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Grab your obscene popcorn bucket, because it's time to look back on 2024, an absolutely outrageous year at the movies.
Sequels soared at the box office, from Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Dune: Part Two. Scandals arose on the use of AI in production design and in quoting fictional reviews of Francis Ford Coppola movies. Musicals took to the spotlight for better or worse, ranging from Wicked, Mean Girls, The End, and This Me Now...A Love Story to Joker: Folie à Deux. Action movies hit hard with Fall Guy, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and Monkey Man. Superhero movies raged on with chaotic anti-heroes in Madame Web, Deadpool & Wolverine, and The People's Joker. And sex in cinema was alive and well across Love Lies Bleeding, The Idea of You, Challengers, Queer, Nosferatu, Anora, and Babygirl.
But amid so much weirdness and riches, what impressed Mashable's entertainment team enough to make our top 10? Well, we loved so many movies this year, we couldn't stop there. And that's great news for anyone looking to watch something wild and wonderful this winter.
Here are the 25 best movies of the year, and where you can watch them.
25. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the RohirrimPeter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies are a tough act to live up to (just ask his Hobbit trilogy). That's why it's so refreshing that Kenji Kamiyama's anime film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim doesn't just seek to replicate its predecessors' formula. (Although you can expect plenty of Lord of the Rings Easter eggs.) Instead, this prequel opts for something bleaker, yet no less epic.
The War of the Rohirrim returns us to Rohan over a century before the events of The Lord of the Rings. Here, King Helm Hammerhand (voiced by Succession's Brian Cox) and his fierce daughter Héra (voiced by Gaia Wise) fight to protect their kingdom from the advances of Dunlending lord Wulf (voiced by Luke Pasqualino). The ensuing conflict leads to a grueling siege at the Hornburg, where War of the Rohirrim delves deep into the psychological strain of war. The focus on this desperation and the addition of some gothic horror elements adds new textures to what we've seen of J.R.R. Tolkien's work on-screen, making for a truly spectacular outing to Middle-earth. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim opens in theaters Dec. 13.
24. BirdAndrea Arnold’s latest triumph Bird is a brash, beautiful, and deeply moving coming-of-age tale with a touch of magical realism and wondrous performances.
The film centers on observant, creative, headstrong teen Bailey (an exceptional Nykiya Adams), whose life in a dilapidated Gravesend squat comes with significant challenges — the latest of which, her flighty dad, Bug (a gleeful Barry Keoghan), is both getting married and wants to pay for it all with a drug toad, and her mum, Peyton (the ever-talented Jasmine Jobson), and young siblings are in real danger from her abusive partner, Skate (a terrifying James Nelson-Joyce). Feeling pretty alone through all this and the horrors of puberty, Bailey finds an unexpected friend in eccentric, gentle wanderer Bird, a sublime, fragile performance by Franz Rogowski you won't forget anytime soon. As Siddhant Adlakha writes in his review for Mashable, "From the moment he appears, Rogowski's soft physicality brings dazzling contrast to Bailey's rough-and-tumble world, building intrigue in the process."
Electrified with a Blur/Oasis-filled Britpop soundtrack with copious amounts of Irish post-punk pals Fontaines D.C., Bird captures a complex portrait of adolescence, metamorphosis, and English social realism in the way only Arnold can. You'll be singing Blur's "The Universal" all the way down the street afterward. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
How to watch: Bird will premiere on MUBI Dec. 23.
23. KneecapCapturing the rebelliousness of the Irish hip-hop group for which it's named, Kneecap is a raucous and hilarious origin story starring Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, and DJ Próvaí themselves. It's a bold move from director/writer Richard Peppiatt, but one that pays off big as the band's charisma translates to the big screen.
Forget those doggedly dramatic, respectful movies about a musician's life and times. Kneecap's tale is one of sex, hard drugs, boneheaded decisions, and bangin' tracks that sparked a cultural resurrection — specifically, helping to preserve the Irish language. As I cheered in my review, "Peppiatt has done a superb job of not only shaking off the oh-so-serious shackles that are musician biopic conventions but also enthusiastically embracing the hip-hop energy of his subjects, allowing them to be both the stars and fuel of their story, propelling them to a climax that deserves its rowdy encore across the credits.
"Simply put, Kneecap is sensational, silly, sharp, and ultimately sublime." — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
How to watch: Kneecap is now streaming on Netflix.
22. La ChimeraThe past and present collide in La Chimera, director Alice Rohrwacher's playful, melancholic tomb-raiding fantasy.
La Chimera stars Josh O'Connor (who's had a banner spring, between this and Challengers) as Arthur, the leader of a group of Tuscan tomb raiders (or tombaroli). Arthur has a mysterious knack for finding lost artifacts, a process Rohrwacher and cinematographer Hélène Louvart bring to life with a heavy dose of magical realism. Yet while the other tombaroli pillage tombs for money and glory, Arthur, haunted by visions of his lost love Beniamina (Yile Yara Vianello), seeks something less tangible. His quest plays out like something out of a fairy tale, filled with dreamy memories, tentative romance, and an aching longing that buries itself deep in your heart. — B.E.
How to watch: La Chimera is now streaming on Hulu.
21. Late Night with the DevilIf you like your horror lean and mean, you must see this '70s-set indie from writers/directors Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes (aka the Cairnes Brothers).
David Dastmalchian, a character actor who's unnerved us in The Boogeyman and Prisoners, headlines here as Jack Delroy, a talk show host who is so determined to best Johnny Carson's ratings that he invites an allegedly possessed girl to be a guest on his Halloween special. Part showbiz satire, part found-footage horror, Late Night with the Devil uses a low-fi look and keenly creepy effects to create a throwback tale of terror that is rank with fresh blood. While the film's been criticized for its use of AI, its scares are so satisfying that it earned praise from none other than the master of horror himself, Stephen King. So, take a cue from our review: "Tune in and hang on. Dastmalchian and his demon are coming for you." — K.P.
How to watch: Late Night with the Devil is now streaming on Hulu and AMC+, and is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.
20. The People's JokerThere are some movies so bizarre and daring that their very existence feels like a miracle. The People's Joker is one such miracle.
