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Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each one!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more.

But if you're seeking something brand spanking new (or new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2024

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're looking for animated adventures, side-splitting comedy, mind-bending drama, or some of the best movies of 2024, we've got something just for you.

Here's what's new on streaming, from worst to best.

9. Dark Match

If you love professional wrestling and gory scares, you'll want to enter the gnarly ring of Dark Match. Written and directed by Wolfcop's Lowell Dean, this horror movie follows a hardscrabble band of wrestlers who accept a lucrative gig in a dubiously remote location. They realize too late that this isn't just a dangerous event, it's a deadly one. Surrounded by Satanists and facing off against a sinister cult leader, will they come out on top or be down for the count?

Per the trailer above, critics have cheered Dark Match's grisly and ultra-violent approach to horror. The low-budget look promises a grimy approach that's sure to thrill fans of midnight movies. But best of all, pro wrestling icon Chris Jericho tags in, bringing his showmanship to the screen with a deranged relish. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Chris Jericho, Ayisha Issa, Steven Ogg, Sara Canning, Michael Eklund, and Jonathan Cherry

How to watch: Dark Match debuts on Shudder and AMC+ Jan. 31.

8. You're Cordially Invited

Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell teaming up for comedy? With the former making her mark in rom-coms like Legally Blonde and Sweet Home Alabama and the latter known for goofy laffers like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Step Brothers, what might audiences expect in a joint venture? Especially when it's directed by Nicholas Stoller, known for such wild fare as Neighbors and Bros? Well, it's a mixed bag.

You're Cordially Invited centers the battled between a no-nonsense TV producer (Witherspoon) and a devoted girl-dad (Ferrell), who are determined to make the wedding of their respective brides-to-be perfect. So when a cozy B&B double-books the nuptials of her sister and his daughter, plenty of hijinks ensue, involving sabotage, Dr. Seuss, and alligators. Blending sentimental moments with cutting barbs and a string of goofy set pieces, You're Cordially Invited is big-hearted but jarringly uneven. Far from the best from any of these comedy luminaries, it's still a joy in bursts. — K.P.

Starring: Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Geraldine Viswanathan, Meredith Hagner, and Jimmy Tatro

How to watch: You're Cordially Invited debuts on Prime Video Jan 30.

7. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

It's a story we've seen a fair few times at this point, but why not again? In Marvel Animation's new series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, we're back to the very beginning with Peter Parker (voiced by Hudson Thames), when he's just acquired his Spidey senses. In this series, he's (barely) surviving high school, living with Aunt May (Kari Wahlgren), and being mentored by the future Green Goblin, scientist Norman Osborn (Colman Domingo). There's plenty of familiar faces to come in this series, including voice appearances from some Daredevil favourites. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Hudson Thames, Colman Domingo, Hugh Dancy, Cathy Ang, and Paul F. Tompkins

How to watch: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man debuts on Disney+ Jan. 29.

6. Moana 2

Get ready to go "Beyond" all over again, because Moana 2 is coming to digital. The sequel to Disney's 2016 smash hit reunites us with wayfinder Moana (voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho) as she embarks on a new quest to save her home island of Motunui. This time around, she must find the legendary island of Motufetu, which was cursed long ago by the human-hating god Nalo, and reconnect all the ocean's peoples.

SEE ALSO: The 'Moana 2' directors reveal the meaning of the "never-ending chain"

The ensuing journey is a blast, with Moana's new companions adding extra fun to the high seas, and with demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) once again bringing his shapeshifting fun to the screen. Yet Moana 2 still falls short of Moana in several ways. Nalo proves to be an underwhelming villain, while Moana 2's songs are simply unmemorable without Lin-Manuel Miranda. As I wrote in my Moana 2 review, "Miranda's presence is greatly missed, with songs often feeling like lackluster rehashes of the first film's songs." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Hualālai Chung, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Awhimai Fraser, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel House, Gerald Ramsey, and Alan Tudyk

How to watch: Moana 2 is now available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Prime Video, and more.

5. Mythic Quest, Season 4

If Severance is stressing you out with its puzzle box of office politics, switch gears to the geeks and gaming glory of Mythic Quest.

This Apple TV+ comedy series enters its fourth season with is gang of lovable losers at a dizzying high. Quirky coder Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao) and arrogant tech bro Ian (Rob McElhenney) are striding confidently into their next collaboration. Former game-tester turned game designer Dana (Imani Hakim) is wildly popular online, and her partner Rachel (Ashly Burch) is climbing the corporate ladder behind always-rattled exec David (David Hornsby). But fret not, fans.

New episodes will feature freshly funny calamities for our band of heroes to tackle, including going to testify before Congress, facing professional jealousies, personal rivalries, and a murder-mystery party on a remote island (very Knives Out). Whether you have an office job that's drinking you to the bring of madness, or you just love the Always Sunny vibes this sister series offers in bunches, you'll treasure this wild and goofy new season. — K.P.

Starring: Rob McElhenney, Ashly Burch, Jessie Ennis, Imani Hakim, David Hornsby, Charlotte Nicdao, Danny Pudi, F. Murray Abraham, and Naomi Ekperigin

How to watch: Mythic Quest Season 4 premieres Jan. 29 on Apple TV+.

4. Paradise

Hulu's Paradise reunites This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown and creator Dan Fogelman for a thriller series that's equal parts twisty, ridiculous, and fun. To say too much about the show is to risk spoiling its biggest surprise, so for now, all I'll say is that it takes place in the aftermath of the murder of U.S. President Cal Bradford (James Marsden, Jury Duty). His head of security, Xavier Collins (Brown), is on the case — but he's also the number-one suspect.

If Paradise's initial political conspiracy conceit doesn't quite win you over, I'd still recommend watching so you can experience the premiere's bonkers twist for yourself. It truly kicks Paradise into an entirely different gear, to the point that I wrote my entire review about how the twist "took me from 'meh' to 'this rocks, actually' within the span of [Paradise's] very first episode." Seriously, brace yourself for a damn fun time. — B.E.

Starring: Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Jon Beavers, Krys Marshall, Aliyah Mastin, and Percy Daggs IV

How to watch: The first three episodes of Paradise are now streaming on Hulu, with a new episode every week.

3. Sing Sing

See the critically heralded drama that's scored three Oscar nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor. Named for the prison from which its story blossomed, Sing Sing is based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison in New York. There, incarcerated men are offered the chance to express themselves through putting on a theatrical production. In the film, co-written and directed by Greg Kwedar, this company of players builds a community and confidence that is life-changing for everyone involved.

Beyond being a feel-good tale about the power of creativity, Sing Sing carries a profound weight of realness, casting formerly incarcerated people alongside Colman Domingo, who earned a 2024 Oscar nom for the lead role in the biopic Rustin.

