Earth, and so is swept away to meet an extraterrestrial delegation eager to understand our planet and its inhabitants. (Good luck!)
Representing not just all humans but all life on Earth puts a lot of pressure on this charismatic kiddo. But on this journey, he's sure to make strange (and silly) new friends, and find his inner strength. And hijinks. We comfortably predict spacey hijinks.* — K.P.
Starring: America Ferrera, Yonas Kibreab, Jameela Jamil, Zoe Saldaña, and Brad Garrett
How to watch: Elio opens in theaters June 20.
F1Brad Pitt drives into the high-octane world of Formula One racing with F1. Starring opposite The Banshees of Inisherin's Kerry Condon and Being the Ricardos' Javier Bardem, Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former pro driver who comes out of retirement to mentor a new prodigy on the scene (Damson Idris).
Reuniting Top Gun: Maverick's director Joseph Kosinski and writer Ehren Kruger, F1 is sure to offer action, macho drama, and a hero who doesn't know the meaning of the word "quit."* — K.P.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Shea Whigham
How to watch: F1 opens June 27.
M3GAN 2.0Among Mashable's most anticipated movies of 2025 is Blumhouse's sequel to M3GAN. This killer doll took "slay" to a whole new level, delivering homicide alongside some wicked dance moves. And as soon as we saw that ending, the Mashable team began to wish for a sequel, be it a full-blown horror musical or a M3GAN versus M3GAN face-off. From the looks of the new trailer, some of our wishes are definitely coming true.
M3GAN's director Gerard Johnstone and writer Akela Cooper are back for this enticing sequel, as are Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, and Jenna Davis, who provides the killer doll's perfectly prim yet menacing voice. This time M3GAN's human family has saddled her in a cute doll seemingly less capable of homicide — that is, until they need her to face off against a ripoff bot named Amelia. To stop this new android on a rampage, M3GAN needs an upgrade. And we can't wait to see how this horror franchise levels up. — K.P.
Starring: Allison Williams, Jenna Davis, Violet McGraw, Timm Sharp, Aristotle Athari, and Jemaine Clement
How to watch: M3GAN 2.0 opens in theaters June 27.
Sorry, Baby Eva Victor writes, directs, and stars in "Sorry, Baby." Credit: Sundance Institute / Mia Cioffi HenryIs it too soon to call a movie one of the year's very best? Because it's hard to imagine any comedy will hit as hard and as uniquely as writer/director/leading lady Eva Victor's debut feature Sorry, Baby.
The internet-famous comedian reinvents herself with a touching tale of a grad student named Agnes (Victor), who's struggling to cope after a bad thing happens to her. What's the bad thing? And how does it shape this challenging but charming movie? In my rave review out of Sundance 2025, I dig into all that. But what you need to know now is: "Bittersweet, brilliant, and heartwarmingly funny, Sorry, Baby is a movie that is sure to find an audience beyond Sundance. And not just because A24 is a master of marketing offbeat cinema, but because Victor has a voice that is strong, strange, and demands to be heard." — K.P.
Starring: Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch, Louis Cancelmi, and Kelly McCormack
How to watch: Sorry, Baby opens in theaters June 27.
JulyJurassic World RebirthThe Jurassic Park franchise roars on, this time with a new group of kids and grown-ups who should know better to mess with dinosaurs at their own peril.
Set five years after Jurassic World: Dominion, the seventh installment in the Jurassic Park film series will follow an expedition to a tropical region, where three mighty prehistoric beasts could hold the cure to some of humanity's woes. Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali lead a star-studded cast, but we're most excited about the return of Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp (Presence, Kimi, Death Becomes Her) to the series. Teaming with The Creator helmer Gareth Edwards, this dynamic duo could make these movies watchable again!* — K.P.
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
How to watch: Jurassic World Rebirth opens in theaters July 2.