Co-writer/director/star Vera Drew channels her personal trans coming-of-age story into a supervillain narrative set in a funhouse mirror version of Batman's Gotham. There, Joker the Harlequin (Drew) seeks to make a mark on a corrupted comedy scene, ruled by a literally cartoony version of Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels. With a production design crowdsourced from across the internet, The People's Joker plays like an explosive kaleidoscope of references to every Batman movie and beyond. There's a deep love of all things DC, but without the suffocating reverence that has brought on superhero fatigue. With her biting sense of humor and raw emotional revelations, Drew has constructed a supervillain tale that is as jarring as it is compelling, as peculiar as it is profound. And considering Warner Bros.' litigious looming, that she got to release this movie at all is a victory for every weirdo with an idea for fanfic greatness. — K.P.
How to watch: The People's Joker is streaming on MUBI.
19. Hit ManRichard Linklater and Glen Powell reunite for Hit Man, a rom-com that is killer in all sense of the word.
Powell plays Gary Johnson, a college professor whose side gig as an undercover hit man leads to an unexpected meet-cute with would-be client Madison (Andor's Adria Arjona). The pair's connection (and electrifying chemistry) sparks a delightful game of false identities, reinvention, and twisted love that toggles between hilarious, thrilling, and sexy at a moment's notice. Oh, who am I kidding; sometimes it's all three at once! — B.E.
How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.
18. Hard TruthsIt's been almost 30 years since Marianne Jean-Baptiste co-starred in Mike Leigh's critically acclaimed Secrets & Lies, which earned her a slew of award nominations. As the prickly Pansy in Leigh's Hard Truths, Jean-Baptiste turns in one of the most extraordinary performances of the year. The result of their on-screen reunion is a challenging, sharply written, and stunningly performed kitchen sink drama. Pansy's daily anguish at the world around her results in increasingly unfiltered interactions, not only with strangers but with her husband, Curtley (David Webber), and son, Moses (Tuwaine Barrett). Jean-Baptiste also shares the screen with an excellent Michele Austin, who plays Pansy's much more positive sister, Chantal. With Leigh teaming up yet again with cinematographer Dick Pope, Hard Truths hits close to home as a tale of suppressed resentment, understandable rage, family trauma and grief, and ultimately, of what happens when you say the quiet part out loud.
As Siddhant Adlakha writes in his review for Mashable, "Hard Truths becomes a complex showreel for humanity at its most bitter and pained, with characters forced to turn inward and at least recognize (if not introspect and improve upon) the worst corners of themselves. Through long, unbroken close-ups and scenes of familial interaction in which tensions subtly build, Leigh's stark naturalism is brought slowly and fiercely to the fore by an accomplished actress at the height of her power, and at the height of her vulnerability." — S.C.
How to watch: Hard Truths will have a qualifying run in New York City on Dec. 6 before opening in limited release Jan. 10, 2025.
17. The BrutalistIn his in-depth review for Mashable, Siddhant Adlakha wrote, "The Brutalist is a towering paean to the American dream, in all its force and folly. Set over several decades, Brady Corbet's post-World War II immigrant saga is — like the architectural achievements of its protagonist — constructed with meticulous consideration, resulting in a work of multifaceted technique and piercing humanity.
"The film, arresting from its first frames, spends three-and-a-half engrossing hours on the tale of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a fictitious Jewish Hungarian architect and survivor of the Holocaust, whose arrival in America yields both rigorous struggle and tempting opportunity. It embodies the kind of American epics no longer really made by Hollywood studios. Comparisons to The Godfather have abounded since its Venice International Film Festival premiere (though as a vast immigrant saga, a more fitting analogy might be The Godfather Part II). Time will tell whether these are hyperbole, but while watching The Brutalist, it's hard not to think of the truly great American stories of the 20th century, like Once Upon a Time in America, and, on occasion, even Citizen Kane...The Brutalist is, deep in its bones, a collectivist film that not only places immense emotional value on people and their history, but creates and embodies that value too."
How to watch: The Brutalist will open in limited theaters Dec. 20.
16. Furiosa: A Mad Max SagaGeorge Miller, you've done it again! The director's return to the Mad Max wasteland is nothing short of spectacular, a blistering revenge epic and work of mythology that pushes its lead character Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne, both spectacular) — and action filmmaking as a whole! — to new heights.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a prequel done right, deepening Furiosa's story from Mad Max: Fury Road without stooping to fan service-y lore bombs. Here, we'll meet new players in the wasteland, like warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth, killing it in villain mode) and stoic driver Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), with whom Furiosa shares a compelling, if understated, romance. It's also some of the best on-screen action since Fury Road itself. Miller kicks us off with a taut chase between Furiosa's formidable mother (Charlee Fraser) and the raiders who stole Furiosa, teaching us the rules of wasteland survival and attrition with keen visual storytelling. That's just a teaser for the real showstopper: a massive attack on Immortan Joe's (Lachy Hulme) war rig, complete with aerial warfare, real-time engine repair, and a character simply known as Piss Boy. Witness him, but more importantly, witness the brilliance that is Furiosa. — B.E.
How to watch: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is now on Max.
15. The SubstanceThe Substance is one of the most critically heralded horror films of the year and also one of the most polarizing among our team. As the ferocious follow-up to her grisly and glorious directorial debut Revenge, French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat pulled no punches, delivering a thriller that's a gut-churning knockout.
Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress whose star is fading as she ages, and heartless Hollywood execs (exemplified by a shellfish-chomping Dennis Quaid) hunger for young beauties and fresh blood. So when a miracle drug allows her to split her life with a perky younger model of herself (Drive-Away Dolls' Margaret Qualley), she leaps at the chance. But the brutal cost it takes is ugly.
A ghastly satire about the misogynistic beauty standards applied to women, The Substance shocked and awed critics and audiences alike with its giddily gruesome imagery. In his review for Mashable, Siddhant Adlakha argued "its style has no real substance." Others on our team were apoplectic over the movie's most twisted turns. But the majority of Mashable's team reveled in Fargeat's brutal honesty, which explored how vanity and insecurity can warp a person, inside and out. Speaking for those of us who loved The Substance, there's something undeniably exhilarating about a movie that's as proudly pink as Barbie but as unhinged as the gnarliest midnight movie. — K.P.
