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In a few short years, Paul Mescal has gone from rising Irish actor to major movie star with an Academy Award nomination to his credit. His vulnerable turns in Normal People, Aftersun, and All of Us Strangers have secured him a spot in the hallowed halls of Internet Boyfriends. But what sets Mescal apart from Ryan Gosling, Timothée Chalamet, Pedro Pascal, and Jonathan Bailey is his supreme ability to Sad Boy.

SEE ALSO: 'Hamnet' review: Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley burn in William Shakespeare tragedy

It's not just that he can cry. Mescal's blue eyes can carry an ocean of sadness. His voice can tremble at an octave that makes our hearts drop. His smile, even when wide, can read as a desperate lie. He is so good at playing heartache and grief that he's essentially made "sad boy" a verb. As in, Paul Mescal can Sad Boy like no other.

So, in celebration of the wide release of Hamnet, another film in which Mescal has come to break hearts and spike tissue sales, Mashable's team has surveyed his filmography to rank his movies, TV show appearances, and short films on a scale of zero to five Sad Boys. To be clear, this ranking is not about how sad the title is; it's about how sad Mescal is in it — so, when you plan your own Mescal movie marathon, you know how to hydrate and gear up with tissues appropriately.

Here are our Paul Mescal Sad Boy rankings, in order of release.

Normal People (2020)

The role that introduced the world to Mescal, Normal People's Connell set the bar high for Paul Mescal's future Sad Boys. Yes, he's charming and smart, but he also nurses a deep sadness and struggles to communicate his emotions, be it his affection for Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) or his grief over losing his friend Rob (Éanna Hardwicke).

When Connell's feelings finally do spill over in a monologue to a therapist in episode 10, it's nothing short of extraordinary. Here, Mescal lays bare all of Connell's depression and insecurities. It's riveting and raw, and it's the perfect groundwork for Mescal's future Sad Boy roles. If we were just rating Normal People off that scene, it would earn five Sad Mescals, no questions asked. But since Connell has his fair share of happy moments, especially with Marianne, we'll settle for four Sad Mescals. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: Normal People is now streaming on Hulu.

Drifting (2020)

Written and directed by Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, Drifting is a 14-minute short film about two Irish boys who've been friends their whole lives. However, growing up can mean growing apart. In their small Midlands town, Cian (Mescal) is content to hit the same pub for drinks and trouble, night after night, year after year. But Pat (Dafhyd Flynn) yearns for a new scene.

Mescal drapes Cian in a cocky attitude with a pugnacious edge. But beneath this bad boy surface is a Sad Boy whose laughter hides an ache he can't explain. However, at only 14 minutes, the sadness begins to bloom right before the credits roll. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: Drifting is now streaming on YouTube.

The Rolling Stones, "Scarlet" (2020)

A music video may not seem like a place for Mescal sadness. And yet this Rolling Stones' video begins with no music, just Mescal — with his Irish accent intact — teary, calling himself "a little bit drunk" and apologizing before saying, "I love you." This too sounds like an apology in his delivery, which is straight to camera, enhancing its impact. Then the song begins.

However, from there, Mescal offers a lot of smiles, jaunty dancing, boyish charm, and a bit of a strip tease. There's brooding and tears too. It's an emotional rollercoaster with more highs than lows. — K.P.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: The Rolling Stones' "Scarlet" can be streamed on YouTube.

Phoebe Bridgers, "Savior Complex" (2020)

The Sally-Rooney-Taylor-Swift-Phoebe-Bridgers-Fleabag cinematic universe went supernova when Paul Mescal starred in the music video for Phoebe Bridgers' "Savior Complex," directed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. (Huge day for all Bridge-adjacent Phoebes out there.) Prior to the video, Mescal and Bridgers had exchanged messages on social media about Normal People and interviewed one another on Instagram Live, making "Savior Complex" a watershed moment for the very online. The pair went on to date, although they are no longer together.

Mescal's role in the actual video is less prototypical Sad Boy and more general Tortured Man. He's a grifter who fakes injuries and steals a car, all while running from the most precious white dog who has nothing but affection for him, even after everything he's done. If anything, the dog is the real Sad Boy here. (Also, just a very Good Boy.) — B.E.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: Phoebe Bridgers' "Savior Complex" is now streaming on YouTube.

The Lost Daughter (2021)

As far as Mescal's role in Maggie Gyllenhaal's psychological thriller The Lost Daughter goes, Will is as far from Sad Boy as you can get, really. A 24-year-old Irish business student working summers on a Greek island, he might be behind in his studies, but he's working a cruisy job in paradise, hanging out with Olivia Colman's Leda and having an affair with Dakota Johnson's Nina. He's complicated, but not deeply sad. Probably the one character in the film who isn't tormented by their past and present, really. But the film does have both Mescal and his Hamnet co-star Jessie Buckley in it, so it's Sad Boy-adjacent by way of casting. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: The Lost Daughter is now streaming on Netflix.

God's Creatures (2022)

Haunting and downright bleak, God's Creatures is an underrated gem in Mescal's discography. The film focuses on Aileen (a terrific Emily Watson), whose estranged son Brian (Mescal) returns to Ireland after a stint in Australia. When Aileen's coworker Sarah (Aisling Franciosi) accuses Brian of sexual assault, Aileen finds herself torn between her family and doing what's right. As Aileen reckons with her tangle of guilt and maternal love, Mescal turns in a performance that oozes less with sadness than straight-up menace. — B.E.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: God's Creatures is now streaming on Tubi.

