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Silo

Another book adaptation returning for a third season, Apple TV's Silo continues to track the downward spiral of the dregs of humanity, living together underground in a cavernous edifice that goes all the way down. If you've been wondering how things got so bad, this season goes back in time to reveal the source of humanity's downfall. (Unsurprisingly, humans are to blame.) You can stream Silo on Apple TV.

Silo

at Apple TV

The Bear

Across four seasons, we've watched neurotic chef Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) flame out as an elite chef, return to his humble beginnings in his family's Chicago sandwich shop, try to turn said sandwich shop into a fine dining establishment, experience ups and downs in his business and personal life, and finally, at the end of season four, quit the food industry altogether. Taking place mostly over the course of a single day, the fifth and final season explores the immediate aftermath of that monumental decision—on Carmy, and the rest of the restaurant's partners and kitchen staff. It's a fitting goodbye for one of the most lauded TV series ever. You can stream the final season of The Bear on Hulu.

The Bear

Widow's Bay

This series from Apple TV has won nearly unanimous praise from both critics and audiences. It's a rare horror-comedy that manages to be genuinely scary and really funny. In the island town of Widow's Bay, literally everything is haunted, cursed, and otherwise beset with unspeakable evil, but Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) still really wants to bring tourism to the island. Mayor Tom is so married to his vision of Widow's Bay as the next Martha's Vineyard, he ignores the sea hags, fog monsters, and serial-killer ghosts surrounding him. The great Stephen Root plays Wyck, an old-timer who's always there to remind everyone that time is short and everyone is doomed. You can stream Widow's Bay on Apple TV+.

Widow's Bay

at Apple TV+

Lucky

Based on the bestselling novel by Marissa Stapley, Apple TV's latest hit stars Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular con artist. Her name proves to be a tad ironic after her latest job goes wrong and she finds herself the prime target of both the cops and the dangerous crime boss—who also happens to be her mother-in-law. Annette Bening is clearly having a grand time playing the ruthless Priscilla Masterson, who blames Lucky for the loss of $10 million she and Priscilla's son Cary (Drew Masterson) stole—never mind that Cary eventually ran away with it. With a supporting cast that includes Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Timothy Olyphant, it's a fast-moving thriller with a sense of humor and an irresistible lead character. You can stream Lucky on Apple TV.

Lucky

at Apple TV

Ride or Die

This London-set series stars the ultimate odd couple. Octavia Spencer plays Debbie, the American wife of a British politician, and Hannah Waddingham plays her good friend Judith, who happens to be a master assassin. After a hit gone wrong, Judith must go on the run to stay ahead of another assassin working against her, and to avoid running afoul of the ruthless agency (literally called The Agency) that employs her. Obviously, Debbie gets pulled along for the ride. It's a fast, tense, and funny thriller series. You can stream Ride or Die on Prime Video.

Ride or Die

I Will Find You

Like Max Cady in Cape Fear, the main character in I Will Find You has been imprisoned for a murder he did not commit. But unlike Max Cady, David Burroughs (Sam Worthington) doesn't set out to murder his lawyer. He was accused of killing his own son, and when he sees evidence that the boy is alive, he escapes prison to find his child. It's a modern take on The Fugitive: with the authorities on his trail, David must unravel a twisting conspiracy to clear his name and bring his child home. I Will Find You is a perfect summertime thriller. You can stream I Will Find You on Netflix.

I Will Find You

at Paramount+ With Showtime

FROM

The residents of the unnamed town at the center of FROM cannot catch a break. If it's not worms crawling around under their skin, it's the mysterious Man in Yellow stealing people's souls. Season four of this mystery-heavy show from the executive producers of Lost sees the survivors pushed to their limits as the veil between the strange town and the real world gets thinner. You can stream FROM on MGM+.

FROM

at MGM+

Cape Fear

Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, Cape Fear is a 10-episode reimagining of a classic novel that has previously been adapted into two celebrated films. In this extended version, Amy Adams plays Anna Bowden, a defense attorney who unsuccessfully defended murder suspect Max Cady 17 years previously. Turns out he wasn't guilty, and Cady has had nearly two decades to plan his revenge against the woman he blames for putting him behind bars. Javier Bardem brings unsettling energy to the role of Cady, previously played by Robert Mitchum, Robert De Niro, and Sideshow Bob. If you like slow-burn suspense that gradually ratchets up tension, you'll like Cape Fear. You can stream Cape Fear on Apple TV+.

Cape Fear

at Appe TV

The Agency

The spy thriller returns for its second season. Michael Fassbender plays Brandon Colby (code name Martian), a former CIA field agent who now runs operations for London Station, the agency's home office in the U.K. This season, the spy action grows more intricate, as Martian works to clear the name of his lover (Jodie Turner-Smith) while also going head-to-head with a possible double agent within the Agency's own ranks. You can stream The Agency on Paramount+ With Showtime.

The Agency

The Top 10 Movies Right Now, According to Streaming Data

By: Stephen Johnson · Joel Cunningham — 4 August 2026 at 18:30

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After years of post-COVID uncertainty, are the movies finally back? Judging by July's box office returns, that certainly seems to be the case: Debuting in theaters within weeks of one another, The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day both have experienced record-breaking runs (the latter even claimed the largest opening weekend of all time, banking $360 million in the U.S. alone).

But if you ask me, the biggest box office success story of the year was much more unpredictable than seeing a movie from the world's most beloved director (or starring the most popular superhero) make bank: Obsession, a gnarly, R-rated horror flick produced on a budget of less than $1 million, went on to make more than $262 million in ticket sales—a true word-of-mouth phenomenon. On the other hand, with numbers like that, it's no surprise to see Obsession topping the streaming charts now that it is available to watch at home. Here are the other streaming movies that drew eyeballs last month, according to data from JustWatch.

Obsession (2026)

Arriving out of nowhere from first-time director Curry Barker, who got his start making sketch comedy videos on YouTube, Obsession debuted to higher-than-expected box office returns its opening weekend, and then just never stopped making money. It seems horror fans couldn't get enough of the story of a hapless teenager (Michael Johnston) who gets more than he bargains for when he picks up a "One Wish Willow" gag toy and expresses his heart's desire: that his friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette) would fall in love with him. His wish comes true, and then some—with blood-splattering results. Stream Obsession on Peacock.

Obsession (2026)

Project Hail Mary (2026)

In this crowd-pleasing sci-fi, Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher who is blasted into the firmament in a last-ditch effort to save the world. Grace is the only person on Earth who might know how to protect the sun from a cosmic infection that threatens all life, but he's definitely not an astronaut and doesn't see himself as a hero either. Will he rise to the occasion and learn something about his inner strength and resilience while saving us all from death? My money is on, "yeah, probably." Project Hail Mary is streaming on Prime Video and MGM+.

