Stranger Things may have ended in the final hours of 2025, but it has a larger presence in 2026 than you realize. While Millie Bobby Brown is busy being Enola Holmes again and Gaten Matarazzo is doing Rent across the pond, the Hawkins legacy remains alive with Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, an animated Netflix series set between Stranger Things Season 2 and 3.

While Tales From ‘85 Season 1 just premiered in April, we’re already gearing up for Season 2. In a new trailer, we see how this in-between series stays within the series’ timeline by picking up right where it left off. Check it below:

While Season 1 of Tales From ‘85 was fun, it set up an odd dilemma. New kid in town Nikki Baxter joined the Hawkins gang, and while it seemed like she would simply move away at the end of the season and clear the slate for Season 3 of Stranger Things, her character instead became a permanent fixture. This means that Tales From ‘85 has a ticking clock: no matter what happens in the show, Nikki needs to be out of the picture by summer, when Stranger Things Season 3 is set.

Season 2 of Tales From ‘85 addresses this by only being set a few weeks (or possibly even days) after Season 1. “With Valentine's Day on the way, the gang must uncover the truth behind ghostly apparitions and a swarm of strange creatures causing chaos around town,” the official synopsis reads.

The ghost story also addresses another issue with Season 1. The gang found themselves in a dire situation multiple times, only to be saved at the last minute by Eleven’s telekinetic powers. It was fun at first, but then it became predictable. In Season 2, Eleven’s powers are useless against the ghosts, so the fights will have to get a lot more creative.

Stranger Things was notorious for its multi-year gaps between seasons. Tales From ‘85 is more than making up for the wait by delivering two seasons within six months. But how long can the series keep this up? Its story has an expiration date, so these characters have a finite number of adventures left. Then again, Phineas & Ferb managed to fit 134 episodes into 104 days of summer vacation, so maybe the winter of ‘85 can last for a few seasons more.

Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 premieres September 17 on Netflix.

For every superhero as popular and inescapable as Batman or Superman or Spider-Man, there are more than a few relegated to an existence as a D-list reject. Throughout the nearly 100 years that both Marvel and DC Comics have been around, they’ve given us more than a fair share of ridiculous characters forever trapped in the realm of D-list obscurity. You’ve certainly heard of Wolverine (because Hugh Jackman has been playing him for over 20 years), but what about the Karate Kid? Or Mr. Immortal? Or even Blue Marvel?

In the case of DC Comics, there’s an entire superhero team made up of D-list characters you’ve never heard of, but it works perfectly in their favor because those characters are all from thousands of years into the future. The Legion of Superheroes, a superhero team made up of metahuman young adults from the 31st century, made their debut in 1958’s Adventure Comics #247, and since then they’ve fought relative obscurity to become a DC Comics mainstay. Even though you may not know of them, there’s a small chance that one of their members might be joining the upcoming Jimmy Olsen spinoff TV show — and he’s arguably the most well-known and ridiculous out of all of them.

DC’s Weirdest Hero Might Be Joining The People v. Gorilla Grodd

On August 21, it was announced that HBO Max would be picking up a full season order for The People v. Gorilla Grodd, a mockumentary/investigative comedy within the cinematic DC Universe. Based on the official synopsis for the series, it follows Jimmy Olsen and the staff of the Daily Planet revisiting the crucial trial of Gorilla Grodd, a genius-level sentient ape (and frequent villain of The Flash) who was convicted of the murder of his own father. While Skyler Gisondo is assumed to lead the cast with Jimmy Tatro set to star as Gorilla Grodd, there are a few other cast members who have been revealed so far, and one of them is of particular note.

Eduardo Franco, mostly known for his roles as Argyle in Stranger Things and Spencer in American Vandal (the previous project of The People’s showrunners Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault), is confirmed to be in the show, and there’s a rumor circulating that he’s playing a character named “Tenz” who is friends with Grodd. Naturally, the internet has been set aflame with speculation off the claim — Tenz could be short for Tenzil Kem, the alter ego of the Legion of Superheroes’ very own Matter-Eater Lad, who has long been the source of internet exasperation and jokes, one of which came from Peacemaker season 1. As if to add fuel to the fire, Franco reposted news of his casting on his Instagram story with several stickers of mouths eating, which could certainly be poking fun at the rumor...but does look suspicious.

Who The Heck Is Matter-Eater Lad?

Introduced in Adventure Comics #303, Tenzil Kim is a hero from the far-flung future native to the planet Bismoll, an apparent paradise aside from the fact that it hosted a deadly microbe that made natural organic food supplies inedible. The human colonists who settled Bismoll carried the metagene (DC’s lesser known equivalent to Marvel’s X-gene), and over time their bodies adapted to eating and digesting the poisonous food, only to discover that they were now able to eat and digest inorganic material as well. Thus the Bismollian species over time became capable of eating quite literally anything.

Inspired by the adventures of Smallville’s Superboy (a contentious period of DC canon in which Clark Kent operated under the name Superboy as a teenager), the Legion of Superheroes is filled with characters who at first glance seem ridiculous, but use their ridiculous powers in service of good — naturally, Matter-Eater Lad fit right in. Alongside protecting the cosmos with his fellow Legionnaires, Tenzil also grew to understand the responsibilities of authority when he was drafted as a senator in the Bismoll government, a position that chafed against his duties as a superhero.

While the Silver Age absurdity of a character whose power is eating makes him frequently the butt of a joke, there’s also something emblematic of the imagination of comic books to the idea. And if Eduardo Franco is playing Tenzil in live-action, it’s another example of how much James Gunn loves the inherent silliness of superhero stories. The People v. Gorilla Grodd is already a show that’s already leaning into that aspect of the medium while also expanding the world, so wouldn’t it make sense to introduce a hero that’s a perfect example of the unbridled creativity of comic books?

We are living in the era of the epic. On the silver screen, movies like Dune and The Odyssey are showing just how vast and ambitious storytelling can really be. But on TV, we’re seeing a swing in the opposite direction, with more claustrophobic, smaller-scale stories finding success. The era of Game of Thrones is over, and now, smaller-stakes stories like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms thrive. One of the most acclaimed new shows of last year, The Pitt, is set entirely in one shift in an ER.

But there are still opportunities for feats of epic television, and Netflix proved that with Season 2 of its Spanish-language series One Hundred Years of Solitude, based on Gabriel García Márquez’s classic novel of the same name. In these eight episodes, ending with a feature-length finale, the Buendía family reaches its end not with a bang but with a whimper; but it still makes for one of the most impressive works of television in recent years.

The last time we left the Buendías, they were embroiled in a massive conflict in the secluded town of Macondo, but modernity will always beckon. As more and more illegitimate children show up on Ursula’s door from Aureliano, the family gets bigger both in size and grandeur. But the pride goeth before the fall, and the flaws of the family begin shining through. The Colonel is too bloodthirsty, Aureliano Segundo is too lazy, and eventually, Fernanda del Carpio is too pious.

But even with all the flaws, the mission of the family to further the town and preserve truth remains. José Arcadio Segundo witnesses a massacre that is quickly swept under the rug, but he dedicates himself to remembering what nobody else can. In this grand house, you either turn evil or you stick to your virtue long enough to go mad.

The last gasps of the original story lie in Ursula, who sees how her great-great-grandchildren run around and warns them about the curse she believes she placed on her family by marrying her cousin: if more cousins marry, their child will be born with a pig’s tail.

It sounds outlandish, but if you saw Season 1 of this series, then it feels natural. Márquez’s book is considered a masterwork of the magical realism genre, so surreal and fantastical elements can occur at any time without explanation. One character finds out he can encourage animals to breed when he has intercourse, while another gets research advice from a ghost.

Just like in Season 1, the cinematography only highlights the lush worldbuilding. Macondo may not be as flourishing as before, but we still see plenty of visually gorgeous sequences, telling us all we need to know about characters even as we blaze through generation after generation.

It all builds up to a tragic, 100-minute finale as the thesis of the book comes into light: Every dream, regardless of whether or not it was achieved, eventually just becomes a memory. We can have huge effects on the world, but over the course of decades, the world takes over. And that’s okay, because it’s not the end result that makes this series so interesting, it’s the 16 episodes that it takes to get there.

One Hundred Years of Solitude is now streaming on Netflix.

With so many streaming services to subscribe to nowadays, it’s inevitable that one slips through the cracks — and that means that its programming, however great, will also slip past our radar. Starz is one such service, and Sweetpea one of its most underrated shows. Ella Purnell might be best known for her work on Prime Video’s Fallout, or Paramount’s Yellowjackets, but she delivered an equally worthy performance in Sweetpea as Rhiannon Lewis, an unassuming secretary who lets out steam by murdering annoying men. The series hasn’t gotten the same attention as Purnell’s other, splashier roles, but its first season is well worth the same praise.

While the show is based on the novels by CJ Skuse, Sweetpea’s first season was essentially a prequel to the book series, tracing Rhiannon’s origins from mousy assistant to the calculated serial murderer we meet on the page. Across six episodes, Rhiannon justified her murder spree by targeting only people who “deserved it.” But Sweetpea’s finale sees her diverting from that brief when she attacks AJ (Calam Lynch), her love interest, co-worker, and the one person who seemed to be on her side no matter what.

In fairness to Rhiannon, AJ did call her a monster when he discovered her secret life. It’s why, when we reunite with our heroine in Sweetpea Season 2, she’s still a bit in shock. In the show’s recently released trailer, she’s venting to a kindly waitress about her “break-up.” Of course, she doesn’t reveal every detail about her falling out with AJ, if only to get the exact advice she needs to hear.

“He didn’t understand you,” Rhiannon’s new confidante says. “It doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person... You’re a complicated woman. Lean into who you are.”

After wrestling with her darker urges in Season 1, it seems like Rhiannon is finally catching up with the version of the character we meet in the book series. “I’m gonna live my truth!” she triumphantly declares at the end of the trailer, signaling a shift from self-denial into an assured (if misguided) new era.

Per the new season’s official synopsis, Sweetpea will next find Rhiannon grappling with “a new promotion, an irresistible rebound, and a copycat killer threatening to expose her.” As she navigates mounting pressure at work and her private and romantic life, “Rhiannon is forced to question whether her perfect ex, AJ, was right: Is she a monster?”

If Sweetpea Season 2 is about living in one’s truth, Rhiannon will likely find herself owning the denigrating term, accepting her murderous urges, and finding a balance with her mild-mannered public persona. That all will be easier said than done, of course, but maybe that’s just the drama this series needs to land on more people’s radar.

Sweetpea returns to Starz in early 2027.

Hig (Jacob Elordi) has a routine. He fuels up his rickety vintage airplane, flies into the abandoned city of Erie, Colorado, and restocks. He picks up more fuel from the gas station, its walls covered in graffiti and nearly buried by vegetation. He drops by the local bar, where he takes a few cases of soda. He naturally stops by the hospital, lights still flickering, where he’s squirreled away tons of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. But his most important stop is his old house, its doorway marked by a giant red X, but everything inside still untouched. He returns to his bedroom, where he’s greeted by the beatific vision of his pregnant wife, still full of love and life. But then we cut to Hig sitting alone on the bed, accompanied only by Jasper, his loving dog and partner in this post-apocalyptic landscape.

The world in The Dog Stars has been ravaged by a devastating flu pandemic, which has left only a handful of survivors scattered across the world. Some, like Hig and his disgruntled survivalist roommate Bangley (Josh Brolin), have insulated themselves in self-made fortresses, while others roam the country as part of feral, bloodthirsty tribes. Hig and Bangley’s home — an abandoned airport near Erie — is as good as it gets, with the ever-paranoid Bangley stocking up on weapons and provisions, while Hig makes his regular trips to the city (as well as stopping by a nearby Mennonite community to give handouts, against Bangley’s wishes). They’ve achieved “the American Dream,” Bangley says dryly. But Hig, who bristles against Bangley’s ruthless executions of anyone who comes within shooting distance of their home, wants more than just to get by. It’s the age-old question of many a post-apocalyptic drama: What does it mean to not just survive, but live? The Dog Stars doesn’t have an answer, and Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Peter Heller’s acclaimed 2012 novel doesn’t really seem interested in one.

There’s no question that apocalypse dramas are having a moment right now. The post-apocalyptic sci-fi genre is thriving both on the big screen and small screen, ranging from off-the-wall shows like Twisted Metal and Fallout to brutal horror like 28 Years Later, and outrageous spectacle like Mad Max: Fury Road. But perhaps the one having its biggest heyday is the grim survivalist drama, the genre best embodied by 2009’s The Road and buoyed by the popularity of The Last of Us. To both its benefit and its detriment, The Dog Stars feels like a blend of all of those, but most obviously owes its inspirations to the melancholic stylings of the bleak survivalist drama.

The Dog Stars, whose screenplay is penned by The Revenant scribe Mark L. Smith, wears the patina of prestige like Elordi’s Hig wears the protective scarf that remains fashionably draped around his neck throughout the film. It’s a slow-burning, wistful character drama that seeks to find the glimmers of hope at the end of the world. It’s present in the long stretches of Hig and Jasper wandering the abandoned ruins of Erie. It’s present in the sweet slice-of-life scenes of Hig pointing out the constellations to Jasper. And it’s ever-present when Hig, after a tragedy shakes his world, finally decides to part ways with Bangley to seek out a distress call he heard from Grand Junction years ago. It’s on this trip that he meets the kind former medical resident Cima (Margaret Qualley) and her grizzled dad Pops (Guy Pearce), and forms the kind of human connection he’s been seeking out for years — if only he’ll let it happen.

It all feels so very par for the course in a post-The Last of Us world, and it’s only emphasized by the constant soundtrack of folksy country songs that play over these early slow-moving stretches. But despite Elordi’s soulful performance — bringing some of that deep vulnerability that he first showed glimmers of in Frankenstein — and the long, lingering pans over magnificent mountains and landscapes now untouched by man, these melancholic stretches feel more morose than profound. The rest of the cast is solid (though it’s notable that apart from Benedict Wong, who only has a handful of speaking lines, the cast is primarily white with model good looks), and Brolin in particular lends an impish spark to his grizzled character, though they aren’t given much space to become more than post-apocalyptic archetypes.

It results in The Dog Stars feeling a little shaggy and shapeless, ironically only coming alive when its contemplative moments are interrupted by shocks of violence. Indeed, The Dog Stars is most successful when Ridley Scott is allowed to flex his action chops (which have never been brawnier or more brutal, despite the director pushing 90), and most interesting when it’s allowed to deviate from the post-apocalyptic norm and get a little weird and horror-tinged. One particular mid-point segment involving a delightfully unhinged Alison Janney feels like it dropped in from a different, much more heightened, movie altogether.

Perhaps it’s a case of a director not suiting the material — late-stage Scott films are at their best when he maintains a “screw it” mentality and doubles down on the sort of grim, trashy nihilism that characterized The Last Duel, Napoleon, or even House of Gucci. Scott approaches the more meditative nature of The Dog Stars with a workmanlike mentality, which is not bad per se, but doesn’t help the movie stand out in the crowded post-apocalyptic pop culture landscape. Or it could be an issue that reaches back further; Heller’s novel, the source material, was published in 2012 — back when The Road was still fresh, and The Last of Us video game had not yet taken the world by storm. The movie comes from a different time and feels like it.

Still, there is much to enjoy about The Dog Stars, which is elevated by Elordi’s earnest performance, rugged good looks, and a very good dog. Its mournful contemplation of a world long gone is true and often moving, as are the sweet moments of connection between Elordi’s Hig and Qualley’s Cima. Its brutal sequences are truly thrilling, and that absurd mid-movie pivot makes it worth seeing alone. But it does feel like The Dog Stars might be destined to be lost among the many great post-apocalyptic dramas crowding the mediascape today.

The Dog Stars opens in theaters August 28.

Science fiction has come a long way since RoboCop first hit the scene in 1987 — but the franchise has tried valiantly to keep up with the times all the same. Two films sprang out of Paul Verhoeven’s original movie, and apart from a 2014 remake (which starred Joel Kinnaman), RoboCop has been revived time and again in four different TV series. The property has been defunct for the past decade, though not for lack of trying.

When Amazon acquired MGM in 2022, the studio tagged RoboCop as one of the franchises ripe for reappraisal. Horror legend James Wan has been quietly working on another reboot of the RoboCop story since 2024, while Peter Ocko — a screenwriter known for his work in shows like Pushing Daisies, The Office, The Leftovers, and Black Sails — will serve as showrunner. After years of development, RoboCop is finally rebooting in earnest. Amazon MGM has tapped the actor who will bring Alex Murphy to life for the first time in decades, and it might not be long before we see him in action. Here’s everything we know about the new RoboCop.

Who’s playing the new RoboCop?

On August 26, Deadline reported that Dan Stevens will suit up to portray the new version of Alex Murphy for Ocko and Wan’s RoboCop reboot. Stevens might be a surprising pick compared to past incarnations of the character — Murphy typically has the body of a gym bro even before he’s upgraded with his cybernetic suit — but he’s a great one nonetheless. The actor has a keen eye for genre stories; the weirder (and sometimes bloodier) the better, it seems. He’s played sociopathic soldiers, reluctant vampires, and kindly androids, all with a subversive twist. If he’s on board this new RoboCop, it’s safe to expect a very different take on the original story, and that’s a good thing.

What is Amazon MGM’s RoboCop about?

With Stevens’ casting comes some new insight into the scope of the new RoboCop. In the eight-episode series, “a giant tech conglomerate persuades the city to place a powerful robot on its police force — a robot implanted with the consciousness of a beloved fallen officer, Alex Murphy.”

That’s a far cry from the premise of most other RoboCop stories. In the past, when Murphy becomes RoboCop, it’s typically because he’s been critically or even fatally injured while serving in a dystopian version of Detroit. His body is upgraded with cybernetic tech, or he’s resurrected within a suit designed to keep him alive. The new version of RoboCop seems to be taking a different route, but that makes sense for a world where cyborgs are no longer a fascinating “What if?” in our society.

There’s a reason the 2014 RoboCop reboot largely failed to capture the public’s curiosity — besides its bland, sanitized approach to Murphy’s adventures. In the ‘80s, when cyberpunk was all the rage, the concept of human-machine integration truly felt like the future. 40 years on, however, society’s concerns have moved on to less tactile threats. The idea of artificial intelligence infiltrating our lives and replacing humanity is no longer just an idea, and it makes sense for RoboCop to crib from that concept. A robot implanted with a human consciousness is a bit timelier than, say, a human fighting crime in a robotic suit. (Plus, is there any way to make that suit not look silly in 2026?)

The body horror of the original RoboCop might be out, but it’s not a bad idea to replace it with the dread of coexisting with AI. If Amazon must reboot this property, it might be smart to reimagine the story that others have already tried and failed to preserve for a modern era.

Na Hong-jin’s Hope made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival, with critics praising the sci-fi action thriller’s nonstop action sequences. The movie, about a rural police chief and his rookie deputy who must defend their village from a mysterious alien creature, does suffer from dodgy CGI, but lengthy, impressive chase scenes more than make up for it.

Neon acquired the English-language distribution rights for Hope, and it’s gearing up for a wide theatrical release in North America on September 9. But a movie like this one is perfectly suited for a little something extra, a gimmick that turns the movie into not just a trip out, but a ride.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hope will first enjoy a one-night release on September 7 in larger formats, including “immersive” formats like 4DX and D-Box that involve moving seats, gusts of air, squirts of water, and other environmental effects. This strategy mirrors the one the distributor used for Oz Perkins’ The Monkey, which was released in premium formats before its official release date. This does, however, mark the first time that a Neon film has been given a 4DX release.

The gimmick has been around since 2009, but as trips to the theater become more of an event involving advance ticket sales, themed refreshments, and souvenir popcorn buckets, the technology has been given a second wind. When Twisters hit 4DX theaters back in 2024, it sparked a TikTok meme of viewers showing themselves “before” and “after.” Even TV shows are getting in on the 4D experience, as The Boys finale was released in the format in certain locations.

A 4D release is only as good as the movie being shown, and some movies are more suited to it than others. Twisters was a perfect fit because it’s full of characters being thrown around by weather and wind blowing at high speeds, and Neon waiting for an action-packed movie to explore the release format makes sense. A 4DX showing of a Neon movie like Sentimental Value or Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie wouldn’t be worth the price markup, but seemingly every review of Hope says the action sequences alone make it an instant cult classic.

Since this is a one-night event, there are a limited number of (moving) seats available to reserve. So if you want to check out what’s sure to be one of the most-discussed sci-fi movies of the year in the most all-encompassing way possible, you’d better act fast.

Hope will be released in regular formats on September 9, 2026.

To this day, Tommy Wiseau’s The Room defies reason and reality. Often described as “the worst movie ever made,” The Room tells the story of a paranoid banker named Johnny, played by Wiseau, who descends into madness for seemingly no reason whatsoever. Featuring some of the strangest dialogue ever written, complete with unnatural line readings and bizarre tonal transitions (“Hi doggy!”), appreciation of the madness of The Room has been a subculture for a little over two decades. From late-night screenings to endlessly circulated clips online, to a docudrama created about the making of the film, The Room is, in some ways, patient zero for the kind of if-you-know-you-know irony that has come to define modern pop culture discourse.

And yet, The Room has never been available to stream on any major platform. That is, until now. Here’s what to know about the long-awaited streaming debut of The Room, plus where to watch Wiseau’s new film, Big Shark.

The Room streaming release date

Starting September 4 on Tubi, The Room will be streaming for the very first time, anywhere. For anyone who has only experienced The Room through compilation clips on YouTube, or memes, this is the moment to fully grasp every wild detail about this strange romp of a film.

Things to watch out for when you do finally see The Room:

• The number of times characters say “don’t worry about it.” (And whether anyone means it.)
• Mark’s (Greg Sestero) changing facial hair.
• Various bombshells that are dropped that don’t matter at all later.
• Johnny’s (Wiseau) unclear motivations for doing anything.

Big Shark is Wiseau’s newest film

Although the 2003 film is almost certainly the focus of this new streaming release, it turns out Wiseau has a new film out, too. And this project makes it seem like he is 100 percent in on the joke of his own strange, hyperbolic filmmaking style.

Titled Big Shark, the movie appears to feature a large shark that has leapt onto land and is wreaking havoc in the bayou, presumably somewhere on the Gulf Coast.

Whether or not sharks have the ability to leap onto land to pursue their victims is one thing; the detail about the bayou is interesting because bayous generally are brackish water, meaning that’s a mix of salt water and freshwater. So, not only is the titular Big Shark unlikely to exist at all, it’s equally strange since sharks tend to live exclusively in salt water.

Will Wiseua’s new film explain how any of this is possible? If we’re lucky, the answer will be a huge no.

Here’s hoping that Big Shark is just as funny and strange as The Room. It’s a pretty tall order, but one thing is clear: This time, if characters talk about other charaters tearing them apart, we’ll probably be mean to take that quite literally.

The Room and Big Shark hit Tubi on September 4, 2026.

It’s been strange watching Marvel move heaven and earth to recreate the magic of Avengers: Endgame. The studio’s Multiverse Saga was supposed to deliver a follow-up worthy of similar hype, but the road to Doomsday has been a bumpy one. The upcoming film originally would have hit theaters this May, but Marvel opted to push its premiere back to December — unfortunately, with Dune: Part Three occupying an exclusive IMAX window, Doomsday might be the first Avengers movie to premiere without the boost of IMAX screens. That’s led to the creation of Infinity Vision, a new “premium” format exclusively for Marvel titles, as well as Endgame’s return to theaters.

Doomsday might not get the privilege of an IMAX debut, but Avengers: Endgame Encore will be picking up the slack in that regard. After (almost) seven years, fans will get to relive the mania of the Avengers’ last stand against Thanos — this time with a slightly extended cut of Endgame. The encore adds about four minutes of unseen footage to the film, which doesn’t do a lot to incentivize any fence-sitters. (Director Joe Russo recently revealed that all new footage will be “set in the Doomsday story” in an attempt to bridge the gap between the films, so we shouldn’t expect deleted scenes from the filming of Endgame.) It also doesn’t help that, unlike Doomsday, Endgame Encore will only be available in premium formats, which all but forces audiences to indulge in Infinity Vision.

How much will Endgame Encore cost?

When Marvel first rolled out Infinity Vision, most viewed it as an excuse to hike up prices for premium theater formats. That assumption was confirmed when tickets for Doomsday went on sale for the same price as a regular IMAX ticket. Dolby and Prime screenings at AMC were on sale for $30 after taxes and fees, a ridiculous price point considering the size of the screen. Tickets for Endgame Encore are comparatively (if only slightly) cheaper: the highest-tier screening at AMC costs $28 with fees included. Still, there aren’t any options for standard screenings.

Endgame Encore will be available in IMAX, Dolby, Prime, and XL at select AMC Theatres, and in IMAX, 4DX, and ScreenX in Regal Cinemas. Smaller theaters across the country will offer similar formats. On paper, that sounds like a good thing — after all, doesn’t everyone want to see the Avengers reassemble on the biggest screen possible? It makes sense to promote Endgame Encore as a premium event, as it’s the anniversary of a huge film and meant to roll out the red carpet for an even bigger one. But it’s a little annoying that audiences won’t get much choice in how they see it.

It feels less like a celebration of the movie and more like a last-ditch attempt to make up for Doomsday’s IMAX-less premiere. Endgame Encore doesn’t seem worth the price of admission; if Marvel is trying to combat the threat of superhero fatigue, this isn’t the way to do it.

Avengers: Endgame Encore opens in theaters on September 25.

Netflix struck gold with Wednesday, Tim Burton’s supernatural drama focused on Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega), the Addams Family’s dour daughter. Season 1 premiered back in 2022 and instantly broke viewership records. Fans were eager for Season 2, and while it took three years to arrive, it still made a splash on Netflix with a host of guest stars and even a new Lady Gaga single.

But before Wednesday even had the chance to buy school supplies for her second year at Nevermore Academy, Netflix renewed the series for Season 3. But now it’s been more than a year, and we’ve heard precious little — but that won’t stop fans from speculating. Here’s everything you need to know about Wednesday’s junior year, from when it could come out to what it might be about.

What is the Release Date For Wednesday Season 3?

Currently, there’s no release date for Wednesday Season 3, as Season 2 premiered in Fall 2025. However, the three-year gap between Seasons 1 and 2 suggests it may be a while before we get to see Wednesday again. Netflix is notorious for taking its time making new seasons of its original shows — just look at Stranger Things — but there are some hopeful omens.

Production for Season 3 of Wednesday began in February 2026, but it hasn’t wrapped just yet, so we’ll probably not see the full series until late 2027 or early 2028. Still, as long as it premieres before April 2028, it’ll still be a shorter wait than the one for Season 2.

What Is The Release Time for Wednesday Season 3?

Wednesday Season 3 will probably premiere at midnight PT/3:00 a.m. ET, as is standard for Netflix original releases. However, certain high-profile releases do have different release schedules. The upcoming fifth and final season of Stranger Things will premiere at 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET, so if Wednesday Season 3 is anticipated enough, it’s possible it could also get the primetime treatment.

What Will Wednesday Season 3 Be About?

Season 2 of Wednesday ended on a big reveal: Wednesday’s long lost Aunt Ophelia is actually alive and has a vendetta against her young niece. Meanwhile, Enid has transformed into an Alpha werewolf, meaning she appears to be permanently stuck in wolf form.

Now that Season 3 has started production, we’re starting to get a glimpse at what’s to come as Wednesday reels from these shocking reveals. Thanks to a new behind-the-scenes image, it appears as though Season 3 will take Wednesday to Paris, just like her fellow Netflix leading lady Emily. Just call her Mercredi.

Who Is In The Cast Of Wednesday Season 3?

With the new setting comes a brand new crop of guest stars from all corners of pop culture. Joining the cast of Wednesday in Season 3 are Lena Headey, Andrew McCarthy, James Lance, Winona Ryder, Chris Sarandon, Noah Taylor, Oscar Morgan, and Kennedy Moyer.

But arguably the most exciting new cast member is Eva Green, who will play Aunt Ophelia in Season 3. “Eva Green has always brought an exhilarating, singular presence to the screen — elegant, haunting, and beautifully unpredictable,” co-showrunners Alfred Gough and Mark Millar told Netflix. “Those qualities make her the perfect choice for Aunt Ophelia. We’re excited to see how she transforms the role and expands Wednesday’s world.”

How Many Seasons Will Wednesday Have?

There’s no endgame planned for Wednesday yet, but it looks like it’s sticking to a one-school-year-per-season pace, meaning the show will either have to change gears after Season 4 or find a way to keep Wednesday at Nevermore. Perhaps we’ll see Wednesday: The College Years.

Wednesday Season 3 does not yet have a release date.

Even though both of the respective Big Two companies in comic books have been around for almost 100 years at this point, the mantles of their biggest superheroes don’t really change around all that often. Before Miles Morales stepped onto the scene there had never really been a long-term Spider-Man other than Peter Parker (the closest was the clone Ben Reilly); conversely, while lots of alternate universe versions exist (as well as four distinct “impostors” from the 90s Death of Superman era), there had never been a mainline replacement for Clark Kent as Superman until his son Jon Kent adopted the mantle in 2021.

But unlike most other superhero properties, the core conceit of the Green Lantern Corps is that thousands of heroes all operate under the name simultaneously. There are, of course, the seven human Green Lanterns from DC’s mainline Earth (Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, with a few more before and after), but there are at any given time over 7,000 active members of the Corps in different sectors across the universe. Episode 2 of Lanterns included a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to one of those 7,000, an incredibly iconic member to faithful readers and a character who might earn an “I’m sorry, what?” from the uninitiated.

Warning! Mild spoilers ahead for Lanterns Episode 2.

Mogo Doesn’t Socialize

In Episode 2 of Lanterns, Hal Jordan sends John Stewart on what should be a relatively simple fetch quest to retrieve his lantern battery from his home. While the straightforward trip eventually gets a lot more complicated (being kidnapped and having violent memories forcibly implanted in your brain will do that), the show does treat fans to a quick name drop when John calls Hal for the password to the safe that contains his battery. “Mogo doesn’t socialize” is what he says into the speaker, a phrase immediately recognizable to anyone aware of Green Lantern deep lore.

Because DC’s very first Green Lantern, Alan Scott, was a relic of the 1940s whose power ring and lantern came from a magical meteorite named the Starheart (an artifact that was retconned much later into being the transmuted body of a deceased Lantern who burnt up in a planet’s atmosphere), the entire concept was retooled with the introduction of Hal Jordan in 1959’s Showcase #22. Instead of one supernatural character with a magic ring, Green Lantern Hal Jordan was one member of a sprawling organization of intergalactic lawmen, equipped with a piece of alien technology. Although the very idea of the Green Lantern Corps was introduced in the same issue that Hal Jordan was, it wasn’t until the 1981 miniseries Tales of the Green Lantern Corps that DC really took advantage of the storytelling potential inherent to the faceless Lanterns patrolling the universe.

While the original Tales miniseries was very short-lived, the next year saw the debut of back-issues (additional short stories in the last few pages of another comic issue) with the same title, each focused on fleshing out a new Lantern; many of them were written by writers who would go on to become comic book legends, including Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (the creative team behind Watchmen), who wrote three.

The most well-known is the third, 1985’s Mogo Doesn’t Socialize, which takes place entirely as a frame story told by veteran Green Lantern Tomar-Re to fresh recruit Arisia. In the story, a savage and amoral alien conqueror named Bolphunga the Unrelenting decides to prove his salt as a warrior by defeating the most powerful Green Lantern, who he’s tracked to a seemingly uninhabited planet. At first confused and frustrated by his inability to find his prey, an implausible and yet hopelessly true realization dawns on Bolphunga, and he rockets off to whence he came after finally grasping the fact that his target Mogo is, in fact, the very sentient and very powerful planet he has been searching through.

A Key Player In The Green Lantern Mythos

While the term “Mogo doesn’t socialize” in his first appearance was a reference to the loneliness and solitude imposed by the planet’s immense size, it was also an unspoken editorial guideline as well, because it’s not easy working a living planet into stories. However, since 1985, Mogo has become a crucial and ironically social member of the Green Lantern Corps, factoring into numerous stories — 1986’s Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #2 revealed that Mogo controls the process by which the rings of deceased Lanterns are matched with new recruits, and in 2013’s Green Lantern Corps vol. 3 #24, the sentient planet became the temporary headquarters of the Corps after their original planet Oa was destroyed by a villainous scientist named Relic.

A 2013 storyline in the pages of Green Lantern Corps vol. 3 revealed that Mogo was actually made up of a male and female consciousness mated together at the core of the planet, and it has even been prophesied that Mogo would become the last living Green Lantern, being destroyed in a final battle with Ranx the Sentient City (naturally a member of the Sinestro Corps).

As goofy of a concept as it seems at first glance, Mogo is one of the best examples of how perfectly science fiction blends into superhero comics. Recent stories have made the character a full-on superhero in some ways, taking part in massive conflicts like 2008’s Blackest Night and the 2011 crossover War of the Green Lanterns, but that first Alan Moore comic is still a highlight for Mogo, taking what would’ve been a silly premise in anyone else’s hands and turning it into an emotionally thoughtful story about isolation. It’s highly unlikely that the living planet will appear on-screen in Lanterns (although who’s to say the living carnivorous plant John feeds while at Hal’s house isn’t a souvenir), but it’s nice to know that in the canon of the DCU franchise, he’s floating around out there somewhere keeping everyone safe.

New episodes of Lanterns air every Sunday.

After a long and mysterious marketing campaign that revolved around Emily Blunt’s meteorologist making guttural noises, Disclosure Day has come and gone from theaters. And whether you missed it amid a crowded summer release schedule or liked it so much that you want to see it again, Steven Spielberg’s latest already has a 4K Blu-ray release from Universal Pictures.

While far from the year’s biggest hit, Disclosure Day was perhaps the most distinctive, blending Spielberg’s long-running predilections with the hallmarks of a modern thriller. There was nothing else quite like it in 2026, and if you’re a Spielberg or sci-fi fan, it could certainly earn a spot in your physical media collection.

How Was Disclosure Day Received?

With considerable enthusiasm but also a fair degree of bafflement. Depending on your outlook, Disclosure Day was either an inventive and visionary thriller or a clunky relic of yesteryear’s sci-fi. The BBC was particularly harsh, calling it “flimsy,” “drab,” “outdated,” and maybe “the most disappointing” movie of the summer. In another critical review, the LA Times pointed out, correctly, that the CG animals crucial to the film’s plot looked distractingly stiff.

The majority of reviews were positive, although they ranged from “audacious” and “brilliant” to more measured praise like “classic Spielberg popcorn [movie].” That even later trailers held back some plot points likely contributed to the divide, as no one was entirely sure what they were getting into. Everyone, however, walked out of Disclosure Day agreeing that it was a distinctly Spielbergian experience. Very few directors get their own adjective, but Disclosure Day is a reminder of why Spielberg earned his.

Unafraid to get a little creepy, but still relentlessly upbeat about humanity’s capacity to improve on its failings, Spielberg proved himself a reliable old hand during a season of change. At a time when the young directors behind Backrooms and Obsession outperformed Supergirl, Scream 7, and The Mandalorian and Grogu, all the latest in long-running franchises with increasingly little to say, Spielberg tried to say so much in one film that it threatened to burst at the seams. In a lengthy review for Salon, Coleman Spilde called it “Spielberg’s most shameless appeal toward idealism yet.” It was a compliment.

Why Is Disclosure Day Worth Watching?

Because it’s Steven Spielberg, and even a flawed Spielberg outing is fascinating. As a vague international conflict reaches a boiling point, Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) goes on the run from his mysterious employer, the sinister Wardex. We soon learn that Wardex is responsible for suppressing all evidence of humanity’s contact with aliens, but Kellner and other insiders have decided that the world has a right to know. This philosophical disagreement is resolved with a little debate and a lot of car chases.

As Kellner zooms through a series of espionage tropes, he’s entangled with Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt), a meteorologist who suddenly begins to demonstrate an alarming array of psychic abilities. Blunt is the standout here, swinging through a parade of emotions while always maintaining a sense of curiosity about the circumstances she’s been thrust into. Both the film’s funnier moments and its more dazzling ones help sell the transformation, as Margaret uses her powers to do everything from talk her way out of a speeding ticket to revisit the suppressed memories of a childhood encounter with aliens.

Close encounters are a subject seemingly mined to exhaustion by Spielberg himself, let alone other directors, but Disclosure Day finds a fresh, optimistic take on it. There are times when the subject matter almost feels old-fashioned, given everything else going on in science fiction and the world. Even if the truth is out there, could it really, as Spielberg argues, make us look up from our phones? But, like Blunt’s Margaret, it’s hard to resist getting swept up in the whole affair.

Sometimes too on-the-nose and sometimes just plain silly, Disclosure Day is also thrilling, inventive, and, well, audacious. If you heard that a modern movie was opining on the role of faith in society you would assume it was an indie drama, not a blockbuster where Colin Firth uses an alien artifact to attempt assassin-via-mind-control while Emily Blunt uses her own alien powers to sneak into a secure facility by disarming its jaded guards with visions of their lost loved ones. Even if you don’t love Disclosure Day, you’ll never be entirely sure what it has in store for you. What more can we ask of our summer blockbusters?

What Special Features Does the Disclosure Day 4K Blu-Ray Have?

There are two featurettes included on this initial physical release, with one about the long-running collaboration between Spielberg and John Williams, and one about the making of the film itself. The latter, called Encountering the Unknown: Inside Disclosure Day, is described as “Steven Spielberg, Emily Blunt, and the rest of the cast uncover the filmmaking secrets and real-life inspirations behind the movie.” These bonuses are included in the standard issue 4K, but there’s also a Steelbook option available if you’d like a little more haunting imagery on your shelf.

Disclosure Day 4K Blu-ray

Amazon -

Doctor Who is one of those British things that feels like it’s always existed, like Sherlock Holmes or Shakespeare or colonialism. But in recent years, the future has seemed increasingly tenuous. A deal with Disney seemed like it would open up the series to brand new audiences around the world, but after two less-than-stellar seasons, the deal was ended, and the series wasn’t renewed at the BBC.

The future of the series remains uncertain, and plenty of people with experience on the series are chiming in on what’s going on. But the more time we go without more Doctor Who, the more this era sounds eerily familiar.

In an interview with Radio Times, Mark Gatiss, who worked on Doctor Who extensively throughout the years, had a markedly pessimistic take on the future of Doctor Who. “My two penneth is, I genuinely think… [F] Scott Fitzgerald said there are no second acts in American lives, and I think that sort of sometimes goes for showbiz as well," Gatiss said.

Is Doctor Who repeating history?

He noted how impressive it is that Doctor Who lasted this long in the first place, and also noted that it’s not the first time that the BBC has left the Doctor on the shelf. “I think maybe it's just time for a break, because all good things come to an end,” he said. “I think the BBC putting it out to tender is a perfectly great idea, but we've been here before. When it was cancelled in 1989, the BBC made a big statement saying 'We're committed to taking Doctor Who through the '90s.' They put it out to tender then, and then it just quietly didn't happen, and I have a feeling maybe that's what's going to happen.”

Doctor Who’s Extended Universe

He has a point — when Doctor Who went on its extended hiatus in the ‘90s, it only emerged on screens in a single TV movie. But that’s only counting screen appearances. In the ‘90s, there were plenty of other Doctor Who adventures in novels and, eventually, audio dramas. Both are still being released today, and the audio dramas in particular have worked with multiple actors from the series.

Billie Piper, the actress who played Rose in the first few seasons of the 2005 reboot of Doctor Who, is a recent big star of the audio dramas, but she famously appeared as the Doctor’s new form in the last episode of Doctor Who before the hiatus. Speaking at the For the Love of Fantasy & Sci-Fi convention, she said that she is not playing The Doctor, and the fandom needs to “chill out.”

“I am not the next Doctor. I am Rose Tyler in hiatus,” she said. “Sorry, that’s a really cryptic answer, but because I’m not currently filming Doctor Who as the Doctor, I can’t lie and say otherwise. I’m sweating. I hate this.”

Gatiss and Piper both agree on one thing: sometimes, a little distance is what makes the return all the sweeter. “I think you’ve all got to be very patient because it’ll be worth it when it comes,” Piper said. “And I think that we need to celebrate the fact that the [revived] show has … been around for a very long time, it’s massively successful, and it’s impacting so many people’s lives positively.”

For Gatiss, the hiatus is a key part of what makes Doctor Who great. “I think maybe it's just time for a proper break, because you want people to miss it and have fresh ideas, and probably someone to run it who grew up with David Tennant as the Doctor, rather than Tom Baker,” he said.

Maybe this is the recipe for a new Golden Age of Doctor Who, but there’s no getting around the fact that we won’t be getting new episodes of the series anytime soon. But Doctor Who endures, even if it’s not in the form you’re used to. Just like the Time Lord itself, the franchise just needs to regenerate.

Doctor Who is now streaming on Disney+.

One might be forgiven for thinking that Hollywood studios are only interested in somewhat recent properties in the current video game adaptation trend. The Last of Us, the upcoming God of War series, and 2028’s Elden Ring adaptation by Alex Garland- each of these is based on games only 13 years old at the latest, and the wide majority of all video game movies or TV shows are adapting source material originating in or after the early 2000s (an era defined by the medium’s growing capacity for complex storytelling).

But as the more recognizable, more recent works have been quickly snatched up for development, studios are reaching back further for material that’s maybe not as popular now as it was 30 or 40 years ago – The Super Mario Bros. Movie proved just how lucrative classic video game properties could be, and just last month it was announced that Atari was partnering with Universal Pictures to bring 10 games from the 70s and 80s to life.

Now another gaming relic is being dusted off and restored to relevance with an adaptation, 37 years after its first installment was released, and this new version is clearly going to be a bit of a departure from the original.

Is There A Trailer For Golden Axe?

On April 17, 2024, it was announced by Deadline that an animated TV series based on the Golden Axe hack-and-slash video game series was in development at Comedy Central, and two years later, we now finally have an official trailer now that the project has been moved over to Paramount+. Produced by CBS Studios in partnership with Sony Pictures Television and animated by Titmouse Inc., the show was co-created by Mike McMahan (showrunner of Star Trek: Lower Decks) and Joe Chandler (a longtime writer for American Dad).

What Is The Plot Of Golden Axe?

Along with the first trailer for the series, an official synopsis for the show was also revealed:

“In an homage to SEGA’s iconic 1989 video game, Golden Axe follows legendary warriors Ax Battler, Tyris Flare and Gilius Thunderhead as they reunite to save Yuria from the evil giant Death Adder, who just won’t seem to stay dead. Their quest is complicated by Hampton Squib, an inexperienced and wildly underprepared adventurer whose dream of heroism far exceeds his abilities. Forced to work together despite their flaws, they must find a way to stop Death Adder once and for all.”

The synopsis is a pretty accurate reflection of the admittedly simple storytelling of the Golden Axe series. The imposing medieval dictator known as Death Adder is the primary recurring antagonist throughout most of the games, and while each sequel has introduced new playable characters to the franchise, the original game featured only the same three warriors accompanied by the show’s original creation, Hampton.

While it doesn’t look like the animated show will be changing all that much lore-wise about the Golden Axe universe, it is definitely a radical tonal departure from the source material. The original games are certainly not grimdark fantasy, but they take themselves fairly seriously as examples of the sword-and-sorcery genre – the show, in comparison, looks like it’ll be an irreverent, self-aware adult comedy (with plenty of bloody hacking and slashing), and knowing McMahan’s history as a writer for Rick and Morty as well as the show’s original home, it’s a safe assumption that the show will also be pretty mature as well.

However, Star Trek: Lower Decks was praised as a smart and surprisingly earnest love letter to that franchise, and with the amount of meta in-jokes hidden in the trailer, it looks like Golden Axe might be getting the same treatment.

Who Is In The Cast Of Golden Axe?

For a show that has flown inconspicuously under the radar since it was first announced, Golden Axe has a surprisingly attention-worthy voice cast. It is confirmed to star:

• Matthew Rhys as Gilius Thunderhead
• Lisa Gilroy as Tyris Flare
• Liam McIntyre as Ax Battler
• Danny Pudi as Hampton Squib
• Carl Tart as Chronos ‘Evil’ Lait

What Is The Release Date For Golden Axe?

Golden Axe will release all ten episodes on the same day, September 16, the same binge-strategy the platform used on its previous animated game adaptation of Among Us. That show was also tongue-in-cheek with a shocking amount of blood and guts, but that’s also that game’s entire brand – the show’s approach is a pretty different one in comparison to the mood of the original games. However, with the sheer abundance of self-serious high fantasy content in film and television, a cheeky yet loving approach might be exactly what Golden Axe needs to stand out when it arrives on streaming next month.

Golden Axe releases on September 16 on Paramount+.

Roleplaying games feel more popular — or, at least, more mainstream — than they’ve ever been, and that’s good for OG fans as much as for people who’ve never touched an RPG in their lives. In Hollywood’s endless hunt for fresh properties to adapt, popular roleplaying video games, tabletop RPGs, and books based on the thrill of playing a tabletop game are all in line for big-budget adaptations. HBO is developing a TV series based on Baldur’s Gate 3, one of the best Dungeons and Dragons games ever made. Amazon MGM has been toiling away at an adaptation of BioWare’s Mass Effect for years. Now Peacock is joining the effort with a series adaptation of Dungeon Crawler Carl, based on the sci-fi fantasy books by Matt Dinniman.