Aftersun (2022)

It's fitting that Mescal earned his first Academy Award nomination for one of his saddest roles to date, playing father Calum on vacation with his daughter Sophie (Frankie Corio) in Charlotte Wells' Aftersun. 

Seen through young Sophie's eyes and adult Sophie's (Celia Rowlson Hall) memories and VHS tapes, Calum is almost unknowable to her: a loving father burdened with a pain young Sophie couldn't understand. The implication that Calum died by suicide following the the trip adds a further layer of tragedy to the film, and Mescal plays every aspect of it flawlessly. To this day, I can't hear "Under Pressure" without feeling emotionally shattered — that's the power of Mescal and Aftersun. — B.E.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: Aftersun is now streaming on Pluto TV.

Carmen (2022)

In Benjamin Millepied's Texas-set reimagining of Bizet's tragic opera, Carmen, Mescal's Sad Boy level is right up there. As Aidan, a Marine with PTSD, Mescal plays a man whose "eyes are sad but produce no tears," as the film describes it. Aidan meets the titular love of his life (Melissa Barrera) as she attempts to cross the Mexican border, and the violence that ensues causes them both deep trauma and puts them on the run together. There's much forlorn gazing across the Texan landscape and nightclub dance floors, Romeo and Juliet-level foreshadowing, and significant brooding. Mescal even sings and plays a melancholy original on acoustic guitar. Mescal's Aidan watching Barrera's Carmen performing "Tú y Yo" with tears in his eyes? SAD. — S.C.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: Carmen is available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.

All of Us Strangers (2023)

In writer/director Andrew Haigh's soul-scorching adaptation of Taichi Yamada's novel Strangers, Paul Mescal stars opposite Andrew Scott as a pair of neighbors in a largely empty apartment building, both of whom are desperate for connection. After a rocky start, the two form a hot and loving relationship. But a horrible secret threatens to ruin things.

SEE ALSO: 'All of Us Strangers' is a gift to queer Gen Xers

One of our favorite movies of 2023, All of Us Strangers offers Mescal as a lost young man yearning for love. His love scenes with Scott have an electrifying chemistry. But there's a volatile vulnerability to Mescal's performance here that makes his first scene unnerving, and his final absolutely heart-wrenching. Even just thinking back on it now, I'm tearing up. As Siddhant Adlakha wrote in his review for Mashable, "Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal lead the hottest, saddest movie this year." It might be that balance that makes his finale all the more devastating. — K.P.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: All of Us Strangers is now streaming on Hulu.

Foe (2023)

The saddest thing about Foe isn't Mescal himself, but rather the fact that a sci-fi movie starring him, Saoirse Ronan, and Aaron Pierre simply fails to take off. Mescal plays Junior, who lives with his wife Hen (Ronan) on a remote farm on a dying Earth. When Junior is chosen to go to space, company OuterMore plans to make an exact AI replica to remain on Earth with Hen. They just need to observe the couple in order to make it perfect. So begins a wave of interrogations in which Junior is at turns bewildered, aggressive, and possessive, but never truly full Sad Boy. — B.E.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: Foe is now streaming on Prime Video.

Gladiator II (2024)

When the casting for Ridley Scott's sequel to Gladiator was announced, Paul Mescal seemed an odd choice. A renowned and talented actor to be sure, but this ingendude doesn't have the macho ferocity of Russell Crowe, who headlined the first film. However, Scott seemed to use Mescal's Sad Boy supremacy to build a non-toxic masculinity thread into the story of another gladiator taking on a viciously oppressive system.

As I wrote in my review for Mashable, "Mescal has packed on added brawn for the role of a warrior, but the boyish vulnerability radiant in his critically heralded performances in the indie dramas Aftersun and All of Us Strangers shines through. He doesn't just put on a scowl and seek bloody vengeance on those who killed his beloved wife (May Calamawy). He also talks about his feelings to his mother (a returning Connie Nielsen). And even as he battles, he carries with him not just a sword but a woeful expression that violence is his only resort. There's a tragedy even in victory, in part because it's been 20 years since Maximus fought for Rome to be freed, and change has not come, a heavy burden that Mescal carries with every step." — K.P.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: Gladiator II is now streaming on Paramount+.

Saturday Night Live, Season 50, Episode 8 (2024)

We don't have a Happy Mescal scale, but if we did, Mescal's SNL hosting gig would be at the tippy-top. Over the course of the show, Mescal poked fun at being labeled "daddy," gamely played up his Irishness, went full pirate, and donned a ridiculous neon suit, complete with a Devo helmet. But the highlight was indisputably Mescal's starring turn in the Gladiator II musical sketch. Not only did Mescal showcase his impressive pipes, he also danced while decapitating fellow gladiators, spat a Lin-Manuel Miranda-style rap, and did his best impression of Elphaba's "Defying Gravity" riff. The smile on his face says it all: That is one joyous Mescal. — B.E.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: Saturday Night Live is now streaming on Peacock.

