Entertainment
Perfect Sequel To Legendary Action Franchise Streaming On Netflix
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Sometimes, blockbuster franchises go so far off the rails that it can really skew your perspective of earlier films. The Jurassic World movies are a great example of this: Fallen Kingdom was a braindead horror movie, Dominion was a lazy nostalgia fest, and Rebirth was a soulless schlockfest. Because of this, many movie lovers have written this franchise off and are waiting for the next asteroid to conveniently make this entire franchise extinct.
However, the film that originally brought all this “dino DNA” back to the big screen is still a very solid blockbuster unto itself. Thanks to a talented director and some solid talent all around, Jurassic World (2015) is a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat with both CGI spectacle and surprisingly good character development. It’s currently streaming on Netflix, making it easier than ever for you to return to the cinematic universe first made famous by Steven Spielberg.
They Just Won’t Stay Extinct
The premise of Jurassic World is that a new CEO has decided to revive the original Jurassic Park concept, making it bigger and better than ever, despite the highly publicized tragedies portrayed in earlier films. It works at first, and the newly-minted Jurassic World is a hit with almost everyone, including the visiting nephews of the new park’s operations manager. But Chaos Theory wins out again, and once the dinos inevitably get loose, it becomes a race for survival for everyone involved. This includes an experienced raptor trainer, a scheming security chief, and a geneticist who witnessed the rise and fall of the original park.
The cast of Jurassic World is mostly filled with faces new to the franchise, including Chris Pratt (best known for Guardians of the Galaxy) as a charismatic raptor trainer and Bryce Dallas Howard (best known for Jurassic World: Dominion) as the park operations manager and his ersatz love interest. One of her nephews is played by Ty Simpkins (best known as Tony Stark’s kid sidekick in Iron Man 3), while Vincent D’Onofrio (best known for Men in Black) plays a shady security chief who wants to weaponize the raptors. Surprisingly, Jurassic Park alumnus BD Wong (best known outside this franchise for Mr. Robot) returns as the brains behind the ill-fitting park’s revival.
A Dangerous Gamble Pays Off
As with John Hammond’s original decision to bring back the dinosaurs, the studio’s decision to revive Steven Spielberg’s prehistoric powerhouse of a franchise was quite the gamble. Fortunately, it paid off: against a budget of approximately $215 million (some estimates go as low as $150 million), Jurassic World earned a whopping $1.671 billion. That made sequels inevitable, although the next three Jurassic World films could be summed up by Ian Malcolm from the original Jurassic Park: “Now, that is one big pile of sh*t.”
When Jurassic World came out, the general consensus regarding this revival of Spielberg’s blockbuster franchise was that it was good, not great. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 72 percent rating, with critics praising the movie for being a visually stunning thriller that’s great for those just looking for a bombastic good time. They did note that this revival doesn’t offer nearly as much innovation in terms of effects and storytelling as the original Jurassic Park. Casual moviegoers enjoyed the film as a spectacle of violent action unto itself, and the film has a notably higher 78 percent audience score.
A Thrill Ride Millions Of Years (And Dollars) In The Making
You probably know all about how bad the later movies get, so let’s cut to the chase: why would you return to the original Jurassic World? For one thing, the movie is a cinematic spectacle that takes the theme park thrills of the earliest film in the franchise and takes everything to a whole new level. There is wonder in seeing these fantastic creatures brought back to life, and there is pathos in seeing them harmed by new threats like the Indominus Rex. Mostly, there is nailbiting intensity as you watch a cast of likeable characters escape seemingly certain death in scene after scene.
Speaking of the characters, the real secret weapon of Jurassic World is the cast: while Chris Pratt is very played out these days, he is at his affable best in this movie, channeling all the charm of Star-Lord and transforming his character (not to mention himself) into a modern-day action hero. Additionally, he has solid chemistry with Bryce Dallas Howard, and their sparking chemistry echoes the ferocious flirtiness of Han Solo and Princess Leia. With these characters, Colin Trevorrow shows that he understands something very fundamental to these prehistoric blockbusters: that the audience must care about your flesh and blood characters before they can care about your next-level CGI.
We’re Just Along For The Ride
Also, if you’re a real fanboy for the original Jurassic Park, Jurassic World wears its nostalgia very proudly, going so far as to include an in-universe character who’s a huge JP fan. Is this just some straight-up member berries fan service? Absolutely. But it’s done so well that this adds extra appeal for any ‘80s and ‘90s kids who grew up endlessly quoting Steven Spielberg’s seminal work (like yours truly).