In his review of the film out the 2024 SXSW film festival, critic Siddhant Adlakha cheered, "For the men of Sing Sing, art becomes both refuge and rebellion, presented not only as a coping mechanism for incarceration, but a therapeutic alternative. Kwedar, through his gentle visual approach, affords each imprisoned character (and formerly imprisoned actor) the room — and just as importantly, the time — to tell their own stories, in ways that cinema seldom does. The result is a heartrending, visually enrapturing balm for the soul." — K.P.

Starring: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San José, and Paul Raci

How to watch: Sing Sing is now available for purchase on Prime Video.

2. Mo, Season 2

One of 2022's most important TV shows, comedian Mo Amer's excellent Netflix series Mo has returned for its second and final season. Created by Amer with Ramy Youssef, Season 2 picks up with Mo Najjar (Amer, playing a version of himself), a Palestinian refugee living in the U.S. who accidentally deported himself to Mexico without a passport last season (those olive trees!). Mo's struggle to get back to the U.S. is a timely depiction, taking him through an unfeeling embassy, a dangerous border crossing, and a horrendous detention facility on the Texas border — and that's all before he learns the love of his life, Maria (Teresa Ruiz), is seeing someone else back home. But somehow, beyond all belief, Mo finds levity in the dark. More timely than ever, Mo examines both the institutional dehumanisation of immigrants and the varied experiences of his Palestinian family — all while being a hilarious, superbly written comedy show about a guy just trying to succeed. — S.C.

Starring: Mo Amer, Farah Bsieso, Teresa Ruiz, Tobe Nwigwe, and Omar Elba

How to watch: Mo Season 2 debuts on Netflix Jan. 30.

1. Babygirl

She got snubbed at the Oscars, but we still love Babygirl.

As a titillating follow-up to the humorous whodunnit Bodies Bodies Bodies, writer/director Halina Reijn delivered Babygirl. Nicole Kidman stars as a high-powered CEO balancing a demanding professional life with a personal life that includes her gentle theater director husband (Antonio Banderas) and high-energy teen daughters (Vaughan Reilly and Esther McGregor). Her world turns upside down when a cocky intern (Harris Dickinson) begins to flirt — very inappropriately — with her.

SEE ALSO: 'Babygirl' finally shows us what subspace feels like

Delving into the juicy topics of sex, power dynamics, forbidden lust, and identity, Babygirl is an electrifying blend of humor and yearning that is absolutely dizzying, in the best way possible. As I wrote in our rave review out of TIFF, "Emotionally naked, unapologetically provocative, and defiantly playful, Reijn's film joyfully explores the complicated ties that bind. Amid stiff competition, she delivers one of the sexiest, most thrilling films of the year." — K.P.

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, and Antonio Banderas

How to watch: Babygirl is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

"The world will always try to tear us down. And when they do, we smile. Because we know who we are."

This simple, beautiful statement said by Mo's mother Yusra (Farah Bsieso), lies at the heart of the second and final season of Mo, comedian Mohammed Amer's Peabody-winning, semi-autobiographical series. It speaks to a sense of resilience, humanity, and pride in Palestinians, in immigrants, in refugees and displaced people, one that reflects the overall tone of Amer's exceptional, poignant, and hilarious Netflix series, written with Ramy Youssef and directed by Solvan "Slick" Naim.

SEE ALSO: Immigration red cards: The internet rallies to protect undocumented community

One of 2022's most important TV shows, Mo examines Amer's own experiences as a Palestinian refugee living in Houston, Texas, the institutional dehumanisation underlying the American immigration system, and the enduring sense of uncertainty for stateless people. Mo's second season comes at a volatile time for Palestinians and undocumented immigrants alike, with those in power enforcing heartless, brutal decisions from disengaged, lofty offices that impact real people. Somehow, beyond all belief, amid a sense of transience and fear, of stacked odds and starting from scratch, Mo finds levity, surrealism, and personal solidarity in the dark, while being a genuinely funny and moving show. 

What is Mo Season 2 about? Mo Amer in "Mo." Credit: Netflix

Based on Amer's own life, Season 1 followed Mo and his family's journey for asylum in the U.S., through delayed hearings, frazzled immigration lawyers, and bureaucratic nightmares. This season, we pick up with Mo stuck in Mexico, with no passport and no way to get home, a narrative plight that allows Mo to showcase a broader, grim reality for immigrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

Season 2 begins six months after Mo accidentally deported himself, where we find our protagonist earning a living in Mexico City working multiple jobs: namely selling his own specialty falafel tacos and wrestling as a luchador under the moniker The Palestinian Bear. He's trying to secure a laissez-passer to legally get back into the U.S. in time for the family's delayed asylum hearing in a week's time. And he's "borderline depressed," watching telenovelas and leaving unanswered messages on his ex Maria's (Teresa Ruiz) phone. 

A very real moment for Mo. Credit: Eddy Chen / Netflix

Mo's struggle to get back to the U.S. is a timely depiction, taking him through a heartless embassy, a dangerous and desperate border crossing, and a horrific detention facility on the Texan border that mirrors the very real, inhumane conditions and discriminatory and racist treatment within these facilities. In episode 2, the show makes plain both the horrendous state of detention centres and the unbelievably strong sense of camaraderie between the people detained there — a sequence of Mo shooting baskets with a shitty space blanket to Maxo Kream's "Meet Again" makes for an unfathomably light moment. 

And that's all before he learns life has gone on back home; his best friend Nick (Tobe Nwigwe) has settled down into family life, his brother Sameer (Omar Elba) is navigating a possible autism diagnosis, and the love of his life is seeing someone else. Not just someone else, either; Maria's dating an Israeli-American chef called Guy (a perfectly infuriating Simon Rex) whose fancy fusion restaurant with ungarnished hummus cuts Mo's pride to the core. The words "pillaging my heritage!" come out swinging. Mo's quest to process all this makes for both comedy gold and heartbreaking moments of drama.

Mo is a timely story of struggle that wields comedy as a mirror Farah Bsieso and Mo Amer in "Mo." Credit: Eddy Chen / Netflix

With Mo stuck stateless in Mexico, the second season pushes its signature exploration of cultural identity even further, asking bigger questions of modern America and the struggle of being an undocumented immigrant. As Meera Navlakha wrote for Mashable of Season 1, "The series confidently and acutely presents a reality for so many in America, who have spent decades in a country that they cannot legally define as their own. Representation, in Mo, is far from a mere buzzword. It informs everything that show has accomplished."

Mo tries to process his sense of disconnection and yearning for stability back in Houston — and a mid-season shocking twist will throw that all out the window. Mo struggles with what he expects for his life, and his frustration of continually having to start at square one, kept afloat by his enduring pride and sense of humour. We're constantly rooting for Mo, despite the towering pile of people who seem deadset against his success at best, against his personhood at worst.

Matt Rife as embassy worker Jeff in "Mo." Credit: Netflix

In Season 2, the show makes a point of showcasing the anxious imbalance of power between people through Mo's experiences; Mo's fate often lies in the hands of Americans who cruelly wave their influence in his face, from moustachioed embassy employees to gruff detention centre guards and problematic U.S. ambassadors with racist Lawrence of Arabia fantasies. Mo's resilient bravado slightly wavers, his sense of autonomy removed, and his understandable rage rising, at one point describing the feeling as having clipped wings. 

