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Chris Pratt's Worst Movie Is A Streaming Hit On Netflix

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated

You can’t escape Chris Pratt. You can try, but wherever you go, there’s a Chris Pratt movie waiting for you. The case can be made that the internet’s hatred of the Guardians of the Galaxy/Super Mario Bros/Jurassic World/Garfield/The Lego Movie star is overblown. People arguing that have never seen his 2016 sci-fi film, Passengers with Jennifer Lawrence. For some reason, the film is now in the Netflix Top 10, where hopefully more people will understand it’s a horror movie from the monster’s perspective. 

Passengers Is A Horror Movie

The opening of Passengers has a great hook: Chris Pratt plays Jim, an engineer onboard a colony ship, who wakes up out of hypersleep 90 years too early. Alone and isolated, his only friend is the robotic bartender, Arthur (Michael Sheen). Watching Jim eat alone, explore the ship by himself, play basketball to pass the time, is a sci-fi take on Castaway. Until he stumbles across the pod containing Jennifer Lawrence’s Aurora (that’s also the name of Sleeping Beauty, which is as subtle as the film gets). 

Jim starts going through the passenger logs and becomes infatuated with Aurora to the point where he pops open her pod and wakes her up. We’re supposed to root for the two of them as they fall in love, save the ship, and embrace a life together. This is where Passengers miscalculates: Jim’s condemned a woman to die with him. She has no choice but to fall in love with him since well, they are all alone on the ship, and you know, the implication. 

If Passengers had taken Aurora’s perspective instead of Jim’s, it would be an exceptional horror film. We’d get to see her slowly learn that he broke her pod. The realization that she was trapped. There’s so much story potential from that angle, it’s only a matter of time until someone makes it happen. 

Jennifer Lawrence Regrets Starring In Passengers

When it debuted, Passengers was a hit, earning $300 million during its run and every time it shows up on a streaming service it’s in the top ten. The catch is, usually it’s first time watchers. They see Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence and get curious, fire it up, and then, as it should have with Aurora, the horror slowly dawns on them. 

Passengers benefited from one of the most misleading trailers of all time, which left out the reality of the situation. Instead, it looked like a high-octane space survival thriller. It’s not. It’s a horror movie disguised as a slow-burn romantic sci-fi drama. Over time, Jennifer Lawrence agreed with the need for the film to be from Aurora’s perspective, going so far as to openly regret having starred in the film in the first place. 

If you want to see the trainwreck for yourself, Passengers is currently on Netflix. Meanwhile, Chris Pratt has only starred in two films so far in 2026: Mercy and Super Mario Bros. Galaxy, but don’t worry, he has a third on the way: Way of the Warrior Kid, and in 2027, Garfield 2. And a small film you may have heard about, Avengers Doomsday. You can’t escape Chris Pratt.


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Entertainment

This $145 ASUS Chromebook is a laptop and tablet in one

TL;DR: Get two gadgets in one with this ASUS Chromebook CM30, on sale now for only $144.97 (reg. $369.99) through July 19.


$144.97

$369.99
Save $225.02

 

If you’re in the market for a laptop and a tablet, you have a pretty steep price tag ahead of you. The ASUS Chromebook CM30 solves for that, giving you two devices in one thanks to a detachable keyboard.

Right now, you can bring home this multitasking device for less than you would pay for just one of those items — $144.97 — until July 19.

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The world asks a lot of us these days. Since we’re all used to multitasking, our devices should be able to do it too. This ASUS Chromebook CM30 is up to the task — offering an easy way to switch from a productivity laptop to a relaxation tablet in just a few seconds.

The ASUS Chromebook is a 2-in-1 device powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, delivering smooth, efficient performance. 8GB RAM and 128GB eMMC storage let you multitask, save files locally, and have enough room for your favorite apps.

The 10.5-inch touchscreen delivers crisp visuals and intuitive touch control and easily detaches from the keyboard to provide a sleeker user experience. There’s also a garaged stylus with fast-charging technology that lets you change things up when you’re tired of tapping.