How to watch: The Substance is now streaming on MUBI.
14. OddityIn a year rich with sensational horror offerings, Oddity was among our very favorite. A follow-up to Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy's deeply creepy Caveat, Oddity seamlessly blends a barrage of spooky subgenres with Irish lore to create something sickening, scary, strange, and timeless.
As I recounted in my review of the movie's SXSW premiere, this supernatural thriller begins with a seeming slasher setup. A woman home alone hears an unwelcome knock at the door, and then is offered an impossible decision that will determine: life or death. Keeping his audience on their toes, McCarthy then leaps to a year later, introducing us to a visually impaired psychic and her oddity shop, full of cursed curiosities. From there, ghosts, witchcraft, and psychological thriller elements come into play, mostly within a remote home that looks just wrong from every angle. And that's before the creepy Wooden Man arrives as a grim gift. In this way, Oddity plays like an anthology, unfurling horrific surprises, intense scares, and strange stories, but all within one sophisticated, unnerving saga. The result is a movie that's not just a must-see for horror fans, it's a must-see over and over again to catch every cryptic detail. — K.P.
How to watch: Oddity is now streaming on Shudder.
13. ConclaveNo one is more surprised than lapsed Catholic me that one of the funnest films of 2024 was set in a cardinal's conclave to choose the new pope. Sure, on the surface, Conclave, adapted from Robert Harris' 2016 novel of the same name, is a thriller. In the sacred halls of the Vatican, the Catholic church's most revered leaders gather together for a series of secret votes to determine who among them will be God's representative on Earth. And as dean of the conclave, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked not only with keeping things running smoothly but also sussing out what skeletons lie in the closets of the contenders.
SEE ALSO: 'Conclave' review: Vatican-set thriller is divinely funAnd yet within this dramatic framework, the charming ensemble (which includes Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow) laces in a catty sense of humor, which has been catching on in memes and social media. Through this divine blend of suspense and subtle comedy, helmer Edward Berger delivers a thriller that is divinely entertaining. — K.P.
How to watch: Conclave is now in theaters and available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.
12. The Wild RobotYou know how some movies can make you cry just by thinking about them? That's the case with The Wild Robot, a stunning story of connection and kindness from DreamWorks Animation and director Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon).
SEE ALSO: 'The Wild Robot' review: Who knew a robot and goose could make me sob so much?Like in Sanders' prior work, The Wild Robot strikes gold with a story of an unlikely duo: a robot named Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong'o), who's stranded on a deserted island, and an orphaned gosling named Brightbill (voiced by Heartstopper's Kit Connor), who imprints on her. While Roz initially views raising Brightbill as a task she needs to complete in order to fulfill her programming, the pair's relationship becomes so much more — as does Roz's relationship to the entire island. An ode to found family and to the power of kindness, The Wild Robot won't stop until it's tugged every last one of your heartstrings. Nor will it stop until you've marveled at every detail of its watercolor-inspired animation, a marvel of visual storytelling that instantly elevates it to one of DreamWorks' (and 2024's) best. — B.E.
How to watch: The Wild Robot is now available to purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
11. FlowThere may be no more immersive movie-watching experience this year than Flow, a dialogue-free ride through a flooded fantasy world that may leave you feeling as soaked (and stressed) as its unlikely heroes. Director Gints Zilbalodis puts us in the paws of a little black cat struggling to survive after a watery disaster sweeps it from its home. Stranded on a sailboat with a motley group of animals — including a capybara, a lemur, a secretarybird, and a Golden Retriever — the cat must learn to cooperate with its crewmates if it's going to adapt to this strange new world.
SEE ALSO: 'Flow' review: An animated animal adventure unlike anything you've seen beforeFlow eschews any hallmarks of how American animation portrays animals, instead going for realistic animal sounds and movements. The result is instantly engrossing. We are initially alienated from the animals' inner thoughts and motivations, yet Zilbalodis renders them clear through hyper-specific characterization and interactions. The animation (all completed in open-source 3D software Blender) is striking too, mixing detailed textures and graphics to create a film that is beautiful yet somewhat unfamiliar. There's no way you can look away from this sweet, layered tale of teamwork, or the precious feline at its heart. — B.E.
How to watch: Flow is now in theaters.
10. Will & HarperSince their early days at Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have had a strong connection when it comes to comedy. This would flourish as they made movies together, including the sublime Lifetime movie parody A Deadly Adoption, the absolutely epic musical comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, and now their most personal of all, Will & Harper. Helmed by Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar director Josh Greenbaum, this documentary follows the two longtime friends and colleagues on a road trip across America, as they navigate what their friendship means now that Harper has come out as a trans woman.
While her devoted pal is by her side at visits to dive bars, pro basketball games, and a surly Texas steakhouse, not all of the Americans they run across are so welcoming. Through this vulnerable and wonderfully vibrant film, this dynamic duo offers plenty of jokes, but also a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be trans in America in this moment. In Mashable's review out of TIFF, I declared, "Will & Harper is a resoundingly joyful and moving documentary, resplendent in its openness. It's their love story, and it's glorious."* — K.P.
How to watch: Will & Harper is now streaming on Netflix.
9. Better ManRobbie Williams brings a wild makeover to the musical biopic with Better Man. The English pop star plays narrator to his rags-to-riches story, while a collaboration between actor Jonno Davies and Wētā FX transforms the famous bad boy into a fun-loving chimpanzee.
The concept sounds like a bonkers gimmick, but writer/director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) utilizes this ape to explore not just what happened in Williams' life but also how he felt — like a dancing chimp. The metaphor doesn't get old; over the course of rousing musical numbers that chart William's rise to fame, fall from grace, and finding himself, it opens Better Man up to embrace the surreal and sensational. By rejecting the stodgy standards of a respectful biopic, this movie comes alive. As I raved in Mashable's review out of TIFF, "Rich in vibrant emotion, body-rocking musical numbers, daring performances, and a scorching tenderness, Better Man more than rocks. It rules." — K.P.