The Old Guard 2 Chiwetel Ejiofor as Copley and Charlize Theron as Andy in "The Old Guard 2." Credit: Eli Joshua Ade / NetflixIn 2020, director Gina Prince-Bythewood delivered epic action in the sly superhero movie The Old Guard. For the long-awaited sequel, Victoria Mahoney (Yelling to the Sky) takes the helm, joined by returning cast members like Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Here's the synopsis for The Old Guard 2, courtesy of Netflix:
Andy (Charlize Theron) and her team of immortal warriors are back, with a renewed sense of purpose in their mission to protect the world. With Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) still in exile after his betrayal, and Quynh (Veronica Ngô) out for revenge after escaping her underwater prison, Andy grapples with her newfound mortality as a mysterious threat emerges that could jeopardize everything she’s worked towards for thousands of years. Andy, Nile (KiKi Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicky (Luca Marinelli) and James Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) enlist the help of Tuah (Henry Golding), an old friend who may provide the key to unlocking the mystery behind immortal existence. Directed by Victoria Mahoney, and also starring Uma Thurman, The Old Guard 2 is an emotional, adrenaline-pumping sequel, based on the world created by Greg Rucka and illustrator Leandro Fernandez.
— K.P.
Starring: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Matthias Schoenaerts, Veronica Ngô, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Uma Thurman, and Henry Golding
How to watch: The Old Guard 2 premieres on Netflix on July 2.
SupermanJames Gunn relaunches the Man of Steel with Superman.
David Corenswet stars as the titular superhero, who struggles to find a balance between his derring-do and the far more average life of his alter ego, reporter Clark Kent. Thankfully, he has some friends on his side, like Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), his caped dog Krypto, and some Super Friends teased in the trailer above.
Brace yourself for action galore and a renewed debate about superhero fatigue. — K.P.
Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, and Nicholas Hoult
How to watch: Superman opens in theaters July 11.
EddingtonMost of us want to forget the horrors of 2020, but not Ari Aster! The Hereditary and Midsommar director revisits that dreaded year in his fourth feature, Eddington, which boasts an all-star cast including Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler.
Phoenix and Pascal play the sheriff and mayor of the small town of Eddington, New Mexico. According to Eddington's official summary from A24, the pair face off in an explosive standoff in May of 2020. Plot details are otherwise pretty scarce, but the film's first trailer nails the vibe of a 2020 doomscroll, so mark us down as scared and intrigued. — B.E.
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Luke Grimes, Austin Butler, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Clifton Collins Jr., William Belleau, Cameron Mann, Matt Gomez Hidaka, and Amélie Hoeferle
How to watch: Eddington opens in theaters July 18.
I Know What You Did Last SummerMeditation has never been so menacing. In the first trailer for I Know What You Did Last Summer, a chic and clearly wealthy couple enjoys a quiet night in, complete with wine, a blood-colored bath bomb, a meditation track, and a homicidal home invasion. The hook-wielding killer from the 1997 hit is back, tormenting fresh meat — and by that we mean a new batch of pretty young friends with a dark secret to hide.
But before you think this is a reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer, clock the cast. Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt, stars from the original movie, are back. Just like that, this sequel taps into our love of '90s nostalgia and slasher horror. What more could you want, aside from a bucket of popcorn? — K.P.
Starring: Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, Austin Nichols, Lola Tung, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Jennifer Love Hewitt
How to watch: I Know What You Did Last Summer opens in theaters July 18.
SmurfsRihanna headlines the latest Smurfs movie, lending her Grammy–winning voice to Smurfette. But this new adventure is full of familiar voices.
When a strange portal pitches the Smurfs out of the cozy safety of their forests and into Paris, France, they must make new friends — including Papa Smurf's surly brother (Nick Offerman) — in order to find their way home and their lost papa (John Goodman). And that's not all. This time around, it's not just the scowling Gargamel (JP Karliak) they'll need to combat, but also the nefarious plans of his brother Razamel (also Karliak).
If you're looking for family outings to cinemas this summer, you'll want to mark your calendar for Smurfs. — K.P.
Starring: Rihanna, Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, JP Karliak, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Sandra Oh, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman
How to watch: Smurfs opens in theaters July 18.
Happy Gilmore 2It's been nearly 30 years since Adam Sandler first had audiences in fits of laughter over his golf comedy Happy Gilmore. Now he's back, reprising the eponymous role for another round.