While Mo endures threat and humiliation at the hands of American authorities throughout the series, his sense of identity remains whole — and frankly, his sense of humour keeps him alive. No matter the seriousness of his situation, Mo always manages to emotionally connect with the other people sharing his plight. "I speak three languages and I don't have the words to describe your situation," Mo tells a young boy in a halfway house, awaiting a border crossing. Mo even valiantly tries to connect man-to-man with the jaded immigration officer on the Texas border, and it's this unwavering sense of humanity that makes Mo who he is.

Mo Season 2 plays with fantasy to convey real anxieties Mo Amer in "Mo." Credit: Eddy Chen / Netflix

This season, Mo's connection with spiritual guidance from his ancestors is the primary throughline, with the protagonist piecing together bizarre signs that will make sense later in the series.

Notably more than Season 1, this season plays with fantasy and surrealism, including a cheesy telenovela dream sequence, an overtly Shawshank vision in detention, a Lucha libre moment with Maria's new boyfriend, and an imagined combat situation in Houston suburbia, to give levity at times, depth in others, to Mo's real plight. Many of these moments expose Mo's sense of grief and disconnection with his family, the breakdown of his relationship, and his frustration with the immigration system. And they’re very funny. Episode 3's fantasy courtroom outburst feels well overdue, and sees Amer in one of his best scenes, evoking Mo's internalised frustration to perfection — the words "and YOOOOU," have never been better delivered.

Back in reality, there are hilarious nods to the sheer, surreal folly of bureaucratic processes — in episode 2, during Mo's online hearing on a Google Meet-like video call, the judge literally mutes Mo as he describes the horrific conditions in the detention facility, with furious gestures and all the inappropriate animated thumbs ups and balloons many endured in serious video calls. In fact, the ability of Mo, his family, and his friends to find levity after life-threatening, humiliating moments is nothing short of miraculous. Some are uncomfortably hilarious — when Mo's friends are suggesting his ankle monitor get "bedazzled" — while others are moments of pure resistance — when Mo's family laughs loudly in the living room about a truly terrifying moment at gunpoint.

Mo reaches a deeply moving, intentionally infuriating conclusion One of the episodes of the year. Credit: Netflix

Without spoiling the storyline, Mo comes to a close with one of the best episodes of television you're likely to see this year. The show finishes with a deeply moving, personal, and timely episode entirely set within Palestine, touching on all-too-real struggles for Mo's family enduring the knife's edge anxiety of Israeli occupation, while allowing our protagonist a sense of pride and deep connection with his Palestinian roots. "Look at the artistry of Palestinians. This is all resistance. It's struggle and pain. They just want to be free of this war," Yusra says as the family drives past the West Bank wall. It's impossible not to feel the weight of this moment, watching this in 2025.

Mo's spirit nears breaking point this season, and Amer's performance is nothing short of exquisite and raw, moving Mo through wonderful conversations with his uncle, aunts, and cousins, and through to one of the series' most brutal moments, scored to Nina Simone's "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" — it's worthy of being one of the year's defining TV images. More than anything, the show provokes deep thought for very real situations.

Farah Bsieso and Cherien Dabis in "Mo." Credit: Eddy Chen / Netflix

Perhaps one of the most important scenes in the series belongs to Mo's mother Yusra and sister Nadia (Cherien Dabis) in the series' penultimate episode. The pair discuss the emotional impact and feelings of responsibility toward monitoring news out of Palestine; Yusra is glued to reports of settlers attacking Palestinian homes and IDF violence in Ramallah, Yatta, Jenin, Nablus, and Al Khalil, while Nadia expresses a need to live presently too.

"We owe it to them by watching at least," Yusra says. "And we owe it to them to live too," replies Nadia. "It's on us to pass who we are to our kids. This is how they're not going to erase us. No matter how hard they try. We're more than our pain and suffering, Mom. You wouldn't know that watching this news." It's a crucial, brilliantly written and acted scene, and allows a moment of nuance for the pair's different perspectives.

Ultimately, the show's heart and core messaging about the resilience of Palestinian people comes from Mo's mother, whose quote began this review and remains the clearest, most poignant message of the series. Yusra reminds her son that the world will try to tear them down, “And when they do, we smile. Because we know who we are." 

In two seasons of just 16 episodes, Mo manages to comprehensively explore identity and inhumane policy within the experiences of a Palestinian family seeking asylum in modern America, while maintaining its signature sense of levity and hilarious perspective. This is pure excellence in television, and a must-watch by all definitions of the term. That it's Mo’s final season is a heartbreak we'll have to live with. 

Mo Season 2 is streaming on Netflix from Jan 30.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 30, the Jabra Elite 10 earbuds are on sale for $149.99 at Best Buy. That's $100 off their list price of $249.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jabra Jabra Elite 10 $149.99 at Best Buy
$249.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you've been looking to get new earbuds, now's a great time to do it with so many discounts floating around. Best Buy, in particular, has had some excellent deals available lately, including a stellar $100 price drop on the Jabra Elite 10 earbuds. If you're looking for high-quality sound without a steep price tag, these are worth a look.

This discount at Best Buy has dropped the price of the Jabra Elite 10 earbuds from $249.99 to $149.99. As a bonus, your purchase also comes with three months free of YouTube Premium, which is a great way to test out your earbuds with a variety of new music or videos. This deal also applies to both the gloss black and cream colored buds, so you can find a pair that best suits your personal taste.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

These earbuds are powered by Dolby Atmos, offering you an immersive listening experience no matter if you're listening to the latest hits, an audiobook, or your favorite podcast. They also have noise-canceling features, so you can choose to block out your environment and be fully absorbed in what you're listening to or allow some sound to come through to be more aware of your surroundings.

This deal is worth taking advantage of if you're in need of an earbud upgrade. Don't miss out on $100 off the Jabra Elite 10 earbuds at Best Buy.

There are plenty more headphone and earbud deals worth checking out right now, too. Also at Best Buy, you can save on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones and the AirPods 4 (without ANC). Over at Amazon you can also score a nice discount on the Beats Fit Pro earbuds.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 30, the 13-inch Apple iPad Air (M2, WiFi, 256GB) is on sale for $799 at Best Buy. This is $100 off its list price of $899.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air $799.00 at Best Buy
$899.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you've been thinking about getting an iPad or upgrading, now's a great time to do it. Some models are currently on sale at Best Buy, including the 13-inch Apple iPad Air. We consider this iPad to be the best option for most people in our roundup of the best iPads for 2025, and a $100 discount makes it an even better pickup.

