Entertainment
Nicolas Cage's Hard R 90s Thriller Is So Controversial It's Scarce On Streaming
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Growing up with unrestricted access to the internet in the late 90s and early aughts, my friends and I were no strangers to the kind of leaked videos and images you’d see on sites like Rotten, along with video series like Faces of Death that traumatized us well into adulthood. When 1999’s 8mm was making its rounds on the movie channels, it wasn’t nearly as shocking as it should have been for a bunch of preteens who had already been exposed to the worst corners of the internet. I’m not saying this as a brag, but to frame why adults paying to see 8mm in theaters were probably left with a terrible taste in their mouths given the film’s subject matter. They didn’t grow up with the same access to disturbing content that desensitized an entire generation way too early.
One of the reasons I’ve taken so long to revisit 8mm as an adult is because it’s not readily available on streaming, and the list of Nicolas Cage films I still haven’t seen keeps growing. The man is a movie-making machine. You simply can’t watch everything all the time, and on-demand purchases are a strong enough barrier for most people to avoid throwing down cash for a rental when they could just fire up Netflix or Max instead.
Telling a story about a detective investigating a snuff film that may or may not be real, 8mm is one of those films Roger Ebert gave three out of four stars for its willingness to go fully hardcore with its premise. He even stated it likely would have received an NC-17 rating for its content if it hadn’t been released by a major studio like Sony Pictures Releasing. While it’s a genuinely unsettling film that explores underground exploitation in graphic detail, 8mm is also a masterclass in suspense and tension thanks to Nicolas Cage’s lead performance and Joel Schumacher’s direction.
If you’re the type who can take or leave Nicolas Cage because of some of his more questionable roles, 8mm is one of those films that will make you reconsider your stance. He goes all in here, and it’s an absolute joy to watch, even when the subject matter feels overwhelmingly heavy.
Fact Or Fiction? Tom Welles Is On The Case
8mm centers on Nicolas Cage’s Tom Welles, a private investigator hired by wealthy widow Mrs. Christian (Myra Carter) and her attorney Daniel Longdale (Anthony Heald). While reviewing her late husband’s estate, Mrs. Christian discovers what appears to be a snuff film hidden away in a private vault and tasks Tom with determining whether it’s real. She can live with the possibility that her husband had a disturbing fetish he kept secret, but her real concern is whether the tape documents an actual murder.
Unsettled by what he sees and offered a life changing amount of money to trace the tape’s origin, Tom says goodbye to his wife Amy (Catherine Keener) and infant daughter Cindy before embarking on a journey that will permanently change him. Once he starts digging into the case, Tom’s investigation leads him to a missing person report involving 16-year-old Mary Ann Mathews (Jenny Powell), who he believes may be either the actor or the victim in the film. This trail leads him to Mary Ann’s mother Janet (Amy Morton), who isn’t sure she wants answers if the truth is as bad as Tom suspects.
Taking a classic noir approach, 8mm sends Tom Welles to Los Angeles to explore the seedy underground pornography circuit in search of any tangible connection to the tape. Along the way, he teams up with video store clerk Max California (Joaquin Phoenix), who serves as both a guide and moral sounding board as Tom sinks deeper into depravity. Together they navigate back-alley swap meets and shadowy contacts populated by some of the most disturbing people Tom has ever encountered.
Hoping to finally break the case and give both Janet and Mrs. Christian some form of closure, Tom meets with talent scout Eddie Poole (James Gandolfini) and notorious underground filmmaker Dino Velvet (Peter Stormare). Both men point him toward an elusive figure known only as Machine, a name whispered with enough fear to suggest Tom may be getting closer to something he can’t walk away from.
Fantastic Neo-Noir Crime Thriller Regardless Of Subject Matter
As a father with kids of my own, 8mm was an unsettling watch for me as an adult, but it’s still an incredibly solid film for any crime thriller fan, heavy subject matter notwithstanding. At its core, it’s a classic private eye story that drags its protagonist into increasingly depraved territory as he slowly loses his grip for reasons that feel completely justified. Like an unsupervised millennial in the 90s hunting for shocking images online, Tom is exposed to things he desperately wishes he could forget, but keeps pressing forward because it’s his job to find the truth.