The History of Sound (2024)

Suppressed longing, deep grief, and lifelong love all fuel Oliver Hermanus' The History of Sound, with Mescal's character a man of few words but intense emotion. The film follows the deep love between the intensely stoic Lionel (Mescal) and the overtly charming David (Josh O'Connor), who meet in 1917 in Boston while singing old songs around the piano, right before Lionel is deployed to fight in World War I. Two music academics, they later travel the American East collecting recordings of folk songs, as their romance deepens behind closed doors. Mescal's Lionel endures loneliness, grief, isolation, oppressed sexuality, and the agony of long-lost love, thus Sad Boy levels in The History of Sound are high. — S.C.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: The History of Sound is now streaming on MUBI.

Hamnet (2025)

Get your tissues ready. Mescal's performance as William Shakespeare, a man engulfed by unimaginable grief, in Chloé Zhao's Hamnet will tear you to pieces. Based on Maggie O'Farrell's novel, the drama sees Mescal alongside Jessie Buckley as history's own star-crossed lovers Will and Agnes, who suffer the devastating loss of their 11-year-old son Hamnet years before the playwright penned his famous tragedy Hamlet. Mescal's raw, unrelenting, and completely human interpretation of Shakespeare's loss as a father and process as a writer comprehending it all will break you, put you back together again, and stay lodged in your throat long after you've watched.

As Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review of Hamnet out of TIFF, "'Where is he?' Will says, and in that simple question, Mescal channels a mix of dread, hope, and fear that could bring down the Globe Theatre. It's not booming. That's not Zhao's way. It's delivered strong but raw, quavering. It is what pain sounds like when stripped of Hollywood shine. It's too human for an Oscar reel. It's too heartbreaking."

Essentially, you'll never look at the famous "to be or not to be" soliloquy the same way. — S.C.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

How to watch: Hamnet is now in theaters.

The central locked room mystery of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery sees writer-director Rian Johnson drawing on a long literary history. The film takes many cues from the likes of authors including Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe, but one particular novel is crucial to the core puzzle: John Dickson Carr's The Hollow Man.

The American author's 1935 mystery novel, which features his recurring investigator protagonist Gideon Fell, functions as a key text in Benoit Blanc's (Daniel Craig) investigation into the murder at Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude. But what exactly is this important book?

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Wednesday' is full of Edgar Allan Poe references. Here's a bunch. What is The Hollow Man in Wake Up Dead Man?

Early on in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, new Chimney Rock resident and priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor) is reckoning with the impossible crime that is the murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). Stabbed in the back in a small room with only one way in or out, in front of an entire congregation? It's "the stuff of detective fiction," as Blanc declares, the famous detective now on the case.

In his clue-gathering, Blanc mentions Carr's novel The Hollow Man and the methods of Gideon Fell, Carr's fictional detective. And according to a list Father Jud finds in the church office, The Hollow Man just so happened to be the Spring Book Club title for Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude — it seems the killer was inspired by the novel.

Featured Video For You Andrew Scott on crafting the iconic 'Ripley' in Netflix's new mystery series The Hollow Man gives "a syllabus of how to commit the perfect crime." Credit: Orion / Mashable

In The Hollow Man, a murderer shoots a professor and vanishes from a locked room, then kills another victim in a public street with witnesses and without leaving footprints in the snow. However, there's one very famous chapter, 17, which has become synonymous with defining the elements of an impossible crime. Here, Carr has Fell giving this famous "locked room lecture" to the reader, describing "the general mechanics" of how a murder (like Wicks') could be committed in impossible circumstances.

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Blanc describes The Hollow Man in Wake Up Dead Man as "a syllabus of how to commit the perfect crime," as Fell maps out a number of scenarios, including the following:

1. It is not murder, but a series of coincidences ending in an accident which looks like murder.

2. It is murder, but the victim is impelled to kill himself or crash into an accidental death.

3. It is murder, by a mechanical device already planted in the room, and hidden undetectably in some innocent-looking piece of furniture.

Carr would deploy the locked room framework in many novels, like The Problem of the Wire Cage (a murder on a tennis court) and The Crooked Hinge and Castle Skull (murders which at first appear supernatural).

Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue (both also on Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude's book club list), Gaston Leroux's The Mystery of the Yellow Room, Soji Shimada's The Tokyo Zodiac Murders, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and The Adventure of the Speckled Band and The Adventure of the Crooked Man — all locked room mysteries, impossible crimes that it would take a real Jonathan Creek to solve.

Or, a Benoit Blanc.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will open in select cinemas on Nov. 26, then debut on Netflix on Dec. 12.

SAVE $84.06: As of Dec. 12, the Anker Solix C300 is on sale for $214.94 at Amazon. That's a 28% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C300 $214.94 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $85.05   Get Deal

Portable power stations don't have to cost thousands of dollars. Of course, if you're looking for a powerful unit to power your whole house for days on end, these options will naturally be a little pricier. But if you're just looking for something to keep you online during a sticky situation or camping vacation, this deal on the Anker Solix C300 is a perfect budget option.

As of Dec. 12, you can get this model for $214.94, saving you $84.06. With this option, you can power up to eight devices at once, with ports including three AC (300W), one car socket (120W), two USB-C (140W), one USB-C (15W), and one USB-A (12W).

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It delivers 300W of output (600W surge) with a 288Wh capacity and includes fast 140W two-way USB-C charging. And this design is about 15% smaller than comparable models and comes with an optional strap, making it a nice, portable option to carry around with you.