This deal has dropped the price of the 13-inch Apple iPad Air (M2, WiFi, 256GB) to $799 from its $899 list price. This is an excellent discount, and made even better by the bonus offers that come with it: free Apple TV+ for three months, three months free of Apple Fitness+, up to four months free of Apple Arcade, and up to three months free of Apple Music.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

As mentioned before, we consider this the best iPad for most people in our roundup of the best iPads for 2025 because it "delivers the same processing power as a laptop. In our Geekbench 6 tests, it scored on par with the M2 MacBook Air, offering a high-performance experience at a fraction of the cost." In our review, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon also notes that, "Aside from a new 13-inch size and relocated webcam, there aren't many changes design-wise, but the M2 chip brings sweet energy efficiency and a performance uptick."

This is a deal well worth jumping on if you've been hoping to get a new iPad. Don't miss out on $100 off the 13-inch Apple iPad Air (M2, WiFi, 256GB) at Best Buy.

This isn't the only Apple deal floating around right now, either. At the moment you can also score a nice discount on the 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 at Best Buy and the Apple AirPods 4 are discounted right now there as well.

SECURE YOUR WATERBLOCK RTX 5080: The Gigabyte RTX 5080 XTREME WATERFORCE WB 16GB GDDR7 GPU is now available at Best Buy for $1,349.99. This waterblock-exclusive graphics card requires a custom liquid cooling system, so make sure your setup is ready before grabbing one. Stock won’t last, so sign in to your Best Buy account, confirm your pickup location, and check out within 10 minutes once added to your cart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Gigabyte Gigabyte RTX 5080 XTREME WATERFORCE WB 16GB GDDR7 GPU Shop Now

The Gigabyte RTX 5080 XTREME WATERFORCE WB isn’t your standard plug-and-play GPU. It’s built for enthusiasts who want maximum performance with a liquid cooling setup. If your rig isn’t waterblock-ready, this card is not for you. But if you’ve got the cooling hardware in place, you’re in for a serious performance boost. With 16GB of GDDR7 memory, DLSS 4 AI upscaling, and NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture, this GPU is designed to easily crush 4K gaming and handle demanding creative workloads.

The 2.805GHz base and boost clock speeds make this one of the fastest GPUs in its class. With PCIe Gen 5 support, expect blazing-fast data transfer speeds to keep frame rates smooth. For multi-monitor setups, the three DisplayPort 2.1 and one HDMI 2.1 output let you run up to four displays simultaneously, making this a great choice for ultra-high refresh rate gaming or professional editing rigs. Remember, this card has no built-in fans — it depends entirely on your liquid cooling system to stay frosty.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Stock at Best Buy will move fast, so make sure you’re prepared. Sign in, confirm your location, and add to your cart quickly; you have only 10 minutes to check out before your item is released to other buyers. If you don’t have the cash upfront, Best Buy offers 12-month financing at $112.50 monthly to make the purchase more manageable. Using an American Express credit card? You’ll get 5% cashback (up to $125), making this deal even sweeter.

This Gigabyte RTX 5080 WATERFORCE WB is a beast for liquid-cooled builds, and stock won’t last. If your rig is ready, lock in your order before it’s gone.

The Daily Show has watched RFK Jr.'s Health Security Confirmation hearing so you don't have to.

In the clip above host Michael Kosta goes through some of the more memorable moments, from Sen. Michael Bennett giving RFK Jr. a grilling on his litany of disturbing past statements to Bernie Sanders questioning him over anti-vax baby clothing.

On the subject of vaccination, Kosta shares a clip from 2020 of RFJ Jr. expressing regret over his decision to vaccinate his own children.

"What would I do if I could go back in time?" says RFK in the footage. "And I could avoid giving my children the vaccines that I gave them? I would do anything for that. I would pay anything to be able to do that."

"That is the worst answer to 'What would you do with a time machine?' that I have ever heard," says Kosta in response. "You can't think of anyone else, in your family, that you would go back in time and try to prevent a shot from happening? Robert F. Kennedy Jr., no-one else?"

SAVE $1,200: As of Jan. 30, the 100-inch Hisense QD7 QLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV is on sale for $1,799.99 at Best Buy. That's $1,200 off its list price of $2,999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 100-Inch Class QD7 Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV (2024) $1,799.99 at Best Buy
$2,999.99 Save $1,200.00 Get Deal

For football fans, the big game is coming up soon and it's important that you've got a high-quality TV ready to go for the day. If you're on the hunt for an upgrade, Best Buy's a great place to look as they're offering some fantastic discounts at the moment on a wide variety of TVs. If you want to go big on a purchase this year, check out this discount on the massive 100-inch Hisense QD7 QLED 4K Smart TV.

A $1,200 discount has dropped its price from $2,999.99 to $1,799.99. This is an excellent deal for such a massive TV, and Best Buy also offers a free install to the value of $399. That's a great way to save and set you up for success with your new screen right away.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

This TV is worth every cent, too. Alongside its huge 100-inch size that truly immerses you in the action on screen, it offers a high-quality picture thanks to its 4K resolution and QLED technology. With this, you'll get a clear and vibrant color on your screen that brings every detail to life. Not to mention, this TV features Dolby Atmos that brings cinematic sound right into your living space.

On top of that, this Hisense TV is a smart TV that can keep all of your favorite streaming apps in one convenient location. So no matter if you're settling in for a movie night or looking for a new TV show to binge, it's all just a click away.

This massive TV is well worth it if you're looking for an upgrade. Don't miss out on $1,200 off the 100-inch Hisense QD7 QLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV at Best Buy.

Looking for even more TV deals? There are plenty to check out right now across a variety of retailers. Also at Best Buy you can save on a 48-inch LG B4 OLED 4K TV, and if you want to see another discounted big TV, check out this 98-inch TCL QM7 4K TV on sale.

SAVE $1,500: As of Jan. 30, the 98-inch TCL Q6 4K UHD HDR QLED Smart Google TV is on sale at Best Buy for $1,499.99. This is $1,500 off its list price of $2,999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 98-Inch Class Q6-Series 4K UHD HDR QLED Smart Google TV (2024) $1,499.99 at Best Buy
$2,999.99 Save $1,500.00 Get Deal

The big game is right around the corner, and if you're a football fan looking to get a TV upgrade before then, look no further than Best Buy. The retailer is offering some excellent discounts on a variety of TVs at the moment, including on some massive models like this 98-inch TCL Q6 4K QLED Smart TV. If you want the game to look even bigger and better this year, this TV will set you up for success.

The 98-inch TCL Q6 4K QLED Smart TV is currently on sale at Best Buy for $1,499.99. This is a whopping $1,500 off its list price of $2,999.99.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

Alongside its massive 98-inch size that creates a mini movie theater in your own home, this TV boasts a high-quality display as well with 4K resolution and QLED PRO technology. This makes the images on your screen pop with crisp, vibrant color so you can catch every little detail. It's also built with excellent sound in mind, complete with Dolby Atmos Audio, an Onkyo 2.1 60W speaker system, and a built-in subwoofer that immerses you in the action on screen.

