Entertainment
The Desperate Tactic Studios Are Using To Get You Into Theaters For Box Office Bombs
By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated
2024 has been an incredible bounce-back year for Hollywood following the disaster that was 2023, with Disney releasing hit after hit, and Universal isn’t that far behind, but the success hasn’t been equal. That’s likely why both Sony and Warner Bros this week released eight minutes of their upcoming films on YouTube, in a daring new marketing move that is so desperate and attention-seeking that it just might work. After all, for both Kraven and Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, ticket pre-sales have looked so bad that, at this point, anything to try and get butts into seats is better than nothing.
Another Spider-Man Villain
Kraven the Hunter, starring Aaron-Taylor Johnson as the latest D-tier villain to receive a movie from Sony, has been delayed for years, thanks in part to re-shoots and the writer’s strike, but it’s finally coming on December 13. The greatest Kraven story is the one in which he kills himself, Kraven’s Last Hunt, which has left fans mystified as to how Sony can get an entire R-rated feature film out of the big game hunter. That’s why the release of the opening eight minutes makes perfect sense: it tells an entire mini-movie that introduces audiences to the classic villain.
In the first eight minutes, with no English words spoken, we see Kraven go into a prison, come across colorful inmates, meet the local crime boss, brutally murder him, and escape into a storm as it’s revealed this was an elaborate “hunt.” I was on the fence about the movie beforehand, and while I still have serious doubts about the end product, this looks more like Venom than Morbius, so if nothing else, it’ll be a fun, mindless superhero film. Besides, I need to see how they made Rhino, the villain that new heroes in the comics beat up to show how tough they are, into the film’s big bad.
The War Of The Rohirrim
Within 24 hours after Sony released the first eight minutes of Kraven, Warner Bros dropped a video featuring the first eight minutes of The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim. It doesn’t work as well, not only because of the uneven animation but also because the story is hard to grasp from the start, with no explanation as to who’s at war, why there are orcs, and why Helm Hammerhand, the King, is behaving the way he is. There are answers, and fans of Tolkien already know the story of Helm Hammerhand, but as an attempt to get people to see a contractually obligated film, it fails miserably.
I love fantasy, and I love anime, so you’d think I’d be the target audience, but while Kraven made me want to see more, War of the Rohirrim makes me want to wait for when it debuts on Max. The poor story in the eight-minute trailer is one thing, but the atrocious lip-syncing and poor animation, especially after Arcane recently showed us all how gorgeous it can be, makes it look like a direct-to-DVD cash-in. In a way, it actually is, since to hold onto the Lord of the Rings license, the studio has to make a movie every few years, and this is what they choose to do.
It will be fascinating to see how the box office for each film works out following the bold release of eight minutes of footage. I predict Kraven will receive an uptick in interest and be carried by good word of mouth, while War of the Rohirrim will be lucky to pull in My Hero Academia: You’re Next numbers. If this experiment works, though, and even one of these films starts to make money, expect more studios to follow suit with extended trailer releases a week before release as a last-ditch effort to create interest.
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.
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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