Project Hail Mary

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

Legendary director Gore Verbinski (The Ring, Pirates of the Caribbean) is back with a satirical, gleefully maximalist science fiction comedy that takes on AI, social media addiction, VR, and the modern world itself. Sam Rockwell plays a man from the future who shows up in an LA diner demanding that customers help him save the future from an artificial intelligence that is about to be born. Being a time traveler, Rockwell has tried this many times before and has always failed, but this time, it's going to be different—or everyone is going to die again. Part Terminator, part Black Mirror, Don't Die is a throw-everything-at-the-wall movie that goes so far over the top, you'll be forced to submit to its weird logic and style out of sheer exhaustion. Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die is streaming on Hulu, or you can rent it from Prime Video.

The Sheep Detectives (2026)

A family movie with enough darkness to balance out all the cute sheep, The Sheep Detectives tells the tale of an English farmer played by Hugh Jackman who reads mysteries to his flock of sheep every night. When he's found dead, the authorities attribute it to natural causes, but his sheep know better, and they set out to find the culprit using what they've learned from all those whodunnits. If you like the Babe movies, you'll like The Sheep Detectives, and if you think you're too cynical to get into a movie like this, you're probably wrong: It is charming and fun. The Sheep Detectives is streaming on Prime Video.

The Sheep Detectives

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026)

A sleeper hit from 2019, Ready or Not followed a woman (Samara Weaving) who went to meet her fiancé's parents and wound up being hunted by them—their next target in a game of demonic ritual sacrifice dating back generations. The unlikely sequel picks up mere minutes after the first movie ended, with the other ultra-rich, ultra-powerful families in thrall to the same evil turning up to kick off round two. With a killer cast (including Sarah Michelle-Gellar, Elijah Wood, and director David Cronenberg) and a darkly hilarious skewer-the-rich vibe, it's bloody good fun. You can stream Ready or Not 2 on Hulu.

Troy (2004)

Why is a 22-year-old, vaguely remembered Brad Pitt historical action flick suddenly appearing on the streaming charts? It makes sense when you consider that Troy essentially serves as a prequel to 2026's The Odyssey. This flashy but shallow epic from director Wolfgang Petersen stars Pitt as the legendary warrior Achilles, who sets sail in the service of his king, Agamemnon (Brian Cox), to lay siege against the title city to recover Helen (Diane Kruger), wife of the Spartan King Menaelus (Agamemnon's brother), from her "captors," Hector and Paris, young princes of Troy. If you've studied your myths (or if you've seen Christopher Nolan's new film), you know how it all turns out (it involves a horse). You can stream Troy on Peacock.

Troy (2004)

Masters of the Universe (2026)

Masters of the Universe (2026)

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with He-Man—me and all of the other boys born between 1975 and 1982. I dreamed of seeing the musclebound hero on the big screen, but I was merely nonplussed by the 1987 Dolph Lundgren-starring adaptation, which looked nothing like the toys and cartoons. Turns out I just needed to wait 40 years, because the 2026 version, from Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee director Travis Knight, is, if anything, too faithful to the campier aspects of the franchise, with a tone that walks the line between serious action epic and Barbie-style sendup. As a result (or perhaps just because 40 years is a really long time to expect people to care about a Hercules knock-off), the movie bombed at the box office—but perhaps it will find its audience of now-middle-aged men on streaming. You can watch Masters of the Universe on Prime Video.

The Long Walk (2025)

This chilling adaptation of one of Stephen King's earliest novels feels ripped from the capitalist hellscape of 2026: In an alternate 1970s U.S., a fascist government has taken over and, as a means of control, stages an annual "contest" known as The Walk, wherein a group of 50 boys is forced to compete in a non-stop, cross-country walking contest. The winner gets one wish granted, while the losers all get a bullet in the head. Two contestants (played by Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson) are competing for their lives, closely watched by the ruthless Major (played by Mark Hamill in full villain mode). Stream The Long Walk on HBO Max.

The Long Walk (2025)

Pressure (2026)

If you haven't heard of Pressure, ask your dad: This WWII flick, starring a post-Oscar Brendan Fraser as Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, is prime Dad Movie material. It focuses on the lead-up to the Normandy invasion and is all about Eisenhower working closely with meteorologist (no, really) James Stagg (Andrew Scott) to determine if the conditions will be right to launch their planned invasion. Though it got good reviews, this one underperformed in theaters, but its modest charms seem right at home on streaming. You can stream Pressure on Peacock.

Pressure (2026)

Independence Day (1996)

It's no mystery why this oversized alien invasion blockbuster hit the streaming charts in July. Even 30 years later, everyone likes to spend their July 4th watching Will Smith throw around one-liners as stuff blows up real good all around him (all capped off with a rousing speech from President Bill Pullman). You can stream Independence Day on Hulu.

Independence Day (1996)

$599.00 at Even Realities

10 Hacks Every Even Realities G2 Smart Glasses User Should Know

By: Stephen Johnson — 29 July 2026 at 19:00

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Even Realities G2 glasses are the most hacker-friendly spectacles on the planet, and it's not even close. They're unassuming enough that nobody clocks you as the guy wearing a face-computer, but there's a ton happening behind the silent display. Out of the box, you can translate, navigate, talk to AI, and do other expected smart-glasses stuff, but Even Hub takes it further. Even Realities opened up a real developer platform that lets anyone build whatever they want for their glasses and share it with everyone else. Hackers, rejoice. Here are ten hacks for your G2s, comprising useful and wondrous Even Hub apps, five-minute installs and tweaks, and weekend-long projects that will test your coding skills and capacity for frustration. There's a second brain that remembers what most AI forgets, a sneaky way to make yourself insufferably good at trivia, and even an option for a second career as a magician.

Even Realities G2

Customize your AI to create a "second brain"

This project really highlights the possibilities of Even Realities glasses. G2's come with Even AI ready to go, but you're not limited to it. Not only can you use the settings in the app to redirect the AI to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or another LLM, you can build a custom AI for your needs. For instance, Constella founder Tejas Sharma was frustrated by Even AI's inability to remember things, so they built a "second brain" by re-routing the AI to a layered version of Constella (an open knowledge base) running on their network.

