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In 2015, Inside Out explored the emotions inside the head of a young girl named Riley (voiced by Kensington Tallman) as she was trying to cope with moving across the country. Nearly a decade later, Joy, Sadness, and the rest of the crew are back — along with some new emotions — to help Riley deal with puberty in Inside Out 2.
The Pixar blockbuster took the box office by storm this summer and now, as of Aug. 20, you can watch the family friendly film from the comfort of your couch. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Inside Out 2 at home.
What is Inside Out 2 about?Pixar digs into the human emotion hellscape that is puberty in Inside Out 2, introducing a whole new slate of emotions to Riley's mind. Alongside Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith), Anger (voiced by Lewis Black), Fear (voiced by Tony Hale), and Disgust (voiced by Liza Lapira), new emotions have emerged to help Riley navigate this difficult time — Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), Envy (voiced by Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser). As Riley attends a hockey camp and is forced to confront some tough decisions about friends, the old emotions and new get into a power struggle, which leads to some emotional turmoil for Riley.
Get a sneak peek at the story in the trailer below.
Is Inside Out 2 worth watching?Mashable's Belen Edwards described the film as "the rare Pixar sequel that truly earns its existence and deepens the message of its first film. And even though it may make you deeply, deeply, deeply anxious, it's also, quite simply, a joy to watch."
Other critics largely agree, with the film earning a 91 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences love it, too; not only did the film bring in a whopping $1.5 billion at the box office, but it also managed to maintain a 95 percent audience rating. Oh, and no biggie, but it also became the highest grossing animated film of all time.
Read our full review of Inside Out 2.
How to watch Inside Out 2 at homeJust two months after Inside Out 2's explosive opening weekend at the theaters, it's available to watch at home via video-on-demand sites like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can purchase the film for your digital library for $29.99. It'll also be available to rent at a later date.
The benefit of purchasing the film, besides being able to watch it at your leisure, is the slew of bonus content you'll have access to. The digital version of the film includes an alternate opening, deleted scenes, behind the scenes of creating the new emotions, and more. However, if you'd rather stream Inside Out 2, keep scrolling to learn more.
As of Aug. 20, you can purchase the film at the following retailers:
Prime Video — buy for $29.99
Apple TV — buy for $29.99
Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $29.99
YouTube — buy for $29.99
While there's no official streaming date yet, we do know that — like every other Pixar release — Inside Out 2 will be headed to Disney+ eventually. Given its massive success in theaters, there's a good chance Disney will push its streaming debut to late fall 2024. Stay tuned, as we'll update this article when the official date is announced.
If you're not yet a Disney+ subscriber, you can prepare to watch Inside Out 2 or revisit the original film by subscribing ahead of time. Subscriptions start at $7.99 and we've rounded up the best ways you can sign up and save some money below.
The best Disney+ streaming dealsBest Disney+ deal for most people Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ Disney+ monthly subscription $7.99 per month (with ads) or $13.99 per month (ad-free) Watch NowIf you're only interested in watching Inside Out 2 and not sticking around, signing up for a single month of Disney+ is probably your best option. You won't technically save any money, but you also won't continuously waste money either — so long as you remember to cancel your subscription after watching. Disney+ with ads will only cost you $7.99 for a single month. If you want to cut out the ads, it'll cost you $13.99 for the month.
Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu + Disney+) $9.99 per month (with ads) Watch NowIf you're already a Hulu subscriber, you can bundle it with Disney+ (with ads) for only $9.99 per month. That's basically like getting Disney+ for only $2 per month, saving you 37% compared to paying for each separately. You can take things a step further and add Max into the mix for a grand total of $16.99 per month. Or, if you're more into sports, sub Max for ESPN+ for just $14.99 per month for all three. You'll have to deal with ads, but for the price, it's hard to beat. To watch without ads, you'll have to pay an extra $10 a month for the Disney+ and Hulu bundle and an extra $13 per month for the trio bundle with Max.
Best Disney+ trial Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free for 6 or 12 months with eligible Fios internet accounts (save up to $109.99) Watch NowVerizon Fios home internet users on the 2 Gig Streaming or 2 Gig Complete package can score a free year of Disney+ Premium (no ads), while those on the 1 Gig Streaming or 1 Gig Complete package can sign up for six free months. Check your plan and read about eligibility terms over on the Verizon website to activate the offer.
Best Disney+ deal for Verizon Wireless customers Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon / Disney+ Disney Bundle: Disney+ Premium (no ads), Hulu, and ESPN (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $8.99 per month) Watch NowVerizon Wireless customers can get a stellar deal on Disney+ through Verizon myPlan. Just add a Disney Bundle to your account through myPlan, which includes Disney+ Premium (no ads), Hulu (with ads), and ESPN (with ads). All three would usually cost you $18.99 per month, but by signing up through this myPlan deal, you'll only pay $10 per month.
Best way to get Disney+ for free Opens in a new window Credit: Total by Verizon Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total by Verizon $60 plan (save $13.99 per month) Watch NowIf you're a Total by Verizon customer on the $60/month prepaid unlimited plan, you get Disney+ Premium (no ads) for free. No terms or trial periods. Just keep your account in good standing and you get Disney+ included with your account. If you cancel or switch your plan, your subscription will end as well. If you're on the $50/month prepaid unlimited plan, you can also score six free months of Disney+, which is plenty of time to watch Inside Out 2. Want to extend your trial? Just upgrade to the $60/month plan.
Let's talk about Alien resurrection. No, not the fourth film in the Alien series, but rather the ghoulish real-life resurrection at the heart of Alien: Romulus.
The film, directed by Fede Álvarez, brings a familiar face back to the Alien franchise: that of the late Sir Ian Holm. Holm played the Nostromo's synthetic science officer Ash in 1979's Alien. In Alien: Romulus, he "appears" as Rook, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who is the same model as Ash, and who serves as the science officer for the Renaissance space station.
SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Romulus' review: Fan Service Summer continuesI say "appears" because Holm, who passed away in June 2020, is unable to perform in Alien: Romulus. Instead, the film uses an animatronic body and CGI to create a simulacrum of Holm. Actor Daniel Betts also provided facial and vocal performances, which were then altered by generative AI and computer modeling to get closer to Holm's. The result lives in the depths of the uncanny valley, alongside Rogue One's revival of Peter Cushing's Grand Moff Tarkin and The Flash's cameo from Christopher Reeve's Superman.
However, Alien: Romulus's Rook has far more screen time than these prior examples, playing first an expository role, then an antagonistic one for the film's young heroes. Each extended appearance is more unsettling than the last, to the point that I dreaded seeing Rook far more than I dreaded any Xenomorph. Not because Rook is a frightening character, but because his presence here snaps you out of an otherwise very fun movie, pointing instead to a disturbing filmmaking practice that mines cheap nostalgia from a late actor's work — and that could have been entirely avoided in the first place.
Why is Ian Holm's Alien: Romulus resurrection so troubling?Let's start out with the obvious: No matter what permissions an estate may grant, a late actor cannot consent to having their likeness used in a movie. Doing so is an immediate violation of their personhood. In reviving them for the screen, you're creating a performance in a film they might never have agreed to do, with acting choices they might never have made.
SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Romulus' has a great Easter egg right at the startThat's because the version of Holm we see in Alien: Romulus isn't really Holm. It's a puppet of a character he once played, being pulled out of the Alien toy box in order to score nostalgia points in a movie that's already too full of callbacks. Like Reeve and Cushing, Holm becomes an avatar for misguided fan service, instead of remaining an actor with agency. No wonder concerns about digital replicas of actors and their use after death became a key part of SAG-AFTRA's 2023 contract.
The presence of Holm's likeness in Alien: Romulus is also a smack in the face to the film's own themes. Here is a movie that criticizes how corporations work employees to death, with one of its first scenes establishing that Weyland-Yutani keeps moving the goalposts of Rain Carradine's (Cailee Spaeny, Civil War, Priscilla) contract until it's effectively a death sentence. Yet Alien: Romulus is awfully comfortable working the image of an actor's body beyond death. Elsewhere, the great horror of the facehuggers and Xenomorphs remains the hijacking of our own bodies for alien needs. Does Alien: Romulus not see how its use of Holm's likeness is a similar kind of hijacking?
Alien: Romulus didn't need Rook in the first place. David Jonsson in "Alien: Romulus." Credit: 20th Century StudiosAn extra frustrating element of this situation is the fact that Alien: Romulus didn't even need Rook to be effective. Rain and her companions have no idea about the events of Alien on the Nostromo, or who Ash is, so seeing Rook means nothing to them in-world. His presence here is pure fan service, with no actual depth behind it. Sure, the sentiment would have been the same had Álvarez brought back Bishop (Lance Henriksen) from Aliens and Alien 3 or David (Michael Fassbender) from Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, but at least then the director wouldn't have been manufacturing a performance from a deceased Holm.
Just bring in another version of Andy.In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Álvarez pointed to a "limited amount of synthetics" as being the reason why he and producer Ridley Scott decided to bring Rook back. Yet even if that limit prevented the creation of another original synthetic beyond Andy (David Jonsson, Industry, Rye Lane), there is still a solution for who could fulfill Rook's role onboard the Renaissance without stooping to fan service. Just bring in another version of Andy. After all, the movie is named Romulus, after famed Roman twins Remus and Romulus — twin shenanigans would only make sense here!
Yes, the Alien franchise has pulled the synthetic twins trick before, with Walter and David in Alien: Covenant. But out of all the callbacks Alien: Romulus has to other Alien films, I think double Andy has the potential to be the most rewarding.
For starters, another synthetic who looks like Andy would actually mean something to Rain and her companions. They'd have more of a reason to trust him upon first meeting him, just by virtue of his resemblance to Rain's brother alone. That's already a step above fan service.
Then, there's Andy's reaction to his own doppelgänger to consider. Aside from Rain, Andy is fairly isolated from the rest of the anti-synthetic crew, and from the rest of the Jackson's Star Colony. What happens if he sees someone who is exactly like him? Does he form some kind of synthetic kinship with his double, especially after learning that Rain plans to decommission him when she makes it to Yvaga?
If there is any trust there, that adds an extra layer of heartbreak to the moment when Andy switches over to being just another vessel for doing Weyland-Yutani's bidding, powered by Rook's chip. Think of Andy's turn there like a reverse Walter and David situation. While David tried to turn Walter against his crew in order to free him from a life of service, Andy's turned against his crew in order to serve Weyland-Yutani. When it's his lookalike facilitating that turn, it becomes more of a betrayal of self, instead of a possible self-liberation.
Twice the Andy is just one solution to the question of, "which synthetic should be onboard the Renaissance?" (A solution that would give Jonsson even more room to flex his impressive range.) There are countless others, including just making Rook an original synthetic and casting any other actor in the part. But there's only one truly incorrect answer, and that's the route Alien: Romulus takes.
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 August 20's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
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 August 20 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: Whooooosh
Green: One might spin right round baby right round...
Blue: What's your star sign?
Purple: Book characters
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Rush of Wind
Green: Rotate
Blue: Zodiac Symbols
Purple: Dr. Seuss Title Characters
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 #435 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayRush of Wind: BLOW, DRAFT, GUST, PUFF
Rotate: CRANK, REEL, TURN, WIND
Yoga Poses: BULL, CRAB, LION, RAM
Zodiac Symbols: CAT, GRINCH, POP, TURTLE
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.
Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
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 August 20's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
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.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
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 August 20 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Hold up.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?Not today.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.
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...
DELAY.
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.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Fans of The Acolyte are processing some terrible news this week, with reports of the show's cancellation. As reported by Deadline, Lucasfilm will not continue the Star Wars series into a second season.
Created by Leslye Headland and starring Amandla Stenberg and Manny Jacinto, The Acolyte wrapped up a critically acclaimed, eight-episode first season at the end of July, leaving many narrative questions unanswered.
SEE ALSO: 9 burning questions we have for 'The Acolyte' Season 2The Acolyte's renewal for a second season was not among the many, many announcements at Disney's biennial D23 expo on Aug. 11, where the company revealed various sequels and spinoffs ahead. As IGN reports, Jacinto was asked on a D23 panel about the possibility of a second Acolyte season, when he said, "Fingers crossed we get to do it again."
Manny Jacinto in "The Acolyte." Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd.Launched in June, the first two episodes of The Acolyte received 4.8 million views on Disney+ — making it the streaming service's top series premiere of 2024, according to Disney. After five days, this hit 11.1 million views, and The Acolyte made it to Nielsen's top 10 chart for original series. Deadline reports the show lost momentum after its premiere (like many new shows) but appeared in Nielsen's top originals at number 10 for its showstopping finale. The Acolyte's budget was reportedly $180 million for eight episodes.
Theories and reactions are simmering on social media following the news, and Disney is yet to publicly confirm the show's cancellation. But it's looking like the future for The Acolyte is grim.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedThe 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.
Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, August 20, 2024:
Across"That's gonna leave a ___!"The answer is Mark.
The answer is Erie.
The answer is Sting.
The answer is Ares.
The answer is Nose.
The answer is Metro.
The answer is Aries.
The answer is Rinse.
The answer is Keg.
The answer is San.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Another day, another Stephen King hint about The Dark Tower.
Over the past week the horror author has been posting regularly about his eight-book series on X (formerly Twitter). King started by sharing fan art of main character Roland Deschain with a comment indicating the Gunslinger's world is still there, and then followed that up over the weekend with a suggestion that the Crimson King — the series' main antagonist — is still alive.
SEE ALSO: Stephen King posts yet another cryptic Dark Tower hintAnd now, he's posted his biggest clue yet.
The thing is, while it's been fun to see King talking about The Dark Tower again after so long, it hasn't been clear what the purpose of it all is. Could it be related to Mike Flanagan's TV adaptation? Or was King talking about another story?
Well, based on his latest post, it feels he's hinting at the latter.
Tweet may have been deleted"I feel called," wrote King in response to a fan asking what all of his posts mean.
Can't really put it much plainer than that, can you? Sounds to us like King is revving up to write another instalment.
TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 Tour of Britain for free on ITVX. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The best cyclists in the world have got it good. Sure, they have an incredibly gruelling schedule. But they also get to travel the world doing what they love, which must be pretty great. Following on from the Tour de France, Paris Olympics, and Vuelta a España, the Tour of Britain is next in line for those talented enough to travel the world on two wheels.
