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Netflix's Biggest Upcoming Original Series Will Play In Movie Theaters

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

Fresh off the success of the Stranger Things series finale debuting in theaters, Netflix is again dipping a toe into cinema with the upcoming One Piece Season 2 premiere. The first two episodes of the new season are coming to 200 theaters across the United States. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but considering Netflix has been trying to replace the theatrical experience, it’s a testament to the power of the large-screen, community-viewing experience. Well, that, and following the breakout success of Season 1, the sheer popularity of the live-action Straw Hat Pirates can’t be ignored. 

One Piece Is Coming To The Big Screen

The Stranger Things two-hour series finale was a cultural event. After 10 years, the streamer’s most successful original series was finally coming to an end. By comparison, the second season debut of One Piece doesn’t quite measure up. Except, fans of the anime know that the five arcs being adapted this time around, from “Loguetown” through “Drum Island,” include fan-favorite moments that have resonated for decades. Season 1 was a hit, but Season 2 has the potential to turn the live-action anime adaptation into the most popular show on the planet. 

One Piece Season 2 brings Luffy (Inaki Godoy), Nami (Emily Rudd), Zoro (Mackenyu), Usopp (Jacob Gibson), and Sanji (Taz Skylar) to the Grand Line, the vast ocean route that circumnavigates the world. It’s home to countless islands and warring factions, giant whales, dinosaurs, a pair of warring giants, and the adorable Chopper. If done right, this will be Netflix’s most visually impressive series ever. 

Watching the One Piece anime is a daunting task, considering it’s at over 1100 episodes and counting. The One Piece live-action adaptation streamlines the adventure, though this sometimes means beloved characters are left out, including the majority of Buggy the Clown’s evil circus pirates and Jango, the moonwalking hypnotist. It’s still the best way to get caught up on the adventures of the Straw Hat pirates without watching thousands of hours of anime. 

Netflix Doubles Down On Anime

Netflix is doubling down on One Piece by also bringing The One Piece, an anime remake, to the streaming service in the near future. Eiichiro Oda, creator of the original manga, is actively involved in the franchise’s Netflix offerings, which is likely why the live-action adaptation has succeeded when normally live-action anime falls flat on its face. The Attack on Titan live-action was a disaster, and no one wants to acknowledge the existence of Dragonball Evolution

Fans don’t have long to wait before catching the first two episodes of One Piece Season 2 on the big screen. If you’re lucky enough to live near any of the 200 theaters hosting the event, you’ll be able to catch it live on March 10 at 6:00 PM, synced with the global streaming release the same way Stranger Things was. There’s no telling if this is a sign that Netflix will keep pushing new releases into theaters, or if it’s only for the largest, most successful streaming shows in its catalogue. If the first season is any indication, then fans have nothing to worry about when Luffy’s gummy devil fruit powers hit the big screen. The only question is, how awesome is the new season going to be and how can One Piece become even more popular than it already is? 


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Entertainment

Hurdle hints and answers for July 22, 2026

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Possessive.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

WHOSE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A small, round fruit.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GRAPE

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To intrigue.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

PIQUE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To follow.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ABIDE

Final Hurdle hint

To yearn for.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

COVET

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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Netflix Horror Thriller Series Brings Fan-Favorite 90s Books To Life

By Charlene Badasie
| Published

The 2022 horror mystery-thriller The Midnight Club is one of Netflix’s most overlooked originals. Created by Mike Flanagan and Leah Fong, the 10-episode series adapts Christopher Pike’s 1994 novel of the same name while weaving elements from 27 of the prolific YA author’s other books into a single haunting story. Set at Brightcliffe Hospice Care for Teenagers, it follows a group of terminally ill young adults who gather each night to share terrifying stories and unravel the institution’s darkest secrets.

The Patients Of Brightcliffe

Set in the mid-1990s, the series begins when Ilonka (Iman Benson), a bright and ambitious young woman battling terminal thyroid cancer, chooses to live at Brightcliffe Hospice Care. She befriends Kevin (Igby Rigney), a leukemia patient, and clashes with her roommate Anya (Ruth Codd). One night, Ilonka stumbles upon a secret gathering of the Midnight Club.