How to watch: Better Man opens in limited release Dec. 25, expanding to theaters everywhere on Jan. 10, with a Paramount+ debut to follow.
8. BabygirlAs 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.
Delving into topics about 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.
How to watch: Babygirl opens in theaters Dec. 25.
7. ProblemistaSaturday Night Live writer turned filmmaker Julio Torres came out swinging with his weirdly brilliant feature directorial debut, Problemista. Inspired by his own experiences as an immigrant finding New York City a place of promise, problems, and glittering trash, he wrote, directed, and starred opposite Tilda Swinton in one of the most sensational comedies of the last decade.
The story centers on Alejandro (Torres), an aspiring toymaker who is desperately seeking a sponsor for his visa when he meets art-scene critic/menace Elizabeth (Swinton). A modern fairy tale of a noble young knight and a dragon who might help him or swallow him whole, Problemista is a movie filled with surreal and wonderful imagery, imaginative jokes, and quirky performances from the likes of Isabella Rossellini, Past Lives' Greta Lee, A League of Their Own's Kelly McCormack, Hacks' Meg Stalter, Abbott Elementary's Larry Owens, and Wu-Tang Clan's RZA. This deeply humane and humorous comedy is a bizarre balm, sure to have you howling with laughter between its most biting barbs. — K.P.
How to watch: Problemista is now streaming on Max.
6. Dune: Part TwoWith 2021's Dune, director Denis Villeneuve proved he could do justice to Frank Herbert's sci-fi masterwork. Three years later, he topped himself with Dune: Part Two, a sobering epic that will surely go down in history as one of the greatest sci-fi films and sequels ever made.
Dune: Part Two continues the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who finds himself among the planet Arrakis' indigenous Fremen. There he becomes entangled in the impossible position of hoping to avenge the Harkonnens' attack on his house, while also trying to avoid a future in which he unleashes holy war upon the universe. As Dune: Part Two moves closer and closer to that violent inevitability, Villeneuve and co-writer Jon Spaihts don't shy away from the darkness of Paul's story. They build his relationship with Chani (an extraordinary Zendaya) and the Fremen into an immaculate tragedy, pitting faith against manipulation with explosive results.
On top of all this, Villeneuve fills the screen with sci-fi strangeness and wonders galore. Who can forget the H.R. Giger-esque fever dream that is Giedi Prime, or the sense of levitation that hits when Harkonnen soldiers fly across the desert? Armies of sandworms and Austin Butler's gleefully evil Feyd-Rautha only add to Dune: Part Two's excellence — now bring on Dune Messiah!* — B.E.
How to watch: Dune: Part Two is now streaming on Max.
5. Love Lies BleedingRose Glass, the writer/director who awed critics in 2020 with her stunning religious horror film Saint Maud, has blessed us with a follow-up that is as scorchingly sexy as it is deeply unsettling.
Set against a merciless desert town, Love Lies Bleeding stars Kristen Stewart as a surly loner who manages a rundown gym. Things begin to look up when a perfectly permed and righteously ripped bodybuilder (Katy O'Brian) rolls into her squalid realm. Their attraction is instant, their loyalty is potentially lethal. So when they run afoul of a local kingpin (Ed Harris, wearing a mangy skullet), this noir thriller veers into a place of jaw-dropping violence and grievous vengeance, with a climax that is as outrageous as it is exhilarating. As I wrote in our review, "There are movies that grab you by the throat. There are movies that punch you in the gut. Love Lies Bleeding is both, and I fucking love it." — K.P.
How to watch: Love Lies Bleeding is streaming on Max.
4. DìdiDìdi is a movie that is hard to shake, because it's ruthlessly effective in transporting the audience back to what it meant to be coming of age in the 2000s. This directorial debut of writer/helmer Sean Wang follows a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy who goes by several names, all the better to code-switch for his family, skater friends, school crush, and beyond.
Fronting the film as Chris/Dìdi/Wang Wang, Izaac Wang remarkably shoulders a film that brazenly plunges into the mercurial nature of being a teen. Meaning, we are cringing witnesses as this eager-to-impress hero lays down little white lies, flirts poorly, alienates friends with off-putting anecdotes, and screams at his devoted mom (Joan Chen). Then, on top of all this, the emotionally intelligent filmmaker also captures the heartache and earnestness a generation first poured into MySpace and AIM Instant Messenger. As I raved in my review, Dìdi isn't just a good coming-of-age movie or a great coming-of-age movie. Dìdi is unquestionably one of the most poignant and very best movies of the year. — K.P.
How to watch: Dìdi is now streaming on Peacock.
3. Nickel BoysColson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize–winning novel finds an exquisite, powerful adaptation with director RaMell Ross at the helm. Uniquely filmed in mostly first-person perspective shots, Nickel Boys quite literally puts you in the protagonists' shoes, through every painful, resistantly joyful, and traumatic experience at the reform school they attend in Jim Crow-era Florida. As Siddhant Adlakha writes in his review for Mashable, "In Whitehead's novel, the words on the page are just as meaningful as the blank spaces between them — an approach Ross recreates not through absence, but through the layered use of archival video and images that blend fiction with reality in both wistful and harrowing ways."
Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson are nothing short of superb as Elwood and Turner, two young Black men wrongfully incarcerated at the brutal Nickel Academy, which Whitehead based on the Dozier School in Florida. In this state-sanctioned realm of injustice and fear, the pair's friendship holds a poignant power that sits at the heart of Whitehead's story, one steeped in horrific facts. Nickel Boys honours unimaginable perseverance in a film that will stay with you long afterward. — S.C.
How to watch: Nickel Boys open on Dec. 13 in NYC and in Los Angeles Dec. 20.
2. ChallengersThe alluring ad campaign for Luca Guadagnino's sports drama teased a love triangle between stars Josh O'Connor, Mike Faist, and Zendaya. Yet not even the clip of that three-way kiss could prepare us for the cinematic force of nature that is Challengers.