If you want to watch the 2024 Tour of Britain for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the Tour of Britain?The Tour of Britain is a multi-stage cycling race conducted on British roads. The event dates back to the first British stage races held just after the Second World War. The current version of the Tour of Britain began in 2004, and it became part of the new UCI ProSeries in 2020.
Wout van Aert won the 2023 Tour of Britain.
When is the 2024 Tour of Britain?The 2024 Tour of Britain is the 20th edition of the famous race. This year's event takes place from Sep. 3 to Sep. 8.
How to watch the 2024 Tour of Britain for freeFans can live stream the 2024 Tour of Britain for free on ITVX.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, meaning you'll be blocked if you attempt to stream on ITVX from anywhere else in the world. That is unless you're using a VPN. With a VPN, you can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can bypass restrictions to access ITVX from anywhere in the world.
Unblock and stream on ITVX from anywhere in the world in just a few simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Stream the 2024 Tour of Britain from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free. However, leading VPNs do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can watch the 2024 Tour of Britain without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch the Tour of Britain before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ITVX?ExpressVPN remains the top choice for unblocking streaming sites from around the world. ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking ITVX, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy
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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Watch the 2024 Tour of Britain for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
With the streaming wars in full swing, it can be challenging to figure out which services to sign up for, or what benefits they offer. It feels like Hollywood studios come out with new platforms every week, whether Disney+, Paramount+, Apple TV+, or even MGM+. Based on the plus signs in their name, they all may love math, but they won't exactly help you budget for your entertainment needs — which is where Mashable's watch guides and streaming app reviews come in.
After all, what better way to figure out which services are worth it than by hearing from the people who use them on the regular? We’ve tested the waters so you don't have to (though in many cases, you can sign up for a free trial if you choose). This time, we're running down the pros, cons, and costs of one of the OGs of the streaming industry: Hulu.
The site is available in the U.S. and Japan, though we'll be detailing the American version.
What is Hulu? What'll Hulu's homescreen suggest for you? Credit: HuluLaunched just a few months after Netflix, Hulu has been around since October 2007, when it began as a joint venture between several companies, including NBCUniversal and News Corporation, though it's now wholly owned by Disney. The site started as a place to watch recently aired episodes of your favorite TV shows, a function it still retains, though the app has since branched out with its own originals, including Shōgun, The Bear, and The Handmaid's Tale, and even a live TV component as an alternative to cable.
Hulu has a nifty topic bar on every page that allows you to navigate between its major categories. You can go to "Movies" and "TV" — each offers a combination of Hulu Originals as well shows and films from elsewhere, with further options to sort by genre or network. There’s also a "My Stuff" button that lets you quickly access all the programming you’ve added to your queue. These features ought to be familiar if you've used other streaming sites, but Hulu also has an option called "Hubs," which sets it apart from its competitors.
SEE ALSO: Should you sign up for Peacock?Where the “Movies” and “TV” tabs will categorize content by genre, Hulu’s specialized “Hubs” are more granular, since they divide films and shows by more specific points of origin. Some Hubs are studio or production company-specific, in case you’re in the mood for a film distributed by Neon or a show produced by FX. Other Hubs, meanwhile, are divided by country or culture, with options like "Black Stories Always" for African American voices, or "Hulu Has Pride" for LGBTQ+ stories. There's also the "Hotstar" hub, named for the Disney-owned Indian streaming service, which grants viewers access to a whole library of Indian movies and shows in various languages.
How much is Hulu without ads? Credit: HuluA Hulu ad-supported plan will run you $7.99 a month (or $79.99 a year), unless you're a student, in which case you may be eligible for Hulu (With Ads) for just $1.99 a month once you verify your college enrollment. Also, if you happen to be Hulu-shopping during the site's annual Thanksgiving sale, you may be able to snag a year-long subscription for as low as $0.99 a month if you're a new subscriber. In the meantime, the Hulu (With Ads) tier offers a free seven-day trial so you can get the hang of things, though you'll need to input a payment method and remember to cancel before the trial period ends if you don't want to be charged.
The ad-free Hulu (No Ads) tier is a little more expensive, at $17.99 a month, but it's a smoother, interruption-free experience without ad breaks during the episodes. The only downside is that some shows will still play with a few unskippable ads before the video begins.
Can you bundle Hulu with other streaming services? Credit: HuluIf you like to keep your streaming options varied, there may still be a way to cut costs, either through bundling Hulu with other apps, or through the streamer’s add-on services. Since Hulu is owned by Disney, the studio offers a number of bundling options with two of its other major streaming sites, Disney+ and ESPN+, with the following combinations:
Disney Bundle Duo Basic: Hulu (With Ads) and Disney+ (With Ads) for $9.99 a month
Disney Bundle Duo Premium: Hulu (No Ads) and Disney+ (No Ads) for $19.99 a month — you would need to purchase this one through Disney+
Disney Bundle Trio Basic: Hulu (With Ads), Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) for $14.99 a month
Disney Bundle Trio Premium: Hulu (No Ads), Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) for $24.99 a month
Hulu also recently added the option of bundling with Disney+ and the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned Max for $16.99 a month, all of them with ads. However, if you'd rather sign up just for Hulu but still want to be able to customize your services later, you can not only switch between Hulu (With Ads) and Hulu (No Ads) in your account settings, but you can also add Disney+ and ESPN+ as Partner Add-ons, as well as Premium Add-ons like Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz.
How much is Hulu Live TV?For prospective cable-cutters, Hulu has a Live TV Only option if you just want access to about 90 channels (depending on your zip code), though its $75.99 a month price point can't compete with YouTube TV's $72.99 or Sling's various $40 to $55 tiers for live TV.
However, you can also bundle Hulu Live TV in a number of permutations with other services that might make it worth your while. If you want it with Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all three with ads), then the monthly price is just a dollar more than the Live TV Only option, at $76.99.
That price tag goes up an additional $5 to $81.99 if you want your Disney+ without ads, and another $8 on top of that if you want to remove ads from the Hulu streaming service as well, meaning the most expensive tier — Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV with Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) — will run you $89.99 monthly.
Regardless of which tier or bundle you choose, you'll have unlimited DVR storage, and can also pay to add various sports and entertainment networks as you please, in both English and Spanish.
Can you download movies on Hulu? Hulu's app allows for a wide selection of downloadable titles. Credit: HuluLike most major streaming services, Hulu is available across every major smartphone, smart TV, gaming console, and tablet, with the option to download movies and shows on most mobile devices. However, you can only download content with a Hulu (No Ads) plan or bundle.
You can also watch downloaded content offline, and while downloads on Hulu have certain time restrictions, they're easy to renew. Each file will remain valid for 30 days, and you'll have 48 hours to complete a film or episode once you start watching, but after that, you can download it again with no hassle.
Is Hulu worth it?All in all, while you may have better luck elsewhere with your live TV options, our verdict is that Hulu is worth the price if you decide to bundle it with other streaming services or take advantage of its annual sale in November.
Hulu 1-Month Free Trial at HuluTL;DR: For a limited time, you can get the NanoPhone miniaturized smartphone on sale for $109.99 (reg. $199.99), a 45% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Mutant Design Lab NanoPhone - A Miniaturized Smartphone Packed with Mega Features $109.99 at the Mashable ShopSick of lugging around a phone that’s practically the size of a tablet? If you value portability but still crave functionality, then the NanoPhone could be exactly what you need. This little powerhouse — on sale for only $109.99 — includes the smartphone features you need in a device so compact it can hide behind a credit card. That means it can even fit inside the tiny pockets of women's jeans.