Obviously, Jurassic World isn’t going to dethrone Jurassic Park as the greatest dinosaur movie ever made. However, it is arguably one of the best films in this long-running franchise, one that will constantly remind you of why you fell in love with this tangled tale of dinosaurs and destruction in the first place. With heart-racing thrills, memorable action, and a talented cast giving it their all, Jurassic World is a perfect little paradox: it’s pure schlock, but it’s blockbuster schlock, and some of the best we’ve gotten in nearly two decades.
Will you agree that shlock, uh, finds a way, or is Jurassic World the kind of movie you’d rather feed to a raptor? The only way to find out is to stream this high-flying blockbuster remake on Netflix for yourself. The streamer is currently showing the sequels, but trust me: this is one franchise that you’re better off forgetting that it ever got any follow-up films!
Entertainment
Amazon is reportedly moving its annual Prime Day sale this year
Amazon is reportedly planning to move up its annual Prime Day sale from July to June this year, a change that would have a huge ripple effect on the retail calendar. The news comes from Bloomberg, which cites “people familiar with the matter.”
When reached for comment by Mashable, an Amazon representative said, “We do not have anything to share at this time.”
Amazon has hosted its flagship summer sale for Prime members in July almost every year since 2015. The event was moved to October in 2020 due to logistical and supply chain issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amazon greenlights 1-hour and 3-hour delivery in select US cities ahead of its spring sale
Prime Day has traditionally been a 48-hour sale, but Amazon extended it to four days in 2025. The longer slot gave consumers more time to shop, but lessened the sense of urgency to make impulse purchases, per Bloomberg.
Rivaling retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart always plan competing sales around Amazon events like Prime Day, so if its timeframe shifts, they’ll have to adapt accordingly.
Such a move would also affect the myriad third-party sellers that do business through Amazon’s Marketplace platform. As of 2025, their listings accounted for over 60 percent of all Amazon sales, according to a company press release.
Mashable Deals
Bloomberg’s sources didn’t provide reasoning for the possible Prime Day switch-up. But RetailWire speculates that it’s a twofold decision where Amazon is chasing more back-to-school shoppers and distancing itself from the competition. (This assumes other retailers stick with the usual schedule.)
In the meantime, Amazon is gearing up to host its third annual Big Spring Sale from March 25 to 31 — its first major shopping event of the year, and one that also attracts attention from its rivals. Target just announced a concurrent Circle Deal Days sale that will run from March 25 to 27. Best Buy and Walmart will probably throw their hats in the ring, too.
Entertainment
Check out some of the best deals under $25 available to buy ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale
Best early deals under $25 ahead of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
The countdown to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has begun, and while it doesn’t officially start until March 25, there’s already quite a few early deals worth checking out at the retailer. If you’re not looking to drop a ton of cash during this seasonal sale event, we’ve gathered up some excellent deals under $25 that you can shop right now.
These range from the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, if you’re looking to upgrade your streaming setup this year, to some sweet Lego sets, including the delightfully colorful Lego Botanicals Petite Sunny Bouquet, but there’s much more to explore. As the Big Spring Sale gets closer, we’ll be sure to update this with even more discounts that cross our radar, too.
Mashable Deals
Note: You don’t need to be a Prime member to shop the sale, but Prime members will receive exclusive deals on a variety of items.
Best early Amazon device deal
$24.99
at Amazon
$49.99
Save $25.00
Why we like it
2026 has started off strong when it comes to what’s available to stream, and if you’ve been looking to upgrade your setup to enjoy it all in 4K, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is worth a look. At the moment, this streaming stick has returned to its lowest-ever price of $24.99 at Amazon, which is 50% off its list price of $49.99. It’s a pretty excellent price to pay for what you’re getting.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus supports 4K Ultra HD picture quality, which helps bring out the colors and crisp details in the shows and films you watch. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos audio, which provide a little extra boost to picture and sound as well. And with support for Wi-Fi 6, you’ll get to enjoy smooth streaming quality. If it sounds like the streaming package you’ve been searching for, this early deal at Amazon is well worth jumping on.
More early Amazon device deals
Best early Lego deal
$23.99
at Amazon
$29.99
Save $6
Why we like it
The Lego Botanicals Petite Sunny Bouquet is a lovely little set to have up on display this spring, and what better time to grab it than while it’s on sale? At the moment, Amazon has knocked the price of this 373-piece set down to $23.99, allowing you to save a few dollars off its list price of $29.99. If its caught your eye, this is a great time to grab it and piece together a pretty bouquet to have up during the warmer months ahead.