When Peacock first announced plans to adapt Dinniman’s eight-book series, it was with Thor: Ragnarok writer Chris Yost and Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions at the helm. Dinniman will also serve as a producer, and Peacock is adding a promising new element that could further elevate the adaptation’s fantastical themes.

Yost has officially been bumped up to co-showrunner of Dungeon Crawler Carl. He’ll share duties with Eric Heisserer, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival. More recently, Heisserer served as showrunner of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone, another adaptation of an immensely popular fantasy book series. His expertise will likely come in handy for Dungeon Crawler Carl — Yost is well-versed in bringing comedy to heightened worlds, but Heisserer can help strike a healthy balance with this saga’s wackier elements and irreverent tone.

Dungeon Crawler Carl owes about as much to TTRPGs as it does to dystopian survival thrillers like The Running Man or The Hunger Games, but that unique genre mash-up is just one of the keys to its success. Dinniman’s series is also a little bit like Marvel’s Secret Wars, in that it takes place at the end of the world as we know it, in a realm assembled from the bits and pieces of a decimated Earth.

It’s in the “World Dungeon,” an 18-level arena designed by an alien corporation, that Dinniman’s hero earns his stripes. Carl becomes the subject of a survival show broadcast throughout the galaxy, where he levels up, brawls with aliens, and gains “loot” from viewer donations. The series is delightfully weird, so hopefully the team behind Peacock’s adaptation can keep the tone of Dinnaman’s books intact. With yet another promising writer in the mix, the show’s odds of success just got a little higher.

Since its debut in 2022, the prequel/spinoff Star Trek series Strange New Worlds has done more than one Freaky Friday-esque body-switching episode, featured familiar intrepid space explorers bursting into song and dance, dressed up the entire crew in a Hollywood murder mystery, crossed over with an animated cartoon Trek series (Lower Decks), and, most recently, turned the entire crew (minus Spock) into puppets. For casual viewers, this would mean that Strange New Worlds is the zaniest Trek that has ever boldly gone, and yet if we take a look at some of the other episodes, we’ll find many stories are somber, reflective, and surprisingly down-to-earth. Interestingly enough, the character who is often central to the more serious SNW storylines is the incomparable Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. Joseph M’Benga.

As Strange New Worlds hits its midpoint in Season 4, Inverse caught up with the actor to reflect on the duality of M’Benga — a healer who is also the most deadly member of the crew, a secret weapon hiding in plain sight. Plus, Olusanmokun gave us a preview of his thoughts on how and why M’Benga will, at some point, step down as the chief medical officer of the Starship Enterprise.

Mild spoilers ahead for SNW Season 4, Episodes 1-5.

How Olusanmokun’s M’Benga keeps Starfleet more realistic

So far, one of the standout episodes from Strange New Worlds Season 4 is easily the noir-inspired “A Case of Chiaroscuro,” an episode in which M’Benga, Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), and Una (Rebecca Romijn) are all forced to go undercover on a Klingon-occupied planet, bathed in black-and-white light. While SNW (and other Trek shows) have often featured episodes in which the characters play dress-up (see: multiple holodeck episodes from the TNG/DS9/VOY era for proof), what makes “A Case of Chiaroscuro” somewhat unique is that the anachronistic aesthetic isn’t for laughs; instead, the episode plays it straight. And it’s no surprise M’Benga is at the center of it all, having been on more undercover missions than Una and Uhura.

“For me, it was very easy to embrace that story and just to live that noir atmosphere,” Olusanmokun tells Inverse. “I’m truly trying to solve a problem and trying to stay safe. With Una and Uhura, I’m trying to just give tips, like: ‘Listen, we want to make it back alive. Here’s how to do that.’”

As SNW has previously established, M’Benga is as much of a warrior as he is a doctor, having taken out many, many Klingons in the military conflict that exists in the Discovery Season 1 era of Trek. Basically, when you need a doctor and some muscle on your away team, M’Benga is both. He’s also, in a sense, a therapist for people who need to figure out how to become badasses.

“It's not a terrible thing. It simply shows the breadth of his experience across Starfleet,” Olusanmokun says. “I think he’s an officer that’s dealt with a lot; his background of taking care of people goes across the whole spectrum. If you’re in a bed in sickbay, he’s got a way about him. But if someone needs to go further afield, he’s got an idea or two. He’s a Swiss Army knife, really.”

Why Olusanmokun likes a darker tone in Star Trek

In Season 4, Episode 4, and the upcoming Episode 6, “Off Hour,” M’Benga is in familiar territory: The somewhat serious, grounded character, grappling with the realities of how difficult it is to be a soldier and a doctor in deep space. In the 2009 Star Trek film, Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban) famously said: “Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence,” but M’Benga is a character who actually allows the audience to feel the weight of that sentiment, without making a joke about it. In talking about “A Case of Chiaroscuro” and the tone of Episode 6, “Off Hour,” Olusanmokun reveals the fact that, yes, he very much likes to go dark, or at the very least, explore the straightforward aspects of his character.

“You know what? I love laughing, and I have a lot of laughter in my life, but I'm also deeply attracted to pieces where it's just a sober truth and a dramatic truth,” Olusanmokun says. “I like the exploration of that and the sincerity of those pieces. I don't need a wise crack in the middle of the heaviness of reality.”

Dr. M’Benga’s canonical future is looming

Although Dr. M’Benga is technically a legacy character from The Original Series, the version played by Booker Bradshaw in just two episodes (“A Private Little War” and “That Which Survives”) doesn’t seem totally aligned with Olusanmokun’s M’Benga. At least, not yet. Could we picture M’Benga demoting himself and working, part-time, under McCoy? We actually don’t know much about M’Benga’s timeline on the Enterprise during the Kirk years; maybe he was just visiting during those TOS episodes. Plus, since SNW Season 1, there’s always been the notion that M’Benga had one foot out the door.

This feeling grows larger in SNW, especially with some of the events of Episode 6. For Olusanmokun, it’s all more signs of the dimensionality of M’Benga, the notion that this is a realistic character, existing in a fantastic and sometimes hyperbolic world.

“It’s almost like he’s grieving a loss before it happens,” Olusanmokun says. “I try to color that in there. There is a kind of transitional doubt and uncertainty. He’s wondering, ‘Am I really in the place I need to be? Maybe I’m a little too familiar with these people?’”

All of that being said, Olusanmokun feels that as much as he tries to “imbue” M’Benga with a sense of hesitation and reserve, the future is not yet revealed. “This is a man perhaps preparing to leave the people he loves dearly behind,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean that’s exactly going to be what happens.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams on Paramount+.

Phasers on Stun!: How the Making — and Remaking — of Star Trek Changed the World

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The 2000s introduced a wave of new franchises. Harry Potter drew crowds in droves, Marvel tried something new called a “Cinematic Universe,” and The Lord of the Rings took epic filmmaking to bold new heights. But for every successful series, a few petered out after one or two movies, like Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Inspector Gadget, and The Chronicles of Narnia.

One such franchise was National Treasure, the American-history-themed mystery thriller starring Nicolas Cage. The first movie, from 2004, is mostly remembered for the line-turned-meme “I’m going to steal the Declaration of Independence,” while the second, 2007’s National Treasure: Book of Secrets, had our characters heroically kidnap the president. Now, it looks like the franchise could be revived for a belated third installment.

During a recording of the remarkably popular National Treasure Hunt podcast, Jon Turteltaub, the director of the first two movies, revealed that a third one is officially in development. “I was thinking about mentioning this tonight, I’ll say it tonight,” he said. “It’s happening. You’re the first people I have said this out loud to.”

Rumors of a third National Treasure movie have swirled for years. In 2020, producer Jerry Bruckheimer told Collider that a script was being written, and in 2022, star Justin Bartha confirmed to People that he’d read it. Now, Turteltaub says it’s actually happening.

“It’s finally real. Now, it’s ‘Hollywood real,’ meaning things can happen,” he said. “Nic gets hit by a bus, there’s no National Treasure. If I get hit by a bus, there’s probably a National Treasure. Welcome to Hollywood, that’s Hollywood.”

National Treasure fever hasn’t gone away. While the third movie was in limbo, a spinoff series called National Treasure: Edge of History hit Disney+ in 2022. It was okay, but it didn’t make a splash and was missing one key element: Nicolas Cage. But according to Turteltaub, Cage is down to appear in National Treasure 3, and all parties, including Cage, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and the higher-ups at Disney, are content with the script. So this update does seem like the one fans have been waiting for.

We may also already know what the movie will be about. At the end of Book of Secrets, the president tells Cage’s character, Ben Gates, to look at page 47 in the legendary Book. In the movie’s final moments, the president asks him what he thought of the page, and Ben replies, “It’s life-altering, sir.” Could a third movie finally reveal what he learned, or will we get a whole new historical mystery for Ben to explore? It’s been a long wait, but we may actually get an answer soon.

National Treasure and National Treasure: Book of Secrets are streaming on Disney+.

Ghosts of Mars, John Carpenter's second-to-last film, was a box-office and critical flop when it hit theaters 25 years ago today. The 2001 movie stars Natasha Henstridge (Species) as Lt. Melanie Ballard, part of a squad of police officers sent to a remote mining outpost on a terraformed, colonized Mars, circa 2176, to pick up a convicted criminal named James “Desolation” Williams (Ice Cube). When they arrive, they find that most of the outpost’s inhabitants have been slaughtered by the spirits of long-extinct native Martians, who can possess human bodies and plan to wipe out the intruders.

A mashup of the director’s favorite genres — the Western, sci-fi, the siege thriller — Ghosts of Mars revisits aspects of Carpenter gems like Assault on Precinct 13, The Thing, and The Fog with mixed results. Henstridge, Ice Cube, and a young Jason Statham are all fun to watch, but the visual effects (on a relatively meager $28 million budget) don’t hold up well, and the film suffers from a distinct lack of energy. It does, however, have unique touches, like the way the story unfolds in a nesting-doll series of flashbacks within flashbacks, and the idea that human society on Mars is matriarchal.

Yet while Ghosts of Mars has received a certain amount of reappraisal from Carpenter’s devoted fans, the most interesting thing about it centers around what it wasn’t. For years, there was speculation that Ghosts of Mars actually originated as Escape from Earth, a third movie starring Carpenter’s anti-hero Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), which would have sent the protagonist of Escape from New York and Escape from L.A. into space.

Even though the rumors eventually proved false, the idea raises tantalizing questions. Could Russell’s presence as Snake have saved the film? Or would a small budget, sub-par visuals, and the presence of other box office duds set on Mars have doomed it anyway?

Considered one of Carpenter’s signature titles, 1981’s Escape from New York is a highly entertaining dystopian action thriller set on a future Manhattan that’s become a giant, walled-in prison for the world’s worst criminals. When terrorists crash the President’s plane inside, ex-Special Forces member Snake Plissken — now a criminal himself — is sent in to rescue him, with both a pardon and Plissken’s life on the line.

Well-received by critics and audiences, Escape from New York was followed 15 years later by Escape from L.A. This time, Snake and his exploits didn’t fare well; the film only made back around half of its $50 million budget (the first movie cost a measly $6 million), and viewers were split on its campier tone. The subdued response led to tentative plans for a third entry, where Snake would leave behind the world he literally powers down into a new Dark Age with an electromagnetic weapon at the end of Escape from L.A., being scuttled.

“Escape from Earth was kind of Snake Plissken in a space capsule, flying interstellar,” Carpenter told Fandom in 2022. “So there’d be a lot of special effects in it. Which I never care about too much. But that’s what it would look like.”

Following 1998’s Vampires, a grungy combination of modern Western and horror picture, Carpenter turned his attention to another Western-style movie, only this time set on our solar system’s famous red planet. And that’s perhaps where the chatter started that Ghosts of Mars, with its anti-hero lead, futuristic setting, and heavy emphasis on action, was in fact a repurposed version of Escape from Earth, with Desolation Williams subbing for Snake Plissken after the studio decided that Snake and Kurt Russell were no longer bankable.

It was Carpenter’s wife and longtime producer, Sandy King, who finally debunked the rumors on Twitter with a simple “No.” But even if that’s the case, we can’t help but wonder if the connection does exist — and if Ghosts of Mars might have done better had it in fact been a Snake Plissken adventure.

The truth is, the finished film could be changed into a Plissken story with a few revisions. Pitting the one-eyed ex-soldier against both a dystopian matriarchal society (assuming it sprang up on Mars after Snake shut Earth down at the end of Escape from L.A.) and the vengeful spirits of the Martians might have proven an interesting challenge for Carpenter and Russell’s anti-hero, forcing him to transform from a loner into a leader. And working with his old pal Russell again might have reinvigorated Carpenter, who was so exhausted by the end of filming that he’s only directed one other movie (2009’s The Ward) in the quarter-century since.

Still, the relative lack of interest in Escape from L.A., as well as the failure of two other high-profile Mars projects — Brian De Palma’s Mission to Mars and Antony Hoffman’s Red Planet, both released in 2000 — might have consigned Escape from Earth (or whatever it would have been called) to the same box office demise that befell Ghosts of Mars. That’s a fate that even the legendary Snake Plissken himself might not have been able to escape.

Ghosts of Mars is available on Prime Video.

Warning! Spoilers for Lanterns Episode 2 below.

“So, what’s with Sinestro?”

Before the latest episode of Lanterns aired on HBO, it seemed like the DC series would never get around to mentioning that name. Lanterns takes place at a weird point in history for the Green Lantern Corps: so far, we’ve really only seen a much older Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) perform his duties as Earth’s one-and-only Lantern, and in 2016, his biggest adventures are already behind him. Still, when we met the “Halogram” — a dewier, more optimistic piece of Hal’s consciousness uploaded into his GL ring in 2006 — most assumed that Lanterns would eventually address whatever ordeal turned him into... well, the surly, salt-and-pepper Hal we’re following in the show’s main timeline.

It’s very possible that Sinestro is it. When Hal is briefly incapacitated in Episode 2, Rushville’s sheriff Kerry (Kelly Macdonald) tells him he was calling out Sinestro’s name in his sleep. She also did some Googling about Hal’s former mentor, which she briefly rattles off to Hal once he comes to. Some brief exposition reveals what Green Lantern novices might not already know: Sinestro was once a Lantern, before he attempted a coup and even murdered “one of the bosses,” the Guardians of the Universe. “It also says you were the one who took him down,” Kerry tells Hal.

It’s all, of course, a touchy subject that Hal doesn’t want to get into. Even at the very end of the episode, when Hal actually pays a visit to Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) himself, we still don’t get much in the way of context. So who exactly is Sinestro, and why is he such a huge point of contention for Hal? (Aside from, y’know, all of the above.)

Sinestro’s rise and fall, explained

In the comics, Sinestro was widely regarded as the greatest of the Lanterns. The strength of his will and the scope of his intellect were unchallenged among anyone in the Corps, but that supremacy eventually went to his head. His obsession with control made him something of a dictator over his sector, and as his methods for “keeping the peace” grew increasingly violent, he ultimately turned to a dangerous new source of power. He’d go on to become the Lanterns’ fiercest adversary and one of Hal’s most enduring villains, consistently orchestrating the darkest moments of Hal’s tenure with the Lanterns.

Hal is one of many up-and-coming Lanterns that Sinestro trained before his fall; just like in Lanterns, he’s also responsible for Sinestro’s defeat. In the comics, they first butt heads when Hal discovers how Sinestro treats the citizens of his home planet, Korugar. Hal’s testimony leads to Sinestro’s expulsion from the Corps, and Sinestro naturally swears revenge against both his former mentee and the organization itself. Further down the line, Sinestro allies with Parallax, a parasitic entity, to combat the Green Lanterns. He becomes the first Yellow Lantern, wielding a ring that harnesses the natural opposite of willpower: fear. He forms a group of rival Lanterns as well, molding them in his own image. He also paves the way for Parallax to graft itself onto Hal’s mind and spirit, which creates big trouble for the Corps and the Guardians.

Is Sinestro already a Yellow Lantern in Lanterns?

Lanterns keeps so much about Sinestro close to the chest in Episode 2. Even when he and Hal finally reunite at the end of the episode, he’d rather talk about John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), which leaves a lot to the imagination. Lanterns will hopefully reveal what exactly happened between Sinestro and Hal, but with the help of some context clues, we might already have the gist of it.

There’s every chance that Sinestro may have encountered Parallax by the time we meet him in Lanterns, but the series might be taking some liberties with the “coup” he pulls against the Guardians. It’s unlikely that he’s already become the first Yellow Lantern — otherwise, wouldn’t Sheriff Kerry have mentioned it? — or taken any steps to corrupt Hal with the spirit of fear. Instead, Sinestro might have been imprisoned for his tyrannical rule over Korugar. Why he murdered one of the Guardians remains a mystery, however, and we’re probably not getting answers to that any time soon. Still, at least Lanterns seems to be laying the groundwork here; hopefully the series won’t take too long to untangle this messy timeline.

Lanterns is streaming on HBO Max.

Fall has, traditionally, been the height of the TV season. As temperatures cool, folks are more likely to spend their nights in, so it’s often when the most exciting shows premiere. This may be an era where you can catch up on your shows on the bus or in line at the bank, but that hasn’t changed the traditional TV seasons.

This fall is especially great for genre TV, as massively popular series return after long hiatuses, beloved franchises get new TV expansions, and brand-new stories have the potential to become the next big thing. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s coming up in the next few months, including what dates to mark on your calendar and where you can find everything on streaming.

Slow Horses Season 6

Slow Horses, true to its name, has slowly amassed both a rabid fan base and a star-studded cast of British breakout actors. Joining regulars Sir Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Olivia Cooke, and Jack Lowden this season is BAFTA winner Lenny Rush, who has previously appeared on Doctor Who.

According to Apple TV, Season 6 “sees the Slow Horses on the run as Diana Taverner embroils them all in a fatally high-stakes game of retaliation and revenge,” in a story inspired by the sixth and seventh books in Mick Herron’s Slough House series. Even after five seasons and four years, this series is still finding ways to make its classic spy story seem fresh and new.

Release date: Sept. 16, 2026, on Apple TV.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

Among Ryan Murphy’s many, many projects is the Monster anthology series, which adapts the stories of real-life murderers in stylized (and often exaggerated) light. So far we’ve seen him tackle Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, and Ed Gein. Now it’s Lizzie Borden’s turn, the legendary woman accused of double homicide in 1892 when her parents were discovered with multiple axe wounds.

Lizzie Borden was actually acquitted of her parents’ murders, but Monster has always been more concerned with these figures’ places in pop culture than the verifiable truth: Sarah Paulson was recently revealed to appear in the series as Aileen Wuornos, the serial murderer who slayed multiple men about a century later.

Release date: Sept. 17, 2026, on Netflix.

American Horror Story Season 13

Speaking of Ryan Murphy, his flagship series American Horror Story is returning for an unlikely Season 13 with a series that acts like a greatest-hits album of seasons past. But because Murphy is such a fan of a repertory cast, this means that we’ll see some familiar faces quite a few times. Sarah Paulson is expected to play at least six roles, Jessica Lange will play all four of her roles, and Evan Peters will play five different roles.

And those are just the returning actors. There are plenty of new guest stars, including cult filmmaker John Waters, Cara Delevingne, and Tig Notaro. Whatever Murphy has in store for this auspicious season, it’ll definitely be worth checking out.

Release date: Sept. 24, 2026, on FX/Hulu.

Carrie

Probably the closest relationship in Hollywood right now is the one between Mike Flanagan and Stephen King. The director has now adapted multiple King works, but in this Prime Video series, he’s tackling one of the most famous King novels ever: Carrie.

But this isn’t your typical Carrie adaptation. Not only is it set in the present day, but there are a number of big divergences from the Brian De Palma movie that made the story a pop culture phenomenon. But knowing Mike Flanagan’s long history with adaptations, it should be in good hands.

Release date: Oct. 7, 2026, on Prime Video.

Avatar: Seven Havens

Avatar: The Last Airbender is in a period of expansion. The hit Nickelodeon animated series has only this year seen a new season of its live-action adaptation, an animated movie following Aang, and now, with Avatar: Seven Havens, we’re flashing forward beyond The Last Airbender and even beyond The Legend of Korra. It follows Pavi, a young girl and successor to Korra, as she deals with a very different world.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Seven Havens “is set in a world shattered by a devastating cataclysm. A young earthbender discovers she’s the new Avatar after Korra — but in this dangerous era, that title marks her as humanity’s destroyer, not its savior. Hunted by both human and spirit enemies, she and her long-lost twin must uncover their mysterious origins and save the Seven Havens before civilization’s last strongholds collapse.”

Release date: Oct. 9, 2026, on Paramount+.

VisionQuest

When we last saw Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he was facing off against himself and musing about the Ship of Theseus in the WandaVision finale. Now, after Agatha Harkness got her own WandaVision spin-off, it’s Vision’s turn, and he’s bringing along a few friends. James Spader returns as Ultron, but he’s appearing in his human (and bearded) form alongside a human Paul Bettany.

VisionQuest is showrun by Star Trek veteran Terry Matalas, so whatever Vision and his motley crew of human androids come across in this series, it’s sure to be an epic adventure.

Release date: Oct. 14, 2026, on Disney+.

Crystal Lake

At a certain point in a horror franchise’s lifespan, there’s only one place to go: television. Scream had a TV show on MTV, Chucky wreaked havoc on the Syfy and USA channels, even Silence of the Lambs had Hannibal. Now it’s the turn of Friday the 13th, which is getting the prequel treatment from Peacock.

Crystal Lake stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees, Jason’s mother, and reveals her tragic backstory that led to her son’s murderous fate. With beloved movie producer A24 working behind the scenes, this could be the horror fan’s hidden gem during the Halloween season.

Release date: Oct. 15, 2026, on Peacock.

Where’s Wanda? Season 2

You may not have heard of Where’s Wanda?, but it’s one of those shows you can’t stop thinking about once you start watching. Apple TV’s first German-language series followed a family as they searched for their teenage daughter, eventually resorting to some drastic measures that dip into Black Mirror territory. In Season 2, instead of finding their daughter, the Klatts will instead have to prove her innocence when she’s seemingly caught red-handed standing above a corpse.

Where’s Wanda? has exactly what you want in an international TV series: plot twists, dark humor, and a gripping story. It’s not quite as dark as the Scandinoir you get up north, so the tone remains balanced throughout.

Release date: Oct. 21, 2026, on Apple TV.

Nocturne

Nocturne was actually based on the Scandinoir novels Lazarus and The Sandman, written by the husband-and-wife team Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril under the name Lars Kepler. But while its source material may be very Swedish, this show is actually set in Pennsylvania. It follows Jonah Lynn, a former homicide detective (Liev Schreiber), as he moves to a small town, only to find himself on the tail of a serial murderer. Pennsylvania has been quite the hotbed for these gritty crime thrillers, with HBO series like Mare of Easttown and Task.

Schreiber is joined by Stephen Graham, who will play the serial murderer Jurek Walter, and Zazie Beetz, who will play Saga Bauer, Lynn’s adopted daughter and an FBI agent. So, much like its fellow PA-based crime thrillers, this one’s a real family affair.

Release date: Oct. 30, 2026, on Apple TV.

Bass X Machina

What’s better than an animated Western? An animated cyberpunk Western show with a star-studded voice cast. That’s what we’re getting with Bass X Machina, an upcoming Netflix Original Series. According to Variety, Bass X Machina is set in “a lawless steampunk West overrun by brutal outlaws, machines, and supernatural terrors, where a father is forced to become judge, jury, and executioner — knowing that every act of justice meant to protect his family may ultimately cost him the very people he’s fighting to save.”

Brian Tyree Henry plays the protagonist, but he’s joined by Janelle Monáe as Glory, Tati Gabrielle as Dana, Cree Summer as Ahni, Chaske Spencer as Lighthorse, Currie Graham as Rivenbark, and Starletta DuPois as Etta. Netflix animation is always exciting, but this show looks like a hit waiting to be discovered.

Release date: November 3, 2026, on Netflix.

The Rings of Power Season 3

The Lord of the Rings spin-off The Rings of Power is getting bigger and better in its third season, and we already know one major event to expect. “This is the season where Sauron makes the One Ring in the volcano,” co-showrunner Patrick McKay told Empire. But beside that monumental moment in Middle-earth history, there are still more surprises to come.

When Stranger Things star Jamie Campbell-Bower was cast in this new season, fans immediately began speculating on who he could be playing. The true answer is actually incredibly exciting: He’ll be playing Celeborn, which means we may finally see him reunite with his wife, Galadriel. If those are just the reveals from before the show premieres, there should be more coming soon.

Release date: Nov. 11, 2026, on Prime Video.

The Body

In a plot synopsis that seemingly combines The Crucible and Bring It On, The Body follows a dance team at a Catholic school who, after an initiation gone wrong, begin seeing visions and causing mass hysteria that quickly sweeps over their community. This is clearly a series that doesn’t take itself too seriously — Gabby Windey, reality star and winner of The Traitors, will play a supporting role — but it’s still got some grit, as it comes from Under the Bridge’s Quinn Shepherd.

We have only a few first-look images at this series so far, but it looks like the kind of show that could become the center of conversation for weeks. Plus, with eight episodes, it’s perfectly sized for a weekend binge.

Release date: Nov. 11, 2026, on Netflix.

Yellowjackets Season 4

On Yellowjackets, The Wilderness beckons for the last time. Throughout the first three seasons of the Showtime series that often gets compared to Lost, we’ve seen the young survivors in the Canadian forest lose friends, sacrifice others, and make it through their first winter. At the end of Season 3, it seemed like rescue was imminent, but it’s unlikely that reintegration will go as smoothly as they expect. Meanwhile, in the present, the survivors have to cope with the loss of a friend.

But in Season 4, the final season for the series, there’s about to be a wild card added to the deck. “As the survivors race to bury their sins before rescue arrives and an old flame roars back into town with plans of her own, turns out not every homecoming is a joyous one, and this one’s going to sting,” the official synopsis reads. But just who is this old flame, and how will all of our lingering questions get answered? We’ll have to wait and see.

Release date: Nov. 20, 2026, on Paramount+.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3

Rick Riordan’s hit young-adult mythology series Percy Jackson and the Olympians may have been adapted into two movies in the 2010s, but with Season 3, Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians officially laps the movies. Season 3 adapts the third book, The Titan’s Curse, and while it may not be a faithful adaptation of a specific Greek myth as the first two books were, it’s full of the mythological references — and character development — that fans have come to love.

The most notable thing about Percy Jackson and the Olympians isn’t what it shows but actually when it premieres. Season 2 only ended in January of this year, meaning the fans only had to wait a few months for more episodes, something that’s exceedingly rare in an era of yearslong hiatuses.

Release date: Nov. 20, 2026, on Disney+.

Blade Runner 2099

Blade Runner focused heavily on the power balance between humans and Replicants, but Blade Runner 2099, the upcoming Prime Video miniseries, takes that a step further. Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer star in the series set in the far-off year of 2099, where “Replicants are the power brokers in the city, while humans have become second-class citizens.”

Yeoh plays Olwen, a Replicant reaching the end of her lifespan, while Schafer plays Cora, a human pretending to be a Replicant. Together they must cooperate to take down a gang of Replicants. There may not be any Harrison Ford, but that does sound like a story worthy of a Ridley Scott movie.

Release date: Nov. 25, 2026, on Prime Video.

Decluttering sounds simple until you’re staring at your overflowing drawers, chaotic cabinets, and piles of stuff that somehow have nowhere to go. Luckily, getting organized doesn’t have to mean spending an entire weekend purging your belongings. Sometimes, you just need a surprisingly clever product that makes an awkward space way more useful. From hidden drawers and rolling bins to oddly specific organizers you didn’t know existed, these weird but genius Amazon finds can help rein in clutter all over your home. Ahead, you’ll find smart hacks designed to make your space feel neater, calmer, and much easier to manage.

Hang hats on these hooks that store up to 20 caps

Mkono Hat Organizer for Baseball Caps (2-Pack)

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Hang these slim metal racks right on the closet rod to corral up to 20 baseball caps without crushing or stacking them in a messy pile. The rubber-coated bars help keep hats from sliding off, while the raised ends add extra security. You can also use them to hang belts, scarves, or other accessories if your hat collection is under control.

Squeeze in extra kitchen storage with this stovetop shelf

AWOKE Magnetic Stovetop Shelf

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Set this magnetic silicone shelf along the back of your stove to create an instant storage spot for spices, oils, and cooking tools. Built-in sections help keep everything from turning into a jumble, while four magnets hold the shelf in place without making it permanent. The flexible design works with many stove shapes, and the raised edge helps keep bottles from tipping off.

Store food wrap & paper towels on your fridge with this magnetic organizer

Yivinow Magnetic Wrap Dispenser and Paper Towel Holder

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Stick this magnetic organizer to the side of your fridge to keep three kitchen essentials together without sacrificing drawer space. Separate compartments hold foil and plastic wrap, with built-in sliding cutters for cleaner edges, while the bottom bar stores a standard paper towel roll. It also comes with wall-mounting hardware if your fridge isn’t the best spot.

Turn books into wall decor with these optical illusion shelves

NANATI Floating Bookshelf (Set of 2)

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Add extra storage without taking up floor space with this set of two floating bookshelves. Each shelf pairs pinewood with elastic bands and sturdy metal supports to keep books neatly displayed (upside down!) while adding a clean, modern touch to the room. The shelves can hold up to 50 pounds, making them useful for pretty much anything.

Store shoes in these wall-mounted holders & win back some floor space

Yocice On-Wall Shoe Racks (6-Pack)

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Mount these six slim shoe holders on a door, wall, or other unused vertical space to keep slippers, sneakers, sandals, and heels from piling up underfoot. The adhesive backing means there’s no drilling required, and the individual design lets you space each rack wherever it makes the most sense. They’re especially handy in small closets, bathrooms, entryways, or RVs where every bit of floor space counts.

Make meds & first-aid supplies easy to find with this 4-tier bin

funest 4- Tier Medicine Storage Box Organizer Portable First Aid kit Box Empty with Handle, Multipurpose Medical Supply Organizer with Removable Tray, White

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Use this four-tier organizer to sort all your first-aid essentials so you can actually find what you need, when you need it. The clear upper sections make smaller items easy to spot, while the deeper bottom compartment holds taller bottles and supplies. A built-in handle makes the whole box easy to move, and the divided trays help prevent everything from turning into one giant jumble.

Get ladders & bulky gear off the floor with this garage wall hook

ALWORG Garage Storage Hook

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Mount this heavy-duty metal hook on a garage, shed, or utility room wall to store awkward items like ladders, folding chairs, step stools, or gardening tools. Its compact shape keeps big gear easy to grab without eating up valuable floor space, and it can also help cut down on tripping hazards. The sturdy steel construction is made for heavier loads, and installation is simple enough to turn a cluttered corner into useful storage in minutes.

Create a second layer of storage in deeper drawers with this sliding bin

YouCopia DrawerFit Sliding Drawer Bin

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Make deep kitchen drawers work twice as hard with this clever sliding organizer. The bin expands from 15 to 23.7 inches, creating an upper level for your smaller items while leaving room underneath for larger essentials. Locking teeth help keep it securely extended, and the tray slides smoothly from side to side when you need to reach what’s below.

Turn under-bed space into storage with these wheeled bins

Yecaye Under-Bed Storage (2-Pack)

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Turn the unused under-the-bed space into practical storage with these roomy rolling bins. Four swivel wheels make it easy to slide them in and out, even when they’re packed with all your essentials. They also have clear windows and included labels to help you spot what’s inside with just a glance.

Use this expandable tension shelf to create more space without drilling

Hershii Closet Tension Shelf

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Fit this expandable shelf between two sturdy surfaces to create extra storage without screws, tools, or permanent wall damage. The tension-style design works well in spaces where you might need a little extra storage spot for all your essentials. Nonslip ends help keep it steady, and the telescoping bars are adjustable, so you can customize the fit to your space.

Use this basket to corral clutter that needs to go upstairs

talisleskye Stairstep Basket

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Instead of letting things pile up as the day goes on, create a designated spot for all the things that need to make their way upstairs with this cleverly shaped basket. The L-shaped design sits neatly on a stairstep, while the roomy interior can hold all your everyday odds and ends. Cotton rope handles make it easy to carry when it’s full, and the structured sides help it stay upright and sturdy.

Add storage to cabinet doors with these stick-on shelves

EigPluy Cabinet Door Storage Box (2-Pack)

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Stick these slim metal baskets inside a cabinet door or onto another smooth surface to create extra storage without reaching for a drill. The narrow profile is especially useful for flatter items like spice bottles, packets, bathroom supplies, or small office essentials that tend to get lost in crowded cabinets. The adhesive mounting system helps keep walls and doors free from holes, while the sturdy metal construction can hold up to about 6 pounds.

Get long-handled tools off the floor with this heavy-duty wall holder

Berry Ave Broom Holder and Garden Tool Organizer

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Turn a cluttered utility area into a much neater setup with this wall-mounted organizer. Five spring-loaded grips hold all your long-handled household tools securely, while six folding hooks give smaller items like dustpans and short-armed brushes a place to hang. Rubber padding helps protect handles from scratches, and the sturdy design works well in garages, laundry rooms, sheds, or broom closets.

Free up valuable floor space with a collapsible wall hamper

Goderewild Collapsible Laundry Basket

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Hang this roomy hamper on a door, wall, or cabinet to corral dirty clothes without sacrificing precious floor space. The ventilated design helps keep damp towels and laundry from getting musty odors, while sturdy handles make it easy to remove and carry when wash day rolls around.

Tidy up bathroom counters with a covered toothbrush holder

QIYVLOS Toothbrush Holder

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Keep toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, and other small bathroom essentials that tend to scatter across the sink area neatly contained with this compact countertop organizer. A sliding lid helps shield all your items from splashes and debris, while the spinning interior makes everything easy to reach. Three divided sections accommodate different-sized products, and drainage holes help prevent water from collecting at the bottom.

Tame bulky cords & hoses with these heavy-duty hanging straps

Wrap-It Storage Heavy-Duty Straps (6-Pack)

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Keep extension cords, hoses, and even heavier tools from becoming a tangled pile with these sturdy storage straps. Each one wraps securely around bulky gear and has a metal grommet so you can hang everything neatly on a wall hook. The six-piece set includes three different sizes, and each strap can support up to 50 pounds.

Give stuffed animals a cozy home with this light-up hammock

MORCCO Light-Up Stuffed Animal Hammock

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Turn a growing stuffie collection into cute wall decor with this roomy macramé toy hammock. The expandable design holds more than 30 stuffed animals while freeing up floor space in bedrooms, nurseries, and playrooms. Tassel details and included string lights give it a cozy look, while sturdy cotton rope and metal hardware help keep everything securely displayed.

Create hidden storage with these under-desk drawers

FRETONBA Under-Desk Drawer (2-Pack)

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Free up valuable desktop space with this set of two stick-on drawers designed to tuck neatly underneath a desk, table, or cabinet. Each one has enough room for small essentials like pens, chargers, sticky notes, and other odds and ends, while a smooth-sliding design keeps everything easy to reach. Strong adhesive strips make installation easy and each shelf holds up to 3.5 pounds.

Make linen closets look instantly neater with these sheet cubes

ZenStorage Sheet Storage Box (4-Pack)

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Keep matching bedding together and easy to spot with these structured sheet organizers. Clear windows and removable labels help you find the right set quickly, while the zippered design protects linens from dust and keeps everything neatly contained. The roomy size can hold a king or queen-size sheet set, and the organizers can stand upright or be stacked.

Add versatile kitchen storage with a 3-tier organizer on wheels

OKZEST 3-Tier Rolling Pantry Organizer

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Create extra room for any of your pantry favorites with this three-tier organizer. Use the lockable wheels to roll it as needed or swap in the nonslip feet for secure countertop storage. Sturdy steel baskets keep similar items grouped and easy to grab, while a removable bottom tray catches crumbs and anything else that might fall before hitting the floor.

Keep important papers protected with this fire-resistant organizer

BALEINE Fireproof Document Box

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Keep all your most important essentials safe and secure in this portable document case. The fire-resistant, waterproof exterior adds extra protection from unexpected mishaps, while a combination lock helps keep sensitive items secure. Inside, multiple compartments, card slots, and elastic straps make it easy to organize everything from documents to small electronics.

Hang small items with less damage using these pushpin hooks

Atsky Pushpin Picture Hooks (30-Pack)

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Thanks to these handy hooks, you can now hang lightweight decor and everyday essentials without reaching for bulky hardware. These zinc-alloy hooks (available in six different finishes) press into drywall or wood and leave only small pinholes behind when removed. Use them for framed photos, jewelry, keys, or anything else you need to hang up.

Make use of overlooked corner space with this countertop shelf

JayRex 3-Tier Moveable Corner Shelf

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Make better use of an awkward kitchen corner with this adjustable three-tier organizer. It can be angled to fit into a corner or stretched into a straighter shelf, giving all your countertop essentials a dedicated home. Raised tiers make items easier to see and grab, while nonslip feet help keep the organizer steady.

Make the most of a tight closet or entryway with a narrow shoe shelf

LUCKNOCK 8-Tier Vertical Shoe Rack

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Give shoes a designated home without sacrificing much floor space with this tall, narrow organizer. Its vertical shape works especially well in small entryways, dorms — you name it — while adjustable shelves make room for every style of shoe. It’s sturdy construction gives it a more polished look in case it’s out in plain sight, too.

Put vertical space to work with these stackable closet organizers

CTSNSLH 5 Pack Closet Organizers Storage Box, Closet Storage Stackable Storage Bins, Plastic Drawer Basket for Wardrobe Cupboard Kitchen Bathroom Office, White

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Create a more organized closet without committing to bulky built-ins with this five-piece stacking shelf system. Each lightweight bin can hold everything from toys to shoes or linens and you can arrange the pieces to fit your available space. The plastic construction is easy to clean, and the foldable design makes the organizers simple to tuck away when you don’t need them.

Stash food storage bags in this streamlined bin & ditch bulky cardboard boxes

YouCopia 4-Slot Food Bag Dispenser

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Revamp your crowded drawers or pantry shelves with this organizer designed for all-sized plastic food storage bags. Four separate compartments keep each size sorted, while wide openings make it easy to grab one during meal prep. The removable lid makes refilling simple, and included labels help you identify each section at a glance.

Double your cabinet space with a 2-pack of adjustable risers

SONGMICS Cabinet Shelf Organizers (2-Pack)

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Give cans, cookware, plates, cookbooks — you name it — a more organized setup with these versatile shelf risers. The two different sizes can be stacked, nested, or used alone thanks to the sturdy wood and metal construction that supports up to 33 pounds per shelf. Choose from 12 colors and three sizes to suit your space.

Free up cabinet space by storing your water bottles on the fridge

POLRAI 2 Pack Magnetic Stanley Cup Holder for Fridge, Water Bottle Organizer for Tumbler with Double Sided Tape Hold Stanley Cup Accessories for Kitchen Cabinet Wall

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Give bulky tumblers their own designated spot with this two-pack of metal storage racks. Strong magnets let each organizer cling to the side of a refrigerator, while included adhesive strips make it possible to mount them to other smooth surfaces too. Each rack has three slots for Stanley-style cups or similarly sized drinkware, helping to clear up crowded cabinets.

Keep spare toilet paper in this slim basket so it’s always within reach

StorageWorks Large Toilet Paper Storage with Bamboo Lid, Toilet Paper Holder Basket for Up to 12 Mega or 16 Regular Size Rolls, Paper Storage Baskets for Bathroom, Grey, 1 Pack

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Keep backup toilet paper close without making a small bathroom feel crowded thanks to this narrow basket that holds up to 16 regular rolls or 12 mega rolls. A clear side window makes it easy to see when supplies are running low, and a bamboo lid gives it a chic, polished look.

Make frozen foods easier to find with these stackable baskets

iSPECLE Freezer Organizer Bins - Fits 7 Cu.Ft Chest Freezer, 4 Pack Stackable Wire Baskets(14.7" Length), Heavy Duty Coated Deep Freezer Organizer, Rust Resistant for Frozen Food Sorting, Black

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Bring some order to a crowded chest freezer with these sturdy wire baskets that help separate smaller frozen foods into easy-to-see sections. Fold-in handles let the bins stack securely, while the open design helps cold air circulate around everything inside. Each basket can hold more than 33 pounds, and the handles make it easy to lift them out as needed.

Turn unused space into extra storage with this over-the-door organizer

Over the Door Organizer 5 Tiers, Extra Large Behind Door Storage of 10 Compartments, 80 lbs Weight Capacity Over Door Organizer, Door Hanging Organizer for Closet, Diaper Organizer, Room storage

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Make the back of a door work a lot harder with this roomy hanging organizer. Five wide tiers are divided into 10 separate compartments, giving shoes, diapers, towels, toiletries, or accessories their own easy-to-see spots. Clear windows help you find what you need quickly, while side pockets add even more room for smaller essentials. Heavy-duty hooks keep the organizer secure, and the tool-free setup is especially handy for rentals, dorms, and small spaces.

Make socks & accessories easier to find with divided drawer organizers

Criusia Drawer Organizers (3-Pack)

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Bring some order to overstuffed drawers with this three-piece organizer set boasting 64 total compartments for all your undies, socks, belts, and more. Two of the bins have smaller sections, while the third one has roomier slots for bulkier items. Breathable mesh helps keep everything visible and fresh, and the reinforced fabric construction folds flat.

Keep small essentials protected in these clear hard-shell cases

WELPIRT Hard Shell Zipper Case (4-Pack)

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Keep all your smaller essentials neat and organized, whether at home or on the go, with this four-piece pouch set. The rigid shells help protect contents from getting squashed, while clear panels make it easy to see what’s inside at a glance. Secure zippers keep everything contained, and the stackable design makes the cases especially convenient. Use them for crafts, toys, toiletries, desk supplies, and more.

Use this rolling bin to add extra storage without investing in pricey furniture

CTSNSLH 4 Tier Plastic Storage Bins and Boxes Organizer - Stackable with Lids for Bedroom, Living Room, Office - Foldable Containers

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Make everyday odds and ends easier to organize with these roomy storage boxes that can be stacked to take advantage of vertical space. Clear front doors let you see what’s inside without opening every bin, while built-in wheels make the whole setup easier to move around. The tinted, ribbed design feels more upscale than other storage solutions, and they pop up in seconds — no tools needed.

Make use of empty corners with a set of 4 floating shelves

HOMODE Wall-Mount Corner Shelf (Set of 4)

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Put an empty corner to work with these four floating shelves that add both storage and a polished decorative touch without taking up floor space. Each shelf can hold up to 20 pounds, and built-in cable openings help keep cords from routers, speakers, game consoles, and other electronics looking tidier. They come in a variety of colors and can be used anywhere, from your kitchen to your bathroom or home office.

Use these fold-down hooks for on-demand storage when you need it

Dntorx Folding Coat Hooks (2-Pack)

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Add a handy hanging spot without leaving bulky hardware sticking out from the wall thanks to these folding coat hooks. These sleek hooks fold down when you need to hang things like towels, coats, dog leashes, or robes, and then they tuck back up when they’re not in use. The zinc-alloy construction can support up to 40 pounds, and the included screws and anchors make them easy to install.

Store shoes upright in this space-saving bin with a clear lid

StorageWorks Shoe Organizer

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Corral sneakers, heels, flats, and even boots in one tidy storage box instead of letting them pile up in a mountain on the floor. Adjustable dividers let you customize the compartments for different shoe sizes, while the clear lid keeps dust and pet hair out without hiding what’s inside. Structured panels help the bin hold its shape, and three handles make it easy to pull out from a closet.

Make cookware easier to grab with this adjustable pan organizer

ORDORA 8-Tier Pot & Pan Organizer Rack

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Stop unstacking half the cabinet just to reach one skillet when you have this customizable cookware rack. Eight adjustable tiers can hold pots, pans, lids, baking sheets, cutting boards, and — you get the idea — while rubber-covered dividers help keep pieces from slipping or getting scratched. The sturdy iron frame can be arranged vertically or horizontally to fit your preferred setup, too.

Turn the side of your washer into storage for hangers & laundry supplies

Detukna Magnetic Laundry Supply Organizers (3 Pieces)

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Free up crowded shelves and countertops by storing laundry essentials right on the side of your washer or dryer. Strong magnets hold these metal baskets and hanger rack without drilling, giving dryer balls, stain sprays, clips, hangers, and other small supplies designated spots. One basket can even double as a lint bin, making it easier to toss dryer debris without hunting for a trash can.

Keep paperwork neat & easy to reach with this stackable file organizer

Oterri File Organizer Box with Lid

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Tame loose documents, folders, and office supplies with this structured fabric file box. Built-in rails let hanging folders slide smoothly, while a mesh pocket inside the lid gives other smaller accessories their own space. Metal handles make the box easy to move, and the sturdy lid supports stacking when you need to save space. It’s more compact than similar options, and when it’s empty, the whole thing folds down for out-of-the-way storage.

Store under-sink supplies in this organizer that leaves room for plumbing

REALINN Under-Sink Organizer

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Turn cramped cabinet space into something far easier to use with this two-tier L-shaped organizer. The narrow upper basket can sit on either side to avoid pipes and garbage disposals, while the roomy lower drawer slides out so bottles and cleaning supplies are easy to reach. A sturdy metal frame supports up to 50 pounds, and the open-grid baskets help prevent water and debris from collecting underneath.