Enjoy the big game this year in style with this massive 98-inch TCL Q6 4K QLED Smart TV on sale at Best Buy.

This TV deal just scratches the surface of what's out there, though. Also at Best Buy, you can save on a 48-inch LG B4 OLED 4K TV, and if you want to see another massive TV deal, have a look at this discount on the Hisense U8 Series 85-inch 4K Smart TV at Amazon.

TL;DR: Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. Washington Wizards in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Los Angeles Lakers head to Capital One Arena to face the Washington Wizards in a non-conference matchup. The Lakers are 26-19, which puts the team in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Wizards are 6-39, which puts the team in last place in the Eastern Conference.

The Lakers have won four of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Wizards have lost 14 consecutive games. The team's last win came against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 1. Washington's longest losing streak this season is 16 games.

When is Los Angeles Lakers vs. Washington Wizards?

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Washington Wizards in the NBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 30. This game takes place at Capital One Arena in Washington DC.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Washington Wizards

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Lakers vs. Wizards basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

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

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

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

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

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

How to watch Lakers vs. Wizards from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. Washington Wizards for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. Washington Wizards before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. Washington Wizards in the NBA with ExpressVPN.

SECURE YOUR LIQUID COOLED RTX 5090: The MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM LIQUID 32GB GDDR7 GPU is now available at Best Buy for $2,499.99. This liquid-cooled powerhouse delivers next-gen performance, but its built-in liquid cooling system requires room for its radiator inside your case. Stock is limited, so sign in to your Best Buy account, confirm your location, and check out within 10 minutes once added to your cart.

Opens in a new window Credit: MSI MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM LIQUID 32GB GDDR7 GPU Shop Now

The MSI RTX 5090 SUPREM LIQUID is built for serious gamers, hardcore creators, and anyone who refuses to compromise on performance. It runs on NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell architecture, packing 32GB of GDDR7 memory and DLSS 4 AI upscaling for stunning visuals and ultra-smooth frame rates. The liquid cooling system is the key here, ensuring stable performance under extreme loads. It also means you must have a compatible liquid cooling setup before buying.

With a 2.5GHz base clock and 2.58GHz boost clock, this card is designed to crush 4K and even 8K gaming, handle heavy-duty 3D rendering, and easily power multi-monitor workstations. The PCIe Gen 5 interface ensures blazing-fast data transfer, while three DisplayPort 2.1 and one HDMI 2.1 ports let you connect up to four high-refresh-rate displays. Whether you’re diving into cinematic AAA gaming, pushing the limits of Blender and Unreal Engine, or running high-performance AI workloads, the RTX 5090 SUPRIM LIQUID won’t break a sweat.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Stock at Best Buy won’t last, so make sure you’re ready. Sign in, confirm your location, and add it to your cart ASAP. You only have 10 minutes to check out once it’s in your cart, or it’ll be released to someone else. If you don’t want to drop $2,499.99 upfront, Best Buy offers 12-month financing at $208.34 monthly. On top of that, American Express cardholders can score 5% cashback (up to $125), which softens the blow of that hefty price tag.

If your PC is ready for liquid cooling and you’re after the best GPU on the market, this MSI RTX 5090 SUPRIM LIQUID is as good as it gets. Get yours before they disappear.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, January 30, 2025:

AcrossSoft rock

• The answer is Talc.

First-string squad

• The answer is ATeam.

Soft rock?

• The answer is Magma.

Tissue layers, e.g.

• The answer is Plies.

Fiona Apple and Tracy Chapman, vocally

• The answer is Altos.

DownFlorida's so-called "Cigar City"

• The answer is Tampa.

To any degree

• The answer is AtAll.

Not sketchy, colloquially

• The answer is Legit.

Brief role in a movie

• The answer is Cameo.

Midnight ___ (Christmas service)

• The answer is Mass.

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

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

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

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

Tesla will have to replace HW3 computers with the newer, HW4 version, for Tesla owners who purchased the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) package.

The news comes from CEO Elon Musk, who finally admitted it during Wednesday's Tesla earnings call (via Electrek). "The truth is that we will need to replace all HW3 computers in vehicles where FSD was purchased," said Musk after Tesla's head of FSD, Ashok Elluswamy, said the company is "not giving up on it."

SEE ALSO: EU faces legal action from Tesla, BMW over tariffs on Chinese-made EVs

For years, Musk claimed that Tesla cars with HW3 hardware are future-proof, meaning they'll be capable of running FSD once it truly becomes what Musk wants it to be: a feature package offering unsupervised, autonomous driving in Tesla cars.

This likely prompted many owners to dish out the money for FSD, which is not an insignificant amount (Tesla added a $99 per month FSD subscription option last year). The pricing for FSD changed over the years, but it currently stands at $8,000 in the U.S.

Tesla started shipping cars with HW3 in April 2019, and HW4 came in January 2023 (later for some models). This means that all Tesla cars sold from mid-2019 to early 2023 have HW3 installed; all owners of such vehicles that purchased the FSD package will need to have the HW3 computers replaced with HW4 to enjoy its full benefits.

Tweet may have been deleted

This is going to be a monumental task for Tesla. "We are going to have to upgrade Hardware 3 for people who bought FSD. That’s the honest answer. It's going to be painful and difficult but that’s what we're going to have to do," Musk said during the call.

Tesla already had to do this once, albeit on a smaller scale. In 2019, the company started replacing the older, HW2.5 computer with HW3 for owners who purchased the FSD package.

As Electrek noted, this might not sit well with Tesla owners who did not purchase FSD, as Musk claimed (repeatedly, for years), that all cars since 2016 are capable of Full Self-Driving. The company already lost one court case over a HW3 retrofit, with the judge calling out Tesla for "false advertising."

During the call Musk also promised that Tesla will launch a paid robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. This will require the unsupervised version of FSD, which hasn't been released yet. As it stands, FSD is still a set of features which give Tesla cars some partial autonomy, but does not enable the cars to drive themselves without user supervision.

SECURE YOUR RTX 5080: The MSI RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7 GPU is listed at Best Buy for $1,249.99. Stock is expected to disappear fast, so follow Best Buy’s purchasing guidance: Create an account, confirm your location, and check out within 10 minutes once the item is in your cart. Financing options, 5% cashback with American Express (up to $125), and gift card balances can help manage the cost.

Opens in a new window Credit: MSI MSI RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7 GPU Shop Now

The MSI RTX 5080 is here, bringing NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture to gamers, creators, and power users. This 16GB GDDR7 GPU offers DLSS 4 AI-powered upscaling, real-time ray tracing, and a max resolution of 8K. With a 2.7GHz base and boost clock speeds, it delivers buttery smooth gameplay in 4K while efficiently handling demanding tasks like 3D rendering and AI workloads. Three DisplayPort 2.1 outputs and one HDMI 2.1 port let you run up to four displays, making it perfect for multi-monitor setups or ultra-wide gaming rigs.

