In the words of The Worm in The Boys Season 5 Episode 1, finales are the worst. “When I wrote the series finale of Triple C, that's Crimson Countess Capers, it was impossible to, like, tick every box and tie up every little storyline,” he said, clearly echoing the thoughts of the writers behind the scenes. “I mean, just try making everybody happy. You can't do it.”

But this isn’t just any finale — this is the fifth and final season of The Boys. In order to keep up with the reputation it has established over the last four seasons, it needs to be absolutely ruthless. Thankfully, Season 5 Episode 1 completely understands this and sets the tone for the rest of the final season in the only way that makes sense: a shocking loss.

Warning! Spoilers for The Boys Season 5 Episode 1, “Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite,” ahead!

When The Boys Season 5 opens, over a year has passed from Season 4. Hughie, Frenchie, and MM are in a “Freedom Camp,” and basically everyone else — including Kimiko, Starlight, and A-Train — are in hiding, knowing that if Homelander ever found them, it wouldn’t end well.

But after Starlight exposes Homelander’s actions on Flight 37, everyone is brought out of the woodwork. Our heroes in the camps are doomed unless they can be smuggled out within the next few days. With the help of The Worm’s burrowing powers, they can get into the camp, but getting out is a bigger problem. Starlight could fly people out one by one, but there’s a much more convenient option: A-Train, the fastest man in the world, could just run everyone out.

He initially rejects the request for help, but, in classic The Boys fashion, shows up at the eleventh hour to help out. But that brings him to Homelander’s attention. While trying to escape, A-Train manages to dodge an innocent woman in his path, echoing the events from the very first episode of the series, when he accidentally killed Hughie’s girlfriend. This throws him off course, allowing Homelander to catch up.

In a heartbreaking scene, A-Train accepts that he’s defeated. “What was I so afraid of? You are f*cking nothing,” he says while Homelander has him pinned against a tree. “You're just an empty f*cking suit. Take away these powers and what are you, huh? A pathetic, weak, sniveling f*cking loser.” Without another word, Homelander snaps his neck, instantly killing him.

It’s a shocking moment, but from an outside perspective, there wasn’t any other way for this episode to end. It’s clear that no character is safe in this last batch of episodes, but the series needed to establish that in a big way. That means the show has to start knocking off major characters who have been there from the beginning — even if they’re not one of the leads, or even one of the “good guys.” And A-Train fits the bill.

Losing him may feel like a gut punch, but that’s the point. In The Boys Season 5, nobody is safe, and even characters who have been around from the beginning could be written off without a second thought. The real question is, if that’s who you kill off in the season premiere, who will survive the finale?

The Boys Season 5 Episodes 1 and 2 are now streaming on Prime Video.

In the video game The Exit 8, players walk through an underground hallway of a Japanese metro station. If they notice anything different or strange with the hallway — any anomalies — they need to turn back, or else something horrifying will happen and they’ll be stuck in a loop forever. It’s a deceptively simple (and creepy!) premise for a game, but while playing “spot the difference in a liminal space” makes for good gameplay, it doesn’t offer much of a narrative for a full feature film. Yet that didn’t stop Genki Kawamura from venturing into the nightmare subway.

Now opening in the United States months after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival and in Japanese theaters last year, Exit 8 continues an ongoing trend of video game movies that are actually pretty darn good. Kawamura, who cowrote the movie in addition to directing it, found ways to give Exit 8 an emotional center that the game lacked while still capturing the uncanny experience of walking down the seemingly endless tiled hallway.

Speaking to Inverse with the help of a translator, Kawamura explained the symbolism he found in the game’s loops, the uneasy appeal of liminal spaces, and how the names of two iconic horror directors found their way onto the set.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Exit 8, like a lot of video games, doesn’t have much in terms of a narrative. For the movie, you created a new emotion-driven plot about a man reeling with the news that his girlfriend is pregnant. Where did this idea come from?

I commute on the subway in Tokyo every day to get to the office. I notice that everyone is on their smartphones. Despite us all being together on this train, it feels very isolated, and people won’t even notice a crying baby on these trains. Even on our smartphones, we’re scrolling through timelines and seeing violence or wars, and we’ll scroll right past it. We’re all guilty on some level of pretending not to see what’s in front of us. It’s a very selfish age and era on both a micro and a macro level. If you look at the geopolitical landscape right now, it’s always “our country first.” I think that also extends to individuals and the responsibility they have to their families. Oftentimes we might prioritize the individual over the needs of the family. I think it’s a very hard time and age to be a parent right now. So I thought, “What if these accumulated small instances of guilt and sin were manifested in this very sanitized white corridor, projected onto it, and turned back so people have to face what they’ve been ignoring this entire time?” That, to me, was a very, very terrifying thought.

Did you have these ideas before you were involved in adapting the game into a movie, or did you see this game and think, “What’s a way that I can dig deeper into this?”? Which came first?

It’s both. There’s this theme that I felt in daily life that I wanted to tell. At the same time, when I encountered the game Exit 8, it provided the perfect backdrop to explore this theme much deeper. When the game came out, I immediately played it myself, but I also watched a lot of Twitch live streams. I realized there are as many stories as there are people playing Exit 8. I think a lot of that has to do with the simplicity of the game design and the mechanics. It serves as a device to explore human nature and different spectrums and shades of gray of human nature. I found parallels between the corridor and Dante’s Divine Comedy, this idea of purgatory. So, in a way it helped me explore a theme that I was thinking about but also gave it a set of rules that helped convey that idea to audiences.

Was that part of what prompted the decision to have multiple protagonists? We’re kind of watching three different players go through the game.

I had a conversation with Shigeru Miyamoto a long time ago, and he told me a really great game must not only entertain the player but the people watching the player and what the player is doing on the screen. So I wanted to incorporate this idea into the film. At times the audience is put into the perspective of the player, and at other times I show the audience what it would be like to view a live stream. I tried to encapsulate the phenomena that is happening in the video game industry itself into a film. I thought that would be really interesting. It’s because the rules that govern Exit 8 are so simple that it lends itself to so many different styles of gameplay and types of stories.

Right — a core challenge for video game movies is that, with games, part of the fun comes from playing them and controlling the character’s actions. With a movie, you are just watching. Exit 8 solves this by having moments where the viewer is trying to spot anomalies, just like they would be if they were playing.

Thank you for noticing that. I thought really long and hard about how to get the audience invested and engaged in this idea of spotting the difference, collectively, in this movie theater. A lot of it came down to the camerawork and the composition of certain shots. I wanted it to feel as though it was watching a Twitch stream. The same could be said for watching different live streams of certain video games. The element of enjoying the player going through their actions but also trying to get ahead of the player and noticing things that perhaps they haven’t noticed yet. I thought if we could re-create that type of tension within a movie, it would withstand that test of time. I think that’s what propelled it to the film festival circuit and had it play at Cannes.

Liminal spaces are having a moment — like with this and the upcoming movie The Backrooms. Why do you think this subgenere of horror is so effective and popular right now?

If you look at our reality right now, we’re faced with all these wars and violence, which is why I think a lot of our fears are inward-facing. It happens within our memories and within our mind itself. Liminal space offers this backdrop where it almost feels familiar because we’ve seen it before, but it can also be kind of scary and fragmented. It’s opening these secret doors within ourselves that we’ve never opened before and have to come face-to-face with. That, I think, is much scarier than monsters or ghosts. The same could be said for the modern human. I took a lot of inspiration from The Shining. It’s this somewhat familiar, large lodge hotel-type of setting, and we’re going through these corridors. In Exit 8, the corridor almost takes on this will of its own. It becomes this monster that’s toying with humans. I even consider the corridor to be the main character of this film.

I think The Backrooms, with a very young director, is going to be an interesting take. If that team wasn’t doing it, that would be something that I would have liked to adapt myself.

Video game movies have infamously been pretty bad for most of film history, but in the past couple years it seems like they’re turning a corner. Do you have any ideas as to why that might be?

What I wanted to do with this film wasn’t a direct adaptation or translation of the video game into a movie. My philosophy was about blurring the lines between what the movie and video game mediums are doing. There is a source material, but I wanted to shine a spotlight on the players playing the game or online streamers and the viewers who are watching. There are many layers. I wanted to take all of that and distill it into a movie.

Is part of the improvement in video game movies that the people making the movies are gamers themselves?

Since I can recall, like before I was born, there was a Nintendo right beside my bedside. So I think my growing up and video games have always been linked on some level. I would say the same for our cast, like [lead actor] Kazunari Ninomiya. Every time we would cut on a shot, he would pull out his smartphone and start gaming. There’s a very high literacy across the entire team in terms of what video games are and how we interact with them in our society.

What was that set like? It seems like one of those things that seems simple — because it’s just a hallway — but was probably really complicated.

We actually created two identical corridors as if it were a copy-and-paste-type situation. So we had a very, very long and skinny set. The cast and crew would often get lost, so we named one of the sets “Hitchcock” and one of the sets “Kubrick.” A lot of those long cuts that you’re seeing in the film are very long, and you can’t tell where it’s been edited because we physically looped in this corridor using practical analog techniques.

Before I let you go, is there anything else you want to say about Exit 8 that you haven’t been asked about yet?

I want to know what type of audience is going to watch this film. I made it specifically with movie theaters in mind. I think with our modern-day smartphone culture, we’ve forgotten and lost the ability to wait and think and imagine something because it’s just at our fingertips, and we can scroll away so fast. Being in an environment where we’re forced to watch this screen and almost predict and want to engage with it — I’m curious as to how different audiences and cultures are going to experience it.

Exit 8 opens in U.S. theaters April 10.

By 1981, John Boorman was in dire need of creative rebirth. The British director had made a name for himself first with the stylish revenge thriller Point Blank, and then especially with Deliverance, a thriller set in the dangerous Georgian wilderness that was a major box office success and picked up three Academy Award nominations. The rest of the 1970s wasn’t so hot — after a failed attempt to adapt Lord of the Rings, Boorman made the Sean Connery-starring post-apocalyptic fantasy Zardoz, which was not warmly received and barely made back its budget. But the worst was yet to come — few career hiccups have matched the enormous failure of Exorcist II: The Heretic, a troubled production that snowballed into one of the most reviled sequels in Hollywood history.

There was a lot riding on Boorman’s follow-up, Excalibur, the epic, big-budget fantasy film that told the cradle-to-grave story of King Arthur. Inspired by one of the most renowned works of Arthurian literature, Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d'Arthur, Excalibur needed to render the classic beats of the legend — the sword in the stone, the round table, Lancelot’s betrayal, the quest for the Holy Grail, the battle with Mordred — into spectacular and impactful blockbuster fare to compete with the recent mass-appeal Star Wars, and also take King Arthur seriously again in the wake of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Excalibur delivered—the film earned three times its budget at the North American box office, and its sumptuous, shimmering, and mature retelling of its mythic source material made it an apt vessel for Boorman’s creative renewal.

The Arthurian mythos — which were popular as stories in the 12th and 13th centuries before they were turned into English-language prose in the 15th century — have been beloved by children for eons, serving as a touchstone for fantasy writers from the Victorian era through to today. The tales of chivalric honor, united kingdoms, and hunts for the Holy Grail serve as an alternative origin story for Britain itself — in a hotbed of dark arts, ambition and despair, Arthur ascends the throne to lead the country into a peaceful Christian era. This is made explicit in Excalibur, as during the wedding of King Arthur (Nigel Terry) and Cherie Lunghi (Guenevere), the eccentric sorcerer Merlin (Nicol Williamson) tells Morgana (Helen Mirren), “The days of our kind are numbered. The one God comes to drive out the many gods.”

But Boorman’s Excalibur does not depict a benevolent world that gladly embraces change. Although the exteriors — the mountains and forests of Wicklow, Ireland — are lush and resplendent, often enhanced by Boorman’s use of rich green color gels, no corner of this world is untouched by doubt and deception. Arthur is only conceived because his father, Uther Pendragon (Gabriel Byrne), is transformed by Merlin into a double of an enemy king so he can sleep with his wife. Arthur’s conception is an act of sexual assault, mirrored later in the film when his half-sister Morgana disguises herself as Guinevere to sleep with Arthur and conceive Mordred (Charley Boorman), who attempts to destroy Arthur’s kingdom forever. The fact that Boorman cast his daughter as Arthur’s mother and his son as Arthur’s son in his comeback film shows he understands the significance of offspring and heirs in the fantasy genre — they can either be redemptive or destructive.

Even after the crushing blow of Exorcist II (you can discover the soul-destroying behind-the-scenes story in the upcoming documentary Boorman and the Devil), Boorman was diligent and enthusiastic when making Excalibur — according to a set visit by American Film, the director threw a chicken in front of the camera during a scene that needed to be more hectic. Boorman instructed his actors to live their legendary characters in the moment, saying, “I tell the actors that they are not reenacting a legend. They are creating it, and so they themselves don't know what's going to happen—it's unfolding.” Putting King Arthur in the present tense helps the fantasy material live up to its raw, spectacular potential.

This is clear with the character of Lancelot (Nicholas Clay), a dashing, principled knight who is consumed with guilt when the drunken Gawain (Liam Neeson) accuses him of being in love with the queen. Excalibur’s maximalist style gives the White Knight’s plight a psychological edge; Lancelot isolates himself outside of Camelot, tormented by his subversive and disloyal desire, and hallucinates his suit of armor coming to life to fight him naked—a blunt but exhilarating metaphor for Lancelot’s heart conflicting with his duty. Clay plays Lancelot as a man unaware that he’s the future poster boy of courtly love—the allure of adultery over brothership is an agonizing ordeal he tries in vain to resist.

But it’s the Grail Quest that elevates Excalibur into a vehicle for spiritual and artistic rejuvenation. As a cursed, sickly, and disillusioned Arthur withers in Camelot, the lowly Perceval (Paul Geoffrey) is the last knight standing in Mordred’s purge of the round table. After a desperate, surreal escape from Morgana’s clutches, Perceval receives a divine visitation that explains that Arthur has a symbiotic relationship with the vitality of his land—the king and the land are one. The revitalizing of Arthur’s spirit, courage, and vision suddenly becomes a necessary duty to heal the world—a fitting analogy for a director returning from artistic disillusionment and rekindling his passion for creating stylish, strange, and personal cinematic worlds. Excalibur is both a cathartic career comeback and a dazzling saga of mythic decay and rebirth—suggesting that the filmmaker and their films are one.

Excalibur Limited Edition 4K Blu-ray

Arrow Video -

Since 2019, one fictional astronaut has been pushing the envelope farther and farther into space. As embodied by Joel Kinnaman, the hotheaded yet heroic Ed Baldwin has been the de facto lead of For All Mankind since the beginning. In Season 1, he led the charge to establish the first Moonbase; in Season 2, he helped avert global war on the Pathfinder shuttle; in Season 3, he made it to Mars; and in Season 4, he stole an asteroid. Now, at the start of Season 5, just three episodes in, Ed’s journey is seemingly at a close.

Inverse caught up with Joel Kinnaman to unpack the massive spoiler in For All Mankind Season 5, Episode 3, “Home.” If you haven’t seen this episode yet, this is the warning to stop reading now.

Spoilers ahead.

While unrest heats up on Mars, “Home” finds Ed slipping in and out of consciousness, where he remembers a mission he flew in the Korean War, which took place in the 1950s, before the show even began. Throughout the episode, we see what impact Ed has had on the present, but as he slips away and eventually succumbs to his cancer, Ed also flashes back to a moment in the 1960s in which he and Gordo (Michael Dorman) are flying a Gemini mission. Shantel VanSanten returns as Karen Baldwin for this flashback, giving Ed a true send-off as he passes away.

In many ways, this episode is the culmination of five seasons and more than 50 years of fictional history. “Even though this has always been an ensemble show that follows a lot of different characters, Ed has a little special place in the center of the show,” Kinnaman tells Inverse.

To reflect on this huge moment, seemingly Ed’s last episode of the series, Inverse caught up with Kinnaman to get his thoughts on playing Ed, his love for the show, and why the world needs more optimistic storytelling.

What was your reaction when you learned that Ed was going to die in Season 5? And were you relieved it wasn’t from old age?

Well, the show was initially pitched to me as a five-season vision. And then somewhere along the line it expanded to a seven-season arc, and then it kind of settled at six. And so in the end, Ed was going to be 80 or 90. And I think that everyone agreed that this was the perfect season to make it happen. [The showrunners] brought me into the conversation, letting me know what they were thinking. They didn’t want to start a new season without Ed.

But I think we also wanted to catch the audience a little off guard by him dying pretty soon in the season. I think that gives time to pass the baton, a little more runway for that idea to sink in.

At the same time we’re saying goodbye to Ed, we also get an extended flashback to a point before the show even started.

It was really fun. In just one episode, I got to play the youngest and the oldest versions of Ed! But this Korea episode has been part of the conversation for three or four years. I think during Season 3, one of the writers brought that up, and he’s been tinkering with this idea; the moment when Ed crash-lands in Korea, there was always this idea of a separate episode. I think they tried to get it in both Season 3 and Season 4, but it was reshuffled. So I was really happy that it found a place at least in these final moments.

Artemis II is happening at the same time Season 5 of For All Mankind is airing. Obviously, this show began with a story about a more robust moon program. Did you have thoughts about some of the overlap between the fiction of For All Mankind and the real-life space renaissance?

It’s been an exciting time. I think when the show came out, it felt like it was right at the same time when space exploration and SpaceX and all of that was heating up. And during the same time as the show has been going, we’ve seen them landing rockets on landing pads and all that, just like in the show.

And for me, it’s just one of the most important things. If we could spend our money exploring space and trying to make humans a multiplanetary species instead of bombing young schoolgirls, the world would be a better place.

Ed is an incredible character. You’re only 46 now, but you’ve played Ed from his late 30s through his 40s and 50s, and now his 80s. If you could come up with one word to describe this journey as an actor, what would it be?

It’s been profound. It’s a show and an experience that’s really made me dream, in a way. I’ve loved being part of this story. I love being part of telling the story because the ethos of this show is optimism. I think it’s so important that we tell stories like this.

And of course, without becoming sappy or too glossy or shallow, but actually having some optimism and giving an example of a better version of life, not being uncomplicated or without its faults, there are certainly downsides to the show’s [timeline]. What if we actually put our resources into positive things, and if we focused in just a slightly different way, or we chose leaders slightly differently? Things could just move in a much better way.

Why is optimism so important in popular fiction?

Well, it’s very easy as storytellers to kind of just go down the worst path, asking what’s the worst thing that could happen? We like those kinds of stories, too. But the thing about playing this character and playing these different ages is that it just puts my own mortality at the forefront of my mind.

I genuinely believe that being aware of your own mortality and our limited time here, the more you’re aware of that, the richer and fuller life you’re ultimately going to have.

For All Mankind Season 5 streams on Apple TV.

A good Shakespearean play is a lot like a good rap song, it’s been said. Not by many people, surely — but certainly by Riz Ahmed, the actor, rapper, and Oscar-winning writer whose talents converge with his love for the Bard in a new take on Hamlet.

“I actually think it’s one of the best metaphors we have to understand Shakespeare,” the Rogue One alum tells Inverse. “A big issue with how we understand Shakespeare and how we’re introduced to it is we sit down and read it.” But Shakespeare’s plays, like any play, are meant to be heard, to be experienced. We shouldn’t necessarily be poring over every aspect of the text, nor should we understand everything put to paper in our first go.

It’s the same with music, Ahmed says: “When I listen to songs by some of my favorite rappers the first time through, I’m like, ‘I didn’t catch everything.’ [But] it doesn’t matter: I’m moved by it. I understand the energy, the intent, and the emotion … It’s much more fun to listen to rap music than read it.”

By that logic, don’t go into Ahmed’s Hamlet expecting to understand everything that’s going down. Even a rudimentary understanding of Shakespeare’s most eternal play — a jaded prince thinks his uncle conspired to murder his dad and take over his kingdom, but can’t quite prove it yet — is more than enough to get by. In the immortal words of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, it’s really better to feel Hamlet. And Ahmed, reuniting with director Aneil Karia, wants you to feel everything.

This version of the play is the first mainstream remake we’ve gotten in 25 years. (The last, for anyone curious, was Ethan Hawke’s take on the Dane, in which he recites “To be or not to be?” in the aisles of a Blockbuster Video.) There’s a sense that we’re overdue for a good Hamlet adaptation in the way Ahmed and Karia attack the material, pumping scenes with gritty study of grief and punchy, neon-lit wraiths. This Hamlet is as much a crime thriller as it is a slice of the title prince’s still-beating heart, an ode to the outsiders in virtually every way. But under that punk, revisionist sensibility lies a true love for a story this enduring: It’s why this duo can turn Hamlet into what feels like one long rap music video and actually stick the landing.

For every theater kid who immediately connects with the text of Hamlet, there’s a neophyte holding Shakespeare at arm’s length. Ahmed, naturally, falls into the former: The actor first got lost in, then found by, the classic text in high school and immediately connected with the themes of isolation, grief, and wrath that absorbed its title character. Even now, 16 years after first encountering the text, he remains fascinated by its central question: Has the world gone crazy, or am I losing my mind?

“That’s literally how everyone wakes up these days feeling, right?” Ahmed proposes. “That’s at the heart of the play.”

Ahmed has wanted to adapt Hamlet for the big screen almost as long as he’s loved the play. He connected with Mike Lesslie, the screenwriter who’d go on to pen Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth, in university — but the pair spent years hammering away at their own script until Ahmed found the third piece of the puzzle: Karia, who identified as the Shakespeare agnostic.

“I didn’t have that sacred relationship with it,” Karia tells Inverse of Shakespeare’s work. After studying it in school, he’d assumed the plays were more for the “slightly elite,” “stuffy” establishment — the complete opposite of his target audience. Having directed a handful of music videos for rappers like Kano, as well as the British thriller series Top Boy, Karia’s visceral style made him the perfect choice to direct The Long Goodbye, the Oscar-winning short that accompanied Ahmed’s 2020 album of the same name. Ahmed wanted his “radical” eye on Hamlet, too — but Karia hesitated.

“After we made [The Long Goodbye] and Riz sent me Hamlet … I was like, ‘Oh, God, how could I possibly do that? I’m not that guy,’” he recalls.

It was Ahmed who pointed out the similarities between The Long Goodbye, which ends with a sequence of spoken word in “this slightly transcendent space,” and the introspection rife in Hamlet. “He kind of helped me make peace with this idea of poetry woven into narrative filmmaking,” adds Karia. “He’s like, ‘You’ve done this already.’”

Hamlet would see Karia translate that to a larger canvas, tempering Ahmed’s love for the play with the guts to trim some of the fat. “In the past few years, I’ve gone on a big journey with overhauling my relationship to Shakespeare,” Karia continues. Finding his way into Hamlet involved rooting himself in the “emotional and psychological” truth of the text: “Can we make this a felt experience? Can we make this visceral and lived in?”

Additionally, could they strip the story of everything that Hamlet himself doesn’t directly experience? “It’s hard to make the three-and-a-half, four-hour version [of Hamlet],” the director admits. “And in this day and age, I’m not sure people want to watch that, either.” (If they do, there’s always Kenneth Branagh’s four-hour behemoth of a remake.) “I was like, ‘What if we stripped all that away? How about we strip these people away so that he’s actually quite isolated, actually quite alone and unraveling?’”

Narrowing the scope of Hamlet to its hero’s perspective became the key to unlocking the true potential of this adaptation. It lent “a lot of interesting ambiguity” to the play’s metaphysical elements, like when Hamlet comes face-to-face with the ghost of his father on the windswept roof of a high-rise.

“Suddenly his mental health and his reality are in question right from the get-go,” Karia says. “All these decisions seem to make things more ambiguous, and the truth murkier.”

It also makes this story more accessible for a modern audience, one further removed from the Bard’s era than any before. “The reason why people keep coming back to this story and this character is because he is feeling something that is evergreen, for better or worse,” Ahmed adds. Not everyone can relate to Hamlet’s dogged quest to avenge his father’s murder, or uncover the conspiracy within at his uncle’s wedding to his mother — a sequence that, thanks to an ethereal group of wedding dancers, is a highlight of this Hamlet. But so many have been forced to reckon with a reality that they no longer recognize, and the bitterness and bewilderment that come from that realization.

“It’s that feeling,” Ahmed explains, “that is the central question of the play [and] is the most relatable.”

That feeling also makes it all that much easier to quiet the superficial scrutiny surrounding Ahmed’s Hamlet. The actor has been fielding questions about his choice to recenter this story on a South Asian, British family since the film premiered at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, and it’s a conversation that’s bled into the discourse surrounding his James Bond farce Bait.

In the latter, Ahmed plays a kind of parallel version of himself, a struggling actor whose life changes overnight when he’s named as a hopeful to play the next Bond. It defies neat categorization, as does Hamlet — but both are the kinds of stories Ahmed wants to continue telling.

“I’m a big advocate of both stepping into the mold and creating a new mold,” Ahmed says. “What I really like about what Aneil has done with Hamlet and what the whole team managed to do with Bait is that we’re exploding and complicating preexisting archetypes such as Hamlet or James Bond — but we are also putting worlds and specificity and experiences on screen that haven’t been depicted that much … I think that’s how you stretch culture, and I think that’s the point of storytelling.”

Hamlet opens in theaters on April 10.

Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle was one of the highlights of the original Daredevil TV series, introduced as a snarling, seemingly unrepentant revenant haunting Hell’s Kitchen’s criminals and the halls of Washington. His introduction was so popular that he received two seasons of his own spin-off, which meant that when Daredevil was announced for a revival back in May 2022, it seemed a given that the character would be folded back into the larger MCU. Fast-forward four years, and the Punisher has appeared in the first season of Daredevil: Born Again and is returning for the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

As well-received as his initial appearances were, there’s a bit of stagnation to Bernthal’s version of the character. Instead of committing to Frank’s compulsion to continue his never-ending “war” against the criminal underworld, it feels like he’s been in a continued state of false retirement and denial every time we’ve seen him since the original Daredevil’s second season, until something inevitably pulls him back in. Earlier today, Marvel Studios released the first trailer for its upcoming special, The Punisher: One Last Kill, and while it looks similar at first glance, its place in the timeline could mark a change in the character’s outlook.

The trailer itself is light on plot details, opening on Frank sitting alone with the ghosts of his former Marine Corps squadmates before being forced into action by an apparent violent break-in at the apartment across the hall. From there, we see the chaos spill onto the streets as Frank fights off attackers, while haunted by visions of himself dressed in Punisher garb. Although most of the trailer seems to play out over a single incident, we get a brief closing glimpse of Frank in full Punisher gear, preparing to execute a particularly unlucky victim.

On the surface, it seems as if the special will follow a similar setup of a guilt-ridden Frank Castle hiding until an all-too-close act of violence forces him back into the fray, which would be a little disappointing if One Last Kill is a title to be taken at face value. But last year, Marvel Television head Brad Winderbaum confirmed that the special will take place concurrently with the timeline of Born Again season 2 (in which Frank is conspicuously absent), which raises a question: is the title meant to be ironic? What if One Last Kill sees Frank give into his urges in what he believes will be “the last time,” only to finally accept the truth of who he is?

In the comics, the death of the Punisher’s family is the catalyst for a perpetual, inescapable campaign against all criminals, but in actuality, Frank’s crusade is a direct continuation of the maddening violence he witnessed and perpetuated in Vietnam. It can’t end, because Frank now has an appetite for killing and a somewhat justifiable outlet for it, all of which is exacerbated by his PTSD. The history of the MCU’s Punisher evokes this, changing the context to the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and having Frank Castle unwittingly serve in a corrupt black ops death squad. But Bernthal’s Punisher has never fully become the eternal, emotionally deadened “soldier” committed to his endless crusade above all else.

With the character’s upcoming appearance in Brand New Day, perhaps the events of One Last Kill will finally push Frank over the edge into a colder, resolved, and more active Punisher, which could be part of the conflict between him and Spider-Man. A self-assured, murderous vigilante is certainly going to be a major problem for Peter Parker, but in a twisted way, Frank Castle’s newfound acceptance of his own “purpose” could be a mirror to Peter’s inevitable acceptance of his own responsibilities. Regardless of whatever justification OLK ends up giving us, it’s clear that Frank Castle’s war isn’t ending any time soon.

The Punisher: One Last Kill debuts May 12th on Disney+.

Since VR gaming first left the arcade and became accessible with the development of the Oculus Rift over ten years ago, it feels like the games that take the best advantage of the medium are the ones that allow players to step into fantastical worlds or provide an experience that could only be accomplished through total immersion. Unlike regular consoles, which naturally require a level of interactivity but are also at a distance due to the screen itself, VR quite literally transforms the world around you to create something almost tangible. Games like Superhot, Beat Saber, and even VR ports like Resident Evil Village all use the technology of virtual reality to provide an experience you can’t get from simply holding a controller in front of a TV.

With all that under consideration, what better usage of VR is there than replicating the incredible odyssey of one of the year’s most acclaimed blockbusters? Project Hail Mary, the big-screen adaptation of Andy Weir’s hard science novel of the same name, has already grossed $430 million to become the second-highest grossing film of the year in just 3 weeks, and it’s been showered with praise for not only its surprising emotional resonance and sincerity but its staggering visuals as well (courtesy of Greig Fraser, the coveted cinematographer of The Batman and the Dune films). With the film already achieving immense success, it’s only fitting that audiences would get to return to the world of PHM – all from the comfort of their living room.

Project Hail Mary: Journey Among The Stars is an upcoming VR gaming experience developed by Maze Theory, coming later in 2026. The studio has already cut its teeth on many licensed games, most of which are designed for VR, including Peaky Blinders: The Kings Ransom, Thief VR, and Doctor Who: The Edge of Time. Their experience crafting hyper-specific, absorbing representations of iconic pre-existing worlds makes them an ideal choice to bring audiences back to the Hail Mary and the journey to Tau Ceti.

In the game, players will take control of Ryland Grace, the science teacher and molecular biologist played by Ryan Gosling in the film. The story is set during the events of the movie, chronicling an untold chapter in Grace’s adventure with his newfound alien friend Rocky. Also of note is the fact that the narrative of the game is written by Andy Weir himself, which means it’ll fit perfectly alongside the canon of the film.

As evidenced by our first glimpses at the game, the VR experience will replicate the interior of the Hail Mary ship, and asks players to troubleshoot failing systems and solve scientific problems on board to ensure that humanity’s last hope makes it to its destination safely. Putting you in Grace’s shoes takes the existential tension of the film one step further, as instead of watching one man attempt to save Earth, players will undertake that mission themselves, with one wrong step meaning total eradication. It’s a quest with massive stakes, but luckily it’s not one you have to do alone – players will be joined by Rocky, who will assist them and be a persistent companion throughout.

There’s so much wish-fulfillment contained in epic science fiction like Project Hail Mary – the unified cooperation of the globe in service of a shared goal, the ingenuity of the human race, the bravery and selflessness of being the one to undergo such a mission – and now fans of the film can get a taste of what that wish-fulfillment feels like firsthand.

With the film itself standing as one of 2026’s biggest cinematic successes, there are sure to be a host of people eager to take control of the Hail Mary when Journey Among the Stars finally releases.

Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars does not yet have a release date but is expected in late 2026.

Next year, the hotly anticipated sequel Man of Tomorrow will hit theaters, with Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) forming an odd alliance with Superman (David Corenswet) against the evil genius known as Brainiac (Lars Eidinger). But what other villains are in the mix? Recent casting rumors have suggested that James Gunn is looking for an actress to play the DC anti-hero Maxima, an alien queen obsessed with conquest.

Several big-name stars have been connected with this role, though Gunn has denied a few things. First, he’s said that Marisa Abela, Adria Arjona, and Ella Purnell are not testing for this mystery part, even though Deadline reported that all of those names were connected to Man of Tomorrow. Second, Gunn hasn’t actually confirmed that this new character is Maxima. So what’s going on? And for longtime Superman fans, are we really hoping this Man of Tomorrow role will be Maxima?

While Maxima is a cool character who hasn’t been seen on the big screen, what might be more interesting is if Man of Tomorrow features a rebooted version of the wicked Kryptonian Ursa instead. And, right now, the actresses rumored to join the movie would be great fits for Ursa.

On April 9, 2026, Borys Kit and Aaron Couch of The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Eva De Dominici, Sydney Chandler, Grace Van Patten, and possibly Adria Arjona are all testing for the unconfirmed Man of Tomorrow role. While we can imagine any of these performers as Maxima, it seems equally possible that each would make a good Ursa.

Ursa was created for 1978’s Superman: The Movie, and had a much more prominent role in Superman II in 1981. Played by Sarah Douglas, Ursa is a cruel cohort of General Zod (Terence Stamp) who, along with Non (Jack O'Halloran), was sent to the Phantom Zone by Jor-El (Marlon Brando). Ursa wasn’t retconned into Superman comics until 2007, where she appeared in the “Last Son” arc, helmed by Geoff Johns and Superman director Richard Donner. That said, a character named Faora, who popped up in 1977, was similar to Ursa in that she was also an evil Kryptonian who escaped from the Phantom Zone.

There have been a handful of onscreen versions of Ursa’s buddy, General Zod, this century, including Michael Shannon in Man of Steel (2013) and Colin Salmon playing a time-traveling Zod in the TV series Krypton (2018). But we haven’t had a live-action Ursa since 1981, even though Douglas appeared in the live-action Supergirl series in 2018 as a different evil Kryptonian named Jindah Kol Roz. So maybe we’re due for a reboot of Ursa (or Faora) in Man of Tomorrow. Gunn doesn’t need to bring back General Zod from the Phantom Zone yet again, but a rebooted version of Ursa could be a fun twist.

Superman II is considered a classic to this day. Part of why it works is that Superman has to deal with other Kryptonians, and Ursa is a major reason why that tension is so great. Who can forget the sing-songy taunting way Douglas says “Superman” before really getting into it? Arguably, this character is interesting because she’s simultaneously iconic but also a bit underwritten and underrated. And when you glance at old photos of Douglas in the role, any of the actresses rumored to be joining Man of Tomorrow would be great for a new Ursa, especially Alien: Earth’s Sydney Chandler.

Regardless of which direction Gunn decides to go with Man of Tomorrow, Ursa’s evilness will live on in the hearts of Super-fans everywhere. Hopefully, we’ll see her again very soon.

Man of Tomorrow will hit theaters on July 9, 2027.

Superman: The Definitive History

Simon & Schuster -

The first time Rachael Morrison heard of Joybubbles, the legal name of Joe Engressia, he had already passed. She read about him in an obituary in The New York Times, which called him the “Peter Pan of Phone Hackers,” a descriptor that intrigued Morrison.

“I had never heard of him. I had never heard of the phone phreaks. I didn't know there were hackers before computers. His life was just so fascinating,” Morrison tells Inverse following the SXSW Film & TV Festival premiere of her new documentary film, Joybubbles. Morrison, who had never made a film before embarking on the long, strange process of making a documentary about Joybubbles, felt it was her duty when she looked him up and discovered that none existed yet. “I thought there would be a book written about him or a film about him, and there wasn't anything that really covered the entire scope of his whole life.”

Born blind, the self-styled Joybubbles accidentally invented phone hacking when he realized that by whistling certain tones into the telephone, he could make long-distance calls for free. His neat little trick would inspire a movement of phone hackers and enthusiasts who called themselves “phone phreaks,” among whose membership included future Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Joybubbles was at the beginning of a tech movement that actively shapes the world today, yet he remains a forgotten footnote in history. Morrison hopes, with her documentary, that’ll change.

