Entertainment
1990s Sci-Fi Epic Blockbuster Flop Restored And Embraced By Fans
By Jeffrey Rapaport
| Published

Critics panned Lost in Space when it premiered in the ’90s, though the film fared pretty well commercially and earned a cult audience. Today, in a remarkable turn of events, the movie enjoys new life and appreciation among fans via a restored Collector’s Edition by Shout Factory. The re-release reignited interest in the cult classic.
Shout Factory is renowned for reviving classic films, and they’ve gone to the limit for Lost In Space. Their special edition of the sci-fi film shipped in 2024. The Lost In Space Special Edition features a new 2K scan of the interpositive, ensuring a hugely enhanced visual experience.

The Lost in Space re-release includes bells and whistles like DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, commentaries from director Stephen Hopkins, writer-producer Akiva Goldsman, and others, in addition to deleted/additional scenes, and more. The comprehensive package surpasses a mere restoration: it’s a celebration of the film’s unique, underappreciated place in sci-fi cinema.
Premiering in the late 1990s, the film amounted to an ambitious adaptation of the 1960s TV series (of the same name). The movie sought to nail the same sense of adventure and wonder inherent to space travel, intertwining it all with family dynamics and futuristic tech.

The narrative revolves around the intergalactic Robinson family, as they embark on a mission to discover a habitable planet. Of course, the space-faring Robinsons are soon lost in space (wink-wink) and thrown off course, resulting in an extraordinary, often funny saga through deep space.
In 2058, with the Earth facing imminent uninhabitability, the Powers That Be launch the Robinson family on the spaceship Jupiter II. Their mission? Get to Alpha Prime, where the Robinsons are to build a hypergate for Earth’s population transfer.

Soon, however, terrorists sabotage the effort. Their spy, Dr. Zachary Smith, steers the ship off course. The family thus encounters the derelict vessel Proteus, in addition to the memorably creepy, spider-like creatures aboard. All of this sets the stage for a thrilling sci-fi experience, benefitting from healthy doses of comedy, as the Robinsons battle baddies, leverage time travel, and save the world.
Upon its release in 1998, Lost in Space endured a decidedly mixed reaction from critics. The experts admitted that the film boasted impressive special effects and a stellar cast (William Hurt and Matt LeBlanc, at the height of his Friends fame, shine). But the movie suffered from plot inconsistencies and, some critics claimed, failed to embody the original series’s unique sensibility fully.

Roger Ebert particularly panned the movie, which today has a dismal 27 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an only marginally better 42 out of 100 on Metacritic (always the more charitable aggregator).
However, Lost in Space’s box office earnings were more positive. Against an $80 million budget, the movie grossed around $136 million worldwide for a $56 million profit: not bad.

Thankfully, the film’s saga did not end there; it transformed from a critical joke to a cult darling. In the following decades, fans came to appreciate the film’s ambition and quirky vision, alongside its singular aesthetic. They also disagreed with so-called professionals, embracing the movie’s nostalgic connection to the 1960s TV series.
The restored version released by Shout Factory testifies to the enduring appeal of Lost in Space.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Big Salad’s Birthday Sale


This week only, we’re offering 20% off annual subscriptions to Big Salad, our weekly newsletter (and the #1 fashion/beauty publication on Substack). For $4/month, you will get every issue for a year — packed with fun finds, life realizations, and essays on sex, dating, love, marriage, divorce, parenting, and friendship — plus access to our deep archives.
Last Friday, I wrote about a dating realization I had that changed everything (gift link, free for all). The comments were truly incredible, and I felt really moved by the ability to share relationship (and life) highs and lows with women who really get it. We really are all in this together.
Here are a few more issues you may enjoy…
On sex, dating, relationships, and friendship:
The genius advice my therapist gave me when my marriage ended.
What it felt like to have sex for the first time post-divorce.
How do you know if it’s time to get divorced?
Four ways I’ve learned to deepen friendships.
The book that profoundly changed my friend’s sex life.
Reader question: “I want to talk dirty in bed, but I’m nervous.”
Nine habits that are making my 40s my favorite decade.
On fashion and beauty:
How to style a shirt like a Copenhagen girl.
7 things we spotted people wearing in Paris (plus, two magic Paris itineraries).
13 beauty products we always finish.
Do I get botox or filler? Readers asked, and I answered. 🙂
At age 46, I finally figured out my hair.
Gemma’s #1 drugstore beauty find.
Our 13 favorite swimsuits.
And, most of all, amazing life insights from women we love:
Ashley C. Ford on why poverty makes it hard to figure out what you like.
Anne Helen Petersen’s book-filled island cottage.
Three people share how they changed their careers. Then, three more women share!
Brooke Barker’s great conversation starter.
Hunter Harris tells us what movies and shows to watch right now.
Abbey Nova’s jaw-dropping garden makeover.
Natasha Pickowicz wants you to throw yourself a party.
My sister’s parenting hack that I can’t stop thinking about.
Alison Piepmeyer’s amazing wallpaper before-and-after photos.
15 incredible books to read.
Nine ways Kate Baer is coming out to play in her 40s.