Running Second Brain instead of Even AI means you can say something like, "Remember to pick up the dry cleaning every Wednesday," and it will be saved to your knowledge base. Later you can ask, "what was I supposed to do on Wednesday?" out loud, and a full AI agent searches your memory (using hybrid vector and keyword search), pulls in your connected tools if relevant, and hands you back a real composed answer formatted to fit cleanly on the lens.

You can also use meeting mode, where your glasses stream your mic and transcribe what's said onto the lens seconds behind the conversation. While you're still talking, the backend quietly digs through your memory, follows relevant connections, checks the web if it's useful, and surfaces a synthesized insight—which is a little like thinking. So if you're in a meeting and a coworker says, "Can we push the squash game until Wednesday?" your glasses cross-reference the statement against your memory in the background and silently surface: "Wednesday is dry cleaning pickup."

Second Brain was uploaded to the G2's Even Hub so you could use it as is, but Sharma's put the whole integration layer on GitHub, so if you're comfortable with some Python, you can see exactly how it talks to the glasses and build a variant on top of your own knowledge base.

Two ways to use G2's for instant two-factor authentication

We all know we should be using two-factor authentication (2FA), but grabbing your phone, unlocking it, and pulling up Messenger every time you want to log into Slack is a pain. There are two ways to make this easier:

No software method: Open the Even app on your phone, go to Settings > Notifications, and enable notifications. When an SMS message arrives, you'll be able to read the number floating in front of you. Type it in and you "two-factored" without pulling out your phone.
The software solution: A developer in the Even Realities community created a dedicated app for this, 2Factor. Instead of waiting for a ping, you scan your 2FA QR codes into the app during setup. When it's time to log in, you can pull up your constantly updating, time-based OTP (one-time password) tokens directly from the glasses' menu. It is essentially Google Authenticator built straight into your eyeballs.

Turn your glasses into your own coding supervisor

If you use autonomous AI coding agent Claude Code to build software, you know the biggest hassle isn't the AI writing the code, it's "babysitting" it. AI agents constantly pause to request permission before executing commands or editing files, tethering you to your keyboard with the simple job of saying, "yes" or "no." With the G2’s native Terminal Mode, you can mirror your computer’s terminal directly onto your glasses and act as a supervisor while grabbing coffee, pacing the room, or knitting.

Install the CLI bridge: On your computer, open your terminal and install the official Even package globally: npm install -g @evenrealities/even-terminal.
Launch your session: Start your AI coding agent on your computer, then run even-terminal. A pairing QR code will print directly inside your terminal window.
Pair your glasses: Open the Even Realities app on your phone, go to Settings > Terminal Mode, and scan the QR code off your computer screen to link the session.
Supervise on the move: Your computer's live terminal logs will now stream straight to your heads-up display in real time. Whenever your AI agent hits a checkpoint or asks for permission to execute a script, the prompt pops up in your line of sight—allowing you to approve the action using voice commands or glasses gestures so the build keeps moving forward.

Learn to bow correctly with Ojigi Coach

If you're panicking because you've been invited to a traditional chakai tea gathering in Kanazawa tomorrow, and you don't know anything about Japanese etiquette, try Ojigi Coach. It's an app from the Even Hub that offers in-depth training and practice for ojigi, Japanese bowing. You'll learn the correct angle for each of the three main bow types, how long to keep your head down, and what situations call for you to bust out an eshaku, a keirei, or a saikeirei.

That would be enough, but it also lets you test your bowing skills by presenting real-life choose-a-bow situations like "you greet your boss in the morning" or "you meet a former teacher after a long time." You bow, then your glasses' accelerometer and inertial measurement unit track your bow's angle and duration and offer you pointers. It's not only a fascinating glimpse into a tiny aspect of another culture, but it's fun: trying to get your bows correct is a blast. Ojigi Coach is representative of many of the most interesting apps on the Even Hub: perhaps not obviously useful to many people, but essential to a few.

Create instant subtitles for TV and movies and hear dialogue in a noisy room

The standard G2 Translate app is geared for bilingual conversations, but there's a simple way to turn it into a private subtitle machine for foreign films, anime, and TV shows: open the Translate app, set the language, and start watching a Korean soap opera. But you can make it even better.

Switch your mic source: By default, the glasses use their built-in microphones to pick up voices. Open the Translate feature in the Even app and look in the upper right corner. Tap the microphone icon to switch the sound source from the Even G2 to your phone's microphone.
Place your phone: Set your phone down near your TV's soundbar or your laptop's speakers so it can capture the cleanest audio.
Pro tip: If you want to learn the language of the movie you're watching, give your glasses' touchpad a single tap. This toggles the display from "Half-Screen" (just the translation) to "Full-Screen" (which shows both the original foreign text and your translated text simultaneously).

Not only does this let you understand a foreign language, but you can use the same microphone hack to "hear" a TV in a noisy place. Set Translate to "English to English" (or use Conversate), then set your phone next to a distant TV speaker, and you'll be able to "hear" the TV from anywhere nearby.

Control your computer with your voice

Remember how Spock used to talk to the ship's computer in Star Trek? It's finally real. Even Hub app OcuClaw is a native OpenClaw client built for the G2. If you install one Claw on your glasses and the other on your PC or Mac, you can give your G2's AI the ability to interact directly with your computer's operating system. Once it's set up, you can use the G2's built-in microphone to issue complex commands, like "Computer, open my last downloaded PDF and email it to Sarah," or "Play my lofi playlist on Spotify." The agent on your computer executes the clicks and keystrokes, and you get a real-time status update floating in your heads-up display. It's a hands-free, AI-powered remote control for your desktop, and the possibilities are limitless. Just be warned that installing any agentic AI program on your computer leaves you vulnerable to attack via prompt injection. Try this one only if you understand the risks.

Turn your morning walk into a birdwatching session with Birdie

You don't have to be a birder to want to know what's making that racket in the tree above you. Birdie, a lightweight Even Hub app from a solo developer, listens to bird sounds through your G2's mic and identifies bird species using BirdNET—the same open-source bird-sound recognition model used by "serious" birding tools. Start a listening pass, hold still a few seconds, and when it gets a confident match, the species' common name, scientific name, and a field-guide photo pop up on your HUD. It's not doing anything a bird-identifying phone app like Merlin couldn't do, but it does it better. Since it listens in the background, you don't have to whip out your phone and point it at a branch when you see a grackle; instead, you just get your bird information fed directly into your eyeballs.

Never forget a person with the What's Their Face app

A lot of people are up in arms over facial recognition software being added to Meta glasses, but how about voice recognition? What's Their Face is an app on the Even Hub that uses voice recognition to act as a digital Rolodex for your acquaintances, aiming to solve the dreaded "cocktail party problem" of "what is their name??"

