Entertainment
UFOs Are Hiding In Plain Sight In Netflix's Jaw-Dropping Sci-Fi Thriller
By Robert Scucci
| Published
If you lived in rural California and suspected alien activity near your farm, what would you do about it? Would you contact the authorities or set up trail cams for your personal safety? Or would you go into hiding so you don’t have to deal with getting abducted, probed, and all of the other horrible things that allegedly happen after getting sucked up by a UFO’s weird laser beam thing? If you’re like the characters in 2022’s Nope, you might have the wise idea to try getting the perfect shot of the spacecraft so you could sell it to the highest bidder, sell the ranch, and become filthy rich off that sweet, sweet alien money.
At its core, Nope is a film about exploitation, and the lengths people go to make something out of themselves, consequences be damned. Looming just beneath the surface, though, is another story about resilience, ingenuity, and adapting to an increasingly bizarre situation, not just for clout, but for survival and saving face.
I’ve Been Through The Desert On A Horse And Got Maimed
When we’re first introduced to OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) in Nope, it’s under tragic circumstances. During a freak accident in which metal objects fall from the sky, OJ’s father (Keith David) is struck dead when a nickel goes through his eye and into his brain. Suddenly stuck managing the family farm, OJ finds himself in a tough spot. The family business involves training horses that can be used in Hollywood productions, but after a grisly on-set incident, OJ and his younger sister Em (Keke Palmer) are kicked off the movie lot.
To close the financial gap, OJ starts selling horses to Ricky “Jupe” Park (Steven Yeun), a former child star who now owns the theme park Jupiter’s Claim. Ricky does well for himself despite his traumatic past. As a child, Jupe starred in Gordy’s Home, a sitcom about a family with a pet chimp. The show was suddenly canceled after the chimp on set was pushed to its limit, resulting in the cast and crew getting mauled. In addition to running the theme park, a grown-up Jupe allows fans of the sitcom to spend the night in a room full of memorabilia from the show, for a nominal fee, of course.
While OJ struggles to get through each day running his late father’s farm, he starts noticing electrical disturbances, and his prized horse, Lucky, begins behaving strangely. OJ swears he sees some sort of unidentified object hiding behind the clouds, so he and Em purchase trail cameras and all the equipment they can get their hands on, inadvertently recruiting a tech salesman named Angel (Brandon Perea) to help them out with their project. The goal is simple: capture solid footage of the UFO, then reap the benefits.
What OJ doesn’t know, however, is that Jupe is also aware of the alien presence and has been using the horses he bought from him as bait. He’s already making a living exploiting his horrific past, and it seems to be a solid business model for him, so why not exploit what he can in the present as well? Luckily, OJ and Em have something Jupe doesn’t: the help of renowned cinematographer Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott). As the UFO slowly descends on the community of Agua Dulce, California, there’s no telling what its motivations are, but it’s reasonable to assume it has been watching everybody for a very long time and has some serious apprehensions about being discovered and documented.
Believable Characters In A Preposterous Situation
While the scenery, cinematography, and action sequences are top notch in Nope, what really kept me enthralled was the relationship between OJ and Em. Their interactions as brother and sister feel completely authentic, and if you didn’t know they were actors in a movie, you’d think they were actually related. I haven’t seen sibling chemistry this good since Donnie Darko, where Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal used the fact that they’re siblings in real life to effortlessly portray a believable brother and sister dynamic on-screen.
OJ is clearly the more responsible sibling, feeling the weight of obligation to do right by his father’s business. He has a legacy to think about, but you can tell he’s tired. So tired, in fact, that he has almost zero patience for Em’s more fast-and-loose approach to life. In her mind, she and her brother will one day sell the farm, collect a nice payday, and move on with their lives. OJ is tempted, but you can tell he isn’t quite ready to do that.
However, both come to the same conclusion that while they still own the farm that just so happens to have an alien presence, they should take a page from Jupe’s playbook and exploit the opportunity to get a perfect shot they can sell to the tabloids for an epic payday. The parts that made me laugh the most, even though they’re not overtly hilarious, involve Em getting ready to settle down for the day while OJ flatly announces that after all of the extracurriculars they just did, he still has to get back to work because he has mouths to feed. It’s total big brother energy.
Add in the ingenious absurdity of using a bunch of Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men as bait to lure the entity out of the sky, and you have a movie that really looks like nothing else.
Nope is sincere, exploitative, gorgeously shot, and packed with vibes thanks to its setting alone. It will also make you want to drive out into the middle of an empty field with a good camera in hope of finding alien life, because we all know they’re out there somewhere, but every single picture we’ve seen so far has been blurry and inconclusive.
Nope is coming to Netflix on May 18, 2026, so be sure to set a reminder if you’re ready to sit down with what may very well be Jordan Peele’s best film.
Entertainment
NYT Strands hints, answers for May 17, 2026
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you always strike out.
Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Strike one!
The words are related to a popular game.
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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe a gaming venue.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today’s spangram is Bowling Alley.