Here’s the discount link for 20% off annual subscriptions, and here’s the Big Salad homepage, if you’d like to check it out. We would love to have you, and thank you so much for your support and readership. Joannaxo
P.S. We also offer 50 comped subscriptions per month for those who’d like to read Big Salad but aren’t in a place to pay for it at the moment. Just email newsletter@cupofjo.com to get on the list. Thank you!
Entertainment
Brûléed Yogurt? Yes, Please!


Did you know you can brûlée, like, anything? I always forget brûléeing is an option, because it’s one of those fancy cooking processes that’s too much fuss for home cooking. The thing is? It’s really not. All you need is a broiler and the courage to turn it on. (I suppose you might also need a fairly clean oven, or you’ll set off your smoke alarms — but I do that once a month anyway.) And once you’re in the swing of it, it’s truly so much fun.
“I love brûléeing the most simple things,” says our friend Jerrelle Guy, whose gorgeous cookbook, We Fancy, comes out this week. “Warm oatmeal, fresh bananas, grapefruit halves, the peanut butter on my peanut-butter toast. And whenever I brûlée my yogurt, it becomes decadent. I think of it as a no-bake crème brûlée.” For breakfast! Or whenever!
This week, we’re excited to share this fun, creamy, tangy new recipe from Jerelle’s book. True to the title, this is indeed a fancy dish, but Jerrelle is the kind of recipe writer who knows that fancy doesn’t need to be complicated (this is the woman who judged our boxed brownie taste test, after all). When she says you can do this — in less than 30 minutes, no less — you can trust her. And doesn’t a warm, citrus brûlée sound so good right now? Definitely worth braving the broiler. Let’s crack a window and do this thing.
Brûléed Lemon Yogurt With Berries
From We Fancy, by Jerrelle Guy
Serves 2-4
For the berry pico
1/2 cup blueberries and strawberries (fresh or frozen), diced
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp olive oil
Kosher salt
For the yogurt crème brûlée
1 cup Greek yogurt (full-fat) or labneh
Turbinado sugar or granulated sugar, for sprinkling
Make the pico: In a small bowl, combine the berries, thyme, lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Set aside to allow the berries some time to release their juices.
Make the yogurt: Divide the yogurt among four 4-ounce ramekins (or two 8-ounce ramekins), or small heat-proof bowls, and spread in a smooth, even layer. Wipe any splattered edges of the ramekins with a clean kitchen cloth. (If making ahead, you can cover the yogurt and refrigerate for up to three days, until ready to eat. You can also leave it overnight to make the yogurt firmer.)
Brûlée the yogurt: Sprinkle sugar over the tops of the yogurt in a thin, even layer. If using a broiler, set an oven rack just beneath the heating element and turn the broiler on high. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and slide under the broiler. You can also use a blow torch, moving in slow, circular motions over the yogurt. Burn the sugar until it beads, then caramelizes and melts into puddles. Remove from the oven (if using), and allow the yogurt to rest for a few minutes until the sugar hardens. Top with the pico and serve.
Note: If you want to make it even fancier, Jerrelle suggests mixing the yogurt with 2-3 tbsp of lemon curd and 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract, before transferring to the ramekins, to add a pleasant tang.

Thank you so much, Jerrelle! We love the new book!
P.S. Molly Yeh’s classic egg-in-a-hole, and seven delicious muffin recipes.
(Photos from Jerrelle Guy. Excerpted from We Fancy. Copyright © 2026 by Jerrelle Guy. Reproduced by permission of Simon Element, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. All rights reserved.)