Despite its small size, which is literally the size of a credit card, the NanoPhone doesn’t skimp on the essentials. It comes equipped with a clear, responsive touchscreen that makes navigation a breeze, whether you're scrolling through your contacts, browsing the web, or using popular apps like Uber, Instagram, and Snapchat.
The intuitive interface is designed to keep things simple, so you can easily manage calls, texts, and apps without the bulk of a standard smartphone.
The NanoPhone also includes a built-in camera, perfect for capturing those on-the-go moments when you don’t have your full-sized device handy. Plus, it supports Bluetooth connectivity, so you can pair it with wireless headphones or a smartwatch for a seamless experience.
Battery life won’t be an issue either. The NanoPhone is designed to last throughout your day, whether you’re making calls, streaming music, or checking your emails. And with expandable storage, you can carry all your essential apps, photos, and files without compromise.
Whether you’re hitting the gym, going for a run, or just want to travel light, the NanoPhone is a practical solution that could fit your lifestyle.
Small in size and big on features, it's ready to go wherever life takes you.
The NanoPhone packs essential smartphone features into a tiny, portable design for 45% off at $109.99 (reg. $199.99).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get lifetime access to expert-led courses on LearnNowOnline for just $49.99 and take control of your IT learning journey.
Ever found yourself stuck in a job that feels like a dead end, wondering how to get ahead? Whether you’re looking to pivot into a new IT career or simply want to stay competitive in your current role, having the right skills is crucial. But in a world where technology and industries evolve at lightning speed, it’s tough to keep up.
That’s where LearnNowOnline comes in — with lifetime access to over 1,100 courses covering everything from cloud computing and web development fundamentals to specific applications and certifications, including CompTIA, Office 365, Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, and more. Once you sign up with a one-time payment, LearnNowOnline gives you lifetime access to thousands of courses for only $49.99.
With LearnNowOnline, you're not just skimming the surface; you’re diving deep into new skills that matter. All the courses are taught by industry experts who bring years of experience to the table. These aren’t your average online classes — they’re designed to be comprehensive, practical, and, most importantly, relevant to today’s job market.
These courses provide a hands-on approach, so you’ll be rolling up your sleeves with labs, exercises, and real-world projects that help you actually understand and apply what you’ve learned. Plus, with content that’s regularly updated, you can be confident that you’re learning the latest trends and best practices.
Whether you’re aiming for certification, a career change, or simply want to stay sharp, LearnNowOnline gives you the tools to take control of your future on your own terms.
For a limited time, get lifetime access to LearnNowOnline.com on sale for $49.99 (reg. $949.99).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: LearnNowOnline.com Lifetime Access to LearnNowOnline.com $49.99TL;DR: Get the Go2Sleep 3, an AI-powered sleep tracker with advanced monitoring features, now on sale for $98.99.
There's a lot to toss and turn about, but we can all agree it's the worst. You might be an athlete fine-tuning your performance — or you're just someone who’s tired of waking up groggy. Regardless of your reason, understanding your sleep patterns can make all the difference.
Meet the Go2Sleep 3, an AI-powered sleep tracker designed to give you the insights you need for a more restful night. For a limited time, you can get it for $98.99, down 23% from $129.
Go2Sleep 3 constantly monitors your sleep from the moment you drift off until you wake up. The ultra-light ring is so comfortable, you’ll forget it’s even there, yet it’s packed with advanced tech that tracks your blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and even blood glucose (a feature that's coming soon). And with its upgraded algorithms, it captures every oxygen desaturation event, so nothing slips through the cracks.
But it’s not just about collecting data — Go2Sleep 3 helps you make sense of it all. The SLEEPON 3 app generates detailed second-level reports on your HRV, sleep stages, and various sleep factors. You’ll even get professional PSQI scores and personalized sleep advice tailored to your specific needs. It’s like having a sleep coach right on your finger.
If you’re ready to take control of your sleep and wake up feeling truly rested, Go2Sleep 3 could be your ticket to better nights and brighter days.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: SLEEPON Go2sleep 3: AI-Powered Tracker for a More Restful Sleep $98.99TL;DR: The Gemini TT-1200 turntable offers flawless vinyl playback with a modern twist, all for $159.99 (reg. $199).
Vinyl records are having a moment, and it’s not just nostalgia talking. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a new fan discovering the warmth of analog sound, there’s something special about spinning records that streaming can’t quite capture. But as much as we love vinyl, it’s not the most portable format.
The Gemini TT-1200 is a modern turntable that lets you enjoy your records in their original form and also easily converts them to digital files for on-the-go listening. For a limited time, get it for $159.99, marked down 19% from its original price of $199.
With the Gemini, you get the best of both worlds: the rich, authentic sound of your favorite records and the convenience of digital playback. This belt-drive turntable ensures smooth, consistent playback, with adjustable height and pitch control to get everything sounding just right. Plus, the included slip mat and 45 adapter mean you’re ready to spin any record in your collection.
Its USB interface makes it easy to convert your vinyl to MP3. Whether you’re preserving priceless classics or sharing your collection with friends, this feature gives you the flexibility to take your music anywhere.
Rediscover your vinyls or start up your collection with the Gemini TT-1200 Belt-Drive Turntable with USB interface, on sale for $159.99.
StackSocial prices subject to change
Opens in a new window Credit: Gemini Sound Gemini Sound TT-1200 Belt Drive Turntable with USB Interface ¤159.99bject to change.
In search of a good laugh? Hulu's movie library is here to help.
From cult classics to recent gems, Hulu boasts a large collection of comedies. The prospect of wading through all of them can be daunting, especially since some movies may require an add-on subscription to watch. There's no streaming woe worse than finding the perfect movie to watch only to realize you don't have the right plan to watch it.
No need to panic, though: We've gone through Hulu's catalog and narrowed it down to the cream of the comedy crop, all of which can be watched without any extra subscriptions. Any of these movies will have you chuckling in no time.
Here, in no particular order, are the 30 best comedies on Hulu.
1. Poor Things Emma Stone won her second Oscar for her portrayal of Bella. Credit: Searchlight Pictures / Everett / ShutterstockThe team-up of Emma Stone with director Yorgos Lanthimos has been a winning one for everybody. For audiences, who've been treated to a string of audaciously weird comic masterpieces, and to the creatives themselves — cut to Emma Stone clutching her second Best Actress statue, for 2023's Poor Things. Stone plays Bella, a Frankensteined young woman whose growth from baby-brained to enthusiastic sex worker is charted by Lanthimos in his typically hilariously bizarre fashion. Furiously jumping from one man (Ramy Youssef) to another (Mark Ruffalo) while her mad-doctor creator (Willem Dafoe) notes down her progress, Poor Things is a tale of self-actualization told in fast-forward fits and starts, as inclined to fart jokes as it is speechifying on the proletariat. Perfect nonsense! — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer
How to watch: Poor Things is now streaming on Hulu.