MSI has seriously upgraded cooling with its Hyper Frozr Thermal Design, ensuring the card stays calm under pressure while keeping noise levels low. The 3.5-slot design and large fin array work alongside triple axial fans, optimizing airflow for maximum heat dissipation. The PCIe Gen 5 interface ensures top-tier performance, with support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan RT, and OpenGL 4.6 for a future-proofed gaming experience.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Best Buy isn’t making this an easy grab, so sign in or create an account beforehand. Confirm your preferred pickup or shipping location, add the GPU to your cart, and check out within 10 minutes before your spot is lost. If stock runs out, keep refreshing, as Best Buy releases inventory in small waves.

If you’re worried about the price tag, Best Buy offers financing plans with 12-month payments of $104.17 per month. Plus, you can get 5% cashback (up to $125) if you have an American Express credit card. Another smart move is to use gift cards to lower the upfront cost.

This MSI RTX 5080 is a serious upgrade for any gaming or creative setup. With demand expected to be sky-high, act fast or risk missing out. Good luck, and may your checkout speed be faster than the bots.

SECURE YOUR RTX 5090: The ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7 GPU is set to go live at Best Buy for $1,999.99. Given the hype and limited stock, you'll need to follow Best Buy’s buying guidance closely: Create an account, confirm your location, and be quick at checkout. Financing options, cashback deals, and using gift card balances can help soften the blow of this beastly GPU’s price too.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7 Shop Now

Let's not sugarcoat it; the ASUS RTX 5090 is an absolute unit of a graphics card. Built with NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture, it comes packed with 32GB of next-gen GDDR7 memory, an 8K resolution cap, and DLSS 4 AI-powered upscaling, making everything look smoother, sharper, and more detailed.

It has a 2.4GHz base clock and a 2.43GHz boost clock, giving it an edge in high-FPS gaming, 3D rendering, and AI-based workloads. If you plan on running Cyberpunk 2077 maxed out in 4K or pushing real-time ray tracing to the absolute limit, this GPU will make it all buttery smooth.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Cooling has been completely overhauled, and ASUS isn't messing around. The 3.5-slot design is backed by three Axial-tech fans, a massive fin array, and a phase-change GPU thermal pad, which lasts longer and performs better than standard thermal paste. The military-grade components ensure durability, while the ASUS protective PCB coating protects against dust and moisture. It's a beast in size and power, so make sure your case and power supply (1000W recommended) are ready to handle it.

Best Buy expects these to fly off the shelves, so sign in or create an account before launch. Confirm your preferred pick-up or shipping location, add the GPU to your cart, and complete checkout within 10 minutes — otherwise, you'll lose your spot. If stock vanishes, keep refreshing because Best Buy releases inventory in waves.

There are ways to soften the financial blow for payment options. Best Buy offers financing plans through its Best Buy Credit Card, and if you've got an American Express card, you can get 5% cashback (up to $125) on your purchase. Gift cards? Now's the time to use them to cut down that hefty upfront cost.

This ASUS RTX 5090 is the GPU to get, and if you're serious about snagging one, you'll need speed, strategy, and a bit of luck. Good luck. May your checkout button be faster than the scalpers'.

The Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist is taking a break from the future to examine his past — and mulling where the billionaires now fit in.

On Dec. 27, 2024, NASA's Juno spacecraft swooped by the volcanic world Io. It witnessed a giant eruption.

As the space agency's basketball court-sized craft orbits Jupiter, it swings near the gas giant's intriguing moons, which allowed Juno to observe "a massive hot spot" near Io's south pole. Juno's JIRAM instrument, which can detect heat, observed a number of closely spaced hot spots, pointing to a giant eruption of lava from a vast underground chamber.

"The data supports that this is the most intense volcanic eruption ever recorded on Io," Alessandro Mura, a Juno scientist from the National Institute for Astrophysics in Rome, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Scientists discover a super-Earth. Something about it is strange.

But that's not all. Io, a realm about the size of Earth's moon but blanketed in hundreds of active volcanoes, is no normal place.

"This is the most powerful volcanic event ever recorded on the most volcanic world in our solar system — so that’s really saying something," said Scott Bolton, who leads the Juno mission.

This newly found volcanic feature covers an area of some 40,000 square miles, or 100,000 square kilometers. That smashes the previous record-holder, a feature called Loki Patera — considered the most active and persistent hot spot on Io — that hosts a lava lake spanning some 7,700 square miles (20,000 square kilometers).

The hot spot, which NASA notes is bigger than Lake Superior, is visible below.

The massive hot spot on Io viewed to the right of the moon's south pole. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / ASI / INAF / JIRAM Surface changes seen in the location of the detected hot spot between April 9, 2024, and Dec. 27, 2024. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Image processing by Jason Perry

Io is blanketed in erupting volcanoes because it's relentlessly locked in a tug-of-war between nearby objects, including the colossal Jupiter. "Not only is the biggest planet in the solar system forever pulling at it gravitationally, but so are Io’s Galilean siblings — Europa and the biggest moon in the solar system, Ganymede," NASA explained in a statement. "The result is that Io is continuously stretched and squeezed, actions linked to the creation of the lava seen erupting from its many volcanoes."

NASA's recent flybys of Io, however, have revealed that it likely doesn't contain a global magma ocean beneath its surface, as determined by new observations of the moon's gravity. Instead, each of Io's 400 or so volcanoes may harbor their own chamber of magma.

And NASA intends to further investigate this new site of prodigious volcanism. Juno will again fly by Io on March 3. Its cameras will be tuned to this compelling region of the moon, located some 484 million miles beyond Earth.

DeepSeek, this week's hit AI app out of China, won't replace teachers in the classroom anytime soon. As with any of its American rivals, the hallucination problem is still strong with this one.

But make no mistake, it is a teacher. With its significantly cheaper price, and a model that is comparable on benchmark tests to its smartest rivals, DeepSeek is already taking Silicon Valley giants to school.

No matter where Nvidia stock ends up after its current rollercoaster ride, the AI landscape beneath it has been permanently altered by DeepSeek. The wisest tech firms are the ones who will make adjustments while they still can.

Here are five main lessons that the rise of DeepSeek has already taught us.

American exceptionalism isn't a thing ...

Here was perhaps the biggest blind spot in Silicon Valley: Just because American companies have traditionally been at the head of the class when it comes to tech innovation, it was generally assumed that things would always stay that way.

SEE ALSO: What DeepSeek knows about you — and why it matters

China was a manufacturing powerhouse, and software engineers are increasingly in high demand there, but America has the design know-how and the entrepreneurial spirit that will win out every time, so no major changes are needed. Right?

Maybe someone in the U.S. AI industry should have asked someone in the U.S. auto industry how this complacent attitude to nimble overseas competitors worked out for them.

The U.S. may still have the world's largest GDP, but China's is still growing faster, and has been since 2020. The U.S. may be the investment capital of the world, but it seems Chinese hedge funds — like the one that bankrolled DeepSeek — can be just as disruptive.