Mashable Deals
More early Lego deals
Best early Bluetooth tracker deal
$14.99
at Amazon
$27.99
Save $13.00
Why we like it
Want a better way to keep an eye on items like your wallet, keys, or bags? It’s worth looking into a Bluetooth tracker, like the Life360 Tile. This helpful little device can be attached to a wide variety of items so you can easily track them if they escape your eyesight. If it sounds like something you need, Amazon’s dropped their price for a limited time to just $14.99 ahead of the Big Spring Sale.
Usually they’re listed for $27.99, so this deal saves you 46% overall. Plus, a variety of different colors have been discounted to this price, so you can pick out the option that best suits you.
More early deals under $25
Entertainment
The Channing Tatum Action Movie That Blew Away The Competition
By Phillip Moyer
| Updated
White House Down stars Channing Tatum as Marine Corps veteran John Cale, who is working as a Capitol Police officer who applied for a job in the Secret Service before getting rejected as unqualified. However, after a paramilitary group seizes the White House, it’s up to Cale to save the president and stop the terrorists from starting a nuclear war.
While not seen as a bad movie, per se, White House Down wasn’t warmly received by critics when it was released in 2013, leaving the film with a 52 percent Tomatometer rating. The film, directed by Independence Day and Moonfall director Roland Emmerich, was praised for the chemistry between Channing Tatum and co-stars Jamie Foxx and Maggie Gyllenhaal, but derided for its overuse of action movie tropes.
Some critics noted the level of self-awareness the movie had, leading them to consider White House Down a parody rather than a straightforward action thriller.
A Box Office Disappointment
Audiences seemed to enjoy the White House Down, with CinemaScore giving the film an A- audience rating. However, those who took to the internet to share their reviews were similarly lukewarm towards the film, as demonstrated by the film’s 62 percent Popcornmeter score.
Regardless of how audiences felt about White House Down, the movie ended up with disappointing box office returns. The film made $205 million worldwide and only $73 million domestically. With a production budget of $150 million, these numbers were probably not enough for the film to break even after marketing and distribution costs are taken into consideration.
Another Film Hurt White House Down’s Chance Of Box Office Success
One thing that probably didn’t help White House Down was the fact that it was released three months after Olympus Has Fallen; another movie about a terrorist attack on the White House. Olympus Has Fallen starred Gerald Butler as a secret service agent tasked with rescuing President Benjamen Asher (played by Aaron Eckhart) after North Korean terrorists take over the White House.
When raw numbers are taken into account Olympus Has Fallen actually performed slightly worse than White House Down. While both films received an A- CinemaScore, Olympus Has Fallen received a 49 percent Tomatometer score and made $170 million at the box office. However, Olympus Has Fallen only cost $70 million to make, making the less-watched film yield a higher financial return.
While White House Down quitely left theaters, never to be heard from again, Olympus has Fallen spawned two sequels, London Has Fallen (2016) and Angel Has Fallen (2019). Neither sequel ended up selling more tickets than White House Down, but each sequel in the Has Fallen film series cost less to produce than the previous film making each entry into the series a box office success.
Channing Tatum’s Career After White House Down
Channing Tatum went on to receive top billing in a wide variety of films after the moderate failure of White House Down.
This includes reprising the role of the undercover cop Jekno in 22 Jump Street, the villainous Jody Domergue in Quentin Tarantinos The Hateful Eight, and the American spy Tequila in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. He also reprised the role of the male stripper Mike Lane in the sequels Magic Mike XXL and Magic Mike’s Last Dance.
Magic Mike’s Last Dance, coincidentally enough, is another poorly-performing movie that has proved its staying power on streaming. The film only made $57 million off of a $45 million budget. However, after being released on Max, the conclusion of Channing Tatum’s stripper trilogy spent several days in the streaming service’s top three films.
While it’s probably far too late for a White House Down sequel to ever materialize, it remains to be seen whether the recent surge in White House Down’s popularity on streaming will lead to Channing Tatum being given more lead roles in straightforward action films.
White House Down is streaming on Paramount+.
Amazon is reportedly moving its annual Prime Day sale this year
Check out some of the best deals under $25 available to buy ahead of Amazons Big Spring Sale