“[I] decided I would make a documentary film about him since nobody else had,” Morrison says.

Inverse spoke with Morrison about the unique archiving process that went into making Joybubbles, how she made Joybubbles the narrator of his own story strictly through archival audio, and why the world was forever changed by this one forgotten phone hacker.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

What would you say was the most surprising thing to learn when you were making Joybubbles?

There's so many surprising facets to his life. I think what really makes the film work is all the audio that I collected, and that was, of course, incredibly surprising. I didn't know that there was much audio of him when I started making the film. I just thought, "OK, I'm going to go around and film interviews with people who knew him."

One of those interviews with this woman, Cynthia Bond, resulted in a bunch of cassette tapes that she had where she had asked him to narrate his whole life story, and that became the backbone of the movie. Then I also discovered other tapes along the way. It's a film, but it's very audio-heavy because I wanted to let him narrate his own story through the audio.

Tell me about your process, because I'd heard that Joybubbles was cut on Adobe Premiere almost entirely from archival footage, despite limited media available about Joe. Can you tell me how you went about building this process?

We started with an editor named Patrick Lawrence, and he cut what I would call a radio edit. We sifted through all of this audio, hours and hours of audio to lay out the story first. Then Bradford Thomason came on. He was the second editor who really pushed the film forward, finished it, and made it so beautiful. He took what Patrick had done and was able to rearrange the story as needed. Then he added in all the visual elements, which I had found as an archival producer, and also the interviews as well.

I know that you especially wanted Joybubbles to narrate his own story. Did you ever encounter a hurdle where you thought that this was an important aspect of his life to talk about or to explore, and then you didn't have any actual footage or content to draw from?

We didn't cut out any audio or interviews because we couldn't find visuals for it. We kept everything in. There's limited footage and photographs of Joybubbles, although I was surprised by how much I did find of him. He was in the news a lot. He was in the news when he was a hacker, and then he was in the local news again when he was Joybubbles.

But yeah, the rest of the film is archival that I consider it emotional archival producing, looking for archival that emotionally corresponds with what he is talking about and isn't necessarily a one-to-one relationship of he's talking about something and you're seeing exactly what he's talking about. We also have animations and shots in Super 8 to get coverage for everything, but there were definitely stories and moments, things that were more difficult in his life, some of the trauma that he experienced, where it took me a while to figure out, like, "How are we going to visualize this?"

One thing I found really fascinating about this documentary and the Joybubbles story was that the phone freaks and the idea of hacking phones was kind of a precursor to computer hacking, and I think there was a part that Steve Jobs even had been a bit of a phone phreak in his early days before going on to found Apple, which is such a fascinating little piece of history that a lot of people wouldn't know about. Do you think that this forgotten piece of technology/hacking history is something that people should know about more?

I mean, Joybubbles is incredibly important in the history of hacking and technology. There was a magazine article that he was featured in that both Woz and Jobs read. They then were able to figure out how to hack into the telephone network as well, just from reading this article and then figuring out how to build something called a blue box, which we talk about a bit in the film. So Joybubbles was exceptional because he could whistle the tones.

Pretty much everyone else built these little devices that were the size of a pack of cigarettes, called the blue box, and those would make the tones that the telephone system used to the tones that controlled the system. So it really was their first project together, and also the first thing that they packaged and sold.

So it's kind of funny in the film because Steve Wozniak is talking about, "Oh, we decided we would make this thing together," and then Jobs says, "We could sell this." Woz is like, "Oh, I didn't think we could sell it." Which is such a funny little piece of the dynamic that they had forever in making Apple. Joybubbles inspired them, and they may not have started Apple if they hadn't done this.

What has the reception at festivals for Joybubbles been like for you?

I feel like I've gotten great feedback, and people on the screening seem really fascinated by him and touched by his story, which is amazing. You know, you make something with your friends and colleagues, and you don't really know how the world is going to receive it, but I'm really delighted. He's such an amazing person, so I'm glad that his story is getting out there and it's resonating with people.

Joybubbles played at the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW Film & TV Festival. It does not yet have a distributor.

One of the most surprising and exciting sci-fi shows of 2025 won’t leave its cliffhanger ending unresolved. Alien: Earth Season 2 is officially happening under showrunner Noah Hawley, and will continue to explore the machinations of various extraterrestrial creatures — including xenomorphs — as they clash with humans and, occasionally, team up with synthetic hybrids.

But what will Alien: Earth Season 2 be all about? Who from the cast will return for Season 2? When can we expect a release date? Here’s everything we know about Alien: Earth Season 2 so far.

Is Alien: Earth Season 2 Confirmed?

On November 11, FX confirmed that Noah Hawley has signed a new deal with the network to continue making new episodes of Alien: Earth, following the success of Season 1.

In a statement, Hawley said, “FX has always supported bold, character-driven storytelling. From the very beginning with Fargo, they’ve encouraged me to take creative risks and follow the story wherever it leads. I’m grateful to continue exploring the world of Alien: Earth alongside our partners, cast, and crew as we begin the next chapter.”

What Is the Release Date For Alien: Earth Season 2?

At this time, there’s no confirmed release date for Alien: Earth Season 2. But because the show is set to start filming in London sometime in 2026, could a late 2026 release date be possible for Alien: Earth Season 2? Maybe. But 2027 seems more likely.

Who Is in the Cast of Alien: Earth Season 2?

Not counting the characters who perished — like Isaac (Kit Young), Arthur (David Rysdahl), and all the crew of the Maginot  — the rest of the cast is expected to return. And despite the chaos and action in the Season 1 finale, a huge portion of the primary cast survived. So, here’s who we can expect to return:

• Sydney Chandler as Wendy, the lead hybrid
• Alex Lawther as Hermit, Sydney’s human brother
• Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh, a Synth
• Babou Ceesay as Morrow, a cyborg
• Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier, CEO of Prodigy.
• Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia, a scientist for Prodigy,
• Adarsh Gourav as Slightly, a hybrid.
• Jonathan Ajayi as Smee, a hybrid.
• Erana James as Curly, a hybrid.
• Lily Newmark as Nibs, a hybrid.
• Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Yutani, the head of the Weyland-Yutani corporation.

As of April 2026, Peter Dinklage was confirmed to be playing a new character in Alien: Earth Season 2. There are no details yet on who he is playing, but clearly, Season 2 will have even more star power than Season 1.

It also stands to reason that because Season 1 ended with Yutani’s troops about to land on the Prodigy island, several new characters will be introduced in Season 2.

What is the Plot of Alien: Earth Season 2?

Alien: Earth Season 1 ended with Wendy and her followers rounding up the humans, as well as one Synth (Kirsh) and one Cyborg (Morrow), and trapping them all in a cage, guarded by a fully grown xenomorph and a young xenomorph. Wendy’s ominous promise was, “Now, we rule.” But what does that mean exactly?

Although the “Lost Boys” have taken control of the Prodigy corporation’s island, Yutani still wants the alien samples back, since those creatures crashed in a Weyland-Yutani ship. So, an invasion of the Prodigy island is likely the next thing we see. On top of that, the show will almost certainly have to explain its biggest mystery: Why, out of all the hybrids, was Wendy able to communicate with the xenomorphs? Why do they do what she wants? And, will any of this change our understanding of the events of the original Alien?

Alien: Earth Season 1 streams on Hulu.

It’s rare in 2026 to find a dramatic series that is well and truly silly. Silliness is usually strictly the domain of comedy series, but every so often, there’s a series that manages to coax the silliness out of what would usually be a domestic drama. The Curse managed this well, especially with its bonkers, fairy-tale-esque ending, and Beef definitely combined the two genres well with a darker edge, but this unique blend is becoming more and more of an endangered species.

With its latest series, The Miniature Wife, Peacock is trying to bring back the gonzo dramedy in a big way, telling a sci-fi story that is also a romantic comedy, that is also an academic scandal drama, and also a corporate thriller. It’s a lot to take on, and while not everything may be done impeccably, it’s the kind of thoroughly silly show that is definitely needed in this era.

The Miniature Wife, based on the short story of the same name by Manuel Gonzalez, follows Lindy Littlejohn (Elizabeth Banks), the onetime hotshot writer who is now relegated to the role of dutiful wife of inventor Les Littlejohn (Matthew McFadyen), who is on the verge of developing a technology that could revolutionize agriculture: miniaturization.

So far, he’s got the miniaturization down; it’s the re-enlargement that proves an issue. So when, in the midst of a heated argument about Lindy’s uncouth behavior, he accidentally shrink-rays her, it poses a big issue.

Meanwhile, both Lindy and Les have their own issues with their career. Lindy realizes RPW (O-T Fagbenle), Les’ employee with whom she’s developed an emotional attachment, has submitted one of her short stories for publication. Unfortunately, that story isn’t hers at all; instead, it was written by one of her creative writing students. Les is coping with wooing an investor (Ronnie Chieng) who wants to mess with his process by installing one of his assistants (Zoe Lister-Jones) to be his “boots on the ground.” In case that wasn’t enough, their daughter Lulu is grappling with her first semester at college and being in the shadow of both of her parents, each equally successful and troubled.

So, needless to say, there are a lot of subplots in this series, and that can cause a lot of tonal whiplash. The dynamic between Les and Lindy veers from secretive and sneaky to all-out aggression, and Lulu’s storyline feels oddly out of place. And that’s not even counting the weird business storyline that involves military operations and teeny-tiny cats.

This certainly adds to the silliness, but if you read the short story this was based on, it’s easy to see how streamlined the plot could be. The original story is told from Les’ perspective as he goes from feeling guilty about the accident, to trying to make his wife’s life easier, to ceding territory in the house completely and setting up traps for her while avoiding hers. No daughter, no plagiarism issues, no eccentric billionaires, no randomly Shakespeare-obsessed side characters. (Side note: no Shakespeare nerd would look for someone by asking “wherefore art thou?” “Wherefore” means “why.”)

The fundamental issue with this series is just that it has too much time to fill. If this were 1960 instead of 2026, The Miniature Wife would make the perfect episode of The Twilight Zone, as many of its episodes were just adaptations of short stories. But there’s no home for stories like this nowadays; in order to survive, you have to pad out a story to a reasonable binge length.

But no matter how scatter-shot the story may be, something’s bound to hit a bullseye. By the end of this ten-episode series, there are a number of touching moments. Elizabeth Banks and Matthew McFadyen find a lot of fun in the nooks and crannies of the script, and the fact that Lindy has an ambitious career of her own gives her a lot more character. There’s even a fabulous standalone episode set at Les and Lindy’s wedding, proving these two can lead a story even both at normal size.

This may be five TV shows in a teeny, tiny trench coat, but it’s still a fun time. Sometimes, silliness is chaotic, but it doesn’t make the silliness any less enjoyable, and the drama still shines through when it needs to.

The Miniature Wife is now streaming on Peacock.

Everything about Tremors 2: Aftershocks screamed straight-to-video. The original’s leading man, Kevin Bacon, had decided that depicting a monumental space mission (Apollo 13) was more worthy of his time than fighting subterranean super-worms. As a result, studio execs reportedly slashed the budget to a measly $4 million and moved the setting from the Australian outback to a Mexican oilfield. And when the project looked destined to be buried deeper than its villainous Graboids, screenwriter S.S. Wilson reportedly offered to direct the film for free. Yet despite events conspiring against it, a second gleefully deranged B-movie throwback emerged.

Shot in 1994 but released two years later, the troubled sequel did get to grace a handful of big screens, receiving a limited international release and premiering domestically at California’s Alfred Hitchcock Theater. But the vast majority of viewers would have happened upon Tremors 2 the same way they did the box office flop Tremors — scouring the shelves of the local video rental store.

Perhaps sensing the need to command attention from the outset, Wilson wastes little time thrusting audiences back into the monstrous world. Before a single word has been spoken, a poor oil worker has been mercilessly hunted and devoured by one of the burrowing creatures that previously tormented the Nevada desert town of Perfection. Step forward Fred Ward’s grizzled handyman-turned-killing machine.

Earl Bassett is in a very different place several years on, having wasted all his money on an ostrich farm whose ostriches appear to have taken a vow of celibacy. But he’s handed a financial lifeline when oil baron Carlos Ortega (Marcelo Tubert) asks him to return to his Graboid-hunting ways, offering $50,000 for each monster dead and twice the amount for each alive.

Earl doesn’t have to do things alone, however. He’s joined by mechanic Pedro (José Rosario), geologist Kate (Helen Shaver) — given far more agency than the usual token woman — and her right-hand man, Julio (Marco Hernandez). And then there’s Grady (Christopher Gartin), Ortega’s taxi driver, who manages to hitch himself to the mission through a mildly annoying combination of excitable persistence and elite fanboying.

Yes, Scream wasn’t the only meta film of 1996. We soon learn that the events of Tremors have been capitalized on via shameless merchandising, with everything from comic books to arcade games now emblazoned with the Graboids and their hunters’ faces. Not that Earl has seen a cent of it, judging by how he reacts to Julio’s assumption that the shoot-em-up royalties alone must have put him in the one percent.

Earl tries to claw back some of this money with the help of his overly enthusiastic sidekick and some explosive-filled remote-controlled cars before acknowledging he may need some extra assistance. Cue Burt Gummer (Michael Gross), the gun-toting survivalist who answers the call in a concrete man-cave filled with war memorabilia, wall-mounted stuffed Graboids, and enough firearms to supply an army.

Wounded by the departure of his ex-wife (Reba McEntire, another no-show due to touring commitments), Burt is even more unhinged the second time around. "You know [Heather] blames our problems on the collapse of the Soviet Union? Said I was too hard to live with. Said I couldn't handle life without the threat of global war." Still, he proves invaluable in the fight against a new species of self-replicating, overground mutants dubbed Shriekers.

Indeed, Burt repeatedly saves the day, albeit in unorthodox ways. See how he covers himself in fire extinguisher foam to evade the body heat-detecting creatures in the literally explosive finale. And Gross, previously best known as the dependable dad in Family Ties, is clearly having a blast delivering lines like “I am completely out of ammo. That's never happened to me before.”

Earl also gets his fair share of zingers, most of which are aimed at his new partner-in-crime as their mismatched buddy duo evolves from hostility (“Who are you, and why are you so dumb?”) and dismissiveness (“How bout Loony World,” he ponders after Grady announces plans to open up a Graboid-inspired theme park) to, eventually, mutual respect.

Tremors 2 handles its human relationships as effectively as the action-packed set pieces and practical effects, which, despite the lack of funds, have aged far better than many of the decade’s CGI fests. The refreshingly age-appropriate Earl and Kate have a natural chemistry, too, which makes their journey from mild flirtation to first date feel well-earned. And there’s an amusing camaraderie between the main survivors, which leaves you wanting more once all the critters are blown into smithereens.

Sadly, Gross was the only actor ever to head back to a franchise that veered off, with diminishing returns, into private islands, the Canadian Arctic, and a 19th-century mining town. While everything that followed merited the Blockbuster bargain bucket, this joyous second chapter deserved the full popcorn experience.

Tremors 2: Aftershocks is available for rent on Prime Video.

There is an image from Hanna, a rare pivot from director Joe Wright, that I haven’t thought about since the film’s premiere in 2011. But the moment I caught a glimpse of then-15-year-old Saoirse Ronan, bleach-blonde brows turning her blue eyes even icier, bow and arrow in hand, I recalled my obsession with the film in a rush of out-of-body clarity. Hanna was something like wish fulfillment when it hit theaters 15 years ago. Wright had already endeared himself to the teen girl audience with the one-two punch of Pride & Prejudice and Atonement — but with the 2010s came an experimental phase, and it effectively began with this wild hodge-podge of a movie that slots somewhere between dark fairytale, coming-of-age movie, and spy thriller. Critics might not have known what to make of its story then, but at 15, the same age as Ronan’s eponymous heroine, Wright’s pivot into punk rock spoke to the burgeoning punk in me.

After back-to-back period romances, Wright was keen to deconstruct the reputation he’d so effortlessly built with his feature debut and sophomore triumph. “I wanted to smash it all up a bit, really,” he told IndieWire at the time. “I love the idea that we are free to change and develop. I think the idea of making the same type of film throughout your career would be really boring.”

“Boring,” Hanna certainly is not. Based on a story by screenwriter Seth Lochhead, the film follows a young girl (Ronan) who’s lived her entire life in a remote strip of the Arctic, learning how to hunt and fight from her father (Eric Bana). A rogue CIA agent who deserted the agency after Hanna’s birth, Bana’s Erik is quietly bracing for the day when Hanna’s skills will be put to the test. Her first mission will be to assassinate Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), Erik’s former handler, and Hanna’s zippy first act has a lot of fun establishing the enmity between the two parties.

Once Hanna is unleashed, Wright revels in paranoid camera movements that kilter and twirl around his subject, and rapid cuts that personify her sensory overload. Ronan embodies Hanna’s earnest attempts to be steely and deadly as well as her stilted naïveté. Sure, she’s been trained how to snap a human neck with maximum efficiency, and build an airtight cover story, but she’s got no idea what it is to just... be a girl. When she happens upon a bohemian British family traveling through Morocco and, against all odds, bonds with their outspoken teen daughter (Jessica Barden), she stumbles into a crash course of teenhood that’s equal parts endearing — maybe even a little romantic — and embarrassing by association. It’s a detour in every sense, as she’s supposed to meet her father in Berlin to complete her first mission. But with Wiegler and her global contacts (including a creepy German assassin played by Tom Hollander) hot on her tail, the happy ending she seeks will be hard won, if she can win it at all.

It’s the fairytale elements that bridge the gap between quiet childlike wonder and its dark adult themes, with Hanna’s journey taking on the classic beats of tales like Alice in Wonderland or Hansel and Gretel. The Brothers Grimm is a major touchstone for Hanna: among other allusions to their work, our heroine is instructed to meet her father at “Grimm’s house,” a shack within a defunct amusement park. Wiegler is likened to a wicked witch; Hollander’s bogeyman, Isaacs, is a bit like the big, bad wolf. Per Lochhead, Wright strove to strengthen the fairytale allegory wherever possible. “He found an amazing way to give a literal interpretation to the story’s subtext,” the writer told Focus. “For him, the story, with its dark woods and wicked witch, was a fairy tale.”

The score, composed by the Chemical Brothers, pulls more than its weight, too. The soundscape they build rides on the coattails of the poppy, electronic soundtracks that disrupted the status quo in 2010 but have since become a new kind of classic — think Daft Punk’s Tron: Legacy score, or Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ work on The Social Network. Back then, this trend was really only just beginning, and Hanna slots perfectly into the rising tide, supplying throbbing synths for its white-knuckle action sequences and twinkling instrumentals for Hanna’s internal monologue. It all spoke to the angsty tempest plaguing many a girl’s inner world, the struggle to let go of childish things and embrace a new idea of womanhood. That struggle is easy to take for granted, but 15 years on, few have made it feel quite so strong as Hanna.

Hanna is available to rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, and other digital platforms.

In the pantheon of Marvel Comics villains who have made their way to the big screen, Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin has to be the most successful. Not only has he consistently been a thorn in Daredevil’s side (if he was a movie villain he’d have met his demise by now), but he frequently achieves his goals in a way few others do — Netflix’s Daredevil Season 3 saw him completely manipulate the FBI into helping him erase his legal troubles, and the Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again has him successfully be elected to the office of the mayor, enacting legislation against costumed heroes and punishing vigilantes like White Tiger or the Swordsman. He’s an omnipresent immovable object whose corruption knows no bounds and reaches the furthest corners of Hell’s Kitchen.

Of course, Kingpin on-screen has never truly been alone. In the first season of the Netflix show he had James Wesley (his bodyguard, friend, and close confidant), who was fatally shot by Karen Page. There’s of course, always Vanessa, his beloved wife, muse, and partner-in-crime who encourages all of his baser tendencies. But Daredevil: Born Again has introduced a new trusted collaborator within the Fisk administration: Buck Cashman (Arty Froushan), a character who, despite his humble appearances, does in fact have a history rooted in Daredevil comics.

Warning! Spoilers ahead.

Who is Buck Cashman In The Comics?

In the comics, Buck Cashman makes his debut in the pages of Daredevil #250, as part of Ann Nocenti’s ‘90s run on the character. Unlike his television counterpart, he’s a super-powered government operative (super-strength, inhuman speed, and enhanced durability) with supremely high clearance, sent in by the United States government to take care of any unsavory or particularly covert missions that should never be traced back to them. The first time he encounters Daredevil, he’s been loaned out by the U.S. Army on contract to none other than Wilson Fisk, as part of a scheme designed to frame a grassroots environmental protection organization for an act of domestic terror.

Since his debut in the ;90s, Buck (also known as Bullet due to his abilities) has frequently been spotted in the company of the Kingpin or assassins employed by him, such as when he teamed up with the telekinetic assassin Typhoid Mary to finally end Daredevil once and for all. Recently, however, he was coaxed by Matt Murdock into making a turn towards heroism, joining Daredevil’s crusade against the ancient ninja clan The Hand in Chip Zdarsky’s acclaimed run on the character (the same run from which Daredevil: Born Again borrows a huge portion of its driving narrative). Most of his pathos is connected to his young son Lance, a paranoid adolescent terrified of the potential of nuclear war and forced into a difficult situation by his father’s frequent criminal activities and the many times he’s forced to cover for him.

The Biggest Changes to Buck in Born Again

Naturally, comparing Buck on the page to Buck’s presence in Born Again exposes just how little they have in common — Froushan’s depiction of the character lacks any sort of metahuman abilities, and is instead a calculating and endlessly loyal bodyguard and right-hand man to Wilson Fisk, willing to do anything to keep him protected and in power. Although he lacks a son in the television series, his somewhat kindly relationship with Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini) could be viewed as a bit of a father/son dynamic. Curiously enough, Buck’s government operative backstory in the comics shares a lot in common with the mysterious Mr. Charles (Matthew Lillard) in Born Again: a well-connected government agent given carte blanche to fulfill his mission who ends up in the orbit of the Kingpin, this time to deliver oversight to the unruly Mayor of New York City.

Buck, like quite a few characters over the course of the original Netflix show and the revival, is another example of the MCU twisting a more fantastical Daredevil villain into something that fits within the grounded, crime-thriller context of the series. Even though it seems like the character will just remain as Fisk’s faithful and extremely capable right-hand man for now, there’s always the possibility that somewhere down the line Buck might become a more formidable foe for Matt Murdock — or considering how much they’ve borrowed from Zdarksy’s run on the character, we might even see him make some sort of last-minute turn against Wilson Fisk later in the season.

With the Kingpin’s grip on New York steadily tightening, Matt certainly needs all the help he can get, and a turncoat from within the mayor’s office might just be the trump card he desperately needs.

Daredevil: Born Again airs every Tuesday on Disney+.

A decade and a half ago, a fantasy epic premiered that would go on to become the biggest thing in pop culture; a juggernaut that redefined the fantasy genre and which permanently altered fandom. Also, nine days before that, Your Highness came out.

Unlike Game of Thrones, which debuted on HBO a week and change after Your Highness hit theaters on April 8, 2011, the raunchy stoner fantasy comedy did not set the world ablaze, and 15 years later, it's mostly forgotten about. It would be a lie to say that Your Highness is a hidden gem worthy of canonization among the fantasy (or comedy) greats. But, in light of what came after it, the Danny McBride flick is a fascinating artifact; and although there are plenty of regrettable jokes among the side-splitters, it's a unique genre mashup.

Described as a "self-indulgent dream project for the 11-year-old in me" by director David Gordon Green, Your Highness puts the "high" in "high fantasy." A follow-up to Green's 2008's action-comedy Pineapple Express, itself a stoner spin on another genre, Your Highness stars McBride as Thadeous, the lazy, immature second son of the king of the land of Mourne. His elder brother, James Franco's Fabious, is by all accounts the perfect prince: noble, chivalrous, and brave in battle. When Fabious returns from a quest with a new bride (Zooey Deschanel's Princess Belladonna), Thadeous very much resents this happily ever after — until an evil wizard named Leezar (a bizarrely committed Justin Theroux) crashes the wedding and kidnaps Belladonna. The brothers must set off on a new quest to rescue her, joining forces with a warrior woman named Isabel (Natalie Portman). The adventure that follows involves armored pratfalls, betrayals, magical swords, CGI wizardry, sex jokes, and a severed minotaur penis.

Despite the goofy, juvenile nature and scrappiness of the comedy, Your Highness looks the part of a fantasy adventure. A $50 million budget isn't huge for a fantasy movie, but it's a lot for a comedy and is double what Pineapple Express cost. The costumes and sets are detailed, the makeup is great, the practical effects are plentiful, and the computer effects aren't nearly as bad as they could be considering this was an early-'00s movie. It's certainly more realized (and better-shot!) than many straight-to-streaming genre flicks these days. Still, even though Green clearly has a sincere affection for the genre, the craftsmanship is in service of a fantasy world that's unfocused and inherently somewhat generic. It's understandable — deep, deep lore would get in the way of the primary purpose of the movie: being silly. And maybe there was a sense that audiences in 2011 weren't really looking for a big fantasy world. The Lord of the Rings films were nearly a decade in the rearview mirror and the eighth Harry Potter film would come out that summer. Other high fantasy movies in the '00s — like the Narnia films, Eragon, and The Golden Compass — were hits but there might not have been as much enthusiasm behind them. If audiences were getting a little exhausted by fantasy, why not make an irreverent parody?

Game of Thrones would prove that, actually, audiences were not tired of fantasy. They just needed a great, earnest, and serious take on the genre. Instead, Your Highness had passable fantasy action — with limited stakes due to the comedy of it all — and jokes. Some of those jokes kill, like McBride's banter with his servant Courtney (Rasmus Hardiker) or a few raunchy quips that get at the vulgar, immature magic of his comedy delivery in The Righteous Gemstones. As the evil wizard Leezar, Theroux really goes for it.

The biggest — and honestly perhaps disqualifying — problem with Your Highness is how much of the humor is about rape. The threat of rape even drives the plot, as Leezar needs to have his way with an unwilling Belladonna to impregnate her with a dragon. The density of rape jokes in Your Highness quickly goes from "yeah, unfortunately I guess pop culture was more casual about this back then" to "this is genuinely uncomfortable to watch" pretty quickly. The jokes aren't meant with malice. They're sex jokes in a sex comedy that play in the unsavory aspects of a lot of serious medieval-set tales. One could almost make the case that the crass way Your Highness jokes about the subject is better than some of the ways that Game of Thrones frequently deployed rape as a means to up dramatic stakes. That doesn't make Your Highness more comfortable to watch, and even if you're inclined to give the movie the benefit of the doubt in any attempt to reappraise it as a possible cult classic, it's hard to ignore.

The most interesting thing to compare Your Highness to isn't actually Game of Thrones despite the similar premiere dates and controversial subject matter. Instead it's the 2023 film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Even the funniest jokes in Your Highness find their humor in the contrast between fantasy and the film's R-rating. The vulgarity of the jokes doesn't match what you'd expect from this world of swords and sorcery, a deliberately comedic clash. The D&D movie, though, is an earnest fantasy world that finds tons of laughs in its made-up, trope-filled world organically rather than by playing against it.

Dungeons & Dragons premiered into a pop culture landscape that was friendlier to this type of fantasy than Your Highness, in part because Game of Thrones revitalized the genre and because it had the benefit of a known and increasingly popular IP while Your Highness was all-original. At the risk of some phrasing that sounds like a joke from Your Highness, Your Highness came too early. It's hard to parody something that isn't established enough in pop culture to be parodied, and harder still when the parodying is as lewd as it is here. And yet… what fantasy fan can't appreciate embarking on a bold, foolhardy quest? Your Highness tried — and the minotaur dick gag is, you gotta hand it to 'em, pretty good.

Your Highness is streaming on Starz.

Since the very first season of Marvel’s Daredevil back in 2015, Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) has been a key player and a bit of a Lady Macbeth in the brutal conflict between Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio). She is the first person we meet who accepts the Kingpin for what he is, without intimidation and free of deception or artifice, and that support pushes Wilson to become more confident and assured in his own monstrous nature. It was inevitable then that her eventual husband’s monstrousness would rub off on her — as it did over the course of three seasons of the original Netflix show. There, we watched Vanessa become more and more entrenched in Wilson’s criminal empire, with their brief, forced separations doing little to quell their desire to remake New York City as they see fit. And now, in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episode 4, “Gloves Off,” Vanessa’s arc could be morphing into a story straight from a very specific comic book storyline. Spoilers ahead.

Two seasons into the revival series Daredevil: Born Again, Vanessa has established herself as a shrewd and ruthless White Queen in her own right, having kept the peace between NYC’s five criminal families in her husband’s absence and even siccing the mentally unstable assassin Bullseye on Foggy Nelson to cover up her illicit dealings regarding the Red Hook Freeport. But it seems the seeds of her labor have blossomed into bitter fruit – as of last night’s episode, Vanessa might pay the ultimate price for her relationship with Kingpin, with her left in dire straits after another assassination attempt from Bullseye. Going back to the source material, this isn’t the first time Vanessa Fisk has found herself nearing the end of her life, and that same storyline might provide a clue as to where Born Again might go next.

Vanessa Fisk's Born Again Arc Borrows From Her Comics Canon

For the longest time in comics canon, Vanessa Fisk wasn’t as complicit a compatriot in Wilson’s empire as she is in the show – she often pushed him to abandon his role as Kingpin for her, and the two even conceived a baby boy named Richard, who was sent off to Switzerland for school. The strain of various threats on their lives and her husband’s on-again/off-again relationship with crime would cause him to send her to Europe alone for safekeeping. Meanwhile, their son Richard returned, blaming his father for the whirlwind of crime constantly surrounding them and desiring a piece of his pie, a desire that would eventually culminate in Richard organizing an assassination attempt against his own father. (Much of this backstory began in 1970 in The Amazing Spider-Man #83. Though the 2004-2005 Daredevil comics brought Richard back.)

Catching word of this, Vanessa would return to Hell’s Kitchen to settle her husband’s affairs (in a manner not unlike her off-screen ascension prior to Born Again), massacring those responsible for his attempted murder. This included her own son, an event which shattered her emotionally and psychologically, so when it was discovered that she was suffering from an undisclosed terminal illness, she sought to tie up loose ends and resign herself to wasting away.

Those loose ends just so happen to be her husband and his arch-nemesis, Daredevil, the two people she blamed for the demise of her son and the destruction of their family. From behind the scenes, Vanessa orchestrated a series of events that publicly exposed Matt’s secret identity and landed both he and Fisk in prison, only to fake the murder of Foggy Nelson in the hopes that the two enemies would destroy each other. When Matt escaped and discovered the truth, Vanessa turned the tables on him, manipulating the system so that Matt’s reputation would be restored…only to be forced to use his skills as a lawyer to get Kingpin released as well, something Vanessa believed would be an ultimate stain on Murdock’s soul.

Born Again Is Seemingly Merging Two Comic Book Runs

So, it’s obvious that, while the show is adapting bits and pieces from both Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker’s back-to-back acclaimed runs on the character, certain elements are out of place – Wilson and Vanessa have no son, Vanessa harbors little ill-will towards her husband, and she’s not dying of an inexplicable illness. However, that doesn’t mean that her demise couldn’t function as an ersatz catalyst for Matt to end up imprisoned with his secret identity leaked.

Although Fisk has spent all season refusing to reveal Matt’s identity out of fear of challenging his own labeling of Daredevil as a villian the potential loss of his wife could make a typically dangerous man even more dangerous and desperate to boot, especially considering that from Kingpin’s perspective, it looks like Daredevil just saved Bullseye’s life. If Matt does successfully oust the Kingpin as mayor, who’s to say it won’t be a pyrrhic victory, one that costs Matt his freedom and his reputation?

Even if Vanessa isn’t the one to pull the strings the same way she does in the comics, there’s still a strong possibility that she could be the catalyst for Born Again season three being a loose adaptation of the iconic storyline The Devil in Cell Block D – and right now, like so many other times throughout Kingpin and Matt’s neverending battle, everything hinges on Mrs. Fisk.

Daredevil: Born Again airs every Tuesday on Disney+.

There are only a few months standing between Spidey fans and Tom Holland’s next outing as the wallcrawler, Brand New Day — but the team behind the Marvel film is taking advantage of every spare moment they can get. Holland recently revealed that, though principal photography has wrapped, he’s been involved with reshoots to make Brand New Day just that much better.

“I can positively say that the stuff we’re doing, we don’t need,” the actor told GQ. “The movie works and sings as it is. We’re just adding the icing on the cake in certain areas.”

It’s hard to fully buy that Brand New Day doesn’t need any of the additional footage. Holland is shooting with director Destin Daniel Cretton, and reshoots are typically mandatory for a not-quite-there narrative to gain more cohesion, not an optional, “just for fun” resort for a film that already sings. Of course, Holland’s insistence makes sense. Audiences have been trained to fear the word “reshoots,” commonplace as they are — especially for Marvel.

Still, not every Marvel project is Captain America: Brave New World, which went through a whopping three rounds of major reshoots. Arguably, that 2025 film made a major misstep by trying to fold a new villain (Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder) into an already crowded film. That instinct was admirable, but ultimately a waste of resources: there just wasn’t enough of Sidewinder to merit his role in this story, even if it was designed to set up a larger role in something down the line. Ideally, Marvel has learned from that mistake — but Holland’s comments might signal otherwise.

According to Holland, the Brand New Day reshoots are focused on “layering in a villain plotline in a new way,” among other priorities like adding more humor to the proceedings. His comments are just vague enough not to set off alarm bells just yet, but it should still give us pause. One of the worst habits of the Spider-Man films — particularly those in the franchises that preceded Holland’s — was an overabundance of villains. Spider-Man: Homecoming and Far From Home managed to avoid that by focusing on one antagonist at a time, but No Way Home was as crowded as it could be, featuring not only the villains from old Spider-Man films but the former Spider-Men themselves.

Brand New Day will be similarly stuffed. Cretton has tapped anti-heroes like the Punisher (Jon Bernthal), former Avengers like Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), and an army of small-time Spidey villains like Scorpion (Michael Mando), Tarantula, Boomerang, and the vicious ninja collective known as the Hand. There’s also a mysterious antagonist — yet to be revealed — whose powers make them a kind of puppet master: they can enter their victims’ minds and control their bodies at will. That could be Sadie Sink’s mystery character, or the Stranger Things star could be playing a different villain (or love interest!) entirely. And that likely won’t be the only reveal up Cretton’s sleeve — so any clarity that reshoots can offer the film should be most welcome. As long as the team isn’t trying to shoehorn a brand-new antagonist into these chaotic proceedings, Brand New Day should be in good hands.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31.

Luke Skywalker is headed to Tosche station to pick up some power converters, and he wants new Star Wars characters to pick up the slack while he’s gone. How long is Luke gone for? Maybe forever. As of early April 2026, Mark Hamill is back in the headlines talking Star Wars, but at the same time, it seems like he’s retired from the franchise. He provided the voice of an alternate Luke Skywalker as recently as 2024 with Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. By 2025, he was saying he was done playing the character, but Hamill is also doing more collaborations with Lego to support Star Wars.

So which is it? Have we seen — or heard — the last of Luke Skywalker? Or, as the 50th anniversary of the original film looms, is that Tatooine farmboy sneakily making another comeback?