2. Slums of Beverly HillsToss yourself into the way-back machine not once but twice — first to 1998, the year that writer-director Tamara Jenkins’ debut feature, the Sundance hit Slums of Beverly Hills, was released, and then even further back to 1976, the year that Slums of Beverly Hills is set.
Somewhat autobiographical for the director of The Savages and Private Life, the film tells a coming-of-age story about 14-year-old Vivian (played by an 18-year-old Natasha Lyonne) and her wacky family existing on the far, far fringes of the glamorous 90210 scene. With an outrageously packed supporting cast including Marisa Tomei, David Krumholtz, Alan Arkin, Jessica Walter, Kevin Corrigan, Carl Reiner, Mena Suvari, and Rita f'ing Moreno, Slums of Beverly Hills is a pitch-perfect indie-cinema slice of its time — both of its times. — J.A.
How to watch: Slums of Beverly Hills is now streaming on Hulu.
Nearly all of Wes Anderson's films are now streaming on Hulu, and as a hardcore Wes Anderson devotee since day one who slaps away all incessant accusations of twee, I'd recommend every single one of them. But for my dollar, the most laugh-out-loud funny is this stop-motion animated Roald Dahl adaptation from 2009, which features the voices of Anderson's usual troupe of actors — Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody — alongside newcomer nobodies like George Clooney and Meryl Streep.
The latter pair play Mr. and Mrs. Fox, retiring thieves who've found themselves a nice tree to settle down in when they're suddenly thrust into a confrontation with three local farmer-psychopaths called Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. The film is surprisingly violent — watching adorable little stop-motion puppets die is something else! — and riotously funny, an autumnal-colored burst of anarchy that only a maniac like Wes Anderson could deliver. It's cussing perfection! — J.A.
How to watch: Fantastic Mr. Fox is now streaming on Hulu.
4. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo are Barb and Star. Credit: LionsgateIt takes maybe five minutes for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar to elicit its first "WTF?" and to the comedy's immense credit, it only gets weirder from there.
There are life-saving culottes, and elaborate lies about turtles, and a mythological sea sprite named Trish, and a villain commanding an army of mosquitos, and a musical number that has Jamie Dornan climbing up a palm tree like a cat up a palm tree who's decided to go up a palm tree, and... Look, you've just got to watch it to get it. And at the center of all of it is the sincerely sweet, reliably rock-solid bond between Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig). Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar ended up being to us what Vista Del Mar was to Barb and Star: the breezy little break from reality we needed to get our shine back. — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor
How to watch: Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is now streaming on Hulu with the live TV add-on.
5. PaddingtonIt took almost six decades for Michael Bond's beloved children's book character of Paddington the Bear to make the leap from the page to the big-screen (although there were some small screen serial adventures along the way), but the wait turned out to be more than worth it. Paul King's film 2014 film, which has real actors like Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, and Nicole Kidman acting with a CG-animated bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw, after a brief Colin Firth kerfuffle) was considered an immediate classic. (Its sequel is even better.)
In it, Paddington makes his way from the forests of Peru to the lovely little London-town homestead of the Brown family, getting into chaotic adventures everywhere he goes. Kidman roars around having a blast as an over-the-top evil taxidermist who wants to stuff and mount our favorite marmalade-slurping cutie pie in a yellow rain slicker. We don't get to say this often enough and genuinely mean it, but this one's true fun for both kids and adults. — J.A.
How to watch: Paddington is now streaming on Hulu.
6. O Brother, Where Art Thou?Leave it to the Coen Brothers to turn Homer's ancient classic and high-school-staple The Odyssey into a sepia-toned Depression-era crime-caper about three outlandish prison escapees on the run from the fuzz while on the hunt for buried treasure. And all set to an Oscar-winning score of Southern folk songs from legendary musician T Bone Burnett at that? How did we ever have it so good?
Starring John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, and George Clooney as the brothers Pete, Delmar, and Ulysses Everett McGill, we follow the three on their, dare I say, odyssey, across the scorched-earth South after they break off from their chain gang in search of loot. And if you think you know where the Coens are gonna take you from there, well, I'd hazard a guess that you've never seen a Coens movie before. There's song, there's dance, there's Soggy Bottom Boys and sirens and Klan rallies gone deliciously awry. Homer only wishes he'd thought half this shit up! —J.A.
How to watch: O Brother, Where Art Thou? is now streaming on Hulu.
7. Palm Springs Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti are just chilling in an infinite time loop. Credit: Chris Willard / Jessica PerezWhen Palm Springs arrived in July of 2020, most movie releases were postponed inevitably because of the pandemic — yet here was a movie, a new movie, a festival darling, about people going quietly insane with monotony and losing grip on time itself.
Max Barbakow’s film showcases a cheerfully nihilistic Andy Samberg, along with Cristin Milioti in her best work to date as his increasingly frenzied companion, in “one of those infinite time loop situations you might have heard of.” Their chemistry makes Andy Siara’s script soar, leaving ample room for J.K. Simmons's sinister interludes and just the right amount of time travel interrogation. It’s a sharp, original comedy worth revisiting again, and again, and again.* — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Palm Springs is now streaming on Hulu.
8. Working GirlMy apologies to all of you who will have Carly Simon's Oscar-winning theme song "Let the River Run" stuck in your head for the next week now that I have brought it up. But as soon as I picture the opening credits to Mike Nichols' comedy classic Working Girl, with the camera zooming toward that NYC-circa-1988 skyline alongside the Staten Island Ferry that carries Tess (Melanie Griffith) to her shitty secretarial job in the financial district of Manhattan, I can't help but hear that song like lightning.
And then picture Joan Cusack's flamboyant eye makeup as Tess' best friend. And Sigourney Weaver furiously stomping around in a gray power suit and crutches. And Harrison Ford changing his shirt in the office while all the women swoon. This iconic tale of Tess clawing her way up the corporate ladder one gigantic lie after another is one of the greatest of ’80s comedies, with everybody so on their game that every second of it is permanently burned into my brain. So come, the new Jerusalem, and let that damn river run already! — J.A.
How to watch: Working Girl is now streaming on Hulu.
9. The HeatI'd probably give the edge to Spy among Melissa McCarthy–led vehicles (and where the heck is that sequel, anyway?) but you can't go wrong with Paul Feig's The Heat, which was sandwiched between Spy and McCarthy's star-making supporting turn in Bridesmaids among the pair's comic collaborations. Playing the potty-mouthed bad cop Mullins, who offsets (and sets off) Sandra Bullock's straight-laced good cop Ashburn, The Heat is odd-couple buddy-movie heaven. The plot is some ’80s-flavored hokum about drug kingpins and double-crosses that exists merely to get its leading twosome into a series of escalating and hilarious jams, and as such, The Heat brings it. The heat, I mean. — J.A.
How to watch: The Heat is now streaming on Hulu.
10. Plan B Kuhoo Verma and Victoria Moroles go on a road trip. Credit: Brett Roedel / HuluWhen Sunny (Kuhoo Verma) has sex at a house party, she needs the morning after pill but can’t get it thanks to South Dakota’s regressive pharmacy policy. She and best friend Lupe (Victoria Moroles) embark on a wild road trip that includes illegal drugs, a catfish close call, an insane gas station encounter, and a dick piercing. Verma and Moroles hold the film together superbly, their chemistry elevating every scene of Prathi Srinivasan and Joshua Levy’s riotous script. It’s a killer directorial debut for Natalie Morales, who recognizes the star power in front of the camera and the weight of stories about strong female friendship and women of color living authentically. — P.K.
