mashable-rss

Summer box office hit “Twisters” has smashed expectations by bringing in $80.5 million in its opening weekend.

“Twisters” has twirled its way to a huge opening weekend, smashing expectations by bringing in $80.5 million. For context, Oppenheimer brought in $80.5 million when it opened on the same weekend in 2023.

The stellar performance of the film, a sequel to the 1996 disaster epic “Twister,” may be due to the fact that it appears to be genuinely well-liked by audiences; as of publishing, the film has a 92 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, while a review of the movie by the The Atlantic begged readers to “Please See Twisters in Theaters,” Mashable’s own Kristy Puchko was less than impressed with the flick, calling it “a wobbly ride that leaves disappointment in its wake.”

Tweet may have been deleted

The surprise success of “Twisters,” which was only projected to generate up to $55 million on opening weekend, was also likely buoyed by the appeal of its rising stars Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones. The duo have powered through impressive press tour to promote the movie, including going head-to-head in a Hot Ones match up.

The $80.5 million opening of “Twisters” is the third-biggest opening weekend of the year behind “Inside Out 2” ($154 million) and “Dune: Part Two” ($82 million).

Read More 

Answers to each clue for the July 21, 2024 edition of NYT’s The Mini crossword puzzle.

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Sunday, July 21, 2024:

Across

Space between two teeth

The answer is Gap.

Rural waterway … which sounds like a haunted house noise?

The answer is Creek.

Wind-___ (carried by the wind)

The answer is Borne.

Golf lesson topic

The answer is Swing.

French word before a maiden name

The answer is Nee.

Down

Fully adult … which sounds like a haunted house noise?

The answer is Grown.

Lingerie and loungewear brand from American Eagle

The answer is Aerie.

Slender pasta tubes

The answer is Penne.

Network with an eye logo

The answer is CBS.

The beer is here

The answer is Keg.

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

Read More 

Get a lifetime subscription to documentary streaming service Curiosity Stream on sale for $159.97 through July 21.

TL;DR: Wave goodbye to recurring fees with lifetime access to Curiosity Stream on sale for $159.97 (reg. $399) through July 21.

When every show you want to watch is available on a different streaming platform, you end up shelling out way more money than you want to. But if you’re someone who’s into documentaries, there’s a place where all of them live — and the best part is, you only have to pay once to watch them all.

Curiosity Stream was built for docu-buffs who need a break from those pesky subscription costs and pay just once for a lifetime of science, history, art, and so much more. Act fast and grab this lifetime deal for just $159.97 (reg. $399) through July 21. 

Created by the founder of Discovery Communications, John Hendricks, this all-encompassing streaming service provides unlimited access to over 3,000 documentaries and nonfiction titles on a vast array of topics, including science, history, technology, and nature. With content from award-winning filmmakers and leading experts, Curiosity Stream is perfect for lifelong learners and those with a thirst for knowledge!

Enjoy high-definition (1920 x 1080 pixels) streaming with new content added regularly, ensuring you always have fresh material to explore. Curiosity Stream offers exclusive series and in-depth explorations that you won’t find anywhere else.

The lifetime subscription guarantees uninterrupted access to this ever-growing library on multiple devices — smart TVs, iPhone, Apple TV, Android and Android TV, XBox One, and more — making it a valuable investment for curious minds of all ages. Delve into the wonders of the universe, uncover ancient civilizations, and stay up-to-date with the latest scientific breakthroughs, all from the comfort of your home.

Only pay once for this lifetime subscription to Curiosity Stream, available until July 21 at 11:59 p.m. for $159.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read More 

The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: S-words? (a cutting-edge theme!)

The hint really gets to the point.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The clue refers to types of swords.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today:

Today’s spangram is Blades.

NYT Strands word list for July 21

Claymore

Scimitar

Katana

Cutlass

Blades

Rapier

Machete

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you’re already playing – on Mashable’s Games page.

Read More 

Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1128 on July 21, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for July 21’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

A tiny, almost imperceptible spot or particle.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter S.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today’s Wordle…

SPECK.

