Entertainment
Netflix Crowdpleasing Sci-Fi Blockbuster Sequel Continues Fan-Favorite Grudge Match
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Thanks to Oscar season, most movie lovers have dramas on their minds. The kind of heavy films that move you to tears and serve as emotional showcases for their actors. Let’s be honest, though: sometimes you want to skip all that and just watch a couple of hours of monsters kicking the crap out of each other. And if you’re in the mood for that kind of creature feature, you need to stream Godzilla x Kong: New Empire on Netflix.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire On Netflix
While we like to think it has better production value, Godzilla x Kong: New Empire has the kind of plot you’ve probably come to expect from monster movies on Netflix. In this CGI-heavy sequel, Kong is now chilling out inside Hollow Earth while Godzilla keeps the surface world clear of any fellow kaiju that might threaten his rule. But after a mysterious signal goes out, Kong learns more about his people and Godzilla learns more about the threats he faces, forcing them to either team up against a common enemy or destroy each other in glorious combat.
Godzilla x Kong: New Empire may have a delightfully deranged plot, but the nonsense story is anchored by a better cast than you normally find in a Netflix monster movie. The cast includes Rebecca Hall (best known for Vicky Christy Barcelona and The Town) as well as the always-entertaining Brian Tyree Henry (best known for Bullet Train and Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse). Rounding out the core cast is Dan Stevens (best known for Downton Abbey and playing the furry lead in Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast).
Before Godzilla x Kong: New Empire landed on Netflix, it left a Titan-sized impression on theatergoers. Against a budget of $135-$150 million, this film went on to earn $571.9 million at the box office. Thanks to earning enough green to cover Godzilla, the movie is getting a sequel, though it will be directed by Grant Sputore rather than franchise veteran Adam Wingard.
Warner Bros. enjoyed how financially successful Godzilla x Kong: New Empire was, but there was one group this film failed to impress: the critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently has a critical rating of 54 percent. In general, critics griped that the film’s appeal began and ended with its abundant monster-on-monster violence.
At this point, you’d be forgiven for asking the obvious question. Namely, why I’m encouraging you to watch Godzilla x Kong: New Empire on Netflix after critics dropped an A-bomb on it. Part of the answer, though, is that audiences loved it: in addition to its killer kaiju box office, this movie currently has an audience rating of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. As if in synchronized rebuttal to the critics, the majority of those who saw this film agree that monster-on-monster violence is what they came to see, making this monster mash a smash hit.
Additionally, Godzilla x Kong: New Empire is a perfect Netflix watch for franchise fans new and old. If you have fond memories of these two Titans’ earliest cinematic showdowns, you’ll find this film very much a love letter to what came before. And if you’re a newer fan of the franchise, this film is a great follow-up to Wingard’s earlier work and will help you perfectly cap off your next movie monster marathon.
Another way of looking at it is that Godzilla x Kong: New Empire delivers on its title fight much better than, say, Batman v. Superman. That film made us stomach scene after scene of overwrought, self-serious BS before finally giving us what we wanted to see: Batman using a toilet to fight dirty. With Godzilla x Kong, you get plenty of entertaining monster fights from start to finish, all wrapped up in an entertaining plot that never takes itself too seriously.
Will you find Godzilla x Kong: New Empire as monsteriffic as I did when you stream it on Netflix, or will you want to throw this film into Hollow Earth on your next trip? You won’t know until you check it out for yourself. By the time the smoke clears, I’m pretty confident you’ll join me in my excitement for the upcoming sequel to modern film’s most exciting cinematic universe.
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