It works like this: You record a five-second clip of a person speaking and attach it to a name and an information card that can contain job titles, email addresses, or anything else you want. A few days later, when you run into that person and you've forgotten their name, your glasses will flash the closest matching voice prints so you can pretend you knew all along. If you have privacy concerns, this is a memory aid, not a privacy invasion tool. All the computation is done on the device, and no information is pulled from online sources and connected to a person you meet—you can only enter what you know about a person. No information is sent anywhere either, so it can't create a universal database of names so you'd "recognize" people you haven't met.

Convince people you're the smartest person alive

When I first got G1 Even Reality glasses, I immediately used them to trick a bartender out of a drink by offering to answer any trivia question, then correctly naming FW Murnau's follow-up film to 1927's Sunrise. (My glasses tell me it's 4 Devils, released in 1928.) This kind of mild flim-flammery is even easier with the second generation, thanks to Conversate, G2's always-listening mode that quietly transcribes conversation and surfaces context in real time. You can use this easily to convince people you are a math wiz, or you know the day of the week they were born based on the date, or that you have memorized the name, number, and position of everyone who has ever played for the Cleveland Browns.

Like most magic tricks, the mechanics are simple: turn on Conversate and let it listen for a question and feed you an answer only you will see, although you might have to repeat the question if Conversate's AI doesn't "pick it up" when it's first said. The hack here is really the performance: being able to repeat a question back and make it sound natural, reading the screen without looking like you're reading the screen, dealing with any "pauses" in the AI by realistically looking like you're thinking, then waiting a beat to make the answer seem natural. If you decide you like jovially deceiving people and you want to make it your career, check out sybil sight, a "mentalism operating system" for Even Realities G2 glasses. It's not cheap, and they don't tell you how it works exactly because a magician's secrets are only unlocked with cash, but I'm picturing a way more elaborate version of the tricks described above.

Sync up your band with G2 glasses

The great thing about G2 glasses is how many very specific problems they solve, like making sure your band knows what chord to play when. Here's how to never have to say, "OK, the next chord is E minor" again so you can just rock out:

Get a pair of G2 glasses for everyone in the group. (Yeah, it's a high bar to clear.)
Have everyone download QMe Prompter and install it on their phones.
Have everyone set the app to stream content directly to G2 glasses.
Use the app's "group jam" feature to link everyone over wifi. When the leader pulls up a chord chart, it instantly loads lyrics and chords onto everyone's phones, which beams it to their spectacles.
The app has hands-free scrolling that can be set by BPM, a foot pedal, or you can use the voice-follow feature that listens to the singer and scrolls the lyrics in time, so everyone is on the same page.
Pro-tip: Your band probably needs the Even Hub's Tuner app too.

How Apple Might Try to Make Its Smart Glasses Less Creepy

By: Stephen Johnson — 27 July 2026 at 19:30

Apple is expected to reveal its smart glasses, codename N50, at WWDC 17 in June 2027, which gives the company nearly a year to wrestle with the thorniest problem facing smart glasses: how do you uphold a commitment to privacy while selling a product that contains a hidden camera?

Like industry leader Meta's line of Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses, Apple's first smart glasses are expected to focus on AI, audio, and onboard cameras (display models are expected at a later date.) But Meta's glasses are at the center of a growing cultural firestorm for the camera feature, with people calling Metas "pervert glasses," creating guerrilla marketing campaigns against them, and banning them from a growing number of locations.

According to a Bloomberg report from Mark Gurman, Apple is considering releasing smart glasses with a full camera system that can't be used to take pictures or record video. The camera system would be used only for feeding visual information to Apple's AI tools, with no way for users to share that information.

Apple's commitment to privacy

Privacy (either respecting or exploiting) is no doubt at the forefront of every smart glass manufacturer's design decisions, but it's a particularly thorny issue for Apple, given its carefully cultivated image as "privacy first" company. Apple has spent years making data security a pillar of its identity, whether by repeatedly publicly proclaiming it as a "fundamental human right" or stressing on-device processing. Releasing a pair of glasses many would regard as spy glasses could effectively undermine Apple's reputation, even if every other privacy option (no sharing content with third parties, as much on-device processing as possible, etc.) is as robust as possible.

This isn't the first time Apple has been here. When it launched AirTags in 2021, the company built in anti-stalking features like unwanted-tracker alerts, audible chirps, and tools to locate a hidden tag, all to prevent the device from being used to secretly monitor people. But within months, the devices were reported in stalking and domestic abuse cases, prompting lawsuits, news investigations, and the general view of AirTags as tools for creeps. The lesson: good intentions and good engineering are no match for people's worst instincts.

According to consumer research, taking quick videos and pictures is one of the primary reasons people are buying smart glasses in the first place: a February 2026 Counterpoint Research report highlights that enhanced video performance and photography are the most frequently praised features of the Gen 2 Meta glasses. If consumers are facing a decision between Meta glasses, soon-to-be-released Samsung/Google smart glasses, and Apple glasses, how many would choose the one that doesn't have a camera?

Microsoft and Amazon Are Both Introducing New Cloud Gaming Options

By: Stephen Johnson — 27 July 2026 at 12:30

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Two tech giants, Microsoft and Amazon, took steps last week to move gaming further into the cloud, with each company aiming at a different part of the (gigantic) gaming demographic.

Microsoft testing ad-supported cloud gaming

Microsoft is testing a free (albeit ad-supported) cloud-gaming model for Xbox games. Starting today, gamers who signed up for Microsoft's Xbox Insider Program will be able to play games from their library that are cloud-compatible, without paying for a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. They will, however, have to watch ads at the beginning of the session. Microsoft is currently capping playtime at one hour per session; use up your time and you'll have to watch more ads. There's no word yet on how long the test will be running.

Amazon is embedding games on Fire products

Meanwhile, Amazon announced it is going to embed its Luna cloud gaming service directly into Prime Video—but only if you have a Fire TV device. Fire TV users will see a dedicated "Games" tab next to "Movies," "TV shows" and "Sports." They will be able to play titles like Hogwarts Legacy, EA Sports FC 26 and Clue for the cost of their Prime membership.

The two companies clearly have different targets in mind. Microsoft is catering to the kind of "core" gamers who already own a library of titles but might want to play them on secondary devices like phones and laptops. Amazon is going after more casual gamers, and is trying to put their gaming offerings in front of as many eyeballs as possible. It plans to package its games on the same pages as the movie entries for well-known IP like Harry Potter, so someone might decide to play a little game with their remote before they watch a movie.