How to watch: Plan B is now streaming on Hulu.
11. 13 Going on 30I dare anyone to watch this beloved 2004 comedy from director Gary Winick and walk out of it without a gigantic stupid grin plastered across your face — such is the power of Jennifer Garner at the height of her charm and Mark Ruffalo at his most adorkable. 13 Going on 30 tells the story of Jenna, an unpopular 13-year-old (played at 13 by Christa B. Allen) who makes a wish to be "thirty, flirty, and thriving" that magically comes true, transporting her 17 years into the future and into her 30-year-old self (now played by Garner).
Unfortunately her mind stays 13, so the disconnect between Young Jenna in the body of Older Jenna leads to much comedy, all of which Garner dives into with great relish. Discovering that she's become a mean girl fashion editor in New York City, Jenna quickly realizes she has to make some decisions about her priorities going forward. What faster way to learn the error of your ways than discovering the adult version of the boy next door who had a crush on you and you didn't pay attention to has turned out to be Mark Ruffalo? We should all have such lessons to learn. — J.A.
How to watch: 13 Going on 30 is now streaming on Hulu.
12. BuffaloedIt's a shame that Set it Up co-stars Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch haven't starred in another rom-com since that 2018 film, because they had mad chemistry with one another. But while Powell was off popping his big guns in Top Gun Maverick, Deutsch went and made the wildly overlooked 2019 comedy Buffaloed with director Tanya Wexler, and I know which I'd rather re-watch. Deutsch plays a hustler named Peg in ye olde Buffalo, New York (hence the title), who, after a stint in prison, turns her hustling skills into the legit hustle of debt collection.
You can safely call this "a madcap romp" but it flies along furiously funny thanks to Deutsch's megawatt charm, plus the sparkling chemistry she shares with Judy Greer, who plays her frazzled mom. And that's not a bit part either! Judy Greer gets to play a proper, fully-rounded character! Those golden moments must be seized upon. — J.A.
How to watch: Buffaloed is now streaming on Hulu.
13. Support the Girls Shayna McHayle and Haley Lu Richardson play waitresses at a Hooters-esque restaurant. Credit: Magnolia Pictures / Everett / ShutterstockBefore Regina Hall stars opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Paul Thomas Anderson's next movie and everybody finally surrenders to what a genius she is, y'all need to go back and watch her exquisite turn as Lisa, the exasperated manager of a Hooters-like restaurant in 2018's Support the Girls from director Andrew Bujalski. A perfect movie that flew far too under the radar for my liking, it follows a day in the life of Lisa and her waitresses — with Haley Lu Richardson and Shayna McHayle as stand-outs, stealing the movie every second they're on-screen – as they deal with an endless parade of men who refuse to take them seriously. And even under that burden, Support the Girls remains hopeful and sweet and funny at every turn. Did I mention it's perfect? It's perfect. — J.A.
How to watch: Support the Girls is now streaming on Hulu.
14. Romy and Michele's High School ReunionWe've all been there. You're just innocently living your life, thinking things are OK, when suddenly a high school reunion invitation shows up in the mail and sends you into a tailspin. How much time has passed? What have you accomplished? And who the hell wants to go to town with some guy who drives a rowboat?
Such is the existential crisis that drives the engine of the 1997 cult comedy classic Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow as the titular BFFs whose 10-year reunion forces them to ask all sort of questions about their lives that they're unprepared for. And so they do what any sane person would do — they put on business suits and pretend they invented Post-it Notes.
With a supporting cast that includes Janeane Garofolo, Alan Cumming, and Justin Theroux, this movie took some time to become widely beloved, but it's been home to me since Romy told that dude her shoe was filling up with blood. — J.A.
How to watch: Romy and Michele's High School Reunion is now streaming on Hulu.
SEE ALSO: 'Werewolves Within' is a brutal yet wholesome horror-comedy 15. Triangle of Sadness Woody Harrelson plays a rascally captain in "Triangle of Sadness." Credit: Fredrick Wenzel / Plattform ProduktionSwedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund has made a name for himself with a string of arty dark comedies about the sickened human condition, and I recommend each and every single one of them. Indeed, his Oscar-nominated 2017 film The Square is also streaming on Hulu right now, so do yourself a double feature! But his most recent, 2022's grand (and also Oscar-nominated) Triangle of Sadness, is easily his most epic — an upstairs-downstairs satire that puts a pile of obscene capitalists on board a luxury yacht, makes them all barf for 10 straight minutes, and then goes full Lord of the Flies on their asses for its final act. Brutally, hilariously blunt in its messaging, Triangle of Sadness gave red meat to hungry actors like Woody Harrelson, Harris Dickinson, and Dolly de Leon, and together we all feast. — J.A.
How to watch: Triangle of Sadness is now streaming on Hulu.
SEE ALSO: 'Triangle of Sadness' review: The "eat the rich" comedy goes gross-out, and it's great 16. BigIt's tempting to think of Penny Marshall's 1988 comedy Big as a "body-swapping" movie, but as with 13 Going on 30, that's not exactly the case, since the only person these main characters are "swapping" with is themselves. Just older. Still, it exercises the same kind of skills for the actors involved. Instead of, say, Jamie Lee Curtis pretending to be Linsday Lohan, we get Tom Hanks pretending he's a 12-year-old version of himself trapped in an adult body. Let the acting, and the comedy, commence!
After making a wish on a Zoltar fortune-telling machine at the carnival that he won't have to be a picked-on little dweeb anymore, 12-year-old Josh (David Moscow ) wakes up looking like 32-year-old Tom Hanks. This obviously causes issues, like his Mom (Mercedes Ruehl) freaking out about there suddenly being a middle-aged pervert in her child's bedroom, so Josh is forced to go on the run. Thankfully, this is a sweet fable, so before long Josh has become a celebrated executive at a toy company who's banging Elizabeth Perkins… just try not to get too hung up on the criminal logistics of that last part. The ’80s were a different time, man. — J.A.
How to watch: Big is now streaming on Hulu.
17. My Cousin VinnyFor a long time it seemed like My Cousin Vinny was just known as the movie that inexplicably won Marisa Tomei an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Thankfully I think (or hope) that we've all come around on that in the two decades since, and we now see that win as one of the Academy's most inspired choices. They should award more brilliant comic turns like hers! Tomei plays Lisa, the brash Brooklyn girlfriend to Vinny (Joe Pesci), a personal injury lawyer who's called down to Alabama to defend his nephew who's been falsely arrested for murder. It's a broad-as-a-barnside comedy about the culture clash between the loud New Yorkers and the genteel hicks, and it's a riot. — J.A.
How to watch: My Cousin Vinny is now streaming on Hulu.
18. Fire Island Bowen Yang and Joel Kim Booster star in "Fire Island." Credit: HuluIf people had been telling queer stories for as long as there have been queer people, we surely would've gotten a loose adaptation of a Jane Austen story applied to gay men before 2022, given what an easy translation that makes. But we can't be angry that when it finally did arrive it arrived in the tremendously capable hands of director Andrew Ahn (Driveways) and writer and star Joel Kim Booster, and they knocked it outta the park.