Turn tiny gaps into useful storage with this slim rolling cart

SPACELEAD Slim Storage Cart

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Make the most of those awkward spaces beside appliances and furniture with this narrow four-tier storage cart. Different shelf heights give taller bottles and smaller essentials their own spots, while adjustable dividers and side hooks help keep everything sorted. Smooth-rolling casters make it easy to pull out when needed, but you can remove the wheels to use it as stationary shelving if you prefer.

Hide clutter & add extra seating with this storage ottoman

SONGMICS Storage Ottoman

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Sneak more storage into a small space with this compact ottoman that has a roomy interior for blankets, books, toys, or other everyday clutter. The padded top makes it comfortable enough to use as a seat or footrest, while sturdy panels help it support up to 660 pounds. It also has nonslip feet protectors for your floors, and the whole thing folds flat when you need to tuck it away.

Make clothes easier to grab with divided closet organizers

Zilink Jean Organizers for Closet (3-Pack)

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Give every subtype of your wardrobe its own designated spot with this seven-section closet bin. Clear dividers and a see-through front make it easy to spot what you need without digging through a messy stack, while reinforced fabric and sturdy panels help the organizer keep its shape. Each of the three fits neatly on closet shelves or inside wardrobes and makes folded clothes feel much more manageable.

Squeeze storage into small spaces with this fabric bin set

MAX Houser Fabric Storage Tower

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Add a little extra organization without giving up much floor space with this narrow three-drawer tower. The mix of a metal frame, wood top, and curved drawer panels gives it a sturdier feel than basic fabric bins, while 360-degree wheels make it easy to move around. Locking casters help keep it in place, and the drawers are handy for anything you need to keep tucked away in your bedroom, home office, or craft room.

End cabinet chaos with this vertical tumbler lid organizer

ELYPRO Tumbler Lid Organizer

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Keep your growing collection of tumbler lids from taking over a drawer or shelf with this simple upright organizer. The steel post lets you vertically stack lids from all the most popular brands like Stanley, Yeti, and Hydro Flask, making them easy to see and grab without wasting much space. Just just place it on your counter or in a cabinet and voilà.

Keep wrapping supplies together in this hanging organizer

EOLIMEX Wrapping Paper Organizer

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Keep all your go-to wrapping paper rolls, ribbons, bows, cards, scissors, and any other extras in one easy-to-see spot with this hanging organizer. Clear pockets on both sides make supplies simple to find, while Velcro straps and zippered sections help keep everything contained. It hangs neatly over a door or inside a closet, saving valuable shelf and floor space.

Use a corner hamper to corral laundry without hogging space

Giantex 15 -Gallon Corner Laundry Hamper

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Make an awkward corner work harder with this slim 15-gallon laundry hamper. The bamboo exterior gives it a warm, organic look, while the lid keeps dirty clothes and towels out of sight. A removable liner can go straight into the washing machine when it needs a refresh, and the whole hamper folds down when you want to store it away.

Make organizing way more fun with this pocket-size label maker

Nelko Label Maker Machine

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Give everything from pantry bins to school supplies neat, customized identification with this compact Bluetooth label maker. It connects to a phone through an app loaded with thousands of icons, borders, templates, and design options, so labels can be as simple or playful as you want. Thermal printing means there’s no ink or toner to replace, and the rechargeable design is small enough to stash anywhere.

Keep batteries easy to find with this organizer with a spot for everything

COMECASE Battery Organizer

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Stop digging through junk drawers for a working battery with this structured storage case. Specific slots hold up to 148 batteries in several common sizes, keeping them separated, visible, and easier to grab. The hard EVA shell adds everyday protection, while a built-in handle makes the case easy to carry. It also comes with a removable battery tester so you can quickly check power levels in a snap.

Make bulky bedding easier to stash with compression storage bags

Easortm Comforter Storage Bag (2-Pack)

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Tame your comfy, but oh-so-fluffy comforters and blankets with this two-pack of roomy compression bags. The three-layer design helps squeeze down bulky items so they take up less space in closets or under the bed, while reinforced handles make the bag easier to pull from a shelf or storage area. A clear window and label help you spot what’s inside, and the washable nylon fabric is designed for repeated use.

Free up valuable workspace with this clamp-on desk organizer

LUKETURE Steel Desk Hanging Organizer

Whether you need more room while you work or want to clear off your desk at the end of the day, this sturdy side-mounted organizer comes in handy. The steel holder clamps onto flat-edged desks without drilling, while protective pads help prevent scratches and slipping. Ventilation openings allow heat to escape around electronics, and the included magnetic pen cup gives small supplies their own spot. Choose from four colors to suit your space.

Keep plastic bags under control with this wall-mounted dispenser

Manterio Grocery Bag Dispenser

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Turn that overflowing stash of grocery bags into something you can actually use with this sleek stainless steel dispenser. Bags go in through the wide opening at the top and pull out easily from the bottom whenever you need one. Mount it on a wall, cabinet door, or beneath a shelf using screws or adhesive strips. It also works nicely for small trash bags, too.

Keep everyday favorites within reach on this 2-tier vanity organizer

YIWANFW Bathroom Counter Organizer

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Give makeup, skin care, perfume, and lotions a neater home with this open two-tier organizer. The spacious shelves make it easy to arrange products by size or routine, while the all-metal construction gives it a polished look that works well on vanities, bathroom counters, or dressers. A built-in handle makes it easy to move, and assembly is quick and hassle free.

Store pet food in this collapsible bin that rolls out when you need it

DDMOMMY 23-25 Lbs Airtight Dog Food Storage Container,Collapsible Dog Food Container with Lid,Wheels,Handle,Large Pet food storage Container with Scoop,Small Food Container for Dog Cat

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Keep bulky bags of kibble from taking over the pantry with this roomy rolling storage bin. It holds up to 25 pounds of food and has airtight seals with locking sides to help keep moisture out. A built-in handle and removable wheels make heavy pet food easier to move, while the collapsible design lets the bin shrink down when you need to save space. It also comes with a scoop and smaller container for everyday serving.

Amazon is packed with products you never knew existed until they're suddenly exactly what you need. From clever fixes for everyday annoyances to surprisingly genius gadgets that make life a little easier, these inexpensive finds have earned a loyal following for good reason. It's no surprise shoppers keep snagging them before they sell out.

A car vent glass vase for fresh flowers & cuttings

INEBIZ Propagation Vase Vent Clip

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If your car dashboard could use some sprucing, this tiny propagation vase offers exactly that. It clips onto an air vent and combines a black walnut wood base with a removable glass tube that's just the right size for a single flower, a few dried stems, or even a small plant cutting. The tube lifts out easily for cleaning or refilling, so changing up what's inside only takes a minute.

Strawberry cabinet knob covers that are easy to install & remove

Knobēz Decorative Knob Covers (12-Pack)

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Changing cabinet hardware usually means grabbing a screwdriver, but these stretchy strawberry knob covers take a much simpler approach. The 12-pack slips over existing cabinet knobs measuring about 1 to 1.5 inches, giving drawers and cabinets a playful update without replacing any hardware. They’re also easily reusable.

A hand-painted floral soup bowl with a comfy handle

ALMA 2026 Updated Soup Bowls With Large Loop Handles, 18oz Handpainted Flower Soup Cups Microwave & Oven Safe, Decorative Ceramic Cereal Bowls For Soup,Fruits,Chili,Ice cream,Snack-Orange Irene Theme

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This soup bowl has a large loop handle and a 16-ounce capacity for a hearty serving of your favorite soup or ice cream. It features a hand-painted orange iris design with a wavy rim. Since it's safe for the microwave, oven, freezer, and dishwasher, you can use it for everything from chili and oatmeal to ice cream.

A leather AirTag holder with a key ring for bags & keys

XSUIOY Leather Keychain AirTag Holder

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If you use an AirTag to keep track of everyday items, this PU leather avocado AirTag holder gives it a little extra protection while making it easier to clip onto your belongings. It leaves the signal unobstructed and comes with a metal key ring for attaching it to keys, backpacks, luggage, wallets, or purses. Choose from a huge selection of designs.

Ceramic toilet bolt covers that stick with adhesive pads

PrtMron Ceramic Toilet Bolt Caps (2-Pack)

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Make your toilet a little cuter with these bunny ceramic bolt caps. The two-piece set is made from glossy porcelain and fits both one-quarter-inch and five-sixteenths-inch toilet bolts with an extra-deep design that doesn't require trimming. Adhesive pads keep each bunny in place, turning a small overlooked detail into a charming part of the room.

A squishy cat lamp with 16 colors & 5 brightness levels

Mubarek Cat Lamp

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Made from soft BPA-free silicone, this squishy cat night light comes with 16 color options, five brightness levels, and both touch and remote controls. The rechargeable cordless design runs for up to about 10 hours per charge, making it easy to move from your nightstand to the hallway or anywhere you want a little extra light.

Tabletop fly fans with soft holographic blades

AMIAEDU Fly Fans (4-Pack)

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Outdoor meals are more enjoyable when flies spend less time hovering over the food, and these tabletop fans use spinning holographic blades instead of sprays or sticky traps. The four-pack runs on AA batteries, with each fan covering a small dining area for one or two people. The soft blades stop immediately if touched and start spinning again once they're clear. Each unit includes a hook, allowing you to hang it upside down if needed.

An anxiety bookshelf with 200 miniature books you can rearrange

WifePro Anxiety Bookshelf

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At first glance, this looks like a tiny bookshelf packed with miniature books, but it's also designed to be something you can fidget with to help reduce anxiety. The walnut-colored display measures about 7.75 by 7.75 inches and includes 200 miniature books that can be rearranged, shuffled, or gently rocked around the shelf.

Watering globes that hydrate plants for up to 5 days

YFDB Bird-Shaped Plant Watering Globes (4-Pack)

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Keeping houseplants watered gets a little easier with these hand-painted terracotta bird globes, which slowly release moisture into the soil for three to five days. The set includes four watering stakes that you fill with water before placing them into the potting mix. They're suitable for indoor and outdoor plants.

A duck-shaped ceramic soap dish with a self-draining spout

Fewile Ceramic Self Draining Soap Dish

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Bar soap lasts longer when it isn't sitting in a puddle, but this ceramic duck-shaped soap dish helps by letting excess water self-drain through its beak. The textured surface keeps soap slightly raised so it can dry between uses. A removable plug makes the hollow interior easy to rinse out, and the dish can also hold a sponge, jewelry, or other small countertop essentials.

A hidden Spam can safe with a screw-off bottom compartment

BigMouth SPAM Hidden Safe

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Stash small valuables inside what looks like an ordinary can of Spam, with a hidden compartment concealed beneath the screw-off bottom. The weighted replica is designed to feel like a full can when picked up, while the interior can hold cash, jewelry, keys, and other small items. You can place it among pantry goods where its appearance doesn't immediately reveal what's inside.

Fine-tip glitter markers with fade-resistant ink

HOTU Glitter Markers Pen，12 Glitter Colors Paint Pens Sparkly Metallic Shimmer Acrylic Marker Fine Point Tip 0.7mm Water-based Ink for Kids Adults DIY Crafts Greeting Birthday Cards

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A little shimmer can make handwritten cards, journals, and craft projects stand out, and this set of glitter pens gives you plenty of options. It includes 12 colors with water-based, fade-resistant ink and fine tips. The markers work on paper, wood, glass, fabric, and other surfaces, while the anti-roll caps help keep them from wandering across your desk.

A retro Apple Watch stand that works with every model

elago Apple Watch Stand

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Throw it back to the ‘90s with this Apple Watch stand that looks like a miniature Game Boy. This silicone stand works with every Apple Watch from Series 1 through Series 11, including SE models, and supports nightstand mode while protecting the watch from scratches. You'll still use your own charging cable, but it hides inside the stand.

Ceramic & glass mini vase magnets for refrigerators

Cacukap Mini Ceramic Vase Magnets (8-Pack)

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Turn your refrigerator or another magnetic surface into a tiny display for flowers or plant cuttings with this set of eight miniature vase magnets. Six are made from ceramic and two are made from glass, with each having a built-in magnet for holding notes, photos, or other lightweight items. The waterproof construction also lets you use the tiny containers with small amounts of water for fresh stems.

A ceramic wax warmer with a removable wax dish

Candeldo Wax Melt Warmer

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This ceramic cat wax melt warmer is interesting enough to leave on display. It uses a 25-watt halogen bulb to warm wax melts, and it comes with an extra replacement bulb so you have another ready when needed. The removable dish makes swapping fragrances and cleaning out cooled wax much simpler, while the cutout design lets a soft glow shine through the ceramic.

Smiley face key covers made with flexible vinyl

Uniclife Smiley Face Key Caps (24-Pack)

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When all your keys look identical, colorful key caps save you from trying every one in the lock. This 24-pack includes eight colors with three smiley-face covers in each shade, fitting standard flat key heads around 1 inch wide. The flexible vinyl stretches over the key without cracking, stays put, and also helps protect the key head from scratches and dirt.

An automatic dinosaur soap dispenser with a fast sensor

Fusunloh Automatic Soap Dispenser

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Getting soap without touching a pump is convenient, and this dinosaur-shaped dispenser adds an automatic sensor that releases foam in about 0.2 seconds. The 10-ounce reservoir is rechargeable, offers three foam settings, and can run for up to 90 days on a charge. It's compatible with foaming soap or diluted liquid soap, and the built-in 15-second timer provides a visual reminder for longer handwashing.

A cat paw pill organizer with 3 compartments

Maobuli Cat Paw Travel Pill Organizer

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This travel pill organizer sneaks in a little fun with a raised cat paw on the lid. The compact case has three separate compartments to keep pills, vitamins, or even small jewelry organized, and the slim shape slips easily into a pocket or bag. A silicone seal and secure buckle help keep moisture out, while the lid is designed to open with just one hand.

Concrete bookends with built-in faux succulents

MyGift Concrete Bookends with Artificial Succulents (1 Pair)

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These concrete bookends double as décor, especially with built-in artificial succulents that add a little unexpected greenery. The weighted concrete construction keeps heavy books upright, while nonslip pads help keep everything in place. Each bookend measures about 3.6 by 3.8 by 5.3 inches, making them easy to fit onto most shelves or desks.

Colorful wall hooks with a peel-&-stick backing

RELABTABY Adhesive Hooks (6 Pieces)

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These adorable cat-shaped adhesive hooks look like tiny cats peeking over the edge of whatever they're holding. The six-pack comes in different colors, so they aren’t so matchy-matchy. They're handy for coats, keys, towels, bags, scarves, and hats, and the peel-and-stick backing means you can put them up without pulling out a toolbox.

A bendable 10-foot mushroom string light with 30 LEDs

Coquimbo Mushroom String Lights

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If your garden or indoor space could use a little extra light, check out these mushroom string lights. The string features 30 miniature mushroom-shaped LEDs on a flexible copper-wire strand that’s about 10 feet long. It runs on three AA batteries, which can provide about 40 hours of use, and the bendable wire makes it easy to shape around furniture.

A toilet tank bank that saves up to 0.8 gallons per flush

Niagara Conservation Water Saving Toilet Tank Bank

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You can reduce the amount of water used by an older, non-high-efficiency toilet by placing this water-saving toilet tank bank inside the tank. Fill the bag with water, snap it closed, and hang it in the tank, where it displaces water so less is used with each flush. The manufacturer says it can save up to 0.8 gallons per flush, and the anti-evaporation closure means you don't need to refill the bag.

Reusable pill trackers stick directly onto bottles

TAKE-N-SLIDE Peel-and-Stick Medicine Reminder (2-Pack)

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Remembering whether you already took today's medication can be hard, which is why these peel-and-stick medicine reminders are a huge help. The slim reminders stick directly onto pill bottles and use a simple sliding tab to mark whether today's dose has been taken. The two-pack can be moved from bottle to bottle through more than a dozen refills.

A polyresin tentacle door handle that comes with hardware

Octopus Door Handle – Unique Tentacle Design, Heavy Duty Pull, 6.49 x 1.4 x 2.13", Bronze Finish, Ergonomic Handle, Premium Polyresin, Durable & Non-Deformable, 4 Screws, Fits Various Doors & Drawers

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You can swap a standard cabinet, drawer, or door pull for this whimsical octopus-shaped handle. Made from polyresin with an antique bronze finish, it has a tentacle design that works well on furniture, cabinets, closets, sheds, and other doors. The set includes four screws for installation, so you can replace an existing pull without needing additional hardware.

Hanging hand towels with an absorbent terry cloth weave

Miss Adola Cotton Hanging Hand Towels (2-Pack)

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Keep a hand towel within reach without leaving it bunched on the counter with these 100% cotton terry cloth towels. The two-pack features colorful floral prints and a hook-and-loop hanging loop that attaches around a cabinet handle, hook, or other convenient spot. The terry weave is designed to absorb water.

Kindle & phone charging port charms for USB-C ports

Romukuku Type C Port Charms (8-Pack)

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Charging ports can collect pocket lint, but these decorative port charms help keep that from happening while adding a little bling to your device. The eight-piece set fits USB-C ports on Kindles and compatible smartphones, with butterfly, bow, flower, and star designs that are easy to swap whenever you feel like changing them.

A 3-piece onigiri & musubi mold set with 2 triangle sizes

TAORISH Onigiri Mold (3-Pack)

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This three-piece onigiri mold set includes two triangle molds in different sizes, one musubi press, and a rice ladle. The plastic molds have a textured interior and press surface designed to make the rice easier to release. You can use them for onigiri, musubi, sushi rice cakes, and other shaped rice snacks without having to form each one by hand.

Pearl car headrest hooks with a 44-pound load support

LVBRT Car Seat Headrest Hooks (2-Pack)

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Turn the unused space behind your car's headrest into a spot for hanging purses, grocery bags, umbrellas, or jackets with these two car seat headrest hooks. Each reinforced stainless steel hook supports up to 44 pounds, while the pearl covering helps keep the metal from scratching the headrest posts.

Banana-shaped shoe deodorizers that last up to 12 months

Boot Bananas Original Shoe Deodorizers

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Slip these banana-shaped deodorizers into sneakers, boots, cleats, slippers, or gym shoes to absorb moisture and neutralize odors between wears. They use natural salts, minerals, plant extracts, and essential oils, including lavender, lemon, patchouli, and tea tree. Each deodorizer lasts between six and 12 months and gradually changes from yellow to brown when it's time for a replacement.

A best-selling stitch tool for quick clothing repairs

Scopck Handheld Stitch Gun

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Use this best-selling handheld stitch tool for quick repairs, hemming, and alterations when pulling out a sewing machine feels like too much work. The set includes one stitch tool, six stainless steel needles, 1,000 black fasteners, and 1,000 white fasteners, with each fastener measuring 5 millimeters. It's designed for fabrics including denim, wool, linen, and polyester, and can also secure patches or adjust curtains.

Color-changing packets for campfires & fire pits

MEKER Fire Color Changing Packets (12-Pack)

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Change the look of a wood-burning fire by tossing one to three unopened color-changing packets directly into the flames. The 12-pack produces colors including purple, red, green, and blue, with each packet designed to burn for an extended period. You can use them in outdoor fire pits, bonfires, campfires, and traditional indoor fireplaces, but they're not intended for propane or artificial gas log pits.

A 3-pack of gluten-free dill pickle corn puffs

Vlasic Pickle Balls (3-Pack)

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If you’re a pickle fan, these dill pickle corn puffs are right up your alley. You get three individual 2-ounce bags of crunchy corn puffs with dill pickle flavor. They're gluten-free and made as a pickle-flavored snack rather than actual pieces of pickle. The snack is also associated with the Association of Pickleball Players, making the packaging especially on-theme.

Agate bead curtain tiebacks with a magnetic closure

PEDOBO Magnetic Curtain Tiebacks (2-Pack)

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Pull curtains back without installing hooks or drilling into the wall with these magnetic tiebacks. The two-pack uses strong magnets to hold the fabric in place, while colorful natural agate beads add detail along the cord. The magnetic closure also makes it easy to open and reposition them.

Colorful bike spoke decorations that clip right on

MINI-FACTORY Bike Wheel Spoke Decorations (24 Pieces)

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This set of 24 bike wheel spoke decorations lets you add some fun and color to a bike’s spokes without reaching for any tools. The set includes colorful flower and butterfly shapes that snap onto most standard bicycle spokes. The plastic pieces are designed for outdoor use and can be clipped on or removed whenever you want to change the arrangement.

A rechargeable toaster-shaped lamp with a built-in timer

QANYI Toaster Lamp

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Use this toaster-shaped LED lamp as a small bedside light, desk lamp, or night-light without keeping it plugged into an outlet. The ABS lamp has a built-in USB-rechargeable battery and can be moved around as needed after charging. Available in multiple colors, its non-flashing LED provides a soft, even glow.

An arcade-style light switch plate that’s easy to install

GAMERIEND Arcade Light Switch Plate Cover

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You can replace a standard rocker switch plate with this one-gang arcade light version, which uses two arcade-style buttons to control the switch underneath. Installation doesn't require electrical wiring; just remove the existing faceplate and attach the new one with the included screws. It's designed specifically for flat rocker-style switches, not toggle switches.

Silicone popsicle holders that catch drips

MORLIKE LIVING Silicone Popsicle and Ice Cream Holders with Travel Case (4-Pack)

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Give kids a frozen treat without immediately reaching for a stack of napkins with these silicone drip catchers. The four-pack includes blue, pink, green, and yellow holders, each with openings for popsicle sticks. A bottom plug also opens to accommodate ice cream cones, and each holder comes with a clear travel case.

A reusable straw that disrupts the neurological reflex arc of hiccups

HICCAWAY Hiccup Straw

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This reusable blue hiccup straw is a magical (and scientific) way to get rid of hiccups. Use it with a shallow glass of water, choosing the adult or child setting before taking a forceful sip and swallowing. Repeat two to three times to disrupt the neurological reflex arc of hiccups. It’s made from BPA-free material, is dishwasher-safe, and compact enough to carry in a bag or pocket.

14-inch wood log pillows with removable covers

HYSEAS Tree Stump Throw Pillow Cushions (2-Pack)

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You can use these realistic-looking tree stump throw pillows as seat cushions, lumbar support, or neck pillows. The two-pack measures about 14 inches in diameter, with removable polyester microfiber covers and resilient sponge inserts. The covers have invisible zippers for removal and can be hand- or machine-washed. As one reviewer wrote, “They're the perfect little stump pillows, and I'm gonna use them on my yoga mat to meditate.”

A water-resistant squirrel picnic table feeder for the outside

Gnodry Squirrel Feeder with Umbrella

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Give backyard squirrels their own miniature picnic table, complete with an umbrella and space for food. The umbrella comes in 10 colors, including one multi-color option. Its screw-secured frame and reinforced backboard are designed for outdoor use, and the wood is heat-treated to create a water-resistant surface without paint.

A double-walled cocktail tumbler that keeps drinks cold for 6 hours

magcheer Cocktail Tumbler

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Sip this 16-ounce stainless steel cocktail tumbler from multiple angles thanks to its 320-degree lid, or use the included straw when that's easier. Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps drinks cold for up to 6 hours, while the silicone center grip gives you a steadier hold. Available in multiple colors, it also has a silicone base to keep it from sliding.

Shower steamers that include real herbs & essential oils

EUSEMIA Shower Steamers (Set of 12)

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Turn a regular shower into a more aromatic one with these 12 shower steamers, which come in six scents: lavender, lemon, vanilla, rosemary, ocean and rose. Each fragrance comes in a two-piece pack, and the tablets contain real herbs and essential oils. To use one, place it away from the strongest stream of water so it dissolves gradually as the shower runs.

A toilet paper stamp that adds a smiley face to each roll

BURU SOLUTIONS Toilet Paper Stamp

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This toilet paper stamp adds a fun little detail to any roll. The little stamp attaches to a faucet, and after it’s moistened, one quick stamp adds a smiley face. You can also choose from several other designs, including a star, anchor, sailboat, and eagle. The stamp is great for bathrooms at home, rentals, hotels, or staged spaces.

Cat-themed AirPods stickers that are easy to align

RockMax Earbuds Stickers

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Give your AirPods and charging case a black cat design without adding any bulk with these earbud stickers. They’re compatible with AirPods 1 through 4 and AirPods Pro models, and they come pre-installed on an applicator to help with alignment. In addition to cats, you can also choose from six other animals.

A talc-free sand remover for hands, feet & legs

SHAKALO Sand Removal Bag

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Brush sand off your skin before getting into the car with this microfiber sand remover pouch. Instead of using loose powder, you pat the bag to release the talc-free sand remover and wipe it over your hands, feet, or legs. It's designed to work on dry sand and can also help with wet sand. The pouch has a zip closure and is small enough to keep in a car or beach bag.

A tomato-shaped microfiber bath mat with nonslip backing

FROZZUR Bath Mat

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This tomato-shaped bath mat provides a soft spot to stand after a shower or while standing in the kitchen. The plush polyester microfiber material absorbs water and helps protect the floor from drips, while the latex backing helps keep the mat from sliding. When it needs cleaning, you can toss it into the washing machine with cold water and mild detergent. Choose from 13 total fruit designs.

Mints with 40 milligrams of natural caffeine

Neuro Energy & Focus Mints (90 Count)

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This bag of energy and focus mints contains 90 of them, each formulated with 40 milligrams of natural caffeine, 60 milligrams of L-theanine, and vitamins B6 and B12. The compact format gives you an alternative to carrying a drink when you want caffeine on hand. Choose from three flavors: peppermint, spearmint, and wintergreen.

A 2-slot hot dog toaster with mini tongs & a drip tray

Nostalgia Hot Dog & Bun Toaster

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You can toast up to two regular-size or extra-plump hot dogs and two buns at the same time with this countertop toaster. The included hot dog cage and mini tongs make removing the cooked dogs easier, and a slide-out drip tray catches messes for cleanup. The 34-inch cord wraps underneath the base for storage.

Animal-shaped paper clips with 4.7 stars

Mr. Pen Animal-Shaped Paper Clips (30 Pieces)

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This 30-piece set of animal-shaped metal paper clips comes in assorted colors and is packaged in a clear organizer. They're sized for everyday papers, but you can also use them as bookmarks, calendar markers, scrapbook pieces, or photo and envelope clips. With an overall rating of 4.7 stars on Amazon, these paperclips are a simple way to add a little more fun to your office.

A 3-tier wall shelf that can hold just over 9 pounds per tier

SweetSage Fire Escape Wall Shelf

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Turn an empty wall into storage with this three-tier shelf designed to resemble a New York-style fire escape. Each carbon steel shelf measures 11.8 by 4.14 by 2.52 inches and can support just over 9 pounds. The set includes three shelves and three ladder pieces, plus screws and additional adhesive screws for smooth surfaces such as glass, tile, marble, and metal.

Folding scissors with keychain clips for everyday cutting jobs

ATIVERE Folding Scissors (2-Pack)

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With this set of two folding scissors, you can always have a pair on hand. Each stainless steel pair has a keychain attachment, the blades tuck inside the handles, and the curved tips give the scissors a more compact shape for carrying. They’re designed for everyday cutting jobs, from opening packages and trimming craft supplies to handling fishing line while traveling.

A Volkswagen T1 Bus tissue box cover with a convenient zipper

BRISA VW Bus Tissue Box Cover

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Turn an ordinary tissue box into a Volkswagen T1 Bus with this tissue box cover. A zipper opens the holder, so you can remove the cardboard tissue box and place the tissues directly inside. The splash-resistant cover is made from 80% neoprene and 20% polyester and can be hand-washed. The bus comes in six design options.

A 3-piece golf pen set with its own mini course

NALAKUVARA Golf Pen Set

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This pen set includes three golf club-shaped gel pens in black, blue, and red, along with two tiny golf balls, a miniature flagstick, and a small putting green box. The pens work as everyday writing tools, while the miniature setup gives you something golf-themed to fiddle with when you need a break from work or life.

A 13-by-10-inch LED drawing board with 6 lighting modes

LUMIBOARD LED Drawing Board

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This LED drawing board offers an acrylic drawing surface with eight RGB colors and six lighting modes, including single-color, breathing, colorful, jump, dazzle, and neon effects. The set also includes two tabletop stands, a cleaning cloth, a spray bottle, tracing paper, and hardware for hanging the board on a wall. “Has a lot of lighting functions we didn't even know about! We loved it!” raved one reviewer.

Clever cookie holders that can hold up to 4 Oreos

Kitchen Discovery Cup Cookie Holders (2-Pack)

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Hook this bright red plastic holder over a mug or glass and keep cookies within dunking distance instead of on a separate plate. The two-piece set is dishwasher-safe and can hold up to four Oreos. Beyond cookies, you can use it for crackers alongside soup, biscotti with coffee, marshmallows for hot chocolate, or even a used tea bag.

A 12-piece set of eucalyptus leaf shower hooks with a secure closure

Gibelle Shower Curtain Hooks (12 Pieces)

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Give a basic bathroom fixture a little more visual interest with this 12-pack of metal shower curtain rings decorated with eucalyptus-style leaves. The hooks are designed to fit most standard shower rods and slide along the rod when you open or close the curtain. Their rust-resistant metal construction makes them safe for the damp bathroom environment, while the secure closure keeps the curtain attached.

A dachshund-shaped ice mold with a built-in funnel

Nax Caki Dachshund Ice Cube Mold

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If you’re going to use ice cubes in your cocktails, they might as well be shaped like Dachshunds. This ice cube mold has a built-in funnel that gives you a designated opening for filling, while the silicone makes it easier to release the frozen shape once it has set. The company sells a selection of other dog breeds as well, including a golden retriever, corgi, and bulldog.

Felt toilet paper roll covers for extra bathroom decor

Hoolerry Toilet Paper Roll Covers (6-Pack)

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Give your extra toilet rolls an elevated look with this six-pack of toilet paper roll covers. The covers are made from felt and slip right over a toilet paper roll. They’re intended to turn a standard bathroom supply into something more decorative. Each cover has a different pink floral design, but other designs are also available for purchase if you prefer.

A wireless Bluetooth Coca-Cola-themed speaker

Gabba Goods Coca-Cola Bottle-Shaped Bluetooth Speaker

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This wireless speaker is designed to look like a Coca-Cola bottle, with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, an AUX input, and a wireless range of up to 30 feet. You can control the volume from your connected device, while the built-in bass system handles music and other audio. It’s essentially a small speaker wearing a very recognizable bottle costume.

Reusable fruit-shaped grocery bags that are water-repellant

The Little Green Change Reusable Fruit Grocery Bags (5-Pack)

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This five-pack of reusable shopping bags is shaped like a strawberry, grape, pineapple, kiwi, and carrot, with each bag measuring 15 by 22.8 inches. The lightweight bags fold down for storage and have sturdy handles. They’re machine washable, water-repellent, and built to last through countless loads of groceries.

Silicone can lids for keeping bugs & dirt out

Hoimoto Silicone Soda Can Lids (6-Pack)

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This silicone lid can cover the entire top of a standard or slim drink can, helping keep dust, sand, and other debris out between sips. The six-pack comes in assorted colors, so you can also use different shades to keep track of whose drink is whose. Made from food-grade silicone, the covers are washable and dishwasher-safe.

A weighted cat paper towel holder crafted from cast iron

Wallcharmers Paper Towel Holder

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This gold paper towel holder is shaped like a stretching cat and handles the basic job of holding a roll. The cast iron design stands 18.6 inches tall and has a weighted base to keep it grounded when you tear off a sheet. It doubles as a toilet paper roll, making the tall, hand-brushed metal cat useful beyond the kitchen.

Cute flip-flop towel clips designed for beach chairs

Performore Flip Flop Beach Towel Clips (2-Pack)

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Secure your towel to a beach chair or pool lounger using this pack of two flip-flop-shaped clips. The clips are made from lightweight plastic and open wide enough to accommodate thicker towels. They come in 10 bright color options, and they can be repurposed around the house for closing snack or pet food bags or hanging swimsuits. Reviewers love them so much, they’ve awarded them with an overall score of 4.8 stars.

Black cat car coasters with finger notches for easy removal

Yonlevres Car Coasters (2-Pack)

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A black cat peeking through flowers gives these two rubber car cup coasters a sweet little personality. Each coaster fits most standard cup holders in cars, SUVs, trucks, and vans. The soft rubber surface is waterproof and designed to resist slipping, while finger notches make the coasters easy to remove for wiping down.

A decorative heart & flower button cap set for Nintendo Switch 2

GeekShare Video Game Controller Cover Caps (7 Pieces)

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A few silicone decorations for your Nintendo Switch 2 controls can also change the feel of the buttons and joysticks. The set includes ABXY button caps, one D-pad cap, two joystick caps, and a sheet of stickers with heart and flower designs. The soft silicone has a nonslip texture for added grip during play.

While The Odyssey just reminded us that some stories are timeless, it’s very much an exception to the rule. The work of nearly every writer, actor, and director has a lifespan, and most of those lifespans aren’t much longer than those of their creators. Even Christopher Nolan had to reimagine The Odyssey for a contemporary audience, and one day, his approach will look old-fashioned too. That’s not a new revelation, but it was still remarkable when, 30 years ago today, one infamous debacle ended two of those long lives at once.

As Marx wrote, history repeats itself: first as Apocalypse Now, then as The Island of Dr. Moreau. The latter limped into theaters in 1996, took a critical drubbing, and dragged itself out of sight to perish in the cinematic wilderness. Both films star Marlon Brando, and both had productions so infamously troubled they inspired documentaries. But while Apocalypse Now overcame its challenges to become a haunting classic, Dr. Moreau is an obscure mess.

That’s a shame, because you can catch glimpses of the vision that drowned off the beaches of Australia. Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau tells the full story, but in short, a revolving door of co-stars eventually spat out Val Kilmer, who refused to get along with director Richard Stanley or anyone else. Stanley, already on thin ice with New Line Cinema, was fired and replaced with old Hollywood hand John Frankenheimer, who feuded with Kilmer, who feuded with Brando. Brando refused to learn his lines and would hole up in his trailer for hours as everyone else sweated through the jungle heat. It only got worse from there.

Into all of this came David Thewlis as Edward Douglas, a perpetually wild-eyed UN functionary who’s rescued from a plane crash by Dr. Montgomery (Kilmer) and taken to a remote island. There, Douglas discovers that Brando’s Moreau is making human-animal hybrids who worship him as a father and a god. Moreau’s goal is to elevate humanity to a more enlightened state, but his ambitions blind him to the fact that the animal side of his children is threatening to take charge.

Douglas stumbling across a llama-woman giving birth to a fresh monstrosity is a genuinely unsettling moment, and there are scenes in Moreau’s compound, like when Brando plays piano with the two-foot-four Nelson de la Rosa, where the doctor’s sad attempts to simulate family life have genuine pathos. But the film rushes through its first half, then falls apart in its second. Frankenheimer, appropriately, was stuck making a tortured hybrid, and whatever good ideas may have existed throughout various drafts, it ultimately becomes a movie about furries shooting machine guns.

Both Brando and Kilmer were dealing with personal issues — Kilmer blamed his behavior on a looming divorce, while Brando had recently lost a daughter to suicide. Kilmer brought a vivacious sleaze to Montgomery that showed why he was a star, but the legendary Brando, despite his inherent gravitas, only offered a pantomime of his famous Colonel Kurtz. Brando was panned for his performance, but frankly, he still deserved a fair bit of credit for gamely playing against grunting men in animal costumes. He’d make one more dud before bouncing back for The Score, which closed out the career of one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors.

A detached genius hiding out in his compound and refusing to accept the reality of his decline feels like an appropriate late-period role for Brando, but he wasn’t the only man to suffer through a nadir here. The Island of Dr. Moreau had so many things go wrong that no one asked what should have been the obvious question: did anyone want a new Moreau film?

Putting aside an obscure Soviet take on The Invisible Man and a cheapie Canadian production of The Shape of Things to Come, it had been 23 years since the last notable H.G. Wells adaptation, and that crack at Moreau wasn’t particularly good either. H.G. Wells helped create science fiction as we know it, and his bibliography is a laundry list of influential ideas: The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, When the Sleeper Wakes. But while The Island of Doctor Moreau is a fascinating novel, it’s also a decidedly Victorian one.

The questions the 1896 book asks about the role of religion in society, the morality of science, and what it means to be human in a post-Darwinian world can all seem as old-fashioned as the 1996 movie tends to feel, and while these and other ideas from Wells’ oeuvre can certainly be updated for modern times, watching poor Fairuza Balk freak out as she becomes more cat-like wasn’t really the way to go about it. The Island of Dr. Moreau came out a month after Dolly was introduced to the world, but it seems like there’s a century between them.

Perhaps not coincidentally, it’s been slim pickings for Wells adaptations since 1996 — a lousy 2002 Time Machine movie, Paul Verhoeven’s contentious Hollow Man, and a variety of cheap Wars of the Worlds that culminated in last year’s infamous debacle from Amazon Prime and Ice Cube. The best of the bunch took only loose inspiration from the source material (Leigh Whannell’s 2020 Invisible Man) or found a contemporary angle (Spielberg’s Worlds oozes post-9/11 anxiety). No one’s taken a crack at Moreau again.

It takes a strong vision to make Wells work now, and many creators (and budgets) don’t seem up for the challenge. Watching The Island of Dr. Moreau therefore feels like you’re watching two titans fade into the mist together. We’ll always have their creations, and we live in a world they shaped, but to go back to when they were truly relevant, well, you’d need a time machine.

The Island of Dr. Moreau is available on YouTube.

Despite major box office wins for films like The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, this summer at the movies otherwise felt a little quiet. The projects that most assumed would be surefire successes — like, say, DC’s Supergirl, or The Mandalorian and Grogu — didn’t make nearly as big a splash as anticipated, making 2026 a subversive year for the world’s biggest franchises. And there’s sure to be more surprises as summer gives way to fall.

Blockbuster season may be reaching its end, but this year’s slate is heating up all the same. Superhero fans will get a bit of a lull until December, when Marvel returns with the latest Avengers film. Meanwhile, it’s a great time to be a fan of freaky horror fests, sticky psychological thrillers, and big performances not-so-subtly designed to put the Oscars on notice. Here are the 15 most exciting movies to keep on your radar this fall.

Onslaught

You can take the man out of The Guest, but you can’t take The Guest out of the man. Though director Adam Wingard has been making monster movies for the past five years, he still hasn’t forgotten the film that put him on the map. His latest film, Onslaught, is a stealthy sequel to The Guest, set in the same world where super-soldiers are trained up to be unstoppable murdering machines — it just so happens to tackle that tale from a more ambitious angle. Adria Arjona is a retired Army sniper who has to protect her young daughter from a squad of super-soldiers turned loose on the local population. Dan Stevens, who starred in The Guest, returns to this world (albeit under unrecognizable prosthetics) as the scientist responsible for these genetic experiments, adding a wild meta twist to what could be the season’s most exciting actioner.

Release date: Sept. 4, 2026

Hope

Alien invasion movies are back in a big way this year, and the weirdest of the bunch is finally set to hit theaters. After a mystifying debut at the Cannes Film Festival, Na Hong-jin’s Hope has been touted as the most “off the rails” thriller we’ll see this year. When an unidentified monster descends on Hope Harbor, a small village near the DMZ between South and North Korea, its ragtag residents are forced to band together against the unseen threat. The less that’s said about this first-contact story, the better — but it’s worth noting how much Na seems to revel in blood-soaked suspense and explosive, erratic action. As far as blockbusters go, Hope might stray a little far off the beaten path, but maybe that’s just what we need after so many glossy, big-budget films.

Release date: Sept. 9, 2026

Resident Evil

If Zach Cregger seemed like a good fit to helm the latest Resident Evil movie, it’s because he’s been stealthily paying tribute to the video game franchise for years now. With Barbarian and Weapons, the director expressed his affinity for grubby, gnarly body horror well enough — but this year, the floodgates will truly open. Cregger’s Resident Evil is set within the world of the games (its closest frame of reference is Resident Evil 2) but exists just outside of them. The film follows a hapless courier (Austin Abrams) as he heads into Raccoon City, totally oblivious to the fact that a mysterious outbreak has turned half the town into zombies. Sadly, Leon Kennedy won’t be around to save anyone, forcing our hero on a harrowing (and hilarious) journey to escape the biohazard before it’s too late.

Release date: Sept. 18, 2026

Primetime

Ask anyone about Robert Pattinson in 2026, and they’ll say he’s been on a generational (if meme-worthy) run. The actor hasn’t been idle in the years following his turn as the Dark Knight in Matt Reeves’ The Batman — after great performances in The Drama and The Odyssey, his hot streak shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, the best is still to come: This fall, just before appearing in Dune: Part Three, Pattinson will star as reporter Chris Hansen in Primetime. The A24 film might be the most fascinating true-crime thriller to date, as it follows Hansen’s rise to fame helming Dateline’s landmark series To Catch a Predator. If you’ve seen the documentary based on the same show, Predators, you know Hansen’s crusade might have done a bit of harm in its quest to clean up the streets. Primetime will dig even deeper into Hansen’s mind and motivations, dramatizing his rise and fall with an all-star cast and an equally stellar team behind the camera.

Release date: Sept. 25, 2026

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother

It’s been a devastating few years for those eager to see Mahershala Ali’s take on Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Oscar-winning actor was attached to revive Marvel’s beloved Daywalker since 2019 and spent the better part of the 2020s trying to get a Blade reboot off the ground. After the departure of two directors, five screenwriters, and countless thrown-out concepts, Ali finally put the project to rest earlier this year. That we might not ever see his version of Blade is a disappointment that could have easily been prevented — but this fall we’ll get a major consolation prize in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. The crime thriller unites Ali with Bassam Tariq, who was originally set to direct Blade, on an original tale about a hit man struggling to provide for his family after losing his wife. With costars like Giancarlo Esposito, John Cho, and Tramell Tillman, Your Mother might be the film we truly deserved instead of Blade. If nothing else, at least Ali will put his newfound sword skills to good use.

Release date: Sept. 25, 2026

Digger

If Tom Cruise never starred in anything other than Top Gun sequels and new Mission: Impossibles for the rest of his days, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Those movies are great, and give the death-defying actor myriad reasons to tempt fate. That said, he’s also one of the greatest of his generation: It’s important to remember that he can actually hold his own in a “serious” drama. Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, casts Cruise as the most powerful man in the world — but that power has also, incidentally, thrown the world in abject peril. Somehow he caused a large iceberg to break away from its post in Greenland; now it’s headed for Europe, inciting a tsunami that could destroy the world. Digger has little time to reverse the damage he caused before it’s too late, but the path to redemption will likely be filled with the same twists and turns that made Iñárritu’s Birdman so unmissable.

Release date: Oct. 2, 2026

The Social Reckoning

Nobody asked for a “companion” to David Fincher’s The Social Network, but by Jove, we’re getting one anyway. Writer-director Aaron Sorkin insists that “it’s time to say more” about Facebook and its controversial founder, Mark Zuckerberg, and so he’s pulling double duty for The Social Reckoning. The follow-up explores the buildup and subsequent fallout of the “Facebook Files,” a tell-all published by The Wall Street Journal that aired out the platform’s harmful practices in 2021. Jeremy Strong takes the baton as late-fame Zuckerberg, so at the very least we know we’re getting a legendary performance out of the Succession alum.

Release date: Oct. 9, 2026

Street Fighter

Is 2026 sneakily the year of the fighting-game adaptations? This past spring, the Mortal Kombat franchise delivered its latest offering — and this fall, its fiercest rival, Street Fighter, will get its first live-action film in 30 years. This adaptation leans a great deal zanier than the Street Fighter we got in the ’90s, but therein lies its charm. From its sprawling cast (which includes Warrior’s Andrew Koji, wrestling superstars, and even a musician or two) to its candy-colored visuals, Kitao Sakurai’s Street Fighter is boasting plenty of style. As for substance, well... do we really need that from Street Fighter? This remake could be the turn-your-brain-off fun that’s largely been missing from theaters this year; bonus points if it also does justice to the games.

Release date: Oct. 16, 2026

Whalefall

Austin Abrams is the kind of actor who seemingly loves playing guys who get into Situations. He’s reteaming with Zach Cregger — the director who put him through the wringer in last year’s Weapons — for Resident Evil, but that’s just one of his ordeals this fall. Later comes Whalefall, a story that feels a bit more harrowing than a zombie outbreak, if only because it’s slightly more plausible. Abrams is Jay, an amateur deep-sea diver who heads into the ocean to search for his late father’s (Josh Brolin, another Weapons alum) remains. He gets much more than he bargained for when he’s caught in a scuffle between a giant squid and a hungry sperm whale. When the whale swallows the squid, Jay gets caught up with it; with only an hour of oxygen left in his tank, our hero has to scramble to escape from the belly of the whale... if that’s even possible.

Release date: Oct. 16, 2026

Clayface

Supergirl might not have met DC’s expectations at the box office this summer, but James Gunn and Peter Safran aren’t wavering from their overarching plan for the franchise — whatever that may be. Next up on the slate is the DCU’s wildest offering to date: a straight-up horror movie set in Gotham City, with one of Batman’s oldest villains taking the spotlight. Clayface traces the origins of Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harris), an acclaimed actor who turns to bleeding-edge science when his face is disfigured in an attack. Brilliant as the scientist (Naomi Ackie) treating him may be, her methods eventually turn him into something unrecognizable. With a script by Mike Flanagan and horror director James Watkins at the helm, Clayface will represent a first for DC in many intriguing ways.