How to help test Microsoft's ad-supported cloud gaming

If you have an Xbox, here's how to check out some ad-supported cloud gaming.

Download the Xbox Insider Hub app on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Windows PC.
Enroll in the Xbox Insider Program. It's free.
That's it! Now you can stream select cloud-compatible games you own (after you check out some commercials, of course.)

How to check out Amazon's Luna gaming service

If you have Prime, you can already try Luna. The company isn't adding any extra content for Fire TV users; it's just changing the way it presents the games it offers. Here's how to check it out.

First, you'll need a n Amazon Fire device. That means Fire TV stick, Fire TV Cube, or a smart TV running the Fire TV operating system.
On the main menu, you should see the new "Games" tab.
Click it and go to town. Pro tip: Play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle because it is fantastic.
You can play Luna games with any Bluetooth controller or use your phone as the controller.

Instagram Is Starting to Crack Down on Creepy Smart Glasses Videos

By: Stephen Johnson — 24 July 2026 at 21:00

In a recent story posted on Instagram, Instagram head Adam Mosseri revealed the social media platform is banning smart glasses videos where people are being harassed and exploited for views.

"If you're posting content that is taking advantage of people and harassing them, like a lot of these pickup line kind of videos that we've heard of and seen, then we're going to take the content down," Mosseri said. "We don't want people to be surreptitiously taking videos of other people and harassing them and then posting them on our platform. So we're trying to fight that every way we can."

Hidden camera prank videos and "pickup" type videos are obviously not new, but the easy availability of camera glasses has led to a spike in this kind of content, with videos of men trying to pick up women, pranking retail workers, and other pranks appearing more frequently across all video-sharing services.

Business Insider reported that Meta recently pulled two accounts with over a million followers for posting "pickup artist" videos, where women who may not have known they were being filmed have their videos posted online, leading to harassment. A Meta spokesperson confirmed that the accounts were nuked in accordance with the company's existing bullying and harassment policy.

How Meta defines harassment

Meta's official policy on bullying states "We remove content that's meant to degrade or shame, including, for example, claims about someone's sexual activity," and lists a number of specific examples like, "severe sexualized commentary" and "calls for, or statements of intent to engage in, bullying and/or harassment." But there's a lot of gray area. Videos featuring vaguely aggressive acts directed at strangers apparently aren't in violation of Meta's standards, for instance. Neither is a video like the one below, but I'd feel pretty harassed if I were that doctor.

View this post on Instagram

There isn't a reliable way to automate harassment detection because so much of what constitutes harassment comes down to intent and context. This leaves enforcement up to users who can flag videos and/or victims, who are often unaware their image is being spread online until it's too late to put the toothpaste back in the tube.

The complicated ethics of "pervert glasses"

The backlash over camera-equipped smart glasses is definitely growing, whether its apps designed to suss them out in public, condemnation from pop stars, or outright bans on smart glasses in some places.

As a privacy safeguard, Meta's glasses have a front-facing light that comes on when video is being taken or a picture is being snapped, but the light has been an ongoing issue since the glasses launched. Disabling it has turned into an ongoing game of cat-and-mouse: Meta smart glasses' cameras won't work if the light is covered, but hackers found ways to modify the hardware itself, leading Meta to release a mandatory update that will physically disable any glasses if a user tampers with the indicator. Creeps are pretty ingenious, so I expect further workarounds.

Whether they have lights or not, hidden cameras are generally legal to use in public places in the U.S. (with a few exceptions), and it's not necessarily against the law to film yourself trying to pick someone up, then post the footage online so weirdos can comment, either.

How to spot hidden cameras in glasses

Unless you're really eagle-eyed, it's tough to spot someone with a hacked pair of glasses with no recording indicator light, but it's not impossible. Here are a few things to look for:

The rivet: Most standard glasses have decoration of some kind to cover the glasses' hinge. On Meta Ray-Bans and most other camera glasses, they're round and slightly oversized with a glass inner circle.
Thick frames: While the technology is getting smaller, camera equipped glasses tend to have thicker frames to hide the gear.
The tap: There's two ways to trigger an off-the-shelf pair of Meta smart glasses, saying "Hey, Meta, take video" or tapping the side of the glasses.
Head movement: Meta glasses have a pretty wide lens, so they don't require a ton of movement to capture a scene, but still, if someone is moving their head when they could just be moving their eyes, they might be trying to keep something in frame.

All that said, despite the growing popularity of the nickname "pervert glasses," camera-equipped smart glasses have a variety of legitimate uses and I assume the vast majority of wearers want a quick way to upload content to Instagram, answer texts, or take a picture without having to pull out their phones, so just spotting the glasses in the wild doesn't mean you've spotted a creeper. Usually.

This App Can Help Detect When Someone Near You Is Wearing Meta Glasses

By: Stephen Johnson — 23 July 2026 at 20:46

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An app has launched that detects whether the people around you are using Meta and other kinds of smart glasses. Antizuck Smart Glasses Scanner, available for iPhone and designed by Albert Pariente Cohen, detects nearby Bluetooth signals that match Meta glasses, Snap Spectacles, Meta Quest headsets, RayNeo smart glasses, and other devices; then, it lets you know what gadget is nearby and whether it's been detected previously. In keeping with the "privacy" focus, Antizuck doesn't require an account or email address, nor does it send any data outside of your phone. It retails for $2.99 with no subscription.

What devices can the Antizuck app identify?

In my testing, Antizuck successfully identified both my Meta glasses and my Quest 3 headset. It actually called out my Quest 3 (name and distance) while the headset was in sleep mode. The Meta glasses, though, weren't as easily detected. While it did find my glasses, it only "saw" them when I turned them off and on: Antizuck only detects Meta glasses that are charging, powering on, or while they're actively pairing.

The app can also tell you all the other Bluetooth devices advertising around you, and it identifies what they are, if possible. Interestingly, it identified my charging Even Realities G2 smart glasses, but didn't flag them, I assume because they don't have a camera. Still, just seeing how many devices are broadcasting around you is worth the $3 price of admission.

How useful are these glasses at spotting if someone is recording you?

It's clear from the app's "glasses spotted" warning of "Someone may be recording near you" that the point is to let you know if a creep is creeping nearby, but they're only marginally useful for that purpose. They do not let you know which passersby are wearing Meta glasses. They don't show you an alert when a nearby pair of glasses starts recording or takes a picture, nor do they alert you when a nearby pair of Meta glasses is transferring media from the glasses to a phone. If someone turns on their glasses near you or charges them for three minutes or so, you'll get a ping and a record of whether that same pair of glasses has been detected by you in the past. But most people aren't charging their glasses on a street corner or in a bar.