Inspired by Pride and Prejudice, Booster stars as Noah, who heads to the titular gay mecca every summer with his four best friends (played by Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, Tomás Matos, and Torian Miller) to stay at a lovely island cottage owned by their lesbian pal (Margaret Cho). Immediately drama rains upon them – the cottage is being sold! There are rich racist gays who sneer at them! And most importantly of all – will everybody get properly laid? It's all sweet and sexy and beautifully filmed – Ahn, a gifted and precise filmmaker, gives the story and its sense of place plenty of room to breathe, making the emotional arcs land better than they usually do in your average basic rom-com. — J.A.
How to watch: Fire Island is now streaming on Hulu.
SEE ALSO: 12 of the best romantic comedies streaming on Hulu 19. That Thing You Do!Tom Hanks has only directed two feature films, and this is by far "the good one" (with my apologies to Larry Crowne). The made-up story of the meteoric rise of a one-hit-wonder rock band in the 1960s, That Thing You Do! is charm incarnate. (Not to mention another movie where the movie's theme song will get lodged in your head for weeks.) Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, and Ethan Embry make up The Wonders, with Liv Tyler as a Yoko who comes between the boys in the band, and Hanks playing their manager (shades of Elvises to come). And then there's that theme song — a perfect pop confection (written by Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger); you absolutely 1000 percent understand 1) why it takes off the way it does, and 2) how it quickly turns into a curse from which there is no escape. — J.A.
How to watch: That Thing You Do! is now streaming on Hulu.
20. Theater CampGoing into Theater Camp, there were three big selling points for me. First, it was co-written and co-stars Molly Gordon, who very nearly stole the stellar comedy Shiva Baby from Rachel Sennott, and if you've ever seen Rachel Sennott in anything you know what a feat that is. Second, the film also stars the fantastic Ayo Edebiri of The Bear, as well as Bottoms, which… also co-starred Rachel Sennott? Weird. And third, Theater Camp has Amy Sedaris in it, and Amy Sedaris will seat me for anything. (I don't believe her and Rachel Sennott have ever faced off, but I will be there for that, believe me.)
Also starring Noah Galvin, Jimmy Tatro, Patti Harrison, and Ben Platt, Theater Camp is basically a slightly more sincere version of Wet Hot American Summer, since if there's one thing theater kids love, it's unbridled sincerity. Made with that target audience in mind, this thing hits its mark over and over again. Molly Gordon hive rise! — J.A.
How to watch: Theater Camp is now streaming on Hulu.
21. Napoleon Dynamite Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez play Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro. Credit: Access / MTV / Napoleon Ltd / Kobal / ShutterstockCelebrating its 20th anniversary this year if you can believe it is director Jared Hess' now classic high-school comedy Napoleon Dynamite, which premiered at Sundance in January of 2004 and six months later raked in 45 million bucks at the box office. That's a lot of dynamite for an indie that cost nothing to make and starred absolutely nobody!
Starring Jon Heder (who's gone on to be somebody thanks to this movie) as the film's titular dweeb, Napoleon Dynamite tells the tale of Napoleon's burgeoning friendship with Pedro – "Vote For Pedro" T-shirts are now iconic pop-culture detritus – and his race for the school presidency. Oh and a legendary dance routine to Jamiroquai. Jamiroquai! Remember Jamiroquai? It's all very of its moment, but as a time capsule of that moment, there might be nothing better. — J.A.
How to watch: Napoleon Dynamite is now streaming on Hulu.
22. IdiocracyWriter-director Mike Judge has gifted the world with both Beavis and Butthead, not to mention the many dim-witted denizens of Arlen, Texas, in his series King of the Hill. Point being, the man knows when he speaks of American Stupid. But he really tapped into something prophetic with Idiocracy, his 2006 cult comedy that foresaw a future for the United States where we'd elect a reality-star dipshit to be president and evolve into drooling monosyllabic morons who don't know not to spray Gatorade on crops if we want to continue eating. Idiocracy stars Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph as two regular Joes in 2006 who get cryogenically frozen only to wake up 500 years in the future and find their basic intelligence suddenly makes them the smartest people on earth. Alternately feared and loathed, they must try to pull humanity back from the brink of its own self-immolation. Honestly — relatable. — J.A.
How to watch: Idiocracy is now streaming on Hulu.
23. Dinner in AmericaHow this punk rock romance went so underseen when it got released in 2022, I'll never fathom. I can only chalk it up to the inexplicable two years that passed between its Sundance premiere and it hitting theaters, because it's so much fun and full of energy and beautifully performed by its leads (Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs) that it deserved far more attention. But now we can all give it that attention together by watching it here on Hulu.
Skeggs plays a very odd college dropout who's obsessed with a local punk rock band; Gallner is the lead singer of said band, but given he wears a mask on-stage nobody knows that fact except him. The two meet cute (i.e. he's on the run from the police while selling drugs) and yadda yadda romance. The yadda yadda is the good part. And the good part is how Skeggs and Gallner have oodles of chemistry and are an absolute pleasure to watch fall for one another. A true underappreciated gem just sitting here waiting for you to appreciate it. — J.A.
How to watch: Dinner in America is now streaming on Hulu.
24. Quiz Lady "Quiz Lady" stars Awkwafina and Sandra Oh. Credit: HuluAwkwafina and Sandra Oh play estranged sisters Anne and Jenny, who find themselves being chased by gangsters after their gambling-addict mother runs off and leaves them in the lurch with her debts. The gangsters even kidnap Anne's cute little dog! And so Jenny, the wild sister, hatches a scheme that Anne could easily earn back the money on a TV quiz show. Because obviously. And somehow that becomes the plan. So the two hit the road — cue over-the-top hijinks.
And this 2023 film from director Jessica Yu is what a modern "high-concept" movie looks like, in case you didn't get that from the part where the gangsters steal Anne's dog. It's loud and it's goofy and a good old-fashioned broadest of broads comedy. Oh in particular is having a blast letting loose in ways she hasn't gotten to do in awhile (by which I mean she has purple hair). Also onboard are Jason Schwartzman and Will Ferrell. Oh, and the legendary Paul Reubens in his final performance! — J.A.
How to watch: Quiz Lady is now streaming on Hulu.
25. EnchantedDo we have Enchanted to blame for the never-ending live-action Disney adaptation craze? Sure, it might not have been a literal remake of any previous Disney Princess stories (although it was obviously riffing on most of them). And when it hit screens in 2007, it might not have made as much money as Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland movie did a couple years later, but then Alice in Wonderland made an inexplicable billion dollars.
What Enchanted did prove was that there was more than enough charm to be milked from watching real, live human beings act like fairy-tale fools. The only difference is that Enchanted and its game cast — Amy Adams, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey – was in on the joke. The story of Princess-to-be Giselle (Adams) being cursed by the wicked witch (Sarandon) to live in the real world of Manhattan, where she finds herself torn between her Prince (Marsden) and a divorce lawyer (Dempsey) is sly as heck in its princess story subversions, while also feeding our needs for all the tropes anyway. — J.A.
How to watch: Enchanted is now streaming on Hulu.
