Entertainment
Peacock's #1 Movie Is A Blockbuster Sci-Fi Sequel
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Sequels are tricky to get right, change too much and you lose the fans of the first film, but don’t change enough, and it feels like the same movie all over again. Men in Black 2 falls into the second category and was slammed by critics for not breaking away from the formula of the first film. What the critics failed to see, and what the public recognized, is that when the original is an instant classic, there’s nothing wrong with replaying the hits.
Here Come The Men In Black
Men in Black 2 picks up years after the original, with Agent J (Will Smith) cycling through partners, unable to find anyone as good as Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). The film brings the two together again to stop Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) a shapeshifting alien from finding the latest McGuffin hiding on Earth. If it sounds similar to the first film’s Bug alien pursuing another MacGuffin hiding in a cat’s collar, that’s because it is, but the sequel does twist the formula a little bit.
The second time around, Agents J and K have to protect Laura (Rosario Dawson), who saw Serleena kill a Zarthan in cold blood, which is exactly the plot of the first movie, but this time, Serleena manages to infiltrate MiB HQ, which, in one of the most blatant product placement scenes of all time, includes a Burger King inside. Men in Black 2 lets fans see more of the headquarters and gives more screentime to the breakout stars of the original: the worms and Frank the Pug. The scene-stealing side characters and effortless chemistry between Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones help elevate the wafer-thin plot from a made for SyFy movie to a record-breaking Summer blockbuster.
From Record-Setting Blockbuster To Underappreciated Comedy
Men in Black 2 made history during its opening weekend by becoming the most successful Fourth of July release in history upon its release in 2002, knocking off Will Smith’s other big sci-fi film, Independence Day, by earning $87 million. The record soon fell in 2004 when Spider-Man 2 earned an extra million and brought in $88 million over the holiday weekend. Critics thought the film was only okay and gave it middle of the road reviews, but to the general public, the sci-fi spectacular was more evidence that Will Smith was the king of the Summer blockbuster.
Time has been kind to Men in Black 2 and it’s now fondly remembered as the popcorn film it was always meant to be, but especially after the franchise-killing performance of Men in Black International, the breezy charm of the first two films keeps finding fans. Men in Black III, with Josh Brolin as a young Agent K, is the even rarer threequel that continues the hot streak of the franchise, but it sidelines Tommy Lee Jones in the process, leaving only the first two films as what fans think of as the definitive MiB experience. Though the tone and humor have since been co-opted by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, no one can touch the raw star power of Will Smith from the early-00’s.
Men in Black 2, 21 years after its original release, became Peacock’s top streaming movie, which is impressive for any film old enough to drink, but especially one from a franchise that has been considered dead and buried for the last six years. The enduring appeal of Will Smith among the general public, even post-slap, can not be denied, and this is one more example of why he was the King of the Summer Blockbuster for an entire generation.
Men in Black II is now streaming on Peacock.
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.
Mashable Top Stories
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.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