SEE ALSO: 'Challengers' review: You're not ready for Zendaya's horny love-triangle dramaWritten by Justin Kuritzkes, Challengers centers on a dynamic love triangle between two childhood friends and a female tennis phenom whose drive to win is catching. Incredibly, the film has no actual sex scenes — but that didn't stop social media from exploding into thirsty fan edits. The film oozes with sensuality in every tennis match, slick with sweat and adrenaline pumping thanks to a score by Academy Award–winning composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The result is a ruthlessly sexy movie that toys with its audience just as its leading lady does her boys. And — as all best-of-year movies ought to be — Challengers only gets better and richer with every rewatch.
Do as Zendaya says: See it again and then again. Challengers is a winner that'll leave you ragged yet wanting more. — K.P.
How to watch: Challengers is now streaming on Prime Video.
1. Anora2024 was a year in cinema defined by desire, from horny comedies like Lisa Frankenstein and Drive-Away Dolls to heralded thrillers like Love Lies Bleeding, Challengers, and Babygirl. But the best of the bunch — also beating out a slew of movies that weren't remotely salacious — is Sean Baker's Anora, a dramedy that Mashable proclaimed a "triumph" out of its TIFF premiere.
In a star-making turn, Mikey Madison (Scream 5) stars as a sex worker whose professional relationship with a young Russian client swiftly swings into a quickie wedding in Vegas. But Baker, who's made a career out of compelling films centered on the rich inner lives of sex workers, isn't offering a sloppy retread of Pretty Woman. When cronies come banging on the mansion door, it's up to Anora to fight for the future she wants. And along the way, Madison and a crackling ensemble deliver not only lip-biting tension, but also jolting laughs that never make its eponymous heroine the butt of the joke. Everyone from Mashable who saw it was wowed.
Beautifully captured, beguiling spirited, "Anora offers a glorious thrill, as bold as it is brilliant." And so, it's the best film of the year. — K.P.
How to watch: Anora is now in theaters.
Want more of the best of 2024? Join Mashable as we look back at all the viral TikTok songs, internet slang, memes, hyped-up hardware, scientific discoveries, dating trends, social media apps, and more that have delighted and amazed us so far this year.
Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 9 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: No score, or same score
Green: Card games
Blue: Football players
Purple: Mascots shortened
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Dead heat
Green: Poker variants
Blue: NFL wide receivers
Purple: Colloquial CFB nicknames
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 #77 is...
What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition todayDead Heat - DEADLOCK, DRAW, STALEMENT, TIE
Poker Variants - HOLD'EM, HORSE, RAZZ, STUD
NFL Wide Receivers - LAMB, LOCKETT, ST. BROWN, WADDLE
Colloquial CFB Nicknames - HOGS, HUSKERS, NOLES, VOLS
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.
As time marches on, so too does beauty tech, with new research and innovations helping many achieve their aesthetic goals. Even so, weekly medispa trips are outside the realm of financial possibility for most people, relegated to special occasions if visited at all.
Fortunately, there is a middle ground. Many at-home devices offer the same science-backed skincare tech used in medispas, allowing you to get similar results for less. Not only is it soothing to take the time for self care, it's also gratifying to know that your treatments are evidence-based.
Here are four science-backed gadgets to upgrade your beauty routine and help turn your home into a medispa.
CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Face Mask Series 2 Credit: CurrentBodyRed light therapy is arguably the darling of science-backed beauty gadgets. Red light devices use low wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to penetrate the skin, which can have multiple aesthetic benefits. Such effects include reducing wrinkles, sagging, and redness, promoting skin regeneration and rejuvenation; and addressing dark spots, discolouration, and texture.
CurrentBody's LED Light Therapy Face Mask has been addressing such concerns for years, building a name for itself in home red light therapy devices. Now the company has upgraded its mask in the new Series 2, offering more complete coverage than the original. The CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Face Mask Series 2 has almost twice the number of LED bulbs as its predecessor, boasting 236 as compared to 132, while its design has been slightly reworked to wrap under the user's chin as well. It also emits a third light wavelength on top of red (633nm) and near-infrared (830nm), with the deep near-infrared (1072nm) waves penetrating deeper into the skin.
Red light therapy has been proven safe to use, typically with minimal to no side effects. However, results aren't instant. CurrentBody recommends using the Series 2 for 10 minutes per day, three to five times per week, with results becoming apparent after four weeks or more. Fortunately, the mask's attached power pack can easily hook to your clothes or fit in a pocket, allowing you to go about your business while waiting for it to automatically turn off when your treatment is complete.
Opens in a new window Credit: CurrentBody CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Face Mask Series 2 at AmazonSkin issues aren't the only use for red light therapy. Multiple studies have found that low-level lasers can be used to encourage hair growth, stimulating the scalp and increasing blood circulation. HairMax's LaserBand 41 ComfortFlex addresses hair loss with 41 red light laser diodes, offering fuller coverage with less effort than red light combs.
Shaped like a thick headband, using the LaserBand 41 ComfortFlex is straightforward enough that you'd be forgiven for wondering if there was a step you're missing. You simply sit the device on top of your head at your hairline, then press the button on its side to turn it on and bathe your scalp in 655nm wavelength red light. (Putting it on your head before you activate it ensures you don't accidentally look at the lasers.) The LaserBand 41 ComfortFlex will then buzz when it's finished that section, letting you know it's time to shift it back to the next area of your scalp.
When you're done, press the side button again to turn it off, then place it in the charging cradle so it's ready to use next time. Complete coverage takes only a few minutes, with treatment to be repeated three times per week.
Like a red light mask, you will have to use HairMax's LaserBand 41 ComfortFlex for several months before you even begin to see results. But the time will pass anyway, and it's only a few scant minutes every other day. You can easily do it while watching Netflix and barely even turn your mind to it.
It's important to remember that red light therapy isn't a magic cure-all, and won't be able to completely offset issues such as untreated trichotillomania. But if you're dealing with mild to moderate hair loss or thinning caused by issues such as aging, genetics, hormonal problems, or even androgenetic alopecia, the HairMax LaserBand 41 ComfortFlex may help mitigate the problem.