While Tom becomes increasingly desensitized in his pursuit, he’s driven by a moral obligation to see the case through, even as it strains his marriage back home. He has a daughter of his own, and that personal connection fuels his determination to stop the people he’s tracking from hurting anyone else. I agree with Roger Ebert’s stance on the film. If it had been released by a smaller arthouse studio, 8mm likely never would have reached a mainstream audience.
Potential license issues notwithstanding, it makes sense that 8mm remains hidden behind a paywall. It’s a gruesome film that refuses to soften the depravity it condemns, choosing instead to confront the audience with it.
Still, 8mm is a stunning exercise in cinema that only Nicolas Cage could convincingly pull off, supported by a cast that never treats the material lightly. If you’re looking for a thriller that will stick with you for days, you owe it to yourself to rent or purchase it digitally through Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV+, or Fandango at Home.
Entertainment
Dunkin is giving away free iced coffee on Feb. 9 — use this promo code to qualify
Did you catch the Dunkin’ ad during the Big Game? Dunkin’ reimagined Good Will Hunting as a sitcom, including cameos from the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Jason Alexander, Ted Danson, Alfonso Ribeiro, Jaleel White, and Jasmine Guy. It was a welcome hit of ’90s nostalgia.
During the commercial, Dunkin’ announced that it would be giving away 1.995 million free iced coffees of any size to customers who use the code GOODWILLDUNKIN in the Dunkin’ app on Feb. 9. Simply download the Dunkin’ app to your smartphone (it’s free) and use the code at the checkout. It’s that easy.
Mashable Trend Report
It’s worth noting that this offer is only valid while supplies last and you’re limited to a single redemption.
Dunkin’ has also dropped a collection of authentic vintage and ’90s-inspired clothing that very much fits the vibe of the commercial. This exclusive drop features vintage windbreakers, denim jackets, workout sets, and much more. The entire collection is available to shop now but items are selling out fast.
Entertainment
National Pizza Day 2026 is here — celebrate with deals and freebies from 7-Eleven, Chuck E. Cheese, and more
Monday, Feb. 9 is National Pizza Day. What’s that? This is news to you? You don’t have us fooled. This is one of the biggest days of the year for foodies. Don’t pretend for a second that you haven’t been eyeing up this date for months.
The great news for lovers of dough and melted cheese is that a bunch of popular retailers run promotions on National Pizza Day, including Chuck E. Cheese, Grubhub, Papa Johns, and Pizza Hut. That means you can celebrate this occasion with a cheap slice. We’ve tracked down everything that’s out there and lined up a selection of standout offers for your consideration.
If you want to make the most out of National Pizza Day 2026, check out some of the best freebies and discounts we found below.
National Pizza Day deals
7-Eleven
7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members can buy one pizza and get another for just $3. Plus, use the code DELIVERY10 to get $10 off any first-time orders of $20 or more on the 7NOW Delivery app.
California Pizza Kitchen
Get $10 off $40+ orders at select California Pizza Kitchen locations with the code WINTER10 at checkout.
Mashable Trend Report
Cheez-It
On National Pizza Day, get Cheez-It Duoz Pesto and Mozzarella and Cheez-It Snap’d Margherita Pizza for 20% off plus free shipping with the code PIZZA20.
Chuck E. Cheese
Until Feb. 12, celebrate National Pizza Day with a $5 large one-topping pizza with a games purchase. Fun Pass holders can score this deal without a games purchase.
Grubhub
On National Pizza Day, enjoy BOGO on six-piece wings with orders of at least $15 at Popeyes, get $7 off orders of $30+ at Pizza Hut, and get 25% off orders of $30+ at 7-Eleven. Plus, all Amazon Prime Grubhub+ members can use the code GET10 at the checkout to get $10 off a $30 order.
Papa Johns
Get the XL NY Style Pizza for $11.99 on National Pizza Day.
Papa Murphy’s
Get $10 off $25+ orders with the code PZDAY26.