“I had my time,” Hamill was reported saying in a 2026 story from Variety. “I think they should focus on the future and all the new characters.” Technically, that quote is from 2025, and was used in the context of Hamill giving new insight into an interview with USA Today, in which he was asked about a variety of topics, including the impending 50th anniversary of the original 1977 Star Wars, as well as his opinion on Dave Filoni taking over for Kathleen Kennedy at Lucasfilm.

“George [Lucas] was a mentor to Dave [Filoni], so he knows George's sensibility,” Hamill told USA Today in an interview published on April 6, 2026. Hamill also added that he felt, when it comes to the future of the franchise, he “can't think of better hands.”

Variety’s reporting pairs Hamill’s recent praise of Filoni with some of the actor’s 2018 comments about his frustration with Rian Johnson on The Last Jedi. But Hamill’s new USA Today interview isn’t relitigating all the past Last Jedi woes; that’s simply context provided by other reporters. Hypothetically, one could imagine Hamill preferring to return as Luke Skywalker under Filoni's supervision rather than during the Kennedy era, but Hamill hasn’t actually said that. While it's true that Hamill helped bring a younger Luke Skywalker back to life in the 2020 Mandalorian episode “The Rescue,” and again in The Book of Boba Fett episode “From the Desert Comes a Stranger,” and that Filoni was partially responsible for making that happen, that doesn’t mean Hamill is returning as Luke Skywalker any time soon.

Oddly, the reverse is also true. While the Variety piece implies a tale of two Star Wars eras — Kennedy and Johnson versus Filoni — with Mark Hamill caught in the middle, the truth is much murkier. Hamill seems content to talk about Star Wars toys and reminisce about the moment the first movie took the world by storm in 1977. But is a more formal comeback for Luke Skywalker on the table?

In the absence of evidence, the future, as Yoda says, is always in motion. If one were placing bets, would the odds of Hamill returning as Luke in the new Filoni era, rather than the previous Kennedy era, be higher? Yes, but with the caveat that Luke Skywalker was in all three Star Wars movies produced by Kennedy, as well as the aforementioned Mandalorian and Boba Fett episodes.

Still, with the 50th anniversary of Star Wars looming and its most crucial actor doing press, it’s natural for fans and pundits to wonder if we’ve really seen the last of Luke. Hamill will always be a warm and friendly presence within the fandom; he was a big comic book fan before getting cast in Star Wars. “I bought every comic, maybe 16 copies, (and) gave them out to friends,” Hamill told USA Today.

And so, as Star Wars celebrates its golden anniversary next year, maybe that’s the true future of Mark Hamill and Luke Skywalker: a cheerleader on the sidelines, comparing notes with fans about their favorite geeky stuff.

Star Wars (1977) returns to theaters in February 2027.

Hardcore Henry was not the first film to be shot partially, or even entirely, from a first-person point of view. If you think about it, all found-footage movies are first-person — we’re seeing what the person filming is seeing, just through a viewfinder. More specifically, experiments in first-person cinema storytelling go all the way back to the 1940s, when the 1947 murder mystery Lady in the Lake put viewers in the (gum)shoes of detective Philip Marlowe. In fact, just a few years before Hardcore Henry debuted at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, another movie, Maniac (2012), told a grim serial-killer story from the perspective of the murderer.

Russian director Ilya Naishuller’s feature-film debut did bring one key innovation to the format, however. Hardcore Henry isn’t just a first-person action movie, it’s a first-person shooter action movie. The film is structured like a video game: You/Henry die and respawn, are given missions to complete, and — most importantly — blow through hundreds, if not thousands, of nameless mobsters, bodyguards, and cyborg super-soldiers with military-grade weaponry that never seems to run out of ammunition.

Hardcore Henry is a pummelingly intense viewing experience, pausing only for the occasional flash of a serene memory from Henry’s past. There are exposition dumps, many of them delivered by South African actor Sharlto Copley; these do little to clarify what’s going on, however, instead adding new layers of sci-fi weirdness — let’s just say Copley plays multiple roles in this movie — to the already-wacky action premise.

Henry is a cyborg soldier, part human and part machine, who wakes up floating in a vat of red liquid at the beginning of the film and is outfitted with robotic limbs by a scientist named Estelle (Hayley Bennett) who also claims to be his wife. From there, it takes less than 60 seconds for Russian mercenaries to kick in the lab door, followed by Akan (Danila Kozlovsky), a psychotic mobster with red eyes and long, bleached-blonde hair who also happens to have psychokinetic powers. (To say this is a movie where anything can happen is an understatement.)

Soon after that, we’re falling through space and crash-landing on a highway outside of Moscow, where more mercenaries appear with threats and intimidation. From there, the action is pretty much nonstop, as wave after wave of enemies ambush and attack Henry — and, by extension, the audience — as he fights his way back to Estelle, with help from eccentric fixer Jimmy (Copely) and a small army’s worth of firepower.

Hardcore Henry was an ordeal to film: In a 2016 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Naishuller said that the film took an astonishing 120 days to shoot, with an actor running all over Moscow with a GoPro attached to a specialized rig strapped to his face. The film’s action scenes were shot in minute-long increments, and what appear to be longer, unbroken shots were spliced together using hidden cuts. It’s immersive, it’s unique, and at times it can be downright nauseating.

Maybe that’s why Hardcore Henry’s first-person cinema revolution never really took off. This is a bloody, chaotic action film with lots of moving parts, which means that the first-person perspective can be hard to follow at times. Henry’s quick movements also take “shaky cam” to a whole new level in the movie’s more chaotic moments, for an effect that even Naishuller confessed gave him motion sickness in early screen tests.

So while first-person shooters have exploded in popularity over the past decade with titles like Call of Duty and Apex Legends, first-person movies are still rare. Rather than a revolution, Hardcore Henry turned out to be a gimmick. But as far as gimmicks go, it’s a pretty cool one.

Hardcore Henry is now streaming on Plex and The Roku Channel.

Real Star Trek fans know that some of the show’s best episodes are set in courtrooms. The first two-parter of the franchise, “The Menagerie,” was framed entirely in a courtroom setting, while TNG bangers like “The Measure of the Man” and “The Drumhead” also took place in courtrooms (and all of The Next Generation is framed as the trial of humanity). More recently, Strange New Worlds dropped its big courtroom episode in 2023, and the 2026 finale of Starfleet Academy also ended with a trial.

Even among all that, there are a few underrated Trek courtroom dramas. Thirty years ago, during the week of April 8, Deep Space Nine released the Season 4 episode “Rules of Engagement,” an overlooked installment that subtly changed the Trek courtroom formula.

The Star Trek franchise was riding high in 1996. Voyager was in its second season, while Deep Space Nine was in its fourth. Star Trek: First Contact would be released by the end of the year, redefining Trek canon forever. Throw in all the famous episodes from 1996, like “Trials and Tribble-ations” and “Tuvix,” and it's easy to forget that DS9 was turning out innovative, character-driven hits like “Rules of Engagement.”

This episode focuses on Worf (Michael Dorn) in a tense hearing to determine whether he unlawfully fired on a Klingon ship full of civilians. In Trek lore, Worf is still relatively new to command, and having him in the captain’s seat of the Defiant still felt like a novelty. But positing Worf as a leader helped set up his heroics in First Contact, and evolve the character beyond his TNG roots as a security guy with anger-management issues. Whereas TNG was generally content to let Worf have his Klingon warrior outbursts, the consequences of Worf having more responsibility are central to “Rules of Engagement.”

While you might think that “Rules of Engagement” was a DS9 take on the TOS classic “Court Martial,” what makes this episode unique is twofold. First, the man prosecuting Worf is a fellow Klingon, Ch'Pok (Ron Canada), and instead of showing the crew’s testimony exclusively within the courtroom, the episode has it happen within a surreal flashback framing where characters like O’Brien (Colm Meaney) and Dax (Terry Farrell) speak directly to the camera.

This framing mechanism makes for a more dynamic courtroom episode. Granted, what’s at stake isn’t as philosophical as TNG’s “The Measure of a Man,” but this episode’s pacing and style make it more fun to watch than other, similarly themed Trek episodes. Getting to witness Worf’s decisions in a fluid, dream-like Rashomon-esque split narrative makes this episode great. On some level, you know that the Klingons aren’t going to extradite Worf, because Worf is a regular character that DS9 just obtained. So the watchability and stakes are about something else: do we think Worf was wrong? Did he blow up a ship full of civilians because he got too caught up in the moment?

In addition to some great performances from Avery Brooks, Meaney, and Farrell, Dorn delivers a quietly brilliant performance. It’s one thing for Worf to get a dressing-down from Picard in TNG after he slays Duras in “Reunion.” It’s something else when Worf has to look inside himself to figure out if he’s responsible for murdering innocent people, while also wondering if he’s horrible at being a Starfleet commander.

This is the greatness of Deep Space Nine in a nutshell: when Worf gets busted in TNG, you pretty much always side with Worf. In DS9, you’re not so sure. The episode also makes the audience question their assumptions about Worf’s inner life, which is impressive. For all its brilliance, Trek can sometimes relegate its characters to behaving within the boundaries of broadly defined personality traits: Odo is cranky, Kira is feisty, and so on. But when a Trek episode pushes us to think about a character’s interior life rather than their exterior actions, the feeling is closer to literary fiction than adventure-of-the-week television.

This isn’t to say “Rules of Engagement” is the greatest DS9 episode ever, or even among the greatest Worf episodes. But in the larger tapestry of pushing tropes in interesting directions, this underrated episode is certainly worth another look.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine streams on Paramount+.

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

Amazon -

Since 2022’s The Batman was released to widespread acclaim, the sequel has quickly become arguably the most anticipated superhero film release of the last few years. After the bitter, untimely collapse of Zack Snyder’s vision of the DCEU (and Ben Affleck’s commendable turn as Bruce Wayne), Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson’s depiction of Batman as an emotionally stunted emo manchild with the potential for something greater resonated deeply with audiences and almost immediately received a green light for a sequel. (Not to mention the successful TV spin-off with The Penguin.)Now that pre-production has started to heat up for The Batman Part 2, fans have already started running wild with speculation as to what the follow-up might have in store — from pipe dream fantasies about a crossover with David Corenswet’s Superman to rumors that Reeves and company might be building towards the Court of Owls.

Even though the film hasn’t started production yet, there are still clues as to who Battinson might be facing off against in the sequel and which comic book storylines it might be pulling from for the sequel. The recent confirmation that Sebastian Stan is playing Harvey Dent, coupled with confirmation of Scarlett Johansson’s involvement in an undisclosed role, has led some fans to think that the film will be an even more direct adaptation of The Long Halloween than Nolan achieved with The Dark Knight – but there’s a small possibility the film could be pulling from an even more obscure source.

Batman: Earth One Could Predict A Batman 2 Twist

Alongside Stan’s casting, the belief that Johansson could play Harvey Dent’s wife Gilda, is another driving force behind the rumor that the film is adapting TLH. In the storyline, Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and District Attorney Harvey Dent team up to bring down the Falcone crime family and stop a serial murderer known as Holiday from targeting both the Falcones and their rivals, the Maronis. After Harvey is scarred with acid by Salvatore Maroni on the witness stand and becomes Two-Face, the book ends with a shocking revelation: while Alberto Falcone is eventually unmasked as Holiday and arrested during an assassination attempt against Sal, the final few pages reveal that the original Holiday murderer (the one who started the Falcone/Maroni gang clash) was actually Gilda Dent, who was trying to break the grip of the Falcones on Gotham and lighten her husband’s workload in the process, as their marriage was growing strained under the pressures of his job.

While Gilda Dent is the most likely answer as to who ScarJo is playing, and a straight adaptation of The Long Halloween would emphasize this reboot’s depiction of Batman as a sharp detective, there’s another dark horse option pulled from a non-canon source: Jessica Dent, from the Batman: Earth One graphic novels. The Earth One series was an imprint that began with 2010’s Superman: Earth One, designed to present a more modern, streamlined conception of certain heroes and their origins (much in the vein of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe and DC’s current Absolute Universe).

Jessica Dent made her debut in Batman: Earth One Volume Two as Harvey’s twin sister and was elected mayor after Batman exposed the corruption of the previous one, Oswald Cobblepot, in the first volume. She and Harvey were childhood friends of Bruce when they were all younger, and as an adult, she and Bruce fell in love while he attempted to help her and her brother root out the remaining compromised officials left behind by Cobblepot’s administration. In the process of their investigation, they discover that the same corrupt officials they’re looking for are also being targeted by a serial murderer version of The Riddler (one who shares a lot in common with Paul Dano’s version of the character).

Before they can act, however, Harvey is murdered during a riot at the Gotham City Police Department, and his face is scarred by a Molotov cocktail. Out of immense, maddening grief, Jessica scars her face in kind and eventually develops dissociative identity disorder in the aftermath. When a mysterious new crime boss claiming to be Harvey emerges in volume three, it’s inevitably revealed that Jessica has become a new version of Two-Face, one who has adopted her dead brother’s identity as a split-personality obsessed with taking revenge on Gotham for “his” murder.

Not The Long Halloween?

While certainly not as popular as The Long Halloween, the Batman: Earth One series has already subtly influenced Reeves’ Batman: in The Batman, Thomas Wayne ran a failed mayoral campaign, a plot point lifted from the Earth One comics, as was the idea that Alfred was a former military official who trained Bruce in combat.

It’s also worth considering that, if Sebastian Stan does become Two-Face, this will be the third Batman reboot to use the character as a villain – it would certainly be an unexpected twist for audiences to watch Harvey Dent perish, only to see Scarlett Johansson as Jessica become a female version of the villain. It’s definitely a much less likely theory than the idea that Johansson will simply play Gilda, but for a cinematic version of Batman that has already gone out of its way to stand apart from its predecessors, it would be a bold and radical swing for the franchise and Two-Face as a character.

It’s not easy maintaining a foothold in the swift-moving stream that is the zeitgeist, particularly for a show that drops all of its episodes in one go. For Netflix, the streamer that dominates only by pouring a steady supply of capital-C Content into that aforementioned stream, relevance isn’t necessarily a problem — but it’s not easy coming up with something that truly sticks.

Take the latest season of its live-action One Piece remake. An adaptation of one of the most prolific manga ever made, with over 1,100 chapters, it’s as close to an unlimited well as one could get. But it’s also one of Netflix’s most expensive offerings, meaning that each new season takes some time to get off the ground. There was a two-year gap between Seasons 1 and 2 — and though Season 3 will close that gap significantly by premiering in 2027, Netflix is far from done building out its One Piece universe. Here’s everything that Straw Hat fans will have to look forward to streaming on Netflix.

LEGO™ One Piece

One Piece has come to life on the page, in animation, and live-action — but there’s another medium the Straw Hats have yet to conquer. LEGO One Piece reimagines the adventures of Luffy and his crew in 3D-animated “brick form,” condensing the events of One Piece’s first two seasons into a two-part special event. “Usopp, the Straw Hats’ most reliably unreliable narrator, regales the newest and cutest recruit, the reindeer-boy hybrid Tony Tony Chopper, with the group’s epic exploits across the East Blue and into the legendary Grand Line,” the official synopsis reads. It’s an unorthodox spinoff of the live-action series, but a perfect entry point for younger audiences who might not be ready for the violent action on display in One Piece.

LEGO™ One Piece premieres September 29, 2026, on Netflix.

One Piece Season 3 — aka The Battle of Alabasta

A new chapter of the live-action One Piece saga is fast approaching. Where Season 2 brought the Straw Hats into the Grand Line, a dangerous strip of ocean that runs parallel to the equator, Season 3 — subtitled The Battle of Alabasta — will drop them smack-dab in the middle of civil conflict. The Straw Hat Crew now sails to the titular desert kingdom to help one of their newest members, Princess Nefertari Vivi (Charithra Chandran), rescue her nation from the brink. The ruthless Sir Crocodile, aka Mr. 0 (Joe Manganiello), is closer than ever to conquering Alabasta; his crime syndicate, known as Baroque Works, has spent years quietly sowing discord with a violent rebellion. With the kingdom ready to blow, our heroes embark on a race against time to save the day.

One Piece: The Battle of Alabasta premieres on Netflix in 2027.

THE ONE PIECE

Watching Netflix’s live-action One Piece is all well and good, but for those who want to tune in to a more classic adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s work, there’s always the anime. Of course, with over 1,155 episodes, that can be daunting for new fans. Plus there’s the matter of the “filler episodes,” which feature countless storylines that aren’t exactly canon to the manga. It makes the idea of starting from the beginning feel like a total time sink — fortunately, fans new and old will soon have more options to choose from. Netflix is partnering with WIT Studio (the team behind Spy x Family and the first three seasons of Attack on Titan), alongside Shueisha, Fuji Television Network, and Toei Animation Co., to re-adapt Oda’s manga. THE ONE PIECE “will provide viewers with a fresh yet familiar experience,” the synopsis reads, “utilizing cutting-edge visual technology to reimagine Luffy’s adventures through the beloved East Blue Saga.” Fans looking for a more straightforward animated adaptation of One Piece won’t have to wait much longer for it, either.

THE ONE PIECE premieres on Netflix in 2027.

A casino owner strides into his new wife’s bedroom, closely trailed by his right-hand man. “Gilda, are you decent?” he calls out. “Me?” she replies teasingly, appearing into view as she tosses her hair back in one of the most famous character introductions in cinematic history. It’s easy to understand why one of these men lost his head and married her the day after he met her, and the other, despite their estrangement, hasn’t been able to put her out of his mind for a minute. Of the pairings in this precarious love triangle, one is married but has nothing in common, and other projects a mutual hatred but are actually kindred spirits.

The luminous Gilda (Rita Hayworth) swans around the Buenos Aires joint, inciting jealousy and lust in her husband Ballin Mundson (George Macready) and former lover Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford), toying with the patrons, well aware of her effect on them. And yet Charles Vidor’s 1946 noir locates her loneliness under bright casino lights and in luxuriously furnished rooms.

Finally available on a new Criterion 4K UHD + Blu-Ray, Gilda has never looked more striking.

How was Gilda received upon release?

So enduring is Gilda’s influence on modern pop culture, it’s surprising to discover that reviewers didn’t take to it as kindly at the time of its release. New York Times critic Bosley Crowther called it “slow, opaque, unexciting,” adding, “Indeed, one is likely to wonder whether the waters of this expensive film have not been deliberately muddied in order to disguise its shallowness.”

Sure, there’s a tungsten cartel subplot that doesn’t add much to the film but Hayworth’s magnetism and her push-pull dynamics with the two men in her life are riveting. Gilda repeatedly tests the bars of her gilded cage, finally escaping only to discover she’s been caught in a trap once more. The staff reviewer at Variety, however, remained unimpressed, calling the story “a confusion,” but conceding: “Hayworth is photographed most beguilingly.”

Why is Gilda important to see now?

Decades after its release, the film’s characters are far from the only men captivated by Gilda’s beauty. “I saw this when I was 10 or 11, I had some sort of funny reaction to her, I tell you. Me and my friends didn’t know what to do about Rita Hayworth,” said Martin Scorsese, calling Gilda the “peak of film noir.” There are echoes of the film in his epic crime drama Casino (1995), in which a wealthy casino executive (Robert De Niro) is likewise aware that the showgirl he’s fallen for and married (Sharon Stone) doesn’t return his love, but settles for a mutually beneficial arrangement anyway.

In the 1994 film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the prisoners gather to watch Vidor’s film. Gazing up at the screen in adoration, eyes wide, mouth agape, contraband smuggler Ellis Redding (Morgan Freeman) forestalls his fellow inmate Andy Dufresne’s (Tim Robbins) interruption moments before Gilda’s first appearance. “This is the part I really like. This is when she does that shit with her hair,” he says. “I know. I’ve seen it three times this month,” comes the reply. The sound of hooting and hollering fills the room soon after, establishing a sighting of Gilda as synonymous with unbridled joy.

The character’s voluminous curls also caught the attention of filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, who admits to having modeled his courtesan Satine’s (Nicole Kidman) hairstyle in the 2001 jukebox musical Moulin Rouge! after hers. He’s also cited the film’s heightened cinematic language as a huge influence on his own. “That intense, impossible love and the drama of that… It’s the kind of life…I tend to put myself in and am looking for, even as a filmmaker,” he said in a featurette.

For every man who readily succumbed to Gilda’s charms over the years, however, the character spurred only resentment in its actress. Hayworth grew bitter about the effect her most famous role had on her public image. “Men go to bed with Gilda, but wake up with me,” she rued of the discrepancy between her partners’ fantasy and the reality, a quote referenced by Julia Roberts as the fictional Hollywood actress Anna Scott in the rom-com Notting Hill (1999).

What new features does the Gilda Blu-ray have?

• A new 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• An audio commentary by film critic Richard Schickel
• An interview with film-noir historian Eddie Muller
• A program featuring filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Baz Luhrmann discussing their appreciation for Gilda
• The Odyssey of Rita Hayworth, a 1964 episode of the television show Hollywood and the Stars
• The film’s trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• An essay by critic Sheila O’Malley

Gilda Criterion 4K Blu-ray

After seven years, the fight between Homelander and Vought, and Billy and the Boys will finally have a decisive victor. The Boys, Amazon Prime Video’s superhero series based on the comics series by Garth Ennis, has shown a different side of the genre alongside the Marvel and DC Universes, with no shortage of gore, sexual content, and other shocking events.

But now, The Boys — at least, the main The Boys series — is ending, and it all comes down to this final batch of episodes. Here’s everything you need to know to see how it all goes down.

What Is The Boys Season 5 Release Date?

The Boys Season 5 premieres on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, and will release new episodes weekly until May 20. That means you can mark your calendar for when you’ll get to see this long superhero saga finally come to a close.

What Is The Boys Season 5 Release Time?

Amazon Prime Video’s release dates vary, but The Boys Season 5 is going back to a more traditional release schedule, with new episodes premiering at midnight PT/3:00 a.m. ET. This has its pros and cons: while it means American viewers won’t have to wait for prime time to see the new episode, it also means the internet could spoil you if you don’t watch it first thing in the morning — and for a season as action-packed as this, that could be a real issue.

It should be noted that sometimes Prime Video throws a curve ball and releases a series early — Fallout Season 2 was moved up six hours back in December 2025, but so far there’s no sign of that happening to The Boys.

How Many Episodes Are In The Boys Season 5?

The Boys Season 5 consists of eight episodes, but the season will air over the course of seven weeks, as this final season will get a two-episode premiere. So while you’ll be able to watch Episodes 1 and 2 on April 8, you’ll have to wait a week for one new episode. Usually, that would be a downside, but since this is the final season of The Boys, stretching it out as long as possible is probably for the best.

Is There A Trailer For The Boys Season 5?

Yes! Check out the no-holds-barred final trailer for The Boys Season 5 below:

What Is The Plot Of The Boys Season 5?

The world of The Boys Season 5 is the bleakest we’ve seen so far: our heroes are trapped in Homelander-themed “freedom camps,” where Starlighters are sent for internment. Meanwhile, Homelander has a new goal: immortality. Now, it’s a race to see who can get their hands on V1, the first version of Compound V that could make Homelander immune to the Supe-focused virus that Billy Butcher has been working on for seasons now.

There are a lot of loose ends to tie up in this final season. Who will survive? Who will get immortality? Why does Homelander want to revive his father, Soldier Boy? And, perhaps most importantly, how will Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins make their cameos, giving us the Supernatural reunion we’ve all been waiting for?

Will There Be A The Boys Season 6?

Unfortunately, no. Showrunner Eric Kripke has said since 2020 that he’s had a five-season plan for this show, so its ending on his terms. However, that’s not the end of The Boys as a franchise. Gen V, the university-focused spinoff, has not officially been canceled, and there’s yet another spinoff on the way: Vought Rising, which will cover the decades before the events of The Boys.

So while this series may be ending, we’ve got eight episodes and who knows how many spinoffs left to watch — this may just be the beginning.

The Boys Season 5 premieres Wednesday, April 8, on Amazon Prime Video.

Ever since Mass Effect arrived on the Xbox back in 2007, the original trilogy has been held up as a benchmark for not only the action RPG, but for thought-provoking, high-concept science fiction in gaming as a whole. Sure, Mass Effect 3’s unsatisfying original ending was met with widespread criticism, and sure, Mass Effect: Andromeda was a disappointment, but it cannot be understated just what an impact the games had on the medium. From the introduction of the dialogue wheel, which revolutionized the traditional RPG branching dialogue tree, to its controversial embrace of romance options and intimate cutscenes (which allowed for a lesbian relationship, still rare at the time), the reverberations of the original Mass Effect can still be felt, while rumblings of a new game prove there’s still an appetite for the franchise.

BioWare’s sprawling universe is also coming to television screens, courtesy of an Amazon MGM adaptation announced in 2024. Fans will not, however, be seeing Captain Shepard and the crew of the Normandy, nor will they get to witness the seismic battle between the intergalactic Citadel species and the dormant, techno-organic Eldritch beings known as the Reapers. Amazon revealed last year that the show would take place after the original trilogy, focusing on a new story with a new cast of characters. That makes sense, considering Commander Shepard’s story relies so heavily on player interactivity, but new reports suggest that the adaptation isn’t just shying away from Shepard’s story, but is trying to make the world more accessible to those who didn’t play the games.

According to a report from The Ankler, Amazon’s new head of global TV, Peter Friedlander, has asked for wholesale rewrites of the show’s scripts in an effort to be “more appealing to non-gamers.” It’s not known how far along development was on the show, which is being written and executive-produced by Daniel Casey (the screenwriter of F9: The Fast Saga, 2018’s Kin, and rewrites on 10 Cloverfield Lane). But it’s certainly a setback, one that means fans will have to wait even longer to see the series.

On one hand, it’s an alarming update. Many video game adaptations have failed by trying to appeal to a broader market, only to lose exactly what makes the original material so singular in the first place. Mass Effect became one of the most acclaimed action RPG series because it was an intricately conceived world with an emphasis on meaningful decision-making against the backdrop of intergalactic politicking and conflict. If what Friedlander means by “more appealing to non-gamers” is neglecting all that in favor of a focus on generic sci-fi action, then it could be a disastrous move.

On the other hand, the density of Mass Effect’s lore could overwhelm viewers who haven’t played the games, which will likely make up a large portion of the show’s audience. Sometimes, a dedicated fanbase just isn’t enough to provide the viewership necessary to ensure a show’s longevity and success, and it’s hard to say whether general audiences would be able to jump into the world of Mass Effect with the same ease as a dedicated fan. Perhaps the rewrites are simply to provide more context for the world and the events of the original trilogy, considering when the show is set. For better or worse, Amazon’s adaptation won’t be the same Mass Effect fans have spent four games becoming attached to. Hopefully, it still turns out to be a show that Shepherd would be willing to declare his favorite on the whole Citadel.

Marvel has spent the past few years building up to its next major event in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, which could deliver the end of its cinematic universe as we know it. If it is to be the end, it honestly can’t come fast enough — if only because of what’s waiting on the other side.

Secret Wars may bring a reckoning to the MCU, but it will also signal a major shift from the Avengers to the X-Men. The team-up film will even bring the old class of X-Men back into the fold, offering the cast (and those endeared to them) yet another fond farewell. I’ll never say no to a victory lap for the likes of Patrick Stewart, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden, cloying as it obviously is. But the MCU promises a new chapter after all that nostalgia: According to Marvel boss Kevin Feige, mutantkind will inherit what’s left of the Earth after Secret Wars. Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier is set to helm Marvel Studios’ first X-Men film, tapping an all-new cast to replace the old.

Schreier couldn’t reveal much about the project when he was first attached to it, but he’s since provided an incredibly promising update. Not only has the new X-Men gained two incredible new writers, but it’s very possible that it’ll be the first of many X-Men movies.

Speaking with Collider ahead of the new season of Beef, Schreier spoke about some of the themes he wants to bring to the X-Men reboot. “When you go back and read X-Men [comics], there’s ideology but also interpersonal drama, almost of a soap opera quality,” the director said. “Having writers who understand both how to drive ideology from personal stakes, if we get that right, that’s what will feel most honest to what X-Men can be.”

Fortunately, Marvel has tapped the creators “of the most interesting shows on television right now” — Beef showrunner Lee Sung Jin and The Bear co-showrunner Joanna Calo — to tackle rewrites for the X-Men script. It’s a reunion for the trio in so many ways, as both Lee and Calo helped with the script for Thunderbolts, as well as those for Beef Season 2.

“We’re still developing,” Schreier explained. “They have come in and are working on a draft right now, which is really exciting to be able to put that group of people together again.”

The goal, Schreier says, is also to balance a satisfying, self-contained story with the demands of the larger MCU. “We have to make one great movie, but we always have an eye as we’re talking about it too,” he continued. “What are the different places this can go? What are the places that [have] been in the comics? What hasn’t been explored as much, and how can that be incorporated? ... Those ideas are always out there, as we have the discussions.”

It’s not outright confirmation that X-Men will sire a trilogy like its predecessors, but Schreier and co. seem to be working hard to give Marvel’s new class of mutants as strong a foundation as possible for future adventures. Given the direction that Fox’s X-Men franchise couldn’t help but fall into, that foresight is certainly appropriate. While each X-Men trilogy started strong, they were inevitably undermined by disappointing final chapters. The Last Stand brought the original trilogy to a messy end, and though Fox came back strong with a prequel series, Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix slowly but surely brought the saga back to square one. Beloved as the X-Men films are, their legacy is mired by a failure to follow through.

It’s in the MCU’s best interest to study the past so as not to repeat its mistakes in the future — but with such a stellar team assembled, Marvel Studios could very well end up breaking the X-Men curse.

Avengers: Secret Wars is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027.

UPDATE: Emerald Fennell’s team has denied that the filmmaker is in talks to direct a Basic Instinct remake. A representative for the filmmaker commented, “there’s no truth in this. She is not involved in any way,” per Variety.

To paraphrase a popular Star Wars meme, somehow Emerald Fennell returned. Since her critically acclaimed (and honestly pretty good!) debut feature Promising Young Woman, with each subsequent film the writer-director has managed to attract bigger box office — and a greater number of detractors along with it. Like the pink slime in Ghostbusters II, however, Fennell seems to feed off of that hate, growing stronger with every Reddit thread wondering why people on the internet hate her so much.

To answer the question implied in the previous paragraph, people on the internet hate Emerald Fennell for her style-over-substance approach, which is flashy and provocative with absolutely nothing behind it. And when there is something behind it, that thing is often staggeringly clueless, particularly when it comes to issues of race and class — which, come to think of it, does make her an ideal candidate to reboot the iconic erotic thriller Basic Instinct.

Even before its release back in 1992, Basic Instinct was the target of protests by feminists and lesbian groups who took offense to the film’s portrayal of its bisexual villainess Catherine Trammell (Sharon Stone), who they said personified the stereotype of sapphics as evil, predatory man-haters. “It's hideous. It's awful. It's very anti-bisexual. It's very anti-lesbian. And it's misogynistic in general,” one protestor told NPR at the time.

Since then, queer fans have reclaimed Catherine as a camp antiheroine — a figure that, if one were to revive it for a potential reboot, would require the type of nuance that Fennell simply does not have. (At least, she hasn’t shown it in any of her movies thus far.) That being said, if Amazon Studios simply wants to re-create the controversy that surrounded director Paul Verhoeven and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas’ original, then hiring Emerald Fennell is one way to accomplish that.

Eszterhas is the driving force behind this new reboot, and is being paid a total of $4 million to rewrite his own screenplay, according to a new profile of the 81-year-old screenwriter published yesterday in The Guardian. His concept for this new, “anti-woke” reboot of the film sounds, frankly, bonkers: It “juggles copycat serial killers with elements of the supernatural,” according to the Guardian piece. (For her part, Stone, who says she was tricked into performing the film’s famous flashing scene, is not involved in the reboot, saying last summer, “I hate to break it to you, but Joe Eszterhas couldn’t write himself out of a Walgreens drug store.”)

His justification for Fennell as its director is slightly more grounded, if perhaps a more than a little misguided: “Her sensibility is exactly right. She’s someone who is not afraid of controversy and sexuality. So I’m thrilled by that. I hope it works out,” Eszterhas told The Guardian. And, again, if you want to piss off the “woke” crowd with a new version of a movie where a psychotic bisexual murders people with an ice pick, hiring Emerald Fennell to direct it is one way to do that. But at what cost?

Star Wars legend Sam Witwer might insist that his new series, Maul – Shadow Lord, is entirely self-contained, but as the sequel to a midquel that spun off from a prequel, such a claim is a tough sell. While the animated series does all it can to contextualize this yet-unexplored chapter of Maul’s life, there may still be those who ask, “Wait, how is Darth Maul even alive? And why is he skulking around a sewer with a bunch of Mandalorians?”

So much of Shadow Lord only truly makes sense if one has seen The Clone Wars, the seven-season show that created an animated world all its own, almost totally divorced from the live-action goings on in the Star Wars galaxy. How Maul survived that deadly slice at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace is explored in great detail there, alongside the revenge plot he enacts years later. Perhaps most crucially, though, The Clone Wars also established a clear blueprint for Mandalorian lore. It paved the way for the intimate exploration of the culture we see in The Mandalorian, which takes leaps beyond the clan’s militaristic origins to introduce the radical Children of the Watch, who never take off their Mandalorian helmets. The live-action series still hasn’t truly revealed how the Mandalorians splintered so severely after The Clone Wars, but Shadow Lord might just have the missing piece of this perpetually confusing puzzle.

Shadow Lord picks up shortly after the events of Order 66, aka the Jedi Purge, following Maul in his efforts to destroy the Empire once and for all. When we last saw him in The Clone Wars, he was forming a crime syndicate on Mandalore to fulfill this goal — but we’ll have to go even further back in the animated series to understand how he recruited Mandalorians like Rook Kast to his cause.

Mandalore has always been a part of Star Wars history, but it was introduced to the new canon in 2010, with an episode of The Clone Wars called “The Mandalore Plot.” There, we saw the planet in crisis, with its pacifist leader, Duchess Satine Kryze, fighting to reform Mandalorian society and put its violent traditions to rest. Suffice it to say that her plans don’t come to fruition, thanks in part to corruption perpetuated by a splinter cell of Mandalorian warriors called “Death Watch,” and later to some meddling by Maul himself. When Death Watch joins Maul’s “Shadow Collective,” their first order of business is to oust Satine and install Maul as the new leader of Mandalore. (This is all part and parcel of a long-festering revenge plot against Obi-Wan, who’d long been in love with Satine.)

Maul’s reign is blistering but short-lived. A devastating duel with his former master, Darth Sidious, and an earth-shaking battle with the Republic’s Clone forces strip Maul of all the power he spent seasons building. Though he’s briefly captured by the Nite Owls (a Mandalorian group led by Satine’s sister, Bo-Katan), he does slip into hiding alongside a few surviving members of Death Watch, Rook Kast included. Shadow Lord takes place almost right after that defeat at the end of The Clone Wars, with the remnants of Maul’s collective struggling to regroup after the Siege of Mandalore. Fans of The Mandalorian know that the warrior race will be forced to the margins of the galaxy during the Age of the Empire, but Shadow Lord could show us how a new group of Mandalorians — Din Djarin’s Children of the Watch — came to be.