Opens in a new window Credit: HairMax HairMax LaserBand 41 ComfortFlex at AmazonShaving and waxing have long been hair removal stalwarts. They're also laborious, irritating, sometimes painful tasks that run the risk of causing ingrown hairs. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) devices such as Braun's Skin i·expert Smart IPL offer a more convenient solution, removing hair by rapturing up unwanted strands and metaphorically salting the earth to hinder future growth.
As the name suggests, IPL uses intense light to target the darker pigment in hair follicles, heating them up and breaking them down. This not only removes hair, but damages the follicles so they have a hard time regrowing. Fortunately, using the Skin i·expert isn't painful or uncomfortable, feeling like a mild, brief sting at most. Each session is fairly quick, with the Skin i·expert repeatedly flashing as you glide its head over large areas. You can stamp it and manually trigger each flash as well, which is useful for smaller areas.
Braun's Skin i·expert also only requires one session per week for the first four to 12 weeks (depending on the amount of hair you have), then maintenance sessions around every one to two months. The maintenance sessions likely won't be much of a bother though, considering that it's incredibly satisfying watching hair instantly burn away as though smote from on high. The connected app can advise an IPL schedule, as well as keep track of it for you.
One caveat is that IPL doesn't work well on darker skin or lighter hair, so you'll want to check that it's suitable for you. The Skin i·expert does have an inbuilt detection system that will prevent it from activating if your skin is unsuitable, but you don't want to find out that's the case after you've already bought it. If you're happy to do without the the detection system or app you can also save a bit of money by picking up the Braun Silk·expert Pro 5 instead.
Opens in a new window Credit: Braun Braun Skin i·expert Smart IPL $419.99 at AmazonStudies indicate that facial cleansing brushes can provide better results than just washing with your hands, reducing the occurrence of acne and improving your skin's clarity, tone, texture, and brightness. However, a brush that is too harsh can completely destroy your skin barrier, causing even more problems than you had in the first place. Such damage can take up to a month to recover from, leaving your face bumpy and sensitive in the meantime.
RoseSkinCo.'s Petal 2 is a soothingly gentle cleansing brush that you'd be hard pressed to harm your skin with. Featuring soft antibacterial silicone bristles, RoseSkinCo. says this device offers around 10,000 sonic pulsations per minute to dislodge dirt, makeup, and other impurities from your skin. In addition to this, the Petal 2 has magnetic beads which circulate beneath the silicone to massage your face at the same time. You can choose between strong or standard sonic pulsations, as well as turn the magnetic beads off, by cycling between the Petal 2's four different modes.
The Petal 2 is fully waterproof, so you can use it in the shower without worrying, and automatically turns off after 90 seconds so there's no chance you'll over-exfoliate. The device is also beautifully compact and ergonomic, fitting neatly in the hand, and comes with an attractive gold stand which doubles as a wireless charging hub.
Opens in a new window Credit: RoseSkinCo. RoseSkinCo. Petal 2 at RoseSkinCo.Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 9 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Careful thought or consideration
Green: Tools or methods for ignition
Blue: Instruments and items for microscopy
Purple: Common phrases following 'X'
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Deliberation
Green: Used in Starting a Fire
Blue: Used to View A Biological Sample
Purple: Words After 'X'
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 #547 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayDeliberation: CONSIDERATION, REFLECTION, SCRUTINY, THOUGHT
Used in Starting a Fire: FLINT, LIGHTER, MAGNIFYING GLASS, MATCHES
Used to View A Biological Sample: MICROSCOPE, SLIDE, SPECIMEN, STAIN
Words After 'X': FACTOR, FLIES, GAMES, RAY
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 9Are 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.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for December 9 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 9 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Hurl with force.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no reoccurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
FLUNG.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 9Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
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 preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 9 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 9 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Quiet at firstThese words start with a silent letter.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedWords start with a letter that is not pronounced.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is SilentLetter.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 9Gnome
Knuckle
Honesty
Psalm
Wrap
Mnemonic
SilentLetter
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.
Google is taking on part of the United States government in court.
Specifically, Google is suing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, per Reuters. The search engine company decided to take the federal consumer watchdog to court after the agency ordered supervision of Google Payment, the part of the company that handles, well, user payments. According to the CFPB, Google's payment services carry risks for consumers, such as possible fraud and mistaken transactions.
SEE ALSO: Google Pixel brings back popular camera features in new updateOne angle worth noting is that Google actually shut down Google Pay earlier this year. That's seemingly central to Google's defense of its conduct here. According to the company's complaint, "a product that no longer exists is incapable of posing such risk." As such, Google doesn't feel supervision (which would be similar to what is performed for major banks and other financial institutions) is needed.
Despite this, the CFPB feels that Google's payment services could still pose a risk to customers, per TechCrunch. The CFPB is operating off of almost 300 customer complaints. Google may not have done anything wrong, but the CFPB clearly feels Google has done enough to warrant supervision, and Google isn't a fan of that.
It's also worth noting that all of this could go away as soon as Donald Trump takes office again in January, given his administration's public friendliness with major tech figures.
After a week of absolutely insane headlines, Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che had no shortage of material to dig into.
Leading the charge was the massive social media frenzy over the shooting of UHC CEO Brian Thomas — and, more specifically, how some factions of the internet can’t stop thirsting over the alleged shooter, who many are calling "kinda hot."
Other topics tackled by the duo included President Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s plea for confirmation (and his promise to quit drinking if approved), and how Sprint users should count their blessings as hacker group saltTyphoon targets every other cell carrier but them.
Spotify Wrapped might have been a bit of a letdown this year — and maybe even a cry for help for some — but for Saturday Night Live host Paul Mescal, it served as the perfect musical backdrop.
SEE ALSO: 'SNL' re-imagines 'Gladiator II' as a musicalThe Gladiator II star takes on the role of Myron, a guy who can’t wait to share his Spotify Wrapped with friends, convinced it’s a flawless reflection of his impeccable taste. His top artists? Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter, and reigning supreme at number one: Satoshi Gutman (played by Bowen Yang).
Don’t know who that is? Well, you’re clearly uncultured and in need of an immediate music intervention. But if you must know, Gutman is an anti-instrumentalist sound guru hailing from Dundalk, Maryland. He even has a podcast, which Myron happens to be a top listener to, complete with a clip of Gutman interviewing none other than Trisha Paytas.