Utility aside, the app is clearly part of the growing backlash against people using camera-forward smart glasses, whether it's New York banning them in court, or singer Lorde calling them "not sexy." I completely understand the concern people, particularly women, have about being recorded by hidden spy glasses, but it's not as one-sided an argument as it may appear at first. People with vision problems use Meta glasses to get verbal help from the AI. Birdwatchers use them to identify birds on the fly. I use my Meta glasses to categorize receipts for tax purposes, listen to Hawkwind, and occasionally take videos on bike rides. I'd rather not have strangers assume I'm a creep, or know that I'm wearing a specific brand of eyeglasses at all. Just as it's legal to take photos in public places, it's legal to scan your surroundings for Bluetooth signatures, but isn't each an invasion of privacy? Like anything, the only thing evil about a tool is how you use it.

Samsung's New Galaxy Smart Glasses Aim for Style and Google Integration

By: Stephen Johnson — 22 July 2026 at 15:30

At its Unpacked event in London this morning, Samsung closed its presentation with a surprise, dropping some details on its soon-to-be-released line of smart glasses. Designed in partnership with Warby Parker, Gentle Monster, and Google, Samsung's "Galaxy Glasses" (if that's what they wind up being called) are audio-, AI-, and camera-focused.

Like Meta's Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses, these glasses will not have a display (although Samsung display glasses are reportedly in development), but they will be integrated into the Google ecosystem. The Galaxy Glasses (or whatever) will launch this fall in a variety of fashion-forward designs from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.

Credit: Samsung-YouTube

What we know about Samsung's line of smart glasses

All models of Samsung's upcoming smart glasses will all feature the same tech under the hood.

Operating system: Runs on Google's Android XR platform.
AI agent: Integrated with Gemini Live AI.
Processor: Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR 1 Gen 1 chip.
Controls: Wear OS integration allows control from Galaxy Watches
Battery life: Up to nine hours of battery life per charge, plus seven full charges from the carrying case.
Camera and audio: Front-facing camera with outward privacy LED indicator and with dual open-ear speakers.

Samsung highlighted several practical use cases for the eyewear during the Unpacked presentation, including looking at a whiteboard to auto-save information into Samsung Notes, making restaurant reservations and coffee orders on the fly, and taking pictures and video by touching the frame.

What we don't know yet about Samsung's smart glasses

Here are some of the "missing pieces" about these glasses.

The price: No information has been released about what they'll cost.
Release date: While they are scheduled for "this fall," the exact release date has yet to be revealed.
Camera features: Megapixel count, resolution, and field-of-view specs have yet to be specified.
Offline capability: It's not clear how much AI processing will happen through the onboard Snapdragon chip, and how much will rely on a connection to the cloud/your phone.

How do Samsung's smart glasses differ from Meta's smart glasses?

Samsung's entry into the display-free smart glasses space share a lot of features with Meta's line of smart glasses—both include onboard cameras, open-air speakers, and a heavy focus on AI—but there are some distinct differences as well. Here are some areas where Samsung aims to set itself apart from its primary competitor:

The ecosystem: If you're already rocking a Samsung phone and Galaxy Watch, these glasses will lock right into your device setup. But the big selling point may turn out to be their utility with Google: Glasses that fully integrate with Google products means you'll be able to get instant Google Maps navigation, create events in your Google Calendar, use Google's live translation, use Google's Workplace apps, and more.
The AI: While Meta's glasses are tied to Meta AI, Samsung's will use Google's Gemini Live. Whether that's a plus or a minus is a matter of personal preference, of course.
Design: For most of us, finding a pair of glasses that look good is at least as important as which AI agent they connect to. Samsung partnering with both a "trendy" eyewear company like Gentle Monster and a more everyday company like Warby Parker promises to give you more choices, so you can find a pair that's flattering instead of making do with the clunky default option.

The Out-of-Touch Adults' Guide to Kid Culture: What Does 'Quiet on the Creek' Mean?

By: Stephen Johnson — 22 July 2026 at 13:30

The Out-of-Touch Adults' Guide is your roadmap to what the younger people are up to. This week, discussions of what "quiet on the creek" means, why kids are calling each other "Tylenol babies," and what "corny on the bob, off the bob" means take us into some surprisingly choppy water. Because just like all of us, young people are wrestling with cultural appropriation, questionable health advisories, and issues of race and identity. But they're doing it with memes.

What does "quiet on the creek" mean?

Kids are exhorting one another to be "quiet on the creek" this week, usually in a stage whisper. The phrase's definition should be familiar to any angler: You have to be quiet on the creek so you don't scare the fish away. Extend that a bit and you have a colorful way of saying "keep it on the down low" or "be cool."

But there's a second more more charged meaning of "quiet on the creek." When it originally took off online, clueless people asked "what does it mean?" and the response from many was to not explain it, to gatekeep the definition, first because it was regarded as AAVE and people are understandably tired of AAVE being co-opted, but also because when slang is explained, the fizz disappears and you end up with the verbal equivalent of flat champagne.

Among those exhorting people to not talk about quiet on the creek is the rapper who popularized the phrase, Saucy Santana. Saucy posted this video exhorting others to be more quiet on the creek about quiet on the creek:

All respect to Santana, but it's not hard to suss out the definition of "quiet on the creek" if your dad ever took you fishing. I understand the impulse to protect slang from being watered down, but the internet is relentless: Once a phrase goes viral, no matter where it came from, the original context is stripped away, and people are going to say what they say, regardless of the politics behind it. Anyway, you should check out Santana's song and support their career because they are good at this shizz.

Controversy aside, the phrase has become popular enough that it's being used in a ton of online videos of people in movies and TV being quiet on the creek, like this:

and this:

What's up with the controversial "that's just the way it is" videos?

Since we're on the subject of over-exposure watering down Black people's slang and culture online, let's talk about the strange case of "That's Just the Way It Is." Early in the week, the hashtag thatsjustthewayitis was combined with the chorus of Tupac's "Changes" and used to comment on racism in videos like these:

Soon after "that's just the way it is" took off, people predicted how it would be coopted, posting videos like these that are basically parodies of how white people would make the meme about them, substituting legit concerns for mistaken Starbucks orders and whatnot:

Depressingly, this kind of co-optation happens all the time, but in this case, I'm having trouble finding many actual examples of videos of the phrase/meme being co-opted by white people. There are a few out there, but they seem to be getting way fewer views than the commentary on them.