Could some of Maul’s hired Mandalorian guns be the first to say, “This is the Way?” If we’re going by Witwer’s claims of self-containedness, maybe not. But Shadow Lord could still iron out the Mandalorians’ long, confusing history, depicting the next chapter of their fall from grace and teeing up their fight to reclaim past glory.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord streams Mondays on Disney+.

The most intimate multiverse series is returning. With Dark Matter Season 1, Apple TV brought Blake Crouch’s hit novel to life and even managed to expand the boundaries of its multiverse, while staying utterly true to the source material. That said, Crouch didn’t write a novel sequel to Dark Matter, meaning there’s not really any published material to draw upon for the show’s second season. Which means, with Dark Matter Season 2, the story of the Dessen family in the multiverse can go in almost any direction. As Crouch told Inverse in 2024: “As the writer, I know these characters, and I can imagine where they might go after.”

As with Season 1, Crouch himself is the showrunner and head writer for Season 2, meaning his vision for the expanding multiverse of Dark Matter could come from ideas he had while working on the novel, or entirely new concepts. As of right now, Apple has revealed the premise and release date for Dark Matter Season 2. Here’s what we know, plus new first-look images from Season 2.

Dark Matter Season 2 Release Date

Dark Matter Season 2 will debut on Apple TV on Friday, August 28, 2026. This will be about two years exactly after the debut of Season 1 in 2024. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the publication of the book.

Dark Matter Season 2 Plot

Season 1 ended where the book ended, with Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) escaping from his various dopplegangers in his home universe, and bringing his wife Daniela (Jennifer Connelly) and son Charlie (Oakes Fegley) with him into an unknown parallel world. Here’s the synopsis of Season 2, straight from Apple TV:

Season 2 picks up with the Dessens as they settle into a quiet life in a world that finally seems safe until the unimaginable forces them to run once again. As Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, Daniela’s growing paranoia pushes her to the brink, threatening to tear their fragile stability apart. Elsewhere, Amanda (Braga) and Ryan (Jimmi Simpson) join forces in a desperate attempt to find their way home. With Blair (Amanda Brugel) determined to stop him, while Leighton (Dayo Okeniyi) relentlessly chases his grand vision of creating a perfect world.

In a sense, Season 2 will focus on three sets of travelers rather than just focusing on Jason and Amanda’s journey in Season 1. This idea was hinted at in Season 1 in a big way when Leighton was seen taking new trips in the Box, as well as Blair, who was escaping from a world beset with strange creatures. In some ways, it seems like Season 1 was a family drama about Jason’s journey back home, while Season 2 could set up a multiverse battle between different factions.

Dark Matter Season 2 Cast

As of this writing, it appears that Dark Matter Season 2 has the same primary cast as Season 1. This includes:

• Joel Edgerton as various versions of Jason Dessen
• Jennifer Connelly as various versions of Daniela
• Alice Braga as Amanda Lucas, Jason’s girlfriend in an alternate dimension, who journeyed with Jason #1 for much of Season 1.
• Oakes Fegley as Charlie Dessen, Jason and Daniela's son.
• Jimmi Simpson as Ryan Holder, one of Jason’s best friends, though with starkly different life paths, depending on the different worlds.
• Dayo Okeniyi as Leighton Vance, another of Jason’s friends, who is using the Box to find a kind of eternal sense of hedonistic happiness.
• Amanda Brugel as Blair Caplan, a partner who works on the Box project, who becomes a traveler in Season 1.

The modern moviegoer so reviles remakes that even the complaints about them are rehashed every single year. But these fan-issued fatwas come with an implied carveout, as remakes sometimes so eclipse an original that source material once considered untouchable is quietly shuffled off to a home for retired film reels. When people say Ben-Hur is a classic, who’s referring to the 1925 version?

That’s the fate that befell The Thing from Another World, which celebrates its 75th birthday today. While John Carpenter’s 1982 remake was initially dismissed as an empty, nihilistic gorefest, The Thing (née Another World) has since been reevaluated as one of the greatest science-fiction films of the ‘80s, and certainly one of the most influential. To horror fans who grew up with Carpenter’s version, its predecessor can look dated and dull; but there’s a reason Carpenter questioned his own ability to surpass the original.

Set in a remote Alaskan research facility that’s just detected a crashed alien vessel, our military and civilian heroes fail to recover the craft but do manage to haul back a tall, strange body frozen in the ice. Dr. Arthur Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite) wants to dissect the corpse, but Captain Patrick Hendry (Kenneth Tobey) orders it held until a storm passes and the base can reestablish contact with his superiors. One mishap with an electric blanket later, however, and the creature is revealed to not only be alive, but hostile.

While both films are adaptations of John W. Campbell’s 1938 novella “Who Goes There?” The Thing from Another World drops its central premise of a shapeshifting impersonator, recasting the Thing as a lurching Frankenstein’s monster that, as the station’s scientists discover, amounts to a sentient, bloodsucking vegetable. It’s an understandable decision, given the special effects available in 1951, but an underwhelming one, and the obvious target for improvement in Carpenter’s far more faithful remake. Throw in the stately pace typical for the era (the movie is only 87 minutes, and it takes around half an hour for a threat to emerge), and you can see why some modern viewers scratch their heads.

With the monster just another monster, Another World lacks the paranoia and infighting the story is now famous for. Dr. Carrington cracks up, but everyone else remains stoic and focused, the revelation that carrot-people might be trying to conquer us met only with jokes and steely determination. In retrospect, it really does feel like a first draft destined to be written over. While not without its cynical side — the movie casts doubt on distant bureaucratic authority and the noble intentions of science — humanity’s largely bloodless triumph is never in doubt. It’s reminiscent of another ‘50s classic later surpassed by a bleaker remake, Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Still, an open-minded viewer can appreciate both the craft on display and the revelations the movie offers about the state of sci-fi at the beginning of the 1950s. Riffing on the era’s UFO craze with its saucer-shaped alien craft (Kenneth Arnold triggered the frenzy by claiming to have seen UFOs near Mount Rainer just four years earlier), casually joking about the world-changing nature of the atom bomb, and musing on what modern science has to offer man, The Thing from Another World had the pulpy sensibilities of a B-movie but the budget of a marquee picture. When The Day the Earth Stood Still hit theaters five months later, the films hinted at the two arms the genre would evolve over the coming decades: artsy musings and omnicidal Terminators.

A first draft, after all, can still be a decent one. A witty, cross-talky script (His Girl Friday director Howard Hawks was a heavily involved producer) delivers a sense of constant activity as our heroes bustle around their facility, an installation that, despite the sometimes obvious artifice, still communicates a convincing sense of chilly isolation. An attempt to destroy the monster with fire produces a remarkably ambitious sequence that practically begged to be reimagined by Carpenter, while quieter moments, like the use of a Geiger counter to track the creature, presage Aliens and other future imitators. It’s no wonder that Carpenter was just one of several prominent directors to later praise the movie and riff on its ideas.

Perhaps Carpenter’s fandom is fitting, as The Thing from Another World was also met with mixed reviews before later being judged one of the great sci-fi chillers of the ‘50s. Maybe some of the seemingly unnecessary adaptations and remakes being pumped out today will enjoy a similar fate. And while talk of another reimagining seems to have dried up since the story broke in 2020, a modern director could do worse than throw Carpenter fans a curveball by shifting back to the bloodsucking vegetable angle.

The Thing from Another World is streaming on Tubi.

It’s not common to see a streaming series, particularly an expensive one, get to finish its story on its own terms. Too often are high-concept TV shows canceled before they can reach their full potential, breaking the hearts of countless fans and discouraging any novice from investing in a story prematurely. That inevitability is now built into the very fabric of how we watch television — but Lord of the Rings fans will potentially be spared from that fate.

In almost every way, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power feels destined for doom. It’s the kind of show that seldom survives anymore, as it needs some time to reach its full potential. But, in a way, it’s also the final boss of the streaming era, as the most expensive show in history. But survive it has: despite a semi-shaky sophomore season, another is well on the way. And that might not be the end of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel, either. Unlike so many of its peers, The Rings of Power won’t just be allowed to finish its story: it might be obligated to.

According to a new report from The Ankler, The Rings of Power is protected by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos’ “magical halo.” The streamer invested more than a small fortune to get its slice of JRR Tolkien’s intellectual property — per The Ankler, it’s cost around $1 billion to get The Rings of Power off the ground — and Prime Video’s new global head of television, Peter Friedlander, intends to honor that investment. According to a source with knowledge of Friedlander’s new regime, The Rings of Power is “protected for its run,” which could go on for four or five seasons. Friedlander even visited the set as production filmed Season 3, assuring the creatives that they’ll have the freedom to finish their story.

That’s great for the core show, though the franchise’s lifeline seems to stop there. While tentative plans were in place for an unannounced spinoff, those have been indefinitely shelved due to the great expense, at least for now. Still, it’s nice that the future is a sure thing for The Rings of Power, even if it’s at great expense.

The Ankler previously reported that Amazon is “trapped in a Lord of the Rings nightmare” after overpaying for the IP: if the studio pulls the plug, the Tolkien estate will reportedly fine it $20 million for every season the creative team fails to complete. It’s not just the sunk cost fallacy keeping this prequel alive — but if this is the only way to circumvent the disappointments of the streaming era, then so be it.

The Rings of Power streams on Prime Video. Season 3 will likely premiere in late 2026 or 2027.

Ever since FromSoftware revolutionized the RPG world with 2009’s Demon’s Souls, it feels like each subsequent release has begged to be given a cinematic adaptation. Dark Souls and its decaying, grimdark high-fantasy setting, Bloodborne and its nightmarish fusion of Gothic horror and H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic terror, Sekiro and its blood-splattered, Edo-era tale of revenge; every game they’ve put out in the last 17 years could make for a high-concept blockbuster with a compelling setting. Luckily for fans, one of their games is soon to become exactly that.

Announced in 2025, an adaptation of FromSoft’s Elden Ring is in development from indie darling A24. Directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, last year’s Warfare), the film will be produced by frequent Garland collaborators Peter Rice, Andrew Macdonald, and Allon Reich, along with the writer of the game’s dense backstory, George R.R. Martin himself, as well as his Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon co-producer, Vince Gerardis. When the announcement dropped last May, fans assumed it would be a while before they heard anything more about the adaptation. The start of production, however, just broke that assumption.

Two videos from the film set have leaked courtesy of @ThroxTV on TikTok, confirming that the production has officially started shooting and showing off a glimpse of the visual accuracy it’s attempting to achieve. The more innocuous video shows off a row of carts, barrels, and other props that look like assets lifted straight from the game. The other video shows a glimpse of a ruined chapel that’s definitely one of the decrepit Churches of Marika, key discoverable locations in-game. At first glance, the video doesn’t tell us much aside from the fact that the film seems to be aiming for extreme faithfulness, but upon closer inspection, there’s a basis for speculating about when in the timeline it will take place.

Elden Ring takes place in a sprawling kingdom known as the Lands Between. These were once ruled by Queen Marika, a chosen vessel of the Greater Will, an imperceptible cosmic entity that maintains order in the world through the Elden Ring (a collection of runes and powers that govern natural law). Marika envisioned a paradise devoid of death, so she separated the Rune of Death from the Elden Ring and entrusted it to her personal guardian, Maliketh. The game takes place long after the Shattering, a cataclysmic event in which Queen Marika, wracked with grief after her son Godwyn ismurdered by assassins imbued with the power of the stolen Rune of Death, destroyed the Elden Ring and disappeared, shunning the Greater Will and plunging the Lands Between into an endless conflict between her demigod children as they battle for control of the remaining Great Runes. Got all that?

While fans were excited about the prospect of a film adaptation set before the Shattering, the decaying state of the Church of Marika seen in the leaked videos suggests that the film might actually take place after the Shattering. That’s not to say the movie will follow the game’s story, which could be set anywhere from a decade to millennia after the Shattering. Garland’s film could take place before the game, focusing on Marika’s children and the power struggle between them.

A film that follows the Shattering War instead of the game’s events would arguably make the most sense, as George R.R. Martin’s contributions to Elden Ring’s narrative lie mostly in the complex lore that sets the stage for the playable campaign. The game’s actual story (written by FromSoft’s creative director, Hidetaka Miyazaki) unfolds through interactivity and discovery rather than cutscenes, which makes it even harder to adapt than most games. Meanwhile, the fact that Martin’s other high-fantasy world has already been adapted to the screen might make his intricate backstory a more likely avenue for a cinematic adaptation.

Regardless, Elden Ring has a lot weighing on its shoulders: it’s the first adaptation of a FromSoftware game, and A24’s first attempt at a video game adaptation. Alex Garland certainly has his work cut out for him in bringing Martin and Miyazaki’s sword-and-sorcery epic to life, but at least he already has his barrels built.

When Star Wars shifted to the prequel trilogy, the tone switched, too. Gone was the scrappy Rebel Alliance; for most of the prequels, the action takes place in the halls of the Jedi Council or in the Galactic Senate. With this turn to the political thriller, much of the action was brought back to Coruscant, the capital of the Star Wars galaxy.

Coruscant became synonymous with urban jungle, dark alleys, deathstick dealers, and greasy spoon diners. But, as Star Wars’ latest series proves, just because Coruscant is the main city in the galaxy, it’s by no means the only one.

Warning! Spoilers for Maul: Shadow Lord Episodes 1 and 2 ahead!

Maul: Shadow Lord is a cat-and-mouse crime thriller centered around Maul, the Zabrak anti-hero we all know and love (or love to hate), and Captain Brander Lawson, a single dad space cop who just wants to apprehend this crime lord before he wrestles out of his grasp. This neo-noir is all set in a bustling city planet, but much to many fans’ surprise, this is not, in fact, Coruscant. In fact, it’s Janix, a planet described by Marvel’s official website as “a neon-lit, shadow-soaked maze of a planet that lies beyond the reach of the Empire.”

So why introduce this city that, in basically every way, resembles Coruscant? In planets, much like in real estate, it all boils down to location, location, location. One of the key traits of Janix is that the Empire hasn’t really interfered with it yet, meaning its law enforcement is, for now, independent. However, that could change at any time (and, judging by the Star Destroyer seen in the trailer, probably will), so Brander has to go about his investigation without ruffling too many feathers, including his ex-wife, who works for the Empire herself.

So while this planet may look like Coruscant, it really can’t be Coruscant, just because it’s supposed to be a sleepy, little-known planet, not the Planet that Never Sleeps. Plus, this series features Jedi in hiding — Coruscant would not be a great place to be on the run.

But how else does this city differentiate itself from Coruscant? One of Star Wars’ best strengths is building distinct cultures from scratch, so we’re sure to find out more over the next few weeks. But even if this is the only project we’ll see Janix appear in, it’s at least a comfort to know the city lovers in the Star Wars galaxy have more choices than just Coruscant — the cost of living there must be insane after the Clone Wars.

Maul: Shadow Lord is now streaming on Disney+.

Everything we learn about the new Lord of the Rings midquel, The Hunt for Gollum, we’re learning against our will. The upcoming film felt about as superfluous as one could get when its development was first announced, and, for certain fans, each new update only reinforces that feeling. That Andy Serkis will direct and star in The Hunt for Gollum, reprising his role as the eponymous villain, is moderately interesting — but as the film is supposedly set between the events of The Hobbit films and The Fellowship of the Ring, it will inevitably trample all over the trilogy that has become so beloved to fans. The cast members who can return (like Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood) will, but the rest will have to be recast. Wood even seemed to confirm in a recent interview that Leo Woodall will be taking on the character of Aragorn, a necessary evil in every sense of the term.

Disappointments and Hobbit-ish complaining aside, it’s also kind of fun to watch the plot for this closely-guarded film begin to take shape. There’s so little material at hand to base this story on that any update also feels like a crucial clue. Nearly everything that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote about Gollum’s past has already been adapted, save for some tantalizing background in Chapter 2 of The Fellowship of the Ring — “The Shadow of the Past.” It's in these pages that Gandalf explains the history of the Ring to Frodo and Gollum’s connection to it, and if you read those pages while taking a look at the casting updates, it’s almost like we can already figure out what’s going on with this movie. In fact, some of the casting choices could help reveal the direction that The Hunt for Gollum could take. At least at first.

Hunt for Gollum Casting Clues

Back in March, Kate Winslet was officially cast in The Hunt for Gollum in a mystery role. Rumors have swirled about who she could be playing, with two unorthodox options emerging from the pack. Winslet could be joining The Hunt for Gollum as either Gilraen the Fair, mother of Aragorn, or Gollum’s unnamed grandmother. Both are mentioned in Tolkien’s writings, albeit briefly: Gilraen pops up in Tolkien’s appendices, while Gollum mentions his grandmother in The Fellowship of the Ring. The latter character could provide some interesting insight into Gollum’s past, before he found the One Ring or was called Gollum at all.

Director Peter Jackson skimmed through Gollum’s origins in The Return of the King, revealing that he was once a Stoor-hobbit called Smeagol. His backstory is addressed quickly in that film, but there are a few parts of it that were left out — like how his discovery of the One Ring impacted his life in Hobbit society. Smeagol’s grandma was most likely the leader of their community and responsible for exiling him when his obsession with the Ring went too far. Centuries later, when caught and tortured by Gandalf, Gollum would claim that his grandmother possessed Rings of Power of her own. That sounds interesting enough to be explored in a feature film, and it might just be a crucial part of Serkis’ film. Basically, if you reread “The Shadow of the Past” and look at the details, you’ll be convinced that Winslet is playing Smeagol’s grandma.

“The Shadow of the Past” Could Be the Foundation of The Hunt For Gollum

On top of this, while fans may be bummed out that Viggo Mortensen isn’t getting de-aged as Aragorn, it’s very likely that Woodall’s new take on Strider probably won’t be in the movie all that much. Aagorn’s involvement in the literal hunt for Gollum in “The Shadow of the Past” isn’t the whole story. Gandalf uses Wood Elves to track down Gollum at one point, which could mean that this version of Aragorn may not even be in the film all that much. Plus, if the movie (or movies) detail Gollum’s backstory hundreds of years in the past, then there’s potentially even less screen time for Aragorn. (To be clear, in this context, we’re talking about “The Shadow of the Past” in reference to the second chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring, not the working title for the upcoming Stephen Colbert Lord of the Rings movie, which will take place after Fellowship.)

There’s no word yet on whether The Hunt for Gollum will actually be the first in a two-part series, but either way, a big chunk of it will likely give us Smeagol’s full origin story. McKellen and Wood are both set to reprise their respective roles as Gandalf and Frodo Baggins, but they’ll probably — almost certainly — be the ones discussing the story of Gollum years after the events of the original trilogy. Either that, or we’ll get some version of “The Shadow of the Past,” with de-aging action. Either way, if the film does use that narrative framem it will give the movie a familiar way in to a tangential story, but also allow The Hunt for Gollum to play a bit fast and loose with its narrative.

Again, it’s not a tale we necessarily have to know — but if it must be done, at least it could build out Middle-earth in an intriguing new way.

The Hunt for Gollum hits theaters on December 17, 2027.

Depending on which fan you ask, the street level side of the Marvel Universe has been arguably more popular than the bold superheroics of the Avengers and other super-groups since the early 2000s. The MCU’s first attempt at adapting the characters in that space was their partnership with Netflix, but it was relatively short-lived, with most of the shows only receiving two or three seasons before they were uniformly canceled back in 2018 and 2019. Now the MCU has been trying to pick up the slack with shows like Hawkeye, Echo, and the revival/sequel series Daredevil: Born Again.

From the moment Matt Murdock showed up to help Peter Parker with his legal troubles in Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans have been curious as to whether or not the rest of the Netflix characters would make their return as well. The trailers for season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again revealed that Krysten Ritter will be returning as Jessica Jones at some point in the season, but there’s still no way to know in what capacity or for how long. But now, set leaks for season 3 have spoiled a major development for the show and the larger MCU moving forward, and it’s one fans will certainly be very pleased with.

Over the weekend, Mike Colter and Finn Jones, who played Luke Cage and Iron Fist respectively in their Netflix adaptations, were spotted filming alongside Krysten Ritter for Born Again’s upcoming third season. This will be the first time the characters have all shared the screen with Daredevil since 2017’s The Defenders, and finally official confirmation that all of the Netflix shows, not just Daredevil, are canon in some capacity. There’s not much aside from their presence to be surmised about the upcoming reunion, but the ending of each respective show might give us some context on where they’ve been and where they’re going.

The third season of Jessica Jones ended with Jessica being forced to arrest her longtime best friend Trish Walker, after the latter started murdering criminals in an effort to become a vigilante, as a result of gaining superpowers in the second season and losing her mother to a serial murderer in the third. Iron Fist concluded with a second season that saw Danny Rand lose the power of the Iron Fist to his arch-rival Davos, only for it to be bestowed upon his girlfriend and martial arts expert Colleen Wing, with Danny stealing a pair of chi-infused pistols from former Iron Fist Orson Randall. Last but certainly not least, the series finale of Luke Cage shook up Harlem’s criminal underworld with the demise of longtime crime-boss Mariah Stokes-Dillard, who relinquished her nightclub (the hub of her criminal enterprise) to Luke Cage himself, who reluctantly decides to step up as the new “sheriff” of Harlem to avoid a looming gang conflict.

It’s hard to tell exactly what will remain canon from each of the Netflix shows, considering that Born Again has played a little fast and loose with the lore of the original Daredevil. Season 2 of the revival will probably reveal what Jessica has been up to when she finally makes her appearance, and based on the fact that Luke Cage is seen on set wearing the exact same suit he was in last time we saw him on Netflix, there’s a big chance he’s still trapped in his begrudging role as Harlem’s new kingpin; however, there’s no indication yet that Jessica Henwick will be returning as Colleen, which means that the entire status quo seen at the end of Iron Fist Season 2 is up in the air.

There’s also the question of whether or not we’ll continue to see the Defenders in the MCU moving forward. Daredevil: Born Again has been, without question, one of the most successful Marvel shows to release on Disney+, so it would make sense for Marvel Studios to want to capitalize on that success with spinoffs for those characters — this approach might work for characters like Iron Fist and Luke Cage, with decades of history between each other, but the lack of standalone material to build off of was felt heavily during the original run of Jessica Jones, a show based on a character created less than 30 years ago with only two solo titles to her name.

Considering the iconic romance between Jessica and Luke Cage in the comics (they married in 2006’s New Avengers Annual), and the brotherly camaraderie between Cage and Danny Rand (Power Man and Iron Fist made up the original Heroes for Hire team), maybe the best case scenario would be a spinoff of the three heroes together working in a capacity not all that unlike the classic Heroes for Hire ongoing series. The imagination could run rampant with where Marvel could take these beloved returning heroes next, but as of now, fans can celebrate in the knowledge that after seven years, the four main characters of the Marvel Netflix universe have finally come home.

Good Omens may be a very “faith-based” series, but it’s not exactly religious. The series, based on the book by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, follows the angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and the demon Crowley (David Tennant) as they form a tenuous alliance to prevent the end of the world. So far, they’ve saved the world from an apocalypse and harbored a fugitive angel who looked like Don Draper. But for the truncated third and final season, the story appears to be bringing out the big guns: the protagonist of Christianity itself. What does that mean for the future of the show?

On Easter Monday, Good Omens’ social media accounts posted a video of actor Bilal Hasna entering an elevator and selecting a button for Earth. It was accompanied by the caption, “Let’s kick off the Second Coming!” Check out the teaser below:

The reference to the “second coming” presumably means there’s only one person this could be: Jesus Christ, with Hasna playing the role. The Good Omens book didn’t cover the Second Coming, but there have long been rumors that Gaiman and Pratchett planned to use the event in a hypothetical sequel.

This actually wouldn’t be Jesus’ first appearance in Good Omens. In Season 1, Episode 3, “Hard Times,” a flashback showed Aziraphale and Crowley at Christ's crucifixion. In that scene, Christ was played by Adam Bond, who’s practically made a career playing the Son of God — he’s got four credits as Jesus on his resumé. But recasting Christ would hardly be the biggest controversy here.

Good Omens Season 3 is already mired in scandal, as original creator and showrunner Neil Gaiman has faced serious accusations of sexual harassment and assault. Gaiman denies the accusations, but Season 3 of Good Omens was scaled back to a single, feature-length episode without Gaiman’s involvement. So if this really is Jesus, then this final episode has a lot of story to tell in only about 90 minutes.

At the very least, the casting choice is, well, a good omen. Hasna, an experienced British TV actor, is Palestinian-Pakistani, a welcome change considering that many actors who have played Jesus — including Season 1’s Jesus — aren’t of Middle Eastern heritage. The out-of-universe elements of Season 3 may be difficult to navigate, but these characters deserve to have their story finished. And so far, it looks like it’s going to be quite the finish.

Good Omens Season 3 premieres May 13, 2026, on Prime Video.

I’ll be the first one to admit that The Boys and I have a complicated relationship. Eric Kripke’s ultra-gory superhero satire was cutting-edge in its first few seasons, and its spinoff, Gen V, adapted that concept remarkably well to a younger audience. However, as The Boys reached Season 3, a problem became very apparent: the entire show was building up to a final confrontation between The Boys and Homelander, but with each season and each renewal, that final fight was kicked down the road, and it was difficult not to see how the plot was treading water.

Now, The Boys are back in town one last time, and that promise of finality is exactly what the show needed. With an epic finale to build to, everything about the series clicks into place: the story’s stakes feel immediate, the satire finds a new angle that feels completely fresh, and even the format of the series itself evolves. The Boys may be ending, but that’s exactly what it needed to secure its legacy as one of the best superhero shows of all time.

At the end of The Boys Season 4, Homelander (Antony Starr) reached new heights of his already-unprecedented power. With a puppet leader in the Oval Office, Vought (and by extension Homelander) had nothing in its way for world domination, and Hughie (Jack Quaid), Frenchie (Tomer Capone), and Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso) were sent to a “freedom camp,” where they’ve been for the last year. But when Annie January (Erin Moriarty), formerly Starlight, makes a big move against Homelander, Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) attempts to get the whole gang together for one final mission — one that could eliminate supes forever.

Meanwhile, Ashley Barrett (Colby Minifie), freshly infected with Compound V, is now Vice President of the United States, but is so under Homelander’s thumb that even as part of her tells her to do the right thing, she’s terrified to cross Homelander. And for good reason: Homelander is on a tear unlike any other in this season, to the point where you can tell when an episode is going to end when he murders a major character. As established in Episode 1, nobody is safe, and it’s incredibly rare for everyone at the start of the episode to make it to the end credits alive.

But Homelander still finds time for his hobbies, including reviving his father, Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), who has one of the best storylines of the season, probably due to the fact that his prequel series, Vought Rising, will carry on the franchise after the main series is over. He’s also taken up a new dream, basically the only title he has yet to conquer: God.

One of the biggest critiques about the later seasons of The Boys is that the series had become unrecognizable from the other superhero franchises it set out to satirize. While some of that remains — there’s a self-indulgent running gag about how hard it is to write finales — most of this issue is cleared up by focusing on religious satire, often more resembling The Righteous Gemstones than the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the core of this plotline is Oh Father (Daveed Diggs), a supe mega-preacher who immediately hitches his apple wagon to Homelander’s new aspiration, much to the chagrin of Firecracker (Valorie Curry), who isn’t as willing to throw away the faith she was raised with.

Of the seven episodes critics were given for review, there’s an obvious standout: Episode 5, which takes an anthological look at the characters that might not get the spotlight, including the new Black Noir, Sister Sage, and even Terror, Butcher’s dog. In each of its many segments, we get the most nuanced storytelling we’ve ever seen on this series. It’s also the most star-studded episode by far, and the one most narratively satisfying.

In a way, every episode this season could serve as a fitting wrap-up to the series, dealing with issues of sacrifice, closure, and questions about the nature of normalcy, all the themes you expect to see from a final season. The end is never treated as something to dread, but something to look forward to, and that outlook is what makes all the difference.

Critics may not have been shown the finale, but even these seven episodes have healed my relationship with this show. I’ll still have my nitpicks, but I can’t deny the truth: this is the superhero show that will define the last 20 years, and frankly, no other story could do this era justice.

The Boys Season 5 premieres on Prime Video on Wednesday, April 8.

For those of us who love the noisy auteurism of the Alien movies, the franchise’s wild tonal shifts have always been more feature than bug. Each film plays to the strengths of their directors, shifting the focus from anticapitalism to militarism to masculinity. And while Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus may indulge the director’s passion for killing young adults onscreen in terrible ways, it also serves an important role within the broader Alien franchise. Alien: Romulus carries over key concepts from Ridley Scott’s prequels to confirm synthetics as the true star of the series.

While synthetics are present in each of the Alien movies, Scott’s prequels are the first to put their unique consciousness at center stage. Michael Fassbender’s performance as David — a Mary Shelley-esque exploration of how mankind’s creations can come to resent the failings of its makers — may be the emotional anchor of both Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, but Scott’s emphasis on David’s perspective was often held as a disconnect between franchise and fans. Those hoping for more sci-fi monster movies were surprised to find two films waxing poetic on genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. For many, the currency of the franchise is corporations and creatures, and synthetics are best kept as an engaging footnote on the margins of the movies.

But then there’s N-D-255 (“Andy”). Director Fede Álvarez and co-writer Rodo Sayagues are given the important task in Alien: Romulus of stitching together two franchise threads; the screenplay explicitly connects the dots between Alien and Prometheus, building a world where Weyland-Yutani and the black goo are equally weighted in movie lore. Adding to the existing Alien canon — convoluted as it is — is not an easy lift, which is why it is no surprise that Álvarez and Sayagues focus on synthetics as its core connective tissue.

We get to know a lot about David Jonsson’s Andy in a short period of time. We learn he is a childhood companion of Rain, Cailee Spaeny’s tough-luck colonist, who was salvaged by her father and given an underclocked operating system. We learn that he has a fondness for dad jokes and that he is programmed with only one directive in mind: do what is best for Rain (an order he will struggle with as xenomorphs overrun the station). Once Andy is given an upgrade, we also see him become acutely aware of the gap between himself and others, grappling with his otherness even as he attempts to do right by the person he knows as his sister.

In casting a Black actor to play the subject of passive discrimination, and positioning Andy’s archaic operating system to read as a form of neurodivergency, the writing team behind Alien: Romulus anchors the movie in Andy’s unique perspective. His arc — which culminates in him actively choosing how he wants to experience the world around him — is the film’s emotional and narrative driver, and Jonsson’s nuanced take on a conflicted mind is a standout performance in a franchise with no shortage of great actors and great roles. And all of this is possible because Alien: Romulus chooses to put a synthetic front-and-center in the film.

No one would have faulted Álvarez for keeping the focus on humans. There’s probably a perfectly acceptable version of Alien: Romulus that pits the crew against Rook — the film’s digital reincarnation of Ian Holm and still its biggest misfire — and sticks more closely to the blue collar humanity found in Scott’s first movie. But for Álvarez, the needs of our synthetic progeny is key to understanding this version of the future. Andy is the star of Alien: Romulus because the Alien movies are about what it means to be human: to struggle, to fight, and to survive. Andy, like David before him, exists both above and below humanity on the food chain, and no filmmaker worth their salt would choose to pass on the narrative potential that offers.

Given the success and subsequent renewal of Alien: Earth — not to mention Elle Fanning’s screen-stealing turn as Thia in Predator: Badlands — it seems clear that synthetics are now the beating heart of the Alien franchise onscreen. And so this returns the xenomorphs to their rightful place at the margins of the series. Despite the beauty of their character design, there are only so many ways that xenomorphs can murder supporting characters before we reach a point of diminishing returns. Keeping the spotlight on synthetics keeps the spotlight solidly on what it means to be human while keeping the monsters in the shadows — the place where all good monsters belong.

Alien: Romulus is now streaming on HBO Max.

When Maul: Shadow Lord was announced, I thought I knew what I was in for: Star Wars’ take on The Penguin, a dark, noir-esque story of a minor villain from a previous movie trying to build a crime empire. And, considering how shockingly great The Penguin was, my expectations were high.

But this series is something different entirely. While it does have the noir tone like I thought it would, its true story is of a land fighting under the oppression of the Empire, and going to great lengths before admitting to yourself who is truly in control. It may not be Maul now, but with the Solo post-credits scene and a Season 2 renewal already in the bag, this is just a sumptuous first step as to what’s ahead.

Set only a year after Order 66, Maul: Shadow Lord is set on the planet of Janix, where the authorities and crime syndicates exist in tenuous balance. Into that equation enter two opposing forces: Maul (Sam Witwer), looking to make his own claim and take out the syndicates one by one, and Detective Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura), a space cop looking to take down Maul by himself.

Meanwhile, young Jedi Devon Izara (Gideon Adlon) and her master Eeko-Dio-Daki (Dennis Haysbert) are left to beg on the street until Maul offers her an enticing offer, but one that would mean compromising all the beliefs she’s come to hold dear.

Is Maul: Shadow Lord as essential to the Star Wars universe as, say, The Mandalorian and Grogu or Starfighter? Probably not: these are mostly characters we’re learning about for the first time, and while it’s interesting to see Maul and Mandalorian Rook Kast again, it isn’t the sort of story that shifts canon.

But that’s not why we watch Star Wars. Andor didn’t need to exist, and you can still watch Rogue One without it, but it provides so much context and worldbuilding that it’s become a high point of the franchise. Maul has definitely learned from this, crafting a cat-and-mouse story between Lawson and Maul that often feels more Catch Me If You Can than A New Hope.

The highlight of the series by far is in the small details, like Lawson’s droid partner Two-Boots (Richard Ayoade), who isn’t just a play-by-the-rules cop; he’s literally programmed to follow protocol and wants to call in the Empire as soon as possible. Lawson’s son is even a star athlete, playing a new game native to Janix that looks an awful lot like Jai Alai. Meanwhile, his ex-wife is now working for the Empire. It’s these little glimpses into life on Janix that make it feel more like a detective story than a Star Wars story, and that’s a high compliment in this case.

Lawson is this series’s secret weapon; he exists in the gray area between loving law and order as a law enforcement officer, but still does everything he can to avoid asking the Empire for reinforcements. As he says, once they arrive, they’ll never leave, something we’ve seen time and time again throughout Star Wars history. It’s a perfect example of how the Empire’s takeover of the galaxy wasn’t instant after Order 66; it was a slow but never-ceasing process.

Upon watching the finale, it’s obvious why this series nabbed a Season 2 renewal before it even premiered: this is very clearly just the start to the story, and Maul has a long way to go before he hits his peak. If carefully paced, the story of Maul — and the story of Devon and Brander — could last for seasons more, shining light on other parts of the Star Wars galaxy you might not think about.

Maybe this isn’t Star Wars’ Penguin. After all, that show never got a Season 2. Maybe this is more Star Wars’ Task, a detective story full of shifting loyalties and morally complex questions. And there’s always room for more of that in this galaxy.

Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord is now streaming on Disney+. New episodes release Mondays.

Who on earth would want to reboot Faces of Death? While it’s technically a horror franchise — eight installments were released between 1978 and 1999, all of them going straight to video — the series isn’t famous for its characters, or its lore, or even its special effects. Faces of Death is simply a sicko oddity, an American version of Italian “Mondo” movies that blurred the lines between documentary and exploitation cinema in the 1960s and ‘70s.