It also supports solar charging with 60W or 100W Anker panels, should you wish to upgrade, and you can also recharge it to 80% in around 50 minutes from a wall outlet or use solar, a car, or the PD 3.1 USB-C port. Inside, it boasts a long-lasting LiFePO4 battery, rated for 3,000 cycles, along with smart temperature management, impact resistance, and a five-year warranty, so you know you're getting your money's worth.

Find this Anker power station deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $50: As of Dec. 12, Bose QuietComfort earbuds are on sale for $129 at Amazon. That's a 28% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Earbuds $129 at Amazon
$179 Save $50   Get Deal

It's Christmas gift shopping season, and if you're looking for a great gift for the music lover in your life, why not check out this latest Amazon deal on Bose QuietComfort earbuds? As of Dec. 12, you can get these earbuds for their lowest-ever price, currently down to $129. That's a $50 saving, and according to camelcamelcamel, they've not been priced this low since January.

These are truly amazing earbuds for lots of reasons, but their biggest selling point is the strong noise cancellation. They have settings that let you block out pretty much everything or quiet annoying noises without blocking out the world entirely. You can even turn off the noise cancellation fully.

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They are also a robust pair with an IPX4 rating, so they're suitable for workouts or runs. You get three sizes of eartips and stability bands to help make sure you've got a secure fit, and Bluetooth multipoint lets you stay connected to more than one device at a time.

The battery life won't disappoint either. With these earbuds you'll get up to 8.5 hours of listening time, and with the case (which supports wireless charging) you'll get a quick 20-minute top-up for roughly two extra hours.

You can get this deal in black, petal pink, twilight blue, or white, and it’s available at Amazon now.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Not right.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

WRONG

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An artifact.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 12, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

RELIC

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Words of a song.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 12 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 12, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

LYRIC

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A pastry.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 12 Hurdle Word 4 answer

TORTE

Final Hurdle hint

Pennies.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

PENCE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

We've reached the last phase of the lunar cycle before the New Moon. This means that each night the moon will appear less and less visible, until there's nothing to see at all. Keep reading to see what this means for tonight's moon.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, Dec. 12, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This means 43% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

If you don't have any visual aids, you can still see the Mare Imbrium, Aristarchus Plateau, and Copernicus Crater when you look up tonight. If you have binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, Clavius Crater, and the Archimedes Crater. With a telescope, Reiner Gamma, Schiller Crater, and Apollo 14 landing spot will also become visible.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3.

What are moon phases?

NASA says the Moon goes through a cycle of about 29.5 days, and during that time we see its different phases. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the sunlight hitting it changes as it orbits Earth. That’s what makes it look full, half-lit, or sometimes completely hidden. The cycle has eight main phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 12, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 9, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 12 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 12 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this green space must add up to 9. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 3-6 placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-6 placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 12 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this light blue space must be different. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a gardener.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 12, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: To comprise

• Green: To rock

• Blue: Food measurements

• Purple: A dozen

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Contain

• Green: Move in the wind

• Blue: Vegetable units

• Purple: Things that are divided into twelve segments

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #915 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Contain: HOLD, HOUSE, KEEP, STORE

• Move in the wind: BLOW, FLAP, SWAY, WAVE

• Vegetable units: BULB, EAR, HEAD, SPEAR

• Things that are divided into twelve segments: CLOCK, FOOT, YEAR, ZODIAC

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 12, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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 Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love old poetry.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 12, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 12, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Shakespearean titles

The words are related to writing.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe classic written works.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is The Bard.

NYT Strands word list for December 12

• Midsummer

• Tempest

• Shrew

• The Bard

• Merchant

• Merry

• Twelfth

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love big cars.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 12, 2025 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 12, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A large vehicle.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter S appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

TRUCK

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 12, 2025

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.

AI is still the Wild West when it comes to government regulation. But 2025 was the year U.S. states started to make an effort.

Some states, including California and New York, passed legislation that required some pretty basic things from AI companies — including transparency, whistleblower protections, and the well-being of teen users in particular.

Tech world proponents of unfettered AI innovation have made no secret of wanting to shut down state-based regulation efforts, arguing that such laws would dampen growth and give China an advantage in AI.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that attempts to federalize AI regulation, calling for a "national framework."

"To win, United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation," the order says. "But excessive State regulation thwarts this imperative."

SEE ALSO: PSA imagines AI chatbots as creepy humans who harm kids

States with "onerous AI laws" may be punished through withholding of federal funds that help provide high-speed internet access to rural areas, according to the order. Agencies may condition their state grants on not enacting an AI law that conflicts with the order's policy.

The executive order was produced in consultation with David Sacks, a tech venture capitalist and the Trump administration's special advisor for AI and crypto. A New York Times investigation recently revealed how many of Sacks' investments will benefit from his policies.

Michael Kleinman, head of US Policy at the the tech research nonprofit Future of Life Institute, called the order a "gift for Silicon Valley oligarchs."

"No other industry operates without regulation and oversight, be it drug manufacturers or hair salons; basic safety measures are not just expected, but legally required," Kleinman says.

"AI companies, in contrast, operate with impunity. Unregulated AI threatens our children, our communities, our jobs and our future."

OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is being sued by multiple families of teens who died by suicide after heavy engagement with the chatbot. The company recently denied responsibility for the death of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old who talked to ChatGPT about his suicidal feelings and killed himself earlier this year. The order states that the national framework should "ensure that children are protected."

