Entertainment
Jack Black's Raunchy, #1 On Netflix Comedy Is Tropic Thunder Meets Super 8
By Robert Scucci
| Updated
Reboots are a dime a dozen these days, and in most cases they feel like unnecessary cash grabs. While it makes sense to revitalize an intellectual property that has proven profitable in the past, it doesn’t make much sense if nothing new is being added to the franchise. That’s how I felt going into 2025’s Anaconda, starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd. I had a change of heart when I realized I was watching a meta-reboot that never once takes itself seriously, playing out more like Tropic Thunder than the 1997 film that inspired it.
Anaconda is essentially a parody about a creature feature being made by its own protagonists. Everything falls apart spectacularly, some enemies become friends, and some friends become enemies. Most importantly, the CGI snake antagonist that terrorizes everybody still looks awful, but that’s part of the charm, and I have reason to believe that this was an intentional creative choice.
Super 8 And Tropical Thunder Energy
2025’s Anaconda follows similar beats to 2008’s Tropic Thunder and 2011’s Super 8, using the original Anaconda film as its launching point. Its similarities to the latter show up in the dynamic between childhood friends Doug McCallister (Jack Black) and Ronald “Griff” Griffin (Paul Rudd), who used to make movies in their backyard with whatever equipment they could get their hands on. Now middle-aged, Doug technically works in film, but he’s stuck in an unfulfilling job shooting wedding videos and gender reveal announcements. Griff is technically an actor, but he’s little more than a glorified extra on S.W.A.T.
Griff approaches Doug with the opportunity of a lifetime, claiming he owns the rights to the Anaconda franchise. The idea is simple. They’ll travel to the Amazon rainforest with their friends Kenny (Steve Zahn) and Claire (Thandiwe Newton) and film their own spiritual sequel. Doug is tired of dreaming and ready to make something happen instead of settling for mediocrity. They get their finances together, meet boat operator Ana (Daniela Melchoir) and snake handler Carlos (Selton Mello), and set everything in motion. The problem is their tamed snake escapes, Ana’s intentions may not be as pure as they seem, and they run into a series of obstacles they never once considered.
A Solid, Self-Referential Reboot
Just as they find their groove, they run into two major problems. First, there’s actually a massive anaconda on the loose, and it’s just like the one from the original film, laughably bad production values included. Second, they encounter another crew filming their own Anaconda movie, which means Griff doesn’t actually have the rights after all. Not only is the group in mortal danger because the snake can swallow humans whole, they may have to deal with something even worse: copyright disputes.
Just when you think things are about to spiral completely out of control, you remember this is a farcical, PG-13 reboot of a 90s creature feature starring Paul Rudd and Jack Black, so you already know it’s heading toward a somewhat wholesome ending. The fun comes from how it gets there. While you might expect Jon Voight to show up, he doesn’t, but two unexpected Anaconda alums pop in and clearly have a great time poking fun at themselves.
If you’re looking for an update on a campy creature classic that the whole family can enjoy, Anaconda is a safe bet. It’s funny enough for adults to get behind, and the violence is over-the-top and deliberately fake enough not to traumatize your kids. It’s no surprise it’s the number one movie on Netflix as of this writing.
Entertainment
The best Hulu deals and bundles in April 2026
HULU BUNDLES: Hulu is offering a range of bundle deals so you can stream from its impressive library without breaking the bank.
The best Hulu deals and bundles in April 2026:
There’s a wide range of excellent shows and films to watch on Hulu. From The Testaments to season two of Paradise, it’s a library that’s full of options to keep you entertained this spring.
If these have caught your eye and have you itching to sign up for Hulu, we’re here to help you get the best deal. Outside of the standard ad-supported and ad free plans, there are quite a few bundle deals available with Hulu that are worth exploring if you’re looking to save some cash. This includes the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package.
‘Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice’ review: Time-traveling gangster comedy is a must-see crowd-pleaser
Below you can find details on Hulu’s best bundles at the moment — alongside information on both its ad-supported and ad free plans, if you just want the basics — offering you a way to save on the service right now.
Best Disney+ bundle deal
$12.99 per month with ads
Why we like it
For those interested in the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, which sets you up with Disney+ alongside Hulu, it starts at $12.99 per month. If you’d prefer the Premium ad-free version of this plan, this jumps to $19.99 per month.