I have no doubt this phrase would have been more widely misunderstood and misused as it became more popular, but there doesn't seem to have been enough time. So the "that's just the way it is" meme has become about the predictable adoption of Black culture, while skipping "the middleman" of the actual co-opting, almost like a preemptive defense against cultural gentrification. And that's without even mentioning that Tupac's song is built around the chorus to Bruce Hornsby's "The Way it is," which is one of whitest songs ever.

What is a "Tylenol baby"?

In September 2025, President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference announcing a scientifically dubious link between the use of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) by pregnant women and autism. Kids immediately weaponized "Tylenol baby" and have used it ever since to roast their pals.

Middle schoolers tend to care more about finding new ways to insult each other than they do about FDA research, so the phrase generally isn't meant to suggest anyone actually has autism. It's a way for people who don't know any better (yet, hopefully) to use the societal stigma of autism to say, "you're a dope" or "you're acting foolish."

Viral video of the week: Corny on the Bob

The final slang phrase in this week's dive into youth and race relations is "corny on the bob," it means "corn on the cob," and has not been co-opted or stolen from AAVE, nor does it insult anyone with a disability. Instead, it's a catchphrase of Patty Miller, an unexpected online star whose cooking and eating videos regularly rack up millions of views based on her unique personal presentation and her colorful way of pronouncing words. In this video, she shows off the "liver and engines" she made and her "corny on the bob, off the bob."

Look, I wouldn't eat that slop with your mouth, but that doesn't mean I don't have a place in my heart for the internet's new meemaw.

The Top 10 TV Shows of the Year so Far, According to Streaming Data

By: Stephen Johnson — 15 July 2026 at 13:00

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If there's one word that sums up the streaming habits of Americans in the first six months of 2026, it's "variety." We're bouncing wildly between the heavy drama of HBO's The Pitt and the junk food TV perfection of Love Island USA, and hitting all kinds of stops along the way. They always said the United States was a melting pot, and so it is—at least on TV. Here are the top 10 most-streamed series of the last six months and where you can watch them, according to JustWatch.

Euphoria

When it premiered in 2019, Euphoria turned heads for its stylish, nothing-held-back look into the lives of modern teenagers. Now in its third season, the show has undergone a major time jump to follow the characters into adulthood. Zendaya's Rue is still the heart of the show, and original cast members Sydney Sweeney (Cassie), Jacob Elordi (Nate), Hunter Schafer (Jules), Alexa Demie (Maddy), and Maude Apatow (Lexi) are all back. Sharon Stone has been added to the cast as an imposing TV showrunner, adding a meta layer to this always provocative show. Stream Euphoria on HBO Max.

Euphoria

Stranger Things

The much-anticipated final season of Netflix's mega-hit series pulled in huge streaming numbers with a super-sized dose of teenage sci-fi. Season five sees the Hawkins crew back together for an epic showdown against Vecna and the malevolent forces of the Upside Down. Creators Matt and Ross Duffer pulled out all the stops, delivering a nostalgia-addled, tear-jerking conclusion to the story of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Hopper (David Harbour), and the rest of the gang. It's a satisfying wrap-up to one of the biggest shows of the decade. Stream Stranger Things on Netflix.

Stranger Things

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Based on George R.R. Martin's novellas and set in the Game of Thrones universe, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms ditches the epic scope of GoT in favor of the smaller, more personal story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a good-natured but naive "hedge-knight" of no importance or renown in the grand scheme of Westeros. Dexter Sol Ansell plays his diminutive, bald-headed squire Egg, who just might be connected to one of the ruling clans of the land. Stream A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on HBO Max.

The Rookie

Nathan Fillion's megawatt charm anchors this enduring cop show, which has evolved its gimmicky, quirky premise into a reliable and beloved police procedural. Fillion plays John Nolan, who started as the LAPD's oldest rookie and is now a seasoned training officer. The series balances high-stakes criminal action in Los Angeles with genuine humor and heart, thanks to the performances of Fillion and cast mates Lucy Chen, Tim Bradford, and Angela Lopez. If you're looking for a highly bingeable procedural that doesn't take itself too seriously but still delivers solid thrills, this is your go-to. Stream The Rookie on Hulu.

The Rookie

The Pitt

HBO's gritty, hyper-realistic medical drama has earned acclaim from critics and audiences for its well-drawn characters and relentless pace. Starring Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael Robinavitch, The Pitt ditches the "disease of the week" format of many medical shows in favor of a study of the toll the modern medical system places on everyone involved—all in the course of a single 15-hour shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Season one earned five Emmy awards, and judging from its whopping 25 nominations this year, season two might win more. Stream The Pitt on HBO Max.

The Pitt

The Boys

Prime Video's unapologetically brutal superhero satire is going out with a huge bang. As Season 5 begins, Vought International is poised for a total political takeover, and Billy Butcher, leader of "The Boys," is ready to go full scorched Earth to end the superhero menace once and for all. The performances of The Boys' ensemble cast—including Jack Quaid (Hughie), Erin Moriarty (Starlight), Laz Alonso (Mother's Milk), Tomer Capone (Frenchie), and Karen Fukuhara (Kimiko)—ground the show's absurdity with genuine emotional stakes. Stream The Boys on Prime Video.

The Boys

From

The residents of the unnamed town at the center of From just cannot catch a break. If it's not worms crawling around under their skin, it's the mysterious Man in Yellow stealing people's souls. Season four of this mystery-heavy show from the creator of Lost sees the survivors pushed to their limits as the veil between the strange town and the real world gets thinner. Stream FROM on MGM+.

FROM

at MGM+

Widow's Bay

This series from Apple TV has won nearly unanimous praise from both critics and audiences. It's a rare horror-comedy that manages to be genuinely scary and really funny. In the island town of Widow's Bay, literally everything is haunted, cursed, and otherwise beset with unspeakable evil, but mayor Tom Loftis, played by Matthew Rhys, wants to bring tourism to the island. Mayor Tom is so married to his vision of Widow's Bay as the next Martha's Vineyard, he ignores the sea hags, fog monsters, and serial-killer-ghosts surrounding him. The great Stephen Root plays Wyck, an old-timer who's always there to remind everyone that time is short and everyone is doomed. Stream Widow's Bay on Apple TV+.

Widow's Bay

at Apple TV+

Love Island USA

Prestige TV isn't the only TV; there's room for trashy reality too, and Love Island USA is a full meal of junk food. Hosted by Ariana Madix, this reality dating show delivers a steady stream of bombshell arrivals, messy betrayals, and unexpected romance. There's a reason Love Island has broken streaming records and sparked endless online chatter. If you're looking for a summer binge, you found it. Stream Love Island USA on Peacock.

