Entertainment
Greatest Sequel In Movie History Is Free To Stream
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Ask anyone on the street to name the greatest movie of all time, and you’ll get a wide range of answers, from Avengers: Endgame to Gone with the Wind, but ask someone to name the greatest sequel ever, and it narrows the field. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is in the conversation, Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan is a classic, but nothing compares to The Godfather: Part II, not only is the best sequel ever made, it’s one of the greatest movies in history. Both sequel and prequel, the return of Michael and Vito Corleone pulled off the rare feat of improving on the near-perfection of the original.
The Godfather Part II Is A Cinematic Masterpiece
The Godfather: Part II splits its narrative along two timelines: first, the rise of Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) in Italy as he takes his first steps into the Mafia. De Niro’s award-winning performance shows the struggle of the future Don as he tries to do right by his family when life keeps kicking him down. When we first met Vito, as played by Marlon Brando in the original, he was confident and in control, ruling an empire, but as we learn in the sequel, it’s an empire doomed to fall.
Vito’s sons, Michael (Al Pacino) and Fredo (John Cazale), struggle to hold onto the Corleone’s top spot in the Mafia amid assassination attempts and a traitor from within the family. While Vito’s story is about building an empire, Michael’s is about the struggle to hold onto one, and you can see how the sons of an immigrant are losing touch with their homeland. The Godfather: Part II is, at its heart, a story about the immigrant experience, which also happens to be the movie that defined crime movies for decades.
Defining A Genre
Impressively, The Godfather Part II earned $93 million worldwide in 1974, which is unadjusted for inflation, which means 50 years later, Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece outgrossed Borderlands. At the time of its release, the sequel/prequel was slammed by critics for being overly slow, and no less a critic than Roger Ebert slammed the dual-narrative. It didn’t take long, though, for the film to be rightly recognized as a landmark achievement in movie history, to the point that not even Megalopolis could diminish the legend of Coppola.
Every Mafia movie that has come after The Godfather Part II is standing on the shoulders of a giant. The Sopranos owes it a debt for building off of Michael’s story, Boardwalk Empire contains echoes of Vito’s struggle to build his Empire, and even the legendary Goodfellas pulls from the tragedy of Fredo. Few films are so successful that they define an entire genre, but that’s exactly what Coppola’s magnum opus has achieved.
The luxurious pacing of The Godfather Part II sticks out even more today in the era of rapid-fire mini-climaxes every 20 minutes. It isn’t a weakness, though; it’s a strength, because when you give the film all of your attention, each and every detail, every subtle interaction, every inflection of De Niro and Pacino carries weight and meaning. Francis Ford Coppola is one of the greatest directors in history, The Godfather is one of the greatest films in history, and yet, its sequel is required viewing by everyone who has even a passing interest in crime cinema.
The Godfather Part II is now streaming for free on Pluto TV.
Entertainment
BookCon 2026: Authors Rachel Reid, Stephanie Archer talk hockey romance and how it could change the sport for the better
With the fervor of Heated Rivalry, there’s a fierce desire among book readers for even more hockey. On Sunday, April 19, at BookCon, the “You Had Me at Hockey: A Look at One of Sports Romance’s Hottest Genres”, authors Rachel Reid (Heated Rivalry, Game Changer), Emily Rath (Pucking Around), Ngozi Ukazu (Check Please), Stephanie Archer (The Wild Card), and Kate Cochrane (Wake Up, Nat & Darcy) were joined by moderator and fellow author Bal Khabra (Collide) to discuss the rise and continued success of hockey romance.
Khabra kicked off the panel, asking just how hockey became so popular. Ukazu joked that it was as if the genre “escaped containment,” like when the Omegaverse went mainstream, while Reid described the mystery around hockey, saying, “what [the players] are doing seems impossible.” Archer also added that the sport itself is exceptionally hard on the body, and the celebrity around players, especially in Canada, is fun to play with.
But there’s more to the genre’s success than the tropes. “It has to be said,” Rath argued, “that the cornerstone of why this is so popular in publishing is racism.” She went on to say that straight, white women’s voices dominated the romance genre for so long, pointing out that hockey is also the whitest sport. Among major league sports, the NHL is the most predominantly white. In 2022, ESPN reported that 83.6% of league players and staff were white, compared to the NFL, where 25-27% of players are white, or the NBA, where white players make up 17.5% of the league.