After having walked away from golf, Happy is an underdog as he looks to get back in the game. Along the way to the final hole, he'll have to face old friends and enemies (Shooter McGavin!) and reconnect to his happy place. From the looks of the first teaser, it'll be a heartwarming romp — with a bit of old man nipple play just for kicks. — K.P.
Starring: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Dennis Dugan, Christopher McDonald, and Ben Stiller
How to watch: Happy Gilmore 2 premieres on Netflix July 25.
The Fantastic Four: First StepsPedro Pascal headlines a reboot of The Fantastic Four, joined by Stranger Things' Joseph Quinn, The Bear's Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and The Crown's Vanessa Kirby. And while the film's first trailer paints a charmingly '60s vibe of family bliss, this clan will be forced to face off against a cosmic god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his flashy henchperson, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
Directed by Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps brings a new flavor to the MCU, offering a throwback look for a sincere sweetness. Could this bring rousing new life into the stories of Johnny "The Human Torch" Storm (Quinn), Ben "The Thing" Grimm (Moss-Bachrach), Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards (Pascal), and Sue "The Invisible Woman" Storm (Kirby)? And with Robert Downey Jr. coming back to the MCU — not as Tony Stark but as Fantastic Four foe Doctor Doom — might we anticipate he'll pop up here? We can't wait to find out. — K.P.
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn
How to watch: The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens in theaters July 25.
AugustThe Naked GunIt's time for action movies to get deeply, blissfully stupid again.
The Lonely Island's Akiva Schaffer, co-writer/co-director of Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping has resurrected the Naked Gun franchise, made famous by brilliantly doofy comic actor Leslie Nielsen. But 2025's The Naked Gun isn't a reboot of the Police Squad movie spinoffs. It's a sequel, starring the one and only Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen's now dearly departed character.
From the look of the first teaser, Neeson knows just what this funny action franchise demands, gladly mugging for the camera, killing with candy, then flashing some man panties. That bank robbery sequence had us sold, and the O.J. Simpson joke at the end? We're seated. — K.P.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Pamela Anderson, Danny Huston, and Cody Rhodes
How to watch: The Naked Gun opens in theaters Aug. 1.
TogetherIn 2020, Dave Franco proved he could helm nerve-shredding horror with the vacation house thriller The Rental. Now, he reteams with his leading lady (and wife) Alison Brie for a body horror movie that earned major buzz out of its debut at Sundance 2025.
Written and directed by Michael Shanks, Together stars Franco and Brie as a couple that's absolutely elated to move to the countryside, where life should be quieter, simpler, and easier. But even the teaser for Together suggests their new home is anything but. Considering the scares Franco and Brie delivered with The Rental and the hype out of Sundance, Together is a must-see for any horror fan. — K.P.
Starring: Dave Franco, Alison Brie, and Damon Herriman
How to watch: Together opens in theaters Aug. 1.
SketchWhat if Inside Out and Jurassic Park had a low-budget baby? Well, then you'd have Sketch, a monster movie that's equal parts charming, touching, and deeply bonkers.
The feature directorial debut of Seth Worley, Sketch centers on 11-year-old Amber (Bianca Belle), who is coping with the death of her mother by scribbling creatures in a notebook. But when a bit of magic brings her imaginary monsters to life, they begin to bring some very real havoc to a cozy small town. Crisply comedic co-stars Tony Hale and D'Arcy Carden lend terrific support, playing the girl's loving dad and no-nonsense aunt.
In Mashable's review out of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, I cheered, "Sketch is a fantastically fun and heartwarming movie with a slathering of weird that makes it a real treat." — K.P.
Starring: Tony Hale, D'Arcy Carden, Bianca Belle, and Kue Lawrence
How to watch: Sketch opens in theaters Aug. 6.
WeaponsIt's not often a spec script gets Hollywood so excited it sparks a multi-million-dollar bidding war, but when that script is for Barbarian writer/director Zach Cregger's latest horror film, it starts to make more sense. The picture grows even clearer when you watch the teaser for Weapons, which is both deeply creepy and reveals the movie's core premise: A group of children from the same community all disappear at the same time on the same night, leaving their homes seemingly of their own free will and running off into the darkness. If this is anything like Barbarian, expect shocks and twists aplenty. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
Starring: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan
How to watch: Weapons opens in theaters Aug. 8.