The same day Trump signed the order, a trio of child safety advocacy groups began airing a PSA highlighting the dangers of AI chatbots for children. The spot ends with an appeal not to stop states from regulating AI.

Earlier this year, Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act attempted to ban state regulation of AI for 10 years, a provision that Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, then a Trump ally, fought against. The moratorium was very unpopular amongst registered voters, according to a poll conducted in mid-May.

The measure was eventually voted down by the Senate in a stunning display of bipartisanship, 99 votes to 1. Some MAGA supporters, including Trump ally Steve Bannon, continue to oppose industry-led regulation of AI.

How popular the executive order will be with that level of opposition remains to be seen — as is the question of whether it will pass muster if challenged in the courts.

How to watch 'Die My Love' at a glance: Watch now Rent or buy 'Die My Love' on Prime Video $14.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy Shop Now Watch now Rent or buy 'Die My Love' on Apple TV+ $14.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy Shop Now Watch now Rent or buy 'Die My Love' on Fandango at Home $14.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy Shop Now Watch as of Dec. 23 Mubi annual subscription Free 7-day trial, then $119.88/year (save 33%) Get Deal Watch as of Dec. 23 Mubi for Students Free 30-day trial, then $9.99/month (save $5/month) Get Deal Watch as of Dec. 23 Mubi add-on for Prime Video Free 7-day trial, then $14.99/month Get Deal

Two of your favorite 2010s YA film franchise stars have joined forces for the most feral film you can imagine. If you've seen We Need to Talk About Kevin, then you know writer/director Lynne Ramsay holds no punches when it comes to exploring the darkness in seemingly ordinary families and relationships. Die My Love is no exception.

Co-written with Enda Walsh and Alice Birch, Die My Love stars the one and only Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. It premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where Lawrence earned particularly high praise for her performance. She's already earned a Golden Globe nomination, and the Oscar buzz is afloat. If you haven't seen it yet, now's your chance, as it's officially available to watch at home.

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Die My Love — including when and where it's streaming.

What is Die My Love about?

Adapted from the 2012 novel of the same name by Ariana Harwicz, Die My Love follows Grace and Jackson (Lawrence and Pattinson), a pregnant young couple who move from New York to a country home in Montana. While it may be all sunshine and rainbows at first, Jackson's work begins to pull him away, and Grace's isolation and new surroundings spiral into resentment, rage, and wrath — only intensified by her postpartum depression. What unfolds is the story of a fiery romance turning sour.

Check out the very intense trailer below:

Is Die My Love worth watching?

Die My Love was certainly no box office hit, but that doesn't mean it's not worth watching. It earned a spot on Mashable's list of the best films of 2025 and is generating some Oscar buzz. It's a very divisive film for audiences, with only a 46 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but critics have mostly positive things to say. It holds a 74 percent critic rating in comparison.

Mashable's entertainment editor Kristy Puchko writes, "Ramsay and Lawrence's powers combine to create a ruthlessly savage portrait of female desire and wrath. The result is something feral and bloody fantastic."

Check out our full review of Die My Love.

How can I watch Die My Love at home? Credit: Mubi

Die My Love arrived in theaters on Nov. 7, 2025, and became available to watch at home just a little over a month later. There are a few different ways to tune in  — I've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

Lynne Ramsay's Die My Love made its at-home debut on Dec. 9, 2025, meaning it's now available for purchase at video-on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV+. The movie is also available to rent at those same retailers for as low as $14.99. If you choose to purchase, the movie is yours to keep in your digital library. If you choose to rent, you'll have 30 days to start watching and just 48 hours to finish once you begin.

Here are some quick links to buy or rent Die My Love on digital:

• Prime Video — $14.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

• Apple TV+ — $14.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

• Fandango at Home — $14.99 to rent, $19.99 to buy

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Buy or rent 'Die My Love' at Prime Video $14.99 or $19.99 Shop Now Stream it on Mubi

Die My Love is set to make its streaming debut on Mubi on Dec. 23, 2025, which makes sense as it's a Mubi original film — just like last year's hit The Substance. The Mubi library is brimming with the best of cinema, showcasing an array of films from America and abroad, mainstream and independent, classics, new releases, award-winners, and Mubi's own originals.

Not yet a subscriber? Subscriptions to Mubi start at $14.99 per month, but we've rounded up a couple of different ways to save money on the streaming service below.

The best Mubi streaming dealsBest for newbies: Get a free 7-day trial Opens in a new window Credit: Mubi Mubi 7-day free trial   Get Deal

If you've never signed up for Mubi before, you can take advantage of a free seven-day trial period and watch Die My Love (and plenty more) for free. Just strategically sign up for your trial around the official streaming debut on Dec. 23, and you'll have a full week to watch it. Just remember to cancel your trial before the seven-day period ends if you want to avoid charges.

The free trial is available on Mubi directly or through Prime Video as an add-on.

Best long-term deal: Save 33% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Mubi Mubi annual subscription 7-day free trial, then $119.88/year (save 33%) Get Deal

If you're looking to expand your movie education and want to stick around to enjoy more than just Die My Love, you can save 33% by paying for an entire year of Mubi up front. An annual Mubi subscription costs $119.88 per year, which breaks down to just $9.99 per month instead of the usual $14.99 per month. You'll still get a seven-day free trial to kick off your subscription as well if you're new to the service.