Mashable Top Stories
Zooming into the genre, the authors also spoke about the writing process. They dove into the deeper aspects of their work, even the smut. Rath said, “I think the least sexy thing you can ever do is write a sex scene.” A similar sentiment came up during Reid’s Saturday panel, where she described using the sex scenes to further the emotional arc. When readers ask authors if they can skip the spice, Archer says of her own books, “No, you can’t skip the sex scenes. You’re missing so much character development if you don’t go on the journey with them.”
The panel turned to the future, too. Many of the authors write BIPOC and queer representation into their novels, in a genre that often centers on whiteness and homophobia. “We’re writing the world as we want it to be,” Rath said.
Reid has found that there is progress toward a future that these authors and their readers want to see, saying that the NHL is interested in working with them. “People on the inside, they really want to work toward change and want to make this happen.”
With the hockey fandom at an all-time high, there’s a whole team behind these authors ready to drive change.
Entertainment
Save on gas (and everything else) with a $15 BJ’s membership
TL;DR: Score a one-year BJ’s membership for $15 (reg. $60) and save up to 20¢/gal. on gas through April 30 — just in time for spring shopping and road trips.
Credit: BJ’s Wholesale Club
The warmer weather tends to sneak up fast, and so do those grocery bills and gas receipts. A one-year membership to BJ’s Wholesale Club is one of those simple upgrades that can make everyday shopping feel a little more manageable.
You can currently grab a Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal for just $15 (reg. $60) through April 30, which opens the door to savings across groceries, household essentials, and even your weekend cookout prep.
Mashable Deals
Let’s start with the obvious, though. Gas prices. Members already get everyday savings at BJ’s Gas, but during this promo window, you’ll get an extra 15¢ off per gallon stacked on top of the usual 5¢ discount — bringing your total to 20¢ off per gallon through April 30.
Inside the club, it’s all about stretching your dollar further. BJ’s is known for offering competitive pricing on national brands, plus a wide selection of fresh produce, meats, bakery items, and deli favorites. Whether you’re planning a backyard BBQ, stocking up for a party, or just trying to cut down on weekly grocery runs, buying in bulk can help simplify things.
Mashable Trend Report
There’s also something to be said for convenience. Fewer trips to the store, more options in one place, and access to seasonal items that make spring and summer feel extra special.
Get a one-year Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal® for just $15 (reg. $60) and enjoy an extra 15¢ off per gallon at any of the 199 BJ’s gas stations through April 30.
Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through April 19.
Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order. Prices subject to change.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
This $43 bundle quietly upgrades your entire PC experience
TL;DR: This rare Microsoft bundle deal gives you a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro for only $42.97 (reg. $418.99) through May 17.
$42.97
$418.99
Save $376.02
Looking for an affordable way to make your old PC feel new again? If you don’t have the funds to buy a brand new computer, don’t worry. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license and Windows 11 Pro Bundle is the next best thing, offering your computer a total upgrade for only $42.97 through May 17.
Don’t count out your dusty old PC. This Microsoft bundle is here to give it a total facelift for less than $50. It kicks off with a lifetime license to some of the brand’s most popular tools — Microsoft Office, which you’ll pay for once and enjoy without any subscription fees.
Mashable Deals
You’ll get permanent access to a suite of eight helpful apps with Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows. It includes staples that have been around for decades, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You’ll also get newer favorites like Teams, OneNote, Access, and Publisher.
Once you’ve loaded the apps onto your device, you can upgrade your OS to Windows 11 Pro. It’s an operating system made for modern professionals, with tools that support your workflow. Enjoy a more powerful search experience, improved voice typing, a seamless interface, snap layouts, and much more.
You can rest easy knowing Windows 11 Pro takes your cybersecurity seriously. You’ll have biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and advanced antivirus defenses to keep your data secure.
Mashable Deals
Show your PC some love with the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro bundle for only $42.97 (reg. $418.99) now until May 17.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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Nothing comes easily for M's ahead of finale vs. Rangers