The secret society, comprised of the patients of Brightcliffe, tries to communicate with the dead and shares eerie stories that intertwine with the hospice’s ominous history. As Ilonka delves deeper into the story of a former patient named Julia Jayne (Larsen Thompson), the supposed healer from the past, she uncovers a sinister cult, symbolized by the number “292.13,” and drawings that hint at a dark past.

21 Jump Scares

Julia, the founder of the original Midnight Club in 1969, had connections to Paragon, a cult that practiced unsettling rituals. The plot thickens as Ilonka, with Kevin’s help, discovers a hidden floor beneath the hospice. Records of the original club and evidence of a cult terrify the group. The final episodes bring closure for some characters, while others meet tragic ends.

The Midnight Club quickly captured the attention of Netflix audiences, recording an impressive 90.31 million hours viewed between October 2 and October 23, 2022, securing its position in the platform’s top 10. The series’ debut episode also made history by breaking the Guinness World Record for the most scripted jump-scares in a single episode, with 21 hair-raising moments.

the midnight club

The series was initially supposed to run for multiple seasons but was unexpectedly canceled in December 2022. Despite its premature ending, The Midnight Club earned critical acclaim and currently holds an 85 percent approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised Flanagan’s heartfelt approach to horror and the unique blend of individual stories with the overarching plot.

Other Horror Titles On Netflix From Mike Flanagan

Mike Flanagan has made a name for himself with his Netflix shows, including The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher. These series are known for their focus on the human condition rather than jump scares and loud noises. Flanagan’s nonlinear approach to horror works very well, and he often tells parallel stories in the past and present.

The Haunting of Hill House became a huge surprise hit and remains a fan favorite. The Fall of the House of Usher, Flanagan’s most recent Netflix project, is an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s vast bibliography and is up there with his best efforts. While The Midnight Club may have been axed prematurely, its chilling tales, stellar cast, and impressive viewership numbers are cemented into the annals of Netflix’s haunting offerings.


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Netflix Sci-Fi Time Loop Thriller Overlooked For Years Shatters All Expectations

By TeeJay Small
| Published

Time loop movies are all the rage, with incredible high-concept ideas taking the premise plotted out by 1993’s Groundhog Day and expanding upon it in a new and creative fashion. One such film is 2016’s ARQ, a film that takes the time loop concept and pairs it with action thriller set-pieces.

ARQ‘s a wild ride from start to finish. Though the film failed to make a massive splash when it was first released on Netflix nearly a decade ago, it stands as an excellent outing, shocking many fans who find their way to the film today.

Reliving A Violent Kidnapping

ARQ‘s plot centers on a couple named Renton and Hannah, who wake up one morning as three violent men break into their bedroom. Despite their attempts to fight back and escape, the situation restarts each time they achieve any level of success. After the armed men successfully capture the couple and tie them to chairs, the leader, known only as ‘Father,’ explains that they are part of a rebel group called the Bloc.

Father commands Renton to give him money allegedly stolen from the massive Torus Corporation, where Renton is employed. Once the Bloc men are distracted, Renton cuts himself and Hannah loose and explains that he built and stole a perpetual motion machine, which he calls the ARQ, while working for the company.

ARQ Saved By Netflix

arq 2016

ARQ is written and directed by Orphan Black writer Tony Elliott. The idea for the film dates all the way back to 2008 when a Canadian film studio approached Elliott to option the script. The project fell into nearly a decade of development hell afterward.

Luckily, Netflix eventually bought the rights to produce and distribute the project in 2016 for a total budget of less than $2 million, resulting in the streamer being the exclusive home for the film worldwide.

arq 2016

ARQ stars Rachael Taylor, Shaun Benson, Gray Powell, Jacob Neayem, and Adam Butcher, with Stephen Amell’s brother, Robbie Amell, in the leading role. The film received a world premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, where audiences were wowed by the high-concept application of a time loop film with so many moving parts.

What Sets ARQ Apart From Other Time Loop Movies

arq 2016

Unlike other time loop films, ARQ contains multiple time loops within other time loops, creating a veritable Fibonacci sequence of infinite loops that would drive the average person to madness. The film’s writing is spectacular, revealing intense sci-fi concepts, which explains why it may have been so difficult to make the film in the first place. Regardless, the film has finally found its home, even if it failed to leave a massive mark on the cinema landscape upon its release.

ARQ is now available to view on Netflix. Just be sure to catch it on a day when you’re not experiencing any deja vu.


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