Freakier FridayGet ready for a nostalgia bomb, because Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are switching bodies again. That's right, 2003's Freaky Friday has a sequel, aptly titled Freakier Friday. But this time, it's not just mother-daughter pair Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lohan) who are in on the switcheroo. Instead, we're getting a four-way swap with Tess, Anna, Anna's daughter Harper (Julia Butters), and Anna's soon-to-be stepdaughter Lily (Sophia Hammons). Twice the swaps means twice the chaos — and hopefully twice the life lessons. — B.E.
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Manny Jacinto, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Rosalind Chao, Chad Michael Murray, Mark Harmon, Vanessa Bayer, Christina Vidal, Haley Hudson, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Lucille Soong
How to watch: Freakier Friday opens in theaters Aug. 8.
Nobody 2In 2021, Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk became an action hero in Nobody, a dark comedy about a former assassin turned office worker who falls back into that violent life — whether he likes it or not. Well, one good turn (at the box office) deserves another, so Odenkirk is reprising his role as Hutch Mansell, former contract killer.
Much of the old gang is back, including Connie Nielsen as Hutch's wife, Becca, and RZA as his brother, Harry. New to the team is The Shadow Strays director Timo Tjahjanto, who's taken up the helm. Anticipate action that is jaw-dropping, if not downright jaw-breaking.* — K.P.
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, RZA, Christopher Lloyd, Sharon Stone, Colin Hanks, and John Ortiz
How to watch: Nobody 2 opens Aug. 15.
Honey Don't!From Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke, the dynamic duo that brought us Drive-Away Dolls, comes Honey Don't!, a crackling crime comedy about a small town detective on a curious case involving a mysterious church. The Substance star Margaret Qualley headlines as private eye Honey O’Donahue.
Ahead of the movies premiere within the Cannes Film Festival's Midnight section, details are slim on this one. But Drive-Away Dolls was such a wild ride that we'll follow Coen and Cooke anywhere. Plus, look at this cast! — K.P.
Starring: Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day, Billy Eichner, and Chris Evans
How to watch: Honey Don't opens in theaters Aug. 22.
Lurker Théodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe in "Lurker." Credit: MUBIThe early buzz on Lurker is great, with the indie boasting a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score out of its film festival run. So what's it's deal?
Written and directed by Alex Russell (Beef, The Bear), Lurker is a Los Angeles-set psychological thriller following a lonely retail clerk (Théodore Pellerin) who creeps his way into the entourage of a rising pop star (Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe). Celebrity culture and parasocial relationships get a chilling exploration in this film, coming from The Substance's distributors MUBI. — K.P.
Starring: Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Sunny Suljic, Havana Rose Liu, Zack Fox, and Daniel Zolghadri
How to watch: Lurker opens in theaters Aug. 22.
The Thursday Murder Club Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie in "The Thursday Murder Club." Credit: NetflixDo you like your crime cozy and your stars aged like a fine wine? Then you'll love Netflix's upcoming comedy thriller.
Based on the first novel in Richard Osman's popular book series, The Thursday Murder Club centers on a motley crew of pensioners whose shared hobby is solving murder cases. And each of them has a particular set of skills that make them a crucial member of this crime-fighting crew. Joyce (Celia Imrie) was a nurse. Ron (Pierce Brosnan) was a union leader. Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) was a spy, and Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) is a semi-retired psychiatrist. Their age and charming demeanor might have them underestimated by the criminals, but one clever young cop (Naomi Ackie) is quick to realize this club is deadly sharp!
If the movie is half as fun and heartwarming as Osman's books, The Thursday Murder Club will be a must-see. — K.P.
Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Paul Freeman, and Richard E. Grant
How to watch: The Thursday Murder Club premieres on Netflix on Aug. 28.
The Toxic AvengerAlmost two years after its world premiere at 2023's Fantastic Fest, The Toxic Avenger finally gets to see the light of day. So strap in for what is sure to be the goriest, gloppiest superhero movie of the year.
