Entertainment
James Cameron’s Extremely R-Rated 90s Sci-Fi Thriller Is Impossible To Watch Online
By Robert Scucci
| Published
One of the hardest things about enjoying dystopian sci-fi is how time continues to march forward, and suddenly we’re looking back at 1995’s Strange Days in the year 2026, knowing full well that Y2K’s initial threat never came close to living up to expectations. It’s easy to write off films like Strange Days for this reason alone because we all lived to see another day, despite the many kernels of truth peppered throughout the film’s premise. It’s worth noting, though, that the film isn’t nearly as dated as you might think, as it taps into present-day issues like police brutality, government overreach, device addiction, and a general sense of technology-driven apathy and malaise.
One of the unfortunate realities about Strange Days is that it’s nearly impossible to watch online. However, this isn’t due to some grand Orwellian conspiracy once you look at the numbers. Even though Roger Ebert gave Strange Days a perfect four-star rating, and the film currently boasts a 71 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, the simple fact of the matter is that it only grossed $17 million at the box office against its reported $42 million production budget.
In other words, Strange Days, despite its acclaim, is still very much in the red, and when you consider the complicated, longstanding rights issues associated with the film, it’s not exactly a desirable IP for streaming platforms to pick up.
One SQUID To Rule Them All
Strange Days opens with a literal bang as we witness a Chinese restaurant getting held up at gunpoint. It’s shot from a frantic first-person perspective, and the robbery quickly goes off the rails. The building is surrounded by police, there’s a frenetic chase sequence, and after trying to jump from one city rooftop to the next, the person whose head we’re living in loses his grip and falls to his death, which introduces us to our protagonist, Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes).
Lenny is a former LAPD officer turned black market purveyor of the highly illegal, highly addictive SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device), a sort of virtual reality technology that allows its users to live somebody else’s memories as if they were their own. Lenny gets a kick out of watching the memories, which are stored on small CD-ROMS, when he retrieves them from his hookup, Tick (Richard Edson), before selling them off for a profit. He’s essentially a drug dealer because people become addicted to the dopamine rush that comes from living vicariously through somebody else’s memories and experiencing every sensation as if they were their own.
In between his black market business ventures, Lenny often throws on discs featuring memories with his rock band fronting ex-girlfriend, Faith (Juliette Lewis), while downplaying his obsession whenever he’s around Mace (Angela Bassett), a limo driver and bodyguard who doesn’t like how deep into the SQUID technology he’s getting. She doesn’t want to see him go off the deep end because when he was a cop, he functioned as a father figure to her young son after her abusive boyfriend was arrested and Lenny was the officer on the scene.
When a SQUID disc depicting a murder is dropped through the sunroof of Lenny’s car by a frightened prostitute named Iris (Brigitte Bako), Lenny, Mace, and private investigator Max (Tom Sizemore) try to figure out exactly what’s going on. While this initial murder investigation is underway, a far more sinister plot emerges involving Faith’s new record executive boyfriend, Philo Gant (Michael Wincott), and the recently murdered rapper and activist he used to manage, Jeriko One (Glenn Plummer).
When Cyberpunk And Neo-Noir Aesthetics Collide
Like most dystopian films, everything looks simultaneously modern and rundown, and the LA backdrop does so much heavy lifting in Strange Days. Really, all you need to make the imagery pop is wet streets and plenty of neon, and there’s no shortage of either here. Throw in police-state chaos and a murder mystery that slowly unfolds through the voyeuristic SQUID technology as Lenny finds more discs pointing him in the right direction, and you have a solid neo-noir plot where nobody can be trusted because everybody’s up to something.
Lenny and Mace keep the whole film grounded because they trust each other, but with everybody else whispering in their ears, they’re truly going it alone, which becomes terrifying once you consider Lenny’s increasing dependence on SQUID and Mace’s unwillingness to watch somebody she loves destroy himself.
Everything about Strange Days still holds up today if you ignore the whole Y2K angle, but in my mind, that just makes it a time capsule from a very specific moment in history. The SQUID technology is more relevant than ever because it hints at the kind of media addiction we live with today. The Jeriko One storyline points to much larger systemic issues involving racism and the horrors of living in a police state where every officer is corrupt and pushing some sort of ulterior agenda. But what makes Strange Days a truly timeless piece of cinematic art is its gritty aesthetic, shifts in perspective, and willingness to hold back major reveals until absolutely necessary, giving the mystery layer upon layer that rewards multiple viewings.
Strange Days is uncomfortable, addictive, and, at its core, a thrilling mystery that slowly unravels across 145 minutes without ever skimping on style or favoring it over substance. James Cameron was right to pen the screenplay with director Kathryn Bigelow in mind because she clearly understood the assignment.
As of this writing, Strange Days is not available on streaming or on demand. The best way to watch the film is to track down a physical copy on Amazon or keep your eyes peeled the next time you’re at the thrift store. Even then, you might have a hard time finding it because it’s been out of print for quite some time.
Entertainment
The best HBO Max deals and bundles in May 2026
The best HBO Max deals and bundles in May 2026:
Looking for some exciting new films or shows to watch this spring? HBO Max is the place to find them. With a new season of Euphoria dropping weekly on the platform and a brand new season of House of the Dragon coming in June, there’s plenty to watch right now.
If these have caught your eye, the good news is that HBO Max has a few different bundles available at the moment that are worth checking out, including a popular bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. With streaming prices on the rise, a bundle like this can be a great way to save some cash while retaining access to your favorite services.
