Entertainment
Mindbending Sci-Fi Blockbuster On Netflix Is Director's Masterwork
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
After the success of films like Oppenheimer, it’s fair to declare that Christopher Nolan is one of the greatest and most ambitious directors of this generation. His oeuvre is so expansive and covers so many genres, in fact, that Nolan’s fans often fiercely debate what his best work is. If you’re a sci-fi fan, though, there’s no question that Inception is the director’s masterwork, and you can now stream its mind-bending perfection on Netflix.
Inception On Netflix
If you’re watching Inception for the first time on Netflix, you may need a primer on the plot: basically, we follow the misadventures of a group whose specialty is infiltrating the dreams of corporate titans and extracting important trade secrets from their subconscious. The group’s leader is hired to do something largely thought impossible: to implant an idea into someone’s head rather than simply steal info. Despite immaculate planning, the operation soon goes sideways, leaving our protagonists to fight for their lives in a reality where the rules are constantly changing, threatening to turn the subconscious dreamscape into a lethal nightmare.
Inception is likely to be attractive to Netflix viewers thanks to its amazing cast, starting with Leonardo DiCaprio as the dream thief who is hired to implant an idea into the subconscious of a target played by Cillian Murphy. Ken Watanabe plays the businessman who hires him and Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the partner helping plan the heist. Other big names round out DiCaprio’s team, including Elliot Page and Tom Hardy, and our main character is haunted in the dreamscape by an ex-wife played to perfection by Marion Cotillard.
A Sci-Fi Success
With a budget of $160 million, Inception is better than most of the sci-fi originals on Netflix, and you can certainly see the money onscreen thanks to the larger-than-life imagery and trippy visuals used to bring the subconscious mind to life. Fortunately for Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros., this big-budget gamble paid off in an equally big way. The film went on to earn a respectable $839 million at the box office, cementing its place in Hollywood history even as it became the source of endless hilarious memes.
Another way that Inception distinguishes itself from Netflix’s typical sci-fi offerings is that it earned many prestigious awards. Notably, the movie took home four Academy Awards, including the Oscar for Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography (to this day, this is likely to be the prettiest movie you see all year). And while it didn’t take home these particular awards, the film was nominated for other Academy Awards such as Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, which gives you an idea of just how much this movie impressed critics as well as audiences.
Speaking of impressing the critics, Inception distinguishes itself from other Netflix sci-fi fare in how much it won over individual critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a critical score of 87 percent, with critics generally praising how Inception is both a smart puzzle box of a film as well as a viscerally crowd-pleasing action epic. On the site’s Pocornmeter, meanwhile, audiences gave it 91 percent, which certainly underscores how well Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece has wowed just about everyone who sees it.
Will you be similarly wowed by Inception when you stream it on Netflix, or is this sci-fi blockbuster the stuff of your nightmares rather than your dreams? You won’t know until you hit play and stream it for yourself. And if you end up confusing reality and fiction while watching, just take a look at Cotillard. The fact that DiCaprio’s big love interest in the film was 35 at the time (a full decade older than DiCaprio’s real-life romantic partners) is a sure sign you’re still (for better or for worse) stuck in the real world.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
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 Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