A remake of Troma Entertainment's 1984 cult classic of the same name, The Toxic Avenger introduces down-on-his-luck janitor Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage), who finds himself with super strength (and an unfortunate toxic makeover) following a chemical accident. Said accident leads Winston on a bloody rampage for justice and vengeance against the evil bigwigs running his town, played to exquisite evil perfection by the likes of Kevin Bacon and Elijah Wood. What follows is a madcap antidote to superhero fatigue, even if The Toxic Avenger still plays it safer than its predecessor.
As I wrote in my review out of Fantastic Fest, "Once The Toxic Avenger truly gets the ball rolling, you're in for the kind of sheer, stupid insanity you won't find in other major superhero IP. Let the blood and guts rain down — here, there's no such thing as overkill." — B.E.
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, Taylour Paige, Jacob Tremblay, and Jane Levy
How to watch: The Toxic Avenger opens in theaters Aug. 29.
The RosesOlivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch fall in love and then face off in The Roses, a dark comedy based on Warren Adler's 1981 novel The War of the Roses. (Yep, the same novel that was the basis for Danny DeVito's 1989 black comedy The War of the Roses, starring Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas!)
When their marriage bloomed, Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch) built a beautiful home together, where they raised their children. But as the years go by, the thorns begin to rise alongside resentments. And wacky neighbors (Kate McKinnon and Andy Samberg) have added little comfort.
While the previous adaptation is still wickedly entertaining, we're stoked to see what two-time Academy Award–nominated screenwriter Tony McNamara (Poor Things, The Favourite) will bring to Adler's tale. Plus, helmed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me), The Roses seems primed to be a laugh riot. —K.P.
Starring: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Samberg, and Kate McKinnon
How to watch: The Roses opens in theaters Aug. 29.
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 MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, April 26, 2025:
AcrossFancy partyThe answer is Gala.
The answer is Below.
The answer is Purple.
The answer is Jammies.
The answer is Errand.
The answer is Diane.
The answer is ISpy.
The answer is Germany.
The answer is Alpine.
The answer is LOLed.
The answer is Awes.
The answer is BumRap.
The answer is Paris.
The answer is Jedi.
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 GamesAre 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.
SAVE $100: As of April 26, the 13-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air is down to its lowest-ever price on Amazon. The base model is on sale for $899 (normally $999).
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899There's a weird thing happening with the latest Apple MacBook Air. We're not exactly sure why, but it just gets cheaper and cheaper on Amazon. As of April 26, the base model is down to its lowest-ever price on Amazon, on sale for $899 (normally $999). We would usually recommend picking up at this low price, but they might be giving them away for free in a few weeks.
We jest, of course. Will it get cheaper? We can't say for sure, but it seems unlikely.
SEE ALSO: Review: I went hands on with the M4 MacBook Air (2025)Apple only released the M4 MacBook Air in mid-March, with open-lid support for two external displays and a new 12MP Center Stage camera in addition to the new CPU that everyone wants. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said this model was "impressively powerful" and "the best-buy Apple laptop, period." And that's not all, because we recently named it the best MacBook for most people.
Do you honestly need more reassurance? We love it, OK.
Pick up the latest Apple MacBook Air for under $900 at Amazon.
SAVE $550: The Anker Solix C1000 portable power station is on sale for $449 at Amazon. This deal saves you 55% on list price.
Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station $449 at AmazonPortable power stations are absolute lifesavers for anyone who spends their weekends in the great outdoors. And we're entering into the season for all kinds of outdoor activities, so if a portable power station is something you've been considering, this is your sign to buy.
As of April 26, the Anker Solix C1000 portable power station is on sale for $449 at Amazon. This limited-time offer saves you 55% on the list price. That's over $500 in your pocket for spending on much more exciting things.
SEE ALSO: Feeling eco-friendly? Save hundreds on a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 with a new batteryThe Anker Solix C1000 offers 1056Wh of capacity, keeping all your devices and appliances charged up when you're miles away from a plug. To put this in perspective, this capacity can recharge your iPhone 92 times, keep the lights on for 60 hours, or power your car fridge for about 33 hours. And when it does eventually run out, Anker SOLIX C1000's UltraFast recharging technology means you get a full charge in under an hour.