Love Island USA

Off Campus

Ice hockey players are having a moment—first in the breakout series Heated Rivalry, and now in Off Campus. This college-set soap opera is based on the bestselling book series from Elle Kennedy. Set at the fictional Briar Academy, Off Campus details the heartbreak, romance, and drama between top college ice hockey players and the women who love them. Season one follows the opposites-attract romance between Hannah (Ella Bright), a sarcastic music major, and Garret (Belmont Cameli), the arrogant captain of Briar U's hockey squad. Stream Off Campus on Prime Video.

Off Campus

at Amazon Prime

The Top 10 Movies of the Year so Far, According to Streaming Data

By: Stephen Johnson — 14 July 2026 at 19:30

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We've officially crossed the halfway point of 2026, and people have spent the six months of the year streaming some amazing movies. The ten films below—the most-streamed flicks in the first half of the year, according to data from JustWatch—are a goldmine of cinematic variety, running the gamut from the epic popcorn sci-fi adventure Project Hail Mary, to Sam Raimi's unhinged survival thriller Send Help, to the gritty political action flick One Battle After Another. If you're looking for a guaranteed banger for your next movie night, you can't go wrong with any of the selections below.

Project Hail Mary (2026)

In this crowd-pleasing sci-fi movie, Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher who is blasted into the firmament in a last-ditch effort to save the world. Grace is the only person on Earth who might know how to protect the sun from a cosmic infection that threatens all life (just go with it), but he's definitely not an astronaut and doesn't see himself as a hero either. Will he rise to the occasion and learn something about his inner strength and resilience while saving us all from death? My money is on, "yeah, probably." Project Hail Mary is streaming on Prime Video, MGM+, Fubo, and Roku.

Project Hail Mary

at Roku

The Housemaid (2025)

Director Paul Feig's The Housemaid is a psychological thriller equally influenced by steamy suburban potboilers like Gone Girl and suspense classics like Vertigo. Based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel, The Housemaid has a classic setup: Millie (Sydney Sweeney), a young woman with a secret past, lands a job as a live-in housemaid for wealthy couple Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar). Millie soon discovers that the nice couple who hired her is hiding very dangerous secrets. Great for fans of rising tension and killer plot twists. The Housemaid is streaming on Starz and Fubo.

The Housemaid

at Starz

Send Help (2026)

Horror-master Sam Raimi is the perfect director for this violent, unhinged, darkly funny thriller. Send Help stars Rachel McAdams as Linda, a dorky cubicle drone in an office full of well-dressed sharks. Her boss is Bradley (Dylan O’Brien), a nepo-baby executive with unlimited funds and no compassion. The pair end up stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. It turns out Bradley's skill at belittling people is no help in the jungle, but Linda is something of a survivalist. She might also be insane. It's a perfect set-up for a twisty plot that ends in a bloody showdown. All thumbs up! Send Help is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

Send Help

at Disney+

Marty Supreme (2025)

Loosely based on the real life of ping-pong player Marty Reisman, Marty Supreme is a fast-paced sports drama set in the world of professional table tennis in the 1950s. Oscar-nominee Timothée Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a brash ping-pong prodigy who can't get out of his own way. Gwyneth Paltrow costars as Kay Stone, a wealthy woman who becomes entangled in Marty's world. Marty Supreme has to be the most successful movie about ping-pong in history (save maybe Forrest Gump), earning nine Academy Award nominations and a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Stream Marty Supreme on HBO Max.

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another (2025)

Paul Thomas Anderson's nuanced, intelligent thriller about resistance and racial tension in a fascistic, anti-immigration vision of the United States seems ripped from the headlines, but it's not a documentary. Featuring fantastic performances from heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall, One Battle After Another is that rare movie that's equal parts thoughtful and exciting. It was nominated for 13 Oscars and won six of them, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn. Stream one Battle After Another on HBO Max .

One Battle After Another

Bugonia (2025)

I love it when a weirdo movie finds a big audience, and Bugonia is one of those movies. Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis play a couple of societal dregs who kidnap a high-powered pharmaceutical executive (Emma Stone) because they think she's an alien. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who helmed 2023's excellent Poor Things, the Best Picture Oscar nominee is a must-watch, even if you're only a little weird. (And if you want more weirdness, it's based on an even odder South Korean film called Save the Green Planet.) Stream Bugonia on Netflix .

Bugonia

Hamnet (2025)

Good job having elevated taste, America: Hamnet is a lyrical, high-minded historical drama that reimagines the family life of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes Hathaway. Set in Stratford-upon-Avon in the 16th century, Hamnet explores the couple's grief following the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, and its influence on Shakespeare's Hamlet. The film was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, but it only took home one: Jessie Buckley won Best Actress. Stream Hamnet on Netflix.

Hamnet

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

Legendary director Gore Verbinski (The Ring, the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy) is back with a satirical, gleefully maximalist science fiction comedy that takes on AI, social media addiction, VR, and the modern world itself. Sam Rockwell plays a man from the future who shows up in an L.A. diner demanding that customers help him save the future from an artificial intelligence that is about to be born. Being a time traveler, Rockwell has tried this many times before, and has always failed, but this time, it's going to be different—or everyone is going to die again. Part Terminator, part Black Mirror, Don't Die is a throw-everything-at-the-wall movie that goes so far over the top, you'll be forced to submit to its weird logic and style out of sheer exhaustion. Stream Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die on Hulu.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)

James Cameron’s third foray into the world of Pandora proves that you should never bet against epic spectacle. Avatar: Fire and Ash continues the saga of Jake Sully and Neytiri as they battle both the hostile Ash People and the even more hostile Earth colonists. Packed with jaw-dropping visual effects that earned a 2026 Academy Award, this sci-fi adventure grossed nearly $1.5 billion worldwide, making it one of the biggest hits of the year. If you didn't catch the visual spectacle on the big screen, or you just want to take another trip to Pandora, it’s now available to stream from the comfort of your couch. (If you need a refresher on all things Avatar, check out our deep dive into the franchise.) Stream Avatar: Fire and Ash on Disney+.

Avatar: Fire and Ice

at Disney+

The Secret Agent (2025)

This Brazilian neo-noir political thriller is set in the late 1970s, at the end of Brazil's military dictatorship. Wagner Moura stars as Armando Solimões, a former professor who has been classified as an enemy of the state and forced into hiding. Although it didn't win any Academy Awards, The Secret Agent was nominated for four, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Moura), Best International Film, and Best Casting. It has a nearly perfect 98% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Stream The Secret Agent on Hulu.

The Secret Agent