Best for students: Save $5/month on a Mubi student subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Mubi Mubi for students 30-day free trial, then $9.99/month (save $5/month) Get Deal

Students really get the winning deal here. If you have a university email, you can sign up for Mubi for free for 30 days, then get a discounted subscription for just $9.99 per month. That's $5 cheaper per month than regular monthly subscriptions. Plus, with 30 free days, you'll have plenty of time to watch Die My Love and lots of other incredible films before even spending a cent.

SAVE 25% ON NOMINATED GAMES: During The Game Awards, Prime members can score exclusive deals on Amazon, including on nominated games. Score 25% off Split Fiction, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, and Elden Ring Nightreign.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Exclusive Prime member deals during The Game Awards Get 25% off nominated games and up to 20% off gear. Get Deal

The biggest night in gaming is here. The Game Awards 2025 are live-streaming at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads the pack with 13 nominations, but which game will win Game of the Year? Well, you'll have to tune in to find out.

While watching the show, you can also explore some savings on the year's best games. Starting Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, Prime members can shop exclusive savings on Amazon. Deals include 25% off nominated games, 20% off the Nex Playground Ultimate Family Bundle with a 12-month Play Pass, and much more. But shop fast, these deals are only live through Friday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Amazon Exclusive Deals during The Game Awards for Prime Members

To celebrate The Game Awards, Amazon teamed up with the award show to offer exclusive savings for Prime members. These deals are live as of Friday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The savings are coming to the most sought-after games of the season, as well as to hardware and accessories. Here are all of the deals to expect during The Game Awards.

• Up to 25% off nominated games — including Split Fiction, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, and Elden Ring Nightreign

• 20% off the Nex Playground Ultimate Family Bundle with a 12-month Play Pass

• 80% off King of Meat for Prime members

• Up to 20% off hardware and accessories from top brands like Turtle Beach, Samsung, SteelSeries, CRKD, and more

You must be a Prime Member, so if you're not, make sure to join ahead of time. The savings last just 24 hours, ending on Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

OpenAI's latest AI model GPT-5.2 is here. But how does it compare to its biggest competitor, Google's Gemini 3?

The ChatGPT creator launched the GPT-5.2 on Thursday, and it's currently rolling out to paid ChatGPT customers, with wider access to follow. It comes on the heels of a leaked memo, in which OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared "code red" for the AI company. OpenAI is facing steeper competition from Google after the release of its latest AI model, Gemini 3. Google's "most intelligent" AI model yet was surging past its AI competitors in various benchmark tests and on the AI leaderboards at LMArena. 

In addition to that, a post from former Googler Deedy Das claimed that in the two weeks since Gemini 3 had launched, OpenAI lost nearly 6 percent of its visitors.

SEE ALSO: How to try GPT-5.2, the new ChatGPT model series from OpenAI

So, how does OpenAI's GPT-5.2 stack up against Google's Gemini 3? So far, the models seem evenly matched on benchmark performance, pricing, and other comparisons, with both models gaining an edge in specific areas.

First, it should be noted that GPT-5.2 just came out, and we'll know more in the days ahead. Unsurprisingly, OpenAI claims that GPT-5.2 excels over other AI models when it comes to "professional knowledge work." OpenAI describes this as GPT-5.2 being "better at creating spreadsheets, building presentations, writing code, perceiving images, understanding long contexts, using tools, and handling complex, multi-step projects."

GPT-5.2 vs. Gemini 3: LMArena leaderboards

Based on the more neutral LMArena leaderboards, GPT-5.2 appears to be impressing users in at least one key area: web development.

The leaderboard has the higher-end GPT-5.2-high in second place, behind Claude Opus 4.5. Gemini 3 Pro is in the fourth spot, and the base GPT-5.2 model is in sixth. So, for web development tasks, it appears GPT-5.2 excels above Gemini 3. Though, again, these are early days.

So far, GPT-5.2 is unranked on the rest of LMArena's leaderboards.

However, GPT-5.2 has a steep hill to climb. Various versions of Gemini 3 currently top the leaderboards for text, vision, text to image, image edit, and search, with the closely related Google Veo 3 models topping the remaining text to video and image to video categories. Gemini 3 also tops the overall leaderboard, where GPT-5.2 remains unranked.

GPT-5.1-high is currently ranked sixth in the overall rankings, which explains why Altman might be seeing red.

GPT-5.2 vs. Gemini 3: Benchmark tests

At this time, we can't independently verify the benchmark results OpenAI has reported for GPT-5.2, and third-party rankings from companies like ScaleAI so far don't include the new model. However, looking at the benchmark results reported by Google and OpenAI, we can make some comparisons.

• SWE-bench verified: Google says Gemini 3 scored 76.2 percent, while OpenAI says GPT-5.2 scored 80 percent

• Humanity's Last Exam (HLE), no tools: Google says Gemini 3 scored 37.5 percent; OpenAI says GPT-5.2 scored 34.5 percent

• GPQA Diamond: Google says Gemini 3 scored 91.9 percent; OpenAI says GPT-5.2 scored 92.4 percent.

• AIME 2025, no tools: Google says Gemini scored 95 percent without tools; OpenAI says GPT-5.2 scored 100 percent without tools.