Release date: Oct. 23, 2026

Klara and the Sun

Kazuo Ishiguro’s seminal sci-fi novel Klara and the Sun is kind of the perfect story for someone like Taika Waititi to adapt. The book follows the adventures of an “Artificial Friend” — one of many androids available for purchase in the dystopian near-future — who’s adopted by a domineering mother and her sickly daughter. As the strife between mom Chrissie and daughter Josie unfurls, Klara decides to ask the sun for help healing the family. A sweet fable unspools into something a little bleaker, and a lot more mature, than most might have expected. In a way, it’s a fitting companion to Waititi’s Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit, which used its prickly historical context to tell a fairly sweet coming-of-age story. Don’t let the cheeky Star Wars references fool you: Waititi’s Klara might be just as devastating as the book it’s based on. There may be some laughs in store, but Jenna Ortega’s naive AF will likely stay close to the source material to deliver the emotional gut punch fans are expecting.

Release date: Oct. 23, 2026

Wildwood

Laika has kept details about Wildwood tightly under wraps, but with its first trailer, we’ve got a few new reasons to get excited about the film. The stop-motion studio has touted Wildwood as its most ambitious story yet, and it’s easy to see why. The film follows Prue (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a young girl who lives at the border of the titular forest. When her baby brother disappears, she sets off to rescue him, only to come face-to-face with Alexandra (Carey Mulligan), a mysterious woman who hails from that wild wood. Alexandra is mourning the loss of her young son — and from what we see in the Wildwood trailer, she might be using Prue’s brother to fill that void. Prue’s efforts to get him back will involve some dark magic, a sprawling battle, and plenty of stunning visuals from a studio that never fails to outdo itself.

Release date: Oct. 23, 2026

Godzilla Minus Zero

Godzilla might have been thwarted at the end of Godzilla Minus One, but it won’t be that easy to get rid of the classic monster. Director Takashi Yamazaki is back to pit his brave heroes against Godzilla once more, this time in Japan’s first film shot exclusively for IMAX screens. Godzilla Minus Zero picks up a few years after the titular kaiju was seemingly defeated by a thermonuclear blast in Minus One. He’s set to emerge stronger than ever now — but with the introduction of Kanji Murakami (Min Tanaka), a biologist keen to conduct an experiment or two on old ’Zilla, the monster’s return might be the least of anyone’s worries.

Release date: Nov. 6, 2026

How to Rob a Bank

If there’s one subgenre that never gets old, it’s the Hollywood heist. From Ocean’s Eleven to The Italian Job, there’s something intoxicating about a classic, well-planned caper — though director David Leitch is about to take a hatchet to the formula. His latest, How to Rob a Bank, reinterprets the cat-and-mouse game between cops and robbers for the doomscrolling generation. Nicholas Hoult is a streamer who, alongside his merry band of outlaws, broadcasts robberies live to entertain the masses. With a skilled hacker (Zoë Kravitz) hot on his trail, however, his fun may soon come to an end — but with a premise this wacky, our fun is just beginning.

Release date: Nov. 13, 2026

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

As much of a phenomenon as the Hunger Games films were in the 2010s, no one could have predicted that the saga would continue to bear fruit a decade later. Shockingly, though, the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes recently got its second wind: Author Suzanne Collins has been penning prequels to Katniss Everdeen’s dystopian misadventures, and this November, we’ll get a big-screen adaptation of her latest book. Sunrise on the Reaping depicts the 50th Hunger Games, which brought Katniss’ future mentor, Haymitch, to the world stage. His Games (also known as the Second Quarter Quell) were infamously bloody: With twice the number of children drafted into this battle royale, there was also double the carnage. Sunrise on the Reaping might be the most devastating installment of this saga thus far — but with visuals borrowed from something like Midsommar, it could easily be the most dynamic, too.

Release date: Nov. 20, 2026

Who says you have to drop a fortune to live your best bougie life? Amazon’s packed with hidden gems that look and feel way more expensive than they are—no trust fund required. From sleek kitchen gadgets to plush home upgrades, these finds have racked up thousands of glowing reviews for a reason. And the best part? They’re all budget-friendly. So if you're ready to elevate your everyday without emptying your wallet, these highly rated, surprisingly affordable picks are about to become your new obsession.

An under-desk cable management hider that reduces clutter

EVEO Cable Management Strip

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Exposed wires can make your home look messy and cluttered. That’s why you need this cable organizer that’s designed with adhesives so it can be attached to various surfaces like on furniture. It can be placed under or behind your desk to keep cords off of the floor and out of sight. It’s an easy and affordable upgrade that’ll make your home look so much better.

This outlet concealer that solves your plug problems

Sleek Socket Ultra-Thin Outlet Concealer

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When the only outlet in the room is in the wrong place, this outlet concealer makes it easy to move the power and hide the ugly. Plug it into the outlet and run the 3-foot cord to a better spot. Instead of two badly placed plugs, you now have three plugs that are exactly where you want them. It comes in 10 configurations if you need a longer cord, more plugs, or a splitter.

Elegant dinner plates that rival the fancy brands

AmorArc Ceramic Dinner Plates (Set of 6)

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Dress your table in this beautiful, minimalist set of dinner plates to make every meal more elegant. The organic shape and stoneware texture give them a beautiful understated charm that will make every meal fancy. They come in seven colors and you can choose matching small plates to go with them.

A long garden pathway made from cedar wood

RELIANCER Wooden Garden Pathway

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Create a walkway through your garden, yard, or really any other outdoor space with this wooden pathway. It’s made from 100% cedar wood, and the individual planks are connected with dual rows of rope and spacers for maximum durability. At 8 feet in length, this pick covers a large area.

A clear protector that shields your table from everyday wear & tear

Warmstar Clear Table Cover Protector

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Instead of subjecting your expensive table to the everyday scourge of scratches, heat rings, and other damage, cover it with this protector. The clear design blends in seamlessly and still let you see the natural wood grain, while shielding the surface from wear. It comes in tons of sizes (more than 150), so you’re sure to find one that fits the dimensions of your table.

A compartmentalized kitchen sink caddy with smart drainage

Cisily Kitchen Sink Caddy

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Position this stainless steel caddy next to your kitchen sink, and the sloped design will allow water drips to flow right back into it, preventing it from pooling. The caddy has three separate storage sections to organize everything from hand soap to cleaning sponges, and more.

A waterproof mat to protect your washing machine or dryer

Garolue Washer and Dryer Top Protector Mat

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Crafted from thick, waterproof silicone with an all-around raised rim, this protective mat fits perfectly on your washer or dryer, creating a handy spot for your laundering essentials. Give it a wipe down whenever spills happen — it guards against scratches and dents, too.

An industrial-chic vertical rack for storing shoes

AZERPIAN 7-Tier Shoe Rack

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Finally: A shoe rack you won’t mind putting on display. With seven tiers in a rustic-chic combination of dark imitation wood and black pipe, this pick keeps your daily pairs stored in a narrow footprint with a modern aesthetic worthy of your West Elm. You can even remove one tier to create a taller space for, say, keeping a pair of boots.

Low-cost flower wall stickers for a whimsical upgrade

wondever Flower Wall Stickers

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Change up the entire look of a room for low cost and low effort thanks to these whimsical flower wall stickers. The decals have an adhesive backing to stick in place on practically any smooth, dry surface, and they’re waterproof by design, so even humidity won’t peel them.

Fridge liners that keep shelves clean and looking brand-new

AKINLY Fridge Liners (9-Pack)

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With over 15,000 positive reviews, these cut-to-fit refrigerator liners make cleaning spills and crumbs a breeze—just wipe or rinse them off, no scrubbing needed. The non-slip design grips shelves securely while the dotted top prevents food from sticking. Pre-cut for standard fridges but easy to trim for any space, they’re a simple, affordable way to keep your fridge fresh and organized.

A protective couch cover that’s machine washable

Tiwwie Pet Couch Cover

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Position this soft, fuzzy cover on your couch cushions to bring a textured element to the space but to also protect the surface against spills, pet scratches, and other potential damage. It won’t fade or pill over the years — it’s machine washable to keep it in top shape. Three sizes and several neutrals can be found in the listing.

Beautifully bougie wallpaper you peel & stick to install

Laatse Peel and Stick Floral Wallpaper

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This peel-and-stick wallpaper features a lovely floral pattern that’s visually striking and makes a great way to update any room — from the bathroom to the bedroom. There are several size options as well as various dark, bold patterns.

Snazzy pasta bowls in a budget-friendly 4-pack

AmorArc Ceramic Pasta Bowls (4-Pack)

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Enjoy your pasta meal in a bowl designed for the purpose. These large pasta bowls enhance spaghetti night by keeping sauce and pasta contained and looking beautiful. The soft, matte finish and organic shape make for a beautiful table, too. Choose from five colors.

A diatomite stone faucet mat with a near-perfect rating

DK177 Stone Faucet Mat

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Made from diatomite stone, this faucet mat is designed to keep your counter dry. It’s absorbent and dries within seconds to prevent water from accumulating around your faucet. It features deep grooves to absorb more water and to prevent items from slipping. It has a detachable design so it’s easy to install and remove to clean. Plus, it has an impressive 4.9-star rating.

A pumice stone that scrubs like magic

Powerstone Pumice Stone Toilet Bowl Cleaner

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Tough on grime but gentle on porcelain, this pumice stone toilet cleaner works better than a regular brush to remove stubborn stains and hard water marks. The handle makes scrubbing easy, and it comes with a storage kit, so it’s practical, mess-free, and surprisingly affordable.

Magnetic grill lights that let you keep the BBQ going after dark

Benicci Flexible LED BBQ Grill Lights

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These grill lights are the hack you need to make night BBQing easy. The gooseneck aims the light where you want it. The magnetic base clings firmly to the grill top or any metal surface. They are also handy to have on hand when you need to work on your car or otherwise need a flashlight that allows for hands-free work.

Backlit motion-sensor night-lights with dimming

AUVON Plug-in Backlit Night Light (2-Pack)

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A fan-favorite on Amazon, this pair of night-lights feature stepless dimming and a cool backlit design that casts a gentle glow. They sense both light and motion from up to about 16 feet.

Flameless candles that seriously enhance ambiance

Eywamage Flameless Candles (3-Pack)

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Enhance the ambiance in your home without risking a fire or worrying about wax dripping on the furniture by clicking the remote to turn on these flameless candles. They look just like the real thing but run on batteries and pose no risk. They will even turn themselves off at an interval you set so you can turn them on and forget them. They come in nine colors and patterns.

Silky-soft sheets that feel way pricier than they are

Danjor Linens Full Size Bed Sheets Set - 1800 Series 6 Piece Bedding Sheet & Pillowcases Sets w/ Deep Pockets - Fade Resistant & Machine Washable - Light Gray

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With over 150,000 reviews, these microfiber sheets are a budget-friendly way to upgrade your sleep. They’re silky, breathable, and wrinkle-resistant, plus you get two extra pillowcases compared to most sets. Available in every size from Twin to California King, they look and feel luxe without the designer price tag. Bonus: they’re machine washable, so no high-maintenance care required.

A breathable mattress pad that adds plush comfort without overheating

MATBEBY Quilted Fitted Mattress Topper

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With over 33,000 positive reviews, this quilted mattress pad makes your bed feel instantly cozier. Its fluffy polyester filling is designed to be both soft and supportive, giving your mattress a cushioned boost without feeling too thick. The breathable top layer helps prevent overheating, while deep pockets fit mattresses up to 21 inches thick—no slipping or sliding, no matter how much you toss and turn.

A quick-drying bath mat that will make your bathroom look way nicer

MontVoo Bath Mat Rug

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This minimalist bath mat absorbs water fast, so no more soggy rugs or damp floors. Its faux suede surface dries quickly and resists dirt and pet hair, while the rubber backing keeps it from slipping—even on wet tile. Plus, it’s thin enough to fit under doors and works anywhere that needs a little extra grip.

A clever wedge that stops pillows from falling into the abyss

Vekkia Headboard Bed Wedge Pillow

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This foam mattress gap filler closes that annoying space between your bed and headboard, so pillows, pets, and random objects stop disappearing. Made with high-density foam and a soft polyester cover, it adds comfort while keeping things in place. Plus, built-in side pockets stash your phone or remote within easy reach.

A dirt-trapping doormat that keeps floors cleaner for less

GRANNY SAYS Indoor Doormat

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This low-profile doormat handles everything from muddy boots to wet paws without looking worn down. Its polypropylene loop fleece grabs dirt and moisture as you step inside, while the non-slip backing keeps it in place. Easy to clean with a quick shake or vacuum, it’s also machine washable—making it a durable, low-maintenance way to keep your home tidy.

Stylish memory foam mats that make standing feel less brutal

StepRite Nonslip Kitchen Mats (Set of 2)

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This two-piece mat set cushions your feet with supportive memory foam that helps reduce pressure on your joints—perfect for long hours cooking, working, or folding laundry. Waterproof, stain-resistant, and easy to clean, they bounce back to shape after every use. Plus, the sleek, non-slip design looks far more expensive than it actually is.

Slide-out organizers that feel like a high-end upgrade but are so cheap

Ukeetap 2 Pack Multi-Purpose Pull-Out Storage Organizers, Under Sink Organizers and Storage for Bathroom & Kitchen, Under Cabinet Organizers and storage, 12.8 Inch, Black

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These under-sink organizers upgrade your kitchen or bathroom with a clean, streamlined look that feels more high-end than the price suggests. The slide-out design offers easy access to cleaning supplies and toiletries, while its durable construction holds up to daily use. Simple to assemble with no tools required, it’s a quick, affordable way to make your cabinets feel instantly more polished.

Handy prep bowls that look so pretty

COOK WITH COLOR Prep Bowls with Lids (Set Of 4)

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Enjoy everything from whipping up a salad dressing to storing leftovers by using this gorgeous set of prep bowls for every task. Each bowl is a different hue of the color you choose and there are 20 colors to choose from. The bowls nest for storage and have clear matching lids. “Love how these look but love how sturdy they are even more!” wrote one reviewer. “I’ve had them for months and use them constantly!”

A clever stair basket that makes it easy to tote things up & down

Gachiwar Stair Basket

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Reduce clutter — and prevent dashing up or down the stairs every time you want to put something back — by deploying this handy stair basket. Its L-shaped design fits like a Tetris piece onto your stairs so it’s nice and stable, and rope handles make it so easy to tote things up and down.

A cozy night-light inspired by a vintage mason jar

Autumn Alley Rustic Mini Mason Jar Night-Light

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If you’re longing for the coziness of a farmhouse kitchen, this night-light is the easiest way to get it. Shaped like a vintage mason jar, it lets off a warm glow that keeps the space lit up long after the last dish is done. Loaded with rustic charm, it’ll add an instant touch of charm.

A fascinating lamp that will impress the hell out of people

AUGE Rechargeable Wireless Light

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This rechargeable lamp has a magnetic LED filament that can be molded into different shapes with a shake and then made straight again. Its matte black finish adds a modern, high-end touch to any space, while three dimmable modes set the perfect mood. Lightweight and cordless, it works as a night-light, desk lamp, or portable accent piece, all powered by USB-C for easy, energy-efficient charging.

Flower-shaped furniture knobs that are max bougie

Redeam Flower Shape Brass Cabinet Knobs (4-Pack)

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A quick and easy way to make an impactful upgrade, these flower-shaped knobs are made of sturdy brass with a bougie polished finished. They instantly refresh kitchen cupboards, bathroom cabinets, dressers, and really anything with a knob. They come with screws of different lengths to make them simple to install on a variety of items.

Velvety pillow covers to complement any decor

Volcanics Decorative Throw Pillow Covers (2-Pack)

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Update your couch or bed with this velvety pillow covers. The pair comes in several sizes in the listing and lots of shades to match any decor. They feature hidden zippers for an elevated feel and they have an impressive 4.7-star overall rating on Amazon.

A distressed floral vase that looks like a vintage treasure

TEWEIQI Vintage Small Ceramic Vase

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Instead of a boring glass vessel, arrange your fresh-from-the-farmers-market bouquets in this charming ceramic vase. The floral print and distressed accents make it look like an antique store find, adding character to even simple carnations or pampas grass. Choose from two sizes to fit small and larger arrangements alike.

The solar string lights that transform outdoor spaces

Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered Outdoor String Lights

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Drape these solar powered outdoor string lights anywhere in your yard, on your deck, or amid your landscaping to illuminate your outdoor spaces without running wires. Place the solar panel so it soaks up the sun’s rays and put the 27 feet of lights anywhere you want. “These cafe lights are amazing!” said one reviewer. “They are easy to install, and provide beautiful soft lighting to my pool lanai.”

A 3-in-1 wireless charging stand for Apple devices

QKXC 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand for Apple Devices

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Free your nightstand from cord clutter by opting for this sleek wireless charging stand that simultaneously juices up iPhones 8 or higher, AirPods, and your Apple Watch. You can set your phone on it horizontally or vertically, too, so you can comfortably watch videos or FaceTime as it charges.

Peel-&-stick baseboard trim that’s flexible & durable

Vinyl Wall Base Baseboard Molding Trim 4" Flexible Self Adhesive Rubber Wall Base Moulding Trim Peel and Stick Design, 4 Inch x 20 Feet, White

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Designed with a strong adhesive backing, this baseboard trim is easy to install without drilling. Not only does it add a decorative trim around a room, it also adds a layer of protection. It can prevent walls from getting scuffed and damaged. Or, it can be used to hide imperfections. By the way, it can be cut to size and comes in various colors and some styles that look like real wood.

Adhesive wood-print border to upgrade builder-basic mirrors

TIANLDD Wood Grain Wallpaper Border

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Upgrade any builder-basic mirror without laying out much cash with this roll of wood-print border that’s self adhesive and easily trimmed to fit. It measures 2.4 inches wide and 27 feet long, and it’s waterproof for safe use in a humid spot like the bathroom.

Modern house numbers that up curb appeal

OLADOT Stainless Steel Floating House Number

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Up curb appeal with these modern, fresh house numbers that float on your wall. Made of durable stainless steel and measuring 6 inches tall, they make an impact from the sidewalk and street. Mount vertically, horizontally, or at an angle to match your style.

A very slim rolling shelf that fits in tight spaces

SPACEKEEPER Slim Rolling Storage Cart

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Make use of those tight spaces around the house with this storage cart that has a very slim profile. At only 5 inches wide, it can slide easily into that tight space between your stove and your kitchen cabinet — or your bathroom sink and the wall. This plastic cart has four shelves that are the right size for toiletries, cleaning products, spices, and more. You can also split it into two organizers and use it underneath a sink area or on countertops.

This highly rated turntable in lots of sizes & colors

VeyFey Turntable Vanity Tray

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Available in a wide range of sizes and colors, you can pick up the perfect turntable for your kitchen, bathroom, cabinet, dining table, and more. It has earned a 4.7-star overall rating on Amazon and it is made of acrylic with a small lip to keep items in place.

A motion-sensing nightlight that’s soft, smart, and energy-saving

Vansky Motion-Activated Bed Light

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This motion-activated light turns on when you need it—no switches, no fumbling in the dark. Its warm glow is bright enough to guide you but gentle enough not to wake anyone. With an adjustable shut-off timer (30 seconds to 6 minutes), it’s perfect under beds, along stairways, or inside cabinets. Practical, discreet, and surprisingly affordable.

This ultra-soft microfiber comforter set

Bedsure Brown Twin Comforter Set - 3 Pieces Pinch Pleat Bed Set, Down Alternative Bedding Sets for All Season, 1 Comforter, 1 Pillowcase, 1 Decorative Pillow

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Update your bedroom with this three-piece comforter set. It features a prewashed microfiber material and comes with a comforter, pillowcase, and decorative pillow. Choose from several colors and sizes in the listing.

A motion-sensing light that’s sleek & wireless

Gritin Under Cabinet Lighting

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This LED light adds a bougie touch of spotlighting to closet, cabinets, stairs, or really anywhere you’d like to stick it. It’s got a USB-rechargeable battery so you don’t have to worry about cords or wiring. Built-in magnets or the included 3M adhesive makes it a breeze to install on a variety of surfaces.

A comfy standing mat that adds a playful punch of color

KIMODE Half-Circle Kitchen Mat

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Comfort and style combine in this anti-fatigue kitchen mat. Soft, supportive cushioning helps make long hours on your feet feel just a little better, while the vibrant, dahlia-inspired design adds some cheerful color to your space. Plus, the easy-to-clean surface means a little dripped ketchup is no big deal.

A 16-Stage filtered shower head that helps increase water pressure

Cobbe Filtered Shower Head

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This showerhead has 16 layers of filters built in that make it feel like you’re in a spa in your own bathroom. It has seven rainfall modes to choose between and actually increases your water pressure.

A striking bourbon glass made of oak

Oaksip Wooden Bourbon Drinking Glass

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Ready to discover a new way to sip whiskey? This wooden bourbon drinking glass is designed to preserve the flavor of your spirits and capture the feel of the oak barrels used to make whiskey. “These wooden glasses are simply beautiful,” said one reviewer. “They are smooth and elegant looking. The color of the oak is beautiful”

Thin sponge cloths that are better than paper towels

Swedish Wholesale Cellulose Sponge Cloths (10-Pack)

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These weird cellulose sponge cloths are the paper towel replacement you have been hoping for. They are durable enough to be used multiple times, tossed into the laundry, and used some more. They are as absorbent as a sponge. They fit in your hand like a cloth. And they come in lots of colors so you can use them as a style element in the kitchen.

Linen-blend curtains with over 15,000 5-star reviews

H.VERSAILTEX Linen Curtains

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These highly rated linen-blend curtains come in a ton of lengths and colors to match nearly any space. They’re sheer for a light-filtering effect and they have nickel grommets to move smoothly on a rod.

This water bottle organizer that streamlines storage

Lifewit Stackable Water Bottle Organizer (2-Pack)

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If you have a few water bottles and travel tumblers, there comes a time when they start to overtake the kitchen storage. This water bottle organizer will rein them in. The two trays stack and each one has a resting place for the bottles that won’t allow them to roll around. Keep adding layers as your collection expands.

A zero-maintenance fridge deodorizer that lasts for a decade

Purriko Refrigerator Deodorizer

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Few things ruin the vibe of your home quite like a bad smell, and this fridge deodorizer keeps your kitchen smelling fresh for 10 years. You read that right, this stainless steel piece uses decomposition technology to absorb and neutralize odors at their source for a decade. Unlike other fridge deodorizers, this doesn’t require recharging or refills, either, so it couldn’t be easier to use.

Faux dandelions for a little etheral decor without the upkeep

TOPIA Artificial Dandelion Flowers (4 Pieces)

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These faux dandelions just might be the perfect way to dress up a dull corner. Measuring 20 inches high, they help fill the space while still retaining a light, airy look that blends with any decor style. Use them solo or arrange them with some pampas grass or eucalyptus for a lush display without the upkeep.

The loofah-like shower mat that feels so good underfoot

MontVoo Non-Slip Bathtub Mat

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Drop this bathtub mat into your tub or onto the floor of your shower stall so you don’t slip on suds and hurt yourself. Better than the suction cup version that feels plasticky and cheap, this one feels delicious to your bare feet. “Offers excellent non-slip safety and feels wonderful on the feet,” said more than one reviewer.

A stain-hiding coffee mat that soaks up spills in seconds

AMOAMI Absorbent Coffee Mat

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This coffee bar mat keeps your countertop clean without constant wiping. Its absorbent diatomite material instantly soaks up drips and splashes, while the PU surface hides coffee and milk stains. The rubber backing prevents water from seeping through, and it air-dries quickly—no machine washing needed. Bonus: it doubles as a dish-drying mat.

Window privacy film that reflects rainbows into your home

Finnez Window Privacy Film

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Get an expensive stained-glass look nearly instantly with this stunning window privacy film. It applies with static electricity (no adhesives here) and can be trimmed for a perfect fit. Once in place, it creates little rainbow beams of light onto your floors and walls for a bougie touch.

Absorbent waffle knit kitchen towels that come in 3 dozen cute styles

RECYCO Waffle Kitchen Towel Set of 2 - Quick Dry Microfiber Sustainable Dish Towels - Ultra Absorbent Reusable Cleaning Tea Towels - Lightweight Hand Towels,16”x 28”, Blossom Breeze

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Kitchen towels are an everyday essential, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. This set of towels come in 36 adorable styles including pink flowers, mosaic marigolds, and geometric mazes. Not only are they highly aesthetic, they’re also absorbent and can hold up to five times their weight in liquids yet also happen to be fast-drying.

A space-saving hanger that keeps tanks and bras tangle-free

Resovo Tank Top Hanger

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This foldable hanger features 20 sturdy hooks, giving you plenty of space to organize tank tops, bras, and accessories without cluttered drawers or tangled straps. Its slim profile saves closet space, and the 360° swivel hook makes grabbing what you need easy. Made with solid hardwood and metal hooks, it’s both durable and stylish—perfect for small closets or dorm rooms.

Peel & stick wallpaper with a daring leopard-print design

JiffDiff Leopard Print Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

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When you’re ready to go bold, reach for this peel-and-stick wallpaper with a leopard-print design. Whether you hang it in a bathroom, your home office, or walk-in closet, the classic print will add a little playful edge to everyday life. It boasts a simple installation and easy removal if you ever choose to switch it up.

The smart way to organize your underwear drawer

Criusia Drawer Organizers (3-Pack)

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End the morning hunt through the underwear drawer by creating some easy-to-replicate order in there. Fold or jam each pair of socks or boxers into their own section of these drawer organizers. You will be able to scan your collection quickly to find what you need and putting everything away is easy. This is a pack of three.

A marble sink-side organizer

zccz Toothbrush Holders, Marble Look Toothbrush Holders for Bathrooms Tooth Brushing Holder Bathroom Organizer Countertop for Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Razor, Comb, Makeup Brushes and More

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Get the clutter off the counters and into this bathroom organizer to reduce the messy feeling of your bathroom while making it easier to find what you are looking for. The marble look is stylish and the six storage compartments are sized to hold toothbrushes, razors, toothpaste, and all the small items that create clutter.

A sleek outlet extender that makes your home look way nicer

HANYCONY Multi-Plug Outlet Extender With Night Light

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This 10-in-1 outlet extender upgrades your space with a modern, streamlined design. It features five wide-spaced outlets and four USB ports (including fast-charging USB-C), all arranged on three sides to avoid bulky charger overlap. A built-in, touch-sensitive night light adds a soft, warm glow.

A plush bath mat that feels like a spa-day splurge

OLANLY Luxury Bathroom Rug

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This thick, nearly one-inch microfiber bath mat adds instant luxury to your bathroom—without the luxury price tag. Its soft, shaggy pile absorbs water fast, while the non-slip rubber backing keeps it securely in place. The gradient stripe design adds a stylish touch, and it’s machine washable, so you get spa-like comfort with zero high-maintenance fuss.

Chic pampas grass that looks designer but costs way less

96PCS Natural Dried Pampas Grass

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This all-natural pampas grass brings effortless boho charm to any space, from cozy bedrooms to modern living rooms. With minimal care, it stays fluffy and beautiful for up to three years—no watering needed. Just give it some sun to fluff it up, spritz with hairspray to hold its shape, and enjoy a statement piece that looks far pricier than it is.

A sleek oil dispenser that sprays or pours with zero mess

TrendPlain 2-In-1 Oil Dispenser Bottle

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This glass olive oil dispenser looks like it belongs in a high-end kitchen but costs way less. Its dual nozzle lets you spray a fine mist or pour a steady stream—perfect for everything from roasting veggies to drizzling over salads. With each spray dispensing just 0.15 grams of oil, it helps you cook with precision while keeping portions in check.

Elegant porcelain platters that go from oven to table

LEETOYI Porcelain Baking Dishes (Set of 2)

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Bake or sear fish, veggies, and more in this set of two serving platters — and set the hot, just-cooked meal in front of a guest in the same pan. Or use them as serving platters to deliver anything to the table. They look elegant, cook beautifully, and stack for storage.

This double set of stylish striped hampers

Lifewit Laundry Hamper (2-Pack)

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Toss that ugly pile of dirty laundry into these matching hampers to get it out of sight until laundry day. The lid closes so you don’t have to look at the mess. A waterproof coating contains any messes and you can easily tote them by the extra long handles on the side.

Microwave- & oven-safe glass food prep containers

FIT Strong & Healthy Glass Meal Prep Containers (4-Pack)

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Prep your meals for the week or save your leftovers in this four-pack of glass food containers. They’re microwave-, freezer-, and oven-safe — up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Each container holds an impressive 32 ounces and your order comes with two pieces that are divided into two sections and two pieces that are divided into four sections.

A plant stand that creates a display for your favorite botanicals

Uneedem 10-Tier Plant Stand

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Creating a lush botanical display — indoors our out — is easy with this plant stand. Available in a range of sizes, it’s made with sturdy, carbonized wood to securely hold your favorite green friends. Not to mention, plant care is easy when everything is gathered in the same spot.

A solar owl lantern that casts gorgeous light patterns

Lune cle Hanging Owl Solar Lantern

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This owl lantern might be cute, but it manages to add sophisticated lighting to your outdoor area, too. It has a striped cutouts throughout, reflecting a cool, geometric display when it’s lit up. Solar powered, the lantern can be set on a table, the ground, or hung with the included chain.

Solar outdoor lights that look like fireflies

ASMAD Solar Garden Lights (2-Pack)

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These solar garden lights will look seriously cool when the sun goes down. Their tiny globe bulbs are suspended on flexible wire to bob in the breeze, mimicking the look of fireflies at night. “They looked so beautiful, I ordered a second set,” one Amazon shopper enthused.

Extra-long ceiling fan pulls that make it easy to tell what’s what

SmoTecQ Extra Long Ceiling Fan Chains (Set of 2)

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Make ceiling fan life so much easier with this set of two surprisingly stylish pull chains. They’re two times longer than traditional chains — so even kids can reach them — though you can cut them down to just the size you need. Thanks to a fan charm and a light bulb charm, they also make it easy to see which element you’re controlling at a glance.

A leg & knee pillow with a helpful orthopedic design

Contour Legacy Leg & Knee Pillow

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This cheap contour pillow has a pain-relieving design that may help reduce hip, knee, leg, and back pain by properly aligning your spine when you lay on your side. It features ventilated memory foam to keep you cool as you sleep, plus a comfortable contour that doesn’t restrict your movement.

Clever magnetic vent covers that reduce energy cost

DIYMAG Magnetic Vent Covers (4-Pack)

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These vent covers are an easy way to save money. They can be used to cover vents in unused areas of your home or to close vents to prevent cold air from getting inside to lower energy costs. They’re easy to use too — their magnetic backing attaches to metal vents. They’re flexible and easy to cut to size.

A vibrant dish drying mat that’s soft, fast-drying, and reusable

Full Be Dare Floral Print Microfiber Dish Drying Mat

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This microfiber dish mat adds a pop of color to your kitchen while protecting your dishes from scratches and your counters from water damage. Designed with fast-drying technology, it speeds up the drying process and helps prevent water spots. Plus, it’s reusable, easy to clean, and doubles as a trivet or prep mat—practical, stylish, and surprisingly affordable.

A sleek stainless steel sink set that makes your kitchen look luxe

Mudder Kitchen Sink Stopper (3 Pieces)

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This stainless steel sink strainer and stopper combo isn’t just practical—it gives your kitchen sink a more polished, high-end look. The strainer’s fine holes catch food scraps to prevent clogs, while the spring-clip stopper seals the drain when needed. Rustproof, dishwasher-safe, and designed to fit most standard sinks, it’s a simple upgrade that looks way more expensive than it is.

Battery-operated lights that create soft illumination anywhere

GOODEA Rechargeable Battery Night-Light (2-Pack)

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These night-lights are battery operated, which means you can use them without a plug nearby. Try placing them in dark hallways, your closet, on your bed frame — anywhere that could use a little illumination. The dimmable lights create a subtle downward glow that feels sophisticated.

A ruffle shower curtain in a laid-back linen blend

XOGUIBO Farmhouse Shower Curtain

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This shower curtain instantly warms up any cold, sterile bathroom. The linen-blend fabric gives it a natural, laid-back feel while the oversized ruffle adds a little depth and romance. It comes in a range of soft colors — including this versatile beige — as well as striped patterns for a breezy, classic vibe.

A handy magnetic shelf that creates seamless extra storage

YIWANFW Magnetic Shelf

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Boasting a 4.9-star overall rating, this magnetic shelf is a clever way to make use of wasted space and clear clutter — all in style. The matte black shelf can stick to a fridge, washing machine, or other metal appliance to hold up to 30 pounds of essentials.

A sleek silicone broom that sweeps like magic on any surface

Broombi Original Silicone Broom

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This isn’t your average broom. Its patented quad-blade design creates static electricity to attract dust, hair, and even glass shards—no more chasing debris around the floor. Lightweight yet durable, it works on tile, hardwood, and low-pile rugs, plus it wipes up spills with ease. With a telescopic handle and washable blades, it’s a low-maintenance cleaning upgrade that looks surprisingly chic.

Flameless candles that make for the prettiest accent

Eywamage Floral Glass Flameless Candles (Set of 3)

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These flameless candles don’t just bring warm, ambient light, they also add to the decor of your space. Made from real wax, they’re housed in glass jars in your choice of a variety of prints, from flowers to tie-dye to ocean-inspired motifs. The included remote lets you set timers, adjust the flicker, and more.

A slim & stylish basket for your extra toilet paper

Lonbet Toilet Paper Storage Basket

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Tidily store extra TP in plain sight with this stylish toilet paper basket. It can handle up to 12 rolls, has a lightweight, waterproof construction, and the bamboo lid matches most decor and also works as an additional shelf. Choose from five colors to complement your bathroom.

Stackable baskets that make even trash bags bougie

TIDIIABODE Stackable Bamboo Top Organizer (2-Pack)

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Designed to dispense 5- to 10-gallon trash bag rolls, these bamboo organizers manage to be extremely practical while looking so chic. Place one on the countertop, stack them together, or even mount them to the wall — they offer flexible storage. The bamboo tops also add convenient extra shelf space.

A luxe yet modern rug in moody florals

Rugcomf Runner Rug

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As noted in The Big Lebowski, the right rug can really tie a room together — especially when it’s rendered in a dark modern floral print that’s reminiscent of traditional English country styles without being too fussy to look good against your midcentury modern furniture. It comes in multiple shapes and sizes, so you can find just the right one to fit your space.

Versatile 3-tier hanging baskets that utilize vertical space

X-cosrack 3-Tier Hanging Storage Organizer

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These baskets can be placed side-by-side or stacked on top of each other to utilize vertical space. They can also hang on a rod using the included hooks. So, they can be used in closets or on shelves to keep your home organized. They’re great for your kitchen, bedroom, and more. Since they can be separated, you can adjust the arrangement to suit your needs — use just one, two, or all three.

Transparent hard shell zippered cases that tame clutter

Mihkiom Clear Hard Shell Zipper Case

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Perfect for cords, small toys, puzzles, stationery, and more, these zippered cases will help you organize items to reduce clutter. They’re transparent, so you can find what you need without rummaging. They’re designed with hard shells to keep items safe. Plus, they have flat tops so they can be stacked on top of each other. Their slim design also makes it easy to fit them in drawers or on shelves. By the way, they’re waterproof and keep dust out.

Acrylic shelf dividers that slide in place for easy installation

OMGelic Acrylic Shelf Dividers

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Keep your closets neat with these shelf dividers. They allow you to create sections to keep things organized. Plus, they prevent items from toppling over, making them a great option for items like clothing, books, and more so they’ll stay in place and won’t get knocked over when you reach to grab something. Since they’re transparent, they blend into any decor and they won’t block your view so you can find what you need easily.

Wood contact paper that adds rich depth to any surface

WESTICK Dark Wood Contact Paper

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If you’re looking to incorporate some classic elements into your decor, this wood-grain contact paper is a great place to start. Available in a variety of shades, it adds rich depth whether you add it to countertops, desks, cabinets, or anywhere else. The peel-and-stick installation makes it easy to apply and remove.

A 3-in-1 kitchen sink drain strainer that keeps your sink clean

zaa 3-In-1 Kitchen Sink Drain Strainer

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Not only will this kitchen sink drainer catch leftovers to prevent food from going down your drain, it can also be used as a sink stopper and an odor isolator. It’s easy to use — just press down to store water and press again to drain. Plus, it has a pop-up system so you can easily remove the basket without getting your hands dirty. It's designed to fit most sink drains. It’s heat-resistant, waterproof, and durable.

Spacing-saving clear zippered storage bags with handles

TasticTotes Zippered Storage Bags With Handles (6-Pack)

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Use these zippered storage bags to store last season's clothes, sheets, comforters, and more. They’re a great way to store bulky items because they’ll keep them neat and save space. They’re transparent, so you can find what you need without opening them. They’re durable and waterproof to keep your items safe. Plus, they have handles so they’re easy to move.

A protective stove cover that also increases counter space

Stove Top Cover for Electric Stove- Range Covers for Electric Stove,Silicone XXL Dish Drying Mat, Glass Cooktop Covers, Flat RV Range top Mats (Black, 28"x20")

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Protect your glass stovetop from dust and smudges with this highly rated silicone cover. Super versatile, it also doubles as extra counter space, a drying mat, and even a trivet when you pull things out of the oven. It comes in several colors, including this black that goes with everything.

Metal & wood hat stands that won’t cause dents or damage

UdoUto Hat Organizer Rack (2-Pack)

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Offered as a set of two, these metal and wood hat stands boast curved compartments to securely hold a total of 14 baseball caps without causing any dents or other damage. Plus, they make it so easy to view your collection and access the hat you need. The racks have a sturdy build and are portable, so you can move them from closet shelf to dresser — or anywhere that’s convenient.

A keyhole light that flips on automatically so you can see

Deeirao Keyhole Light

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Position this LED light over your front door’s keyhole. It’ll flip on automatically when you approach the door, illuminating the area so you don’t have to fumble around to get inside. It sticks in place with adhesive and is powered by batteries.

A sturdy metal door stopper that you’ll never misplace

PaiPaiGo Door Stopper

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Don’t search for a door stopper again: This metal stopper mounts directly onto the door (so you’ll never misplace it), and it folds down when needed to keep a door ajar. It has a rubber bottom to stay put on any flooring surface, carpet included.

Heavy-duty spice racks that magnetize to your fridge

Roysili Magnetic Spice Rack (4-Pack)

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These sleek spice racks have a sturdy magnetic backing, allowing you to attach them to your fridge to keep the essentials always within reach. Each rack (four come with) is made from heavy-duty metal that supports up to eight pounds.

Pretty fruit baskets with maximum airflow

Gomakren Fruit Baskets (2-Pack)

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Not only are these fruit baskets aesthetically pleasing, but they’re also practical. Each one has 25 drainage holes to maximize airflow and minimize moisture to keep your produce as fresh as possible. The baskets are made from ceramic that won’t scratch; they’re dishwasher friendly.

Wooden curtain tiebacks that stay put via magnets

KLOGTSIND Magnetic Curtain Tiebacks (2-Pack)

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Let natural light stream into your room by holding open your curtains with these magnetic tiebacks. The two tiebacks are covered in wooden beads on a stretchy cord, and the magnetic design offers no-damage functionality.

A tiered bamboo organizer that fits perfectly in a corner

ZHWS Kitchen Countertop Organizer

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Utilize an otherwise-wasted corner on your kitchen or bathroom counters for storage — this tiered organizer has an adjustable configuration to fit perfectly. It boasts three bamboo storage tiers, hanging hooks on the side, and a metal frame for sturdiness.

A bed skirt that creates a finished, polished touch

Utopia Bedding Wraparound Bed Skirt

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A good bed skirt hides any under-bed storage and also grounds the whole room — and this one boasts a 4.6-star overall rating after 11,000 reviewers weighed in. Unlike many styles, this one wraps around the base of your bed with an elastic, which means you don’t have to wrestle with the mattress. Made from machine-washable microfiber, it has a 16-inch drop to cover most bed frame heights.

A carved wooden cover that hides your doorbell chime

GCDS Doorbell Chime Cover Box

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If your doorbell chime is a yellowing plastic eyesore on your wall, this cover is the perfect fix. Made from carved wood, it adds an aesthetic element to an otherwise functional home item. It comes in black and white, and you can paint it if you want it to blend seamlessly with your wall.

Faux trailing plants that add a lush look to any space

Palonu Artificial Hanging Plants (4-Pack)

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Green up your space — no maintenance required — with this set of four artificial plants. The set includes trailing plants, like a fern, pothos, and string of pearls, all of which look lush when overflowing from a planter. One reviewer called this set “gorgeous,” and noted, “the vines drape naturally,” while another wrote, “Honestly, I didn't expect these to be this nice.”

A vintage-inspired curtain rod with gorgeous bird finials

KVEEO Vintage Black Curtain Rod

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When it comes to a bougie home, details are everything — even when it comes to window treatments. This curtain rod has a vintage-inspired feel, with bird finials that give it lots of maximalist character. It comes in both two-tone and monochrome styles, so you can choose to highlight the avian element or let it be a little more subtle.

The prettiest hand-painted hummingbird suncatcher

Lolitarcrafts Hummingbird

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This stained glass suncatcher is the prettiest thing. It features a scene of hand-painted hummingbirds and a hanging flower that glows when the sun hits them just so. Included are a hook and a suction cup for hanging indoors or out.

Tin tiles that bring a textured touch to any space

Holydecot Tin Tiles

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Whether you use them as a backsplash, on your ceilings, or somewhere else, these tin tiles deliver a textured, antique element to the space. They can be cut to any size or shape needed, and they’re super lightweight for straightforward hanging.

Bougie espresso cups for just a few bucks each

Zurucily Espresso Cups

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With their glass bodies and square wooden handles, these espresso cups allow you to get your caffeine fix in the bougiest way possible. Each one holds up to 4 ounces, and with four in the set, it’s quite the deal.

A nice wooden shower stool for more comfortable shaving

BLUEWEST Corner Shower Stool

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Don’t bend over awkwardly to shave in the shower: This triangular stool is the perfect height for propping up your leg. It fits nicely in a corner to take up minimal room, and the acacia wood design is both nice-looking and high-quality. Nonslip pads keep it firmly in place.

Pretty floral wall stickers to transform a space fast

QUCHENG Wall Stickers

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Transform the walls of any room without time-consuming, costly paint — these flower stickers stick in place just like regular stickers, and the end result is oh-so pretty. The set comes with six sheets of vinyl stickers. Upon removal, they won’t leave behind any annoying residue, so they’re renter-friendly.

Ready-to-hang bathroom art with a funny touch

AtterrirArt Framed Funny Bathroom Wall Art

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Ready to hang straight from the Amazon box, this bathroom wall art looks lovely from a distance. And then when you get up close, you’ll notice it’s actually a little bit silly ... the flowers are placed inside a toilet paper roll instead of a vase. This low-cost pick is printed on high-quality canvas with a lightweight, wood-like frame.

Guys don’t need to miss out on the bougie side of life — even the “dude’s dudes” out there. The vibe here is about bringing a little polish into everyday life. This can take the form of grooming products, home goods, tech accessories, or really any life-enhancing item with some thought behind it. If you are a fellow (or have a fellow) that could use a bougie infusion, there’s something for you here — and they all have impressively low prices.

A mini measuring tool that uses a precise laser

HOTO Laser Distance Measure Tool

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Despite being only about the size of a credit card, this digital measuring tool utilizes a laser to accurately measure up to 98 feet. It provides a reading within seconds, and the built-in battery is rechargeable via USB-C so you don’t have to mess with single-use batteries.

A large mouse pad that makes Excel a little easier

Pixiecube Excel Shortcut Keys Mouse Pad

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If you use Microsoft Excel often, then this mouse pad is an office essential. It’s covered in tons of Excel shortcuts that will come in handy for everything from editing to formatting to the basics. There are also some diagrams for desk exercises that will remind you to perform them in the middle of a long day. And thanks to the large size, this works as a desk protector as well.

A car charger that can power up 4 devices at once

LISEN Retractable Car Charger

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Go for a charger that works for both front seat and backseat passengers. This car charger has two USB retractable charging cables that can be pulled out to more than 31 inches long, allowing anyone in back to use their devices while they power up. There are also two ports (USB - and C) where you can plug your own cable, allowing this to charge four devices at once.

Solar deck lights that elevate your outdoor space

SOLPEX Solar Deck Lights (16-Pack)

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These deck lights are wildly versatile. Add easy illumination by placing them around your deck, on a set of stairs, or along a fence. They come in a pack of 16, so there are plenty to use, and they’re convenient since they’re wireless and run on solar power. They give off a nice bright light, are a breeze to install, and they’re waterproof.

A versatile prybar that attaches to your keychain

Gear Spool Key Chain Pry Bar

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Made from solid stainless steel, this minimalist pry bar is designed for practical uses — scraping labels, prying staples, or turning screws with ease. Compact and versatile, it fits on most key rings, lanyards, or bags, giving you a reliable everyday tool for tasks from opening boxes to light outdoor jobs.

A compressed air tool for easy, efficient cleaning

FRESMOL Compressed Air Duster

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This electric air duster delivers powerful cleaning with its 100,000-RPM motor and three adjustable airflow levels. A built-in battery provides 20 minutes to 40 minutes of continuous use, supported by USB-C fast charging. This makes a reusable, eco-friendlier alternative to canned air, complete with LED lighting for dark areas.