This Chromebook arrives running Chrome OS, an efficient operating system for today’s busy world. There are also dual 5MP front and rear cameras for capturing images and hopping on video calls.

You’ll enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and plenty of ports for your connectivity needs. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 help you connect anywhere, and you can rest easy taking this ASUS Chromebook along with you thanks to its military-grade aluminum chassis that offers rugged protection on the go.

You’re saving over $200 thanks to this model’s Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to zero scuffing on the case.

Bring home an ASUS Chromebook CM30 for just $144.97 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Entertainment

Microsoft Office is finally a one-time purchase, and it’s only $30

TL;DR: Instead of paying for Microsoft 365 every month, get a Microsoft Office lifetime license while they’re on sale for $29.97. Sale ends July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.


$29.97

$219.99
Save $190.02

 

You might not want to keep paying for Microsoft 365 anymore. At its absolute cheapest, Microsoft 365 is $99.99 per year, and that’s if you pay for the full year up front, but it’s also not your only option anymore. Instead of paying for the same software year after year, now you can get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office installed directly onto your PC, and it’s only $29.97 (reg. $219.99) on sale.

You don’t have to pay a monthly fee to get the core Microsoft apps anymore.

This version of Microsoft Office comes with

  • Word

  • Excel

  • PowerPoint

  • Outlook

  • Publisher

  • Access

  • OneNote

  • Teams (free version)

Just keep in mind that Microsoft is ending support for Publisher in October, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use it. It just means it won’t be changing anymore, which may actually be a good thing if you like your apps to look the same tomorrow as they were yesterday.

This license is a little different from Microsoft 365. It doesn’t come with extras like cloud storage, or the new AI integrations, but for many users, that’s actually a good thing. The AI integrations are still being worked out, so sudden updates can totally change your workflow. If you want a simple, reliable set of tools to work with, this is an excellent option for a great price.

Through July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it’s only $29.97 to get a Microsoft Office lifetime license.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Entertainment

Hands-on with Tiny Vinyls new tiny record player

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The miniature record maker Tiny Vinyl has announced some tiny accessories for its pocket-sized singles, including a new Tiny Vinyl Player ($49.99), crate ($19.99), and display frame ($14.99). The lineup is available exclusively at Target starting today, July 12.

Tiny Vinyl debuted last August as a new way for music lovers to enjoy some of their favorite artists’ singles in physical format. (For my fellow Millennials out there, they’re basically a new take on HitClips.) Each four-inch, fully functional Tiny Vinyl record has one song per side and is numbered, making them highly collectible. The current Tiny Vinyl catalog features releases from several dozen artists, including BTS, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Kid Cudi, Noah Kahan, and Zara Larsson.

In a press release, Tiny Vinyl co-founder Neil Kohler said the company’s new accessories are a direct response to fan requests. Co-founder Jesse Mann added: “These new products give music fans and collectors everything they need to build out their own little Tiny Vinyl universe, a setup as fun and personal as the music they love.”

Hands-on with Tiny Vinyl’s new player and accessories

the tiny vinyl player, crate, and display stand on a white media console

Tiny Viny’s new accessories range in price from $15 to $50.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Tiny Vinyl records are playable on many standard turntables at 33 RPM, making the Tiny Vinyl Player an inessential novelty purchase for most adults who are already into the vinyl-collecting hobby. I think it has much more appeal as a “baby’s first record player” that parents buy for their kids. My younger self would’ve had her American Girl Dolls DJing with it. (American Girl actually sells a toy turntable for the same price already, but it’s not functional.)

The player is a manual belt-drive turntable in a box with a faux leather exterior. Inside, there’s a small storage pocket, a simple control panel, and built-in speakers. It has Bluetooth support if you’d prefer to pair it with a nicer wireless speaker or headphones instead. You can also plug in a wired speaker on the back.