• MMMLU: Google says Gemini 3 scored 91.8 percent; OpenAI says GPT-5.2 scored 89.6 percent.

Overall, it's a mixed bag for both models on benchmark performance — you win some, you lose some. You can check out the full benchmark performance at OpenAI and Google.

GPT-5.2 vs. Gemini 3: Features and availability

Gemini 3 and GPT-5.2 are both series of models, which are then integrated into the Gemini and ChatGPT platforms. And these platforms have different capabilities. For instance, Gemini lets users create both AI-generated photos and videos. ChatGPT lets users create images, but users need to use the Sora app for AI videos. Professional users can also access the new models via Google or OpenAI's API and enterprise systems.

Google does have the edge in one respect: Gemini 3 is integrated into more products, giving users more ways to access the new reasoning model. In addition to the Gemini and Google apps, Gemini 3 powers Google AI Mode. Google has also integrated Gemini 3 into various Google AI Studio projects and tools like NotebookLM.

Ultimately, you can do more with Gemini 3 than you can with GPT-5.2, even if it turns out GPT-5.2 performs better.

GPT-5.2 vs. Gemini 3: Pricing

Price-wise, both AI models are pretty even. For $20 per month, users get expanded access to the GPT-5.2 models within OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus plan (the Pro plan costs $200/month). Google also charges $20 per month for its Google AI Pro plan (and $249.99/month for Google AI Ultra, which comes with Google cloud storage). The two are also pretty evenly priced when it comes to API access:

• GPT‑5.2 is priced at $1.75 per 1 million input tokens and $14 per 1 million output tokens

• Gemini 3 is priced at $2 per 1 million input tokens and $12 per 1 million output tokens

Our recommendation for AI users? Try the two AI models out yourself and see which one best fits your needs and workflow.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

SAVE $200.02: As of Dec. 11, get the 65-inch TCL 4K QLED TV for $499.97 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's a discount of 29% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 65-inch TCL 4K QLED TV $499.97 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $200.02   Get Deal

It might be hard to believe, but TVs are relatively cheap these days. If you're trying to find a great one for entertaining this year during the holidays, you can snap one up for a surprisingly low price, with quality and feature ranges that you might not expect for what you pay. We found a great pick that works as either a gift or your new home centerpiece, and it's up for grabs right now at Amazon for the lowest price we've seen.

As of Dec. 11, get the 65-inch TCL 4K QLED TV for $499.97 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $699.99. That's $200.02 off and a discount of 29%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Best TVs under $500: Low-budget, high-quality TVs in every size

This 4K ultra HD QLED TV is a great pick for detail, with four times the realism of what you can expect from normal HD TVs. It uses QLED tech to enhance its color range, using nearly the entire DCI-P3 color space to give you the richest picture you can get.

It features a 144Hz panel refresh rate for a better, smoother viewing experience no matter whether you're playing games, watching sports, or checking out fast-paced content. Thanks to its TCL AIPQ Pro processor, it can also automatically optimize color, contrast, and clarity on its own to give you a great picture.

With Dolby Atmos spatial audio and voice control support, you'll get fantastic sound as well as be able to navigate the TV with your voice. You'll appreciate that for the built-in smart TV features that let you go without a streaming device as well.

If you need an affordable TV with great quality image and sound, this is a pick you should keep your eye on, especially at this entry price.

Gaming’s biggest night is here. The Game Awards 2025 airs tonight, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m. PT. The show will give out awards to the most notable games of 2025, including the coveted Game of the Year award.

Alongside these awards, we’re also expecting some brand-new game announcements and reveals. Some studios have already teased that they’ll be debuting some surprises tonight, but who knows what the night has in store.

Check out the full list of categories and nominations, and keep reading for the latest news and updates from The Game Awards 2025.

What we're expecting from the big show: Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, and more

Crystal Dynamics teased that it’ll showcase the future of the Tomb Raider franchise. Presumably, it’s going to be the next entry in the franchise.

Capcom is expected to show more footage for Resident Evil Requiem. Fans have speculated that Leon Kennedy would make a return to the franchise, and when the cover was leaked by the PlayStation Store earlier this week, it showed Leon. All we need now is for Capcom to confirm the news during the show.

Sega is teasing something as well, saying that we won’t want to miss it. The legacy gaming company has a few projects in the works, including Virtua Fighter 6 and Stranger Than Heaven, so it’s possible we’ll get a release date for these upcoming titles. There might be a Total War announcement too. On the Atlus side, it’s highly unlikely that Persona 6 will get announced, but we could get more information on the Persona 4 remake.

What we hope to see at the show: Unconfirmed sequels and remakes

Lastly, there’s a strange statue that’s been popping up, and host Geoff Keighley has been teasing something big. Internet sleuths have already dug up that it’s likely Baldur’s Gate 3 dev Larian Games’ next project, which is seemingly a Divinity project.

There have been a few trademark leaks too, which hint at what could be revealed.

An Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag remake was reported to be in development, and a trademark for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced popped up a few days ago.

Remedy is making more games in the Control universe, and a recent trademark for Control: Resonant appeared. This could be the sequel to the 2019 game.

We’ll be updating this list during The Game Awards tonight, so be sure to check back for the latest live updates and news!

The House of Mouse recently announced a surprise $1 billion deal with OpenAI, which will bring about 200 Disney characters, props, and other copyrighted items to ChatGPT and Sora, OpenAI's AI chatbot and video app.