26. Official CompetitionIn 2022, Penelope Cruz gave two of her best performances to date. One was Pedro Almodovar's Parallel Mothers, for which she got an Oscar nomination. Official Competition is the other one. And if we're being honest, the latter is my preferred pick, since I think she gives her balls-to-the-wall funniest turn ever here. The film sees her playing the inestimably pretentious film director Lola Cuevas, who is suddenly handed a bottomless reservoir of cash by the dying billionaire Humberto Suárez (José Luis Gómez). He has decided on a sudden whim that he wants an epic film to be his final contribution to the world, even though he knows absolutely nothing about the movies. He simply asks his assistants to name the best director, and voila – Lola's a go.
What proceeds is a vicious satire of artistic pretension, as Lola hires two actors for her lead characters (Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martínez), whose approaches to acting couldn't be more different — one is a very serious theater snob, while the other is a fame-hungry Hollywood starfucker. Fireworks are loosed, and millions of dollars are flushed down the toilet with surprising ease. Will it make for good cinema? It certainly makes for a hilarious movie about the making of movies. — J.A.
How to watch: Official Competition is now streaming on Hulu.
27. Little Monsters Lupita Nyong'o deserves accolades as a Scream Queen. Credit: Hulu / Neon / Moviestore / ShutterstockBetween the Quiet Place prequel, her Oscar-worthy turn in Us in 2019, and her hilarious romp in the zombie-comedy Little Monsters that same year, we should be properly crowning Lupita Nyong'o a Scream Queen already. Little Monsters sees her playing Miss Audrey, an elementary school teacher who faces down a zombie outbreak while on a school field trip with her class. And since the movie also involves a romance with one of the kid's uncles (Alexander England), you can add it to the elite group of zom-rom-coms alongside Shaun of the Dead and Warm Bodies. Wherever you'd classify it, it's a charming, goofy, bloody good time, and yes, it stars one of our great current Scream Queens, dammit. — J.A.
How to watch: Little Monsters is now streaming on Hulu.
28. Father of the BrideWe find ourselves having a lil bit of a Steve-aissance these days, thanks to the grand success of Steve Martin's Hulu series, Only Murders in the Building, as well as Apple's recent documentary on the comedy legend. So why not remind yourself why you love him a little more and go watch one of his comedy films, too? No big surprise that Hulu has a couple on tap, but I'm going to direct you to his sweet-as-pie 1991 remake of the 1950 Spencer Tracy classic Father of the Bride, which is about a sneaker salesman named George who is having a complete mental breakdown as his daughter (Kimberly Williams) gets married. But the funny version of that! Diane Keaton co-stars as George's momentarily suffering wife, Nina, while Martin's real-life life-partner Martin Short turns in one of his broadest caricatures (and that's saying something) as the wedding planner Franck Eggelhoffer. (P.S., the sequel is also streaming on Hulu.) — J.A.
How to watch: Father of the Bride is now streaming on Hulu.
29. The Cable GuyIf The Cable Guy was remade today, I suppose it would be about the person who installs your wi-fi, since everybody's "cut the cord." The entire concept of this movie is very '90s, kind of like an episode of Seinfeld run amok. But nobody ran amok in the '90s like Jim Carrey, and this — the second feature from director Ben Stiller after Reality Bites — let Carrey lean into the darkness inherent in his deranged persona more than any of his previous roles up to that point.
As with a plumber or a drug dealer, there's an inherent discomfort in letting these strangers into our homes and being forced to make small talk with them. Stiller's film maximizes that with Carrey's off-the-rails performance as "Chip," who never met a boundary he wouldn't crash right through. Normal guy Steven (Matthew Broderick) doesn't realize what a pact with the devil he's making when he accepts Chip's offer of an off-the-books upgrade, and before you can say "Comedy Central" five times fast, Steven's entire life has been upended. Demented cult fun that was ahead of its time for how pitch-black it went while also being very much of its time. — J.A.
How to watch: The Cable Guy is now streaming on Hulu.
30. (500) Days of Summer Zooey Deschanel is Summer. Credit: Watermark / Kobal / ShutterstockI feel as if there has been a backlash to (500) Days of Summer, a huge hit when it came out in 2009 that began to feel dated in its twee-ness almost immediately. But I'm going to present a backlash to the backlash, because this movie just makes me smile. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel play Tom and Summer, whose relationship is dissected in nonlinear fashion with its start and finish all mixed up, smacking their happiest moments up against their worst. It's basically that legendary sex scene in Don't Look Now that cuts back and forth between the sex and the getting dressed after the sex, turned into a full feature-length movie. And it works for me! Levitt and Deschanel have lovely chemistry, and Mark Webb knows how to spin romance. Just ask Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in the two Spider-man movies he made right after this. — J.A.
How to watch: (500) Days of Summer is now streaming on Hulu.
Hulu 1-Month Free Trial at HuluUPDATE: Aug. 19, 2024, 4:00 p.m. EDT This article was originally published in 2020 and has been updated to reflect the latest streaming options.
(*) indicates the blurb comes from a previous Mashable list.
Apple Podcasts have arrived to your browser of choice.
On Monday, Apple launched Apple Podcasts on the web, making its Podcasts available as a web app on major browsers including Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. The service is available in more than 170 countries and regions, in their local language, the company has announced.
Podcasts were already available as a desktop app on the Mac, but now you can get a very similar experience on essentially any device or operating system. The web app starts in the familiar Home tab and offers access to top charts, and users can browse through podcasts and access their Library (provided they've signed into the app).
Apple Podcasts on the web are available at https://podcasts.apple.com/.
Yes, it's also available in dark mode. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable/AppleApple has recently started offering more of its apps in the form of web versions. In July, the company launched Apple Maps on the web, though that version launched as "beta" and without many of the features that Apple Maps offers as a desktop app.
TL;DR: Through Sept. 3, secure your files forever with a lifetime subscription to 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage, now just £92.36 when you use the code KOOFR40 (reg. £623.56).
Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) £92.36 at the Mashable ShopDo you have a camera roll full of selfies, dog photos, and scenes from your holidays? Then you probably have to periodically delete your favourite pictures to free up storage space on your phone or computer. Even cloud storage services like Google Photos and iCloud can fill up quickly. With this cloud storage deal, you'll never have to sacrifice one of those precious snaps again.
For a limited time, you can get 1TB of storage for life with a one-time payment for Koofr Cloud Storage. When you use the discount code KOOFR40 (offer available through Sept. 3), you can save 85% on the cost of a lifetime 1TB plan and pay just £92.36.
Koofr Cloud Storage gives you all the space you need to securely store your most important photos, videos, and personal files. A 1TB allotment of cloud storage is enough to save more than 250,000 high-resolution photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million PDFs.
Most cloud storage services require you to pay a monthly or annual fee, and those auto-renew payments and subscriptions can really be a nasty surprise. They also add up surprisingly fast. Instead, KOOFR lets you get all the storage you need with a single payment. Once you sign up, you'll have a secure spot for your data. And because your files will be encrypted, your documents, photos, and other files will be safe at all times.
What about the files you have on other cloud storage accounts? Koofr lets you connect and access files across other accounts, giving you easy access to all of your data. Plus, with tools like Koofr Duplicate Finder, you can quickly organise and delete any files that you don't really need.
Again, you can score major savings on a lifetime subscription to Koofr for just £92.36 (reg. £623.56) with coupon code KOOFR40 through Sept. 3.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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