A foam sponge that effortlessly cleans your windshield

Travelon Windshield Cleaner and Defogger

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Snag this windshield cleaner and keep it stashed in your car for all of the mornings you can barely see out of the front of your car. It’s made of a soft foam and instantly erases fog, mist, and excess water, leaving your windshield super clear. It doesn’t leave any scratches behind and it can be used on any glass surface.

A silicone mold that creates large, totally clear square cubes

TINANA Clear Ice Cube Maker

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This ice cube tray utilizes a special freezing technology that squeezes out air and impurities to make the ice cubes crystal clear. Since they’re larger than typical cubes, they’ll melt slower so they won’t dilute beverages. It makes eight 2-inch square cubes and since it’s crafted from silicone, they cubes pop out easily.

A reusable notebook that allows you to digitize notes with an app

Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook

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This notebook features 36 dry-erase, lined sheets so you can reuse it over and over again. When you download an app (that shoppers confirm is easy to use, by the way), you can digitize your notes to store them in your preferred cloud service. You’ll be able to reduce waste and save money while still staying organized.

A stone air freshener that attaches to your car’s visor with a metal clip

Drift Car Air Freshener

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This solid air freshner features a sleek design that’s sophisticated. It includes a metal clip so you can attach the scent block to your car’s visor. Since it’s formulated with natural essential oils, it’s free of additives and harsh chemicals. It can keep your car smelling fresh for up to 30 days.

Sleek mini trash cans that fit in your car’s cup holders

HOTOR Car Trash Can (2-Pack)

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Keep your car neat without adding clutter by using these mini trash cans. Small enough to fit in a standard cup holder, these offer enough space for the little pieces of junk that can otherwise leave your car looking messy. They come with more than 30 garbage bags, and the push top makes them easy to open even if you’re at the wheel.

A desktop dry erase board with hidden storage compartments

YEOUX Desktop Dry Erase Board

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Use this desktop dry erase board to jot down important reminders. It’s less messy and will save your money compared to sticky notes. Since it has a hidden compartment with three sections, it can be used to store paper clips, pens, and other small items to keep your desk free of clutter. As a bonus: it can be used as a keyboard stand to keep your wrists in a more comfortable position.

Ergonomic foot rests that are excellent for leg fidgeters

Eueiykw Ergonomic Foot Rests

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Featuring spring-loaded pedals that feel so satisfying to rock up and down, this unique under-desk footrest makes it easy for you to keep your legs active even during long stretches of sitting — foot-shakers, take not. The textured surface has a subtle massaging effect and these are easy to disassemble if you’d like to take them from the office to home or the car.

This saw-toothed edge tool for neat lawn & garden borders

Colwelt Saw-Tooth Edger Lawn Tool

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A serrated steel blade and wide foot platform make this lawn edger surprisingly easy to use — just step down and let your body weight do the work. The 39-inch handle lets you stay standing upright while working, so there's no kneeling or hunching involved, and the powder-coated steel holds up to season after season of use.

A notepad full of file folders you can write on to keep things organized

Find It File Folder Notepad - Pack of 12 - 9.5 x 12.5 Inch Notebook Organizer Folders for Filing, Document, Clipboard Organization, and Back to School Supplies for College Students - Assorted Colors

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This folder notepad is more clever than should be allowed. It’s got 12 folders that double as paper, with wide-ruled lines on the front for jotting notes and pockets inside for keeping related documents together. Tear one off the pad when you're ready to file it, and everything about that project or topic stays in one place rather than scattered around the house.

Unconventional mood lighting with soothing crystal chakra balls

KRISININE Crystal LED Chakra Balls

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Seven crackled glass balls in chakra colors sit along a wooden LED base that illuminates each one from below, letting this unique mood lamp cast a soft, colorful glow across whatever surface it’s on. Striking enough for a mantel or table centerpiece, it’s also calming enough for a bedroom nightstand.

A retractable box cutter that looks like a cat paw

Generic Cat Paw Box Cutter

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Whether you’re a cat enthusiast or not, this box cutter makes getting through a stack of packages and letters significantly more satisfying than a standard utility knife. Shaped like a cat’s paw with a one-click retractable blade, it’s compact, durable, and adds a playful touch to an otherwise boring tool.

A fancy chef’s knife with a shockingly low price

Gyuto Chef Knife

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Good quality kitchen knives can be pricey, but this chef’s knife is a budget-friendly option that promises to work fabulously. An ultra sharp blade made of high-carbon stainless steel allows you to use this for a variety of kitchen purposes, like chopping up produce or slicing meat. It has a nice rosewood handle and an eye-catching hammered blade.

A multitool pen that takes the place of 6 gadgets

Ankaka 6-in-1 Tactical Pen

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Handy to have in your car, at home, and in your toolkit, this multitool pen acts as six tools in one small, convenient package. There’s a bright LED light, screwdriver, bottle opener, self-defense tip, hex wrenche, and more — and of course it also works a ballpoint pen.

Compact night-lights with a futuristic look

YUNLEX Dimmable Night Lights (2-Pack)

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These compact night-lights give off a soothing light that doesn’t feel too harsh in the middle of the night. There’s a dusk-to-dawn sensor for automatic on-and-off, while three brightness levels let you customize the glow. This one is red, but it’s available in nine other colors as well.

This stainless steel fire pit that adds atmosphere to any hang

OGERY Stove Tabletop Fire Pit

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No space (or budget) for a full-size fire pit? No problem. This tabletop fire pit is compact enough to fit anywhere and boasts a sleek shape. Crafted from stainless steel, it’s portable, smokeless, and works with both wood and pellets. You can buy it in one of two sizes.

An ultra-sharp meat knife with a wooden handle

Huusk Meat Knife

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Forged from premium high-carbon steel, this meat knife will slice through meats (or really any ingredient for that matter) with absolute ease. The oak wood handle boasts an ergonomic shape for comfortable maneuvering. Use the included sheath for safe storage or carrying.

A lightbulb with an eye-catching fireworks effect

Feit Electric 3D Fireworks LED Light Bulb

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This unique fireworks LED light bulb adds eye-catching flair with its vibrant, 3-D firework effects. Ideal for patios, parties, bedrooms, and more, it fits any standard socket and features energy-efficient LEDs that provide up to 10,000 hours of playful illumination.

This elevated basket for storing toilet paper

StorageWorks Toilet Paper Storage Basket

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Good-looking storage solutions can make your bathroom instantly bougier, and this toilet paper basket fits the bill. It neatly conceals up to nine mega rolls, while the slim design fits right next to the toilet to provide easy access. The bamboo lid gives it an elevated aesthetic.

A handy multitool carabiner with bottle opener, rope cutter, & more

GIRIAITUS Carabiner Multi-Tool

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Keep this carabiner multitool on you at all times, whether you’re spending time outdoors hiking and camping or just heading to work. Small enough to fit in your pocket, this acts as eight tools in one — there’s a key loop, bottle opener, hook to hang a lantern or other item, a can opener, rope cutter, and more, and it can be clipped right onto your backpack or anywhere convenient.

A rechargeable wireless vacuum & air duster in 1

KMM Handheld Car Vacuum

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This compact vacuum is great for cleaning a car or anywhere else you want a wireless, lightweight option, but since it also doubles as an air blower, it can also blast out crumbs from a keyboard and dust from tight corners. It can run for up to 30 minutes per charge for plenty of cleaning power either way.

Budget-friendly sheets with almost 170,000 stellar ratings

Utopia Bedding Queen Bed Sheets Set (4-Pieces)

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This sheet set has racked up an impressive amount of five-star ratings for what reviewers call a “high-quality feel and “sleek, elegant” aesthetic. Made of soft microfiber, they promise to be breathable and smooth, with a fade-resistant shade that holds up to regular washing. Available in 30 different colors and a variety of sizes, it’s tough to beat the low price point, especially considering the included pillow cases.

An elevated quarter-zip pullover in a soft cotton blend

Amazon Essentials Quarter-Zip

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The ribbed texture and contrast collar on this quarter-zip sweater make it look put-together and interesting — easy to dress up a bit. And since it’s made with a 60% cotton blend, it’s still soft and comfy enough to be loungewear. This has a heavyweight feel to keep you cozy, and the low price point is hard to beat.

• Available sizes: X-Small — XX-Large
• Available colors: 5+

This handy tool bag that rolls up for storage

The Ryker Bag Roll-Up Tool Organizer Bag

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This roll-up tool bag features four spacious compartments plus two detachable pouches with D-loops for added flexibility. Its compact, rollable design makes transport easy while keeping tools organized. Crafted from heavy-duty materials, it withstands tough conditions — ideal for mechanics, garages, workshops, or keeping essentials neatly stored in your truck.

A sleek shower mirror that won’t fog up

HONEYBULL Fogless Shower Mirror

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Ideal for shaving scruff or applying your skin-care routine, this fogless mirror is so convenient. A specially designed anti-fog coating is meant to keep it crystal clear even when the water is steamy hot. Adhesive strips on the back make it easy to hang on the wall, and once applied, it won’t budge. It also has a hook to hold your razor so it’s always on hand.

A relaxed linen-blend shirt that looks so pricey

Alimens & Gentle Linen Shirt

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This classic button-down shirt, made with cotton and linen, will quickly become a staple in your wardrobe. Versatile and comfortable, it has a relaxed fit that elevates any outfit with effortless cool. It’s lightweight and breathable, is available in 28 different colors, and has a size range of small to 6X.

• Available sizes: 5-6 — 15
• Available colors: 10

Closet shelf dividers for creating neat stacks

Aolloa Closet Shelf Dividers (6-Pack)

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If clothes are piling up (and falling over) on your closet shelves, you need these dividers. Made from clear acrylic, they hook over the shelves and create 9.2-inch barriers to help keep garments neatly stacked and separated. One reviewer wrote, “These clear shelf dividers are exactly what I needed to keep my closet neat and organized! They are sturdy, easy to install, and stay securely in place on my shelves. The clear design makes them blend seamlessly with any decor, giving my closet a clean and clutter-free look.”

An absorbent mat to keep countertops chic, clean, & dry

AMOAMI Absorbent Coffee Mat

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Deploy this stylish absorbent mat on your countertops to protect from spills and stains. It’s designed for using under appliances like coffee machines or as a drying mat by the sink — though makes a nice base for serving a potluck, too. It’s made of a smooth and absorbent surface that’s easy to wipe clean, has an antislip bottom, and is available in 17 different colors.

A cocktail smoker kit with a torch & 6 wood chip flavors

KUZKUZY Cocktail Smoker Kit with Torch

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Create delicious smoke-infused drinks with this cocktail smoker kit. If you’ve never used one before, shoppers confirm that it’s very easy to use — so get ready to impress guests with your new skill. It includes a hand carved wood chimney, a torch, six whiskey stones, two stainless steel mesh screens, a cleaning brush, a long-handled spoon, and wood chips in six flavors.

A breathable bed pillow that offers maximum support

Cozyplayer Cooling Pillow for Neck Support

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This best-selling pillow combines a traditional bed pillow with a contoured one for the best of both. It helps cradle your head, maintains the natural curve of your neck, and aligns your spine to wake up feeling refreshed.

Flexible lights to illuminate your grill at night

Benicci Flexible LED Grill Lights (2-Pack)

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Nighttime grilling will become a joy once you start using these LED grill lights. A magnetic base allows them to firmly stick onto most grills, while the flexible gooseneck lets you direct the stream of light where you need. These are battery operated, ultra bright, and the small size makes them easy to travel with if needed.

Magnetic measuring spoons that click together for storage

Spring Chef Magnetic Measuring Spoons Set (Set of 8)

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Upgrade your kitchen with practical essentials like these magnetic measuring spoons. Unlike spoons on a ring, they stack together for secure storage that takes up less space in a drawer. Each spoon features two ends — one for liquid and one for dry ingredients — and the set includes a leveler for precision.

Anti-chafe cream with a powdery finish & near-perfect rating

HAPPY NUTS Cream Deodorant

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An aluminum-free cream that turns to a fine powder once applied, this lotion deodorant is meant to help protect against sweat and neutralize odors wherever you need. It’s made with nourishing ingredients like coconut, aloe, and tapioca, all of which can help protect and hydrate skin. The powdery finish also helps prevent chafing and itching, and the sandalwood has a lovely scent.

A low-profile outlet extender with pivoting ports

GE 6-Outlet Extender

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With its six pivoting outlets, you can plug almost anything into this outlet extender without having to worry about blocking the other outlets. It has a low-profile design to fit behind furniture or appliances, and built-in surge protection keeps everything safe.

An automatic plant waterer to keep things lush while away (or home)

RAINPOINT Automatic Plant Waterer

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This automatic plant waterer features two easy dials to set watering duration and frequency — intuitive to use and simple to figure out. Individual adjustable drippers let you customize the water flow rate per planter, a manual override lets you dispense a watering whenever you like, and the low-water sensor shuts the pump off automatically before it runs dry.

Magnetic visor clips that hold your sunglasses

Yuoyar Magnetic Sunglass Holder for Car Visor (2-Pack)

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Keep your shades at the ready and help prevent damage with these sunglasses clips. They affix to your car’s visors and feature a magnetic closure that clicks together to keep your frames secure. Highly rated, they come in multiple colors to match your interior.

A vegan leather duffle bag with a convenient shoe compartment

Mouthology Tongue Scraper (2 Pack), Reduce Bad Breath (Travel Cases Included), Stainless Steel Tongue Cleaners, Metal Tongue Scraper, Tongue Scraper for Adults - Fresher Breath in Seconds

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“Do not hesitate to buy this bag. It truly looks as good in person as it does in the photos — it really looks like a much more expensive bag,” wrote one reviewer about this vegan leather duffle bag. Not only is it stylish and durable, it’s practical too. It has a large compartment with pockets, a trolley sleeve so it can attach to the handle of your luggage, and a shoe compartment so you clothes won’t get dirty.

A leveled-up back scratcher with 3 attachments

TUKUOS Telescoping Back Scratcher

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Get every single itch with this handy back scratcher. With a telescoping head and a handle that extends over 30 inches, you can comfortably use this to reach anywhere on your back. It also comes with three different heads: one is double sided, with one side for aggressive scratching and one for mild, there’s a rake scratcher, and the last is a metal claw. The retractable handle also makes it ideal for travel.

Durable, heavy duty playing cards that can last forever

BIERDORF Waterproof Playing Cards

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Once you start using this set of durable playing cards, you’ll never use regular ones again. Made of thick, nonslip PVC and PET, these have a heavy-duty feel and are waterproof to withstand a spill or two. They won’t fly away in the wind, but are still flexible enough to make shuffling easy. The black and gold design also makes them seem more expensive than they are.

The bright LED flashlight that fits in your pocket

WARSUN Compact Multi-Mode Pocket LED Flashlight

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Compact yet powerful, this 400-lumen pocket flashlight is ideal for everyday carry. Crafted from aluminum alloy and ABS plastic, it’s lightweight and durable, withstanding drops and daily use. One-touch controls let you switch between main and side lights, while multiple modes include red and blue strobes. There’s a USB-C rechargeable battery, and it’s waterproof with shock resistance.

Handy picks that clear hair from vacuum brush rollers

Pikk-it Vacuum Hair Brush Cleaner Tool (2-Pack)

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Designed to work with any vacuum, this two-pack of sturdy picks is designed to cut through tangled hair and brush-stopping blockages in seconds. Made from zinc alloy, the sharp metal teeth handle the thickest clumps of pet or human hair with ease, and these work just as well on a clogged hairbrush.

Brilliant rolling grill baskets for veggies & more

Ivtivfu Nesting Grill Baskets

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These innovative grill baskets offer loads of convenient features. Slimmer than your average grill basket, each still has close to a 1-liter capacity. Sleek beechwood handles allow you to rotate them 360 degrees so every bit gets cooked, and they’re removable for easy storage. These nest inside each other when empty, too, making them even more convenient.

This slim wallet with a holder for your AirTag

typecase Slim Minimalist AirTag Card Wallet

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This slim wallet has so many things going for it, starting with the non-bulky profile that fits nicely in your pocket. Made from full-grain leather, it’s also outfitted with a holder for your AirTag, helping you keep tabs on your stuff at all times. You’ll also find slots for cash, cards, and your ID.

An attractive desk pad that elevates your office space

YSAGi Leather Desk Pad

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Make your office look clean and sophisticated with this attractive faux leather desk pad. Slim and sleek, it makes an ideal and attractive spot for your keyboard, mouse, laptop, and more. A nonslip bottom keeps it firmly in place, and the smooth surface wipes clean in seconds. It’s available in 30 different colors so you can find what fits your aesthetic.

An electric lunch box for hot meals on the go

Vabaso Electric Lunch Box

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This electric lunch box makes it possible to indulge in a hot meal without needing a microwave. It heats the contents in 20 to 30 minutes, and it can be plugged in at a home or office or even in your car’s 12-volt port. It comes with a stainless steel inner container and a plastic container for snacks, along with utensils. The leakproof seal keeps everything contained.

A cork globe with push pins to keep track of all your adventures

TWO DREAMERS Mini Cork Globe with Push Pins

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Not only will this mini cork globe add a decorative touch to a shelf or table, it’ll also tell your story. It includes push pins in three different styles so you can place them to note all of the places you’ve visited to keep track of your travel adventures. It rotates 360 degrees and includes a stand.

A handy food cover & mat to keep the microwave clean

LekDrok Microwave Food Cover

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Pulling double duty in the microwave, this collapsible food cover keeps splatter off the walls while the matching mat protects the glass turntable — it also works as a built-in pot holder so you can pull out hot bowls without worry. The multipurpose mat can also be used as a trivet, jar opener, dish drying mat, and the top also works as a colander.

An LED light strip that gives your TV a theatrical effect

Nexillumi TV LED Lights

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Add a cool vibe to your TV area with this LED light strip. At 16.4 feet long, these should extend around the back of almost any TV, creating a colorful backlight that looks good whether the TV is on or off, and is even said to improve screen contrast. It’s easily controlled by an app or remote control with tons of different colors to choose between.

A cargo net that secures to the ceiling of your car

Kaskawise Car Ceiling Cargo Net

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Packed car? No longer, thanks to this cargo net for your car ceiling. Perfect for road trips and other adventures, it secures to your vehicle’s grip bars to create a double-zip net for anything and everything. Use it to stash blankets, snacks, and lightweight sports gear.

A rechargeable, flameless lighter that’s wind- & waterproof

LcFun Waterproof Electric Dual Arc Lighter

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This compact electric lighter is a must for anyone who spends a lot of time outside, whether you’re hiking, camping, walking, or just hanging out in your backyard. It’s a flameless lighter that works on a rechargeable battery, so there’s no open flame to worry about, making it windproof for breezy conditions. It’s also waterproof, small enough to fit in your pocket, and easy to use, with the ability to stay charged for about two hours of use.

A wood grain pocket knife with a carabiner

FUNBRO Small Pocket Knife

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It’s easy to keep this knife handy since it’s compact enough to fit in your pocket and designed with a carabiner so it can be attached to your belt loop, keys, or bag. It’s perfect for camping so you can cut rope or slice food or for everyday tasks like opening packages or sharpening a pencil. When it’s closed, the sharp blade is tucked away safely so you won’t cut yourself.

Calvin Klein boxer briefs Amazon shoppers love

Calvin Klein Cotton Classics Boxer Brief (3-Pack)

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Made of premium cotton, these boxer briefs are soft, breathable, and lightweight, with a wide elastic band for comfort and flexibility. These come out to about $10 a pair, but shoppers swear they’re worth the price point. “The material is adequately thick, keeps its color, is comfortable without scratchiness, and does not overly ride up from excess construction or movement,” one shopper wrote, while another added that they “hold up well after multiple washes.”

• Available sizes: Small — XX-Large
• Available colors: 15+

Solar garden lights with an eye-catching effect

TONULAX Solar Garden Lights (2-Pack)

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Add a touch of whimsy to any garden by installing these lights. They’re powered by an attached solar panel that keeps them lit for hours at night — so there’s no need for any complicated wiring during installation. The best part? Their flexible stems allow them to sway in the wind, making the bulbs look like glowing fireflies at a distance.

The memory foam bath mat with a cobblestone look

YIHOUSE Memory Foam Cobblestone Bath Mat

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This cushioned memory foam bath mat is thick and soft so it feels great under your feet, and it’s super absorbent, so it can sop up water before it makes a mess. The cobblestone pattern is not only cool to look at, but also offers some nice pressure on your feet. And it has a nonslip backing so it stays securely in place.

A breathable cooling blanket that helps keep you comfortable

Topcee Cooling Blanket (90"x90"Queen Size) for Sweats Absorbs Heat to Keep Adults Cool on Warm Nights, Q-Max 0.5 for Hot Sleepers, Ultra-Cool Lightweight Blanket for Bed

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Anyone who tends to run hot at night is sure to appreciate this throw blanket. It’s made from soft, breathable polyester with Arc-chill fibers that absorb your body heat, working to keep you comfortably cool throughout the night. It comes in several pastels and neutrals, as well as various sizes to perfectly fit your bed.

A cordless lamp with a bendable filament

AUGE LIGHT Minimalist Table Lamp

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Bring mood lighting anywhere with this understated lamp that doesn’t need to be plugged in. The rechargeable lamp has a simple cylinder design and operates on three settings: bright light, low light, and a soothing “breathing” mode. Perhaps the best part: The magnetic filament can be twisted into a variety of shapes for on-demand art.

Shoe stackers that pretty much double your storage

Neprock Shoe Slots Organizers (12-Pack)

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Packed closet space doesn’t mean you can’t store your kicks properly. These shoe slots let you stack each pair, effectively doubling the amount of storage you have available. They platforms have traction to keep your soles in place and since the slots are angle adjustable, you can store a range of shoes, from slippers to low boots.

A simple box for neatly storing a variety of cords

PAVSTINE Cable Organizer Box

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Avoid a drawer full of jumbled, tangled cords by using this cable storage box. Seven dividers allow you to customize compartments how you need, and it comes with seven cables ties as well, which keep your cords neatly wrapped up. This can sit in a drawer or on your desk with a minimalist look.

An premium leather toiletry bag you can personalize

Princeton Craft Personalized Leather Toiletry Bag

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You can personalize this toiletry bag with your initial and name and choose from a range of fonts and designs to suit your style. It’s crafted from genuine leather and reviewers reported that it’s well-made. It’ll keep your grooming tools, chargers, or any small items organized while traveling or on the go.

This plant propagation station that makes cool decor

Giunn Plant Propagation Station

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Propagate your plant trimmings in style with this gorgeous propagation station. It’s made from a combination of beech wood and heat-resistant borosilicate glass, with a warm yellow LED backlight — so feel free to set it out on a shelf for display or even to use as a night-light. And since no assembly is required, you can start using it right out of the box.

An iconic Carhartt pocket tee with over 98,000 5-star ratings

Carhartt Iconic Pocket T-Shirt

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Not all t-shirts are created equal and this 100% cotton tee is proof. It has garnered thousands of five star ratings and reviews because shoppers are impressed with its fit, quality, and durability. Unlike others, it’s thick enough that it’s not see through yet breathable and it doesn’t have an annoying tag to worry about.

• Available sizes: Small — 5X-Large
• Available colors: 20+

A faux leather journal with lined paper & an elastic closure band

Biuwory Lined Journal Notebook

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Designed with a waterproof faux leather cover, this journal is durable and looks and feels like it should cost way more than it does. It features an engraved tree design on the front, an elastic closure band, an integrated book mark, and lined pages. It lays flat so it’s easy to write in and the acid-free pages are suitable for a variety of inks.

A mount to keep your phone in perfect view while driving

ESR Magnetic Car Phone Mount

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Keep the screen of your phone on clear display with this car mount. It uses MagSafe technology compatible with iPhones 12, 13, 14, and 15, keeping your phone securely in place for a hands-free experience. This can attach to the dashboard or in the vent clips, is very simple to use, and holds your phone securely as you drive.

Motion-sensing light strips for luxe under-bed illumination

MATICOD Motion-Sensor Lights

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This under-bed light strip is perfect for creating a relaxing environment — with installation as easy as using the peel-and-stick backing. You can mount it underneath the bed, then use the timer functions to count on it turning off when you need. There’s a motion sensor for effortless illumination when you need it most at night, like late-night trips to the bathroom or kitchen.

Cushioned slippers with more than 105,000 5-star ratings

RockDove Memory Foam Slippers

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These cushioned slippers boast more than 100,000 perfect ratings, making them a total Amazon bestseller. They’re made with supportive memory foam, which conforms to your foot — the clog style makes them easy to slip on and off, but the heel collar still keeps feet secure. They also have a sturdy rubber sole so you can wear them out of the house with no problem.

Himalayan pink salt bricks for a bougie foot treatment

Black Tai Salt Co. Himalayan Pink Salt Foot Bricks (2-Pack)

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These two solid Himalayan pink salt bricks are designed to go underneat your feet for a grounding, detoxifying treatment at home. Each 4-inch by 8-inch block is handcrafted from 100% pure salt and is thought to help draw out impurities while relieving tension. These make a spa-worthy and bougie addition to a wellness routine.

A ceramic-lined insulated mug that keeps drinks hot for hours

YETI Ceramic Lined Stackable Mug

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Nothing is worse than sipping on your coffee and having it get cold way before the last drop, especially if your not near a microwave. This insulated, double-walled travel mug is designed to help beverages maintain their temperature — reviewers reported that it kept their coffee hot for hours. Since it’s lined with ceramic, you won’t have to worry about a metalic taste. Oh, and it’s dishwasher-safe because who wants to worry about yet another thing to wash?

A car trash can with mesh side pockets for extra storage

HOTOR Car Trash Can with Lid

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An organized vehicle feels more expensive, which is why this car trash can comes in clutch. Not only does it give fast food wrappers and parking garage tickets a dedicated bin with a waterproof lining and easy opening, but it also comes with mesh pockets on the side so you can stash extra snacks, tissues, and more. It comes in 2- and 3-gallon options and a variety of colors.

2-in-1 travel toothbrush holders that can also hold toothpaste

FEHNAG Travel Toothbrush Holder (2-Pack)

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Give your toothbrushes a hygienic place to call home when you’re on the road, thanks to these roomy holders. They have a simple, sleek design and snap together for storage. When separated, they can be used as cups for rinsing or storing your toothbrush on a hotel bathroom counter. Each one even has a detachable handle.

This memory foam wedge pillow for your car

ComfiLife Car Seat Cushion

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Make commutes significantly better with this memory foam wedge pillow. This ergonomic cushion is designed to help relieve tailbone discomfort while still keeping you in a comfortable position for driving. One reviewer wrote, “Before using this cushion, I often ended up with nagging back pain after long drives, but now I can sit for hours without discomfort. The material feels durable and breathable, so it doesn’t get too hot, even after extended use.”

A budget-friendly printer that connects to your phone

HUIJUTCHEN Mini Photo Printer

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Despite its ultra-small size, this thermal printer can print any image you want instantly... no ink needed. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and uses an app for printing. Included are 10 rolls of paper. All of this for just about $20? It’s a steal.

A sun visor extender that actually works

Autioria Sun Visor Extender

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If your vehicle’s sun visor is never actually big enough to effectively block the light during key driving moments, you need to install this visor extender for an instant fix. It’s designed to block 99% of the sun’s UV rays while reducing glare, yet it still allows you to see the road for safety’s sake.

Solid colognes for luxe scents at home & on the go

Viking Revolution 4 Pack Mens Solid Colognes Men 0.5 Oz - Men Solid Perfume with Cedar Wood, Clary Sage, Vetiver, Sandalwood Cologne for Men - Balm Cologne for Mens Cologne Balm Travel Cologne Wax

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This solid cologne set offers an easy, mess-free way to smell fantastic anywhere. The smooth balm applies easily and delivers long-lasting fragrance without being overpowering. Featuring four scrummy scents —including Spiced Vanilla — this compact bar cologne makes leveled-up grooming simple at home, work, or on the go.

A cushioned center console cover for an elevated, more comfortable ride

Timorn Center Console Cover

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Upgrade your driving comfort with this cushy car center console cover. Featuring a memory foam core wrapped in breathable fabric, it cushions your arm and reduces elbow strain on long drives. It’s designed to fit most vehicles and SUVs, while the anti-slip design keeps it securely in place.

Owl-shaped planters that make a subtle statement

BESTTOYHOME Owl Succulent Pots & Stand

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These three ceramic owl-shaped pots sit on a tiered bamboo ladder stand that keeps things visually interesting, without taking up too much space. Each pot has a drainage hole and comes with a bamboo tray underneath, and while they’re nicely sized for small succulents, they work just as well holding candles, potpourri, or nearly anything you might want.

A cleverly designed back stretcher to soothe & refresh

Everlasting Comfort Back Stretcher for Lower Back

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Experience targeted lumbar relief with this ergonomic back stretcher, designed for optimal comfort and support. Featuring a soft traction strip, cushioned foam pad, and breathable 3-D mesh cover, it’s designed to gently decompress the spine to help reduce tension, improve flexibility, and soothe sciatica or lower back pain.

This soothing tabletop fountain that enhances ambience

AMOOTEK Tabletop Fountain

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Bring serenity and style to any space with this indoor tabletop fountain. Its built-in pump circulates water across realistic resin rocks, creating a gentle stream and soothing sounds for stress relief and ambience. It’s easy to use — just plug in and enjoy the calming vibes and colorful reflections from the spinning crystal ball.

A slim, portable keyboard that folds up

JPHTEK Mini Foldable Keyboard

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Stay productive on the go with this handy foldable keyboard. This compact, pocket-sized design folds easily and includes a phone holder for convenient viewing. Compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows devices, it has quiet, responsive keys and a stable connection up to 10 meters. Rechargeable, it provides 40 hours of use or 180 days on standby.

A compact screwdriver set for glasses, electronics & more

OEAGO 25-in-1 Screwdriver Set

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Use this handy mini screwdriver kit to fix electronics, adjust glasses, and even customize watch links. It includes 24 heads in Phillips, Torx, hex, flat, and star shapes for tons of versatility.

A wedge pillow that fills the mattress & headboard gap

Vekkia Bed Gap Wedge Pillow

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Tired of fishing pillows out from the gap between your mattress and headboard? Then this pillow is a must-have. Not only does it fill up that open space, but a pocket on both sides also gives you somewhere to stash remotes, phones, or any other small item. Choose from three colors: white, gray, or blue.

The handy pocket that adds storage inside your car

Moly Magnolia Car Pocket Organizer

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Phones, charging cables, cash — this organizer has space for all of them and more. The adhesive backing lets you mount it behind your seats, onto your center console, or nearly anywhere else you’d like inside your car. Plus, the faux leather finish makes it seem more expensive than it is.

A tiny wooden door to cover outlets — or holes in the wall

MaxForJoys Wooden Door Self-Adhesive Outlet Cover

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Handcrafted from Paulownia wood with a stunning natural grain, this tiny door outlet cover mounts over a standard wall plate with easy adhesive and makes an otherwise boring fixture much more playful. It can also be deployed to cover stains or holes in the wall or just to add a whimsical touch anywhere.

Unique packets that add vibrant colors to campfires

Magical Flames Pouches (12-Pack)

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Don’t even think about heading out for that camping trip until you’ve packed these packets. Simply toss a few into your campfire, and the flames will light up in vivid shades of green, purple, blue, and more. Plus, the effects can last for up to a full hour depending on how many you use.

Genius whistles that help keep deer away from your car

Elook Deer Whistles (2-Pack)

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If you live in an area that has a lot of deer, consider adding these whistles to your car. They let out noise as you drive, alerting deer to your presence on the road so that they stay away from your car — and each order includes adhesive for easy installation. “They’re small, discreet, and don’t affect the look of the vehicle at all,” wrote one reviewer. “Installation was super easy and they feel secure even at highway speeds.”

Heat-proof holders to protect your hands from microwaved food

Aticca Cozy Microwave Bowl Holders (4-Pack)

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These microwave bowl holders, which come in a pack of four, nestle around the bowl or plate you’re using to heat up your food. When it’s done, you can pull the dish out holding the soft holder and not the plate, preventing any potential burns. They also help prevent spills and other messes and can be used on other surfaces when eating.

A glass bottle for pouring & spraying cooking oil

TrendPlain 2-In-1 Oil Dispenser Bottle

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This oil dispenser bottle makes it so much easier to practice portion control when cooking or eating — and, on top of that, it makes things a lot less messy. Fill it with your favorite cooking oil, and then you can either dispense it as a spray or poour it out. It’s glass, so it’s durable and easy to clean, and an easy-pour handle makes it a breeze to hold.

Pac-Man keycaps that add a custom touch to your keyboard

Mechkeeb Key Caps (5 Pieces)

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This five-piece set of Pac-Man themed keycaps comes in yellow, blue, purple, green, and red, and snap onto any MX-switch keyboard for an instant retro gaming upgrade. Made from thick PBT plastic that holds up to heavy daily use, they add a colorful custom element to your keyboard and make typing or gaming more fun.

A smudge bowl that looks like a tiny fireplace

MOUGIGI Mini Ceramic Fireplace

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Perfect for burning sage or palo santo, this smudge bowl resembles a mini fireplace. You can place the sage or palo santo inside, light it, and it will burn up through the hole in the top, making it look very legit. This is so cute to put out on display, it’s easy to clean, and it makes a nice gift option.

Slim & powerful hand warmers that recharge via USB

DeeKom Rechargeable Hand Warmers 2 Pack, 6000mAh Electric Hand Warmer Rechargeable, 2 in 1 Portable Hand Warmers with AI Smart Chips, Outdoor, Hunting, Camping for Family for Christmas

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Compact yet powerful, these rapid-heating hand warmers last up to 15 hours on a single charge. A slim design makes it easy to store them away in your pocket or closet when not in use. Choose from five heat levels to dial in your toastiest feel.

Colorful wireless lights to add a bold bougie touch to the bathroom

Bgmonster Shower Lights (2-Pack)

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This set of two rechargeable shower lights glows in 15 colors and can be set to pulse or slowly cycle through shades for a bougie, spa-like bathroom vibe. Magnetic backing means installation is fast with no drilling required, and a remote control lets you handle color and dimming changes without needing to step out of the water.

A sharp rocker knife that allows you to use one hand to slice & dice foods

Coowolf Ulu Knife

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You’ll feel like Gordon Ramsay when you use this mezzaluna knife because it’ll make it easier to slice, dice, and chop various foods. The curved blade allows you to rock it back and forth so you can use one hand to cut. It features a sturdy handle crafted from walnut wood, a sharp stainless steel blade, and a wooden storage base.

A ceramic mug with a pocket to keep your hand warm

GUTE Hand Warmer Mug

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This ceramic mug is a must-have for chilly days or if you’re someone whose hands are usually cold because it’s designed with a contoured pocket that retains heat from your drink to keep your fingers warm. It comes in options for left and right handed users as well as one for both hands. It’s safe to use in the dishwasher and microwave.

Heavy-duty picture hangers you just push into the wall

3M CLAW Drywall Picture Hanger

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These heavyweight picture hangers are backed by steel hooks that push directly into drywall and hold up to 45 pounds each. Included spot markers take the guesswork out of placement so the hook goes in the right spot on the first try. And since they're reusable, rearranging a gallery wall doesn't require patching holes and starting over each time.

Pocket-ready pouches that hold up to 28 pills

GMS Group Medical Supply, LLC Squeezable Pill Pouches (2-Pack)

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This two-pack of compact pill cases each holds up to 28 tablets and slips easily into a pocket, purse, or gym bag without adding bulk. Simple squeeze-open sides make them easy to use one-handed, and having a spare means one can live in a travel bag permanently so you’re never caught without your supplements on a trip.

A bougie corner shelf that lights up in different colors

Furnulem 6-Tier Corner Shelf with LED Light

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Built-in LED light strips along the back of this corner shelf let you dial in an ambient color for movie night, parties, or just a cozy bedroom glow. Designed to fit into corners that otherwise go unused, it assembles in about 20 minutes and makes a bougie plant or decor display stand — though also makes smart storage for toiletries, too.

A plush mattress topper that helps cool body temperature

SLEEP ZONE Cooling Queen Mattress Topper

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This cushy mattress pad uses the same moisture-wicking technology in performance sportswear to help regulate body temperature through the night. Three ergonomic zones handle head, body, and foot areas differently, with cloud-shaped quilting in the middle designed to distribute pressure and prevent sagging. The stretch-to-fit pocket goes onto mattresses up to 21 inches thick.

This tidy tiered storage box for medicine & supplies

ARSTPEOE Medicine Organizer Box

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Three removable trays stack inside this organizer box, and feature nine compartments that can be configured however you need them. Especially excellent for medications and first aid supplies, it works equally well as craft or art supply storage, and a reinforced buckle lid and built-in handle keep things secure and portable.

Tiny ceramic sea turtles that hide ugly toilet bolts in style

WANSHUNLMI Toilet Floor Bolt Caps (2-Pack)

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Slip these ceramic sea turtle caps over standard toilet floor bolts — without any tools or hardware — and turn an overlooked bathroom detail into a charming accent. The hand-painted green glaze and sculpted shell pattern are detailed enough to look intentional, and the ceramic construction holds up to daily bathroom conditions.

Car sun visor extenders that cover those pesky gaps

Veharvim Sun Visor Extender for Car (Polarized, UV400, PC Lens, 2 Side Sunshade), Car Visor Extender Sun Blocker, Visor Extender Attachment, Anti-Glare Sun Visor Accessory for Safe Driving (2 Pack)

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This two-pack of sun visor extenders loops over existing car visors to close those gap that blinding sunlight always seems to sneak through. The polarized material filters out over 99% of glare without darkening the view enough too much, and the adjustable strap fits most vehicles on both the driver and passenger sides.

A durable cotton canvas chef’s apron with 3 spacious pockets

Tosewever Cross-Back Chef's Apron

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Keep your clothes clean while you’re cooking with this stylish chef’s apron. It’s made of cotton canvas so it’s lightweight yet durable. Since it’s designed with three spacious pockets and two leather loops, you can store utensils, tools, spices, and more so you won’t have to step away from the stove or grill to gather supplies. The loops can also be used for your headphone so the cord will not get in your way while you’re chopping ingredients.

A wall-mounted plant propagation station for a botanical accent

2Special All You Need Hanging Plant Propagation Station

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Shaped like a wooden leaf with six clear glass test tubes for holding cuttings, this wall-mounted propagation station is as decorative as it is functional. Watching roots develop through the glass is obviously so satisfying, and you can even pop single stems in the tubes to create a unique botanical display.

The perfect adjustable phone stand with a tiny price

Lamicall Foldable Phone Stand

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Enjoy hands-free phone time with this simple yet practical phone stand. It makes it easy to get the perfect angle whether you’re streaming, FaceTiming, or recording video, with easy access to the charging port as well. It also conveniently folds flat to a compact size, so it’s ideal to take along when traveling.

A black acrylic cutting board that’s surprisingly bougie

SWSKR Acrylic Cutting Board

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Made from food-grade acrylic that’s 60% thicker than a standard board, this unique black cutting board sits flush against the counter edge with a lip that keeps it in place during use. The sleek surface doubles as countertop protection from knife marks, and a handy juice groove runs around the edges to contain mess.

A leakproof, smell-proof laundry bag that rolls up small for travel

CANBOX Compression Laundry Bag for Travel

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This travel laundry bag has a one-way air valve that lets you compress dirty clothes down to a fraction of their volume — a useful feature for packing a return-trip suitcase when clean clothes are running low. Smell-proof, tear-resistant, and made of waterproof nylon, it takes up almost no space in your bag until you need it.

Essential oil steamers that make your shower feel like a spa

Shower Steamers (8 Scents) Includes Eucalyptus Shower Bomb, Relaxation Gifts for Women, Self Care Birthday Gifts, Unique Spa Gifts Shower Tablets, Shower Steamer Aromatherapy for Women & Men

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These shower steamers are a great way to transform your daily shower into a more luxurious experience. They get placed on the floor of the shower, and release their scent and dissolve as hot water and steam hits them. This variety pack comes with eight different scents, like relaxing lavender and invigorating citrus, all of which will make your whole bathroom smell great.

To find those weird gadgets that handymen rely on but that you’ve never heard of, you have to ask the experts. So we polled contractors, tradespeople, and the people everyone calls when something needs fixing, and it turns out the gadgets and tools below are some of these odd heroes. From unique attachments to your drills to a cool laser measuring tool, these weird things for your home that are life-changing, and professional handymen swear by them.

Self-Leveling Crack Filler That Creates A Waterproof Seal

DAP Liquid Cement Crack Filler

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“A self-leveling crack filler is easy to apply and creates a waterproof seal that keeps moisture out,” says Aaron Lipman, owner of Two Brothers Foundation Repair. He warns that “Cracks in driveways, patios, or garage floors may seem minor, but they allow water to seep in, leading to erosion and foundation issues.” Luckily, “homeowners who use this early on can avoid expensive concrete repairs down the road.” After being set, it only takes between 30 and 45 minutes to be foot-traffic-ready.

Tiny Magnets That Make Every Door Feel Custom-Built

Jiayi Magnetic Door Catch Closer

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“These are great for enhancing functionality and provide a polished finish to all types of doors, from cabinets to closet doors,” says Jamie Robinson, home improvement expert at Value Doors.

These ultra-thin magnetic catches are just 3.65 millimeters thick but pack 10 pounds of holding power—enough to keep drawers, cabinets, and even wardrobe doors shut tight. The adhesive backing saves you from drilling, but screws are included if you want a more permanent hold. With corrosion-resistant metal construction and a low-profile design, they’re a sleek, no-fuss upgrade that makes everything feel more secure and intentional.

Surprisingly Handy Rubber Trim You’ll Reach for Again & Again

Protalwell Rubber Edge Trim

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Tyler Hull, a professional contractor with Modern Exterior, likes to keep a collection of rubber edge trim in his kit. “Homeowners never think of them,” he says. But they are useful in a variety of situations, and once you have them on hand, you will use them often. “I use them as anti-scratch guards behind wall hangings, bumpers on drawers, even as noise dampeners on vibrating outdoor vents.” They come in 39 sizes.

The Magic Sponge That Can Save You From Painting

BAISENJIE Magic Sponge Cleaning Erasers (50-Pack)

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For James A., an L.A.-based tasker with Airtasker, there is one cheap tool he takes to every job: “Magic erasers,” he says. “They clean up wall scuffs, doors, baseboards… stuff people usually think needs repainting. Total time-saver.” This pack of 50 cleaning erasers is so affordable and ample that you can toss one of these wonders into every cleaning kit you have stashed around the house.

Refillable paint pens that keeps leftover paint fresh

Slobproof Refillable Paint Pens (5-Pack)

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Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician and owner of airconditionerlab.com, says, “This refillable paint pen is my go-to for fixing wall chips. Instead of dragging out a roller and tray, I just store leftover paint inside the pen and do quick touch-ups when needed. It’s clean, quick, and makes those small scuffs disappear.” Just twist its base to release the perfect amount of paint every time, without any mess. Five arrive per pack, and they’re also reusable.

Soft-Close Hinges You Can Put Everywhere

Chibery Soft-Close Concealed European Hinges (10-Pack)

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A hidden gem home upgrade? Installing soft-close hinges. “[Put] soft-close hinges on cabinets and drawers,” says James A., an L.A.-based tasker with Airtasker. “Super simple to install, but they make your kitchen or bathroom feel way more upgraded.” This pack of 10 will do most of your kitchen cabinets and they are adjustable and come with screw covers for a professional finish.

Lights You Can Put Anywhere

EZVALO Motion Sensor Under-Cabinet Puck Lights (6-Pack)

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“Magnetic under-cabinet lights with sensors are a cool lighting option,” says Gowdhaman Kandasamy, manager of Ironsmith Lighting. “They are simple to set up and give you hands-free light in places like kitchens and closets.” These puck lights, for example, stick magnetically to metal or to the included peel-and-stick metal plate. You choose a color and brightness and set them to turn on when they sense motion or when it is dark. They turn off automatically. Pull them off their metal base to recharge them.

This Inspection Camera For Looking Behind Walls

Kinpthy Endoscope Camera with Light

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“One [tool] I always suggest is a flexible inspection camera with a light,” says Keen, a construction expert, contractor, and owner of Keen's Building. “It’s cheap, it’s tiny, and it saves you from tearing open drywall just to figure out what’s causing a weird smell or leak. You can snake it behind walls, under floors, inside drains, and find the problem fast. It’s the kind of tool that pays for itself the first time you avoid a messy demo.” You can adjust the brightness with the touch of a button, and it comes with several clever accessories that let you look around corners and move things out of the way.

The Leak Alarm That Stops Water Damage

Metak Water Leak Detector

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A small water leak in a place you don’t notice it happening can do a lot of damage before you even realize there is a problem. This leak detector will buzz loudly as soon as water appears under a water heater, plumbing, or AC unit — or wherever you place it — so you can deal with the problem before it multiplies. “Water leak detectors will not only protect your home but also add value to it,” says Jim Marino, home improvement expert and CEO at Pinnacle Home Improvements. This is a pack of three.

A Faucet Gadget Outsmarts Freezing Temps Automatically

Blue Penguin Outdoor Faucet Freeze Protector

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Guss Pullen owner of PURE Maintenance of Texas, recommends a Freeze Miser, aka an outdoor faucet freeze protection device. This “monitors the temperature, and dripping activates at 37 degrees [Fahrenheit].” He says this removes the worry of “turning on and off outdoor spigots to drip during freezing weather.”