Pizza Hut
Join Hut Rewards to get a free large one-topping pizza on your next order through the Pizza Hut app. Place a qualifying order through the app or online with a minimum purchase of $7.99 and Hut Rewards members will get a coupon for the free pizza within 24-48 hours in the app.
Entertainment
Amazons early Presidents Day deals include discounts on Apple, Roborock, and more
Best early Presidents’ Day deals as of Feb. 9:
If you missed out on last year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Presidents’ Day is the next major sales event worth shopping — and the first big opportunity of 2026 to save. Historically, this holiday is known for its discounted prices on large appliances, mattresses, and furniture, but if you know where to look, you can find some pretty good deals on smaller home goods and tech.
Here’s everything we know so far about Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale, including the deals you can shop right now.
When is Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale?
Presidents’ Day is Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. While Amazon has yet to announce an “official” sale event, the retailer typically treats the holiday as a long-weekend clearance event, and there are tons of deals already available. As we get closer to the weekend, we anticipate even more markdowns, particularly on Amazon devices (e.g., Echos, Kindles, Fire Sticks) and floor-care brands like Roborock and Dyson.
When does Amazon’s Presidents’ Day sale end?
As with previous sales events, Amazon’s Presidents’ Day deals will run through the three-day weekend, likely capping off late Monday night. In true Amazon style, we expect some Lightning Deals to pop up in the days leading up to the holiday, but don’t expect the best inventory to linger past Monday.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best early Presidents’ Day deals we could find as of Feb. 9:
Best Presidents’ Day Apple deal
$299
at Walmart
$399
Save $100
Why we like it
The Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) is down to $299 right now. That’s a $100 discount, which isn’t too shabby for a deal this early in the year. It’s the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model (according to CamelCamelCamel, it last hit this price on Dec. 30, 2025).
The Series 11 is a Mashable Choice Award winner that features advanced health tracking, up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge (normal use), and a more durable exterior that’s 2x more scratch-resistant than the previous generation.
More Apple deals
Best Presidents’ Day Amazon device deal
$179.99
at Amazon
$219.99
Save $40
Why we like it
The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025 release) was just announced this past October as part of Amazon’s big smart home refresh, and it’s already hitting its lowest price ever. Right now, you can grab it for $179.99, which is an 18% discount off the list price of $219.99.
It features a vibrant 11-inch Full-HD display (offering 60% more viewing area than the Echo Show 8) and room-filling spatial audio, making it a legitimate kitchen TV for streaming Netflix or Prime Video while you cook. It runs on the AZ3 Pro chip for faster responses and includes Alexa+ integration. Plus, the camera is upgraded with auto-framing and zoom for better video calls.
More Amazon device deals
Best Presidents’ Day TV deal
$179.99
at Amazon
$349.99
Save $170
Why we like it
The Insignia 55-inch Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (NS-55F501NA26) is 49% off right now, bringing its price down to an impressive $179.99. That’s a solid deal for a 55-inch TV with smart capabilities (it’s also an Amazon’s Choice product with a 4.3-star rating from over 6K+ Amazon reviews).
Mashable Deals
The F50 Series includes an Alexa Voice Remote and features a 4K Ultra HD display with dynamic range, DTS Virtual:X sound, and Amazon’s Fire TV experience built in for seamless streaming. You’ll find your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix and HBO Max, plus millions of free movies and TV episodes.
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Best Presidents’ Day robot vacuum deal
Why we like it
Right now, you can get the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum-mop combo for $299.99, down from $549.99. This is the lowest price we’ve ever tracked for this model, and it’s our all-time favorite “quietest” robot vacuum.
Mashable’s vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, says this combo vac offers the best bang for your buck. With 10,000 Pa of suction and an auto-lift feature for the mop (so it doesn’t wet your carpets), you honestly can’t go wrong with the Q10 S5+.
More robot vacuum deals
Dunkin is giving away free iced coffee on Feb. 9 — use this promo code to qualify
National Pizza Day 2026 is here — celebrate with deals and freebies from 7-Eleven, Chuck E. Cheese, and more