Save over $500 on this summer essential from Anker.
SAVE OVER $900: The Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni robot vacuum is on sale for $589.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you over $900 on list price.
Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni $589.99 at AmazonMashable's review of the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni robot vacuum is mixed. Leah Stodart states that it "skimps on multiple features that make it so pricey in the first place," but it's important to note that these comments were made when asking whether anyone should be dropping $1,500 on a robot vacuum. That's the list price, but this robot vacuum just got a massive discount.
The Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni robot vacuum is on sale for $589.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you over $900 on list price.
SEE ALSO: Tesla has launched a robotaxi service, but only for employeesMashable's review does praise this robot vacuum for being "quieter than most, including automatic emptying," and flags that "the roving camera feature puts you in the action by letting you watch a live stream of what the vacuum sees as it's maneuvering." Sure, it's probably not a $1,500 robot vacuum. But for under $600? That's something to seriously consider.
Save over $900 on the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni robot vacuum at Amazon.
TL;DR: Upgrade to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for just $14.97 (regularly $199) and enjoy enhanced security, productivity features, and the AI-powered Copilot assistant.
In the ever-evolving world of technology, keeping your operating system current is essential for optimal performance and security. For a limited time, you can upgrade to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for just $14.97, a significant reduction from its regular price of $199.
Why upgrade to Windows 11 Pro?Windows 11 Pro offers a sleek and user-friendly interface designed to enhance your computing experience. Features like Snap Layouts and Virtual Desktops allow for efficient multitasking and enable you to organize your workspace with ease. The redesigned Start menu provides quick access to your apps and documents, streamlining your workflow.
Security is a top priority with Windows 11 Pro. The operating system includes advanced features such as BitLocker encryption and Windows Information Protection, providing robust protection against unauthorized access and data breaches. These tools are especially beneficial for professionals handling sensitive information.
Integrated AI and better graphicsOne of the standout additions is Windows Copilot, an AI-powered assistant integrated into the system. Copilot assists with tasks like answering queries, generating images, summarizing web pages, and even planning your next trip, streamlining your workflow and boosting productivity.
Gamers and creative professionals will appreciate the inclusion of DirectX 12 Ultimate, which delivers enhanced graphics and immersive experiences. Additionally, features like Auto HDR improve color and contrast in games, providing a more vibrant visual experience.
Upgrading to Windows 11 Pro at this price point offers an affordable way to enhance your PC's functionality, security, and overall performance.
You can pick up Windows 11 Pro for just $14.97. (reg. $199)
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro £14.97SAVE OVER $2,000: The 98-inch Samsung Crystal UHD DU9000 TV is on sale for $1,849.99 at Woot, saving you over $2,000 on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 98-inch Samsung Crystal UHD DU9000 TV $1,849.99When you spend hours and hours every day trawling through the best and worst deals that the world has to offer, you become slightly numb. It takes something special to make an impression, and that actually happened when I came across this Samsung TV.
The first thing I noticed is that it's 98 inches. Does anyone need a TV that big? And the second thing I noticed is the discount. The 98-inch Samsung Crystal UHD DU9000 TV is on sale for $1,849.99 at Woot, saving you over $2,000 on list price. That's an absolutely enormous discount on a really enormous TV. That's a deal that gets you up out of your seat.
SEE ALSO: Tesla has launched a robotaxi service, but only for employeesThis TV offers an AI-enhanced picture optimized for a super large screen. The Supersize Picture Enhancer reduces noise and increases sharpness, so you get a picture that’s bold and big. 4K Upscaling also transforms each pixel for improved content, so whether you're watching a movie, following your favorite team, or gaming, this TV really delivers.
Save over $2,000 on the 98-inch Samsung Crystal UHD DU9000 TV at Woot.
TL;DR: Live stream Arnaldi vs. Djokovic in the 2025 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The latest round of 2025 Madrid Open games includes some really interesting matchups, but Djokovic is often the main attraction of any tournament he's playing in. The Serbian faces off against Arnaldi in the Round of 64.