Unlike those foam covers or makeshift fabric wraps, the Freeze Miser kicks in exactly when temps drop near freezing—no guesswork required. Built from brass, stainless steel, and cold-resistant polypropylene, it’s designed to prevent outdoor faucets and pipes from freezing, no matter how brutal the weather gets. It’s a hands-off, stress-free solution that keeps things flowing when winter wants to shut everything down.

This Tape That Can Fix Any Leak

Gaffer Power Clear Butyl Waterproof Repair Tape

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“One surprising product I always keep in my kit is clear butyl tape,” says Ahmad Faiz, owner of Achilles Roofing and Exterior. This versatile, waterproof clear patch and seal tape can stop any leak, even if that leak is happening underwater. “Most people associate it with RV repairs or window sealing,” he says. “But it’s incredibly useful for quick, watertight fixes on flashing, gutters, skylights, and roof vents. It holds strong under heat and moisture, and it’s saved more than a few emergency service calls from turning into full replacements.”

This Crazy Cheap Tool That Clears Clogs Without Harsh Chemicals

Zip-It Hair Clog Remover (3-Pack)

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“I’ve used the Zip-It on countless jobs, it’s a lifesaver for pulling out hair clogs fast and beats chemicals every time,” says Chris Anderson, licensed master plumber and owner of Honey Bear Plumbing in Tennessee.

This 25-inch clog remover is made from a tough, flexible poly material that snakes deep into drains—even through bends and traps—to yank out hair and gunk without damaging pipes. It’s reusable, chemical-free, and takes about 30 seconds to use. Whether it’s your shower, sink, or laundry drain, this is the no-nonsense fix every homeowner should have tucked under the bathroom sink.

The Easiest Way To Install A Backsplash

Art3d Subway Tiles (10-Pack)

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“Not everyone has the budget to install a backsplash,” says Jim Marino, home improvement expert and CEO at Pinnacle Home Improvements. “Peel and stick backsplash tiles can work wonders. When you buy quality peel-and-stick backsplash and apply it correctly, it’s hard to tell you just stuck it on there.” You can choose from so many colors and styles, too, that your inexpensive update will be fun and have a huge impact.

This Weird Measuring Stick

ezwoodshop Extendable Measuring Stick Tool

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One handyman on Reddit, Bulldogg658, loves this measuring stick tool. They let you measure in hard-to-reach places and leave the measure in place so you can see the dimensions as you work. It extends to 47 inches and includes an add-on that extends its reach to 94 inches. It also comes with a small version for measuring spaces that are 3 to 8 inches.

This Stud Finder That Does Half The Work

The StudBuddy® Magnetic Stud Finder Tool

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One staple in most toolboxes? “A magnetic stud finder with a built-in level,” says Kevin Keen, a construction expert, contractor, and owner of Keen's Building. “It never fails. And it’s way better than the battery-powered ones that beep at everything. The magnet locks right onto screws or nails in drywall, and the level helps you mark your lines without grabbing another tool. It's simple but surprisingly effective, especially when you're doing quick installs or hanging heavy objects.” Just run it along the wall until it sticks and leave it there so you know where the studs are.

The Caulk Caps That Prevent A Mess

Zonon Caulk Caps (35 Pieces)

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These little caulk caps are small, cheap, and weird, but they will save you money and frustration. “People never reseal tubes right, and the caulk dries out,” says Tyler Hull, a professional contractor with Modern Exterior. “These little caps make it last four times longer, which means your $5 tube of caulk actually finishes five projects instead of one. It saves cash and mess.” No more opening the toolbox to fix something, only to discover you need to run to the hardware store for more caulk.

A Tiny Toolkit That Saves Big Repair Headaches

THOSAF Damaged Screw Extractor

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“This set saves you from frustrating repair jobs and prevents potential damage to surfaces by providing a reliable solution for extracting problematic screws,” says Josh Riutta, owner of Mikku and Sons Roofing in Arizona.

Stripped screws don’t stand a chance against this high-speed steel extractor set. Made with hardened titanium, these six tools work with most drills and can tackle damaged screws or bolts from 3 to 12 millimeters. Just drill, reverse, and pop it out—no slipping, no swearing. It’s the kind of tool you don’t think you need… until you really, really do.

A Bendy Drill Bit Extension

Guyuyii Flexible Drill Bit Extension (2 Pieces)

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“One product that sounds like a gimmick but is actually incredibly handy for basic home repair is a flexible snaking drill bit,” says Bar Zakheim, CEO of Better Place Design & Build. This is a drill bit extension that bends to reach around corners or into spaces your hands and drill won’t fit. “These are perfect for getting those awkwardly-placed screws in just the right place or drilling an essential hole for hanging shelves or pictures,” he says. They come in four options.

This Clever Way To Route Water Away From The House

HAHOME Rain Gutter Downspout Extensions (2-Pack)

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One quick fix that will save your house? Ahmad Faiz, owner of Achilles Roofing and Exterior recommends focusing on the gutters and making sure you have downspout extensions. “It’s not expensive, but it prevents foundation damage, siding rot, and mold. Most homeowners underestimate the long-term damage caused by poor drainage.” These flexible rain gutter downspout extensions are easy to attach to your downspouts and allow you to move the water to a swale, low spot, or something that is at least further away from your foundation.

The Measuring Tape That Uses Lasers

BOSCH GLM100-23 100 Ft Blaze Laser Distance Measure

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You do not have to crawl under the furniture, ask someone to hold the other end of a tape, or pace the room trailing a tape measure to measure a space, according to Ahmad Faiz, owner of Achilles Roofing and Exterior. “[Get] a simple laser measure,” he says. “It’s compact, fast, and saves time when scoping out roofing dimensions, soffits, or fascia board lengths. Accuracy saves money, and this little tool eliminates guesswork.” Faiz recommends Bosch’s laser measures, and this Blaze laser distance measure is capable of measuring distances up to 100 feet.

This Moldable Glue That Fixes Anything

Sugru Moldable Glue (3-Pack)

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“Sugru moldable glue is one of those products more people should know about,” according to Thomas Oldham, construction expert and co-founder of UK Construction Blog. “It sticks to almost anything, sets into flexible rubber, and is brilliant for fixing frayed cables, patching awkward corners, or adding small bumpers to doors and cupboards. It holds up well indoors and out.” It comes in six colors.

Outdoor faucet covers to keep pipes from freezing

Hometopia Outdoor Faucet Cover (2-Pack)

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Allison Harrison, co-owner of Goodbee Plumbing in New Orleans, says, “Outdoor faucet covers are so helpful for homeowners for keeping your pipes from freezing in the winter. There are usually always a couple of shoulder-season freezes every year... and a few dollars can save you from a very expensive problem in the future.”

Emergency Fixes Are No Match for This Magic Tape

Nashua Stretch & Seal Self-Fusing Silicone Tape

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“This tape is exceptionally useful for quickly repairing pipes, hoses, and even electrical connections, making it an essential item for any homeowner, particularly for temporary roof repairs during emergencies,” says Josh Riutta, owner of Mikku and Sons Roofing in Arizona.

Made from 100% silicone, this self-fusing tape sticks only to itself—no adhesives, no mess—creating an instant airtight and waterproof seal. It holds up under extreme pressure (up to 700 psi) and wild temperature swings from -65 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Use it on everything from radiator hoses to outdoor wiring to tool grips. No residue, no cleanup—just wrap, seal, and move on.

One Socket to Rule All the Random Bolts

RAK Universal Socket Tool

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“Imagine the ease of using a single socket that effortlessly grips nearly any nut or bolt, saving you the time and hassle of rummaging through your toolbox for the correct size,” says Brendan Anderson, founder of Brix Systems Roofing in Montana.

This universal socket tool adapts on the fly with 54 spring-loaded steel pins that conform to standard and metric sizes—no switching required. It fits nuts, bolts, hooks, and even odd shapes, covering everything from 3/4-inch to 7-millimeter fasteners. Built from hardened stainless steel, it’s a time-saving essential for pros and casual fixers alike.

A Smart Tape Measure That Thinks for You

PREXISO 2-in-1 Laser Tape Measure

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“Takes the guesswork out of measuring. It's easy to read and also useful if someone isn't confident reading the exact measurement on a regular tape measure,” says Gus Pullen, owner of PURE Maintenance of Texas.

This 2-in-1 digital tape measure combines a manual 16-foot tape with a 135-foot laser measure for precision you can trust—accurate to within 1/8 inch. With six laser modes (including area, volume, and Pythagorean measurements), a backlit display, and a magnetic hook for stability, it's ideal for home projects or large spaces. Rechargeable via USB-C, it's made for anyone who wants clear numbers without the squinting.

A Surprisingly Clever Fix for Slamming Doors & Wall Dings

Rubber Door Stoppers for Bottom of Door - Door Stop Wedge with Holder for Home Office Stackable on Multi Floor Carpet Concrete Tile Linoleum & Wood Heavy Duty Doorstop No Sliding Drilling Black

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“It might sound like a no-brainer, but this simple tool can prevent a lot of damage,” says Andriy Boyko, handyman and owner of A.O. Handy, Inc. in Wisconsin. “Whether it’s stopping doors from slamming or protecting your walls from dents, this rubber door stopper does a great job at keeping things in place without much fuss.”

This heavy-duty rubber door stopper grips tight on nearly any surface—tile, carpet, hardwood, concrete—and works with door gaps from 0.1 to 2.6 inches. Its stacked wedge design adds serious staying power, while an adhesive wall holder keeps it stored neatly when not in use. No drilling, no hassle—just less noise and fewer surprise repairs.

The Marker That Fixes Damaged Furniture

Minwax 63487000 Wood Finish Stain Marker

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When it comes to floors and furniture, cosmetic damage can be costly to repair. But you don’t necessarily have to do a full repair, according to Gowdhaman Kandasamy, manager of Ironsmith Lighting. “If you have some scratches, try using Minwax scratch fix pens,” he says. “They're great for covering up marks on wood surfaces like floors, cabinets, or furniture. They're simple to use and give you quick and lasting results.” Choose a wood finish stain marker that matches the color of your wood and simply color over the blemish. They come in eight colors.

This Wristband That Holds Your Parts

RAK Magnetic Wristband

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Taking a few minutes to prepare your tools before you start a job can save you a lot of hassle in the execution. “As an example, magnetic wristbands designed to hold screws will save you tons of time and frustration by keeping what you need in an easy-access way,” says Jim Marino, home improvement expert and CEO at Pinnacle Home Improvements. Strap this magnetic wristband on, stick your nuts, bolts, screws, and drill bits to it, and go into your job ready.

The Easy Way To Hang Pictures & Mirrors

Command Damage Free Hanging Strips (20-Pack)

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“I also rate 3M Command strips for small jobs,” says Thomas Oldham, construction expert and co-founder of UK Construction Blog. “They’re stronger than you’d think and ideal for situations where you can’t or don’t want to drill. I’ve used them to hold LED strips under cabinets and to mount tools and remotes exactly where I need them.” They are affordable and easy to use, too. Choose the size you need for your application from this pack of 20 hanging strips and peel and stick it where you need it.

This Magnetic Pickup Tool With A Light

RAK Magnetic Pickup Tool with LED Flashlight

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“A telescopic magnetic pickup tool might sound niche, but it’s one of the most practical things I own,” says Thomas Oldham, construction expert and co-founder of UK Construction Blog. “It makes it easy to retrieve screws or bits from tight, hidden spaces without having to dismantle anything.” This one has magnets built into both the light — for picking up dropped tools and keys — and the base — for sticking it to a metal surface so you can use it as a task light. The telescoping head reaches 22 inches, and the gooseneck end bends in whatever direction you like.

The Adhesive That Can Fix Anything

Liquid Nails Interior Projects Latex Construction Adhesive

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“Honestly, [I swear by] a really good tube of construction adhesive or Liquid Nails,” says Kevin Vander Hyde, Vice President of Vander Hyde Services. “People typically think of it for holding wood, but it's surprising how many wobbly pieces of furniture, loose tiles, or even minor cracks you can stabilize and reinforce. It's like super-glue's big, burly cousin for permanent fixes, often saving you from a bigger repair down the line.” It is paintable, sustainable, sand-able, and weather resistant.

The Carpet & Tile Tape That Does Much More Than That

All Flooring Now Heavy-Duty Carpet Tile Tape

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“One thing I use more than you'd think is double-sided outdoor carpet tile tape,” says Kevin Keen, a construction expert, contractor, and owner of Keen's Building. “It’s incredibly useful for quick fixes, like keeping loose tiles or baseboards from shifting while you're working, or even temporarily securing cords or edging during exterior upgrades. It holds better than painter’s tape and doesn’t leave residue like some construction adhesives. It’s just one of those things you throw in the toolbox and end up reaching for a lot more than you planned.” It comes in six sizes and lengths.

A Spray Bottle You Will Use For Much More Than Paint

Munyonyo Garden Pump Sprayer

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“Those refillable pressurized spray cans,” says Kevin Keen, a construction expert, contractor, and owner of Keen's Building. “They’re not just for paint. I’ve used them for pest control mixtures, cleaning solutions, even applying light oil to hinges or metal joints in sheds and outdoor structures. They give you a controlled spray without needing an air compressor. I always keep a couple around.” This garden pump sprayer is perfect for this. It has an adjustable spray, a big handle, and it comes in three sizes.

A Dimmer Switch

MOES Dimmer Light Switch

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“Swapping out old light switches for dimmer switches or motion-sensor switches makes a big impact for not a lot of cash,” says Kevin Keen, a construction expert, contractor, and owner of Keen's Building. “It adds convenience, modernizes the space, and can help cut down energy use, especially in rooms like closets or hallways where lights are often left on. You don’t need an electrician if you’re comfortable with basic wiring, and it changes how a space feels right away.” This dimmer light switch has both a toggle and a dimmer. It comes in white or black.

A Rotating Clamp Lamp So You Have Light Wherever You Need It

Easymaxx LED Rechargeable Work Light with Clamp

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“You’ll often find yourself working in dark corners, under cabinets, or in cramped spaces,” says Andriy Boyko, handyman and owner of A.O. Handy, Inc. in Wisconsin. That’s why he swears by this LED clamp-on work light, which “shines a bright light exactly where you need it.” With 2100 lumens, a 270-degree swivel head, a magnetic base, and a USB charger, “it’s like having an extra pair of hands that hold a flashlight for you.”

A Cordless Scrubber That Saves Your Back & Your Weekend

HiCOZY Electric Spin Scrubber Set (7 Pieces)

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“Scrubbing can be a pain, especially when you're trying to clean tile grout or bathroom surfaces,” says Andriy Boyko, handyman and owner of A.O. Handy, Inc. in Wisconsin. That’s why he recommends this electric spin scrubber, which “takes all the elbow grease out of cleaning.” It runs at up to 400 RPM, tackles grime with four interchangeable brushes, and has a retractable handle so you’re not hunched over your tub. “It’s fast and effective, especially for tough stains,” he says. Bonus: it’s waterproof, quiet, and lasts up to two hours on a single charge. Your knees will thank you.

This Motion-Sensing Light Switch

TOPGREENER Motion Sensor Light Switch

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This motion sensor light switch is the perfect fix for light switches that are difficult to locate in the dark or for rooms — like a laundry room — where you often enter carrying bulky items that make it hard to flip a switch. It senses when you are there and turns on the lights. When there is no motion, because you left the room, it turns the lights off again. It comes in six colors.

The Outlet Covers That Update Your Place Fast

DEWENWILS Duplex Outlet Covers (2-Pack)

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“If someone wants to make a quick improvement without spending much,” says Thomas Oldham, construction expert and co-founder of UK Construction Blog, “I’d recommend updating the light switches and socket covers. Modern styles in matte or brushed finishes make a room feel more considered, and the cost is minimal for the impact it has.” These outlet covers, for example, are only a few dollars each, and they elevate the look of your space well above the builder-grade covers that are likely there now. You will find covers for all your light switches to match, too.

An Electric Toothbrush For Cleaning Grout & Fixtures

Aquasonic Electronic Toothbrush (10-Piece Set)

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“An electric toothbrush is one of the most unexpectedly useful tools I keep on hand,” says Thomas Oldham, construction expert and co-founder of UK Construction Blog. “It works especially well for cleaning grout lines, reaching behind taps and fixtures, or even applying polish to intricate furniture detailing. The precision you get from the vibrating head beats most brushes designed specifically for cleaning.” You don’t have to spring for an expensive one. This electronic toothbrush is affordable and comes with eight spare heads and a carrying case.

Markers & Crayons That Repair Damaged Wood

DAIXISM Furniture Repair Kit Wood Markers (13-Pack)

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“If you have scuffs on any wood in your home, touch-up pens work like a dream,” says Jim Marino, home improvement expert and CEO at Pinnacle Home Improvements. In this furniture repair kit, use the markers to draw over water marks, light scratches, and discoloration. Use the crayons to fill in deeper gouges. You might have to get creative and mix colors to match your floor or furniture, but the results are so good that no one will know that blemish was ever there.

A Dental Tool Kit That Will Save The Day

G.CATACC Dental Pick & Tools Set

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“You’d be amazed at how some simple things you may already have in your home can be used,” says Jim Marino, home improvement expert and CEO at Pinnacle Home Improvements. “Dental picks are something that comes to my mind as they’re excellent, not to mention handy, for detailed cleaning.” Whether it’s your phone charger port, a clogged drain, or a jammed window, the tweezers, mirror, and variety of scrapers in this dental pick set will help you out of many a jam. It comes in a case, and you can choose from eight case colors.

This Weather-Stripping Tool Set

LYASILGC Screen Repair Tool Set (6 Pieces)

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“Weather stripping helps keep your home energy efficient, but it can come up for a multitude of reasons,” says Jim Marino, home improvement expert and CEO at Pinnacle Home Improvements. He recommends keeping a screen repair tool set like this one on hand for the moments when screens or weather stripping need maintenance. “Having a simple tool like this can make the fix much easier and quicker,” he says. A combination of specialized tools, like the screen roller and crevice hook, helps you get materials into and out of those tight spaces easily. And it’s helpful to have a pair of scissors handy.

A Silicone Spatula

DI ORO Mini Spatula - Small Spatulas Silicone Heat-Resistant up to 600°F - Silicone Kitchen Scraper for Baking & Cooking BPA Free - Mixing Spatula Dishwasher Safe - Nonstick Cookware Safe (Red)

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Another oddity James A., an L.A.-based tasker with Airtasker keeps in his tool kit? “A silicone kitchen spatula,” he says. “Sounds weird, but it’s perfect for smoothing out caulk or sealant in tight spots like around sinks or tubs.” These small spatulas are bright and easy to find in a tool kit and small enough that they won’t be unwieldy on the job. They come in seven colors.

The Laser Level That Makes Straight Lines

HUEPAR Laser Level Classic, 100ft Self Leveling Green Cross Line Laser for Picture Hanging, Tile, Decoration & DIY Indoor Construction – 360° Magnetic Base & Battery Included

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If you are hanging pictures or shelves, though, you want a pro hack that makes this fast and easy. According to James A., an L.A.-based tasker with Airtasker, that trick is a laser level. “The cheap ones on Amazon are surprisingly accurate,” he says. “I use mine constantly for hanging shelves, mounting TVs, you name it.” It shoots a straight line at the wall that you can use as a guide so you can hang that picture or shelf straight without a lot of measuring.

A Heat Gun For So Many Jobs

SEEKONE Heat Gun

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“A heat gun is a weird but useful gadget for home repairs,” according to Robert O'Sullivan, owner and roofing contractor at Ranch Roofing Inc. “It works great for loosening old paint, thawing frozen pipes, or even warming up shingles so they seal better during repairs.” This one comes with four attachments for controlling the heat concentration and allows you to control the temperature with a dial.

This Powerful Multi-Tool

Hammerhead 2.2-Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool

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“One Amazon product I use all the time is an oscillating multi-tool,” says Robert O'Sullivan, owner and roofing contractor at Ranch Roofing Inc. “It’s incredibly useful for cutting, sanding, and scraping in tight spots — perfect for quick repairs or tricky corners.” This one has attachments for sawing, sanding, trimming, or grinding, and the variable speed controls let you dial in the oscillation for your current task.

A Headlamp So You Can See Hands-Free

GearLight Rechargeable Headlamp

When you are working on repairs or installations, the urge to scream “Can someone hold a light for me!?” happens often. There is an easier way, according to Redditors who know. One Redditor, Bright-Log6486, recommends “a headlamp. It’s amazing how much easier it makes things not having to hold a flashlight and frees up both hands.” This is a pack of two rechargeable headlamps that are adjustable and capable of seven colors of light, so you can not only see but also see in a color that won’t change what you are working on.

A Painter’s Tool You Will Reach For Often (Not Only When You’re Painting)

LEVEL5 9-In-1 Painter’s Tool

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What does your tool kit need that you haven’t thought of? “A painter’s tool,” says Redditor, Shuckeljuice, on a thread about strange and useful tools. “I have several, from a 10-in-one to a six-in-one. I can't help but pick up one every time I see an awesome one for a good deal. If you can get a good painter’s tool, it's a lifesaver.” The scraping edge of this five-in-one will remove paint, stickers, and more, and the curved roller cleaner will come in handy more often than you expect.

A Butane Torch For Use Outside The Kitchen

TBTeek Butane Torch

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You might have a butane torch like this on hand for putting the crunchy finish on crème brûlée or starting the grill, but it is also useful for executing home repairs, according to Tyler Hull, a professional contractor with Modern Exterior. “Great for thawing frozen gutters in winter or heating up stubborn adhesives outdoors,” he says. “If I am repairing trim on a cold day, I warm the caulk tube for five seconds with it, and suddenly the seal flows like warm butter. Yes, it smells a little like fireworks. Still worth it!” This one comes in three styles.

Expandable Spray Foam That Improves Energy Efficiency

Loctite Tite Foam Gaps & Cracks Spray Foam Sealant

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“Expandable spray foam quickly fills [gaps], creating an airtight and waterproof seal,” Aaron Lipman, owner of Two Brothers Foundation Repair advises. “It helps improve energy efficiency while preventing water damage in hard-to-reach areas.” This is especially beneficial because “small cracks and openings around windows, doors, and pipes allow moisture and air leaks, which can lead to mold and energy loss.” One bottle covers up to 20 boards.

Brush Attachments For Your Power Drill That Help You Clean More Efficiently With Less Effort

Useful Products Drill Brush Power Scrubber Attachment

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“These brush attachments convert any drill into a powerful cleaning tool,” says James Collins, founder of Pure Home Garden. “They have saved hours of scrubbing bathrooms, grout lines, and outdoor furniture. What would take 30 minutes of arm-straining labor now takes five minutes with minimal effort. This makes deep cleaning easier for homeowners.” Choose between six colors — each nylon brush color has a different bristle strength to tackle all types of jobs.

This Awl That Does So Many Jobs

General Tools Scratch Awl Tool

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Another carpenter, peligrosobandito, in a popular contractor Reddit thread swears by the scratch awl tool they keep in their kit. “A scratch awl has been my savior for so many random things. Holding the end of a tape or string line, prying, poking, stabbing, and marking.” It is small and simple but is just the thing when you need to clean out a drilled hold, punch a hole, perforate, or align screw holes.

Dye Tablets That Spot Leaks

New Resources Group Toilet Leak Detection Dye Tablets (20 Count)

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“For me, a hidden gem is a good set of toilet leak detection tablets,” says Kevin Vander Hyde, Vice President of Vander Hyde Services, a Grand Rapids-based home services business. “Most people don't realize their toilet is quietly leaking and wasting gallons of water every day, driving up their bill.” These dye tablets will tell you in seconds. “You just drop these in the tank, wait a bit, and if the bowl water changes color, you've got a leak. They're budget-friendly, highly effective, and act as a major water bill saver.”

This Wax Stolen From The Dentist

GUM Orthodontic Wax

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People might wonder why you have orthodontic wax in your toolbox. But Tyler Hull, a professional contractor with Modern Exterior swears by it, and it is sure to turn you into a MacGyver. “I use it to temporarily stop drafts through window edges, pad squeaky hinges, or fill tiny gaps in outdoor outlets before sealing. If a house hums or whistles during storms, dental wax shuts it up until the real fix comes in. It is clean, cheap, and wipes off without residue.” It comes in mint and unflavored, but your squeaky hinge is unlikely to appreciate the mint.

This Inspection Mirror For Looking Into Difficult Places

NoCry Heavy Duty Telescoping Inspection Mirror

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This telescoping inspection mirror looks like something an unhinged Jurassic scientist would pull out to study the molars of a dinosaur, but Tyler Hull, a professional contractor with Modern Exterior relies on one for home repairs. “I clip it to a telescoping rod and check behind gutters, under soffits, or under heavy appliances,” he says. “You cannot fix what you cannot see, and those mirrors catch leaks, pests, and loose wires before they turn into big problems. It looks like dentist gear, but it is a time-saver for real.” This one comes with a telescoping rod and a storage bag.

There’s no rule that says the things you use every day have to be boring. In fact, some items we shopping editors reach for on a daily basis are just as weird as they are useful — arguably the best things are — and we’ve selected our favorites to share below. From jellyfish diffusers to tiny door hinge gnomes, you’re sure to get a sh*t ton of use out of all of these picks, even if just to bring you a hint of joy throughout the day.

A retractable clothesline that makes it easy to hang-dry indoors

GorillaLine Retractable Indoor Clothesline

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Don’t have enough outdoor space for a clothesline? Not a problem — just install this retractable one inside your mudroom. The stainless steel line extends out to 14 feet, and it can easily support up to 40 pounds. Plus, a button on the side instantly retracts the line for easy storage once your clothes have dried.

This genius disposable cleaning system for a sparkling toilet

LFBEAR Disposable Toilet Cleaning Kit (39 Pieces)

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Tired of constantly having to scrub your toilet bowl clean? Then this cleaning system is a total steal for less than $25. Simply stamp one of the pods to the inside of your toilet bowl, and it’ll release cleaning solution with every flush to help keep your toilet clean. Each order comes with 36 pods to get you started.

An extra-long duster for easily cleaning under furniture

HEOATH Extendable Flat Duster

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Don’t get down on your hands and knees to clean underneath your furniture. Instead, use this duster. The telescopic handle extends out to 55 inches, and the bendable head can be adjusted so that it’s easy to reach under furniture, over high shelves, and more. Each order also includes two washable microfiber covers to get you started.

This clever jar scraper that gets out every bit

OTOTO Jar Scraper Spatula

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Throwing out that condiment jar before you’ve retrieved every last bit of product can be a huge waste of money. Luckily, this scraper is available for just $10. It’s made from flexible silicone that contours along the curved walls of containers, making it easy to scrape them clean. But if that isn’t enough? It’s also 100% food-safe as well as BPA-free.

A food chopper & masher tool with over 16,000 5-star ratings

PGYARD Ground Beef Chopper

Using a wooden spoon to break up ground meat in a pan can lead to chips and splits. Instead, use this chopper. The head features five beveled blades for quick, easy chopping. It’s also made from tough nylon that’s heat-resistant up to 447 degrees Fahrenheit — and the nonstick surface won’t latch onto ingredients as you break them up.

Magnetic holders that help bars of soap last longer

kep-Mve Wooden Magnetic Bar Soap Holder (2-Pack)

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Letting bars of soap sit in a puddle of moisture can cause them to break down faster. Enter: these holders. Simply insert one of the magnets into your bar of soap, and you’ll instantly be able to “hang” them from the holder. Plus, mounting them onto your shower wall is a total breeze using the included adhesive.

Disposable hair catchers that help keep your shower drain clog-free

DrainWig Shower Drain Hair Catchers (2-Pack)

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Calling the plumber to fix a clogged shower drain can be expensive. Luckily, these hair catchers are available for less than $20. Simply place one down into your drain, and it’ll help prevent hair, debris, soap scum, and more from clogging your pipes. Replace once every four months for best results.

A weird bag for cooking baked potatoes in the microwave

MyLifeUNIT Microwave Potato Bag

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Cooking a baked potato in the oven can take so much time, making this bag a clever alternative. It can cook a single, standard-sized potato in just three minutes — though you can use it to cook up to four potatoes at a time depending on their size. Or, if you aren’t into potatoes, you can just as easily use it to cook corn on the cob, warm up tortillas, and more.

A stretching strap that can soothe tired feet & legs

comness Foot and Calf Stretcher-Stretching Strap For Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spurs, Foot Drop, Achilles Tendonitis & Hamstring. Yoga Foot & Leg Stretch Strap. (Black)

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Whether you suffer from plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, or even just sore calves, this strap may be able to help. Simply loop it onto your foot, and you’ll be able to pull your foot backwards to help stretch out your calves, foot, and hamstrings. And since it’s made from durable nylon, the chances of it tearing under pressure are incredibly low.

Genius stackers to store more shoes in less space

Neprock Shoe Slots Organizer (20-Pack)

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Running out of space on your shoe rack? Then these stackers are worth a look. They let you stack your shoes on top of each other, helping open up space on shoe racks so that you can fit even more pairs onto it. You can also use them with nearly any type of shoe, including high heels, sneakers, and more.

An extra-large lint roller for floors & furniture

PetLovers Large Lint Roller with 3 Refills

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I’m a huge fan when it comes to this lint roller — and not just because the extra-large size makes it suitable for use on floors as well as furniture. The handle can be adjusted from 23 inches out to 48 inches, making it easy to reach underneath furniture, appliances, or nearly any other awkward spot around the house. Each order also includes three sticky sheet refills to get you started.

This handy kick stopper that mounts onto doors

PaiPaiGo Kick Down Door Stopper

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Always misplacing your door stopper? Consider mounting this one to your door so that it’s always ready to go whenever you need it. A nonslip pad on the bottom helps keep it from sliding out of place when engaged — and the metal frame is so sturdy that you can even kick it down into place rather than bending over.

The essential oil diffuser with jellyfish-shaped clouds

BLOIMP Jellyfish Essential Oil Diffuser

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There’s a good chance you’ve never seen an essential oil diffuser like this one before. Not only does it produce unique, jellyfish-shaped clouds of mist, but the faux wood finish also gives it an upscale vibe. The top can light up in seven different colors depending on the mood you’re looking to set — and the reservoir holds enough water to keep it running for up to eight hours.

A clever bowl for making rice in the microwave

Joseph Joseph Microwave Rice Cooker

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Cooking rice on the stove can take time and practice. Instead, try making it in the microwave using this bowl. Depending on the type of rice you’re cooking, it only takes about 15 minutes to whip up a fresh batch. Each order also includes a rice paddle — and the dishwasher-safe design makes cleanup a total breeze.

This sleek toilet paper holder with shelf space on top

JUYSON Toilet Paper Holder with Shelf

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Still using the builder-grade toilet paper holder that came with your home? Then take this as a sign that it’s time to upgrade to this stainless steel version. It’s resistant to rust, and features extra shelf space on top where you can place your phone, wet wipes, or even decorations.

Disposable drain covers that make tossing food scraps easy

CHIAOJIHE Disposable Drain Covers (400-Pack)

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Calling the plumber to unclog your kitchen sink can cost an arm and a leg, making these drain covers a smart buy. Simply place one down into your drain strainer, and the fine mesh will work to prevent bits of food, grime, and more from clogging up your pipes. Once too clogged to ignore, you can throw it out into the trash and replace with a new one.

Weird hand wall hooks made from cast iron

Danya B Palms Up Wall Hooks (2-Pack)

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Don’t be surprised if guests ask where you bought these delightfully weird wall hooks. They’re made from sturdy cast iron that can support up to 50 pounds, making them great for hanging up coats, bags, and everything in between. “These are so cute and really good quality,” wrote one reviewer. “Heavy but very secure!”

Flexible brushes that let you clean deep into your dryer lint trap

Holikme Dryer Vent Cleaner Kit (3 Pieces)

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Little pieces of lint that have escaped past the trap can cause your dryer to work harder, leading to higher energy bills. Enter: these brushes. Their long, flexible shafts help you clean deep into your dryer, latching onto all the stray bits of lint that have made it past the trap. Or, if your dryer is already working well, you can also use them to clean refrigerator coils, window tracks, and more.

Weird shoe deodorizers that work for up to a full year

Boot Bananas Original Shoe Deodorizers

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When no amount of scented sprays seem to help refresh your shoes, it may be time to try out these deodorizers. They’re filled with a blend of natural salts, minerals, plant extracts, and essential oils, all of which work to help eliminate unwanted odors — just slip them inside and they’ll get to work. But if that isn’t enough? You can even reuse them for up to a full year.

Microfiber dusting gloves that are gentle on plant leaves

BLESS YOUR SOIL Microfiber Dusting Gloves

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Plants, shelves, baseboards — these dusting gloves are gentle enough to be used all over your home. They’re made from soft microfiber that latches onto dust, trapping it within their fibers until you’re ready to shake them out into the trash. Once too dirty to continue using, simply toss them into the wash for an easy clean.

A dragon to help you steam clean dirty microwaves

Genuine Fred Dragon Microwave Steam Cleaner

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Got a ton of crud stuck to the inside of your microwave? Then this cute dragon is a must-have. Simply fill it up with a blend of water and vinegar, then heat it up inside the microwave for about five minutes. Steam will begin to erupt out of its mouth, helping loosen up all that baked-on crud so that you can easily wipe it out using a damp rag.

A doorknob cushion that prevents slamming

WARMTONE Door Silencer Cushions (3-Pack)

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If one of your housemates is in the habit of letting their door slam, consider adding this cushion to their doorknob. It helps absorb the impact, allowing the door to shut more quietly so that it doesn’t disturb others. Plus, elastic bands on both sides make installation a total breeze.

Clever gap fillers that help keep the sides of your stove clean

Linda's Essentials Silicone Stove Gap Covers (2-Pack)

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Ever notice how mess can drip down into the gap between your stove and countertop? Then these gap fillers are a must-have. Not only do they help seal up that gap, but they’re also made from heat-resistant silicone — so there’s no need to worry about them melting when your stove heats up. “They do the job perfectly!” raved one reviewer. “I no longer have to pull my stove out to clean the floor and surrounding areas.”

Solar-powered pathway lights that cast starburst patterns

Eyrosa Solar Pathway Lights (10-Pack)

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Boosting your home’s curb appeal is as easy as adding these lights to your outdoor pathways. Each one features a built-in solar panel that keeps them lit for up to 10 hours at night, while the starburst pattern they cast onto the ground makes them stand out from the other pathway lights you’ve likely seen. The best part? Their waterproof design helps keep them in good working order come rain or shine.

Clog-busting drain snakes with more than 29,000 perfect reviews

FlexiSnake Drain Weasel (5-Pack)

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With more than 29,000 five-star reviews, it’s clear that these drain snakes are a total steal for the price. Their flexible shafts are lined with small teeth that latch onto hair, grime, or whatever else is clogging your pipes, making it easy to remove without having to use any harsh chemicals. One reviewer even raved about how they were “simultaneously pleased and disgusted by the enormity of gunk” that their snake was able to catch.

A clever mouse pad with loads of handy Windows shortcuts

Kinevolve Mouse Pad for Excel/Word/PowerPoint/Windows Shortcuts – Small Excel Cheat Sheet Desk Pad – 11.8"x9.8" Portable Computer Mousepad – Gaming, Office, Waterproof, Non-Slip, Stitched Edges

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Can’t remember how to insert a page break in Microsoft Word? Not a problem when you have this mouse pad. Not only is it printed with some of the most popular shortcuts for Powerpoint, Word, Excel, and more, but the stitched edges also help keep it from fraying over time. Plus, the nonslip underside works to keep it from shifting around as you work.

Reusable dish scrubbers you can clean in the dishwasher or washer

Skoy Non-Scratching Dish Scrubber

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From nonstick cookware to glass, these scrubbers can be used to help clean all sorts of dirty surfaces. Made of waste-reducing remnant fibers, they’re tough on grime and won’t leave behind scratches on delicate surfaces, including porcelain, glass, and more. Once too dirty to continue using, simply toss them into the wash for an easy clean.

The doorknob light that doubles as a memo board

LANDGOO LED Doorknob Memo Board

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Give any home a hotel-like vibe with this doorknob light. It works great as a small night light in dark hallways, and features whiteboard space on the front where you can write “Do not disturb,” “Come on in,” or any other message you’d like to convey to housemates. Plus, the built-in motion sensor prevents it from wasting battery power when no one is around.

Cord-tidying cable ties you can stick nearly anywhere

LX IntMfr. Hook and Loop Cable Ties (40-Pack)

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Underneath desks, on shelves, behind your computer — these ties can be used to help minimize cable clutter practically anywhere. Their adhesive backing lets you stick them onto smooth, non-porous surfaces, while the hook-and-loop closure is large enough to accommodate wires both thick and thin. “They’re reusable, strong, and don’t leave sticky residue like tape,” wrote one reviewer.

An ultra-slim bidet that won’t break the bank

BIGCOW Ultra-Slim Bidet Attachment

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Whereas some bidets can cost upwards of $100, this one is available for less than $35. And while affordable, don’t be fooled — it still comes with a variety of high-end features, including adjustable water pressure, dual spraying modes, and more. But if that isn’t enough? Installation is so easy that dozens of reviewers were able to get the job done in 20 minutes or less.

Magnetic fidget balls that can help alleviate anxiety

RIVGOT Silicone Magnetic Fidget Balls (6-Pack)

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Whether you’re feeling anxious or simply want to blow off some steam at work, these fidget balls are a fun pick. A magnet on the inside of each one lets them stick together, making them easy to roll around in your hands whenever you’re feeling stressed. Each one also features a different texture for added variety — and the silicone exteriors ensure that they don’t produce any sound as you mess with them.

Tiny gnomes that add whimsy to door hinges

Wallertree Gnome Hinge Heads (6-Pack)

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Add a touch of whimsy to any room in your home with these adorable little gnomes. Their magnetic bases let you perch them atop door hinges — though you can just as easily stick them onto nearly any metal surface you like. And while small, their bright colors are sure to give them a big impact no matter where you install them.

A cooling comforter that can reduce skin temperature up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit

ELNIDO QUEEN Cooling Comforter

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Anyone who tends to run hot at night is sure to appreciate this cooling comforter. It’s so breathable that it can reduce your skin temperature by up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, while its delicate, silky-smooth texture gives it a soft feeling against skin. The best part? Stitching throughout works to keep the filling from bunching up as you sleep.

Stylish rectangular oil dispensers with bougie flair

Brighter Barns Glass Oil Dispensers (2-Pack)

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Ditch that crummy plastic bottle your olive oil came in and upgrade to these dispensers. They’re made from sleek glass, with rust-resistant pour spouts made from stainless steel. Their square shape can help you save space inside cabinets — and each order includes 40 pre-printed labels so that you can use them with everything from olive oil to balsamic vinegar.

The clever hook that neatly stores up to 10 tumbler lids

Jolensoy Tumbler Lid Organizer

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Don’t waste precious shelf space storing all your tumbler lids. Instead, slide them onto this organizer. It hangs underneath nearly any standard-sized cabinet shelf to help save space — and while compact, there’s still enough room on it for up to 10 lids. Plus, the sturdy iron frame is built to last.

A magnetic hanger holder for the side of your washer or dryer

MFTEK Magnetic Hanger Holder

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If your mudroom doesn’t have anywhere to store hangers, consider taking a look at this holder. The magnetic backing lets you mount it onto the side of your washer or dryer so that you always have hangers within reach — and the magnets are so strong that they can even support up to 8 pounds. “Now we can quickly hang up items that cannot be dried, and hang up items as they come right out of the dryer to keep them from wrinkling,” wrote one reviewer.

The soothing projector that casts northern lights on your walls

HUMIIEYE Northern Light Projector

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Setting a relaxing vibe after a long day of work is as easy as turning on this projector. It casts soothing northern light patterns onto your walls, and can be switched between 16 different colors (blue, green, red, and more) using the included remote. But if that isn’t enough? The cordless design makes it easy to use if you don’t have a convenient wall outlet.

Genius clips that transform cabinet door space into spice racks

Bellemain Spice Gripper Clip Strips (3-Pack)

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Don’t waste precious kitchen shelf space storing all your spice bottles. Instead, transform the insides of your cabinet doors into spice racks using these clips. They automatically adjust to fit spice bottles both large and small, while their adhesive backing lets you stick them right into place. And if you’re worried about certain spice bottles fitting? One reviewer wrote, “I tested all the different sizes of spice jars I have and all fit fine.”

A folding couch arm tray to keep essentials close

Danfoxer Acacia Wood Couch Arm Tray

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I’m a huge fan when it comes to this armrest table — and not just because it’s made from stylish acacia wood. It’s great for rooms that are too cramped to fit a coffee table, and features a clamp on the bottom that helps keep it firmly perched atop your furniture armrests. Plus, a small lip running around the edge works to keep drinks and snacks from sliding off should you accidentally bump into it.

Colorful air vent clips you can infuse with any fragrance

Frienda Daisy Car Air Vent Clips (6-Pack)

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Not only are these air vent clips cute to look at, but each one also features a fragrance pad that you can soak with whatever essential oil you like, making them great for leaving your car smelling oh-so refreshed. And since they’re made from a tough metal alloy, they’re also unlikely to corrode over time.

A handy card reader that plugs right into your phone

Oyuiasle iPhone SD Card Reader

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Transferring photos by texting them from phone to phone can be incredibly inconvenient. Instead, use this card reader. It’s compatible with a variety of memory cards, including SD as well as microSD cards — and there’s no need to download any additional software in order to use it. Simply plug it into your phone and it’s ready to work.

Eye-catching dragon bookmarks made from metal

VYRANA Fantasy Bookmarks (4-Pack)

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Don’t bend the corners of your pages to keep track of where you are in that book. Instead, grab these dragon bookmarks. They’re made from sleek metal — not plastic — and feature bright colors that make them look more expensive than they are.

A clever mitt to easily remove sand from skin

MNZZ Sand Remover Mitt

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Wiping yourself down with a towel does an alright job at removing sand — though this mitt is sure to be much more effective. It’s filled with pure, natural corn starch that coats the sand particles, making it easy to remove them from skin within just a few quick swipes. One reviewer even raved about how it works so well that “it’s now the first thing we pack for every beach trip.”

A wall-mounted cup holder to enjoy in-shower beverages

TAILI Suction Cup Wine Glass Holder for Shower, Removable Wall-Mounted Bath Cup Holder for Beer, Wine, Drinks, Enjoy in The Spa, Bathroom, Kitchen, etc. Black

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Anyone who enjoys taking a relaxing soak in the tub is sure to get a ton of use out of this cup holder. The strong suction cup on the top lets you mount it onto tile walls, giving you somewhere to rest your wine glass, beer can, or nearly any other beverage while you bathe. And if you’re worried about it falling off? Not a problem, as the suction cup is so strong that it can easily support up to 11 pounds.

Flushable packets that help prevent backups in septic tanks

Septic Treatment By Cabin Obsession Tank Dissolvable Packets (12-Pack)

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A septic system that’s working poorly can lead to a sewage backup in your yard, which is a very, very costly mistake. Luckily, these packets are an easy way to help keep your system in good condition. Simply flush one down your toilet every month, and the live bacteria inside will work to help further decompose the waste inside your septic system. Each order comes with enough packets for a full year of use.

A unique tiny tub soap dish made of ceramic

NEWHENGS Ceramic Bathtub Soap Dish

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Don’t be surprised if guests ask where you bought this soap dish. Not only is it designed to look like a claw-foot bathtub, but it’s also made form sleek ceramic — not plastic. Plus, drainage holes in the bottom allow pooling moisture to escape in order to help your bars of soap last longer.

The handy stove top shelf that magnetizes on to install

TEO Magnetic Stove Top Shelf

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Ever wish you could store items on the top of your stove? Then this shelf is a must-have. A series of magnets in the bottom keep it firmly mounted onto the top of your stove, giving you room to store spices, oils, and everything in between. One reviewer also raved about how it’s “great for tiny kitchens with limited cabinets, countertops, and space.”

Genius hanging bags that add storage space to the fridge

MOLANLY Hanging Mesh Refrigerator Bags (3-Pack)

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Sauce packets, medications, garlic cloves — these mesh bags are great for holding all sorts of ingredients. Two hooks on the top let you hang them from the shelves on your refrigerator door, while the mesh fronts let you easily see what’s inside each one at a glance. One reviewer even described them as “the perfect solution for those odd packets and envelopes that end up getting pushed to the back of the shelf in your refrigerator [...].”

Absorbent stone trays that stylishly keep sinks tidy

Lyxel Stone Drying Trays (3 Pieces)

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I’m a huge fan when it comes to these trays — and not just because they’re a stylish way to store everything from soap bottles to scrubbers on your sink top. They’re made from absorbent diatomite that soaks up drips, drying within just a few quick seconds to help keep everything looking clean. Plus, nonslip feet on the bottom work to keep them from shifting around.

This weird plug insert that helps tighten loose outlets

Snug Plug Loose Outlet Fix (10-Pack)

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Got an outlet in your home that’s too loose to hold a plug? Then these snug plugs are a must-have. They fill up the extra space inside your outlet to help keep plugs from falling out — and installation is as easy as pressing them right into place. “Super simple to use and truly a must‑have for any DIY toolbox,” raved one reviewer.

