Entertainment
The Most Absurd 90s Superhero Movie Has Become A Cult Classic
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Back in the 90s, filmmakers could make one-off superhero movies that were not based on already existing intellectual properties. Now that we are well past the superhero boom that the MCU kicked off in 2008, and with the best days of that franchise arguably behind us, I find myself looking back at the strange oddities that existed before tights and flights dominated the cinemascape. That curiosity has led me to hidden gems like 2009’s Defendor and, more recently, 1994’s Blankman, written by and starring Damon Wayans.
While Blankman is profoundly stupid, comparatively low budget when stacked against modern superhero counterparts, and wildly inconsistent with its humor and sentimentality, at least it is original. It is not a great film by any measurable metric, but it is still fun, clever, and oddly heartfelt at times. It serves as a reminder that not every superhero movie needs to be engineered by committee, even if the result ends up failing loudly on its own terms.
“But What If He Shot You In The Face?”
Blankman tells the story of two brothers, Darryl (Damon Wayans) and Kevin Walker (David Alan Grier). Darryl, the younger of the two, is a technological genius turned inventor who makes a living working as a repairman. He is also stuck in a state of arrested development, often viewing the world through a childlike lens. Kevin is more cynical and far more concerned with regular adult responsibilities, like working as a cameraman for the local news and pursuing a romantic relationship with his close friend and colleague, news anchor Kimberly Jonz (Robin Givens).
When their grandmother is killed by mobster Michael “The Suit” Minelli (Jon Polito) while attending a town hall meeting held by local politician Marvin Harris (Christopher Lawford), it becomes a massive wake-up call for Darryl. Until that moment, he had been blissfully unaware of the corruption and urban decay surrounding him. Determined to clean up the streets, Darryl, with the help of his homemade robot J-5, develops bulletproof clothing and adopts the identity of Blankman.
Running around Chicago in red long johns and a tool belt, Blankman gets shot at a lot, but the bullets conveniently strike him everywhere except the face, which would presumably be his only real weakness. With no superpowers, terrible hand-eye coordination, and a complete inability to read social cues, Darryl still manages to gain Kimberly’s affection after arranging a news interview with her. This understandably infuriates Kevin and pushes him to step in, reluctantly embracing his brother’s bizarre brand of vigilante justice.
After a series of increasingly unfortunate incidents forces Blankman underground, Darryl’s confidence takes a hit, though his spirit never fully breaks. He eventually realizes that the crime wave engulfing Chicago is not something he can handle alone, leading him to recruit Kevin by dressing him in an equally ridiculous costume and naming him Other Guy.
Profoundly Idiotic In Every Conceivable Way
If you are not a fan of Damon Wayans’ over-the-top physical comedy, Blankman may be a tough sell, even with its off-kilter charm. I am conflicted in my assessment because Wayans clearly tried to do something different and failed spectacularly in the process. Drawing inspiration from the 1960s iteration of Batman that he grew up watching, the film channels that campy spirit while layering it with the raunchy, manic energy Wayans is best known for.
The result is a collection of some of the silliest fight sequences you will ever see, paired with genuinely inventive gadgets cobbled together from household appliances. If Adam West’s Batman can keep Shark Repellent in his utility belt, there is no reason Blankman cannot use a grappling hook powered by a hand mixer. It is all incredibly stupid, but within this specific context, it works, even when the film itself struggles to hold together.
If you are exhausted by the current slate of superhero movies and want something far less self-serious, Blankman is at least worth a look. A commercial flop that earned just under $8 million against a reported $30 million production budget, Blankman was savaged by critics and currently sits at a brutal 12 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. While an undeniable misfire on Wayans’ part, audiences eventually warmed to it through home video, cementing its reputation as a cult classic with real charm, provided you approach it like a B movie that just happens to have proper studio backing.
Blankman is currently streaming for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
7 horror films that will make you happy youre single
For the most part, horror urges you not to stay in creepy accommodation, not to run upstairs when you should be running out the front door, and certainly not to “investigate” any strange noises in the attic.
But some movies would also advise you on another thing entirely: Enjoy being single.
It’s a real niche within the genre, but we’ve tracked down the horror movies that single people will probably get more out of than anyone else. Some are grim reminders of all the bad things about being in a relationship with someone selfish (looking at you, Sinister), while others (*cough*, It Follows) are basically arguments for a life of swearing off sex altogether.
Of course, being single means different things to different people. Not every single person out there is sexually active, or actively looking for a relationship. But whether you’re simply happy on your own or perhaps fed up with the dating scene, there’ll hopefully be something among the following creepy selections that’s right up your dimly lit street…
1. It Follows
Don’t look behind you.
Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock
What’s it about?
In a nutshell, it’s about a supernatural entity that gets passed between people when they have sex. Once the entity starts following you, it won’t stop pursuing until you’re dead.
The only way to get rid of it? Have sex with someone else and pass the burden along.
Why single people might love it…
This one doesn’t take too much explaining. The plot of It Follows is like a love letter to swearing off sex altogether, a very convincing 100-minute argument about the merits of steering well clear of any and all prospective partners.
After all, is a romantic encounter really worth a life of constantly being pursued by hollow-eyed strangers that nobody else but you can see? We think not.
How to watch: It Follows is available for rental or purchase on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
2. Get Out
All is not what it seems in ‘Get Out.’
Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock
What’s it about?
Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) travels to meet the family of his white girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), for the first time. At the start of the trip, his main concern is how they might react to him being Black. But as the story progresses, and things get stranger and stranger, he realises their racism is just one part of a much larger secret.
