Entertainment
Stream Genre-Defining Action Franchise On Hulu Before Upcoming Spinoff
By Robert Scucci
| Published
If you haven’t yet worked your way through the John Wick franchise, but need some excitement in your life before the upcoming Ballerina spinoff movie sees its June 6, 2025 release, then you can blast your way through the first four films on Hulu faster than you can say “Baba Yaga.” Starting with one man’s quest for revenge before quickly snowballing into the convoluted politics of the High Table council that runs the world, the John Wick franchise is celebrated as the best of its kind for its high body count, nuanced storytelling, elaborate worldbuilding, and meticulously choreographed action sequences. If that’s not enough to get your motor going, it’s also worth noting that John Wick once killed three men in a bar with a pencil.
It Starts With A Dog
The John Wick universe slowly builds on itself, starting with such a painfully simplistic premise that you’ll first wonder how it grew into a billion-dollar franchise. With each installment more complex than the one that precedes it, you’re taken on a wild journey that starts with a man avenging his dog that ends up traversing continents as the politics of the High Table become increasingly convoluted but nonetheless operate like a well-oiled machine. Unlike other action franchises that can never fully recreate the lightning in a bottle that was captured with the first installment, the John Wick universe has proven that if you slowly fold in the lore without ever fully showing what’s going on behind the curtain, then the sequels will be successful.
After all, John Wick: Chapter 4 is the highest-grossing film in the franchise (over $440 million in box office receipts, worldwide), and considered to be one of the greatest action movies of all time.
Why It Works
Known for their over-the-top action sequences that have unthinkably high body counts, every film in the John Wick franchise is an adrenaline rush from start to finish, and Keanu Reeves never seems to phone it in with his portrayal of the eponymous character. Even after he’s been beaten into submission, Reeves still manages to request “Guns. Lots of Guns.” while making a cheeky reference to the Matrix franchise when John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum begins to heat up.
Guided by the owner of the Continental Hotel, Winston Scott (Ian McShane), and his concierge, Charon (Lance Reddick), John Wick, through “sheer f*cking will” always manages to stay one step ahead of the powers that be. As the John Wick film franchise expands, we’re introduced to Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King, who isn’t afraid to play against the rules.
Continues to Build
At its heart, the John Wick franchise focuses on one man’s journey for peace as he returns to the life of crime he abandoned when given no other choice after a dog gifted to him from his deceased wife is murdered, and his car is stolen. From this launching point, the seedy politics of a criminal underworld are slowly exposed, making you wonder how deep everything really goes. After four films, The Continental spinoff prequel series, and the upcoming Ballerina film, which will take place between the events witnessed in Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, there’s no sign that the John Wick franchise will be letting up any time soon, and future film installments are in varying stages of production at the time of this writing.
Presently, you can stream John Wick and its sequels with an active Hulu subscription (Chapter 4 will require the STARZ add-on).
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