Travel-friendly soap sheets for hand-washing anywhere

FOMIN - Antibacterial Paper Soap Sheets for Hand Washing - (200 Sheets) Unscented Portable Travel Soap Sheets, Dissolvable Camping Mini Soap, Portable Hand Soap sheet

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You’ll be glad you grabbed these soap sheets the next time you’re caught in a bathroom that’s run out of soap. It only takes a small amount of water to get them to lather into a rich foam — and while they’re tough on grime, they’re still gentle on skin. Plus, the packets are small enough to fit inside of purses as well as pockets.

A minimalist holder that helps keep toothbrushes clean

DiatZeno Mini Diatomite Toothbrush Holder

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Resting your toothbrush down onto your bathroom countertop is an easy way for it to get dirty — but that’s only part of the reason why I’m a fan of these holders. Their minimalist design means they’re almost guaranteed to look good inside any bathroom. And since they’re made from absorbent diatomite, they can even help your toothbrush handles dry quickly when wet.

Reusable makeup remover pads made from soft bamboo cotton

Greenzla Reusable Makeup Remover Pads (20-Pack)

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There’s no need to waste money on disposable makeup wipes when you could just grab these pads for less than $15. They’re made from soft bamboo cotton that can withstand being reused up to 1,000 times — and each order includes a mesh baggie to keep them packaged together when going through the wash. Dozens of reviewers also raved about how they “feel soft” against skin.

Playful pimple patches to help flatten blemishes quickly

dearcloud Hydrocolloid Patches (36-Pack)

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Unlike some pimple patches, these ones are designed to look like pink bows, cherries, kittens, and more, making them a cute addition to any look. Their hydrocolloid dressing works to draw impurities out of blemishes to help them flatten quickly — and the formula is even cruelty-free as well as vegan.

Colorful straws made from sleek, wavy glass

HurOutd Wavy Glass Straws (6-Pack)

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Ditch those crummy plastic straws in favor of these reusable ones. They’re made from sleek glass — not plastic — and feature a wavy design that makes them seem more expensive than they are. Each order also includes a pipette brush to help you scrub them clean between uses.

Despite both being immensely recognizable movie monsters, it feels like there are significantly more beloved vampire movies than werewolf movies. It’d be easy for most horror fans to name at least five great vampire movies – there’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula and The Lost Boys and Fright Night and Near Dark and even last year’s Sinners — but if you were to ask the same thing about werewolf movies you might get some blank stares after Ginger Snaps and the original The Wolf Man.

There are quite a few reasons that go into it but there are two in particular that seem to be the most likely culprits: one, unlike vampire movies, werewolf movies almost demand a decent-sized budget for special effects. The second reason is that vampire movies are easy to slot into multiple different genres, while the idea of a werewolf film carries a very specific tonal expectation with it. But 45 years ago, one film in particular would take its spot as arguably the greatest werewolf movie ever made, by completely rejecting strict genre tonal rigidity. And to this day, An American Werewolf in London’s deft balance of humor and dread make most horror-comedies still pale in comparison.

Part of what works so well about An American Werewolf in London is that it fully leans into the irreverent juxtaposition of its title — what starts out as a vacation comedy descends into what is undoubtedly the worst-case scenario for tourists trying to sightsee in England. From the moment we’re introduced to David Kessler (David Naughton) and Jack Goodman (Griffin Dunne) backpacking across the North York Moors, we recognize the age-old stereotype at play: the naive, bumbling Americans stumbling upon forces they don’t understand. Director John Landis does a remarkable job at evoking the traditionalist superstition and the atmosphere of unknowable menace lurking after dark in those quaint village pockets of Europe.

When David and Jack stop for food and lodging at the Slaughtered Lamb pub, they interrupt the drunken camaraderie with one question too many about a pentagram drawn on the wall; you get the sense that these people are acutely aware of the supernatural danger lurking outside the pub’s walls, but to tell their unwitting guests would be to open up their secrets to the world. They do just as much to preserve an air of mystery as the locale of the moors themselves — Landis and the crew filmed the opening scenes near the Black Mountains in Wales, and the setting is consumed by pitch black shadow and the dim light of the full moon, making it impossible to pinpoint the location of the howling that starts as soon as David and Jack leave.

That howling ends up being a prelude to their fate, as the two backpackers are viciously attacked by a beast that inexplicably transforms into a man after its gunned down by a mob of locals (whose consciences magically materialize after they've already let David and Jack go). Not only does the sequence, surprising in its brutality, set the stage for the immaculate practical effects work from Rick Baker (who would win the first ever Oscar for Best Makeup for his work on the film), but also sets the stage for the central conflict of the film: Jack is killed almost instantly, but David is saved, waking up in a hospital days later, totally unaware that he’s now the carrier of a curse far older than he can perceive.

Despite the bloody chaos of the film’s opening, perhaps the greatest strength of American Werewolf is how effective its blend of comedy and horror is. Landis wrote the script for the film back in 1969 (after witnessing a Romani funeral ritual while serving as a PA on Kelly’s Heroes), but it was shelved for a decade because studio executives didn’t believe in the film’s balance of tones — a note that, years after the film’s solidification as a cult classic, comes across as silly. Juggling the movie’s borderline-slapstick humor and visceral horror would be difficult enough, but there’s also a crucial romance underpinning the film as well: While in the hospital, David meets Nurse Alex Price (Jenny Agutter), and their love affair brews with the same rapidity as the transformation inside our unaware protagonist.

One of the things that helps the movie stand out is the truly experiential nature of David’s transformation into a werewolf. Landis dives into the psychology of the curse where lots of other filmmakers would jump straight into the blood and guts — long before we see David take a life, we see him wrestling with vivid and surreal dreams of him running through the woods like a primal animal, and in one of the film’s most bewildering and legendary scenes, he dreams that his entire family is slaughtered by werewolf members of the Nazi SS. As much as he tries to deny what’s coming, his nightmares are like a drum beat marching towards the inevitable.

And when it finally does arrive, it’s the stuff of movie magic. Landis is clearly as infatuated by Baker’s special effects work as the audience is, revealing David’s painful transformation in an extended sequence that shows off fingers distending into claws, a human face elongating into a snout, and a body that sprouts hair and bends and contorts into the form of an animal. At times the practical effects veer into the realm of the uncanny valley, but it works in the film’s favor — it is, after all, a completely inhuman circumstance.

Amidst the levity and the SFX spectacle, Landis never loses sight of what David’s lycanthropy represents: a loss of humanity, a loss of control, and an embrace of pure animal instinct. There’s an emphasis on guilt that a lot of films in the genre don’t bother with; after Jack’s death, he appears to David in the form of a decaying corpse, begging him to end his own life so that the curse can be ended. Naturally, David doesn’t believe him, and within the span of a few nights David is joined by a host of fresh corpses courtesy of David’s nighttime activities — the comedy never overtakes the horror of helplessness inherent to David’s situation.

By the end, another transformation leads to David rampaging through London like King Kong, and although the setpiece feels reminiscent of old-school monster movies, there’s a similar sense of avoidable tragedy to it as well. There’s no final-hour cheat code to reverse the transformation, there’s no spell-breaking kiss delivered by Alex — it all ends in a hail of bullets and the tears of an ill-fated lover. An American Werewolf in London might be noteworthy for its fearless rejection of genre rigidity, but what gives it its staying power is the fact that the ending packs a surprising emotional punch.

An American Werewolf in London is currently streaming on Tubi.

Sometimes, the genius stuff that can solve a problem, take care of business, and streamline your day — may look a little goofy. From stuff for your home and car to a scalp massager that you’re guaranteed to fall in love with. Prices start at just $5, and they’re all weird enough to garner a double-take.

A campfire reading pillow that’s unbelievably comfy

UNWAAT Campfire Reading Pillow

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This campfire reading pillow is impossible to ignore; it may end up motivating you to snuggle up with a good book more often than usual. The friendly-looking flame will support your back as the two logs position your arms perfectly so you can see every page.

A cordless tulip lamp that’s stunning day and night

GOUTOOL Flower Table Lamp

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What makes this tulip lamp genius is the fact that it is just as mesmerizing during the day as it is at night. Each petal will look like the real thing while the sun is out and then it comes to life when you illuminate it after dusk. And since it works wirelessly (it’s battery powered), you can place it anywhere.

A microwave potato bag that’s faster & easier

MyLifeUNIT Microwave Potato Bag

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Why wait over 30 minutes when you can have a delicious side dish ready in just four minutes with this microwave potato bag? It creates a steam pocket that speeds things up and works for other vegetables like corn (or reheating bread or tortillas). A chart printed right on it makes it easy to cook everything perfectly.

A small dog night-light that’s posable

SpassLeben Cute Night-Light

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In addition to coming in a bunch of different pastels, the position of this dog night-light can be changed as well. You can have it standing on just two legs one night and laying down the next — whatever directs the light best. It’s just over 3 inches long and operated on batteries.

A neck cooler that feels so good

mpac+ Cooling Neck Wrap

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Whether you’re simply lounging in your backyard or working on your garden, this neck cooler will come in handy. It will lower your body temperature for up to an hour to keep you comfortable — even when directly in the sun. Place it in a freezer or ice water to cool it down; it freezes faster than water.

A hooded travel neck pillow with a hidden pocket

Dot&Dot Travel Neck Pillow with Hood

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To really rest on a train or plane, this Velcro hooded travel neck pillow is a must. It supports your neck with its memory foam filling but also blocks light to make it easier to fall asleep. It also has a hidden pocket to hold the detachable hood.

A smiley face planter with a drainage hole

Smiley Face Planter Pot, Cute Coffee Plant Pots for Indoor Outdoor,Unique Rocking Chair Plant Pot for Succulents Plants Live with Drainage Hole,Gift IdeaI for Mother and Appreciation Christmas (Small)

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This smiley face planter will make anything you plant in it look even more fun. Since there’s a drainage hole, your greenery will always be properly hydrated. It’s slightly shorter than a can of soda and it can be placed indoors and out thanks to its durable resin material.

A northern lights projector with 150+ lighting effects

PIKOY Northern Lights Projector

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You’ll never get bored of this northern lights projector. It has 18 color options, 162 lighting effects, and three brightness levels so that the glow is always just right. You can even place it on a timer so that the dreamy mix of colors doesn’t stay on all night.

A neck & shoulder relaxer with 50,000+ 5-star reviews

RESTCLOUD Neck and Shoulder Relaxer

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This neck and shoulder relaxer deserves to be a part of your everyday routine. Lying on it for just 10 minutes a day will help relieve pressure and restore the natural curve in your neck. And at less than $20, it’s a steal.

A highly rated chicken vase made of shiny ceramic

SAANG & JAT Raw Chicken Vase

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If you really want your decor to stand out, you need this raw chicken vase that has earned a 4.8-star overall rating on Amazon. It’ll make your guests stop in their tracks but will also act as the perfect home for your fresh bouquet.

A car air freshener that lights up & spins

GUSTANO Car Air Freshener with LED Lights

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Freshen your ride — and make it fun — with this car air freshener that features a hilariously cool bear. Four scented tablets come included (each one lasts about 40 days). Once you start your AC, the copter starts spinning, and when it detects motion, the mini helicopter will light up.

Clever little clog headlights that can flash

CUYLERAZM Rechargeable Clog Headlights (2-Pack)

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You don’t have to carry around a flashlight or wear a headlamp when these clog headlights exist. Stick the rechargeable pair into your shoes and you’ll have a way to stay safe on night runs or when hiking. Best of all, they won’t weigh you down.

Headrest pillows that feels great on your neck

Sexysamba Car Headrest Pillows (2-Pack)

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Don’t let your long commute worsen strain your neck. Both you and your passenger will feel comforted and supported by these two plush headrest pillows. They stay in place via a stretchy strap in the back.

Toilet bowl cleaner stamps that leave behind fresh scents

Simple Life Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel Stamps (32-Pack)

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Stamp these toilet bowl cleaners onto the inside of the bowl and every flush will act like a quick scrub. Every time the water runs, the flower-shaped patches will work to remove limescale, get rid of stains, and deodorize. This pack comes with 32 gel stamps total that can each last up to two weeks each.

Emoji magnets that come with matching stickers

MORCART Emoji Refrigerator Magnets (54 Pieces)

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Cover your refrigerator in just about every funny face you could imagine with this 54-pack of emoji magnets. They’ll stay perfectly in place as they hold up your shopping list and reminder notes. A sheet of stickers is also included so you can take the fun outside of the kitchen.

A quick-drying towel ball shaped like a dog

Generic Chenille Towel Ball

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Add some unique decor to your countertop by bringing home this dog-shaped towel ball that also comes in the shape of a bunny. Thanks to its long chenille strands, it’ll quickly dry your hands so your floors stay clean and dry. Simply machine wash it and let it air dry as needed.

Lid-cleaning brushes that work 3 ways

Nodirz Lid Gap Cleaning Brush Set (3-Pack)

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These three lid-cleaning brushes will help you get into every last crevice of your tumbler’s lid. They feature a hard bristle brush, soft bristle brush, and hook remover for tricky sealing O-rings.

Condiment squeeze bottles that help you evenly spread ketchup

Zlxtxpor Porous Condiment Squeeze Bottles (3-Pack)

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Transfer your favorites to these three condiment squeeze bottles and you’ll have no trouble evenly spreading each one — without banging on the bottom. And since they have wide openings, they’re easy to refill, too. Each bottle holds an ample 13 ounces.

A plant-watering cloud that’s a definite conversation starter

THE CLOUD MAKERS Plant Watering Rain Cloud

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No one will be able to ignore this plant-watering cloud once you pop it in one of your planters. The genius piece gives your plant more time to absorb the water you’re giving it as it also creates a calming display.

Adhesive pop-up cat hooks that can hold 10 pounds

FUZSKWID Adhesive Towel Hooks (4-Pack)

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Add this four-pack of cat hooks to your cart — they’re a little goofy but also functional. Each sneaky kitty pops up when you put something on the hook, which can hold up to 10 pounds — making them perfect for towels, coats, and beyond. Plus, they’re self-adhesive and only take seconds to put up.

A banana fidget that’s strangely calming to squeeze

funnysquee Stress Toy

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Give your mind a break at any point of the day with this banana squeeze toy. It may look like real fruit but it’s actually a rubber fidget that you can reach for whenever you need to refocus your mind.

A color-changing candle warmer that looks like a full moon

HEKALU Candle Warmer Lamp

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This is not your ordinary candle warmer. With a textured lamp that looks like a full moon, it will make your room glow (in seven different colors) and fill it with your favorite scent all at the same time. It even comes with a glass cup that you can fill with wax cubes.

Unique cocktail glasses with built-in straws

INFTYLE Cocktail Glasses with Straw (2-Pack)

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There’s no need to look around for straws when you’re sipping from these cocktail glasses. Each glass can hold 12 ounces and features stable feet for resting on a table between drinks. The pair also comes with liquor pourers to make yourself look like even more of a pro.

A foot-scrubbing mat that sticks to your shower floor

Szzyxd Shower Foot Scrubber Mat

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Why not treat yourself to a quick massage every time you step into the shower? Since this foot-scrubbing mat costs less than $10 and has strong suction cups on the back, it’s easy to do. The flexible bristles will reach between your toes to gently buff away dead skin and provide a soothing massage. It has a hole for hanging and comes with a self-adhesive hook.

A bee-shaped toothpick holder that dispenses them as the “stinger”

Bee Toothpick Dispenser with Toothpicks (150 Pieces)

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While this toothpick dispenser looks like a goofy piece of decor, it’s cleverly designed, too. The bee-shaped barrel is made of wood and topped off with googly eyes that will make you smile; toothpicks are dispensed out the back as the “stinger.” It comes with 150 toothpicks to get you started.

Stem support stakes to keep your plants upright

Goooxim Plant Stem Support Stakes (5-Pack)

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To keep your flowers from drooping, all you need is this five-pack of stem support stakes. The flexible pieces will blend right in as they hold them upright and promote healthy growth. Add them to your cart now to get your pots in tip-top shape.

A windmill alarm clock with 10 soothing nature sounds

RETEYUNG Alarm Clock with Rotating Windmill

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Don’t be surprised if you feel a slight breeze on your face as you wake up. This windmill alarm clock actually rotates in addition to sounding off the white noise or ringtone of your choice. And the fact that it doubles as a phone charger makes it even better.

A desktop vacuum cleaner that’s rechargeable

Hallocool Desktop Vacuum Cleaner

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Keeping your work area clean is easier than you think. With this desktop vacuum cleaner, you’ll be able to collect every crumb and scrap of paper without ever leaving your chair. The robot-inspired device even works wirelessly and runs for up to four hours per charge.

Fun straw covers that keep out dust & bugs

LDKEKDF Straw Covers (11 Pieces)

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You’ll be able to walk confidently with your tumbler in hand knowing that these 11 straw covers are protecting your drink. Slide them on and they’ll keep out bugs and dust so you can enjoy the outdoors with no interruptions. They’ll also make it easy to remember which tumbler is yours.

Ant toilet paper holder that’ll make your guests smile

VELENTI Ant Toilet Paper Holder (2 Pieces)

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These ant toilet paper holders are here to make sure that you’re never left without a spare roll. The set includes two pieces that showcase ants that seem to be working very hard to bring each roll to you. The set is sure to get a chuckle out of guests.

Flexible key cap covers that make them easier to find

WIRESTER Key Cap Covers (2-Pack)

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These adorable key cap covers come in the shape of both cats and dogs to ensure you’re using the right key on your door. The flexible pieces will also make it a lot easier to find the key you need in a bag and grip it well when unlocking the door.

A cool fire escape shelf with 3 usable levels

MVPSONAG Fire Escape Shelf

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Make the picture frames and knick knacks that you want to display pop more by placing them on this fire escape shelf. The three levels will definitely attract some attention and add a slice of New York to your home, no matter where you’re based.

A ceramic egg separator that simplifies baking recipes

LuoCoCo Egg Separator

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When you have this egg separator by your side, working through recipes will be way easier. Just pour the egg whites out of the beak and you’ll be all set. Made of ceramic, this dishwasher-safe tool would also look cute displayed on your kitchen counter.

Macaron pill cases that are so versatile

Juvale Macaron Pill Case (16-Pack)

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You’ll be glad these macaron pill cases come in a 16-pack because you can use them for tons of different things. They’re the perfect size for the pills you need when traveling, the ring you want to keep safe while working out, and more. Since they’re so small, they’re easy to slip in a bag or pocket.

Fish-shaped glasses that are practical & decorative

MDLUU Fish Carafe Set (4 Pieces)

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These four fish-shaped glasses can stack on top of one another so that they become a piece of decor in addition to functioning as drinkware. Keep it out on your counter to free up some cabinet space and add a pop of color to your kitchen.

A flame night-light with a flickering effect

WANIDEA Flame Night Light

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Pop this flame night-light on your bedside table and you’ll feel like you’re falling asleep in front of a crackling campfire. It has a flickering mode (with a warm glow) and a steady-on mode so you can switch things up, too. It can also be put on a timer.

Mini box cutters that are retractable

qifuwanjingfeng Retractable Box Cutters (3-Pack)

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Since these three mini box cutters are retractable, you don’t have to worry about carrying them around throughout the day. They’ll come in handy on camping trips or when you’re crafting. Three come in a pack.

A flash drive that looks like a skeleton key

BORLTER CLAMP 32GB USB Flash Drive

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This 32GB key-shaped flash drive looks like it can open the front door to a castle. Since it’s so lightweight, you can use it to move files — both electronically and physically — with ease.

Drainage baskets that can be used hands free

FHTECO Draining Washing Baskets (2-Pack)

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Position these drainage baskets at the edge of your sink and you won’t need to hold them as you wash fruit and rinse pasta. Simply pour in the water and it will self drain. Your order includes two of them.

A ceramic tea mug that comes with an infuser, spoon & coaster

BigNoseDeer Kawaii Cat Mug with Fish Infuser

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This ceramic tea mug comes with everything you need — except the tea leaves — to enjoy the perfect cup. A secure lid, mixing spoon, strainer, and coaster are all included. They all fit in with the fun cat theme and will make your at-home setup cuter than the fanciest cafe in town.

An electric scalp massager you can use wet or dry

arboleaf Electric Scalp Massager Head Massager Scalp Stress Relax, 5 in 1 Kneading 128 Massage Nodes, Waterproof Hair Massage with 8 Removable Claws Cat Scratcher, Gift for Dad Mom

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On top of helping you relax, this electric scalp massager is well worth its price because of its ability to improve your hair’s look and feel. It’ll make sure your scalp is properly cleansed (since it can be used wet and dry).

Scented hand cream infused with real strawberry extract

TONYMOLY Hand Cream

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This strawberry hand cream doesn’t just look like the fruit. It’s actually infused with strawberry extract — so that it smells like the fruit and provides deep hydration. Shea butter is also mixed into the fast-absorbing formula to nourish your skin.

A camera planter that doubles as a trinket bowl

KIKTOP Camera Planter

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Everyone will do a double-take when they see this camera planter. It looks like the real thing but is the perfect spot for succulents — especially since it’s made with a drainage hole. Feel free to also use it as a bowl for your keys, lip balm, and more.

A retro-inspired Bluetooth speaker & radio

Aresrora Retro Bluetooth Speaker

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You’d expect something as cool as this retro-inspired Bluetooth speaker to cost much more than it does. It looks just like an old-school radio and even features a turn dial that you can use to control the volume. Use the top handle to move the party from the kitchen to the backyard.

A cute travel neck pillow made of memory foam

Niuniu Daddy Travel Neck Pillow

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Snap on this travel neck pillow and even your chin will be supported by the memory foam that makes up its interior. Its soft cover can be removed and washed after each trip.

A panda-shaped essential oil diffuser with 7 light colors to choose from

Biticolor Panda Diffuser

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Add a few drops of lavender or eucalyptus and this panda essential oil diffuser will ensure that the scent fills up your room quickly. As the playful bear exhales, a mist will float into the air — and it’ll automatically turn off based on the timer you set. You can also play around with the color since there are seven different options.

Pushpin hooks that can support more than 6 pounds

Otoolling Adhesive Pushpin Hooks (6-Pack)

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Add color to your walls with these small but mighty pushpin hooks. Each of the six pieces features a different shade but all of them can hold over six pounds. The wooden hooks come with both screws and anchors for installation.

A cast iron key holder that can be used indoors & out

Sungmor Cast Iron Key Holder

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The gorgeous octopus that makes up this cast iron key holder certainly deserves to be displayed in your entryway, but it can also be placed in a ton of other spots. Since it’s so durable, you may even want to use it outdoors. Between its six hooks, you can hold gardening tools, bags, umbrellas, and more.

A toast-shaped seat cushion that upgrades any chair

lumogeva Toast Seat Cushion

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This toast-shaped seat cushion is proof that practical things can be fun. There’s nothing funny about an uncomfortable chair but this unique piece will make you smile as it upgrades any seat with its plush filling and velvety surface. It’s machine washable, too.

A plant propagation station with a built-in grow light

Giunn Plant Propagation Station

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Made with four glass test tubes and a rechargeable grow light, this plant propagation station makes it easy to help your roots grow — and to easily keep track of them. The wooden base is chic enough to be displayed anywhere.

A moss toilet mat with a cool 3D design

THRILRUG Microfiber Moss Toilet Mat

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Give your bathroom some texture and dimension with this moss toilet mat that’s made to look like a 3D topographical map. The microfiber rug will comfort your feet and catch any water that comes its way so your floor stays dry — even after you shower.

A tomato table lamp with a vintage vibe

Cozifycasa Tomato Table Lamp

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Even when not lit, this tomato table lamp will make a beautiful addition to not just the kitchen but any room in your home. It has a vintage vibe that will make people think you found it at a boutique. It measures 6 inches across and comes with a clear stand for display.

A velvety cheese cracker pillow that looks so real

Snack Plushies Cheese Cracker Plush Pillow

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You’re guaranteed to chuckle every time you see this cheese cracker pillow sitting on your bed or couch. The realistic piece will, of course, remind you of your favorite snack but also make nap time even more comfortable.

A mug warmer that can also hold your phone

PUSEE Electric Mug Warmer

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This mug warmer heats up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit so that your coffee tastes fresh at all times — and it can even be used to warm candles without ever lighting a match to disperse their scent. The tiny paws can also be used to prop your phone up so you have a hands-free way to stay on a call. An eight-hour auto shutoff helps keep you safe, too.

A retro alarm clock that displays the date & temperature

RayCue Maclock Pixel Alarm Clock

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This retro alarm clock may look like it’s a vintage computer but along with the time, you’ll have the room temperature and date presented to you as soon as you wake up. Complete with a floppy disk holder to turn it on, this piece will really take you back.

Cat earrings with a clever dangling design

GoHere Black Cat Earrings

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Dangling earrings don’t need to be so serious, and these black cat earrings are the proof. The unfussy pair features stud-style fronts with a googly-eyed cat face along with screw-on backs that have hanging back legs and a tail that sways as you move. “So cute!!!! Everyone loves them!” wrote one fan. “I get compliments all of the time!”

The charming duck soap dish that drains itself

Fewile Ceramic Duck Soap Dish

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Equal parts adorable and practical, this ceramic duck dish will make you smile while also making your bar soap last longer (and keeping it from turning to mush). Just keep your soap in the basin on the duck’s back, and any excess water will drain out through its beak, turning unsavory runoff into something cute and whimsical.

A comfy foot “hammock” you can mount underneath your desk

iMissiu Under Desk Footrest Hammock

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You can kick back and relax while you work — or, at least, your feet can — when you add this footrest hammock to your desk setup. Available in your pick of three colors, the fabric is made of cotton that feels comfy and breathable (especially if you go shoeless). And it comes with steel clips and rope so you can hang it yourself and take your ergonomics to a new level of comfy.

An insulated lunch box that pays homage to your favorite noodles

Bioworld Nissin Top Ramen Lunch Box

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You could brown bag your lunch, or go with something reusable yet unremarkable — or you can make every day feel more delightful just by packing your meal up in this Top Ramen themed lunch box. Designed to look uncannily like a packet of chicken ramen (complete with nutrition facts on the back), it has an insulated construction that makes it just as functional as it is silly. And it’s sure to drum up your appetite, too.

A silly bookmark that takes “bookworm” to a new level

Artori Design Bookworm Bookmark

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For a bookmark with some personality, this friendly-looking bookworm is ready to hold your page and keep you company while you dive into your latest read. It’s designed to slip right over the corner of your page so you don’t lose your spot, and it comes in your choice of three bright colors, making it easy to spot if you stash it in a drawer between uses.

A pencil case that seriously stands out

ZIPIT Monster Pencil Case

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Perfect for stashing anything from desk supplies to makeup and toiletries, this storage case is anything but utilitarian. It has a monster-faced aesthetic, with a zipper that doubles as a gaping mouth when you open it. It comes in several bright colors as well as animal-themed designs, depending on the vibe you’re after.

A microwave dish that’s designed specifically for bacon lovers

Makin Bacon Microwave Bacon Tray

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Perfectly cooked bacon is just minutes away (and way less mess) when you use this handy microwave tray. It has a built-in rack that lets your bacon hang as it cooks, so excess fat and oil drip off for a more delicious final product. The tray can hold up to 12 pieces of pork or turkey bacon, making it easy to whip up breakfast for a group in a hurry. And, with its dishwasher safe design, cleanup is just as simple.

This fun little phone stand that wrangles your device

Genuine Fred Giddy UP Phone Stand

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Anyone who appreciates a Western flair will enjoy this phone stand, which is designed to look like a perky pair of cowboy boots. It has a simple yet versatile design that holds up your phone regardless of whether it’s horizontal or vertical, so you can use it while you’re taking a call, watching a video, or doing a FaceTime. And it comes in a classic brown color or a more festive hot pink.

Unique holders that makes it look like your wine is spilling

Beyond123 Spilled Wine Bottle Holder (2-Pack)

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If you’re here for laughs, these wine bottle holders are an unexpected way to add a little more humor to your day. Each set comes with two bottle holders — one for whites and one for reds — and they feature a convincing looking “puddle” that sits under the cork or cap. Guests will do a double take every time they see it, making it a great conversation piece (or prank, depending on how you view it).

A charming holder for your sticky notes

Post-it Pop-up Note Dispenser

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You’ll never have to go searching for your sticky notes when you have this cute cat holder to store them in. It’s designed especially for classic 3-by-3 inch Post-it notes, and each time you grab a sheet, a new one will pop up between the cat’s paws for later. The holder itself has a compact design at roughly 4 square inches, so it’ll be a welcome companion on your desk without hogging too much space.

A tea infuser that looks like an adorable axolotl having a soak

Genuine Fred RELAXOLOTL Tea Infuser

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Go ahead and try not to be charmed by this little “relaxolotl” tea infuser. The silicone gadget has a two-piece construction that holds your favorite loose leaf teas. The axolotl’s tiny hands hang onto the lip of a mug so it sits perched while your tea brews. And its dishwasher safe so you can just rinse it and toss it in the machine when you’ve finished your cup.

A suction-style night-light that looks like a tiny plunger

Amaredom Plunger Night Light

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You wouldn’t think a plunger could be so cute, but this silly night-light is here to open your mind. At roughly 7 inches tall, it’s about as big as your hand, making it perfect to use bedside while reading. But you can also “suction” it to a wall or just about any place where you need a little warm white light. It has a rechargeable design, so you don’t need to use it near an outlet, and it lasts up to 60 hours at a time.

A dumpster fire “zen garden” with an interactive design

Tian Zhun Dumpster Fire Zen Garden

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Even when it feels like things are flaming garbage, you can try to tap into your inner sense of peace with this funny desktop zen garden. It has an irreverent “dumpster fire” theme, complete with rake-able ash, racoons, and poop piles. It’s all but sure to force you to laugh every time you use it.

Funky silicone hooks that hold onto toothbrushes, razors, & more

iBetterLife Silicone Toothbrush Holders (4-Pack)

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Add some handy vertical storage and personality to your bathroom all at once with these silicone holders. Available in a colorful set of four, each one features four round nubs that grip onto small items, like a toothbrush or a razor. They have suction cup backings, making them easy to install onto any smooth surface. And they’re waterproof too, so you can set them up right inside the shower.

A heroic bookend with a comic book flair

Artori Design Decorative Bookend

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This bookend is here to serve as the heroine of your bookcase, with its sturdy metal construction and superhero silhouette. It creates a cool leaning effect that works well whether you use it for a big stack of books or just a few select reads. “One of the coolest household aesthetic props i have ever bought,” noted one fan.

A smiley toilet paper stamp that gives every roll a hotel-level finish

BURU SOLUTIONS Toilet Paper Stamp

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Add a little flourish to every roll — either for guests or just for yourself — by using this smiley face stamp. All it needs is a little water to leave its embossed design on the ends of your toilet paper rolls. And it also comes in several other fun designs too so you can mix it up for each bathroom.

Soothing bug bite patches with a witchy aesthetic

quitch Mosquito Bite Relief Magic Theme Patches (36-Pack)

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You can channel your inner witch while also banishing the uncomfortable effects of mosquitoes with these cool bug bite patches. They have a “magic” theme, with lightning bolts, dragons, unicorns, and more. The hydrocolloid patches use witch hazel, aloe, and other actives to help soothe the discomfort that comes with bug bites.

This self-draining cutlery holder that looks like an elephant

PELEG DESIGN Cutlery Holder

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This cutlery holder is both a practical kitchen accessory and an artistic accent all in one. It has a geometric elephant design, with a nicely sized slot to hold freshly washed utensils and a drainage spout that lets excess water run right out of its trunk for quick drying.

A retro-inspired caddy that holds all your desk supplies

Milcraft Cassette Tape Dispenser

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This caddy is just about the coolest way you can store your office supplies. Designed to look like a classic cassette tape, it has a built-in spot for tape (where the tape looks like a spool of film), along with spots for pens, scissors, and other small items. It’s perfect for ‘80s and ‘90s kids, old souls, and everyone in between.

Scented pens with that double as tiny lava lamps

Lifelines Scented Lava Gel Pens (5-Pack)

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It’s good vibes all around when you use these quirky pens. They diffuse essential oils as you use them for a pleasant aroma, with five different scents in a set, but they also have a built-in lava lamp like design making them fun for your eyes and your nose all at once.

A weird gadget for easy microwave cleaning

Pund'it Micro Nuke, Microwave Steam Cleaner and Deodorizer

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With an eye-catching “atomic” design, this microwave steam cleaner turns a gross task you might put off to something easy and enjoyable. Simply fill the vessel with a mix of water and vinegar and microwave it for four minutes. The steam it releases will soften and loosen hardened debris so you can wipe your microwave’s surface clean without having to break a sweat.

An essential oil diffuser that looks like a cute capybara soaking

Terra Distribution Stone Diffuser

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This capybara diffuser will make you want to kick back and relax every time you see it. Made of ceramic, it’s designed to spread your favorite scent without using any electricity or batteries — simply add a few drops of your favorite essential oil on top and the passive diffuser will gently spread the aroma. It also comes in a dog-themed design too.

A unique pick that makes easy work of cleaning brushes & vacuum rollers

RollaReleasa Pikk-it Brush Cleaner

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Picking hair out of your brushes or your vacuum’s rollerhead is not the most exhilarating task, but with this “Pikk-it” tool it will take way less time and patience. The handle is designed to let you key into the head of a vacuum without needing to dig for another tool or a coin, and the sharp teeth cut right through hair so you can remove it quickly and move on with your day.

An adorable gadget for hard-boiling eggs

Peleg Design Egguins 3-in-1 Egg Holder

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This penguin egg holder makes it quick and easy to hard or soft boil a big batch at once. With a six-egg capacity, it has a charming design that makes each egg look like the white belly of a penguin. And the sturdy handle makes it a breeze to lower your eggs into a pot of boiling water and carefully pull them out when your eggs are finished.

Reusable grocery bags that look like produce

The Little Green Change Reusable Fruit Grocery Bags (5-Pack)

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Next time you need a reusable bag, consider grabbing one of these fruit totes. With five in a set, each one is made to look like a different fruit when you pack it up into its portable pouch. And it has sturdy handles that make it perfect for carrying groceries, household essentials, or any other items you buy when you’re out and about.

A migraine-relief cap that can be used hot or cold

CONBELLA Migraine Relief Cap

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Whether you decide to put this migraine cap in the microwave or the freezer, the final outcome will be the same — great relief. It will soothe your senses, relieve pressure, soothe puffiness, and more. It will immediately become your quick fix when you begin to feel a headache coming on.

A funny frog eye mask with adjustable eyelids

Shinywear Frog Eye Mask

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Before wearing this frog eye mask and taking the best nap of your life, you can move the eyelid fabric to make it look they’re closed, open, or at half-mast. The band is stretchy to ensure a just-right fit.

Cat keycaps for a custom look & feel

TYRIXKI Keycaps (142 Pieces)

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Your friends will think you had your keyboard custom-made after you pop on these cat keycaps. They come in a pack of 142 pieces to make your workday a bit more fun.

Double helix trellises for tidier climbing plants

Yohsnor Double Helix Plant Trellises (3-Pack)

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Let your climbing plants do their thing by giving them these three plant trellises to wrap around. Since each one has a double-helix design, they’re plenty sturdy. They’re over 15 inches tall, and you can use them indoors or out.

A bronze octopus handle for any door in your home

Octopus Door Handle – Unique Tentacle Design, Heavy Duty Pull, 6.49 x 1.4 x 2.13", Bronze Finish, Ergonomic Handle, Premium Polyresin, Durable & Non-Deformable, 4 Screws, Fits Various Doors & Drawers

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This octopus door handle will definitely stand out in your home. The textured tentacle has a bronze finish and a high quality feel. It’s weather resistant so that it can be installed outdoors as well.

An endless road. Screaming hordes of people emerging from a dark forest. No exit.

There’s no film out in theaters now quite like Alexander Ullom’s It Ends, an existential thriller that plays like a contemporary spin on Jean-Paul Sartre’s classic play No Exit: four friends stuck on a road that just keeps going and going, with no hope of escape. But when Ullom set out to make It Ends with $30,000 and a few of his college friends in 2022, 20th century existentialist plays were not at the top of his mind. The inspiration that sparked It Ends was his own personal crisis.

“No one was supposed to see this movie. No one was ever,” Ullom tells Inverse. “This was a 22-year-old kid with psychosis running [around] and trying to process his existential dread with his friends.”

Ullom is 28 now, and “so old,” in his own words. But that wizened age has allowed him some perspective on the dark, personal crisis he was going through a decade ago, as a young Gen Zer who “happened to be inheriting the world and happened to be moving into adulthood.”

“I was very close to the edge and I was probably thinking about not sticking around and I felt that adulthood was going to be something that was insurmountable for me to stick,” Ullom says candidly. “The rest of existence felt kind of eternal. And I think that's where some of that infinite came from.”

Ironically, or perhaps fittingly, It Ends got stuck in its own kind of limbo since it premiered to rave reviews at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival. Letterboxd picked it up to premiere on the Letterboxd Video Store, a digital rental platform for curated unreleased independent films without distribution, but it was left without a distributor until NEON stepped in to acquire it in December 2025. Even then, It Ends premiered nearly a year later — though its release comes at an interesting time for Gen Z horror, which is experiencing its watershed moment with box office, with hits like Curry Barker’s Obsession and Kane Parsons’ Backrooms. Does Ullom think the success of these two Gen Z-directed thrillers helped finally get It Ends on the road to theaters?

“Obviously I'm very incredibly grateful to Curry and Kane for busting the door open,” Ullom says. “I just think that Gen Z right now is at the age where they are the dominant movers of culture. They're inheriting the economy. Hollywood has not made space for them yet, and now we're about to hit a really, really great young people movie-making renaissance.”

While It Ends seems like it could be the perfect coda to the summer of Gen Z horror, Ullom’s film, with its existential dread and nihilist gallows humor, is arguably the best of the three — at least, it’s the most successful at capturing that particular brand of Gen Z malaise. This might be because its starting point was so deeply personal for Ullom. Or maybe it’s because the ending is so maddeningly ambiguous. Ullom dives deep with Inverse on how exactly It Ends captures the Gen Z experience — and what that ending really means.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for It Ends.

It Ends Ending Explained

As college friends Day (Akira Jackson), Fisher (Noah Toth), and James (Phinehas Yoon), and their old high school friend Tyler (Mitchell Cole) traverse the endless road, their attempts at making sense of — and coping with — their strange new reality slowly begin to fail. And as their in-jokes and chatter fade, and their daily screams into the void no longer work, each of the friends begin to abandon their quest, one by one. The first to go is Tyler, who leaves the car and simply ... stops. It’s implied that he becomes one of the hordes of people from the forest, who lie or sit listlessly on the ground when they’re not running screaming at the car after it stops for too long.

So who are those people, exactly? Ullom gives a somewhat vague answer: “This generation has a very hyperactive nervous system. And I think that the alternative to being in the real world and trying to accomplish your goals, or trying to move forward, is this doom-scroll feedback loop where you're just a hunger. You're just an instinct and you're just getting fed by systems that don't really care about you and are actually actively trying to reduce you to just a hunger.”

He continues, “The people know it's not even really their fault. It's just a lot of victims of circumstance and systems of power that don't really give a f*ck about an average 18-year-old. And it's just people who are lost and just trying to forage, they're just trying to get to the car. If the main characters are trying to find some semblance of structure, so are the people in the woods.”

Miles after Tyler abandons the car, Day and Fisher decide to leave together. Like Tyler, they simply get out of the car and stop, as James — the motivated friend of the group, convinced there’s a way to solve or beat the road — continues on. “James is probably me when I was 18,” Ullom says. “I've definitely had trouble releasing control of my existence to the universe, but there's parts of me in all of them for sure.”

After weeks, months, or maybe years, of driving, James passes more cars that lie abandoned on the side of the road, its drivers lying listlessly beside them. But finally, he reaches a small cul de sac which only has one sign that reads “End of the road.” With nothing else to drive towards, James pauses and turns around, and starts driving back towards his friends.

So what does this mean? “The road ends because of James,” Ullom says cryptically. “That is all I will say about that. The road ended because that's what needed to happen for James specifically.

Compared to the hopeless nihilism of the rest of the film, Ullom sees this ending as “optimistic.” He says, “It's an optimistic ending. Once he hits that dead end, he's free. He is going back.”

So is there hope for Gen Z, and this hopeless, endless world they’re set to inherit? Ullom isn’t sure if he has an answer for that, but “there's something about entering your formative years and having to choose who you're going to be for the rest of your life and choose your values and your moral structure and everything that's going to. Which is kind of unfair because you're 18 to do that.”

He adds, “And in the same way, these kids are unequipped to turn onto an endless road.”

Was This The Only Ending For It Ends?

It Ends almost had a different ending. Ullom declined to reveal what, but says that this “ended up being the ending because of how the character of James formed and what he was wanting.”

So what could’ve been an alternate ending for It Ends? “One friend kept pitching me, he's like, ‘Dude, there should just be a giant ramp. There should be a giant ramp and there's a huge cavern and James just chickens out,’” Ullom says, chuckling. But even to this day, this friend, Wes, still will come up to Ullom and say, “Should have done a ramp, dude. You should have made it a ramp."

You can still make it end with a ramp, I joke, and then it turns into Jackass. “Literally,” Ullom says with a grin.

It Ends is currently playing in theaters.

Post-apocalypse shows vary according to the apocalypse itself. In Fallout, it’s a nuclear blast that creates a wasteland. In The Last of Us, it’s a virus that turns people into zombies. In Snowpiercer, it’s a climate crisis.

But Apple TV’s Silo is a little different. In Season 1, we were introduced to Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson), a resident in an underground silo where the inhabitants have no memory of what put them there — they only know that it’s not safe inside.

In Season 3, we’re finally learning about the silo’s origins in a series of flashbacks to the “Before Times.” As journalist Helen Drew (Jessica Henwick) and Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman) investigate a strange occurrence during a Navy mission, they eventually stumble on a vast conspiracy involving trillionaire Per Stensen (Colin Hanks). In the penultimate episode of the season, we finally get some answers from Per — and they reveal the reason the silos were built in the first place.

Warning! Spoilers for Silo Season 3 Episode 8, “Gray Goo,” ahead!

After having their car hijacked, Helen and Daniel are brought to Georgia, where Per Stensen and Senator Thurman lay out exactly what they’ve been fighting in secret: nanotechnology. Charlotte’s mission was to take out a nanoweapon facility in Iran, but they ran into a cloud full of nanoweapons that took over her plan in seconds. But apparently, there was a contingency plan.

“Your friends, Daniel, in the Army Corps of Engineers spent two years digging a 75-mile tunnel from Turkmenistan to right below the Iranian facility,” Senator Thurman’s daughter Anna says. “The second your squad came under attack, we blew up their facility with a low-yield nuclear weapon.”

That’s why Per is secretly building the silos, as a contingency plan for when this nanotechnology goes global. Helen is skeptical and asks why he doesn’t use his money to cure cancer or solve world hunger, and it’s then that Per reveals that nanotechnology isn’t the only motivation for this project; it’s just one of many.

“Could I stop this with money? Maybe buy Iran,” he says. “Would we be safe then? I mean, safe from Iran, but not from the troll who lives in his mother’s basement who decides he wants to hack into missile command and launch WWIII, or release a virus that he made with Crispr, or God forbid, make a nanoweapon for $300 and turns you and everyone else on the planet Earth into gray goo. Any one of these is the end of our species.”

Stensen and Thurman try to bring Charlotte, Helen, and Daniel into the fold, and while Charlotte takes them up on it, Helen and Daniel choose not to. “If somehow you’re right about the end of the world, I think I’d rather be blown to bits by a nuke or turn into gray goo by nano than stick around for your post-apocalyptic underground mole-people party,” Helen says.

Per’s motivations may seem like just a doomer attitude from what is obviously an Elon Musk analog, but what it’s really doing is setting the stage for the reveal Silo fans have been waiting three seasons for: which one of these “gray goo” scenarios is the one that actually happens in the future. With one episode left in Season 3 and Season 4 being the final season of the series as a whole, it’s only a matter of time until we find out.

It’s likely the Season 3 finale will solve this big mystery, but it will only open up a new one for Season 4: how does this project tie into what Juliette and the rest of the Silo dwellers are experiencing in the future, and what will happen to Helen and Daniel since they turned down a chance at survival from a catastrophic event we know will happen?

Silo Season 3 is now streaming on Apple TV.

Even after 18 years, DC Comics and Warner Bros. haven’t replicated the reliable output of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it sure seems like James Gunn is determined to strong-arm this newest attempt into success. Since becoming co-CEO of DC Studios back in 2022, Gunn has constructed an ambitious Chapter One of the burgeoning DC Universe franchise on-screen, with plans to introduce new versions of Batman (separate from Matt Reeves’ incarnation) and Wonder Woman in solo films while also making room for smaller projects like the upcoming Clayface. The critical and commercial success of last year’s Superman felt like a solid foundation to build on, but this summer’s box office failure of Supergirl throws everything into question.

But one struggling movie isn’t going to stop such an expensive locomotive, and there are still a lot more DC Universe projects coming, including the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow and Lanterns, a TV adaptation of the Green Lantern mythos. There are also numerous spin-offs in the works, from a TV show about Superman MVP Mr. Terrific to an animated retelling of Tom King’s Mister Miracle comic book miniseries. The most surprising of these shows is the untitled Jimmy Olsen series, and it’s the one that just picked up the most steam with an unexpected casting announcement.