So, if you've ever wanted to make a video of yourself hanging out with Deadpool and wielding a lightsaber, you'll be able to do exactly that starting in 2026.

And though many artists and creative professionals have a deep-seated, at-times existential hatred for all things artificial intelligence, Disney CEO Bob Iger said creators don't need to worry. During a CNBC appearance on Thursday, Iger said that "this does not in any way represent a threat to the creators at all."

Well, OK then!

Incredibly, even though OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told CNBC the demand for Disney characters among ChatGPT users is "off the charts," according to the terms of the deal, Disney will pay OpenAI, and not the other way around, to bring Disney intellectual property into ChatGPT-world. Disney will be making a $1 billion equity investment in the AI company, OpenAI revealed in a blog post. As part of the deal, Disney will also become a "major customer" of OpenAI, giving Disney employees access to new AI tools.

Why are creatives threatened by generative AI?

Despite Iger's rosy assessment, the Disney-OpenAI alliance will be seen as terrible news by AI-skeptical artists, who fear that movie studios will replace them with AI tools at the first opportunity. That's why even the smallest hint of AI in movies triggers an immediate backlash from many creative professionals. Even the use of AI to produce movie posters will spark a boycott among artists, many of whom see all generative AI output as slop.

Although, as I've written before, it's not clear that audiences care as much about the use of AI in creative work. Ultimately, the Disney-OpenAI deal is just the latest proof that generative AI in movies, TV, and advertising is a train that can't be stopped. Artists can and will fight the adoption of AI in Hollywood, but the powers that be aren't asking for permission.

In his CNBC appearance with Altman, Iger spoke about the inevitability of AI adoption.

"If it’s going to happen regardless, then we’d rather participate in the rather dramatic growth, rather than just watching it happen and essentially being disrupted by it," Iger said.

Notably, the new agreement does not include the voices of any Disney characters. Including the voice or likeness of the actors behind the characters could put Disney in violation of agreements with writers, artists, and actors, whose unions have been fighting for protections against AI.

As part of the deal, OpenAI and Disney said there's a "licensing fee" for using Disney's characters. But since Disney is the one forking over $1 billion, it seems extremely unlikely that any creatives will see the benefits of this deal. Disney may yet set a precedent that AI companies should pay to license creatives' work, but this isn't that.

"We are not including name and likeness, nor are we including character voices," Iger said on CNBC show Squak on the Street. "And so, in reality, this does not in any way represent a threat to the creators at all, in fact, the opposite. I think it honors them and respects them, in part because there’s a license fee associated with it."

For the record, I am extremely skeptical that "license fee" will trickle down to the artists behind the characters that appear in Sora. I'm equally skeptical that artists, voice actors, and artists will agree that this deal "honors" and "respects them."

By aligning with OpenAI, Disney opens a new front in the AI copyright battle

In Mashable's testing of AI image generators, we've found every major AI image maker will readily produce a deepfake featuring a popular Disney character. It's part of our standard testing process for AI image generators.

So, unsurprisingly, a legal battle is playing out in courts around the world over AI copyright law, with Hollywood heavyweights, authors, and artists pitted against the big AI companies. Some of these cases focus on AI companies using copyrighted works for training without payment or permission. Others focus on the output of those AI tools, many of which readily create deepfakes of popular characters from Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, and other Disney franchises.

So far, early AI copyright cases have ruled in favor of AI companies. It's been a true David vs. Goliath story so far, with relatively unknown authors going up against tech giants like OpenAI, Google, and Meta.

That's why many artists were delighted when, earlier this year, Disney sued AI image generator Midjourney, calling it "a bottomless pit of plagiarism." The hope was that The House of Mouse's famously formidable legal department might succeed where early class action suits had failed. In the legal battle between artists and AI companies, artists are generally outgunned at every turn. Case in point: In the Kadrey v. Meta class action case, the judge noted in his ruling that the authors' legal team simply made weak arguments, even though the facts of the case seemed so damning. Meta literally pirated the authors' books, and internal messages showed its own employees questioned the legal and ethical implications of their work.

But artists who were hoping Disney might come to the rescue in the AI copyright battle may want to temper their expectations. Disney has now made the bold decision to pay OpenAI for the privilege of turning Disney characters into slop.

It's easy to see why. On the same day we learned about the Disney-OpenAI deal, OpenAI sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google, demanding that Google's AI tools stop creating images and videos that feature Disney characters. By granting OpenAI and Sora an exclusive AI license for these Disney characters, Disney is protecting its copyrights and setting itself up for future legal battles.

None of this is particularly good news for creators and artists worried about AI, however. It should hardly come as a surprise that Iger's best interests don't necessarily align with those of actors, animators, and voice-over artists.

But, Iger says they don't need to worry, so I'm sure everything will be fine.

Yes, everything will be fine.

Everything will be fine.

Everything will be fine.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

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Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus Android tablet $239.99 at Amazon
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SEE ALSO: Record-low price alert: We've never seen the AirPods Pro 3 this cheap at Walmart

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Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder spent some time with an older TCL NXTPAPER and wrote, "From the get-go, their displays really do look like photos printed on actual paper. They’re matte, and thus better to use in sunlight than the displays on most phones and tablets. They appear perfectly still and perfectly flat, for lack of better words."

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