The storage pocket can comfortably fit about six Tiny Vinyl records — preferably, ones you’re not precious about. When the player’s lid is shut, it hits the corners of their gatefolds unless they’re pushed to the back of the pocket.

a close-up of a woman's hand holding three tiny vinyl records in front of the tiny vinyl player

They are, indeed, tiny vinyl.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The player’s control panel features a power button, an audio output selector with an LED indicator light, and a volume slider. When it’s on, its silicon platter doesn’t start spinning until you unlock its plastic tonearm, raise it with its cue lever, and move it over the platter. The tonearm and its lock are a little delicate; those are the only parts I’d be worried about a child accidentally breaking.

Tiny Vinyl sent me three different mini-records to test on the player. It offers the kind of audio quality you’d expect for $50: pretty tinny, muffled, and a little distorted. (I also played the records on my regular turntable for comparison’s sake, and they sounded 10 times better.) On the upside, I couldn’t hear the player’s interior mechanisms at all when it was on — it runs really quietly.

a close-up of the tiny vinyl player

The Tiny Vinyl Player supports Bluetooth and wired speakers. (That blue indicator light means it’s paired with my JBL Charge 5.)
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Tiny Vinyl Player comes with a USB cord and power adapter. A company representative told me that it should only be plugged into an outlet, as hooking it up to a laptop or another device with a USB port won’t give it enough juice to work.

The Tiny Vinyl Storage Crate can hold up to 30 Tiny Vinyl records. It has the same pebbled pleather finish as the player and is designed to sit beneath it. There are four indents on its surface where the player’s feet are supposed to go.

the tiny vinyl player on top of the tiny vinyl crate

The Tiny Vinyl Storage Crate can hold up to 30 mini-records. (I only had three on hand.)
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Tiny Vinyl’s new 2×2 Display Frame is meant to showcase your four favorite Tiny Vinyl covers. Its build quality is also on par for the price: It’s made with MDF (medium-density fiberboard) and an acrylic pane. Right out of the box, my initial review unit was splitting in several spots and had dried adhesive on some of its corners. (Tiny Vinyl had a replacement in the mail at the time of writing, and I’ll update this story if it’s any different.)

The display frame comes with four clear plastic sleeves bearing the Tiny Vinyl logo. The company rep confirmed that these are made from polypropylene, which won’t damage your records with off-gassing over time like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sleeves.

Vinyl is back in a not-tiny way

a tiny vinyl record on a standard turntable

Tiny Vinyl records work on many standard turntables.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The press release noted that Tiny Vinyl’s inception was motivated by two recent trends: miniature collecting and vinyl collecting. The former gained popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, largely thanks to videos of miniature builds on social media. They tap into viewers’ desire for control, fascination with craft, and penchant for the adorable, experts told NPR last spring.

The vinyl revival, meanwhile, has been brewing for nearly two decades now. According to a report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), U.S. vinyl sales have seen 19 years of consecutive growth. Last year, they hit $1 billion in revenue for the first time. (That’s not even counting pre-owned vinyl.) Call it the Taylor Swift effect: The singer-songwriter’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, sold over 1.6 million copies on vinyl last year, per a report from Luminate, an entertainment industry analytics company. That’s 5.5 times as many units as the second-bestselling vinyl release of 2025, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, which sold 292,000 copies.

There are several factors behind the vinyl resurgence, two being mere nostalgia and consumers’ growing interest in owning physical media. Another is because popular artists like Swift (and their labels) are embracing the format alongside their fans.

In recent years, this has increasingly involved a strategy of releasing multiple vinyl variants of the same album as a means of driving sales, according to another Luminate report. These special, often limited-edition pressings boost the collectible factor and fuel fan FOMO. (For her part, Swift released 11 different vinyl variants of TLOAS, including nine webstore exclusives that were only available for a short time.) Tiny Vinyl records, which are chart-eligible with the RIAA and Billboard, are yet more variants to hunt down.

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