What is The Title of the Jimmy Olsen Spinoff?

On August 21, 2026, the Jimmy Olsen spinoff received its official title and green light: The People v. Gorilla Grodd. The series is an eight-episode half-hour comedy following Superman breakout Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) as he reopens a murder-mystery case involving Gorilla Grodd.

The series is executive produced by James Gunn, Peter Safran, Tony Yacenda, and Dan Perrault. Yacenda and Perrault also serve as showrunners and writers. Per HBO, all episodes will be directed by Tony Yacenda.

Who is In The People v. Gorilla Grodd Cast?

With the announcement of the show’s green light, HBO revealed its cast list of returning Superman veterans and new cast members.

• Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen
• Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd
• "Superman" actors Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard
• Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant
• Wendell Pierce as Perry White.

The series also stars Mary Holland, Eduardo Franco, Arian Moayed, Dan Perrault, Andrew Leeds, and Tim Baltz in yet-unannounced roles.

What Is The Plot Of The People v. Gorilla Grodd?

With the announcement of the show, HBO revealed a logline for The People v. Gorilla Grodd:

A superintelligent ape is convicted of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. In an eight-part “true” crime docuseries, the Daily Planet’s Jimmy Olsen reopens the case, investigating whether Gorilla Grodd was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis’ most famous murder trials.

HBO also released a cheeky news bulletin from The Daily Planet, revealing more of the in-world context in which The People v. Gorilla Grodd takes place.

The series will be modeled after a true-crime docuseries hosted by Olsen, presumably in the vein of Netflix’s American Vandal, the creators of which have been confirmed as showrunners). This approach seems to be confirmed by the statement from DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran, who said, “Between Skyler’s wonderful performance and the fantastic chemistry of the Daily Planet cast, we knew coming out of ‘Superman’ that this would be a fun world to explore. We're excited to work with the brilliant Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda to take the audience down some of the darker and funnier streets and alleyways of the DCU as Jimmy spotlights the Metropolis criminal justice system for his docuseries.”

If the show makes it to a second season, there’s the possibility that it could function like an anthology series, with a focus on a new case every year. For those unsure as to why a Jimmy Olsen spinoff has been ordered so early in the DCU’s lifespan, it might be its potential to introduce new corners of the DC Universe before we get a project like The Flash to properly flesh them out.

Is There A Trailer For The People v. Gorilla Grodd?

There isn’t a trailer for the upcoming Jimmy Olsen mocku-series yet, as the show has just begun filming. We’ll update this page with more information when a trailer does drop.

Is There A Release Date For The People v. Gorilla Grodd?

There’s no release date yet, but considering the show is set to begin filming later this year, it’s a safe assumption that it’ll air sometime in 2027.

Warner Bros. has been trying to get a cinematic DC Universe off the ground for years now, and aside from the short-lived Snyderverse, this has been its strongest attempt. With the back-to-back releases of Superman and Supergirl establishing the Kryptonian status quo, and other films like The Brave and the Bold and an untitled Wonder Woman film already in motion, it’s clear that Gunn is moving fast to establish the franchise’s other tentpole foundations. Although a Jimmy Olsen spinoff show feels like a strange move from the outside looking in, it may be a clever way to tease characters fans might not expect to see for some time.

Netflix shows are notorious for taking a while to make it from development to streaming screens across the globe, and it’s only getting worse. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the average wait between streaming show seasons was 10 months in 2016. A decade later, that’s doubled to 21 months. But for certain shows, 21 months is just the start. There were four years between Black Mirror Season 5 and Season 6, and three years between Stranger Things Season 3 and Season 4 and Seasons 4 and 5.

Unfortunately, the shows with long gaps are often the ones fans look forward to the most, like animated series Blue Eye Samurai. The gorgeously crafted historical epic introduced audiences to onna-musha Mizu back in 2023, and even though it was renewed for a Season 2 not long after, we won’t see it until January 2027. At least we have a trailer for the new series, which you can check out below.

In the trailer for Blue Eye Samurai Season 2, Mizu (Maya Erskine) leaves her home of Japan to head to London in order to get revenge on her enemies. But since this is 17th century, that travel isn’t easy, and much of this trailer actually focuses on the long and stormy ship ride to get there in the first place.

Netflix released this trailer and the January 2027 release date at Anime NYC, but that wasn’t the only big announcement: the streamer also announced a third and final season of the series. It may be bittersweet, but there is one irrefutable silver lining to this development: Season 3 is currently scheduled to premiere in 2028, so we won’t see another multi-year wait in between seasons.

Blue Eye Samurai may be coming to an end in a few years, but a renewal for Season 3 before Season 2 has even premiered shows the faith Netflix has in the series. That makes sense — Season 1 won four different Creative Arts Emmys back in 2023, including the coveted trophy for Outstanding Animated Program.

But if this series is so popular both with audiences and awards voters, then why bring it to an end? The answer isn’t Netflix being stingy with its resources. In fact, this was the showrunners’ plan, even if it wasn’t the plan from the beginning. “Currently, we’re planning for three seasons. We have a second season pick-up, one hopes the third season will exist because we certainly have plans for it,” co-creator Michael Green told Collider back in 2024. “We’re imagining three right now. I think we said four once in an interview, possibly with Collider, and it suddenly became 'the lore!' Things you say when you’re not used to being interviewed.”

So while Blue Eye Samurai may be coming to an end, fans should take comfort in the fact that they will, eventually, see the full story the creators set out to tell — and that’s something that’s increasingly rare for Netflix series.

Blue Eye Samurai Season 2 premieres on Netflix in January 2027.

Horror is a genre that viewers love to classify and categorize. Oftentimes it can be intellectually rewarding to recognize trends and ideas that link certain kinds of films together — whether it be body horror, slashers, “elevated” horror — but sometimes it can be a rigid way of engaging with a work that might be too broad or too hyper-specific to pin down.

Already there are conversations grouping together the success of movies like Obsession and Backrooms to the nebulous concept of Gen Z horror, and there’s a cynical inclination to ask whether it’s motivated by Hollywood’s desire to identify a marketable niche by which to profit off how well-received those movies were with younger audiences. It’d be easy to assume that the success of those movies can be boiled down to a simple formula, a single answer that will unlock an easy path to perpetual buzz and untold riches. But as proved by It Ends, a brisk, youthful-minded indie horror flick that has fought tooth and nail to get to theaters, the genre bucks simple classification and easy answers as hard as the increasingly incomprehensible world around us.

In an interview with Slant Magazine, director Alexander Ullom described comparisons between It Ends and Backrooms as being indicative of the fact that “there’s no set direction as to where Gen Z is going.” He continues to explain that “there’s this comfort in a transitionary state because it’s become the state we exist in forever.” It’s an incredibly succinct summation of the pervading anxieties of his incredibly simple film, in which a group of friends on the cusp of real adulthood take a detour down a road that stretches on into forever.

As if preparing viewers for the lonely, Sisyphean fate awaiting them, It Ends opens with a vast night sky pierced by trees and an abandoned white Jeep, before jumping back an indiscriminate amount of time to the inside of that same vehicle (a view audiences will certainly become familiar with) parked outside an apartment complex. Recent college graduates Day (Akira Jackson), Fisher (Noah Toth), and James (Phinehas Yoon) are leaving campus and heading out into the real world, and their old high school friend Tyler (Mitchell Cole) is giving them a ride home. In the midst of catching up (over a riveting intellectual discussion about a hypothetical skirmish between 50 hawks and a lone gunman), Tyler makes a turn down a forest road, and before long their conversation becomes decidedly more panicked as the group realizes their journey may never end.

At first, there’s the expected confusion and terror — the first time the friends stop the car to get their bearings, they’re attacked by a horde of strangers hiding in the woods, presumably other people who got lost in the eerie liminal space. There’s an initial sense of danger and unknowability represented by the dense woods and the invisible supernatural forces at play, and while that cosmic horror-tinged air of mystery never disperses, eventually the film settles into a different kind of terror: that of endless, perpetual monotony. What happens when inexplicable pandemonium becomes the norm, when a nightmare settles into the rhythm of the everyday?

The answer is: absolutely nothing. Dance ironically in the face of your own impending mortality; make top-text bottom-text memes on your phone about the endless road; scream in the face of abject helplessness. If there’s anything that links It Ends to Backrooms, it’s the mundanity with which they both depict the senseless and unexplainable, which makes sense for a generation that has been live-tweeting what feels like the apocalypse for most of the time they’ve been alive.

The friction between terror and acceptance gives the film’s young ensemble a lot of room to make these characters feel lived in, and the outlines of their history are the strings that become frayed by their predicament. Without ever feeling too expository, you pick up on the distance between Tyler and the others and the world-weariness in him from not going to college; you see how Day’s brush with suicidal ideation gives her a distinct perspective on their situation; you understand that James’ preconceived ideas about his life drive him to search for answers even when the others understand that they’re not coming. The film demands an emotional journey from its actors and they deliver it with remarkable depth.

The film’s visual language also undergoes a journey — the opening half is filled with the kind of intense close-ups, dark nighttime lighting, and frenzied, rapid editing you’d expect from something suspenseful and fraught, but after a period of exploration and experimentation with the logic of the woods, things start to shift. The film brightens, the forest takes on the warm affectation of a late 2010s coming-of-age hangout film, and the pacing slows down to a mundane, contemplative crawl. Even if an overreliance on shallow focus feels unintentionally monotonous at times, there’s a clear effort in the visual storytelling to convey how our characters’ relationship with their predicament is changing.

The central allegory of It Ends is a sobering reflection of what it feels like to reach adulthood at a time when it feels like the central undergirding of society is collapsing, and it takes some characters longer to accept the banality of it all than others. While the industry will no doubt gladly sort it rank and file alongside this year’s other big horror successes as shining examples of “Gen Z horror,” it’s a movie that exemplifies what horror has always done well: provide a space for us to scream in terror over our anxieties about the world.

It Ends is now playing in theaters.

Six years onward, it’s easy to take for granted just what a devastating blow to the theatrical experience the 2020 lockdowns were. Everything almost immediately dried up an industry that had just come off a record-shattering year in 2019, and the widespread and necessary adoption of streaming as a theatrical alternative (especially in the case of Warner Bros’ and HBO Max’s hybrid release model, which affected films like The Suicide Squad and Dune: Part One) was a shift theaters still haven’t quite recovered from. But with 2026 so far appearing like a return to form, due to movies as small as Obsession and as massive as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, one would think it’s officially safe to say “theaters are back.”

And while it’s a massive gamble to say whether that’s true or not, what can be said with certainty is that the theatrical experience is forever changed. Although the introduction of subscriptions like AMC Stubs and Regal Unlimited has undoubtedly made trips to the theater more convenient and less expensive for those with them, ticket prices continue to balloon, which has made theatergoing a more exclusive experience and has also led to the kind of premium ticket scrambling and scalping that plagued Christopher Nolan’s billion-dollar box-office smash The Odyssey. Now the exact same chaos has unfolded with regard to the pre-sales for the upcoming Dune: Part Three, and the intensity of the problem pokes at persistent questions about the future of the theater experience that feel overlooked by all the celebration about 2026.

Where Did All The Joy Go?

After the first round of IMAX early screening tickets sold out back in April, Dune: Part 3 once again began selling pre-order tickets on August 18 for advanced screenings. Those screenings won’t be happening until December 14 and 15 (three days before the film’s wide release), but that hasn’t stopped the internet from collectively losing its mind in pursuit of them. Twitter and other social media platforms were filled with horror stories of unbearable ticket queues and even apps crashing under pressure, and that’s not even to mention the real-life nightmare of scalpers buying 80 tickets at a time while genuine fans languished trying to get even one.

It’s almost impossible to imagine, but there was a time when this pandemonium wasn’t the case. In the days of the 70s through the 90s, when blockbusters weren’t quite the financial bedrock of the industry the way they are now, theatergoers used to have to wait in lines and sometimes even camp out before a screening to buy tickets; even in the early 2000s, when digital sales were becoming prominent, you’d still have to wait to claim the seats you wanted. There was a sense of camaraderie to camping out for hours just to get tickets for The Phantom Menace in 1999, or seeing The Dark Knight on opening night. Yes, scapplers existed then, too, but for the most part, you were in line with other fans who were there for no reason other than sheer dedication.

Early Ticket Chaos Is A Sign Of The Times

That charm has sadly been replaced by a cynicism born out of exclusivity and greed. Filmmakers are increasingly shooting in large formats like IMAX 70mm, and while the value is evident on-screen, there are only 41-45 theaters in the world (and 25 in the States) that can properly screen the format – which means people are going to be fighting over seats, and as The Odyssey has recently shown, that fight will continue long after opening weekend. On top of the desperation felt by regular people competing to see a film in the intended way, unless platforms like AMC and Fandango become more vigilant, the reality of people buying dozens of tickets just to resell them for thousands of dollars will become a more common practice until ticket presales for the next Avengers movie start to resemble the free-for-all on Ticketmaster over a Taylor Swift concert.

Unfortunately, theater subscriptions aren’t helping the problem of exclusivity either – while they’re undoubtedly a great idea and have been instrumental in the steady rise of theater attendance since the lockdowns, they also serve as a bit of a justification to continue raising ticket prices in an effort to push people to subscribe. It’s a situation that’s only going to get more unbearable if AMC goes through with plans to introduce “preferred premiere seating,” which would allow A-List and Stubs subscribers first dibs on the best seats in the theater; essentially, anyone who still buys movie tickets the old fashioned way will eventually have to scramble for whatever scrap seats are left after A-List members and scalpers are done pillaging. It’s exciting to watch the uproar over high-quality blockbusters like The Odyssey and Dune: Part 3, and it’s an understandable instinct to be excited about movie theaters being “back,” but it’s worth considering if they’re back for everyone or only a select, privileged elite.

Dune: Part Three hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

More than any other subject matter, writers writing about writing can veer off into navel-gazing irrelevance. The world doesn’t need more stories about 20-something Brooklynites trying to make it with only a pen and a dream, unless those stories are bold enough to throw some evil robots in at the halfway mark.

Barton Fink doesn’t quite do that, but when the Coen brothers’ black comedy came out 35 years ago today, it certainly veered in a direction that’s all but impossible for first-time viewers to predict. And while a writer writing about writers writing about writing threatens to become downright somnambulant, it’s a movie worth looking back on now that so many self-proclaimed creators are trying to skip past the writing process entirely.

It’s 1941, and Barton Fink is a New York playwright fresh off a hit. He reluctantly heads to Hollywood to make big bucks while he’s a hot commodity, but he can’t wrap his head around his first assignment. As Fink struggles to bash out a simple wrestling movie in a rundown hotel staffed entirely by Steve Buscemi, he befriends his neighbor, roving insurance salesman Charlie Meadows (John Goodman). Fink encounters interesting characters on his Hollywood journey, like a profane producer with little regard for his craft and a Faulkner-like alcoholic played by a pitch-perfect John Mahoney. But it’s his relationship with Meadows, which encompasses drinkin’, wrasslin’, and a whole lot more, that forms the movie’s bizarre core.

Written when the Coens were struggling to finish Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink can superficially be interpreted as being about writer’s block, but that’s just the first of its many alienating layers. Released five years before Fargo catapulted the Coens into the mainstream, Barton Fink lost a lot of money and faded into the depths of their filmography; it’s no obscurity, but it’s not something the average viewer is likely to fire up after plowing through No Country for Old Men, either. We won’t spoil how the film’s conventional first hour gives way to a nightmarish second half, but Joel Coen once suggested that he and his brother were teasing critics with Barton Fink’s layers of symbolism and allusions, and it’s not hard to see what he meant.

What is clear is that Fink is a ruthless caricature of the self-important writer, one who drones on and on about how his work is meant to make art accessible to the common man despite spending most of the movie talking over the one common man he meets. Fink is contemptuous of the Hollywood system, and there are moments where you can see why, but ultimately, he’s the one who can’t earn his fat paycheck by completing a simple B-movie. When he finally manages to write his script, he ignores his instructions and delivers an unusable echo of the play that might be the only good idea he’ll ever have.

The preening, ineffectual artist would be skewered by the Coens again in Hail Caesar, and one of many ideas they throw at the wall here is the question of whether stories have real intellectual value, or whether they’re all just wrestling pictures designed to make a buck and pass some time. Barton Fink has been interpreted as a commentary on everything from the feeling of being trapped in your own mind to how the world sleepwalked into WWII, so let’s throw one more idea atop the teetering pile: when Fink opines on what art should be, it’s hard not to think of the irritating lectures we’re hearing today.

That writing can be seen as a noble calling while also being fundamentally worthless is not a new contradiction; everyone loves going to the movies, but no one loves the thought of their child trying to become a screenwriter. Today, though, as Amazon is flooded with LLM-written books, publishers stumble into LLM controversies, and even fanfic communities argue about LLMs, the gap is increasingly pernicious. Hollywood is toying with AI too, and one gets the sense that, for all his blustering talk of valuing writers, Fink’s boss would replace them all with machines in a heartbeat. As LLM boosters have helpfully explained, the ability to write is so emotionally and culturally valuable that we must forcibly strip it of all financial value.

With a little help from communities like r/WritingWithAI, you can now use AI plot and character generators and wrap the end product in an AI cover, all of which is supposedly done, in an echo of Fink’s ironic words, for the common man. How else are we supposed to make such an esoteric art accessible? But as Fink finally discovers, there’s only ever been one secret to writing: you have to sit your ass down and do it.

And so it’s hard not to feel a little sorry for Barton as he tortures himself with delusions of grandeur. He’s been told his work can change the world, but he’s a writer who doesn’t understand or even like people, and to say that limits his range turns out to be an understatement. Commercially and artistically, a story is only worth what someone gets out of it. We’ll still be talking about Barton Fink in another 35 years, and Hollywood’s many proverbial wrestling movies can give us a little joy, too. But no matter how many factories are built to bypass the typewriter, all their so-called stories will fall by the wayside in a hurry.

Barton Fink is available on YouTube.

The sixth episode of Strange New Worlds Season 4 sees the crew of the USS Enterprise transformed into puppets. From a technical standpoint, in real life, this was achieved through a collaboration with the world-famous Jim Henson Creature Workshop, but in the sci-fi storytelling of the actual episode, the transformation is caused by a the titular “Level-Five Transporter Accident,” meaning, like many Treks before it, this episode uses the Final Frontier’s most useful conveyance — beaming — and turns it into a sci-fi plot device for reality-alterting events. From early TOS episodes like “The Enemy Within” (split into two people) to TNG’s “Rascals” (transporter turns you into a little kid) and on and on. “Level-Five Transporter Accident” is perhaps the most visually ambitious of these episode types, but on paper, probably not the craziest thing Star Trek has ever done with the transporter.

And when you put aside the visual gimmick, “Level-Five Transporter Accident,” intentionally or not, is making commentary on the distance limitations of transporters, and it might have just fixed a weird canon problem with the Kelvin Timeline along the way.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Strange New Worlds Season 4, Episode 6, “Level-Five Transporter Accident.”

Strange New Worlds Puppet episode seems to explain a 2009 Star Trek mystery

What are the distance limitations on beaming in general? When you consider the concept of a teleportation device on a starship, the fact that Scotty (or Chief O’Brien) can beam a crew member pretty much anywhere on any given planet from orbit is nothing short of miraculous. And the notion of pushing the boundaries of the transporter is at the center of why everything happens in this episode at all. As Spock’s voiceover personal log tells us at the start of “Level-Five Transporter Accident,” Scotty is “eager to see ships are needed for transportation at all.”

Here, we learn Scotty has a rivalry with a guy named Deckland, who, at this time, holds the record for the most distance traversed in a long-distance transport. Scotty attempting to break that record creates the whole problem, and, for reasons better hand-waved away, the entire crew (sans Spock) are transformed into puppets.

The notion of long-distance transport is probably best remembered from the 2009 film, the Star Trek reboot, which technically had an alternate universe version of Scotty, as played by Simon Pegg. In that film, Spock from the future (and the prime reality) told Kelvin Scotty that at some point, regular Scotty developed a formula for transwarp beaming, and that long-distance matter transportation is totally possible at some point in Scotty’s future.

So if we acknowledge that Spock’s knowledge of Scotty’s long-distance beaming formula comes from the Prime Timeline, then it stands to reason that SNW is showing us some early version of Scotty’s tinkering with these ideas. And, more relevantly, the fact that Scotty’s long-distance beaming antics created a total catastrophe in “Level-Five Transporter Accident” could explain why we never really heard about his long-distance beaming formula until Old Spock brought it up. Maybe turning the entire crew into puppets made him back off on that research?

Scotty’s long history with transporter problems

In addition to accidentally splitting Kirk into a good Kirk and a bad Kirk, and also getting stuck in an alternate evil universe, Scotty’s ultimate fate in The Next Generation is also tied to transporters. In the TNG episode “Relics,” the crew of the Enterprise-D discovers an older Scotty, who put himself into the transporter buffer for decades in order to survive. SNW has made a reference to this eventual fate in Season 4, Episode 4, when Scotty says: “Cross my heart, and hope to get stuck in a pattern buffer.”

When incumbent Scotty actor Martin Quinn spoke to Inverse about Scotty’s connection to transporter mishaps, he joked: “It’s nice to know that transporter difficulties just follow Scotty around for his whole life.”

Clearly, for Star Trek’s resident miracle worker, the miracle tech of beaming is a blessing, and a curse.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams on Paramount+.

Phasers on Stun!: How the Making — and Remaking — of Star Trek Changed the World

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Starved as the industry might be for viable intellectual property to revive, not every franchise can come back to life as easily as another. Take FX’s Sons of Anarchy, a modern-day retelling of Hamlet that turned the prince’s kingdom into an infamous outlaw motorcycle club. The series was one of the channel’s biggest hits, attracting millions of viewers across its seven (!) seasons and a loyal, vocal fanbase. But when Sons of Anarchy came to an end, it really closed the door on its characters. Many of them bit the dust even before the show reached its final season. Again, this was basically Hamlet — and that meant its leading man got a definitive, if tragic, ending. While this story did technically continue with a spin-off, the tale of Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) began and ended with Sons.

Still, when its stars are creative enough, a show finds a way to come back to life. Hunnam himself has been working on a pitch for a Sons of Anarchy revival — but the only way to resurrect this series is to tackle it from a meta perspective.

FX will soon reunite the Sons of Anarchy cast in Legends, a “meta-thriller” that might have more in common with Entourage than the original series. Hunnam and his co-stars — Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal, Maggie Siff, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Kim Coates and Theo Rossi — will play fictionalized versions of themselves, reunited for an appearance at a fan convention. According to the official synopsis, “the line between life and art blurs as the fractured brotherhood finds itself up against a real-world threat more dangerous than anything they ever faced in their show.” There’s no telling what that threat could be, as Sons of Anarchy unleashed some crazy stuff on its characters. But that (apart from watching this cast playing themselves) might be just the hook that will draw diehards in.

Another intriguing nugget comes from Hunnam’s involvement with Legends. According to FX president Nick Grad, the actor pitched the concept for the spinoff, and will serve as a writer and executive producer in addition to starring in it. “When Charlie brought us this inspired idea, we instantly sparked to his bold and entertaining vision,” Grad said in a statement. “Charlie’s talents are on full display as a writer, performer and executive producer, leading the real-life brotherhood on an adventure that is both a love letter to the series and a fun meta twist on what fans think they know.”

It’s still early days, but Legends could present a fascinating alternative to the tired reboot formula. The spinoff might not start a new trend (hopefully), but at least we’re getting a revival that thinks outside the box for a change.

Legends does not yet have a release date.

Marvel giveth, and sometimes Marvel taketh away — but the stories that the franchise has chosen to cull lately reveal a telling pattern. It’s something that Marvel’s shrewdest critics (this writer included) have been monitoring for years now: there was a time when the studio was making a concerted push for more diverse stories, but the MCU has been walking those efforts back in earnest lately. The long-gestating Blade reboot, which had been in tumultuous development since 2019, was finally canceled in July. Then there’s Wonder Man, the critically acclaimed series that briefly got renewed for a second season before Marvel thought better of it and pulled the plug.

When Wonder Man got the axe, a smattering of optimistic theories rose up to make the best of the cancellation. Maybe the eponymous hero (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who’s been nominated for an Emmy for his performance) would be making the jump to big-screen fare, like a West Coast Avengers movie — or, my favorite theory: a Rush Hour-inspired two-hander between Simon Williams and Shang-Chi (Simu Liu). Unfortunately, according to Abdul-Mateen himself, the reason for Wonder Man’s cancellation isn’t coming with a consolation prize.

“I was told that it had something to do with the viewership numbers,” the actor recently told Vanity Fair. “I wasn’t told what those numbers were, but ultimately, for whatever reason it was, I think they decided that it didn’t make sense for business, and that’s the decision that we live with.”

That may be the reality, but it’s not one fans necessarily have to accept. In a recent video addressing the show’s cancellation, Wonder Man co-showrunner Andrew Guest encouraged conversations about “the kind of stories that we’re prioritizing, and the kind of shows platforms want to make,” between Marvel fans and TV fans alike. Those conversations have been especially fraught after the revelation that Marvel is moving on from its attempts to make Blade and instead fast-tracking a Ghost Rider movie with Ryan Gosling. Then there’s the incumbent return of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) in Avengers: Doomsday. Many fear it will undermine the authority of the new Captain America, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), especially after his disappointing solo outing in Brave New World. (It doesn’t help that Marvel was reportedly courting Evans to return since 2018: did Sam Wilson as Cap ever stand a chance?)

No matter where you turn in the MCU, Black-led stories just don’t seem to be a priority anymore. Black Panther created the kind of cultural moment that most studios could only dream of, but Marvel itself didn’t do much to honor that momentum. The films and shows that followed that phenomenon were either beleaguered by messy productions and bad scripts (Brave New World and Blade) or made the scapegoat for an angry fanbase (The Marvels and Ironheart). Even its leads are taking notice.

“I think the optics are obvious,” Abdul-Mateen admitted. “If I’m Disney, if I’m Marvel, I don’t want to be attached to these optics. So it should be a priority to change that narrative and to do what it takes to responsibly change that narrative with quality stories, with quality resources.”

Ironically, the blueprint to better storytelling lies within the show Marvel just canceled. “I felt that [Wonder Man] did have quality story, did have quality resources, did have quality actors and people, and did produce quality results that the viewers responded to positively,” Abdul-Mateen said. The show deserves “some study,” the actor continued — not only into why it was so successful, but why, almost in spite of that success, Marvel continues to cannibalize itself.

Wonder Man is streaming on Disney+.

Ash Williams is laying down his boomstick. And good for him. It was hard enough for him to watch two girlfriends in a row get turned into Deadites back in the ‘80s, and then before he even had the chance to finish his shift at S-Mart, he got hurled back into the medieval era to fight stop-motion skeletons. He tried to leave the supernatural butt-kicking game after that, but he just couldn’t park the Necronomicon on the shelf, and his adventures continued on premium cable. Comics, video games, cameos in other Evil Dead movies — our guy is tired.

And so, while it’s definitely sad — especially for those of us who grew up with the character — it’s with gratitude and wistful nostalgia that we report Bruce Campbell is retiring the character of Ash for good. He said as much in a new interview with ScreenRant, telling the outlet that “Ash is done.” And although Campbell had previously hinted that he might be up for voicing the character in an animated revival, he added that he will “not [be] going to do any animated voice work" as Ash, either. "There are ways to [recreate my voice] now,” he said, presumably referring to voice-cloning software and/or AI voice generators.

This comes in the wake of Campbell’s announcement that “appearances and cons and work in general need to take a back seat” as he embarks on a series of treatments for a “treatable, but not curable” form of cancer. This happened back in March, and since then Campbell has been quiet except for promoting his new movie, Ernie & Emma, a passion project and Campbell’s first movie as a director since My Name is Bruce back in 2007.

But while this announcement presumably has a lot to do with Campbell’s health and plans for his own future, after 45 years as the same character — especially a character that’s been closely tied to Campbell’s own image — we wouldn’t blame him if he just wanted to give Ash a rest. Campbell was an executive producer on Evil Dead Burn, but was minimally involved in this latest film. The franchise is going in a different direction by bringing in new directors and characters: the next installment, Evil Dead Wrath, directed by Last Stop in Yuma County’s Francis Galluppi, is reportedly a prequel, with Alyssa Sutherland’s Ellie poised to become the new connecting tissue between the films. They’re going to be fine.

As for Ash, it’s finally time for him to crack open a Shemp’s Beer and relax — if he ever gets tired of space truckin’, of course.

Ash Vs. Evil Dead is streaming on Pluto TV. Sam Raimi’s original trilogy — The Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn, and Army of Darkness — is currently available on HBO Max.

If the 2000s gave us some of the best children’s media of the century, then the 2010s spent a lot of time trying and failing to adapt them to the big screen. Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender got a much-derided live-action remake in 2010, as did the first book in Rich Riordan’s seminal YA series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Those films both live on as a black mark in their respective fandoms, a sign of everything that shouldn’t be done with a beloved property. After 10 years, both franchises are trying again — and while Netflix’s Avatar reboot is proving how hard it is to shake old habits, Disney’s Percy Jackson remake has become the paragon of adaptations done right.

After two solid seasons, Percy Jackson and the Olympians has more than lived up to expectations. And with three books left in the mainline series to adapt, the adventures of its title hero (played by Walker Scobell) are only just beginning. Here’s everything we know about the next season of Percy Jackson, from its potential release date to the new characters joining the fray.

Is Percy Jackson Season 3 happening?

Yes, it is. In fact, it’s already well underway. Percy Jackson was renewed for a third season in 2025, and filming for Season 3 wrapped early in 2026. According to the show’s official social media page, it’ll return with new episodes “later this year.”

Percy Jackson fans also got a surprise first look at the new season in a mid-credits tease attached to the Season 2 finale. In it, Percy and his trusted friend, Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), are standing awkwardly together during a dance. After a beat of silence, Annabeth takes Percy by the hand and leads him onto the dance floor. Their relationship will progress big time in Season 3, and this first dance is just the tip of the iceberg.

Does Percy Jackson Season 3 have a release date?

Yes! Percy Jackson Season 3 will premiere on Disney+ on November 20, as confirmed by Entertainment Weekly ahead of San Diego Comic-Con 2026.

What will Percy Jackson Season 3 be about?

Season 3 of Percy Jackson will adapt the third book in Riordan’s series, The Titan’s Curse. It’s a much darker chapter of Percy’s adventures at Camp Half-Blood, pitching our hero on a quest to rescue the missing Greek deity Artemis. When Annabeth disappears during a routine recruitment mission gone awry, Artemis sets off to rescue her — only to be captured by Atlas, the Titan who holds up the sky. Percy teams up with his best friend Grover (Aryan Simhadri), the recently resurrected Thalia Grace (Tamara Smart), the Hunters of Artemis, and two new, very powerful demigods to uncover yet another godly conspiracy and save their friends.

As Kronos, the father of the Greek pantheon, gains more power, Percy will also have to reckon with the “Great Stirring.” Monsters and beasts that were previously lost to time are returning to wreak havoc on the mortal world — and there’s also the matter of the Great Prophecy, which foretells the destruction of Olympus and is coming ever closer to fruition.

Who is in the cast for Percy Jackson Season 3?

As most of the Percy Jackson cast emerged from the Sea of Monsters unscathed, we can expect the following actors to return in Season 3:

• Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson
• Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase
• Aryan Simhadri as Grover
• Charlie Bushnell as Luke Castellan
• Tamara Smart as Thalia Grace
• Daniel Diemer as Tyson
• Virginia Kull as Sally Jackson
• Dior Goodjohn as Clarisse La Rue

The show’s host of Greek gods will be making a return in the season, as well. Expect some familiar faces in Chiron (Glynn Turman), Dionysus (Jason Mantzoukas), Poseidon (Toby Stephens), Zeus (Courtney B. Vance), Ares (Adam Copeland), Hermes (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Athena (Andra Day), and Aphrodite (Kate McKinnon).

Season 3 will also feature plenty of exciting new additions to the pantheon. Here are all the new faces from The Titan’s Curse set to join the series:

• Levi Chrisopulos as Nico di Angelo, a powerful young demigod of mysterious origin
• Olive Abercrombie as Bianca di Angelo, Nico’s older sister
• Dafne Keen as Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt
• Hubert Smielecki as Apollo, God of the Sun
• Saara Chaudry as Zoë Nightshade, leader of the Hunters of Artemis
• Holt McCallany as Atlas, Titan of Endurance
• Ming-Na Wen as Hera, Queen of Olympus
• Jennifer Beals as Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest
• David Costabile as Dr. Thorn
• Jesse L. Martin as Frederick Chase, Annabeth’s father

What about Rachel Elizabeth Dare?

The Titan’s Curse introduces a whole lot of fan favorites, but one that book fans are still clamoring to see has yet to be cast in Percy Jackson. That’s Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the eccentric mortal who becomes instrumental to Percy’s adventures in future books. Though she has a very small part to play in The Titan’s Curse, it’s hard to imagine this story unfolding without even an introduction to the character. That said, Rick Riordan — who serves as a producer on the show — might have cast doubt on any appearance from Rachel in Percy Jackson Season 3.

Riordan spoke about the logistics of casting an actress to play Rachel in a Q&A on Goodreads. “Even in the book Titan’s Curse, Rachel’s one scene is a ‘blink and you miss it’ cameo,” Riordan wrote. “To cast a cameo in a show is one thing. To cast a cameo for an actor in one season and then hope you can get the same actor for a guest star or some other level of participation a year later (or more) in the next season can be really tricky and complicated with schedules, contracts, budgets, etc.”

Rachel’s cameo in The Titan’s Curse isn’t exactly “blink, and you miss it,” but Riordan’s sentiment still kinda makes sense. That most of the Percy Jackson cast is comprised of young actors — most of whom are still growing — might have something to do with his hesitation, too. “If I have to choose between getting a fantastic actor when they are actually needed for a lot of screen time rather than scrambling to cast a cameo appearance one season and hoping it works out for future seasons, I’d rather wait and do it right,” Riordan added. Fans may have to wait a bit longer to see Rachel make her way into live-action — but then again, Riordan dropped this update when scripts for Season 3 were still being written, so there’s a chance that the creative team found a way to make her cameo work.

Is there a trailer for Percy Jackson Season 3?

Yes! A teaser trailer was released at D23, recapping Percy’s last two epic adventures and teasing his newest quest to rescue Annabeth Chase. Watch it below.

Will there be a Percy Jackson Season 4?

Percy Jackson has not yet been renewed for Season 4, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Riordan and his team have reportedly begun developing scripts for a fourth season — which would cover the fourth book in his Percy Jackson series, Battle of the Labyrinth — but there’s been no official renewal just yet.

Ideally, Disney will make the announcement sooner rather than later: Season 3 got the green light before Season 2 had even premiered on Disney+, and that allowed the series to shorten the gap between seasons. As the battle for Olympus is finally, truly heating up, the last thing anyone wants is another two-year delay. Percy Jackson is finally finding its momentum, so let’s hope it gets to keep the ball rolling.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is streaming on Disney+.

In the realm of video games, Kingdom Hearts has always existed in a league of its own. Thanks to a partnership with Disney, what would otherwise be another RPG in the vein of Final Fantasy became a genre-bending, world-hopping adventure where our hero Sora must explore realms of beloved Disney films like Frozen and Ratatouille and hang out with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy.

This unlikely tonal mishmash has fueled the video game franchise for over two decades now, but it’s about to enter a brand new world: animated television.

Disney announced at D23 that Kingdom Hearts will expand into a spinoff anime series on Disney Channel and Disney+. Described as “a brand-new story that will expand on the universe of Kingdom Hearts,” the series will work with original video game creator Tetsuya Nomura and the studio Square Enix.

Considering this is a Disney+ series, it’s likely the brand synergy between Disney stories and Sora’s story will continue, but the new medium does introduce new possibilities: could we see Percy Jackson make an appearance? What about the Mandalorian? They’re still as Disney as anything else that’s appeared in the games. After all, we got to see Sora and co. in the hyper-realistic style of Pirates of the Caribbean. It would be intriguing to see how all of those translate to anime.

It’s not the first time that Kingdom Hearts has expanded beyond the games. We’ve already seen a Kingdom Hearts manga series, light novels, and even a card game. An anime series is, in a way, the next logical step for the franchise. But what will happen when this game series expands its reach to the mainstream Disney audience on streaming? We may just see a new resurgence of fans of this long — and often convoluted — saga.

But regardless of who it brings into the fold, this has to be an exciting announcement for longtime fans. Kingdom Hearts has often been an overlooked part of the Disney landscape, but an animated series will put a much-needed spotlight on this epic story. Even if it’s not a direct adaptation of the story, it has a unique opportunity to expand the story in ways a video game simply can’t.

Kingdom Hearts: The Series is coming soon to Disney Channel and Disney+.

Earlier this week, some of the more delightfully weird corners of the internet wept as they learned of the loss of Screaming Mad George, who passed earlier this year at the age of 69. Although he had a name befitting a rock star — and he did front his share of punk bands — George was primarily known as a special effects and makeup artist for horror movies. Once you’ve seen his work, you’ll never forget it: he designed the flying eyeball in Big Trouble in Little China, the roach transformation in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, and the MTV-era freak show in Alex Winter’s Freaked. He even dabbled in video games, designing the very odd 1998 PlayStation title ParanoiaScape. But it’s Society that made him a legend.

Born Joji Tani, George changed his name while studying at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, choosing “Screaming” for musician and actor Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and “Mad” for Mad magazine. Besides having the best pseudonym in the business, what set George apart when he entered the industry in the mid-’80s was his fine-art background, particularly his love of surrealism. He preferred to be credited as a “surrealistic” effects artist, and that tendency was never more prominent than in Brian Yuzna’s 1989 eat-the-rich horror satire.

As George described it, Woody Keith and Rick Fry’s original script for Society ended in a “bloodbath.” But Yuzna — then best known as the writer of Re-Animator — wanted to do something different. So he called George, who brought paintings by Salvador Dalí, including “Autumnal Cannibalism,” to the director as inspiration for Society’s all-important final scene. He was hired, and began designing a series of latex prosthetics that would push the art of practical effects makeup to its limit.

These effects begin subtly, as Bill (Billy Warlock), a rich kid who’s never fit in, begins to notice strange things around the margins of his comfortable but empty life. A torso that turns backward in the shower. A limb that twists at an unnatural angle. Billy is pretty sure he’s seeing things, as is the audience. But then Yuzna cuts away, leaving Billy — and us — doubting our own eyes.

Then Society enters its famous last act, and the “Shunting” begins. Movies about the decadence and depravity of the wealthy are nothing new, but the Shunting — basically, a body-horror orgy where Billy’s parents and their Beverly Hills friends fuse their bodies into goopy, rubbery, surreal shapes — is still unequaled in terms of sheer creativity more than 35 years later. And that’s all thanks to George’s designs.

The starfish of wriggling flesh at the center of the festivities, and its long, spindly appendages that recall Rob Bottin’s monsters from John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982), is bizarre and upsetting enough. But as Billy flees through the family mansion, he encounters even stranger combinations of limbs and heads, all of whom seem to have been assembled in one of the Exquisite Corpse games the Surrealists loved so much. Add in a soupçon (goopçon?) of juvenile humor in the form of the film’s famous butthead joke, and you’ve got a sequence that’s like nothing else in cinema.

Like Screaming Mad George, it’s a true original, which makes it an ideal testament to the man and his legacy. If you haven’t seen it in a while, watch it again. If you haven’t watched it yet — buckle up.

Society is streaming on Night Flight Plus, and is available on Blu-ray from Arrow Video.

Even though the 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds is still remembered as one of the worst superhero films in the entire genre, the character of Green Lantern has still managed to become fairly recognizable due to appearances in lots of adaptational material over the years. While no Earth-based Lantern has made it back to the big screen yet (although that’s set to change with Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart showing up in Man of Tomorrow next year), Hal Jordan was the star of his own short-lived TV show Green Lantern: The Animated Series, and the John Stewart version of the character practically raised a generation of kids on Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited. Although definitely not as recognizable and beloved as a Spider-Man or a Superman, Green Lantern is debatably a better-known character than most of The Avengers were prior to the dawn of the MCU in 2008.

Unfortunately, though, his position as a B-list superhero in the eyes of the general public means that there’s so much about the character’s lore that people don’t know. Most people have no idea that the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, was a magic-based hero with a weakness to wood who predates the sci-fi elements introduced to the mythos with Hal Jordan in 1959; most people have no idea that there are seven human members of the Green Lantern Corps; and most people have no idea that the Green Lanterns are just one part of an entire emotional light spectrum, with their own respective Lantern Corps. But the new HBO Max/DCU show Lanterns will undoubtedly expand the general audience’s awareness of the Green Lantern mythos…and it might even be building to the discovery of that last tidbit of information.

The Manhunters mystery in Lanterns

In the premiere episode of Lanterns, a 10-year-old pre-recorded message from Hal Jordan’s power ring prompts Jordan and John Stewart to take a trip to Rushville, Nebraska, in order to investigate what may or may not be extraterrestrial activity in the town (spoiler alert: it certainly is). After a shooting leaves several human-impersonating aliens dead, the sole survivor is thrown in jail and eventually interrogated by Hal. After hiding his identity for as long as possible, the suspect reveals his true nature, but in the process also hints that he and others like him are on Earth in service of an as-yet-unexplained undertaking.

With just one episode released as of this writing, the full scope of Lanterns’ mystery is still unknown, but it’s been heavily speculated that the shape-shifting “aliens” in the story are actually the Manhunters, a race of ruthless androids created by the Guardians of the Universe as precursors to the Green Lanterns, who crucially have the ability to impersonate human beings with robot decoys. The fact that Hal’s suspect detonates like a bomb is proof of the theory, but if it turns out to be true, then it raises an entirely new question: why are the Manhunters there in the first place?

The Manhunters have complex, but relevant, comics lore

First introduced in 1975, and with an expanded backstory revealed in 1977, Manhunters were initially programmed to uphold justice throughout the universe, but eventually became fixated on the concept of punishing evil and went haywire;s so aggressively, in fact, that the cause for their exile was the total annihilation of Space Sector 666, a massacre that led to the birth of the Green Lantern villain Atrocitus, as told in a 2008 arc called “Secret Origin.” Atrocitus’ family and entire homeworld were wiped out during the Manhunters’ rampage, and in response he harnessed his bitterness and anger into the creation of the first Red Lantern power battery and ring, giving rise to the Red Lanterns – an alternative Corps powered by rage and their hatred of the Guardians. However, the same run on Green Lantern that introduced the Red Lanterns — Green Lantern Volume 4, debuting in 2007 and written by Geoff Johns — culminated in two universe-shattering events: the War of Light and the Blackest Night.

Sinestro’s creation of the Yellow Lantern Corps and Atrocitus’ creation of the Red Lanterns opened the floodgates for numerous forces to weaponize the emotional light spectrum, leading to the emergence of the Star Sapphires (based on love), the Indigo Tribe (based on compassion), the Blue Lanterns (based on hope), and Agent Orange (a lone alien controlling the power of greed), and these forces all clashed in a protracted conflict known as the War of Light. But in truth, the war was merely a backdrop for an even bigger catastrophe: the 2009-2010 multi-title event across DC Comics, Blackest Night, a prophesied crisis which saw hundreds of dead DC Comics characters resurrected as zombies and forced to join the Black Lantern Corps, under the control of Nekron, DC’s personification of Death. Nekron sought the destruction of the Life Entity, a being responsible for existence throughout the galaxy – one specifically buried deep within the Earth.

While it’s way too early to say exactly what the Manhunters might be looking for in Lanterns, knowing their loose connection to the War of Light and the Blackest Night prophecy, it might be possible that they’re searching for the Life Entity themselves. While they’ve come to blows with the GLC plenty of times, the Manhunters aren’t really outright evil as much as they’re moral absolutists – they could be determined to prevent the Blackest Night prophecy in their own stubborn way, which could create conflict between them and John and Hal considering the two of them have no idea what kinds of secrets the Guardians of the Universe have been keeping from them.

The show has made it no secret that it’s a mystery of cosmic proportions, so using the Manhunters as the catalyst for our two heroes to discover that their bosses are keeping galaxy-shattering secrets from them isn’t just the ideal structure for a noir mystery, but it would also be a brilliant love-letter to the Green Lantern mythos created by Geoff Johns.

New episodes of Lanterns premiere every Sunday at 9.

When I first heard about the upcoming family film The Magic Faraway Tree, I was instantly confused. It appeared to be an adaptation of a children’s book, but I hadn’t heard of it. It starred big-name actors like Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, who appeared to be playing second-fiddle to the child stars. It seemed like the kind of fake movie parodied on 30 Rock, or at the very least one of those films that would only appeal to British audiences, the demographic that read Enid Blyton novels as children and understood all the minute references.

Boy, was I wrong.

Written by Paddington and Paddington 2’s Simon Farnaby (who almost wrote a Star Wars movie), The Magic Faraway Tree may be missing some cultural context, but even in an American vacuum it is an absolute delight.

“You don't need to have heard of the source material at all,” director Ben Gregor tells Inverse. “This is a universal family movie. It's spectacular. At one point you hadn't heard of Paddington. That’s just some bear. It doesn’t matter.” And just as Paddington went from a strange immigrant bear to star of a Broadway musical, The Magic Faraway Tree may just become your new favorite cozy classic.