Alongside bundles, we’ve also broken down HBO Max’s standard plans in case you’re interested in its service on its own.
Best Disney+ bundle deal
$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free
Why we like it
The HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu bundle is a top-tier choice for those looking to have access to some of the biggest streaming services around. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max’s streaming services for a much lower price than what you’d pay for them on their own. If you’ve already got Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, this bundle is worth every cent. If you’re interested, there are two plan options to choose from:
Best Hulu bundle deal
Add HBO Max to your Hulu base plan from $10.99 per month
Why we like it
If you’re not interested in the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max mega bundle, you can just get Hulu and HBO Max together if you already have a Hulu base plan, which starts at $11.99 per month. HBO Max Basic with Ads can be added onto your plan for $10.99 per month, or you can splash out on the HBO Max Standard plan for $18.49 per month.
Best student deal
Students save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads
Why we like it
It’s always nice when streaming services have a deal for students, and HBO Max’s offer is definitely worth taking advantage of. Students who can verify their status with UNiDAYS are eligible to get the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan for just $5.49 per month. That’s a 50% discount off its $10.99 monthly price. After verifying your status, you’ll receive a unique code that can be used to redeem the discounted plan on HBO Max.
HBO Max’s monthly plans
HBO Max offers a few different subscription plans. If you don’t mind having to sit through ads, HBO Max’s Basic With Ads plan starts at $10.99 per month or the annual plan runs for $109.99 per year. If you can’t stand ads and don’t mind throwing down a bit more cash, the Standard plan will cost you $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year. If you really want to go big on an HBO Max plan, you can spring for the fancy Premium plan, which costs $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year.
Below we’ve broken down what comes with each of these plans, per HBO Max’s website, so you can know a bit more before you buy.
Basic With Ads — $10.99 per month, $109.99 per year
Mashable Deals
Standard (Ad-free) — $18.49 per month, $184.99 per year
Premium (Ad-free) — $22.99 per month, $229.99 per year
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Stream on four devices at once
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4K Ultra HD video quality (as available)
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Dolby Atmos immersive audio (as available)
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100 downloads to watch on the go
If you’re wondering where to start once you’ve set yourself up with a HBO Max subscription, we’ve got an excellent selection of recommendations to point you in the right direction. Looking for a great TV show to kickstart your next binge-watching session? Have a look through our roundup of the 20 best TV shows streaming on HBO Max. Or if you prefer movies, we narrowed down the 25 best movies on HBO Max to make your next movie night a spectacular one.
Entertainment
Ive tested dozens of earbuds. I like these 3 AirPods alternatives.
Folks who prefer earbuds with a stem, people who want great ANC for under $100, anyone looking for excellent battery life, and anyone who wants an all-around pair of earbuds that make as much sense at the gym as they do in the office should opt for the EarFun Air Pro 4.
Most similar to: AirPods 4 with ANC
The EarFun Air Pro 4s are a no-brainer pick as an affordable AirPods alternative — they are Mashable’s favorite ANC earbuds under $100 after all. Performance-wise, they’ll sit more in line with the AirPods 4, but fit-wise, they’ll be more similar to the AirPods Pro 3, thanks to the silicone ear tips that situate more firmly in the ear canal. Honestly, that’s a plus — the AirPods 4 can be much more hit-or-miss at fitting different ear shapes. Beyond the design, these earbuds have impressively adept ANC powered by six internal microphones. Plus, it’s adjustable. I can’t say I noticed massive differences between the various levels, but still, I appreciated that the flexibility was there. Much like the Sony XM6 buds, EarFun shows up Apple when it comes to the customization of the sound profile, thanks to the custom equalizer and presets. Especially for the price point, the sound is surprisingly robust, clear, and dynamic. Maybe not quite on Apple’s level, but not too far off, either. Finally, you’ll get between seven and a half to eight hours of battery life per charge, plus 27 and a half additional hours with the case, making them a great option for anyone who finds themselves using their earbuds round the clock and running down the battery more often than they’d prefer.
Affordability: These earbuds are already $79.99, but almost always go on sale for $62.99, and occasionally even lower to $53.99.
What you might miss: Despite the similarly stemmed design to AirPods, EarFun opts for touch controls on these earbuds, which are mildly consistent at best and straight-up inconsistent at work. During my testing of the buds, I ended up toggling the touch controls off because I found them a little too frustrating to use. The case is also on the bigger side, making the earbuds not quite as portable as AirPods.
Entertainment
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 17, 2026
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition will require some sports and pop culture knowledge.
As we’ve shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, 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 the latest Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections: Sports Edition?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication’s sports coverage. The sports 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 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 before 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.
Mashable Top Stories
Here’s a hint for today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: NFC North
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Green: Allegedly an East Coast-based conference
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Blue: Too many Jalens in the NBA
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Purple: Caps. financial or fashionable
Here are today’s Connections: Sports Edition 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: Sports Edition #601 is…
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
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An NFC North Athlete: BEAR, LION, PACKER, VIKING
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An ACC Athlete: CAVALIER, EAGLE, HOKIE, MUSTANG
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Ja(y)lens in the NBA: BROWN, BRUNSON, DUREN, GREEN
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___Cap: BASEBALL, GUARDIAN, RALLY, SALARY
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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.
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 today’s Connections.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeats as NBA MVP
Thunder, Spurs set for battle of titans in Western Conference finals