Iconic stuff.
X is going in even more on AI.
A new AI image generator called Aurora started rolling out for X users this weekend, per TechCrunch. Aurora is part of the Grok AI tab along the bottom of the X app, and can generate realistic images from written prompts. The weirdest part is that Aurora appears to have no guardrails around creating photo-realistic images of real people. I was able to create an image of the upcoming president-to-be covered in cheese, for example.
SEE ALSO: Apple's iOS 18.2 arrives soon: Here's 4 new features to be excited aboutIt won't do anything nude, but it'll do more than the average AI image generator because most mainstream ones will prevent users from including copyrighted works or real people in their prompts. X's Grok AI has had image creation capabilities for a while now, but Aurora appears to be a new creation engine from the previous one. It's also not clear where exactly it came from, who exactly made it, and what exactly it's been trained on. It's been reported in the past that the Grok chatbot trains off of user data, so it's possible Aurora does, too.
Try it if you want, or don't. The world is your oyster.
Paul Mescal hosting Saturday Night Live this week? You just knew they were going to take a stab at Gladiator II.
SEE ALSO: Paul Mescal valiantly battles the spice on 'Hot Ones'Cue the faux trailer for Gladiator II: The Musical. Eager to cash in on the massive success of Wicked, the reimagining is a frantically reshot Gladiator II as a full-blown musical. Don’t worry, though, as the narrator reassures us: it’s still the same "violent, historical epic" you’ve been waiting for — just with an extra "50 minutes of songs."
The real MVP here? SNL’s Bowen Yang, who gets to flex the fact that he’s involved in both Wicked and this satirical mash-up. Go get that coin, king.
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 Sunday, December 8, 2024:
AcrossWatering can featureThe answer is Spout.
The answer is Tipsy.
The answer is Use up.
The answer is Barre
The answer is Snap.
The answer is Stubs.
The answer is Pisan.
The answer is Opera.
The answer is Usurp.
The answer is Types.
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.
The Hubble Space Telescope captured some weird, unidentified stuff in the most detailed photos ever taken of the immediate space surrounding a quasar.
Quasars, a shortening of the term "quasi-stellar objects," are blindingly bright galaxy cores in the early universe. Though these extremely distant objects look like stars in the sky, they're the resulting light from feasting supermassive black holes.
The telescope, a partnership between NASA and the European Space Agency, zoomed in on quasar 3C 273, about 2.5 billion light-years from Earth. What it saw in the quasar's midst was astounding and will prompt more research in the years to come.
"My colleagues are excited because they've never seen this much detail before," said Bin Ren, an astronomer at the Université Côte d'Azur in France, in a statement.
SEE ALSO: NASA leader doubts Elon Musk will push Trump to axe moon rocket The Hubble Space Telescope took closeup images of quasar 3C 273. Credit: NASA / ESA / Bin Ren / Joseph DePasqualeThough "blobs" may not sound very scientific, that is exactly how Ren and the research team described what they observed in their paper, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics earlier this year. Along with a variety of blobs, they spotted a mysterious L-shaped thing. The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which runs Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope, announced the findings this week.
So what could these things be?
Scientists have suggested at least some of the objects could be small orbiting galaxies on the precipice of falling into the central black hole, which is what's powering the quasar. All of the objects were found within 16,000 light-years of the black hole.
But that's just an educated guess. Astronomers may be able to better identify those weird things with follow-up observations by the Webb telescope, the leading space observatory that senses light at infrared wavelengths.
Astronomers used a coronograph, an instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope, to blot out the blindingly bright light of the quasar so they could study its surroundings. Credit: NASA / ESABlack holes are some of the most inscrutable phenomena in space. They don't have surfaces, like a planet or star. Instead, they have a boundary called an "event horizon," or a point of no return. If anything swoops too close, it will eventually fall in, never to escape the hole's gravitational clutch.
How supermassive black holes form is even more elusive. Astrophysicists believe these invisible giants lurk at the center of virtually all galaxies. Recent Hubble observations have bolstered the theory that they begin in the dusty cores of starburst galaxies, where new stars are rapidly assembled, but scientists are still teasing that out.
Quasar 3C 273, which was the first of its kind discovered, is as luminous as 4 trillion suns or 100 times brighter than the entire Milky Way.
"For Hubble, staring into the quasar 3C 273 is like looking directly into a blinding car headlight and trying to see an ant crawling on the rim around it," according to the Space Telescope Science Institute.
When astronomer Maarten Schmidt found it in 1963, it looked like a star but it was much too far away for a single star to have been the source. Scientists have since learned that quasars are relics of a much earlier time in the universe.
The nearest quasars to Earth are still several hundred million light-years away, meaning they are observed now as they were hundreds of millions of years ago. That quasars aren't found closer to home is a clue they existed when the universe was much younger.
Since Schmidt's discovery, many other quasars have been found. Scientists continue to study them because they provide insight into the evolution of the universe.
A jet emerging from the quasar's supermassive black hole seems to be speeding up the farther it travels from the source. Credit: NASA / ESA / J. Olmsted illustrationIn order to see the proverbial ant on a headlight, the research team used a Hubble instrument that blots out a light source, much like how a solar eclipse blocks the face of the sun with the moon, to reveal the quasar's surrounding environment. The so-called coronagraph allowed the scientists to look eight times closer around the black hole than ever before.
In addition to seeing mysterious blobs, the researchers got a better look at the 300,000 light-year-long jet of material emerging from the quasar. Their findings revealed something perhaps counterintuitive: The farther the jet got from the black hole, the faster it went.
TL;DR: Downsize with the NanoPhone, a dual-SIM smartphone about the size of a credit card, now $89.97 (reg. $199). Sale ends Dec. 8.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mutant Design Lab NanoPhone $89.97Do you use every feature on your phone? All those advanced integrations and apps might seem neat at first, but they might not actually factor into how you use your phone. If you mostly use your phone to browse socials, keep in contact, take a few pictures, and stream, you might not need the latest and greatest and most expensive new phone. Maybe it's time to downsize, literally.