In essence, it’s just a clip show, a series of vignettes held together by a narrator who explains that what you’re about to see is real. (It wasn’t, but we’ll get into that in a minute.) There’s no real art to it, just a parade of footage purporting to show real deaths by alligator, car crash, electric chair, bullet, and one especially grisly parachute accident, punctuated with interviews with medical examiners and hitmen who make a living out of seeing death up close.

“So what?” you might be asking. “I can see strangers die on the internet for free every day.” That is the reason this new, fictionalized take on the series exists, reimagined as a commentary on how having 24/7 access to video evidence of humanity’s worst impulses is eroding the social fabric of American society. The movie’s in to this topic is expected at this point: Barbie Ferreira stars as Margot, a young woman who works a dead-end job as a content moderator for a YouTube-like site called Kino. (To be fair, this movie was shot in 2023, before films like American Sweatshop and Red Rooms that also touch on similar subject matter.)

Early scenes of Margot at work highlight the hypocrisy and insincerity of these platforms’ “community standards”: She deletes an explainer on how to use Narcan under the pretense that it “promotes drug use,” for example, while keeping up a graphic beheading video because, as far as her employers are concerned, all violence is fake until proven otherwise.

Conveniently for her apathetic boss Josh (Jermaine Fowler) — who also prefers not to notice employees getting high and hooking up on their breaks just to cope — proving that anything is real on the internet turns out to be very difficult. Still, for reasons that become clear over the course of the film, Margot feels a moral responsibility to find out if a particularly real-looking series of videos that crosses her desktop are what she thinks they are. What she thinks they are, are snuff films, which commenters on Reddit (yes, the real website) tell her bear a striking resemblance to segments from the original Faces of Death.

Discussions of what “Faces” was, and how it worked — Margot’s horror-fan roommate describes it as “the first viral video before the internet,” which isn’t wrong, exactly — are the most cringeworthy portions of the new Faces of Death. The discomfort is temporary, however, as screenwriters Daniel Goldhaber (who also directs) and Isa Mazzei dutifully fulfill their franchise obligations before getting back to their real project: Making a modern exploitation horror film about how the internet has convinced a startling portion of the world’s population that the people around them are not fully human.

You can see this phenomenon in “NPC” discourse online, and you can see it in this film, as a character who escapes from the anonymous McMansion that doubles as our villain’s torture den runs up to a mother and her children walking back to their car and begs them for help. She’s bloody, out of breath, and clearly in trouble. In a sane society, they’d tell her to get in, but in Faces of Death, they get in the car without her and speed away. The cops are useless in this movie, too, as they so often are in real life; authority in general is lazy and apathetic, as numb as Margot’s coworker Gabby (Charli XCX), who cackles at gore videos between hits of her vape.

Besides Margot, the only person who seems to care about anything in Faces of Death is the film’s villain, Arthur Spevak (Dacre Montgomery), who approaches his grisly “work” with the enthusiasm and discernment of an artist. Montgomery’s mannered performance is a melange of great serial-killer creeps: He seems to have studied Ted Levine in Silence of the Lambs and Tom Noonan in Manhunter particularly closely, although that might just be because he’s wearing pantyhose on his head in a few key scenes. Red contact lenses and a blank, featureless white mask complete the startling effect, and when Faces of Death shifts into high gear in its final half-hour, scenes of Montgomery stalking Ferreira around his suspiciously empty subdivision are appropriately tense and menacing.

For the real exploitation aficionados, however, the most striking thing about Faces of Death isn’t its bleak, cynical worldview, or its re-creations of what turned out to be re-creations of real murders on the original Faces of Death VHS. It’s the fact that this movie really does look like a snuff film — or, at least, what we all assume a snuff film would look like, if they actually existed. (The jury is still out on that one.) Mannequins, plastic sheeting, duct tape, and harsh flood lighting all create an ambience of depravity and imminent violence, a feeling that’s enhanced by Goldhaber and DP Isaac Bauman’s decision to shoot the film on grainy 35mm. Combined with DSLR footage, pixelated digital video, and 16mm scraps from the original Faces of Death, it all looks like something you shouldn’t be seeing, producing exactly the uneasy feeling you should have while watching a movie like this one.

Goldhaber and Mazzei seem relatively uninterested in interrogating their own roles in perpetrating a culture of violence by making this film, which is fine; Michael Haneke and Funny Games already exist, so there’s no need to reinvent that particular wheel. What they are interested in is a pursuit that has occupied exploitation filmmakers since the invention of the format, which is taking hot-button issues that most people don’t want to talk about and spinning them into queasy, morally questionable entertainment. If this movie didn’t make you feel like you needed a shower afterwards, then it would be a failure. Luckily, the ick factor here is very much present.

From Shudder and Independent Film Company, Faces of Death debuts in theaters on April 10.

Emily (Kelly Marie Tran), a grieving cellist who recently lost her husband, drags her daughter Gracie (Aria Kim) and mother-in-law Nai Nai (Fiona Fu) to a new house in Rock Springs to start fresh. But their arrival in the small Wyoming town comes with all sorts of strange omens: Nai Nai warns her about the consequences of moving before her husband’s spirit has finished his business on earth; Gracie seems to have picked up a strange imaginary friend in the woods; and Emily keeps imagining that she sees her husband’s ghost.

But Rock Springs, an atmospheric new horror movie written and directed by Vera Miao, takes this ghost story one step further, cutting to the late 19th century, when a group of Chinese miners living and working in Rock Springs was brutally massacred by disgruntled white miners. Soon, it becomes clear that the lingering cultural grief of this historic atrocity has started to haunt Emily and her family in real and malicious ways. It’s all a tangle of grief, trauma, and history that Miao wanted to explore in her search to really capture “diaspora through horror.”

“That’s a ghost story.”

“There’s some fragmentation that comes with that,” Miao tells Inverse ahead of the movie’s premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival. “And perhaps, therefore, like a feeling of grief and maybe being haunted by something that you don’t have. That’s a ghost story.”

For Miao, it was important that her lead for Rock Springs be as much an outsider to the story as the general audience is to the forgotten history of Rock Springs. Tran, a Vietnamese American actress, plays a Vietnamese adoptee of white parents, making her mostly unaware of the spiritual rites that Nai Nai frantically urges her to complete, or the ghostly figures that Gracie has a connection with.

“One of my favorite parts of this film is when Emily says, ‘I didn’t know,’ which sort of encapsulates this entire thing,” Tran tells Inverse. “She didn’t know this event happened. She didn’t know that she was being affected by it.”

Inverse spoke with Miao and Tran about making Rock Springs, lending humanity to a real-life tragedy, and cultural ghosts.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

To start off, how did this project get conceived?

Vera Miao: The genesis of the story was really a question that popped in my head about whether I could explore diaspora through horror. Unpacking what that meant was like, first you take diaspora, what does that mean? And I was talking about the emotions and the lived experience of being part of diaspora. I’m a child of immigrants. And really thinking about that emotionally in terms of feelings like loneliness, about longing for a sense of belonging, about being split across different places, different cultures, different histories, different timelines. And feeling in part like there’s some fragmentation that comes with that. And perhaps, therefore like a feeling of grief and maybe being haunted by something that you don’t have. That’s a ghost story.

So pretty quickly, I knew what my answer was to that question. I knew it was going to be a contemporary, present-day story, but that it needed to intersect and lift up some untold history of the early Chinese communities in America. So that was a thread that I went down doing some research. And when I came across the Rock Springs massacre, at first I was really shocked that I’d never heard of it and didn’t know about it at all. And then I dug one centimeter underneath and knew right away that this was the piece of history that I wanted to foreground in the film and intersect with my present-day story that Kelly leads.

And in discovering that real-life massacre, how far along in the process were you researching this project? Like, you had the idea. Were there any other real-life case studies that you found fascinating? Was the Rock Springs one that was the first to capture your attention?

Miao: I actually started looking at the history of the Chinese in the Mississippi Delta. I had spent some time in the Delta and then had come across Dolly Li’s documentary about the history of Chinese store owners in the Delta, who were the only businesses that sold to both Black and white community members in the Jim Crow era. And that documentary is what ended up inspiring Ryan Coogler for his Chinese characters in Sinners. And it was fascinating, but I didn’t quite know my way in for what I was trying to do. It sort of led me to go west a bit. And one of the questions that I asked was “Were there Chinese cowboys?” Did Chinese cowboys exist that we don’t know of? And in doing that search, I came across the Rock Springs massacre.

It was a massacre I’d never heard of, and it was shocking in its brutality and violence. And it kind of reminded me of the Damon Lindelof Watchmen reboot, and how it really foregrounded the Tulsa massacre. And that was my first time learning about it. And it was almost apocalyptic in how just violent it was. Was this sort of your intention in the movie to sort of educate and show that this did happen, and this was a part of our shared cultural history?

Miao: Yeah. I mean, I wasn’t setting out obviously to documentary. I wasn’t trying to do a historical reenactment. This is purely in the realm of fiction and storytelling in that respect. So I don’t know that I was trying to set up to educate people. I do know that what I set out intentionally to do was to humanize. If anyone does even an initial dive into the Rock Springs massacre, they’ll go to the Wikipedia page, right? The Wikipedia page is short and brutal, because there’s not a lot of historical facts still documented about the Rock Springs massacre, but there is a list of the official dead, and they’re listed by their name and their body parts. Their name, their age, and the body part that was used to identify them as one of the official victims. Really brutal.

So you start to immediately see how I started going towards body horror and a creature, right? Because it was actually determined by my research. I’m like, “Wait, what? You know this guy was killed in the Rock Springs massacre, this is his name, his age, by his torso? And this one by his foot.”

So I felt really strongly that I was going to depict this massacre, but because I was going to depict the massacre, and because people probably didn’t know about it, because I didn’t, I’m a relatively self-interested person in Asian American history, and because there was so little information in existence about the early Chinese communities to begin with, and also these victims in particular, that they could not exist in the film only as victims. They needed to be humanized. And this is why I actually think a fictional narrative, for me at least, was the right approach to this material, because I got to build them and imagine them as fully fleshed-out humans on their day off, completely relaxed, on a Sunday at 5 p.m., when this massacre they had no forewarning of just sweeps over them and completely breaks their day, but also their story and their timeline.

And educationally, you could just focus on the massacre, but that’s not what I was interested in. I was interested in the humans. So I would say that I didn’t set out primarily to educate. I set out to humanize, so that we could understand this event, but first and foremost... know them beyond how they were victimized.

“I feel it on a soul level.”

Kelly, I wanted to ask you, you’re Vietnamese American, you play a Vietnamese American character. Why did you get drawn to this project, which is so steeped in Chinese diaspora history and folklore?

Kelly Marie Tran: Well, I read the script, and it just spoke to me on a visceral level. I think Vera is such a genius in the way that she tells this story. But also something that she talked about earlier, that I fully relate to, is this idea that in America, especially, we use the term “Asian American” all the time and group an entire country of individuals together. And a lot of times, people assume that we’re a monolith, but there are so many different identities within that group of people. And I think that what Vera does so well with this film is being able to explore many different parts of different Asian experiences within one film, whether that’s Chinese, Vietnamese, and adopted Vietnamese women, and also throughout time. And how has that identity evolved over time?

The idea that we’re grappling with this historical event that, yeah, perhaps I as a Vietnamese woman, it didn’t happen within my family, but if we talk about the context in which we’re living today, where Asian Americans are really grouped together, it is in the context of my family. It’s pretty incredible to grapple with these ideas that, regardless of if we knew about this event or not, we are in the present day being affected and feeling the repercussions of this happening. I feel it on a soul level.

Did you find, too, that it was helpful, because your character is kind of coming from an outsider perspective in some ways and is learning about a lot of these traditions and folklore as it’s happening? Was that something that helped aid you in your characterization?

Tran: Absolutely. I don’t think we even talked about this, Vera, but one of my favorite parts of this film is when Emily says, “I didn’t know,” which sort of encapsulates this entire thing. She didn’t know this event happened. She didn’t know that she was being affected by it. She didn’t know that she was playing an active part in perpetuating more violence. And that sort of realization moment of “I didn’t know, and I’m part of this.”

I do think coming from the experience that I had growing up and maybe not knowing the specifics of the sort of Chinese culture, but at the same time, there’s a lot of similarities between Chinese...

Miao: There’s some shared stuff, yeah.

Tran: But having that revelation as that character and also as me, as like a woman who in my own life has interacted with historical events that I wasn’t aware of, and what cycles of trauma and violence am I also acting upon that I am unaware of? So it made me ask a lot of questions, and I think that’s a really good thing. That’s what I felt like is such a gift being able to work with Vera. We’re exploring these questions, and we might not have any answers by the end of it, but the idea that, like, we get to do this together, what a gift.

Miao: Yeah. I mean, I think Kelly’s character is Vietnamese, but adopted by white parents. And so, there’s all of these ways in which these are all actual, obviously actual identities within a diaspora that might be defined from the outside as monolithic, as Asian or Asian American. I actually have found a lot of similarities in Vietnamese culture and belief systems about death, the afterlife, and the journey that our spirits go through. I was raised with that idea, and I think it really introduced me and grounded me in an understanding of death that is not maybe as taboo or as fearful as I find white Western feelings about death to be, but I do think that’s what Emily as a character embodies. She was raised without an active relationship [to death]. Ancestor worship is a form of relationships to ghosts, right?

And the film is so much asking that question, what’s the difference between a ghost and an ancestor? To me, it’s just fear and love, but Emily’s character doesn’t even have that as a lineage. And so, it’s what in my film I think makes her character even that much more emotionally adrift, because at least Nai Nai and Gracie, through Nai Nai’s teachings, they’re in an active relationship with their loss, and they want Emily to be a part of that, but for many reasons she refuses. It’s not her point of reference, and it also is terrifying for her, because then she would have to face her grief.

“Ancestor worship is a form of relationships to ghosts, right?”

And I think that what I’m trying to do is, without putting, like, a crazy button on it, is to say that we’re not monolithic. There’s so many nuances when you dig one inch below the surface, even on the white miners and townspeople’s side. Obviously my job in the film is not to explore them as multidimensional characters per se, one of the history cards at the end just notes that many of the folks who were involved in the riot, they were recent immigrants themselves. So they were speaking different languages. They’re from Wales or Scotland, or Sweden, or Ireland. And so, the category white, what is that? What is the category Asian?

So that’s sort of all in play and trying to sort of unpack it a bit, at least a little bit through the course of the film.

Rock Springs played at the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW Film & TV Festival. It does not yet have a distributor.

There are plenty of ways to upgrade your home that you haven’t thought about doing before. And they aren’t all huge facelifts or big renovations. I’m talking about those weird but wonderful changes that make your home better and a little more fun. From door hinge toppers to light switch covers to a strange gutter downspout, these genius home upgrades on Amazon are strange and strangely awesome — and they come with the rave reviews to back them up.

A cordless wooden lamp that looks just like another book on your shelf

AELS Cordless Wooden Bookshelf Lamp

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Discreet yet unique, this cordless lamp is designed to fit seamlessly into your bookshelf. It’s made with a wooden book-shaped base that slides right in between the other books on your shelf. It’s outfitted with a dimmable feature that can be adjusted to your liking with just one touch. Add one or two to your bookshelf, and you’re reading nook or library just became that much more impressive.

A decorative floral toilet decal that’s renter friendly

BWESOO Plant & Leaves Toilet Sticker

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This decorative decal is an easy way to transform your space without fully committing to one look. Not only is the self-adhesive sticker a breeze to install, it’s just as easy to remove, making it great for temporary rentals. The best part? It comes in a bunch of different designs and can be applied to most smooth, clean surfaces —including your toilet.

Glow-in-the-dark remote control covers that make them easy to find

ONEBOM Glow-In-The-Dark Firestick Remote Cover (Set of 3)

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If you constantly find yourself losing the smart remote during movie night, these glow-in-the-dark covers are the perfect solution. Available in a pack of three, all in different colors, they’re made from a soft silicone material that has a textured surface that’s easy to grab. “One glance around the room and I can find it quickly,” a shopper shared. “It also protects the remote if knocked off a table or out of your hand.”

Smart lights that can sync to your music to set the vibe

IC Smart Music-Sync RGB LED Strip Lights

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Transform your space into a musical color show with these LED smart lights. Not only can they be synced to your favorite playlist, they have a bunch of different features, including a rainbow chasing effect that feels like an instant party. Just download the corresponding smart phone app to flip between all the available settings.

This animal plushie door stopper that’s so handy

Marwood Cute Door Stopper

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Available in more than a dozen different styles, this plushie door stopper is made to look like yet another decor item in your space. The weighted design is filled with sand inside to ensure it keeps your door open. “It’s amazing quality, slip resistant, and fits where I want it to,” one customer wrote in their review.

This genius swiveling wall hook for your hats & coats

TREOAKWIS Swivel Wall Hook

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Increase the storage options around your home by adding this swivel wall hook to your entryways, closets, bathrooms, and more. Just mount it on walls or cabinet doors to hang things like hats, coats, and other accessories you want to keep readily available. It comes in two different finishes — dark and light.

Anti-slip stickers made to make your showers safer

Anti Slip Shower Stickers 24 PCS, Invisible Non-Slip Shower Strips for Adults, Premium Adhesive Bath Tub Stickers (Clear)

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These anti-slip stickers are a quick and easy fix to making your showers safer. They come in a pack of 24 pieces, each of which is made from a clear, self-adhesive material that sticks to most smooth surfaces, including ceramic tile, acrylic, and even sealed micro cement. Just use the included scraper too peel, apply, and smoothen the sticker into place.

Sheer embroidered curtains made from featherweight voile

VISIONTEX White Sheer Voile Curtains

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Between the sheer fabric and carefully embroidered motifs, these voile curtains really evoke nature. Each set has two panels with a rod pocket at the top that makes installation super easy. Choose between nine different sizes and more than a dozen artful designs such as butterflies and flowers.

A set of peeping cat bookends with an industrial feel

Geelin Peeping Cat Metal Bookends (Set of 2)

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Cute yet functional, these peeping cat bookends have a cool cutout design. They’re made from an industrial metal material that’s durable and will help keep your favorite reads in place. “They hold up books of different sizes without slipping or tipping over,” wrote one customer.

An artful privacy film that will give your window that stained glass look

Artscape Floral Window Privacy Film

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A privacy window film is an equally stylish and practical alternative to curtains or other heavy drapes. This one features a self-cling design that’s easy to install. Just peel and stick it to smooth, clean glass. Removing it is just as easy, which makes it especially great for anyone renting or who changes their mind often.

This heart-shaped night-light that’s just so cute

INZU Plug-In Night-Light

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Perfect for kids and adults, alike, this heart-shaped night-light is a cute alternative to the traditional plug-ins you might be used to. It has a dusk-to-dawn sensor that turns on and off automatically. “The heart design is sweet and decorative, making it feel more like a room accent than a typical night-light,” one shopper wrote.

A well-organized shower curtain with multiple mesh pockets

Maytex Mesh Pocket Shower Curtain

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Now you can keep all your must-have bathroom items within arms reach thanks to this pocketed shower curtain. It’s made from a see-through PVC material with mesh pockets in three different sizes that can hold things like a hand towel, back scrubber, and a loofah. According to the reviews, you’ll get the best results by not overstuffing each pocket with heavy items that will drag it down.

A cheeky Star Wars light switch cover that’s really funny

Star Wars Light Switch Cover

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Whether you’re a fan of the film franchise or simply like its cheeky saying, this Star Wars light switch cover is a fun addition to any room. It has a smooth face with clean round edges and is resistant to fading, moisture, and scratches, too. Just use the included hardware and a screwdriver to install on any standard-sized socket.

This foldable window perch that feels like a cloud

Zakkart SnugCloud Foldable Cat Window Perch

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Give your cat a cuddly cloud experience with this fluffy window perch. The mountable design has a plush, four-sided bolster bed that comes in three different neutral shades. What’s even better is the fact that it’s machine washable, which makes the overall maintenance a breeze.

A luxe rose-scented shower filter that’s infused with vitamin C

VELORA Vitamin C Shower Filter

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Give your bathroom the spa treatment by adding this vitamin C filter to your showerhead. It has a subtle rose scent that sits nicely on the skin, while softening and filtering the water from your showerhead in the process. There are also two other scents available — forest and lavender.

This gargoyle gutter guardian with a distinct gothic vibe

Design Toscano Roland the Gothic Gargoyle Gutter Guardian

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For a quirky and fun detail outside of your home, this gargoyle gutter guardian is worth adding to cart. It’s made from stone-like resin in an intricate design that looks just like a statue. It also is super functional. Attach it to you gutter’s spout and it’ll extend it and redirect your drain water away from your home’s foundation. “This has enough weight to act as an anchor, keeping the spout where it should be,” a shopper wrote.

A 2-pack of waterproof color-changing lights for your shower

Bgmonster Waterproof Shower Lights (2-Pack)

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These waterproof shower lights will turn your bathroom into your own private nightclub. It comes two to a pack, each of which has color-changing features that let you determine the vibe. Just use the included remote controller to flip between all the settings on offer.

This mesh sink strainer bag that keeps food scraps from the kitchen drain

CNSZNAT Kitchen Sink Strainer Mesh Bag

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Kitchen cleanup just got a lot easier with the help of this sink strainer bag for your drain. It’s made from a lightweight mesh material that allows water and other liquids to sift through, leaving food scraps and other debris for easy removal. Just slip it over the strainer before you start prepping.

A nautical toilet paper holder made from cast iron

Comfify Decorative Cast Iron Octopus Toilet Paper Holder

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This octopus toilet paper holder looks like something you’d find in an antique shop. It’s made from cast iron with a burnished finish that gives it that vintage edge. Plus, installation is super easy, just use the included hardware to mount it into place.

A floral print knife set that’s the epitome of cute & functional

Astercook Floral 12-Piece Knife Set

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This floral-print knife set is made from high-carbon stainless steel that’s durable and great for cutting all manner of cooking jobs. It comes with six knives each in different designs, and each with an included blade guard to keep them protected when not in use. They’re a fun upgrade to your old tired knife set — and they’re sure to be a conversation starter.

This set of adhesive push towel hooks that work so well

S&T INC. Round Adhesive Push Towel Hooks for Kitchen, Hand and Dish Towels, Grey, 4 Pack

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Perfect for your kitchen and bathroom, alike, these push towel hooks have such a unique look. They’re round with sliced indents inside that will securely hold your dish, hand, and body towels when placed inside. Use the self-adhesive back to hang them on smooth surfaces like metal and tile.

Burnished brass fox hinge heads that have a vintage feel

SWNACOR Brass Fox Hinge Heads (3 Pieces)

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With a subtle yet intricate design, these magnetic fox hinge heads are made from brass metal with a burnished finish. They come with three pieces in each set and are designed to be placed on the hinges of your doors, wardrobes, cabinet doors, and more. If foxes aren’t your thing, consider one of the other dozens of designs on offer like flowers and chickens.

An anti-fog hanging mirror that lets you see yourself from every angle

JUSRON 360 Viewing Angle Self Hair Cutting Mirror, Clear Anti-Fog HD Glass, USB Rechargeable, Easy to Use, Height Adjustable, Portable, Good Choice for Gifts

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This hanging mirror with three adjustable panels is an absolute must for primping in the bathroom. Whether you’re cutting and dyeing your hair, or perfecting a makeup look, this 360-degree design allows you to see your appearance from every angle. The built-in LED lights increase the range of visibility.

Decorative wall sconces made from distressed metal for an antiquated look

Sziqiqi Wall Sconces Candle Holder (Set of 2)

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If you’re looking for a unique way to hold your tea light candles, these decorative wall sconces are the perfect solution. They’re made from durable metal with a distressed finish that will add a vintage feel to any space. Available in a set of two, each sconce can house up to three candles.

Brick wall clips that are made from durable stainless steel

Lewufe Stainless Steel Brick Wall Clip (6-Pack)

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The brick wall clips are designed for safely hanging things like plants, flags, and other outdoor decor to the side of your home. They come with at least six in a pack, each of which are made from stainless steel with an adjustable screw fastening for added reinforcement. “The plastic packaging is reusable for storing the clips when not in use,” a customer wrote. “A nice added bonus, not mentioned in the description, is that they include the metric hex wrench needed to tighten and loosen the screw.”

This playful toilet stool made from bamboo wood

JLKCTHH Bamboo Toilet Stool

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Whether it’s meant for an adult, child, or teen, every bathroom could use a good toilet stool. This one is made from all natural bamboo wood with strategically-placed nonslip pads that make it look like a cute little cat. It helps adjust your sitting position from 90 to 35 degrees, reducing pressure and promoting healthy bowel movements.

A curtain made from beaded crystals that look like raindrops

Hanbinsen Crystal Beaded Curtain

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This crystal curtain adds a whimsical feel to your space. Designed to look like sprinkling droplets, it consists of 20 strings, all cascading in crystal size. “The shimmering beads catch the light beautifully, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere,” a buyer wrote in their review. “It's easy to install and perfect as a room divider.”

Peel-&-stick decals with artful designs

FLFK Black and White Patterns Stair Decals (7 Pieces)

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Take your space from good to great with the addition of these peel-and-stick decals to your stairs. They’re made in varying pretty designs that will go with just about any interior decor aesthetic. These can be trimmed to your needs and are easy to remove if the time comes.

A dimmable table lamp that looks just like a robot

MUMENG Dimmable Robot Table Lamp

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This robot-shaped bedside table lamp is a great mix between practicality and whimsy. It’s made from all-natural wood with metal hinges for added durability that can be adjusted to your liking. Choose between two different design options on offer.

Colorful mushroom night-lights that are so psychedelic

UTLK Plug-in Mushroom Night Lights (3-Pack)

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Instead of boring plug-ins or fragile desk lamps, consider adding these mushroom night-lights into the mix. They come with three fixtures in a pack, each of which is best described as small but mighty thanks to the powerful light that emits from such a compact design. Plus, they have a color-changing effect with seven different lighting features to choose from.

A faucet filter that softens hard water

Beati Faucet Hard Water Bath Filter

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This hard water filter is made from chrome metal in a sphere shape that has a multi-layered technology system inside. It attaches easily to most standard bathtub faucets, which means installation only takes a few minutes. Designed to remove chlorine, lead, and fluoride, this filter can remove some natural things found in tap water that can damage your hair when you shower or take a bath.

A microfiber hand towel that looks just like an animal

Sophie & Panda Fuzzy Ball Hand Towels (Set of 2)

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This cutesy microfiber hanging hand towel is such a unique find. It’s made from a quick-drying microfiber material to look like a little hedgehog, blending the lines between cute and functional. It comes in a set of two and in multiple colors to match your bathroom scheme.

This gas leak & carbon monoxide detector with an easy-to-read digital display

NICGOL 5-in-1 Gas Leak Detector & Carbon Monoxide Detector

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A lot of the important monitors in your home can be difficult to read, which is why this gas leak and carbon monoxide detector with a digital display is so useful. All you have to do is plug it into the wall before powering it up to keep an eye on things like the temperature and humidity. “So easy for me to install and perfect peace of mind,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. “I had to buy them for a friend!”

Artful peel-&-stick floor tiles that transform your floors

MORCART Peel-&-Stick Floor Tiles (20 Pieces)

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Instantly transform the vibe in your space using these peel-and-stick floor tiles, available in five different floral designs. They’re made from an easy-to-clean vinyl material with a self-adhesive back that makes installing them a seamless process. They’re waterproof, easy to cut, and completely removable, too, making them renter friendly.

Animal-shaped cable clips that are just so adorable

Lancord Rotating Cable Clips (8-Pack)

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Keep your charging cords easily accessible by sticking these rotating cable clips to the side of your desk or nightstand by way of the self-adhesive stickers included with your purchase. Once they’re secure in place, just feed the cables through the grooved opening and close them shut. Each set comes with eight pieces per pack, all varying in color.

A magnetic paper towel holder that sticks directly to your fridge

Swaitee Magnetic Paper Towel Holder for Fridge

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Free up some room on your countertops with this magnetic paper towel holder that you can stick directly to the metal surfaces around your kitchen. Indoor appliances aside, you can also place it on the side of a toolbox or grill while working and entertaining outdoors. Plus, it has adjustable tension, which allows for jumbo-sized paper towel rolls, too.

This face-shaped stone tissue box that’s a literal work of art

Lily's Home Stone Head Tissue Box Cover

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Doubling as an art fixture for your home, this stone face tissue box is made to fit most standard-sized packaging. Pull the tissue through each nostril to make the most of the cheeky design. One reviewer wrote, “I love this tissue box. Always getting a good comment [on it].”

A wedge pillow to fill the gap between your bed frame & the wall

Vekkia King Bed Wedge Pillow for Headboard Gap/Bed Mattress Gap Filler Wedge,Bed Gap Filler Close Gap (0-6"),Stop Pillow Falling Down-Gray(76"x10"x6")

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Now you can prevent smaller items like your remote control, phone, or lip balm from falling in those hard-to-reach spaces between your headboard and the wall with the help of this wedge pillow. It’s made from a cushioned memory foam material with a slip pocket on the side for storing your bedside essentials. Choose between a wide range of sizes to fit your mattress.

This modern night-light that doubles as a digital clock

One Fire Bathroom Clock Night Light (2-Pack)

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With a two-in-one design, this plug-in night-light has a built-in digital clock that’s just as bright as the LED fixture itself. It has 10 different dimmable levels, three colors, as well as an automatic timer. Use the included Bluetooth remote to flip between the different settings to find the combination that fits the occasion.

This decorative cover for your doorbell chime

GCDS Home Doorbell Chime Cover

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If you’re looking to hide that doorbell you can’t move, this doorbell chime cover is a nice place to start. It’s made from high-quality wood with an intricate, artful design that can be customized to your liking. Installing it is really easy, just place it over your mounted chime, no professional tools or help needed.

Dusk-to-dawn night-lights with a motion sensor

TSEXES LED Dusk-To-Dawn Night-Lights (6-Pack)

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These dusk-to-dawn night-lights are a great solution for those that find themselves constantly fumbling around in the dark. Each pack comes with a set of six plug-ins with LED bulbs on the top and bottom. “I like the fact that they are so small and lightweight compared to other night-lights, yet they provide strong light,” wrote one shopper. “The lights go off instantly when you turn on the main lights in the room.”

Decorative magnets that you can stick directly to your garage door

HMmagnets Garage Door Decorative Hardware (6 Pieces)

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Give your home a little added curb appeal with this set of garage door hardware. Each decorative pack comes with six magnetic designs that can be placed directly on the door itself for a little added flair. “The magnets are strong so you don’t have to worry about them moving,” one buyer wrote.

An adorable cat tail planter pot that’s so cheeky

Picvelno Cat Tail Planter Pot

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Whether you’re a plant lover or not, this cat planter is a fun and functional conversation piece. It’s made from ceramic in a cheeky design that intends for the sprout or bud to stand straight up like your furry friend’s tail. The drainage hole helps prevent root rot or other diseases caused by moisture buildup.

A cable management box that looks just like a coffee table book

TastePick Book-Shaped Decorative Cable Management Box

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Very few things are as unsightly as loose and jumbled cords scattered around the room, which is why this cable management box has such a genius design. Not only does it help conceal those odd and end items, it’s made to look like a coffee table book, doubling as decor. Choose between a dozen different motifs to find the one that best fits into your space.

This rug-inspired light switch cover that’s an optical illusion

Blue Rug Light Switch Cover

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Designed to look like an intricate Persian rug, this light switch cover is made from a durable yet flexible material to fit most standard-sized single outlets. There are more than a dozen different styles to choose from, allowing you to find the one that best suits your aesthetic. Use the included hardware for secure installation.

Cutesy chair leg covers that look like little kitten paws

ZYGOTEE Cat Paw Chair Socks (24 Pieces)

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Perfect for cat lovers, these knitted chair socks are designed to look like little kitty paws. Not only do they protect your floors, while preventing your furniture from slipping on smooth surfaces, they give your space a little pizazz, too. There are 24 pieces in each set, all of which have a different design.

Colorful motion-activated lights that turn your staircase into a nightclub

WILLED RGB Motion-Activated Stair Lights (6-Pack)

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Transform your boring space into something much more enjoyable using these rechargeable and motion-activated stair lights. They come in a pack of six, each of which has an adhesive back that sticks to most smooth wall surfaces. These lights are especially great for dimly-lit staircases and hallways where you want to increase visibility.

Solar-powered lanterns that look like something out of a storybook

ROSHWEY LED Solar Lanterns (Set Of 2)

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Bring a little something extra to your outdoor space with these motion-sensing solar-powered lanterns. Available in sets of two, they’re made with woven hanging ropes that let you place them in trees or on the side of your roof. The best part is they are completely weatherproof so you don’t have to worry about them getting ruined in harsh climates.

A magnetic cheat sheet & cooking guide for your air fryer

Momo & Nashi Air Fryer Cheat Sheet Magnetic Cooking Guide

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There’s a good chance you’re not using your air fryer to its full capacity, which is where this magnetic cooking cheat sheet comes in handy. Whether you’re cooking desserts and snacks or meats and vegetables, the guide walks you through the process, step by step. The best part is you can just stick it to the side of your appliances to refer back to when you need it.

This electric wine decanter that’s so futuristic

AREYCVK Wine Aerator Electric Wine Decanter Automatic Wine Aerator, Wine Dispenser Wine pourer with USB Rechargeable,Wine Lover for women&Men(Black-ABS)

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This electric decanter is so easy to use that wine lovers and casual drinkers, alike, will both find themselves grabbing for it ahead of pouring up. It’s rechargeable and can sit atop most bottles to oxidize the wine before you enjoy it. Use the built-in dispenser when serving it to yourself or guests.

Twinkling curtain lights that are beyond ethereal

Twinkle Star Curtain String Lights

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Bring a little whimsy to your space with these LED twinkling curtain lights. Whether it’s for a wedding, holiday, or simply to set the vibe in your personal oasis, they’re bound to work hard in your collection of house decor. What’s even better, is there are eight different light modes that you can flip between with just a push of a button.

A magnetic screen door that lets your pets go in & out with ease

Flux Phenom Magnetic Screen Door

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Outdoor entertaining just got a lot easier with this magnetic screen door. Just hang up the mesh curtain in your doorway using the included hardware for seamless entry (and departure). One of the best parts is, it’s a great way to let your pets in and out without having to worry about constantly opening and closing the door behind them.

A set of suncatcher prisms that sparkle when the light hits them

HDCRYSTALGIFTS Crystal Sun Catcher Prisms (Set of 7)

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These suncatcher prisms are made from glass in a crystal-cut design that sparkles from every angle when the light hits them. Each set comes with seven pieces in various sizes and silhouettes, all of which are meant to be hung in the window. Choose between six different color options on offer.

Wood-grain contact paper for an easy & quick update

Decotalk Wood Grain Contact Paper

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Upgrade the surfaces in your home using this surprisingly luxe wood-grain contact paper. It’s made from slick vinyl material with a self-adhesive back that makes it easy to apply. Each roll can cover almost 15 square feet and comes in 12 different sizes to accommodate a wide variety of countertops and shelves in your space.

A well-lit fairy house statue for your garden that’s the definition of whimsy

GEYUEYA Lit Fairy House Statue

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Bring a little whimsy to your garden by adding a few of these cute fairy house statues to your outdoor decor collection. They’re made from weather-resistant resin with intricate details that add to the fairytale vibes. There’s even a really cool light-up feature that automatically turns on when the sun goes down, lasting for anywhere between eight to 10 hours a night.