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Read More 

Connections is a New York Times word game that’s all about finding the “common threads between words.” How to solve the puzzle.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for July 21’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: Political advocacy

Green: Physical condition

Blue: Things needed to build

Purple: Words found on a calculator

Here are today’s Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: Ways to Support a Candidate

Green: Constitution

Blue: Carpentry Tools

Purple: Math Abbreviations

Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today’s Connections #406 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

Ways to Support a Candidate: CAMPAIGN, CANVASS, ORGANIZE, STUMP

Constitution: COMPOSITION, FABRIC, MAKEUP, STRUCTURE

Carpentry Tools: CLAMP, FILE, LEVEL, SAW

Math Abbreviations: LOG, MAX, MOD, TAN

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday’s Connections.

Read More 

Answers to each clue for the July 20, 2024 edition of NYT’s The Mini crossword puzzle.

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Saturday, July 20, 2024:

Across

Reggae relative

The answer is Ska.

Repeat a mantra during meditation

The answer is Chant.

Perform better than

The answer is Out do.

Collaboration that yields more than the sum of its parts

The answer is Synenergy.

Exercise practiced in a steamy room

The answer is Hot yoga.

Had a nosh

The answer is Ate.

Feeling poorly

The answer is Ill.

Pre-___ (undergrad track)

The answer is Med.

Letter that’s silent – and then not silent – in “Wednesday”

The answer is Dee.

Down

Pushed out of the way

The answer is Shunted.

Actress Sagal

The answer is Katey.

iOS alternative

The answer is Android.

Wile E., in the Looney Tunes cartoons

The answer is Coyote.

Flip on or off, as a switch

The answer is Toggle.

It’s totally fake

The answer is Sham.

Ivy League school in Connecticut

The answer is Yale.

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

Read More 

Will “The Bear” fans stick with the show after a plodding Season 3?

In the latest season of The Bear, cousin Richie insults chef Carmy with a memorable dig during one of their rapid-fire kitchen fights, calling him a “baby replicant who’s not self-actualized.”

The line, which appears to be a Blade Runner reference, gets a laugh. It also sums up not just Carmy’s trajectory over the show’s three seasons, but also the frustrating nature of its latest outing. Season 3 leaves its terrific actors and their superbly flawed characters flailing in a tedious study of professional trauma.

In order for Season 4 of The Bear to succeed, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) has to evolve beyond his stunted identity as a tortured chef. His desperation to achieve culinary genius — while ignoring his many psychic wounds — is poisoning everyone else around him, including Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach); his second-in-command, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri); and chef Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas).

In his own way, Carmy could even experience post-traumatic growth, putting him in the company of countless people who’ve endured hell but over time made something meaningful of their journey.

This could be The Bear‘s plan, but this loyal viewer would be grateful if Season 4 relied far less on heavy-handed repetition, and I’m not alone in that criticism.

The Bear‘s ambitious stylistic treatment of workplace hazing and its psychological toll, for example, doesn’t enlighten. The plot frequently stalls with flashbacks to Carmy’s experience in a kitchen where an abusive chef berates and belittles him. These and other scenes from his past play in loops, blurring past and present. He’s otherwise personally frozen with fear, unable to apologize to his former girlfriend for cruelly abandoning their relationship.

The redundant flashbacks drag the viewer into a thematic cul-de-sac from which there is no escape. Not even the charming weirdo Fak brothers (Matty Matheson and Ricky Staffieri) or Jon Cena’s delightful cameo as a floor-buffing pro can save the most plodding episodes. (Don’t say Mashable entertainment reporter Belen Edwards didn’t warn you in her expectation-lowering review.)

Carmy does little more than painstakingly assemble dishes only to throw them in the garbage. Viewers could be forgiven for wanting to do the same with the series after this season’s 10 episodes.

Feeling trapped may indeed be the point. As Smriti Joshi, chief psychologist at the mental health platform Wysa and a fan of The Bear, pointed out to me in an email, Season 3 begins right after Carmy is freed from the walk-in refrigerator where he spent the final moments of Season 2 temporarily imprisoned by a broken door.

Everything that went wrong during his meltdown there — accidentally rejecting his girlfriend, alienating his family and staff, unwillingly disappearing on the most important night of his life — has plunged Carmy right back into his past trauma.