Why single people might love it…
Meeting a partner’s family for the first time is always a stressful experience. Jordan Peele’s directorial debut takes this fear and runs with it, imagining pretty much the most nightmarish scenario possible and placing poor old Chris right in the center of it.
The lesson? If you’re going to go to a new partner’s house, always have an escape plan.
How to watch: Get Out is streaming on HBO Max, and is available for rental or purchase on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
3. Ready or Not
Worst. Wedding night. Ever.
Credit: 20th Century Fox / Kobal / Shutterstock
What’s it about?
After marrying her boyfriend, Alex (Mark O’Brien), Grace (Samara Weaving) is subjected to a bizarre post-wedding family tradition that sees her running for her life.
Why single people might love it…
Like Get Out, Ready or Not plays on a fear of the in-laws. What if, rather than just being a bit odd, your new in-laws were actually in league with a rather unpleasant evil entity? What if they forced you to take part in their nefarious traditions? And what if, when push came to shove, your new husband turned out to be an absolute wet flannel whose only steps towards protecting you were moaning a bit about the fact his whole family wanted you dead.
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Luckily, in the case of Ready or Not, Grace is more than capable of taking care of herself.
How to watch: Ready or Not is available for rental or purchase on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
4. Sinister
Ellison Oswalt: Struggling true crime writer, terrible husband.
Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock
What’s it about?
As part of his research for a new true crime book, Ellison (Ethan Hawke) moves his family into a house where the previous residents were butchered.
But when Ellison finds a box of disturbing movies in the attic, he realises that the killings may be part of a much larger pattern.
Why single people might love it…
Ellison Oswalt may be a determined true crime writer, but he’s an absolutely awful husband. Despite occasionally making the right noises about caring for his wife and kids, he’s so obsessed with recapturing his rapidly dwindling fame that he a) doesn’t tell his wife he’s moved her into a literal MURDER HOUSE, and b) repeatedly ignores signs and warnings that whatever killed the previous residents may well be stalking him and his children as well.
Truly a reminder that marriage doesn’t always end well.
How to watch: Sinister is available for rental or purchase on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
5. The Shining
Jack Torrance may be the worst horror movie husband of all time.
Credit: Warner Bros / Hawk Films / Kobal / Shutterstock
What’s it about?
In a particularly proto-Ellison Oswalt move, Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) relocates his family to the abandoned Overlook Hotel to take on the job of caretaker for the winter. But as the sense of isolation sets in, and Jack’s son Danny begins seeing things, Jack’s grip on reality starts to slip.
Why single people might love it…
If you’re going to be stuck in a large, echoey hotel over winter with absolutely no outside contact or hope of escape, you’d at least want to be with your family, right?
Wrong!
As murdery old Jack Torrance makes clear in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s classic novel, sometimes the people closest to you are the ones that can hurt you the most — quite literally, in this sense, as becomes potently obvious when Jack gets his hands on a nearby axe.
Torrance’s unpredictable and violent decline put him up there among the worst horror movie husbands of all time, making Sinister‘s Ellison practically look like a saint in comparison.
How to watch: The Shining is available for rental or purchase on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
6. Audition
Maybe dating isn’t such a great idea after all.
Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock
What’s it about?
Widower Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) is encouraged by his son to try dating again, so he sets up a fake “audition” to meet a new wife. But the woman he ends up falling for, Asami Yamazaki (Eihi Shiina) has her own dark secret.
Why single people might love it…
When it comes to dating, there’s always that small background fear that the person you’re going to meet might be a little bit odd. Or maybe even more than just a little bit. Audition, which features one of the most terrifying female villains of all time, turns that fear up to roughly a million.
Finding a relationship? Who needs that. Delete those dating apps off your phone and be glad there’s no Asami in your life.
How to watch: Audition is streaming on Kanopy, and is available for rental or purchase on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
7. The Loved Ones
Waking up tied to a chair is never good, is it?
Credit: Screen Australia / Kobal / Shutterstock
What’s it about?
When Brent (Xavier Samuel) refuses to accompany his classmate Lola (Robin McLeavy) to prom, she decides to take matters into her own hands. By violently kidnapping him.
Why single people might love it…
Like Audition, Sean Byrne’s dark thriller presents a fairly compelling argument against dating in general. If you’re fed up with seeing photos of smiling couples and looking for some catharsis, Lola’s deeply terrifying rampage will likely more than provide.
How to watch: The Loved Ones is available for rental or purchase on Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV.
UPDATE: Feb. 12, 2026, 4:32 p.m. This feature was first published on Oct. 20, 2020. It has been updated to reflect current streaming options.
Entertainment
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 14, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you’re a film buff.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games 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 today’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.
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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.
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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.
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Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Surge
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Green: A bulge
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Blue: Iconic roles
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Purple: Fresh and cool
Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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 #979 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
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Uptick: HIKE, JUMP, RISE, SPIKE
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Protuberance: BUMP, HUMP, LUMP, MOUND
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Tom Hanks roles: GUMP, PHILLIPS, SULLY, WOODY
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Words before “Mint”: BREATH, JUNIOR, PEPPER, SPEAR
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? Get all the Strands hints you need for today’s puzzle.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
Entertainment
NYT Strands hints, answers for February 14, 2026
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’re affectionate.
Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
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: XOXOXO
The words are related to love.
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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe ways to show affection.
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 Visual Aids.
NYT Strands word list for February 14
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Snuggle
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Embrace
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Cuddle
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Hugs and kisses
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Smack
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Peck
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Smooch
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.
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