Best HBO Max bundle deal
$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free
Why we like it
This is one of the best Hulu bundles available at the moment. 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 the three of them separately. It’s an incredible deal to take advantage of, especially if you’ve already got Disney+ and HBO Max subscriptions. There are two plans to choose from with this bundle, and they are:
Best student deal
Hulu with ads for $1.99/month
Why we like it
If you’re a student enrolled at a university, you can score a Hulu (with ads) plan for even lower than the above bundles. Hulu’s Student Deal gives eligible college students the ability to buy a Hulu (with ads) plan for just $1.99 per month. Hulu notes that the deal lasts “so long as student enrollment status remains verified,” then it goes back up to the standard monthly price.
Best ESPN bundle deal
Why we like it
Alongside the big Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max bundle, Hulu also has plans for sports fans that throw in ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, “ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+.”
The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.
Mashable Deals
Hulu’s monthly plans
If you’re just looking to jump straight into Hulu’s library without any fancy bundles, there are a couple of subscription options to consider. The ad-supported tier comes in at $11.99 per month, but you’ll get your first month free, which is a great way to test the waters and see if it’s the right fit for you. If you want to go ad free, that’ll cost you $18.99 per month. Unfortunately, this plan does not offer a free trial like its ad-supported sibling.
If you really want to go big on a streaming investment, there’s the Hulu + Live TV plan. This costs a whopping $89.99 per month for its ad-supported plan, but comes with plenty to keep you busy. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) gets you access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN Select (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). If you want to go even bigger with the ad-free plan — which offers Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) alongside Live TV — it’ll cost you $99.99 per month. The ad-supported plan also offers a free trial, but for just three days instead.
Wondering what to watch once you get set up with a Hulu plan or bundle? We’re here to help with that as well. Have a look at our roundups of the 30 best comedies on Hulu, the 25 best sci-fi movies on Hulu, and the 26 best horror movies on Hulu to start building your watchlist. And if you’re in the mood to binge-watch a show, check out our breakdown of the 25 best shows on Hulu.
Entertainment
The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is down to its record-low price at Amazon — save over $500 this weekend
SAVE $500: As of April 11, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,089 at Amazon. That’s over $500 off the list price and the best-ever price at Amazon.
$1,099
at Amazon
$1,599
Save $500
The 2026 drone market is currently in a weird state of flux. Legislative pressure is mounting on DJI imports. We’ve moved past the phase of uncertainty into genuine panic buying before stock disappears for good.
Any sort of deal during this frantic period is very much welcome. Any sort of deal down to a record-low price cannot be ignored.
As of April 11, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is down to $1,089 at Amazon — its all-time low and over $500 off the list price for a limited time.
Mashable Deals
The Mini 5 Pro remains the champion of the lightweight category. For creators, the one-inch CMOS sensor is the star of the show, delivering 4K HDR at 60fps that looks like it belongs on a cinema screen. The 360-degree Nightscape sensing maps obstacles in low light while the specialized Nighttime Return-to-Home ensures your investment doesn’t end up as a permanent resident of a neighbor’s tree.
Mashable Deals
We’ve monitored this price point across several sale cycles, and this looks like the floor. If you’re a content creator looking to future-proof your kit with a drone that doesn’t require a commercial pilot’s license, this is the deal to snipe before stock drops.
We’re not encouraging panic buying, but we do believe in tactical shopping — and there’s never been a better time to invest in this versatile drone.
Entertainment
T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim
TL;DR: Score a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.
In the mobile world, the word “free” is usually followed by a list of caveats that make you wish you never started looking for a deal. You usually need to sign up for the most expensive plan or trade-in a premium phone to get your hands on what you really want. But that’s not the case with the latest T-Mobile offer.
T-Mobile is offering a rare deal on the newly-released Apple iPhone 17e. For a limited time, you can pick up this A19-powered device for free by simply opening a new line.
You’ll need to activate a new line on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Experience More plans to get the iPhone 17e. The phone’s full retail price is covered via 24 monthly bill credits, and since you aren’t trading in your old phone, you can keep it as a backup, give it to a kid, or sell it on a third-party site to actually make money on this deal. We did say this was a rare opportunity to save.
Mashable’s Stan Shroeder got his hands on the iPhone 17e and said “The combination of having Apple’s latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years.” That’s an impressive lifespan for a budget-friendly phone, particularly when it’s free.
If you need something a little more powerful, you can also pick up the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing on for 24 months of an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible phone. That gets you unthrottled 5G data, 4K streaming, and enough international roaming for even the most adventurous of travellers.
Mashable Deals
It’s important to note that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee. Is this really “free” when you need to sign up to something or pay an upfront fee? It’s a gray area, OK? We’re doing our best.
Score an iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.
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