Cosplay has always been an art, even as far back as costume parties of yore. But there’s a distinct difference between shopping or sewing to complete a cosplay outfit and knitting or crocheting something screen-accurate. From Althea Crome’s microknit sweaters for Coraline to the Knives Out sweater that became known as the “Handsome Chris,” those in the fiber arts community pour months into reverse engineering and replicating the already incredibly labor-intensive hand-knits they see on screen.

For one dedicated knitter, when it came to the newly released sci-fi blockbuster Project Hail Mary and a certain fox sweater, that process began even before the movie came out.

“I love knitting things from film and television. My big magnum opus is I did the Oaken sweater from Frozen, which I designed the chart for,” reproduction knitter Harmony Leiker tells Inverse. “I also happened to really love Project Hail Mary. I read the book about a year ago, and I absolutely loved it. So when the first trailer dropped in October [2025], I immediately clocked this sweater because I had seen the pattern previously.”

“Immediately I went, ‘I’m going to take a gamble that this is going to be a big deal, and I’m going to take a gamble that this movie’s going to be good, and I’m going to take a gamble that it’s seen in a fair amount of the movie. I’m just going to gamble on all of it, and I’m just going to go ahead and make the sweater."

A few months later, she had a fully finished garment to wear to her local movie theater.

Unfortunately for the not-knitting Project Hail Mary fans, this sweater is currently unavailable for purchase as a completed garment. However, if you’re willing to learn a few new skills, this sweater could be yours. Here’s everything you need to know to make the sweater, including tips from the first fan who made it.

How To Make The Project Hail Mary Sweater

When Leiker noticed the pattern, she knew exactly where to look for a starting point: Mary Maxim’s 1950s pattern for a “Wolf Cardigan,” but with the colors switched so the wolves on the front and back look more like foxes. That pattern is a simple $8 purchase from the Mary Maxim website, but making this vintage pattern identical to the one on screen is a little more complicated.

If you compare the original pattern and the movie sweater side by side, there’s a big difference: The animals on Ryland Grace’s sweater look a lot less intimidating, with bigger eyes and less of a tongue lashing out. Leiker noticed this, but didn’t know exactly how the patterns differed — she made the sweater according to the original pattern, hoping to adapt it later. It wasn’t until Project Hail Mary costume designer Glyn Dillon made an Instagram post about the sweater itself that Leiker was able to adjust the colorwork to match.

According to Dillon, the design was changed at the suggestion of Ryan Gosling himself. “Ryan came in with an unexpected suggestion … He’d been staying in London and had experienced sightings of our urban fox population … A lot of Londoners consider them pests, but I’m more inclined to agree with Ryan; they’re special, and it’s always a bit magical when you spot one crossing your path at night,” he wrote. “So he asked if we could change the wolves to foxes. We were extremely tight on time, but this was also a chance to change the faces and the bloodred footprints.”

Mary Maxim now has a “Project Hail Mary version” of the Wolf Cardigan, but it’s only available as a $90 kit, including the supplies needed, and it’s temporarily sold out. But rest assured, there are other options if you’re willing to get a little crafty.

How To Make The Project Hail Mary Sweater Without The Kit

As Leiker has proved, you can make this sweater by using the original vintage pattern and a little bit of adjusting. “It’s not a difficult sweater in the construction overall,” she says. “It is pieced. So you do have to sew all of the pieces together at the end, so it’s not knit in one.” Many modern, trendy hand-knit sweaters are knit from the top down, which makes construction a lot easier, but this is knit in panels and then stitched together, which is definitely more labor-intensive. It also includes a zipper, which is a daunting prospect for even the most experienced knitters.

The pattern included in the kit is a lot more involved, but if you’re just going with the original pattern, there’s another issue: working with vintage instructions.

“Vintage patterns are very sparse,” Leiker says. “It’s literally just, like, ‘Sew it together.’ There’s just a picture of the different pieces of the sweater.” She also notes the kit may be more convenient just for having the perfect yarn. If you’re choosing your own, she suggests something with “a bit of tooth.”

But don’t be scared away from trying. “I’m a person who takes on projects that are beyond my capabilities, and I jump right in and just figure them out,” Leiker says. “I started with a hat and then immediately did a sweater.” (Sidenote: This writer is the same way; I started knitting with a 30-ft.-long Doctor Who scarf about 15 years ago and have been knitting mostly vintage projects ever since.) “It’s not the easiest thing in the world. So I’d say this is a very dedicated beginner project. A very ambitious beginner project.”

The most difficult part of the project is the colorwork, which combines stranded colorwork, where yarn is held behind stitches, and intarsia, where yarn is carried to where it’s needed next. But eagle-eyed fans have already posted more screen-accurate colorwork charts on Ravelry, so you at least won’t need to squint at screenshots.

We’re in an age where knitting is actually more accessible than ever. Whereas before, you’d have to consult a book or a teacher to learn the different stitches and techniques, now essentially any question can be answered through a YouTube tutorial or a Reddit post. The knitting community is also one of the most open crafting communities ever — if this is your entry point to this craft, you may just have stumbled into a brand-new hobby.

Project Hail Mary is now playing in theaters.

Innocent or guilty? Courtroom dramas accumulate their tension as they hurtle towards one of these two inevitable outcomes, with the discovery of startling new evidence, the methodical dismantling of testimony, or the introduction of an unexpected witness all threatening to sway the judgment. Gregory Hoblit’s 1996 thriller Primal Fear has no shortage of twisty legal maneuvers, but it reserves its biggest bombshell for after the verdict has been announced.

“There’s only one truth. My version of it. The one I create in the minds of the 12 jurors,” says bigshot Chicago defense attorney Martin Vail (Richard Gere) early in the film, an adaptation of William Diehl’s 1993 novel. By the end, however, it’ll be Martin who’s revealed to have been the unwitting target of this strategy.

Martin’s latest client is 19-year-old Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton), an altar boy nabbed while fleeing the scene of a beloved Archbishop’s murder and mutilation. Aaron insists that he simply walked in on the crime, had one of his usual blackouts, and awoke to find himself covered in blood. Terrified by the sound of approaching sirens, he ran.

Our first impression of this baby-faced teen is that of innocence and vulnerability. He’s curled up in a fetal position when the authorities find him. He’s mild-mannered. His soft-spoken Southern accent paints a picture of a young boy from small-town Kentucky adrift in a cruel cityscape. The film builds on this characterization by having Martin pass bearded, menacing criminals on the way to visit his client, rendering Aaron even more childlike by contrast. And when cynical prosecutor Janet Venable (Laura Linney) mocks Aaron’s stutter, it rallies viewers to his side.

A videotape of the Archbishop coercing Aaron, his girlfriend, and another young boy into sexual acts is eventually uncovered, supplying a motive but also garnering more sympathy for the boy, who was threatened with homelessness unless he complied. And he did, until he finally snapped and murdered his tormentor. Or, at least, his alternate personality did.

The first of Primal Fear’s big twists is the appearance of the verbally and physically abusive Roy, who surfaces when Aaron blacks out under duress. He’s a startling contrast to the timid teen we’ve come to know, straightening his posture to appear more imposing, invading Martin’s space by backing him against the wall, and addressing him as “boy” as though contemptuous of his authority. The reason Aaron doesn’t recall the murder, according to the neuropsychologist evaluating him (Frances McDormand), is because Roy committed it. Aaron, she concludes, has Multiple Personality Disorder, stemming from years of childhood abuse. He isn’t a cold-blooded murderer, just a traumatized child who needs help.

In a Hail Mary attempt to prove his case, Martin puts Aaron on the stand, knowing Janet’s confrontational cross-examination style will provoke Roy to emerge. He does, screaming obscenities, grabbing Janet, and threatening to snap her neck. Calling for a mistrial, the judge declares Aaron not guilty by reason of insanity. Once confronted with the likelihood of being executed, Aaron will now be sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation, treatment, and eventual release.

Martin reveals this to a grateful Aaron, and the two share a tender moment. The teen’s nightmarish ordeal is finally over... and then he slips up. He apologizes for hurting Janet’s neck, something he couldn’t know about, since Aaron claims to experience memory gaps when Roy takes over. Just who has Martin really been talking to?

Courtroom dramas hinge on the presentation of a case; the facts might be immutable, but perception is ultimately influenced by the malleable narratives constructed around them. For the wily Aaron, this involved the elaborate staging of a performance (one that secured Norton the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in his debut). There never was an alternate personality.

It’s a crushing blow to Martin, who’d long blinkered himself to knowledge of whether his clients were actually guilty and operated with a single-minded focus on his job. Now, this willful blindness has prevented him from discerning the truth. It’s not that Roy didn’t exist; it’s that Aaron never did. The bumbling, meek persona was simply a cover for a cruel and sadistic teen, who now confesses to having also murdered his girlfriend. Attorney-client privilege means his crime will never be public knowledge, despite his inadvertent exposure.

“No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true,” goes a quote from The Scarlet Letter that’s referenced in the film. Aaron, however, had no trouble distinguishing. It’s Martin he had fooled all along. And, if the film’s enduring status on lists like The 10 Craziest Movie Plot Twists of All Time is anything to go by, he had us all fooled, too.

Primal Fear is streaming on Fubo.

Shopping on Amazon is one wild ride — one minute you’re searching for something practical like a toilet paper refill, and the next you’ve discovered a product so genuinely genius, you kind of can’t believe it exists. That’s exactly the energy of this list. All these under-$25 finds are bestsellers for a reason: They solve everyday problems in unexpectedly clever ways. From quirky home upgrades to straight-up life hacks, these are the kinds of purchases that make you wonder how you ever lived without them.

A squeeze-open pouch that keeps small essentials handy

Home-X Small Pill Pouch

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Tiny but seriously useful, this squeeze-open pouch is one of those everyday essentials you’ll end up using constantly. Designed with a flexible frame, it pops open with a quick pinch and snaps shut just as easily — no zippers or fuss. It’s perfectly sized to stash pills, vitamins, earbuds, or other small must-haves while keeping everything contained and easy to grab.

A grippy, cushioned shower mat with a cool design

ZOESOE Nonslip Shower Mat

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Help make your shower safer and more comfortable with this thoughtfully designed mat that combines cushioning support with reliable grip. Crafted from flexible, loofah-like material, it feels soft underfoot while providing a subtle massaging effect, and its open, woven design allows water to drain quickly so it dries faster and stays cleaner.

Outlet tighteners that keep plugs secure & in place

Snug Plug Loose Outlet Fix (10-Pack)

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Tired of plugs constantly slipping out of loose outlets? These simple yet effective outlet tighteners create a snug, secure fit in seconds — no tools or electrician needed. Just slide one onto the socket before inserting the plug, and it helps keep everything firmly in place, even for heavier devices like hair dryers or chargers. Made from clear material, they stay discreet while adding an extra layer of safety and stability.

A precision scraper set that tackles stubborn messes easily

DIYSELF 1 Pack Razor Blade Scraper with 15 Extra Blades, Scraper Tool for Cleaning Window, Paint, Cooktop, Oven, Glass Stove Top Scraper, Razor Scraper with Buit-In Blade Storage

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Cut through tough grime and stubborn residue with this versatile scraper set designed for precision and ease. Equipped with a comfortable rubber handle and durable steel blades, it tackles everything from stuck-on stickers to paint splatters on glass, stovetops, and windows. The non-retractable design offers steady control, while the included extra blades and built-in storage keep replacements within reach.

A Bluetooth label maker that makes organizing effortless

Phomemo Bluetooth Label Maker

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Get your life instantly more organized with this compact label maker that’s as powerful as it is portable. Designed to connect seamlessly to your phone via Bluetooth, it lets you create everything from simple labels to barcodes, QR codes, and custom designs using an app packed with tons of fonts, icons, and templates. It uses ink-free thermal printing, so there’s no mess or refills, either.

A reusable defogging sponge that clears windshields fast

Travelon Windshield Cleaner and Defogger

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Keep your view crystal clear with this compact, reusable defogging sponge that quickly wipes away condensation from car windows and mirrors. Designed to work with or without water, it delivers streak-free results without the need for cleaning sprays, making it a simple, mess-free solution for everyday use. Gentle on surfaces yet effective on buildup, it won’t leave scratches behind.

A cervical neck stretcher that aims to help relieve tension

RESTCLOUD Neck and Shoulder Relaxer

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Help give your neck a much-needed reset with this supportive cervical stretcher designed to help ease tension and improve posture in just a few minutes a day. Made from dense yet comfortable foam, it contours to the natural curve of your neck to provide gentle traction and help relieve pressure from long hours of sitting or looking down at screens. Just lie back and let it support your head and spine as your muscles begin to relax.

A folding pocket knife built for everyday tasks

FUNBRO Sprinkle Donut Pocket Knife

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Compact, durable, and ready for just about anything, this folding pocket knife is a reliable everyday essential with a fun sprinkle donut design. Crafted with a sturdy stainless steel blade and a lightweight yet tough handle, it’s designed to handle everything from opening packages to outdoor tasks like cutting rope or prepping small items on the go. Its foldable design and portable size make it easy to carry anywhere.

A collapsible dog bowl that makes hydration easy on the go

Bonza Collapsible Dog Bowl

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Keep your pup hydrated wherever you go with this collapsible travel water bowl designed for life on the move. Made from flexible silicone, it’s sturdy enough for daily use yet folds flat to save space in your bag or car. The attached carabiner makes it easy to clip onto a leash or backpack, so it’s always within reach on walks, hikes, or road trips. It’s durable and dishwasher safe, too.

A cat-shaped hand towel that adds purr-sonality to your space

AGRIMONY Cat Hand Towel

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Add a playful touch to your space with this cute-as-hell cat-shaped hand towel that’s as functional as it is fun. Designed with a clever snap closure, it stays securely in place on your towel rack while bringing a bit of personality to your kitchen or bathroom. Made from soft, absorbent fabric, it’s perfect for drying hands while still feeling gentle on skin. Choose from 33 different styles and colors to suit your space.

A flexible MagSafe car mount that keeps your phone secure

eSamcore for MagSafe Car Mount

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Upgrade your driving setup with this sleek and flexible MagSafe car mount designed for both convenience and a clean look. Featuring a bendable arm made from durable alloy, it can be adjusted to fit a variety of spots — from your dashboard to behind your screen — so you get the perfect viewing angle every time. Strong built-in magnets keep your phone securely in place, even on bumpy roads, and the adhesive base offers a stable yet removable hold.

Magnetic measuring spoons that click together to store

Spring Chef Magnetic Measuring Spoons (8 Pieces)

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Upgrade your kitchen essentials with this set of stainless steel measuring spoons built for durability and everyday ease. The magnetic design keeps the set neatly stacked while still allowing you to grab one at a time, and the dual-ended shape makes measuring both dry spices and liquids effortless. Made from sturdy, rust-resistant metal, they’re designed to hold up over time without bending or wearing down.

Pull chains that make ceiling fan & light control easy

Akahttbn Ceiling Fan Pull Chain

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Make it easier to control your ceiling fan and light with this clever pull chain set designed to eliminate the guesswork. Featuring two distinct shapes — a bulb and a fan — you’ll instantly know which chain to grab, even in the dark. Made with durable metal beads and sturdy decorative accents, they’re built to resist wear while adding a subtle decorative touch to your space. You can even customize the length, too.

A mini frog figurine set that adds charm to any space

Refintural Miniature Frog Figurine

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Add a little personality to your space with this miniature figurine set featuring a cozy frog lounging with a book and coffee while perched on a tiny armchair. Made from durable resin, these pieces are great for brightening up desks, countertops, display shelves, or any small area that needs a pop of personality. It comes in 11 different colors and styles so you can pick your favorite.

A dinosaur Apple Watch stand that makes charging more fun

ELETIUO Apple Watch Charger Stand

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Keep your Apple Watch charged and your space a little more fun with this playful dinosaur charging stand. Designed from soft yet durable silicone, it securely holds your watch in place while protecting it from scratches. Simply insert your charging cable and rest your watch on the stand to enable nightstand mode, turning it into a convenient bedside clock.

Toothbrush holders made from glossy, minimalist ceramic

Airmoon Mini Ceramics Toothbrush Holder (2-Pack)

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Elevate your everyday routine with these sleek ceramic toothbrush holders that blend function with modern style and pops of color. Crafted with a glossy finish, they add a fun yet posh look to any space while staying firmly in place on your countertop. The uniquely designed shape promotes airflow to help keep toothbrushes dry and easy to maintain.

Frog toilet bolt covers that upgrade your bathroom unexpectedly

ZUNON Toilet Bolt Cap (2-Pack)

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Upgrade your bathroom in seconds with this two-pack of quirky frog-shaped bolt covers that turn ugly hardware into a chic details. Designed to neatly conceal exposed or rusty toilet bolts, they snap into place easily for a quick, no-tools-needed refresh. Made from durable ceramic, they’re simple to clean and built to last while adding a playful touch to your space.

A fan-favorite mystery puzzle book that puts your detective skills to work

Murdle: Volume 1 by G.T. Karber

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Put your detective skills to the test with this best-selling mystery puzzle book that’s taken the internet by storm. Packed with 100 clever murder mystery logic puzzles, it challenges you to piece together clues, question suspects, and crack each case using pure deduction. With interesting characters, witty, LOL-worthy storytelling, and interactive elements, every puzzle is its own mini investigation. If you’re a true crime lover, this is perfect for you.

Rolling stamp highlighters that create patterns on the page

AECHY Curve Stamp Highlighters (8 Pieces)

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Instead of basic underlining, these highlighter pens create cool, unique patterns with their rolling stamp tips, including squiggles, zigzags, and cloud shapes. On the other end, you’ll find a fine-point pen perfect for jotting down notes. The set includes multiple colors.

A wall outlet extender that turns one socket into a charging hub

QINLIANF 5-Outlet Wall Charger & Surge Protector

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Turn a single outlet into a powerful charging station with this space-saving wall-mounted extender. Designed to fit securely over a standard duplex outlet, it gives you five spaced AC sockets plus four USB ports, so you can power multiple devices at once without crowding. Built-in smart charging automatically delivers the right amount of power to your devices, and advanced surge protection helps keep things safe.

A dryer lint cleaner that upgrades performance & helps prevent fires

Holikme Dryer Vent Cleaner Hose Kit

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Make your home safer and your appliances run more efficiently with this must-have dryer lint vacuum attachment. Designed to reach deep into tight spaces, it easily pulls out built-up lint from dryer vents and hard-to-reach areas behind appliances. Regular use helps improve airflow, boost dryer performance, and reduce the risk of fires. It’s easy to assemble and compatible with most standard vacuums, too.

A collapsible popcorn maker that works without oil

The Original Popco Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper

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Make movie night easier and more delicious with this collapsible silicone popcorn maker that delivers fresh, fluffy popcorn in minutes. Just add kernels — oil optional — and stick it in the microwave for a quick snack without the waste of disposable bags. The heat-resistant design ensures even popping with fewer unpopped kernels, while built-in handles make it easy to grab and go. When you’re done, it folds down for compact storage and is easy to clean too.

Glitter paint markers that make every project pop

ARTISTRO 12 Glitter Paint Pens Sparkly and Shiny for Rock Painting, Stone, Ceramic, Glass, Wood, Fabric, Scrapbooking, DIY Craft Making, Coloring, Acrylic Glitter Markers Extra-Fine Tip 0.7mm

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Add a bit of sparkle to your next art project or writing task with these best-selling glitter paint markers. Filled with bright, glittery ink, they glide across the page smoothly and dry quickly to create a bold, eye-catching finish and the fine tip allows for more precise and detailed work, too. They work on paper, but can also be used on wood, rocks, fabric, metal, and plastic.

Tiny soot sprites that keep you company on your commute

RAPUDA Car Decor Soot Sprites (35 Pieces)

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Add a little personality (and a lot of fun) to your vehicle with this set of tiny soot sprite figurines. Each one is super small but surprisingly detailed, making them perfect for sprinkling across your dashboard or rear-view mirror. They come with easy stick-on tabs so you can place them just about anywhere and remove them without any mess later.

A compact fan that delivers powerful cooling anywhere

JISULIFE Handheld Fan

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Stay cool wherever you go with this compact handheld fan that delivers surprisingly powerful airflow for its size. Designed with multiple speed settings, it lets you easily adjust from a light breeze to a stronger, more refreshing blast with the press of a button. The rechargeable battery lasts for hours, making it perfect for long days out, travel, or just keeping at your desk.

A dirt-trapping doormat that comes in geometric designs

GRANNY SAYS Indoor Doormat

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Constantly tracking in mud, water, and mystery debris? This hardworking indoor doormat grabs dirt and moisture right at the door, helping keep floors clean and dry without extra effort. A nonslip backing keeps it securely in place, while the low-profile design won’t catch on doors. Built to last and machine washable, it comes in several geometric patterns that add a design-forward touch to your entry.

Helmet-shaped toothbrush covers that shield the bristles

Frekare Helmet Toothbrush Covers (4-Pack)

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Tossing your toothbrush into a bag without protection is basically inviting germs along for the ride. These helmet-inspired covers snap on to help shield bristles from dust and grime while still allowing airflow to help them dry quickly. Designed to fit most manual and electric brushes, they’re made from food-grade materials. Bonus: The playful helmet design makes brushing feel way less boring.

A whimsical night-light that looks like a sleepy panda bear

DREAMING MY DREAM Panda Night Light

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Boasting a 4.8-star overall rating, this soft-glow night light doubles as a cozy companion and just might make you look forward to bedtime and relaxed evenings. Available in several animal shapes, it creates a calming atmosphere thanks to the gentle light that’s not harsh on eyes. Bonus: It has a squishy feel that’s fun to squeeze.

An easy grout fix that makes tile look brand new

PentaUSA Tile Grout Repair Kit

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Grimy, stained grout can make even clean spaces look outdated. This premixed grout repair squeezes on like caulk, then dries into a real sanded finish that instantly refreshes tile lines. The fast-drying, water-resistant formula repairs, fills, and protects all at once — perfect for kitchens and bathrooms. It’s mess free, odorless, and simple enough to use anywhere your grout needs a quick upgrade.

A sink splash guard that keeps countertops dry

Snoquir Kitchen Sink Splash Guard

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Constant water puddles around your faucet can make your whole kitchen feel messy. This silicone splash guard fixes that with a smart sloped design that drains water away before it collects. It snaps securely in place, won’t slide around, and can even be adjusted for a perfect fit. Bonus: It doubles as a handy spot to hold sponges or soap, keeping everything neat and within reach.

Food dice to help you decide what’s for dinner

kykake Food Dice

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Deciding what to eat shouldn’t take longer than the meal itself. These wooden food dice make it fun — just roll and let fate pick from options like sushi, tacos, or pizza. Perfect for people who want to keep things spontaneous, it turns everyday decisions into a mini game. Lightweight, durable, and actually useful, it’s a gift that keeps evenings easy and entertaining.

A pasta spoon that looks like the Loch Ness monster

OTOTO Papa Nessie Spoon

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Serving spaghetti without making a mess can feel impossible, but this quirky “Nessie” pasta spoon solves that with deep scooping teeth that grab noodles easily in one go. The long, ergonomic handle keeps things comfortable, while the heat-resistant, food-safe material makes it practical for everyday use. It’s equal parts functional and fun, with a Loch Ness monster-inspired design perfect for adding a little personality to your kitchen routine.

A slim toaster that saves space without sacrificing performance

BELLA Slim Toaster

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Bulky appliances can take over your counter fast. This slim toaster keeps things streamlined while still delivering perfectly crisp results. The extra-long slot fits everything from standard slices to thick bagels, so there’s no awkward squeezing. With multiple shade settings and an easy high-lift lever, it’s designed for everyday convenience — plus the removable crumb tray keeps cleanup quick and your counter clean.

A pocket microscope that makes everyday objects fascinating

Carson MicroMini Lighted Pocket Microscope

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Ever wondered what things really look like up close? This mini pocket microscope lets you zoom in on everything from plants to fabrics — and even check details like stitching or currency. It’s compact enough for a key chain but powerful enough to deliver impressive magnification, with built-in LED and UV lights for better visibility. Easy to use and surprisingly fun, it turns everyday moments into tiny discoveries.

A jar & bottle opener set that pries open the toughest containers

HUMANFUN 5 in 1 Multi Function Bottle Opener

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Pickle jars, pasta sauce, soda bottle caps, and pet food can pull tabs — this opener set helps you tackle it all. It includes two opening tools, along with a gripping mat for extra leverage. One reviewer wrote, “This jar opener set is a kitchen lifesaver! Easy to use, comfy to grip, and opens every stubborn lid with no struggle. Makes cooking and meal prep so much easier—highly recommend!”

Googly-eye socks that literally hold hands

Smilelife Magnetic Holding Hands Socks (2 Pairs)

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Regular socks are fine — but these socks will actually make you smile. Designed with tiny magnets, they “hold hands” when placed together, adding a playful twist to an everyday wardrobe essential. The 3D eyes and quirky details make them feel like a fun little wardrobe upgrade rather than just another pair of socks.

A plush bread pillow that’s surprisingly comfortable

VHYHCY Toast Bread Pillow Funny Food Plush Toy Pillows Small Cute Stuffed Plush Sofa Pillow (Toast Bread,Golden)

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Sometimes you just want something soft to hug and this bread pillow delivers. Designed with an expressive face, it adds a playful touch to any room while doubling as a comfy cushion for lounging or napping. The plush cotton filling feels cozy without losing shape, making it great for beds, couches, or even your desk chair when you need a little extra comfort.

Ceiling fan filters that help clean the air

Barnakl Fan Filters (3-Pack)

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Air purifiers can be bulky, loud, and easy to forget to run. These clever carbon filters turn your ceiling fan into a low-effort air cleaner, trapping dust, pet dander, and odors as the blades spin. Made with coconut shell carbon, they work quietly in the background without adding clutter. Just stick them on, let your fan do the work, and swap them out as needed.

A giant wine glass that holds the whole bottle

Juvale 25oz Oversized Giant Wine Glass with Stem That Holds a Whole Bottle of Wine, Oversized Wine Glass for Champagne, Mimosas, Holiday Parties, Novelty Birthday Gift (750ml)

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This oversized wine glass fits an entire bottle, making it a hilarious pick for parties or cozy nights in. The wide bowl helps wine breathe, enhancing flavor while doubling as a conversation-starting centerpiece. Equal parts novelty and function, it’s a fun gift that wine lovers will want to show off.

A magnetic wristband that keeps hardware within reach

RAK Magnetic Wristband

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Dropping screws mid-project is the fastest way to lose your patience. This magnetic wristband solves that by holding nails, bolts, and drill bits right on your wrist, so everything stays within reach while you work. Built with strong magnets and durable materials, it’s comfortable enough for long projects and tough enough for real jobs — basically like having a mini tool belt on your arm.

A playful nail clipper set for fingernails & toes

ACIRNS Nail Clippers (2-Pack)

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This quirky nail clipper set delivers laughs along with personal grooming. It includes a smaller, curved clipper for fingernails and a larger, sharper-edged option designed to handle thicker toenails with ease. The standout feature is its playful design — each clipper is shaped like a hand or foot, so you know which one to grab at a glance.

A cat sponge holder that makes doing the dishes a little more fun

OTOTO Cat Sponge Holder

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Doing dishes isn’t exactly exciting, but this playful sponge holder makes it a little more fun. Just stick it to the side, and it’s ready to hold your sponge between scrubs. Equal parts functional and fun, this cat-inspired design brings personality to your space and turns an everyday chore into something a bit more enjoyable.

A solar mosaic lantern that adds a colorful glow outdoors

GUANFU Mosaic Solar Hanging Lantern

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Add a pop of color and charm to your outdoor space with this eye-catching solar mosaic lantern. Crafted with vibrant glass pieces in rich blue tones and soft hints of yellow, it creates a beautiful glow once the sun goes down. Simply place it in direct sunlight during the day, and it will automatically illuminate for hours at night.

A plug-in bug trap that works around the clock

Zevo Flying Insect Trap

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Swatting flies and gnats all day gets old fast. This plug-in bug trap uses UV and blue light to quietly attract insects, then traps them on a hidden adhesive pad — no zapping, no mess. Just plug it in where bugs tend to gather and let it work 24/7. When it’s full, swap the cartridge and toss it, making cleanup as easy as it gets.

A key chain-sized flashlight with a magnetic base for hands-free use

OLIGHT Keychain Flashlight

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With this mini rechargeable flashlight, you’ll always have a light source on hand, whether you’re searching for a dropped screw or dealing with an unforeseen power outage. It’s small enough to fit on your key chain and features a magnetic base, so you can secure it to a metal surface for hands-free use. It’s popular on Amazon, having earned a stellar 4.8-star overall rating.

A pair of LED gloves that light up whatever you’re doing

MOIPEJO Flashlight Gloves

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Trying to hold a flashlight while working with your hands is awkward at best. These LED gloves solve that by putting the light exactly where you need it, keeping both hands free for the task. Whether you’re fixing something, camping, or digging around in the dark, they make everything easier to see. Comfortable, adjustable, and surprisingly useful, they’re a gadget you’ll actually reach for.

A neoprene sleeve that keeps hands dry & drinks cold

Sok It JavaSok Iced Coffee Neoprene Cup Sleeve

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Sweaty cups and watered-down drinks can ruin the whole experience. This neoprene drink sleeve keeps beverages colder longer while preventing condensation from dripping onto your hands or surfaces. Soft, stretchy, and easy to toss in a bag, it’s perfect for on-the-go use. Reusable and washable, it’s a simple swap that keeps things cleaner, more comfortable, and a little more eco-friendly by doing away with cardboard sleeves.

A garbage disposal brush that gets rid of sink odors fast

Mr. Scrappy Universal Garbage Disposal Brush

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If your sink smells off, your garbage disposal is probably the culprit. This long-handled brush reaches deep inside to scrub away stuck-on food buildup that causes odors. The stiff bristles break up grime easily, while the sturdy grip keeps things controlled and mess free. It’s a simple, effective way to keep your sink fresh without harsh cleaning solutions.

Microfiber thumb cloths that keep glasses crystal clear

Basesit Eyeglasses Thumb Wipes (2-Pack)

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Smudged lenses can make everything look a little off. These ultra-soft microfiber cloths slip over your thumb and finger to gently lift away fingerprints, dust, and streaks without scratching. It leaves a lint-free finish, so your glasses, screens, and camera lenses stay perfectly clear. Durable and easy to carry, it’s one of those small essentials you’ll reach for every single day.

Pickle-shaped bandages that make cuts & scrapes a little less serious

BioSwiss Bandages (24 Count)

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Regular bandages get the job done, but these pickle-shaped bandages make it a little more fun. They effectively help protect cuts and scrapes while keeping things lighthearted, plus they stay put, flex with movement, and even have nonstick pads for easy removal.

Shoe stackers that double your storage space

Neprock Shoes Slots Organizer for Closet, Shoe Rack Organizador De Zapatos for Closet Organization, Shoe Slots Organizer Shoe Storage Shoe Holder Space Saver for Entryway(12 Pack)(White)

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Running out of room for shoes way too fast? These clever shoe slots stack pairs vertically, instantly freeing up space while keeping everything easy to see and grab. With adjustable height levels, they work for everything from sneakers to heels without squishing them. Sturdy and slip resistant, they keep your closet looking neat without any extra effort.

Cord straps that keep messy cables organized & tidy

Wrap-It Storage Self-Gripping Cable Ties (40-Pack)

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Tangled cords can turn any space into a mess fast. These reusable cable ties keep everything neatly wrapped and easy to find, including chargers, extension cords, and various tech wires. Designed to stay attached to your cords, they’re always there when you need them. Durable, adjustable, and way better than flimsy twist ties, they make organizing feel effortless.

Car headrest hooks that keep bags off the floor

Amooca Headrest Hooks (4-Pack)

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Groceries tipping over and bags sliding around can make any drive feel chaotic. These headrest hooks turn unused space into instant storage, keeping purses, backpacks, and shopping bags secure and off your seats. They rotate for easy access and install in seconds — no tools needed. Durable enough to handle everyday loads, they effortlessly help keep your car cleaner and way more organized.

A tiny air pump that inflates gear in seconds

ETENWOLF AIR Mini Air Pump

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Blowing up air mattresses or pool floats by hand is a workout nobody asked for. This ultra-compact air pump handles it in seconds, delivering fast inflation and deflation with barely any effort. Small enough to toss in a bag, it also doubles as a bright camping light with multiple settings.

A stacked organizer that rolls eggs forward one at a time

YouCopia Egg Dispenser

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Clunky cartons take up space and make grabbing eggs more annoying than it should be. This two-tier organizer uses a gravity-fed design that gently rolls eggs forward, so you can grab one at a time without digging around. It saves space, keeps everything visible, and sets up in seconds — just load it and you’re good to go.

A bottle-emptying stand kit that helps you get every last drop

Flip-it! Bottle Emptying Kit

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Half-used bottles that won’t dispense are seriously frustrating. This clever flip stand turns them upside down, letting gravity do the work so nothing goes to waste. Designed to fit most bottles, it’s perfect for thick liquids like shampoo, lotion, or condiments. The kit is reusable, easy to clean, and surprisingly satisfying to use, too.

Solar lights that turn your yard into a sparkling display

GIGALUMI Garden Lights (2-Pack)

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Outdoor lighting can feel boring or overly complicated, but these solar “firework” lights make it effortless and fun. With flexible copper wires, you can shape them into fun designs like bursts, hearts, or spirals for a custom look. They charge during the day and automatically glow at night, adding instant ambiance without wiring. Waterproof and long-lasting, they’re an easy way to upgrade your outdoor space.

A corner shelf that instantly doubles your storage space

Bambüsi Cabinet Plate Organizer

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Crowded cabinets and wasted corner space can make your kitchen feel smaller than it is. This bamboo corner shelf turns those awkward spots into functional storage, adding vertical room for dishes, mugs, and pantry items. The three-tier design keeps everything visible and easy to grab, while the compact size fits neatly into tight spaces. It’s an easy way to declutter without adding bulky organizers.

Simple drink covers that keep bugs out & fizz in

Bricktown Supply Silicone Soda Can Lids (6-Pack)

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Nothing ruins a drink faster than bugs or debris getting inside. These handy drink covers create a quick barrier, keeping your beverage protected whether you’re at the beach, golfing, or relaxing outside. Plus, they help slow down carbonation loss, so you can take your time drinking without your drink going flat within the hour. They’re a small upgrade that makes outdoor sipping way more enjoyable.

A magnesium cream that can help you wind down at night

Magnesium Solace Nighttime Magnesium Cream

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Struggling to relax before bed can make falling asleep feel impossible. This magnesium cream is designed for nightly use, delivering a concentrated dose of mineral-rich magnesium through your skin to help your body unwind. Smooth it onto your legs or hips as part of your routine, and let it work while you rest. With consistent use, it’s an easy way to support a calmer, more relaxed nighttime routine.

Space rebellions are old hat. Even before Star Wars taught a generation that being part of the Rebel Alliance could turn you into a hero, Robert A Heinlien’s Revolt in 2100 told of humankind rising up against a dictatorship, while the famous Doctor Who serial “The Dalek Invasion of Earth” (later remade as the 1966 film Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D.) established that humans fighting against an occupying alien force could be as exciting as it was horrifying. But what if Earth itself was the enemy? What if humanity turned on itself? Technically speaking, everything in the original Star Wars is a civil war, but it hits a little differently when the combatants are Earth against everyone else.