NYT Strands word list for May 17
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Scoreboard
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Pins
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Lanes
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Bowling Alley
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Arcade
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Balls
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Lounge
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.
Entertainment
The R-Rated, Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller On Netflix That Needs A Sequel
By Steven Nelson
| Published
In a world bursting with dystopian tales, 2017’s What Happened to Monday manages to offer a fresh, thrilling spin, catching viewers in a web of suspense, emotion, and intricate plotting. It went under-watched and underappreciated at the time of its release, but we can correct that now.
It’s streaming on Netflix, and this gripping sci-fi film poses the question: In a future where overpopulation leads to a strict one-child policy, what happens when you have seven identical sisters living in secret?
If you’re in the mood for a pulse-pounding ride that merges mystery with futuristic paranoia, then What Happened to Monday is one to add to your watchlist. And if you are a parent handling multiple kids at home, don’t worry, this will make your own living situation seem peaceful by comparison.
Seven Days Of Settman Sisters
In the not-so-far-off future depicted in What Happened to Monday, overpopulation isn’t just a looming issue, but rather a critical crisis. The world’s governments, in a desperate attempt to control the situation, implement a strict one-child policy. The Child Allocation Bureau ensures this policy is followed ruthlessly, taking away any additional children from families and putting them in cryosleep, with the promise that they’ll be awakened in a better, less crowded future. It’s into this world that the Settman sisters, seven identical siblings, are born.
Now, how do you hide seven sisters in a one-child society? Ingeniously named after each day of the week, the sisters rotate, stepping outside on the day they’re named after, and all impersonating the same identity: Karen Settman. Indoors, they’re Sunday through Saturday (hence, What Happened to Monday), each with her own personality and quirks. Outdoors, they maintain a collective facade, sharing experiences and memories with one another to keep their secret intact.
But the system, as meticulous as it is, starts to crumble when Monday doesn’t return home after her designated day out. Panic ensues among the remaining sisters. Has she been discovered? Did she run away? Or is there a more sinister reason behind her disappearance? The ensuing search pulls the sisters into a whirlwind of danger, conspiracy, and revelations as they race against time, not just to find Monday, but to ensure their own survival.
Noomi Rapace Kills In What Happened To Monday
The film’s stellar cast elevates this intriguing premise. Noomi Rapace takes on a challenging feat, portraying all seven distinct sisters, each with her own nuances and depth. Glenn Close, as the unwavering head of the Child Allocation Bureau, is the embodiment of the hard decisions and sacrifices made in the name of the greater good. Willem Dafoe also makes his mark as the Settman grandfather, the architect of the sisters’ intricate hide-and-seek life.
What Happened to Monday isn’t just another dystopian tale. It’s a story of sisterhood, survival, and the lengths to which one will go to preserve family.
The film generated a potpourri of reactions from critics upon its release. It was lauded for its intriguing premise and the tour de force performance by Noomi Rapace. Playing seven distinct characters in a single film is no easy feat, and Rapace’s portrayal was often spotlighted as the movie’s shining strength.
However, critics also had their reservations. Some felt that the movie, while ambitious, occasionally stumbled in its narrative execution. There were concerns that the film veered into formulaic territory, occasionally becoming predictable or borrowing tropes from other dystopian tales. Some critiques pointed towards the character depth, feeling that despite Rapace’s commendable effort, not all sisters received equal and adequate characterization.
On the flip side, the film’s pacing, action sequences, and visual aesthetics were often praised. The tension-laden plot kept many viewers at the edge of their seats, even if it sometimes sacrificed deeper thematic exploration for thrills.
Fertile Ground For A Sequel
If What Happened to Monday were to be granted a sequel, it could take multiple intriguing directions. Here’s one way to envision it:
Building on the first movie’s exploration of a world strangled by overpopulation, the sequel could venture beyond the Settman sisters’ story. The aftermath of the events of the first film has shaken the foundations of the Child Allocation Bureau. People across the world are now aware of the dark secrets of cryosleep and the fate of “extra” children. This revelation could trigger widespread unrest, with communities and families demanding transparency, accountability, and change.
The remaining Settman sisters could be at the heart of this revolution, becoming symbols of resistance against the oppressive one-child policy. They could join or even lead a movement seeking to challenge and overthrow the system. Along the way, they might uncover even deeper secrets about the Bureau and the global elite’s real intentions behind the policy.
What Happened to Monday garnered a mixed-to-positive reception, securing a 62 percent critical score against a slightly more favorable 67 percent Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. While it might not have been hailed universally as a classic in the sci-fi dystopian genre, it was recognized for its ambition, Rapace’s commendable performance, and its fresh take on a future grappling with overpopulation.
For many viewers, especially those fond of suspenseful, high-stakes cinema, What Happened to Monday became a must-watch, and is available to steam on Netflix.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 17, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you follow the rules.
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:
A rule.
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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 B.
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…
BYLAW
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.
Reports: Chelsea to hire Xabi Alonso as new head coach
NYT Strands hints, answers for May 17, 2026