If you want to watch Arnaldi vs. Djokovic in the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Arnaldi vs. Djokovic for freeThe 2025 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE, including Arnaldi vs. Djokovic.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Arnaldi vs. Djokovic without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Arnaldi vs. Djokovic in the 2025 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Noskova vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The latest round of 2025 Madrid Open games includes some really interesting matchups, including Noskova vs. Swiatek. Fans will be expecting last year's winner to progress, but Noskova is no slouch. This should be a real battle between two strong players.
If you want to watch Noskova vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Noskova vs. Swiatek for freeThe 2025 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE, including Noskova vs. Swiatek.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Noskova vs. Swiatek without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Noskova vs. Swiatek in the 2025 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Li vs. Gauff in the 2025 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2025 Madrid Open has attracted some of the best players in the world as preparations for the French Open ramp up. There are a number of interesting games in the Round of 32, including Li vs. Gauff. This all-American contest is arguably the pick of the round.
If you want to watch Li vs. Gauff in the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Li vs. Gauff for freeThe 2025 Madrid Open is available to live stream for free on RTVE, including Li vs. Gauff.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2025 Madrid Open by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch the 2025 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Li vs. Gauff without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Madrid Open before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Li vs. Gauff in the 2025 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in the 2025 Copa del Rey final for free on RTVE. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
In the world of football, it really doesn't get any bigger than Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. And when these two famous sides meet in a final, the world stops and watches.
The 2025 Copa del Rey final brings together these star-studded teams for a showdown in Seville. The likes of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, Lamine Yamal, and Robert Lewandowski will battle it out for the trophy. It's going to be an epic night, and fans from around the world can watch all the action without spending anything.
If you want to watch Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in the 2025 Copa del Rey final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Barcelona vs. Real Madrid?Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in the 2025 Copa del Rey final starts at 9 p.m. CEST on April 26. This fixture takes place at the Estadio La Cartuja.
How to watch Barcelona vs. Real Madrid for freeBarcelona vs. Real Madrid in the 2025 Copa del Rey final is available to live stream for free on RTVE.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Barcelona vs. Real Madrid for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Live stream Barcelona vs. Real Madrid for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Barcelona vs. Real Madrid without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Spain
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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in the 2025 Copa del Rey final for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa in the FA Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The FA Cup is creeping towards its dramatic conclusion, with the four remaining teams heading to Wembley. Crystal Palace face off against Aston Villa in the first semi-final matchup. It's set to be a really close contest between two evenly-matched teams, with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Marcus Rashford taking center stage.
If you want to watch Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa in the FA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa?Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa in the FA Cup starts at 5:15 p.m. BST on April 26. This fixture takes place at Wembley Stadium.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa for freeCrystal Palace vs. Aston Villa in the FA Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa in the FA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 4) in the 2025 NBA playoffs for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The NBA playoffs is delivering a number of really interesting first-round series, including LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets. These star-studded teams have both had their issues this season, but anyone with Kawhi Leonard or Nikola Jokić will always have a chance of moving through the rounds.
If you want to watch LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 4) in the 2025 NBA playoffs for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 4)?LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 4) starts at 6 p.m. ET on April 26. This game takes place at the Intuit Dome.
How to watch LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 4) for freeLA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 4) in the 2025 NBA playoffs is available to live stream for free on Ran.de.
Ran.de is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world.
Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Germany
Connect to Ran.de
Watch LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 4) for free
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA playoffs before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NBA?ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Ran.de, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Germany
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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 4) for free with ExpressVPN.
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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: The holy grail
Green: A slot
Blue: They lead a team
Purple: Share a first word
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: What one strives for
Green: Room to run
Blue: College football coaches
Purple: Box ___
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 #215 is...
What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition todayWhat one strives for - AIM, GOAL, OBJECTIVE, TARGET
Room to run - GAP, HOLE, OPENING, SPACE
College football coaches - DAY, LANNING, SMART, STOOPS
Box ___ - LACROSSE, OFFICE, SCORE, SEAT
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.
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 MashableBy 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 preferrined pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 26 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Face timeThe words are primarily used by women.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words are things that are meant to be used on the face.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is MakeupExam.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 26Concealer
Foundation
Powder
Bronzer
Primer
MakeupExam
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.
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