Joshi, who felt the season’s repetitiveness was warranted given Carmy’s mental state, told me that his standstill can’t realistically come to a quick end. Instead, his icebox reflections result in him feeling even more “haunted” than he did before. In Season 3, being haunted is played for laughs by the Fak brothers, but the idea is clearly more than just comic relief. Intrusive thoughts like the ones Carmy experiences again and again are like ghosts, too.

“Trauma doesn’t have a neat resolution, and Carmy’s character reflects the messy, often stagnant nature of living with unprocessed pain,” Joshi said.

As someone who covers the depiction of mental health in popular culture, I have admired The Bear‘s handling of the subject. I applauded the first season’s sensitive treatment of suicide loss. Watching the second season, I was struck by how certain storylines subtly pressed chaotic characters into a state of mindfulness.

Trauma doesn’t have a neat resolution, and Carmy’s character reflects the messy, often stagnant nature of living with unprocessed pain.
– Smriti Joshi, chief psychologist for Wysa

I think the effort to take viewers deep inside Carmy’s mind was brave, but the season didn’t need to pivot so obsessively around his memories for those of us watching to understand that he’s stuck in damaging ways, or that he’s plagued by intrusive thoughts.

You needn’t look farther than the summer blockbuster Inside Out 2 to see a wholly original and moving depiction of emotional and physiological paralysis. The movie’s culminating scene, in which a teen girl experiences a panic attack observed both from the outside and from within her own mind, doesn’t take more than a few minutes to make its point.

Of course, an animated feature is not a 30-minute television “comedy,” but every form of entertainment can draw power from trusting its audience.

I am personally rooting for The Bear‘s next season to claw its way out of the claustrophobic world it has constructed for its characters. Though permanently trapping Carmy in arrested development may be truer to reality, The Bear‘s biggest champions watch because they believe that something beautiful can be salvaged from the mess of every character’s life.

Hollywood seems to understand the brilliance of The Bear‘s past seasons, too. On July 17, the show earned a record 23 Emmy nominations for a comedy.

Because of the eligibility calendar, those accolades recognize Season 2, which aired profound episodes of television. These include “Forks,” in which Richie arguably becomes self-actualized, and “Fishes,” a masterful if tense portrayal of family dysfunction guest starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Carmy’s mother, who misuses alcohol in ways that devastate her children.

Barring a couple standout episodes in Season 3, including the return of Curtis in “Ice Chips,” I would be surprised if The Bear garners the same awards-season praise next year.

The show is at a crossroads. Liberating it from the oppressive tendencies of Season 3 could look like cutting a path toward post-traumatic growth for Carmy. Joshi said she’d love to see him reframe negative thoughts so that they’re more positive and compassionate, and to make the space to process his trauma.

Frank conversations with his mother, Richie, and his sister, Sugar (Abby Elliott), about their difficulties with self-compassion could help too, along with individual grief therapy to fully grapple with the death of his brother Mikey (Jon Bernthal).

“Although it might not make for explosive TV, if Carmy experienced post-traumatic growth, viewers would gain valuable insight into the genuinely difficult work it takes to overcome intertwined grief and trauma,” Joshi said.

This may sound too prescriptive, or like a recipe for turning The Bear into a predictable show about the virtues of therapy. But I hope its creators and writers ultimately transform Carmy, slowly but surely, into a fully integrated human being, as Richie might say.

The blueprint for that surfaced this season if you squinted hard enough. Every time Carmy or another character discussed their legacy, in the kitchen or in life, you could see Carmy registering and then suppressing a flicker of recognition that interpersonal conflict could be what he leaves behind, even to those he loves.

But at some point, The Bear has to stop dancing around the menacing titular beast that makes an occasional appearance in Carmy’s nightmares.

“In order to grow, Carmy must face the bear in the cage and let him out,” Joshi said.

All three seasons of The Bear are streaming on Hulu.

Read More 

The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: A seat the table

Hard to eat without these.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The clue refers to table settings.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today:

Today’s spangram is PlaceSetting.

NYT Strands word list for July 20

Fork

Plate

Saucer

Spoon

PlaceSetting

Glass

Knife

Napkin

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you’re already playing – on Mashable’s Games page.

Read More 

Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1127 on July 20, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for July 20’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

A long, narrow part of an arrow or tool.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter S.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today’s Wordle…

SHAFT.

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Read More