DeepSeek "certainly isn't the end of the story of U.S. exceptionalism," one analyst told Yahoo Finance's Morning Brief on Monday. Perhaps not, but it could well be the beginning of the end. No American tech giant that hopes to survive the 21st century can afford to act like America is the greatest country on Earth just because it's America.

American protectionism shouldn't be a thing either.

The second lesson is also the result of misguided patriotism. DeepSeek is the kind of foreign leap forward that the U.S. government has been trying to avoid for years, no matter which president was in charge. The CHIPS act pushed by the Biden administration sought to keep powerful processor technology from companies like Nvidia out of Chinese hands; Chinese companies had built a massive stockpile of them already.

SEE ALSO: Meet Alibaba's Qwen 2.5, an AI model claiming to beat both DeepSeek and OpenAI's ChatGPT

Here's the thing about protectionism: most economists and tech experts have been telling us for years that it just doesn't work. If anything, the protectionist attitude of CHIPS seems to have woken a sleeping giant in China's homegrown AI infrastructure development; DeepSeek needed to work on fewer and less elaborate chipsets. Necessity is the mother of invention, no matter the country. Chinese companies have been looking for every edge possible — including making AI models open source, a key advantage to DeepSeek.

American companies can't even control how their own products are used abroad. Early versions of DeepSeek were reportedly built using Llama, the open-source Large Language Model created by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta. The internet, and all the information sharing it represents, keep on flattening the playing field for business. American tech giants don't exactly get an exemption for having built out the internet in the first place.

Building bigger isn't better.

Why did the sudden appearance of DeepSeek cause the stock market to hammer Nvidia? Because Nvidia chips are the centerpiece of a data center surge planned, at great environmental cost, by just about all the major tech companies (except Apple).

The main reason for this surge was to slake the thirst of increasingly popular AI models for processing power (not to mention literal thirst for a still unknown amount of water).

But the big surprise of DeepSeek is that it is, as they say in Silicon Valley, hella efficient. This suggest that there are still major innovations to be found on the software side, not the data center hardware side. LLMs can learn to work smarter, not harder.

This increases the likelihood that in the future, every company might get away with using its own homebrew AI model. Or even that open-source AI models might eventually get small enough to fit on a smartphone. (In which case: Nice one, Apple.)

In other words, U.S. AI companies assumed the answer was to build the tech equivalent of SUVs. China just built an electric motorbike that can go as fast as an SUV. And on these metaphorical roads, the lightest vehicle wins.

AI marketing means next to nothing.

Poor OpenAI. With much of its tech leadership quitting, the company doubled down on marketing; witness the slick "12 days of OpenAI" production, where Sora and a lot of incremental product tweaks were given a friendly, fun, multi-day online keynote sheen by Sam Altman and friends. At the holidays! Who doesn't love holidays? Who doesn't want their product in the marketplace for the holidays?

And which brainbox would be dumb enough to launch their hot new product at the dead end of January, with absolutely zilch in the way of marketing beyond a weird-looking dolphin logo? DeepSeek, that's who.

The app arrived with little fanfare during the inauguration; days later came its surprise benchmark results as reported by researchers. This made for eye-opening headlines, which in turn sent curious users to their respective app stores, which drove the stock market wild, which created more stories. That's the mysterious force called buzz, and DeepSeek has it like no product we've seen since ChatGPT in 2022.

At time of writing, DeepSeek leads both the Google Play chart and the App Store, as it has all week. In the latter, it has pushed ChatGPT and Google Gemini into silver and bronze medal positions respectively. The 1,400 reviews on the App Store are led by one where the user has given DeepSeek four stars out of five, calling the model "mind-blowing" but docking it one star because "it would be really helpful if it had a landscape mode."

In other words, we're already at the "this is so great I'm annoyed it isn't perfect in its first iteration" stage of DeepSeek fandom. There is no such thing as brand loyalty in AI consumer world. The level playing field of app stores reward the app that is the least hassle (including the hassle of paying for it) while performing at a level comparable to the industry leader.

We might distrust DeepSeek for its terms and conditions, but it's not like we trusted ChatGPT in the first place. In both cases, we're mesmerized by the way the thing itself can answer most of our questions. The wrapper matters little. And if that's the AI landscape going forward, what use is American-style marketing?

Superstar CEOs are getting in the way.

You might also ask: What use is treating Silicon Valley CEOs like rock stars, or vengeful gods, if DeepSeek was brought into existence by one of the most obscure, self-effacing guys on the face of the planet?

In the U.S., tech leaders have to work really hard not to get high on their own supply of hype. They see themselves on magazine covers constantly; they get really respectfully interviewed on amped-up business news shows. Readers and viewers tend to assume they have all the answers. Biographers encourage this view.

The myth of the Steve Jobs-like tech celebrity genius is everywhere; just don't look too closely at the details.

SEE ALSO: Genius or manchild? Reconsidering Steve Jobs after his daughter's book

But DeepSeek just shone a spotlight on this myth. While it was quietly gathering steam in the past week, what was U.S. AI leadership doing? Making empty announcements and bickering like children.

Trump and OpenAI's Project Stargate is still unclear about what it is, exactly, and where its supposed $500 million funding is coming from. The administration needed someone who looked like they knew what they were doing with AI, so they called in Sam Altman. But that upset fellow mercurial celebrity Elon Musk, who started feuding with Altman on social media.

Great job counteracting DeepSeek, guys, no notes. But seriously, if the little dolphin-logo app can help end the era where Silicon Valley followed the pronouncements of the latest cults of personality, that may be its hardest and best lesson of all.

Every way to watch 'Babygirl' at home: WATCH NOW Buy or rent 'Babygirl' on Prime Video $24.99 to buy, $19.99 to rent Get Deal WATCH NOW Buy or rent 'Babygirl' at Apple TV+ $24.99 to buy, $19.99 to rent Get Deal WATCH LATER Max (With Ads) annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal WATCH LATER Max Ad-Free annual subscription $169.99/year (save 16%) Get Deal WATCH LATER Max (With Ads) for Cricket customers Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Get Deal WATCH LATER Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal WATCH LATER Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 38%) Get Deal

2024 was the year sex returned to cinema. There was the neo-noir thriller Love Lies Bleeding, the mega-viral love-triangle drama Challengers, the sex-worker-centered Cinderella story Anora, and finally — just hitting theaters with a week left in the year — Nicole Kidman and A24's Babygirl. And they might've saved the best for last. As Mashable Film Editor Kristy Puchko puts it, "Amid stiff competition, [Kidman] delivers one of the sexiest, most thrilling films of the year."

The Oscars may have snubbed the movie, but Kidman's performance earned her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival. Now, just a little over a month after its theatrical debut, Babygirl is officially available to watch at home. We're still unsure when it will make its streaming debut, but you can now rent or purchase the film at digital retailers as of Jan. 28, 2025. Here's everything you need to know to watch Babygirl at home.