In 1996, during the week of April 1, Babylon 5 Season 3 aired what was, up until that point, its most pivotal episode. The civil war between Earth and its colonies had been brewing for quite some time, but in “Severed Dreams,” the main characters of the show actively decided to break away from Earth, and in doing so, completely changed the game for what a weekly sci-fi TV series could accomplish.

As has been well-documented elsewhere, Babylon 5 was a pioneer of primetime TV serialization, especially in sci-fi series. Concepts only mentioned in Season 1 of Babylon 5 paid off big time in Season 3, and beyond. And one of those ideas was the notion that an accident that claimed the life of Earth President Santiago at the end of Season 1 was not an accident at all, but instead, part of a coup d'état planned by then-Vice President Clark. By the time we get to the middle of B5 Season 3, with “Severed Dreams,” Clark’s authoritarian style of governance has pushed several factions of the Earth Alliance into open rebellion, which, before, was a top-secret thing. The undercurrent with all of this is that Clark’s unconstitutional takeover of the Earth is actually just one piece of a larger intergalactic struggle; an ancient race called the Shadows is gathering dark forces during this time, so oddly enough, the moment that Babylon 5 breaks away from Earth Alliance actually frees up the rest of Season 3 to focus on battling the Shadows, across time and space.

This isn’t to say that the idea of B5 seceding from Earth was taken lightly in this episode. Far from it. In fact, the moment Captain Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) decides that the space station will become an independent state was shocking at the time, because you couldn’t imagine another sci-fi franchise doing the same thing. Sheridan saying that B5 was no longer part of Earthforce would be like if Picard (Patrick Stewart) left Starfleet in The Next Generation, or if Sisko (Avery Brooks) joined the Maquis in Deep Space Nine.

“Severed Dreams” treats this moment with the gravity it deserves by reminding us that in an actual civil war, things would get messy on a personal level really fast. Major Ryan (Bruce McGill) bemoans a victory against an enemy ship early in the episode, noting that he actually knew the captain of the ship that was just blown up. And, ahead of a communications blackout between B5 and Earth, Sheridan has a tender moment with his father, over a quick video call. (Of note, Sheridan’s dad is played by Rance Howard, real-life father of Ron and Clint, in a really great, tender performance, and his first of three B5 cameos.)

Today, “Severed Dreams” is perhaps best remembered for the final act, in which Delenn (the late, great Mira Furlan) arrives with a fleet of Minbari ships to turn the tide against the Earthforce attack against B5. Delenn famously threatens the Earth ships, “If you value your lives, be somewhere else.” But what perhaps gets forgotten is that Delenn’s entire journey in this episode is telling people to get out of her way: The only reason she has the firepower to support B5 at the end of the episode is that she tells the Grey Council to get their sh*t together earlier in the episode. Again, Babylon 5 was pushing boundaries, and by upending various tropes, Delenn dissolving the Grey Council was a bit like the Babylon 5 version of someone telling all the Elves in The Lord of the Rings to stop sitting around and ordering other people to destroy the One Ring. “Severed Dreams” is about B5 leaving the Earth Alliance, but it’s also about deepening the ad-hoc fellowship between various species in their larger fight against the Shadows.

What goes without saying is that “Severed Dreams” is a massive battle episode: There are space battles outside the station, and a siege with ground groups inside the station in which human B5 security forces team up with the Narn to fight other humans. Essentially, the Narn, who were drafted into service a few episodes prior, are fighting and perishing for humans in an effort to protect the sovereignty of the space station more broadly. It’s heavy stuff, and again, relative to other sci-fi of the time, very unflinching. While the episode ends with a technical victory for the crew, the creator of the show, J. Michael Straczynski, didn’t want the audience to feel too good about it. In 1996, Straczynski noted that “I hate leaving the audience feeling cocky,” and pointed out that at the time, a lot of shows would have faded out when Sheridan ordered all the ships to return to base.

But Babylon 5 showed us what came next: Bloodied and wounded humans and Narn, on both sides of the fight, struggling to breathe and survive after the shooting stopped. The following episode would find Sheridan and the crew struggling with how they could even justify wearing the same uniforms after leaving Earthforce. This idea led to a subtle reboot for the show, but in this moment at the end, “Severed Dreams” attempted to remind audiences that space rebellions weren’t cool, but deadly serious.

Babylon 5 is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Prime Video, and elsewhere.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Leak Alarm That Stops Water Damage

Flood Buzz Water Leak Detector (3-Pack)

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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.

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.

This Inspection Camera For Looking Behind Walls

MugEasy Endoscope Inspection 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.

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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Markers & Crayons That Repair Damaged Wood

Katzco Furniture Repair Kit Wood Markers - Set of 34 - Markers and Wax Sticks with Sharpener - for Stains, Scratches, Floors, Tables, Desks, Carpenters, Bedposts, Touch-Ups, Cover-Ups

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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

Laser Level 360 Self Leveling Red Line Laser Level Tool Wall Suction Stand Receiver 100ft Line Laser for Picture Hanging Outdoor Rechargeable Battery

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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)

Warner ProGrip 5-in 1 Stiff Painters Tool

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What does your tool kit need that you haven’t thought of? “A painters 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 painters 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

EurKitchen Premium Culinary Butane Torch with Gauge, Safety Lock, Adjustable Flame, Guard- Refillable Cooking Torch Lighter for Creme Brulee, BBQ, Baking, Soldering, Crafts- Butane Gas Not Included

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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 (6-Pack)

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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.

If you’ve ever looked at a roundup of things for men and thought, cool, so the options are all about drinking or golf, this list gives you so much more. These finds are weird in the best way — the kind of clever, quirky gadgets and upgrades that make everyday life easier, funnier, and all around better. Whether you’re shopping for a partner, a friend, a sibling, a coworker, or yourself, expect pocket-sized problem-solvers, satisfying little desk upgrades, bathroom and car essentials, and fun gifts that look way more impressive than their price tag suggests. You’ll want to add so many of these genius items to your cart ASAP.

An emergency flashlight that fits on your keychain

OLIGHT IMINI 2 EDC Rechargeable Keychain Flashlight

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This is mini flashlight is one of those everyday tools that’ll earn a permanent spot on your key ring. It has a magnetic cap, so you can attach it to an iron surface for hands-free lighting, and it recharges in just an hour through the integrated USB connector.

A desktop water dispenser that makes hydration convenient

DeiryuRay Desk Water Dispenser

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This water dispenser is for anyone who wants beverage convenience without buying a full water cooler. It sits on top of your desk and connects to a water jug that you can stash out of sight under the table. The dispenser is adjustable to work with different cup or bottle sizes, and it has a memory function to keep your preferred volume level settings.

A motion-activated toilet bowl light with 16 color options

Chunace LED Toilet Night Light

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Equal parts practical and silly in the best way, this motion-activated toilet light adds just enough glow to navigate the bathroom at night. It detects movement in the dark to light up the bowl and turns itself off after two minutes. With adjustable brightness levels and 16 color options, it adds a bit of whimsy to your space. Have it glow red one night or blue the next.

A Bluetooth LED badge you can program from your phone

Coolbird Bluetooth LED Name Tag

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Make get-to-know-you gatherings more fun with this Bluetooth LED name badge. Program messages through the accompanying app, choose your brightness level, and let the blue pixel display do its thing at work events, conventions, and more. The badge is rechargeable via USB with a built-in battery that can run for hours, and it attaches with either a magnet or a pin.

Prism glasses that let you read more comfortably while laying down

Evelots Laying Down Reading Glasses (2-Pack)

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When bedtime reading starts hurting your neck, these prism glasses are here to help. They’re designed for use while lying down, and the lenses adjust the view without you needing to move your head. They’re sized to fit most people and can even work over your regular glasses.

Earbuds that are designed for real time language translation

Csasan Real Time Ai Translation Earbuds

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This is a two-in-one gadget: translation tool plus wireless earbuds. The idea is simple — connect through the companion app, choose the translation mode that matches what you’re doing (conversation, learning, calls, notes), and let the earbuds handle live language conversion while you go about your day. You also get standard earbud features like music playback, call handling, and a battery case with an LED display so you’re not guessing your charge level mid-commute.

A key holder that looks like a music amp

P Pluginz Licensed Marshall Jack Rack

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If you want a key organizer with personality, this one wins on vibes and function. The rack mounts on the wall and holds four sets of keys using guitar plug key chains that insert into the front like amp jacks. It’s also officially licensed by the Marshall amp brand, which makes it a genuinely impressive gift for musicians, music nerds, or anyone who wants their home to feel a little more like a concert space.

A magnetic fidget pen that makes boring meetings bearable

YYMHMF Magnetic Fidget Pen

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This magnetic fidget pen is a pen when you need it — and a desk toy all the time. It writes like a gel pen, includes stylus tips for touchscreen use, and comes with a bunch of magnetic pieces (steel balls and rings) you can rearrange into little shapes and gadgets while you think. It’s the kind of work accessory that can make meetings feel shorter, study sessions feel less grim, and work-from-home desks feel a little more alive.

A mini folding pocket knife that clips right onto your keys

FUNBRO Small Pocket Knife

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Small but seriously useful, this mini folding knife packs a stainless steel blade into a compact 4-inch design that fits right in your palm. It can also clip onto a key chain so it’s always around for opening boxes, slicing fruit, or handling random little tasks that pop up during the day.

A USB desk fan with a clock display when it spins

BREIS USB Clock Fan

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This USB desk fan pulls a fun little party trick: Once it’s spinning, the LED blades “write” a real-time clock face and temperature in midair. It plugs into any USB port (laptop, desktop, power bank), has soft PVC blades for finger safety, and a flexible gooseneck so you can aim the breeze exactly where you want it.

Ultra-thin folding nail clippers that can fit in your wallet

XGIZMOO Ultra Thin Portable Fingernail Clipper

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These ultra-thin nail clippers fold so flat you can store them in a wallet or pocket without adding bulk. The flip-open design makes them quick to use, and the handle includes a built-in nail file — so you can trim and smooth at once without carrying extra tools. The tool also comes with a faux leather case for easy storage and a key ring if you’d prefer to attach the clippers to your keys.

A splash-resistant phone holder that you can use in the shower

Mistriddle Waterproof Shower Phone Holder

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This shower phone holder lets you watch videos, choose playlists, or scroll social media without risking your device in the splash zone. It has a clear, touch-sensitive screen cover, a sealed waterproof design to handle steam and shower spray, and a 360-degree rotating mount so you can angle it exactly right. It also extends outward (about 2.3 inches) for a better viewing angle. Attach it to the shower wall with the included adhesive.

A heated mirror for fog-free shower use

Gospire Heated Shower Mirror Fogless for Shaving with Light

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This heated shower mirror is built for grooming in a steamy bathroom without doing the wipe-wipe-wipe routine every 12 seconds. The internal heating element helps keep the surface clear, and the built-in light has adjustable brightness levels so you can actually see what you’re doing. It mounts with a suction cup (no drilling), tilts up and down for a better angle, and includes a razor holder.

A heavy-duty key chain carabiner with a built-in bottle opener

Pxvikis Carabiner Bottle Opener Keychain

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This key chain doubles as a bottle opener, so you’re always prepared for a cold beverage. The zinc alloy carabiner clip is built for everyday wear and the braided strap is made to be durable. It’s a simple upgrade for your keys, but one that makes beach days, backyard barbecues, and picnics a little easier.

A jar of positivity cards with a quirky pickle theme

DEARMINE Positive Pickle Affirmation Cards (60 Pieces)

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For anyone who loves a gag gift that still lands as sweet, this pickle-themed affirmation jar is a solid move. You get 60 little cards packed with upbeat quotes and pep-talk energy, so it’s easy to turn them into a quick daily ritual. It’s weird in the exact way that makes people smile immediately.

This stylish glasses stand that also tells the temperature

JINGYUE Galileo Thermometer and Glasses Holder

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Part-science experiment, part-functional home accessory — this Galileo thermometer also holds your glasses. Inside the glass cylinder, five weighted spheres float up and down to reflect temperatures from 64 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it mesmerizing to watch on a desk or shelf. The glasses holder design also turns it into an everyday landing spot for readers or sunnies — so it’s decorative, practical, and a guaranteed conversation starter.

Shovel-shaped spoons that let you play with your food

SZLFSX Shovel Shape Mini Spoons (10-Pack)

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If your kitchen aesthetic lives somewhere between “minimal” and “playful,” these shovel spoons are a perfect fit. You get 10 small stainless steel spoons that look like spades — ideal for eating desserts, stirring a beverage, and more. The sturdy spoons are rust resistant and add that subtle “look closer” detail that makes everyday food and drinks more elevated and fun.

Reusable shoe deodorizers that are shaped like bananas

Boot Bananas Original Shoe Deodorizer

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These banana-shaped shoe deodorizers may look like a joke, but they take odor seriously. They’re designed to neutralize stubborn shoe stink while also absorbing moisture to help prevent funk from building back up. Each one is scented with lavender and tea tree essential oils, and they can work on multiple pairs for months at a time. Use them in everyday sneakers, boots, and more.

A silicone laundry disk that helps remove fur from clothes

FurZapper Reusable Pet Hair Remover (2-Pack)

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If you live in a pet household, you need these reusable fur remover disks. They go in both the wash and dry cycles to help lift pet hair from clothes, blankets, jackets, and bedding as everything tumbles. The silicone tools are fragrance-free and designed to “self-clean” during the wash for use again and again.

Acrylic memo boards that stick to your monitor screen

MDOZQ Monitor Memo Boards (2 Pieces)

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If your best ideas keep ending up buried under desk clutter, these acrylic memo boards give them a better home. Each board can stick right onto your monitor bezel, so important notes stay in your line of sight. The clear acrylic is waterproof, dirt-resistant, and easy to clean, and the peel-and-stick backing makes setup quick.

A shaving bib that catches hair before it hits the sink

Beard King Beard Bib Apron

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Cleanup is one of the worst parts of shaving, but this beard bib is the fix. You clip it around your neck, stick the corners to the mirror with suction cups, and suddenly every whisker has a place to land that isn’t your sink drain. The apron has a built-in tool tray so clippers and scissors aren’t rolling around, and it comes with a travel pouch that keeps the whole kit contained and ready for the next trim.

A portable strength tool that uses water weight

Tidal Tank Sphere Mini Water Weight

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This water training ball turns normal lifting into a full-body stability challenge, because the weight inside moves as you move. Just fill it to your desired level, seal it, and the shifting water forces your core and grip to work overtime on presses, carries, squats, and rotational moves. It’s also surprisingly packable when empty, so it’s easy to take traveling or to stash in a small space.

A car detailing brush set for interior & exterior cleaning

MVEQRRN Car Detailing Brush Set (6 Pieces)

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This detailing brush set is the “get into every gross crack” solution for your car. It includes boar’s hair brushes for tougher exterior jobs and wheels, plus ultra-soft synthetic brushes meant for interior areas like air vents, dashboards, and leather seats where you want zero scratching. The handles are designed for comfortable grip and control, so it’s easier to work around tight seams, buttons, and trim areas.

Stylish playing cards that are waterproof & washable

BIERDORF Waterproof Playing Cards

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These black playing cards are for heavy-duty card games. The durable build is fully waterproof and washable (to stand up to spilled drinks and sticky fingers), and the textured, “diamond” style surface gives you a grippier feel for shuffling and dealing. They’re standard poker size, and the bold design pops against that sleek black background.

A mini blender that turns Cheetos into a seasoning powder

Cheetos Duster

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This gadget exists for one purpose: turning Cheetos into a seasoning powder you can put onto basically anything. Toss pieces into the chamber, lock it in place, and blend until you get a fine powder. The included dusting cap helps aim your powder like you’re seasoning a steak on a cooking show.

Melatonin gummies with a strawberry Dippin’ Dots flavor

Vital+Boon Dippin Dots Melatonin Gummies (120 Pieces)

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This is a sleep-support supplement presented in the most snackable format possible: Dippin’ Dots-flavored gummies. Each serving delivers 2.5 milligrams of melatonin, and the bottle includes enough gummies to keep on hand for many routine nights or schedule disruptions. They’re gelatin- and gluten-free, and the child-resistant cap is a thoughtful touch for family households. As always: Follow the label directions and check with a pro if you need medical input on your sleep cycle.

A phone charger that also operates as a speaker & night-light

Swamir Bluetooth Speaker With Lights

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This nightstand gadget does four jobs at once: It’s a Bluetooth speaker, colorful night-light, wireless charging pad, and silicone phone stand in one. You can keep your phone at the perfect angle for watching videos while charging, and choose between seven solid colors and two dynamic light modes when you want to set more of a vibe.

A cow-shaped tabletop vacuum for crumbs & desk dust

Wrapables Animal Mini Tabletop Vacuum

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Cleaning up doesn’t have to be boring. For instance, this mini tabletop vacuum is shaped like a cow. It runs on two AA batteries and uses one-touch operation to pick up snack debris, pencil shavings, eraser dust, and the mysterious grit that shows up on desks for no reason. It’s the kind of goofy-cute gadget that makes dusting a little less of a chore.

Moisturizing heel socks infused with vitamin E & olive oil

ZenToes Moisturizing Heel Socks (4-Pack)

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These socks target heel dryness with a gel lining infused with vitamin E, jojoba seed oil, and olive oil. The open-toe design makes them easier to wear for longer stretches (including overnight), and the nylon and spandex blend adds stretch for a snug, flexible fit.

A key chain charger with multiple cable options

pzoz Portable Keychain Charger

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If you’re tired of carrying a bunch of cords with you, this key chain charger helps simplify things. It has a compact four-in-one design with USB-C and lightning device ends plus USB-C and USB-A plug options, so it works with more devices without taking up much space. It also has an LED display that shows charging power, supports fast charging, and can even handle data transfers.

A stylish stone air freshener that clips to the car visor

Drift Car Air Freshener

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This visor air freshener is designed to look polished while making your car smell better. It uses a magnetized stone freshener that attaches to a metal visor clip for a simple, low-profile look. Each scent block is meant to last about 30 days at a time, and the included fragrance has notes of lavender, amber, and sage.

A wearable safety light designed to be seen from 3 miles away

Guardian Angel Wearable Safety Beacon Light

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This hands-free safety light is designed to clip onto your gear and help you stay seen in the dark. It uses 14 LEDs for 360-degree coverage and can be seen from over 3 miles away. The light offers multiple flash options, four brightness levels, and a dedicated emergency mode. It’s also built for water, dust, and shock resistance, and it can run for up to 90 hours before it needs to be recharged.

Telescoping magnetic tools that can pick up fallen screws & bolts

KOOPOOL Telescoping Magnetic Pickup Tool Set (5 Pieces)

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If screws and bolts keep disappearing into impossible places, this pickup tool kit is ready for the rescue mission. It comes with a telescoping magnetic pickup tool that can hold up to 5 pounds, an LED flashlight with magnetic head and base, and inspection mirrors for checking behind appliances, under furniture, and inside tight gaps. The whole set fits neatly in its durable Oxford storage bag.

A crystal lamp with a stylish, modern design

Runyangshi Green Fluorite Lamp and Stone Diffuser

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This compact crystal lamp is an instant nightstand upgrade. The clear chamber is filled with natural green fluorite stones that glow when the light is on. The lamp has several temperature modes with dimming options, plus a USB port for easy charging. You can even add your favorite essential oils to use it as a diffuser.

A compact dusting tool for your car

Relentless Drive Professional Car Duster

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This glove box-friendly duster is a simple way to keep car interiors looking cleaner between detailings. The duster uses a soft microfiber chenille head with an electrostatic effect to easily grab dust from dashboards, panels, and other surfaces. The rubberized handle adds comfortable control, and the 10-inch size is easy to store and use.

A desktop rain stick with soothing sound effects

Bits and Pieces Rain Fall Stick

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Part-sensory toy, part-desk decor, this 12-inch rain stick creates a gentle rainfall effect when you turn it over. Tiny metal beads move through a maze of internal discs inside the clear acrylic tube, so it’s both soothing to hear and satisfying to watch. It’s a simple little object designed for a very calming payoff.

A mini massage gun with interchangeable heads

brenzo Mini Deep Tissue Massage Gun

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This mini massage tool is compact enough for a gym bag but still packed with useful features. It has a quiet brushless motor, four interchangeable heads, and pressure-adaptive technology that helps adjust the intensity based on how hard you press. It also offers constant and variable speed modes, plus USB-C charging.

Tiny car-mounted whistles designed to ward away animals while driving

Elook Deer Whistles (2-Pack)

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These mini deer warning whistles are designed to stick on a bumper or grille and give off ultrasonic sounds to ward deer away from your car. You can install them with the included double-sided tape for a secure, but removable hold. And the small size means the whistle won’t take away from the overall look of your vehicle.

A quirky wall charger that can power 3 devices at once

Haribo 65W GaN Wall Charger

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This gummy bear-themed wall charger is cute, but it’s also genuinely useful. It has three ports — two USB-C and one USB-A — so you can charge up to three devices at once. The 65-watt output is strong enough for phones, tablets, and even laptops. It’s also perfect for travel, with a compact, foldable plug.

Cozy socks that make it look like a dinosaur is eating your foot

LOLAT Novelty Animal Knit Socks

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These novelty socks make it look like a dinosaur is literally snacking on your foot — bulging eyes, big teeth, and all. The socks are made from a cotton blend for cozy lounging, and they can fit U.S. shoe sizes 5 to 11. You can also get the socks with shark or dragon motifs.

A weighted lap blanket that’s compact enough for travel

Kaisa Weighted Lap Blanket 5 lbs 23" x 29", Cozy Luxury Crystal Velvet Small Weighted Blanket for Adults, Portable Travel Weighted Blanket for Relaxation, All-Season Blanket, Machine Washable, Green

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Small enough to bring along on a trip, but still substantial enough to feel soothing, this weighted lap blanket is an easy one to keep nearby. It has a soft velvety finish, evenly distributed glass beads for consistent pressure, and a cute leaf shape. The included carry bag makes it even more practical.

A remote-controlled galaxy projector with 17 modes

Stbands Star Projector Light with Timer and Remote

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Turn a boring ceiling into a planetarium in one click. This projector cycles through nebula clouds and twinkling green stars, with 17 total modes to choose from. The magnetic head lets you swivel the projection 360 degrees for ceiling or wall placement. Plus, the included remote makes it east to set a timer, adjust the colors, and more.

Self-heating steam eye masks with a soothing lavender scent

Jekeno Steam Eye Masks (16-Pack)

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If your eyes feel wrecked after a long day of screen use, these self-heating masks can help. They’re designed to warm up on their own and stay toasty for up to 60 minutes. The soft fabric is gentle on the eyes, and the light lavender fragrance adds extra wind-down vibes. Each mask is individually wrapped, and the pack includes 16 — perfect for keeping in a carry-on or desk drawer.

A boot cleaner tool that scrubs away mud in no time

BootBuddy Shoe & Boot Cleaner Brush

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This boot cleaner tool is like a mini wash station you keep by the door. Fill it with water, use the scraper end for the bulky mud, and then scrub with the built-in brush to finish the job. The tool is made for hiking boots, golf shoes, soccer cleats, running shoes, and more, and it can even help clean stroller or wheelchair wheels.

A clip-on desk cymbal that gives your workstation some personality

Facmogu Mini Clip-On Desktop Cymbal

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For anyone who loves a silly desk accessory, grab this mini cymbal. It clips to the desk with a strong clamp that’s designed not to scratch the surface, and the adjustable arm lets you angle the cymbal for quick taps between tasks. It’s compact and easy to set up with zero tools, and it makes for a great conversation starter at the office or on a work call.

A hat organizer that maximizes vertical storage

HeQe Hat Organizer for Baseball Caps (2-Pack)

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This is the “too many hats” storage solution you’ve been waiting for. The set comes with two wall-mounted racks that keep caps stacked and easy to grab. Plus, the curved backing helps keep hats from getting squished or creased. The racks are built to maximize vertical space on a door, closet, or wall and can be mounted with the included adhesive or screws.

Textured sensory sticker strips for subtle fidgeting

Gersoniel Anxiety Sensory Stickers (36 Pieces)

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For a low-key fidget tool that doesn’t look like a fidget tool — get this pack of sensory stickers. It includes 36 textured strips in six gradient designs. Each one is a slim decal you can place on a laptop, notebook, and more for easy tactile input during long meetings or study sessions. Plus, the stickers are designed to remove without leaving marks, so they’re a no-commitment solution to workday boredom or stress.

A microfiber screen wipe with built-in cleaning spray

CUIUD 2-in-1 Spray and Microfiber Cloth Touchscreen Cleaners (2-Pack)

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If your screens are constantly smudged, this two-in-one cleaning tool makes it easy to keep them in shape. The spray bottle comes with cleaning solution, and the sides of the bottle are made from microfiber for quick wipe downs. The cleaning spray is made for phones, tablets, computer monitors, mirrors, and car screens.

A large magnifying glass for fine print & tiny details

Ebbnivs Large Magnifying Glass with Light

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This magnifying glass means business when it comes to fine print. It has an extra large lens with 3X magnification — so there’s more room to read without constantly shifting it around — plus three built-in LED lights to brighten up dim pages and tiny details. And it comes with a storage bag and cleaning cloth for frequent use and travel.

A portable Bluetooth speaker with a fun, retro vibe

Baolira Retro Bluetooth Speaker

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This mini speaker has retro vibes with modern inputs. It runs Bluetooth 5.0 for stable wireless streaming, and it can also play from a USB drive or an aux cord for wired setups. The compact body is designed for desks, nightstands, and travel, and it’s rated for about six hours of listening per charge.

A gentle nose & ear hair remover that doesn’t need batteries

EQUADOSE Tweezy Nose & Ear Hair Remover

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This stainless steel grooming tool is a battery-free alternative to electric trimming or harsh waxing. It’s designed to remove nose and ear hair from the root, but with a “virtually painless” twist-and-pull style that’s meant to feel gentler than traditional plucking. Since it’s made from rust-resistant steel, it’s also easy to rinse clean so it stays hygienic between quick touch-ups.

Super-slim wallet trackers that can fit in a wallet slot

Ultrbeka Wallet Bluetooth Tracker Slim Card

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These tracking devices are built like slim credit cards — so they slide into a wallet slot or passport sleeve without turning your pocket into a brick. They’re compatible with Apple products and can be added to your “Find My” app. You can ring the tracker from your phone when you need to find it, and it sends separation alerts so you know if you’ve walked away from your wallet.

A bamboo charcoal bag that helps absorb unwanted odors

Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag

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If you hate air fresheners that just “perfume over” a smell, this air purifying bag is a great option. The bamboo charcoal bag is made to absorb odors (instead of just adding fragrance), and it’s sized for small spaces up to about 90 square feet — think closets, cars, bathrooms, cabinets, shoe storage, or near a litter box. The purifier is unscented and wrapped in a simple linen-style bag with a grommet, so you can hang it or stash it wherever things get musty.

A compact air duster for cars & electronics

TROIZO 150000RPM Electric Compressed Air Duster

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A reusable alternative to canned compressed air, this cordless air duster comes with multiple nozzles and brushes for different jobs. There’s even a built-in light to make it easier to see the dust and banish it for good. Powered by two strong batteries, the blower charges via USB-C and can run up to 120 minutes per charge.

A kinetic desk spinner that creates a cool optical illusion

MADNIU Kinetic Spinner Ball

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This kinetic desk toy is designed to create a trippy optical illusion while it spins. It measures just about 2 inches, weighs just 7 ounces, and is made from aerospace-grade aluminum. A stainless steel bearing keeps it smooth and quiet as it spins. It comes with a storage bag and gift-ready packaging.

Magnetic glasses holders that clip onto your visor

Yuoyar Sunglasses Holders for Car Visor (2-Pack)

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These sleek sunglass holders clip directly onto your visor and open with one hand using the small fabric pull tabs. The leather-like wrap helps protect both your visor and your frames, and the magnetic closure keeps your glasses secure. The holders are made to fit most vehicles and come in a pack of two, so you can outfit both visors or share with a friend or family member.

A space-saving monitor stand with built-in storage

Spacrea Monitor Stand Riser and Desk Organizer

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This compact riser helps reduce neck strain by lifting your monitor to a more natural eye height. The wood top and steel frame are designed to be durable, and the plastic drawer plus dual pen holders keep essentials within reach. Use the open shelf for storage or slide your keyboard underneath to maximize your workspace.

A USB-powered light for camping or power outages

Voltaic Systems Emergency USB Led Light

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This USB-powered LED light delivers bright illumination when you need it most. It’s adjustable between 20, 100, and 200 lumens using simple touch control. The 8-foot cord adds flexibility, and the IP67 waterproof rating means it’s fully submersible and built for camp bags, sheds, patios, or emergency kits.

This 6-in-1 USB adapter kit that saves on tech accessory storage space

Liana USB Adapters

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Instead of hauling around a bundle of mystery cords, this six-adapter kit handles everything for you. It includes USB-C, USB-A, Micro, and IP combinations, making it useful for phones, laptops, chargers, and more. You also get quick transfer speeds and fast-charging capabilities. The adapter is pocket-size and saves you from having to carry around every cable you own.

A snap-on wireless charger for your Apple watch

HUOTO Apple Watch Power Bank Keychain

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If your Apple Watch loves dying right before you close your rings, this tiny magnetic power bank is your backup plan. It snaps onto the back of your watch and starts charging instantly — no cables required. It’s compatible with Series 1 through 11, SE, and Ultra models and recharges via USB-C. It even has a key chain clip so it can always stay handy.

Godzilla demolished Tokyo when the kaiju first emerged from the depths 72 years ago in the original Godzilla’s premiere in Japan, but he didn't make landfall in the United States until two years later. Godzilla: King of the Monsters! was an American edit that went beyond dubbing the film into English, adding scenes and a new protagonist, an American reporter who served as a point-of-view character for '50s audiences watching this foreign flick. While the original 1954 Godzilla is a masterpiece and by far the stronger of the two versions, King of the Monsters! is a largely respectful and effective adaptation that played an important role in Godzilla becoming an international icon. We can thank Steve Martin for that.

Well, no, not that Steve Martin. While the Only Murders in the Building star was around when King of the Monsters! came out, the comedian had nothing to do with Godzilla on account of being 10 years old. Steve Martin just happened to be the name of the American reporter character the US adaptation added to the plot. Steve Martin did a great job introducing Godzilla to the world, as both the character and the actor who played him, Raymond Burr, understood what made Godzilla important — and they would return three decades later to confirm it.

Broadly speaking, Godzilla (Gojira in Japanese) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters! have the same basic plot. A giant monster emerges from the sea and attacks Tokyo. A tortured scientist, Dr. Serizawa, has created a weapon that could be used to destroy Godzilla, but he is unwilling to reveal its existence to the world because he's afraid of what could happen. A love triangle involving the woman he was betrothed to and the sailor she's really interested in, complicates things, and the scientist eventually allows the weapon to be used to slay the monster — but he sacrifices himself in the process so it can never be recreated. In King of the Monsters!, Steve Martin is a reporter who finds himself in Tokyo when ships start mysteriously sinking, so he goes along to report on them, eventually covering the destruction of Tokyo himself. He happens to know Serizawa from college in the pre-war days, which helps get him involved in the main plot, though he's primarily a bystander rather than a person who actively drives events forward.

Filmed over the course of six days using sets and body doubles that helped sell the illusion that Steve Martin had been in the movie the whole time, King of the Monsters! is a fairly impressive work of adaptation. A lot of the dialogue between Japanese characters is not dubbed, and is translated for Steve (and the audience), helping to convey that this is a Japanese story; we're just observers. Certain choices, like opening the film in medias res with an injured Steve getting pulled from the ruins of Tokyo and then revealing what happened in flashback, are good storytelling.

It's not perfect. Godzilla is a horror movie made by people whose country had been hit with two nuclear weapons less than a decade before the film came out, and it shows. King of the Monsters! edits out most of the overt references to atomic bombs or hydrogen bomb tests, toned down the anti-war themes, and notably ends with Steve Martin observing that with the demise of Godzilla "the world can wake up and live again." The original ends with a somber warning that another Godzilla will surely emerge if bomb tests continue. It's for this very reason that Godzilla is a masterpiece and King of the Monsters! is good for what it is.

These changes also almost certainly helped make King of the Monsters! a hit. When it came out on April 4, 1956, it would become only the fourth foreign film ever to gross more than $1 million at the American box office. It's hard to imagine this happening in mid-'50s America had the original Godzilla be simply subtitled and released in theaters — or even if it had been dubbed but kept otherwise entirely unchanged from the original. Audiences needed an observer like them (nevermind that Burr was Canadian) to serve as a point of view character. It's really only been in the past couple of decades that general audiences have been more open to "foreign" films. And while it's nice to think that the more explicit, harrowing references to the horrors of American bombing and continued nuclear testing wouldn't have turned Cold War-era yankee moviegoers off, you can sadly see why the deeper message of Godzilla would've been omitted in favor of the spectacle.

Still, even if Steve Martin's closing report downplayed the atomic horror Godzilla represented, he took Godzilla seriously rather than treat him as a silly popcorn monster. This was made especially clear when Steve Martin returned, nearly 30 years later, for Godzilla 1985. An American re-edit of The Return of Godzilla, the 1984 movie that did away with all of the increasingly goofy sequels of the '60s and '70s in favor of a more sober franchise reboot, 1985 did a worse version of what King of the Monsters! did. New scenes involving Americans pondering what to do about Godzilla's attack on Japan were added and plot lines were cut or altered — most offensively a change to make a Soviet soldier seem like he was intentionally firing a nuclear weapon that would revive Godzilla rather than it having it be an accident as in the original film. Also, there was gratuitous Dr. Pepper product placement.

Raymond Burr was innocent, though. Although in his later years and in failing health, Burr returned to reprise his role from King of the Monsters!, as the former reporter having been brought in as a Godzilla expert since he had firsthand experience with the kaiju. Out of respect for Godzilla's importance as a nuclear allegory, Burr refused to let the producers of this American version make a mockery of Godzilla by having him say comedic lines. When watching the added American scenes in Godzilla 1985, it's clear that Burr is tonally in a different movie than the rest of the jokey brass on the fake Pentagon set were. Steve Martin helped introduce the West to Godzilla. It might not have been perfect, but he understood that this was no ordinary monster. That hadn't changed these decades later.

One thing had clearly changed in the mid-'80s, though. At this point the other Steve Martin — the comedian — had appeared in films like The Jerk and The Man With Two Brains. That's why in Godzilla 1985, Burr's character is referred to only by "Steve" or "Mr. Martin."

Godzilla King of the Monsters! is available to stream on Cinemax, via YouTube or Prime Video.

The best gifts are the ones that are weird in the most genius ways. These Amazon finds quickly cross from “what is that?” to “I need that,” and these clever gadgets don’t even cost more than $25. These items turn ordinary tasks into fun experiences, spark delight with unexpected functions, or bring a lightning bolt of personality into someone’s everyday routine. The gift ideas on this list can spark laughter while making people pause and realize that they actually do need something this weird.

A rain drum that turns storms into soothing music

URBANVISTA Steel Tongue Drum

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Part sculpture, part sound bath, this rain drum turns downpours into soothing music. When raindrops (or mallets or hands) fall on the drum, it creates mellow, meditative tones across eight notes. Crafted from corrosion-resistant steel alloy, the instrument also comes with two mallets , finger picks, and a music book.