The NanoPhone is a mini smartphone. It looks like an iPhone, runs Android, and it's about the size of a credit card. Don't worry, the price is also a whole lot smaller than some big-name phones. You can get a NanoPhone for $89.97 (reg. $199), but that price won't be around much longer.
What can the NanoPhone do?All the core functions of a smartphone are there, just miniaturized. You can download apps, browse, stream, and take pictures. There are even front and rear-facing cameras, but the phone itself is still absolutely tiny. If pocket space is at a premium, this is the way to go.
With Dual SIM card support, 4G connectivity, and WiFi capabilities, the NanoPhone makes sure you’re always connected, whether you’re on a road trip or navigating the urban jungle. Popular apps like WhatsApp and YouTube are preloaded, giving you a lightweight option for staying in touch or entertained without the bulk of a traditional smartphone.
The device is powered by Android 10, providing a familiar and user-friendly interface for those accustomed to modern tech. Its durable construction and impressive battery life make it a reliable companion for outdoor adventures, emergency situations, or simply cutting back on distractions in your daily life.
Shipping is freeDon't miss your chance to get a NanoPhone on sale for $89.97. Sale ends December 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: This Cyber Week price drop ends December 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT, and that's your last chance to get Windows 11 Pro for only $19.97 (reg. $199).
Let’s face it: keeping your computer’s operating system up to date is a must if you want it to run like a dream. An outdated OS? That’s just asking for trouble, especially when Microsoft is closing up shop on Windows 10 next year. But no worries, because Windows 11 Pro is here to save the day, bringing a fresh look and a ton of new features to the table, all at the Cyber Week low price of $19.97 (reg. $199) until the end of today.
Windows 10 is going out of styleWindows 11 Pro is all about making life easier, whether you’re working, gaming, or just browsing. The sleek new interface isn’t just nice to look at—it’s designed to be super intuitive. Take snap layouts, for example. They let you effortlessly organize your open windows so you can juggle multiple tasks without getting lost in the clutter.
Security is a big deal, and Windows 11 Pro doesn’t skimp on it. It comes packed with advanced features like biometrics login, which uses your face or fingerprint to keep your system secure, and TPM 2.0, a hardware-based security feature that adds an extra layer of protection for your data. You can feel confident that your personal info and sensitive files are safe from prying eyes.
For the pros out there, Windows 11 Pro offers some pretty powerful tools. Azure AD makes managing devices and user accounts across a network a breeze, especially for businesses or IT professionals. Hyper-V is a game-changer if you need to run virtual machines, allowing you to test out software or run different operating systems without affecting your main setup. And then there’s BitLocker, which keeps your data locked up tight with full disk encryption—perfect for anyone who needs to ensure their information stays private.
Gamers aren’t left out, either. With DirectX 12 Ultimate, Windows 11 Pro delivers top-notch graphics and performance, making your games look stunning and run smoothly.
And since this OS comes with a lifetime license, it’s a one-time purchase that keeps on giving, with no need to worry about subscriptions or renewals.
Upgrade your OS while it's cheapDon't miss your last chance to upgrade for a super low price.
Cyber Week ends tonight, December 8, at 11:59 p.m. PT, so get this lifetime license for Windows 11 Pro for just $19.97 while supplies last. No coupon needed.
Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Only $19.97 at Mashable
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $19.97TL;DR: Replace your Microsoft 365 subscription with a Microsoft Office 2019 lifetime license for Mac for just $39.99 (reg. $229). Sale ends Dec. 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac $39.99The cost of a Microsoft 365 subscription may seem small, but it gets a whole lot bigger when you realize you're never actually done paying for it. Monthly or yearly renewals add up, and it can feel like you’re paying more for convenience than necessity.
If you want an alternative that lasts for life and doesn't require you to convert all your files to a new format, check out this lifetime license for Microsoft Office for Macs. Instead of paying monthly, you can pay $39.99 just once, but hurry up if you're interested. That price changes after Dec. 8.
What's included?This version of Microsoft Office includes essential apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, redesigned to take advantage of Mac's Retina display and full-screen view support. Whether drafting a document, analyzing data, or managing emails, the suite is ready to keep work moving.
Need to use Teams at work? This version has Teams Classic, and now you don't have to pay every month to check your professional group chat.
So why is it so cheap? This is a license for Microsoft Office 2019. It's not as flashy as the recent versions, but these apps still work great for work or school. There are actually a few benefits to getting an older license. Older machines don't have to struggle with software that needs modern hardware, and you don't have to deal with all the unnecessary integrations and distractions of more recent software.
Really important detail: once you download, make sure to turn off the auto-update. If you don't, Microsoft will try to update you to Office 2021, which will invalidate your license.
PricingDon't miss your window. Dec. 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 lifetime license for Macs for $39.99 (reg. $229).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get a MacBook Pro on sale for $409.97 (reg. $1,499) until December 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
The computer you use for work or school needs to be able to take some punishment. Whether it's packed into a bag regularly or used for hours a day, every single day, it's important to have a machine you can rely on. Bonus points if it's affordable.
MacBooks might not be your first instinct for affordability, but it's a special time of year when prices are low. That's how you can get a MacBook Pro for $409.97 (instead of $1,499).
What can it do?This low-cost laptop is equipped with a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. In practice, that means you can breeze through your regular productivity apps and even test the waters with light gaming or design apps. And the 13.3-inch Retina display gives you plenty of room to work.
One of the coolest things about this MacBook is the Touch Bar. Instead of function keys, the Touch Bar adapts to the apps you're using. You can also use it to log into your computer using Touch ID, so no need to constantly type in a long password.
The grade "A" refurbished rating means this computer arrives in near-mint condition. Basically, the only signs that it's refurbished might be the box and extremely faint signs of wear that you can't see from more than a foot away. And because it's a slightly older model, you actually get more ports than some recent versions, which is just a fun little bonus.
Time's running outDecember 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a MacBook Pro for $409.97.
Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" (2019) Touchbar - Space Gray (Refurbished) - $409.97
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StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" (2019) Touchbar - Space Gray (Refurbished) $409.97
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