What is Babygirl about?

In Babygirl, Nicole Kidman stars as Romy, a powerful CEO trying to balance a demanding professional life with her personal life, which includes a loving husband (Antonio Banderas) and two teenage daughters (Vaughan Reilly and nepo baby Esther McGregor). When cocky intern Samuel (Triangle of Sadness' Harris Dickinson) starts inappropriately flirting with her, she's both shocked and aroused. What follows is a lusty affair exploring dominance and submission that threatens to break her entire world apart.

Get a sneak peek at the erotic thriller in the official trailer:

Is Babygirl worth watching?

Interestingly, while critics have been loving Dutch writer/director Halina Reijn's latest flick, audiences are a bit more conflicted. Babygirl currently holds a 77 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but just a 48 percent audience rating. This is likely to change now that the film is available to a wider audience, but the conflicting numbers are definitely curious.

Puchko raved about the erotic thriller in her review out of TIFF. She wrote, "Altogether, the cast makes Babygirl a stunner, landing silly moments as well as sexy ones. Emotionally naked, unapologetically provocative, and defiantly playful, Reijn's film joyfully explores the complicated ties that bind. Amid stiff competition, she delivers one of the sexiest, most thrilling films of the year."

Babygirl even made the top 10 in our list of the best movies of 2024. We expected it to be a contender this awards season, but were surprised to see it snubbed in all Oscar categories.

Read our full review of Babygirl.

How to watch Babygirl at home Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in 'Babygirl' pool scene Credit: A24

Thankfully, A24 didn't tease us for long. Just a little over a month after the sexually charged thriller made its theatrical debut, it became available to watch at home via video-on-demand platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can either purchase the film for your digital collection or rent it for 30 days. If you'd rather stream Babygirl instead, scroll on to learn more.

You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers as of Jan. 28:

• Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Google Play — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

Note: Renting a film gives you 30 days to watch and just 48 hours to finish once you begin.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or buy 'Babygirl' at Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Watch Now Is Babygirl streaming?

There's no official streaming date yet for Babygirl, but as an A24 film, we know it will eventually make its streaming debut on Max alongside other recent A24 theatrical hits like Civil War and MaXXXine, thanks to a multi-year output deal. If you want to be prepared for when the film does eventually land on the streamer — or want to catch up on previous A24 films — you can sign up for a Max subscription ahead of time. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are a few ways to save money on your plan.

Check out the best Max streaming deals below.

The best Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on Max with ads annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (with ads) yearly subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Watch Now

The cheapest Max subscription is $9.99 per month, but only if you don't mind a few ads here and there. You can wait until Babygirl starts streaming and sign up for a single month of service, then cancel before you're charged for another. Or, you could stick around for the long haul and save some money on your subscription. An annual plan with ads will cost you $99.99 per year, which breaks down to just $8.33 per month. Of course, you'll have to pay upfront, but that'll keep 16% in your pocket as opposed to a monthly plan.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save 16% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max (No Ads) annual subscription $169.99 per year (save 16%) Watch Now

Similarly, you can save an extra 16% by committing to a yearly plan of the Max ad-free tiers. If ads are a total deal breaker for you, you have two tiers to choose from: Max Ad-Free and Max Ultimate Ad-Free. The basic ad-free tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.17 per month), while the Ultimate tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month).

Note: Both tiers offer an ad-free viewing experience, but the Ultimate tier comes with 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Watch Now

If you have a Cricket wireless plan, you may be able to access Max for free. Cricket customers on the $60 per month unlimited plan get a free Max with ads subscription. That's a $99.99 per year value for zero dollars. Just head over to the Max app, choose Cricket as your provider, then enter your Cricket credentials to log in. Boom — you're free to watch whatever you want, whenever you want — including Babygirl once it's released.

Check out the terms and conditions on Cricket's website to learn more. If you want to watch Babygirl for free, this will be your only option (once it's released on Max).

Best Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max with ads Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can get an entire year of Max with ads for just $4.99 per month instead of $9.99. That's 50% in savings. You'll just have to verify your student status with UNiDAYS to retrieve the unique discount code that will drop the price.

Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / Max Disney+, Hulu, and Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

It won't be your cheapest option for watching Babygirl, but you can get a lot of bang for your buck if you opt for a streaming bundle deal — especially if you already subscribe to Hulu or Disney+. For only $16.99 per month (reg. $25.97), you can sign up for Max, Hulu, and Disney+ with ads or $29.99 per month (reg. $48.97) without ads. That's up to 38% in savings for access to three full streaming libraries.

TL;DR: Ditch the bulk of AirTags and get the KeySmart SmartCard that fits in your wallet and works with Apple’s Find My app while it's just $29.97 (reg. $39.99) with free shipping through Jan. 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart SmartCard $29.97
$39.99 Save $10.02 Thinnest Card Tracker & Works with Apple Find My Get Deal

Tired of misplacing your wallet or ID and wishing for a sleeker solution than the AirTag? Meet the KeySmart SmartCard — the slimmest tracker on the market that combines style, durability, and tracking technology.

At less than 2mm thick, it’s designed to fit snugly into your wallet, luggage, or anywhere AirTags just won’t fit. It also has a range of 200 feet. And with free shipping, it’s yours for only $29.97 — if you act fast and purchase by Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

This tracking device is a game-changer for the organized (and not-so-organized) among us. The KeySmart SmartCard works flawlessly with Apple’s Find My network, giving you access to a global network to track your essentials.

Misplaced your wallet at a coffee shop? Play a sound to locate it nearby, or check its last known location on a map. Forget your card somewhere? You’ll get a notification before you even realize it’s missing.

But it’s not just smart — it’s tough. Thanks to an IPX8 waterproof rating, the SmartCard can handle outdoor adventures and accidental spills alike. It lasts up to five months on a single charge and recharges wirelessly with any Qi-enabled charger (goodbye disposable batteries). Whether you’re a traveler, commuter, outdoor enthusiast, or someone who wants peace of mind, the KeySmart SmartCard is worth a closer look.

It's on sale for just $29.97 (with free shipping) through Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT, so don't wait to get your KeySmart SmartCard.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC — a one-time purchase for $119.97 (reg. $149) through February 2, no subscription required.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time Purchase $119.97 at Mashable Shop
$149.99 Save $30.02 Get Deal What you can expect from your one-time purchase of Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC:

• Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for essential productivity

• One-time purchase with no recurring fees for lifetime use on one device

• Redesigned ribbon for quick access to tools based on what you’re working on

• Co-authoring features let multiple users collaborate in real-time

• Smarter AI suggestions for text, formatting, and data visualization

• Optimized for Mac Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia operating systems, as well as Windows 10 or 11 operating systems

• Create, collaborate, and organize your projects without ongoing subscriptions

Boost your productivity with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC, now $119.97 until Feb. 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT — no monthly fees, just essential tools you can count on.

StackSocial prices subject to change.