A shower steamer holder that keeps the tablets from dissolving too quickly

Sharlovy Shower Steamers Tray

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For anyone obsessed with shower steamers, this tray is the missing piece. It holds your aromatherapy tablets above the drain and even has a water-control knob so you can decide how quickly the tablet dissolves. The large suction cup is designed to stick to your tub or shower wall, and the holder comes in either purple or blue.

An affirmation jar that mixes humor with support

KATINAT Emotional Supports Dumpster Fire Jar

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If life feels like a dumpster fire, use these affirmations to find some humor and encouragement. The set includes 60 glossy, dumpster-shaped cards stored in a compact jar. Whenever you need a mental reset, pull one out for words of validation or stress relief. It’s a fun desk novelty that’s ideal for anyone fluent in sarcasm.

A retractable car charger with cables & ports for all of your devices

LISEN Retractable Car Charger

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This best-selling car charger is the total package. With USB-C and lightning cables that retract from its design to allow you to charge devices easily, this 12-volt charging block also has a USB-A and a USB-C port that you can use with your own cords. The result? A quick-charging car gadget that lets you power up four devices at once.

A rope puzzle game for a screen-free challenge

Lartoys Rope Untangling Game

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This rope untangling board game is designed to challenge players of all ages. One player creates a custom setup by threading colorful ropes through 22 holes on the board. The goal is to untangle the ropes by moving ends over — not under — other ropes until the board is cleared. Adjust difficulty by adding or removing ropes. Compact and travel-ready, the game is a fun way to build spatial reasoning, focus, and problem-solving skills.

This ocean wave projector with customizable colors & modes

LETOUR Northern Lights Projector Cube

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Give the gift of an instant vibe shift. This ocean wave projector lamp casts dreamy water ripple patterns across walls in 16 customizable colors, with adjustable brightness levels, speeds, and modes. It’s perfect for meditation, soothing baths, or TikTok-worthy ambiance. USB rechargeable and controlled via remote, the lamp turns any space into a chill zone.

Knit dinosaur socks that look like they’re eating your feet

LOLAT Cartoon Animal Socks

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These wildly fun knit socks look like you’re being eaten alive by a dinosaur — but in a cozy way. With textured stitching, bulging eyes, and adorable little arms and teeth, the socks are a hilarious mix of comfort and chaos. The stretchy, one-size design fits most (US sizes 5 to 11), and the plush knit keeps your feet warm while making you smile. You can also get the socks in several other animal designs.

A bonsai starter kit that lets you grow 5 mini trees

Planter's Choice Bonsai Tree Starter Kit

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This comprehensive bonsai tree starter kit makes a thoughtful, hands-on gift for nature enthusiasts. The set comes with five seed varieties, burlap pots, pre-fertilized soil discs, tools, and bamboo markers — everything needed to cultivate the tiny trees from scratch. Designed for beginners or experts, the gift encourages mindfulness and creativity through patient cultivation.

This telescoping magnetic tool set with a flashlight, mirrors, & more

KOOPOOL Telescoping Pickup Tool Set (5 Pieces)

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A clever and practical gift for DIY enthusiasts, this telescoping magnetic pickup set includes a 5-pound lifting wand, an LED flashlight with a magnetic end, and two inspection mirrors — one with LEDs. Housed in a compact and durable tool bag, the set is ideal for home repairs, auto work, and maintenance tasks that take place in tight areas.

A stained-glass sun catcher that’s “absolutely beautiful”

H&D HYALINE & DORA Stained Glass Sun Catcher

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A round prism hangs from a stained-glass triangle, creating a mesmerizing rainbow pattern when light passes through. Available in three colors (blue, green, or orange), this sun catcher is made from glass instead of plastic, and it comes with a rope so you can also hang it from a hook or branch. “One of the best birthday presents I've ever gifted,” said one reviewer who called it “absolutely beautiful” and “amazing quality.”

Adorable cable protectors that also make identifying cords way easier

Cartoon Charger Cable Protectors (32 Pieces)

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Daily charging cords see a lot of wear and tear, but these adorable cable protectors will help extend the life of your cables. Simply wrap the stretchy spiral around your cord and secure with the cartoon head for greater support. You get 32 colorful pieces in a pack that range from a smiling frog to a pack of French fries. Their unique designs make it easy to identify cords, too.

An inkless printer that creates stickers straight from your phone

PRT Mini Sticker Printer

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This pocket-sized sticker printer uses thermal technology to print without ink, and it connects via Bluetooth so you can can create stickers straight from your phone. You can use the app’s templates to print photos, notes, or labels in seconds. Compact and rechargeable, the printer is ideal for planners, students, or anyone who thrives on instant creativity.

Fuzzy towels that absorb water and hang dry in your bathroom

Sophie & Panda Fuzzy Ball Towel (2-Pack)

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These towels are a genius invention for your bathroom, and are designed in an absorbent material that will easily dry your hands. After you use them, they hang form their attached loop to dry quickly so they’re ready for the next use. This is a set of two, so you can hang them side by side in your bathroom, or put one in the downstairs and one in the upstairs bathroom so your bases are covered.

A rotating charcuterie board made from bamboo

UTCG Rotating Charcuterie Board

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This rotating bamboo charcuterie board makes everyday snacking feel like an event. With five detachable sections and a 360-degree swivel base, this platter makes sure everyone can reach their favorite cheese or fruit without elbowing the host. The durable, scratch-resistant bamboo is made to be easy to clean, and the nonslip feet keep everything stable while you’re serving.

A handy gadget for repairing clothes & shortening hems

Scopck Stitch Gun

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This popular stitch gun makes it so easy to repair seams, shorten hems, sew on patches, and more without sewing skills. It works on most fabrics including linen, denim, and wool, and each order comes with 1,000 fasteners to get them started.

A fidget ring that you can twist when you want to keep your hands busy

AmorArtSky Anxiety Ring

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This ring is a game-changer if you find yourself fidgeting a lot throughout your day. The design features a twistable ring that is nestled inside the stainless steel frame. Twist it slowly or spin it quickly — it’ll satisfy your need to fidget in a relatively unnoticeable way, and the ring looks cute to boot.

A quiet sensory toy that you won’t want to stop playing with

Morf Fidget Worm Toy

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Some gifts just demand to be played with — like this wiggly little wonder. The Morf Fidget Worm bends, twists, and flexes in all directions for endlessly satisfying sensory play. Its smooth joints are made to move quietly, so it’s perfect for offices, commutes, and more. It’s a mesmerizing gift that comes in four colors.

This stylish bat key chain made from Italian leather

CAILLU Bat Keychain

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Perfect for Batman fans or anyone who wants their keys to have a little flair, this leather key chain is a sleek upgrade. Made from Italian leather and zinc alloy, it has a snap button closure that keeps keys secure (and mimics Batman closing his cape). The chain has a carabiner-style clip, so it’s easy to attach your keys.

Self-heating eye masks for an at-home spa experience

Body Restore Heated Eye Mask (5-Pack)

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These self-heating eye masks are perfect for your friend who needs a little spa treatment. Each mask warms up on its own — no microwave needed — for up to 30 minutes of gentle steam therapy. The variety pack includes green tea, lavender, chamomile, jasmine, and unscented mask options for every mood. They make the perfect gift for travelers, teachers, or anyone who could use a little peace and quiet.

A dual-tip pen pack with 12 different colors & roller designs

AOROKI Colored Curve Highlighter Pen Set (12-Pack)

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These highlighters turn note-taking into an art form. Each dual-tip pen draws curves, waves, or zigzags in one smooth motion. The roller tip glides effortlessly for creative underlining, while the fine tip handles detail work. With 12 colors and curve styles in the pack, your planners, journals, and study notes just got a seriously fun upgrade.

Zipper clips that securely lock bags, purses, & luggage

Bobino Zipper Clips (2-Pack)

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These zipper clips are a clever little gift for anyone who travels, commutes, or just doesn’t trust crowds. The clips lock bag zippers together with a simple twist-and-snap motion — no keys, codes, or fiddly locks required. Each set includes two durable clips in sleek slate gray, and they’re perfect for purses, backpacks, or suitcases.

Magnetic silicone balls that are perfect fidgety fingers

Ednzion Fidget Balls (4-Pack)

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For the fidgety friend who can’t sit still, these magnetic silicone balls are the perfect mindfulness toy. Each slightly-squishy orb can attach together thanks to the internal magnets, and they have different textured outer layers — a perfect quiet outlet for stress or boredom. The set comes with a convenient carrying case so you can pop them in a bag and take them on the go.

Mini building sets that double as desk decor

NEWABWN Street View Tea Shop Mini Building Blocks

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This mini building block set recreates a detailed street-style tea shop for a cozy, Asian-themed scene. It includes 860 precision-fit micro bricks, about 25% smaller than standard blocks, for a creative endeavor that doesn’t require screens. Designed with stacked upper and lower levels, the build reveals layered architectural details as assembly progresses. Once you’re finished, the model works as a decorative display for desks, shelves, or offices.

Terracotta bears to help keep your sugars fresh

Starrth Terracotta Brown Sugar Keeper Bears (2 Pieces)

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Pop one of these terracotta bears into your jar or package of brown sugar, and it will help absorb moisture in your container, so your sugars stay fresher for longer. You’ll be surprised at how useful these are. They can also work for breads, dried fruit, marshmallows, and more.

Colorful cable protectors that are fun & practical

Flutesan Charger Cable Protectors (32-Pieces)

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For the friend whose phone cable always looks like it’s been through battle, this 32-piece set of cartoon cable protectors is an adorable gift but also a practical one. The tiny animal- or fruit-themed bands slip over your cables to prevent fraying from daily use — extending cord life while making a workspace more fun.

A turtle coaster that moves when you set your drink down

Turtle Coaster

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Nothing says “hydrate responsibly” like a little turtle cheering you on. This animated coaster turns from bored to excited when you set your cup down — literally lifting its head and arms and opening its eyes wide. Crafted from durable, heat-resistant plastic, it’s sure to bring a smile to your face.

A feather-shaped metal bookmark that saves your page in style

Jiazhenep Metal Butterfly Feather Bookmark

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For the bookworm who has an impressive bookmark collection, this elegant feather bookmark is a unique and thoughtful gift. Crafted from durable metal with a dangling charm, it saves your page in style. The gorgeous bookmark comes in a pretty gift box, ready to make any reader’s day.

A rose-shaped reading light that doubles as romantic room decor

ONXE Bendable Flower Light

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This rose-shaped book light makes reading feel even more magical. Its flexible silicone stem can be wrapped around a bedpost or your neck or placed in a vase for a hands-free glow. The light has three color settings and 10 brightness levels, and the bulb stays charged for up to 12 hours at a time. It comes in four colors.

This LEGO plum blossom set that looks like a real flower

LEGO Botanicals Plum Blossom Building Sets

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The perfect gift for anyone whose “green thumb” is a little lackluster, this LEGO brick plum blossom is a zero-maintenance masterpiece. With 327 pieces, it builds into a stunning mini bloom — complete with flowers and buds in a blue pot. It’ll be satisfying to assemble, chic to display, and won’t take any effort once it’s built.

This magnetic silicone strap that keeps AirPods secure

Inesore Airpod Strap

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Know someone who has lost more AirPods than they’d like to admit? This magnetic strap is a genius little insurance policy. The skin-friendly silicone cord keeps your earbuds secure when working out, wearing them to bed, or commuting. The strap is made to be lightweight and tear resistant, and it’s available in a ton of colors. It’s a weirdly clever fix that prevents tech heartbreaks before they happen.

This foldable sun hat that can accommodate your ponytail

INOGIH Ponytail Sun Hat

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This foldable sun hat is a great gift for the outdoorsy type who still wants to look cute. The hat is designed to be lightweight and quick-drying, and it features a convenient ponytail hole so you can wear your hair up while still protecting your face. With its wide brim and breathable mesh layer, the hat can help keep you cool and shaded. It’s available in 12 styles.

A felt mat that stores puzzles while you’re still working on them

Callkroon Puzzle Roll Up Mat

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An ideal gift for avid puzzlers, this roll-up mat lets them pause their masterpiece without ruining all their hard work. The felt surface is designed to grip pieces securely, and it rolls over an inflatable tube for easy storage. It also comes with sorting trays for your pieces and a carrying bag for the rolled-up puzzle. The mat can accommodate puzzles up to 1,500 pieces.

A leather drink holder that attaches right to your belt

QCWN Drink Holster

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This leather drink holster elevates any backyard hangout. Made from water-resistant, sturdy leather, the holster is designed to fit most 12-ounce bottles or cans. The drink carrier slides onto most belts up to 1.5-inches wide, and it keeps your beverage handy and hands-free — so you can focus on grilling, eating, playing games, and more. It comes in four colors.

A wearable fleece blanket with a hood & pockets

PAVILIA Wearable Blanket

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For the person who’s perpetually cold (or perpetually prefers to be lounging), this wearable blanket is the coziest gift imaginable. The oversize poncho is made from soft fleece and has a hood as well as deep pockets for things like snacks, your phone, or the remote. You can get the blanket in 16 colors and prints.

A multi-tool that can perform 18 functions

DOOGAXOO 18-in-1 Snowflake Multi-Tool

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This multi-tool is a magic gadget, with the ability to work as a screwdriver, a box cutter, and a bottle opener all in one sleek design. Gift this to the handy person in your life — they can attach it to their keychain and have it on hand whenever a small job comes up.

A multi-tool pen & stylus set that is a workhorse

RAK Multi-Tool Pen (2-Pack)

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Need a ruler? You got it. What about a bottle opener? These can do that. What about level, an LED light, and a Phillips head screwdriver? That too. This multi-tool pen set features two pens with a stylus, an LED light on the end, and so many other functions. You’ll find yourself reaching for it constantly.

A foldable cordless lamp that travels anywhere

One Fire Foldable & Portable Desk Lamp

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This foldable lamp shrinks down into a little disc, slips into your bag, and then re-emerges as legit lighting wherever you are. Cordless operation adds convenience, and its built-in battery delivers up to 76 hours of use on a full charge. Nine brightness levels are adjustable via touch control, and memory recall saves your last setting when you turn it off. It’s ideal for dorms, travel, and small spaces.

A chakra-inspired crystal necklace with a worry stone pendant for mindfulness

Jovivi 7 Chakras Worry Stone Necklace

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For the friend who’s always a little stressed (read: everyone you know), this dainty worry stone necklace is both chic and a good distraction for the wearer. The smooth, thumb-sized pendant is made from seven layers of gemstone to mimic the seven chakras, and it’s designed to be rubbed gently for a helpful mindfulness moment.

A sleek fountain pen with an extra-fine stainless steel nib

Asvine Fountain Pen

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Someone who still treasures the art of handwritten notes will instantly appreciate this fountain pen. It features an ultra-fine stainless steel nib that’s designed to glide effortlessly, and it comes with a refillable converter for bottled ink so you can keep your pen writing smoothly without constantly dipping it in a jar. Presented in a sleek metal gift box, the pen is a refined, timeless gift.

Transparent sticky notes that don’t block the text beneath

SYMDROMIA Transparent Sticky Notes (800 Pieces)

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For the organized friend who loves to color-code, this set of transparent sticky notes is pure genius. Each sheer sheet is made to stick firmly and peel off cleanly, and it lets text stay visible underneath — perfect for studying, editing, or organization. With 800 total notes in an array of colors, this set is a stationery lover’s dream.

A precision screwdriver set that handles tiny tech repairs

OEAGO Mini Precision Screwdriver Set

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This 25-in-1 precision screwdriver set includes 24 bearing-steel magnetic bits designed for electronics, gadgets, and small hardware repairs. The kit covers common Phillips, Torx, Hex, flat, and specialty heads used for phones, laptops, watches, glasses, and more. A textured, nonslip handle allows smooth, one-handed control and better torque in tight spaces, and a crush-resistant case keeps everything safe between uses.

A bandana dog collar with a matching bracelet for the owner

Pettsie Dog Bandana with Matching Friendship Bracelet

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For the person who refers to their dog as their child, this matching bandana collar-and-bracelet set is peak cuteness. The collar has a sturdy D-ring for leash attachment, and the hemp and cotton bandana is easily removable. The matching bracelet for the owner ties it all together. You can get the set in three sizes and two colors.

A DIY memory book with cute stickers & bookmarks

FEIYU Travel Souvenir Diary

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This adventure-themed scrapbook is perfect for a heartfelt trip down memory lane. It comes with 146 vintage-style pages as well as stickers, bookmarks, and a keepsake box. Use it to store travel memories, commemorate anniversaries, and more — it’s ideal for the sentimental friend who loves to craft. The scrapbook comes in 14 designs.

Color-changing fire packets that turn regular flames into a light show

MEKER Fire Color Changing Packets (24-Pack)

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These little powder packets turn ordinary flames into colorful ones. Toss one into a campfire or bonfire and watch the flames turn brilliant shades of blue, green, and purple. They’re designed to be safe and easy to use, and you get 12 in a pack for a fun, affordable gift that sparks delight — literally.

A cute AirTag case that can clip to your keys

XSUIOY Airtag Keychain

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Some gifts say, “I love you.” This one says, “I know you’ve lost your keys three times this week and I’m here to help” — which is its own form of love. This adorable AirTag key chain clips to your keys (or wallet or anything else you want to keep track of) and securely holds an AirTag. The holder is made from durable faux leather and comes in a ton of cute designs to match the giftee’s personality.

A peel-off latex barrier that makes painting your nails way easier

Beetles Latex Nail Polish

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This nail polish basically painter’s tape — for your fingers. A cool gift for any DIY nail art enthusiast, the latex polish is a quick-dry, peel-off barrier that protects skin from paint smudges during stamping, gradients, or marbling. The latex air dries clear in under a minute, and you can just peel it off when you’re done.

This large waterproof mat for mess-free plant care

HNXTYAOB Indoor Potting Kit

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A practical gift for plant lovers, this waterproof repotting mat will keep their home or patio free from dirt spills. Its large size helps it to hold multiple pots, tools, and soil at once, and it folds up neatly when not in use. The thick fabric is designed to be waterproof on both sides and easy to clean, it and snaps together at the corners to keep dirt contained.

A 10-pack of scented colored pencils with essential oils

Lifelines Scented Colored Pencils (10-Pack)

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This colored pencil gift set smells as good as it writes. Inside the pack are 10 scented colored pencils infused with essential oils — from lavender and mint to berry and balsam — to release an inspiring aroma while they write or color. It’s a perfect gift set for the quirky creatives in your life.

A neck stretcher that helps undo tension

RESTCLOUD Neck and Shoulder Relaxer

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Lie on this neck stretcher for a few minutes a day and feel any tension slowly melt away. Made from dense polyurethane foam, it’s shaped to match the natural curve of the cervical spine. An ergonomic design provides vertical and horizontal support while gently stretching the neck, reducing pressure, and encouraging proper alignment. It has more than 55,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, making it a popular choice for relieving aches.

Gorgeous lava pens that are scented with essential oils

Lifelines Scented Lava Gel Pens (5-Pack)

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These fun pens look like a mini lava lamp and are filled with a smooth gel ink that’s infused with essential oils so it leaves behind a subtle scent. The ink features colors that coordinate with the exteriors and a sleek 0.5 mm tip. They also come in a few other color and scent options.

A wooden puzzle that holds a wine bottle

BSIRI Bottle Puzzle

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For the person who loves both wine and brain teasers, this 3-D bottle puzzle is a brilliant gift with stellar ratings. The wooden blocks, beads, and rope interlock in a specific order to test the giftee’s problem-solving abilities, requiring them to figure it out before they can crack open the bottle — and it’s a sleek-looking conversation starter, too.

Temporary tattoo markers that let you try designs without permanent commitment

Pretty Me Temporary Tattoos Markers (8-Pack)

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Perfect for your artsy friend, these temporary tattoo markers let you create custom body art that can wash off later. The kit includes eight pens and 10 reusable stencils — or you can freehand your looks. The ink is designed to be nontoxic and quick-drying, but it comes off with soap and water. This kit is the perfect way to try out designs without the commitment of a permanent tattoo.

A ratcheting screwdriver set that handles repairs fast

Bomivoi 24-in-1 Magnetic Screwdriver Set

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This ratcheting screwdriver set is designed for comfort and working in tight spaces. It features a detachable, multi-position aluminum handle that adjusts for awkward angles. Smooth forward and reverse movement reduces wrist strain, while a magnetic handle keeps bits secure. The set includes 24 steel bits, and everything is housed in a compact case for easy storage and portability.

A flexible hair clip that won’t hurt your scalp

The Original Mello Hair Claw Clip

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Made from pliable material, this squishy hair clip can flex without snapping. It’s ideal for comfort while driving, resting in bed, or doing a yoga routine where your head is resting against something. The inward-curving teeth on the clip help prevent it from pressing into your scalp, while the lightweight material will feel good on your head.

A pocket knife that disappears on your keychain

FUNBRO Small Pocket Knife

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Clip this compact folding knife to your keys for a tool that you’ll reach for more often than you’d expect. Designed for long-term use, it features a durable stainless steel blade paired with a sturdy ABS handle. It’s lightweight enough for everyday carry while remaining strong enough for common cutting tasks. Use it to cut boxes or rope, slice food, or for light outdoor tasks.

• Available colors: 15

Portable paper soap sheets for on-the-go cleanliness

BAIKAFU Portable Disposable Soap Sheets (300 Pieces)

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Everyone needs these travel soap sheets that foam up instantly with a splash of water. The set comes with 300 sheets in six bear-shaped carrying cases perfect for tossing in a bag, glovebox, or carry-on. They’re ideal for camping or dealing with public bathrooms that never restock the soap containers. Just add water to the sheet to wash your hands on the go.

A mini boar bristle brush that can smooth, detangle, & add shine

Ancable Mini Boar Brush

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This compact beech wood brush is the secret weapon to looking great on the go, like while flying or running errands. The brush blends boar bristles and nylon pins to help smooth, detangle, and add shine to your hair. Made for all hair types, the brush is just 5.6 inches long — perfect for throwing in a purse or carry-on bag. It even comes with its own waterproof storage pouch.

A book-shaped vase that levels up your home decor

Puransen Book-Shaped Vase

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This book-shaped vase is a clever, beautiful gift for anyone who loves books, blooms, or both. Made from durable, transparent acrylic, the vase can hold real or faux flowers while doubling as a sleek, modern decor piece that looks straight out of an influencer apartment tour. You can get it in five colors.

Precision grooming tweezers with a built-in LED light

Sensica Flashlight Tweezers

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These light-up tweezers will totally level up your grooming game. The built-in LED is designed to illuminate your skin so you can shape brows, grab splinters, or glue on lashes with precision. Crafted from stainless steel, the tweezers are made to be durable, rust resistant, and compact enough to stash in your travel bag. They’re a clever little gift for beauty lovers.

A salt lamp diffuser that doubles as mood lighting

SALKING Essential Oil Diffuser & Salt Lamp

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This two-in-one Himalayan salt lamp and essential oil diffuser combines ambient lighting with aromatherapy in a single compact unit. A chamber of Himalayan pink salt crystals provides a warm glow with three adjustable brightness levels, while the diffuser on top produces a flame-like effect using LED lighting and water vapor. Choose from four timer settings, or depend on the built-in auto shut-off, which activates when water runs low.

Lavender foot peel masks formulated to shed rough skin

ALIVER Foot Peel Mask (3-Pack)

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Who doesn’t love gross-yet-glorious skin care? This foot peel mask is the proof. Each lavender-scented bootie uses botanical extracts to help you shed rough, dead skin in a few days, leaving behind softer skin. Just wear for an hour and wait for the peeling to begin. You get three pairs in a pack, and the masks are also available in a tea tree scent.

A tabletop purse hook that keeps bags off the floor

ROFLYER Foldable Handbag Hanger

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For the friend whose purse gets its own seat at brunch, this foldable handbag hook is a revelation. It clings onto tables to keep handbags elevated, clean, and secure. The hook holds up to 12 pounds and folds down flat for easy storage. Sleek, smart, and undeniably useful, the hanger comes in nine colors.

This strategy game that’s easy and addictive

Bameca Magnetic Chess Game

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This magnetic chess game couldn’t be easier: Lay out the rope and place the magnetic pieces one by one inside the circle. If they clasp together, you have to collect them. The first one to place all their pieces wins. “Surprisingly addictive for all ages!” one reviewer said. “This game is a hit in our house! It’s simple, quick to play, and perfect for both kids and adults.”

A Coca-Cola lip balm shaped like the classic glass bottle

Lip Smacker Coca Cola Lip Balm

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This Coca-Cola–themed Lip Smacker is the perfect stocking stuffer. Shaped like the iconic glass bottle and flavored like classic Coke, it’s equal parts beauty product and collectible trinket. The balm is designed to soften, shine, and hydrate lips while delivering sweet throwback charm. The lip product also comes in a cherry Coke design.

This soothing sunrise alarm clock that doubles as a white noise machine

HAODINGMAI Sunrise Alarm Clock

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For the person whose alarm clock is their sworn enemy, this gadget is a peace treaty. This sunrise alarm clock doubles as a white noise machine with 13 soothing sounds and eight adjustable light colors. The gradual sunrise simulation gently brightens over 20 minutes, creating a peaceful wakeup instead of a panicked one.

A retinol eye stick that targets tired eyes

VELAMO ADVANCED Retinol & Caffeine Eye Stick

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If you ever hear that dreaded observation, "You look tired today," keep this eye stick in your bag. Hyaluronic acid, squalane, and royal jelly extract deliver deep hydration, while caffeine and ginger root help reduce puffiness. Just swipe it on at night and let it go to work on dark circles and fine lines while you sleep. Clinically backed results appear in four to eight weeks, making it particularly impressive for the price.

A weighted lap blanket for a dose of cozy calm

BETU Weighted Lap Blanket

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This mini lap blanket is the perfect cozy gift. It’s just 5 pounds and small enough to toss in a tote — ideal for travel days, work setups, or for when you need a little calm-on-demand. Weighted with glass beads and wrapped in soft microfiber, this blanket is made to feel like a comforting hug. And it comes in a ton of colors and sizes.

A serving tray shaped like a pickleball paddle

Payarma Pickleball Snack Serving Tray

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For the pickleball lover and the entertainer, this serving tray looks like a colorful paddle, but it’s split into five sections so they can serve nuts, cheese, vegetables, wings, chips, dip, or candy. It’s made from ceramic with a stick-resistant coating that’s easy to wash by hand or in the dishwasher.

A wooden foot massager with amazing reviews

TheraFlow Foot Massager

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This foot massager is made of wood with five textured rollers on each side: four with pointy ridges for acupressure, and one with reflexology nubs to reach deep into the tissues. It’s earned an average 4.5-star rating from almost 40,000 Amazon reviewers because its manual design is easy to use anywhere, and it helps soothe discomfort from plantar fasciitis, tense arches, heel spurs, and tired feet.

A mini karaoke set for the aspiring singer

YLL Mini Karaoke Machine

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Available in 14 color options, this mini karaoke set includes two microphones with five vocal effects and a Bluetooth speaker with rainbow LED lights that sync to the music. Everything is rechargeable for cordless use and compact for portability, and they connect to your smartphone or tablet so you can sing along with virtually any song.

A cat makeup bag with a practical drawstring design

GKIOYRO Cat Makeup Bag

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Yes, it’s an adorable gift for the cat lover, but this makeup bag is also surprisingly practical. The drawstring design holds plenty of cosmetics or toiletries and has a 9-inch diameter that opens from the top, so you can see everything at once. Reviewers rave about the roomy size and how cute it looks sitting on their vanity. You can get it in four fur patterns: Calico, Tuxedo, gray, and orange.

A magnetic power bank that keeps their iPhone charged

Kesguar Magnetic Portable Charger

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Yes, it fits in the palm of their hand, weighs under half a pound, and discreetly attaches to the back of their Magsafe iPhone — but this magnetic power bank packs a serious punch. Its 10000mAh battery gives them a 30% boost in about 25 minutes, all without wires or getting in their way, while its durable aluminum shell comes in four color options.

Climbing elephant statues for planters, pen holders, & more

JARPSIRY Climbing Elephant Statues

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Elephant lovers will adore these tiny climbing elephant statues, which are made from weather-resistant resin for indoor or outdoor use. While they’re designed to clasp onto most planters and pots, you can also attach them to pen holders, fish aquariums, vases, and computer monitors. They also come in gecko and frog designs.

A light-up orb that floats like magic

HoviSco Flying Orb Ball

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“Absolutely amazing,” said one reviewer who gifted this flying orb to a nine-year-old kid, but “it became an interest to all who were present.” Using a USB-rechargeable battery that powers the propeller and an AI chip with four flying modes, it floats through the air like magic — and it has a rainbow LED light strip that glows as it flies.

Hair scrunchies that light up rainbow

POZILAN Light-Up Scrunchies (8-Piece)

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In the light, these glow-in-the-dark scrunchies look and function like standard hair ties, granted they’re soft, stretchy, and suitable for all hair types. Press a button, and the rainbow LEDs will light up in one of four modes. They’re a great gift for kids, but one reviewer also said they’re a hit among adults at “festivals, concerts, raves, or a fun night hitting the town!”

Dice to encourage mood-boosting activities

Two Tumbleweeds Mood-Boosting Activity Dice

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Know someone who could use a little self-care? These activity dice come in a set of nine wooden blocks with a different mood-boosting activity on each side — and all of them are screen-free. They’re color-coded with categories such as relaxation, movement, food, nature, connectivity, and inspiration, and they come in a cylindrical box for gifting and storage.

A cordless giraffe light with an extendable neck

Fantasee Giraffe Night Light

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Technically, it’s marketed to kids, but this giraffe night-light also comes in handy when adult reviewers are reading in bed, going to the bathroom at night, or navigating around an unfamiliar hotel room while traveling. Available in three colors, it’s USB-rechargeable for cordless use and has an extendable neck so you can point the light in any direction.

Kitty car ornaments that are “so darn cute”

TSTESE Cat Rearview Mirror Decorations (5 Pieces)

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Gift these adorable kitty ornaments to the person who loves cats and drives a car. The tiny statues come in a set of five different designs with double-sided stickers so they can secure them to their dashboard, vents, or rearview mirror. “They make me giggle every time I see them,” said one reviewer who called them “so darn cute.”

A best-selling cup sleeve that comes in tons of fun prints

Sok It JavaSok Insulated Neoprene Cup Sleeve

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If you’re tired of handling iced beverages that drip with sweat, keep this cup sleeve on hand. Made from durable, fabric-coated neoprene, it helps keep cold drinks chilled longer while protecting hands. A fully covered bottom and stretchy fit reduce condensation, and the sleeve folds flat for easy storage in bags or glove compartments. It boasts more than 21,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, and it’s available in tons of fun prints.

A tabletop bowling set for kids or adults

3 otters Mini Bowling Set

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“Loads of fun,” one shopper raved about this miniature bowling set. “Comes with two sized bowling balls. It helps because some people are better with the smaller and others with the bigger one, just like real bowling.” The wood design features carved-out gutters, 10 miniature pins, and an optional launch ramp for the stainless steel ball — great for fidgeting at work or keeping kids entertained without screens.

A soft, absorbent cat towel that clips in place

AGRIMONY Cat Hand Towel

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This cat towel comes in over two dozen designs, so you can find one that matches the breed, fur color, and patterning of a loved one’s pet. Aside from being a cute addition to their bathroom or kitchen, it’s also functional: The material is soft, absorbent, and washable, while the paws have clips to secure it in place over a towel bar or oven handle.

Hover soccer balls that turn floors into playfields

HopeRock Hover Soccer Ball

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Don’t let gloomy weather keep you from a game of soccer — these hovering balls make it easy to play indoors. Powered by four AA batteries, each glides easily across smooth surfaces like hardwood, tile, or laminate without scratching floors. A soft foam bumper protects furniture and walls, while LED lights provide visibility for easy tracking. The set includes two hover balls, and they’re available in multiple styles.

A mini humidifier that doubles as a night-light

NORHOM Cool Mist Humidifier

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This mini cool-mist humidifier serves cute vibes and soothing air in small spaces like bedrooms, desktops, and nightstands. One-button control switches between continuous and intermittent mist modes, with a long press activating the color-changing ambient light. Quiet operation won’t disrupt sleep, while an automatic shut-off engages when water runs low. The kitten shape will appeal to cat lovers, and it’s available in multiple pastel colors.

A wooden brain puzzle that challenges every age

AHYUAN Wooden Brain Teaser Puzzle

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Fans of puzzles and brain teasers will love this wooden cube game. The set includes 54 T-shaped geometric pieces designed for open-ended solutions and creative play. The blocks can be assembled into countless shapes and patterns, encouraging spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and hand-eye coordination. It’s a satisfying form of stress relief for adults and kids alike.

A cordless screwdriver that simplifies everyday fixes

Hi-Spec Electric Screwdriver

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Make small repair jobs go even faster with this compact electric screwdriver. It features a built-in battery that charges via USB, and it delivers consistent power at 180 RPM. It’s light, easy to use, and small enough to stash in a drawer. The set also includes 23 interchangeable bits to handle a wide range of common screws.

Steaming eye masks that deliver instant relaxation

BeHoomi Steam Eye Mask (20-Pack)

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These self-heating eye masks work like magic, gently warming your eyes like a mini spa session from the comfort of your home. Each one maintains consistent heat up to 114 degrees for up to 30 minutes, creating a soothing compress with a gentle fragrance. Choose from multiple scents, such as bracing tea tree or calming lavender, or go with an unscented option. Each pack includes 20 disposable masks.

Reverse coloring books that inspire calm & creativity

The Reverse Coloring Book: The Book Has the Colors, You Draw the Lines!

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If you’re looking for a fun, creative outlet, try this popular reverse coloring book by artist Kendra Norton. Instead of filling in lines, you add your own doodles and shapes right on top of soft watercolor art. Think of them as visual prompts — there’s no wrong way to do it, and it’s a great way to unleash your imaginative side. The book includes 50 unique designs, printed on single-sided, perforated pages.

An electric lighter that works in wind & rain

MEIRUBY Flameless Lighter

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Powered by a built-in battery, this impressive electric lighter delivers up to 600 ignitions per charge. It features a windproof, splash-proof design for reliable use indoors or outdoors, and its elongated shape keeps your hands safely away from flames. It also replaces hundreds of disposable lighters, making it a more economical and eco-friendly option for your home.

Magnetic measuring spoons that help keep your kitchen drawer tidy

Spring Chef Magnetic Measuring Spoons Set (Set of 8)

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This stainless steel measuring spoon set is the perfect solution for cooks who hate digging through drawers to find the right-sized spoon. Seven sizes (ranging from 1/8 teaspoon to one tablespoon) are paired with a leveler for accurate measurements. Dual-sided heads feature a narrow oval end that fits into spice jars and a round end for liquids, while magnetic handles keep everything neatly nested together for easy storage.

A campfire pillow that elicits snuggles & smiles

UNWAAT Campfire Reading Pillow

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With its playful cartoon design, this campfire reading pillow adds color and character to kids' bedrooms and play areas. It’s made from faux rabbit fur fabric for a smooth, skin-friendly feel, and its 3D shape resists flattening over time. Children will enjoy it as a toy, but adults can also use it for back support or a cutesy decorative accent.