The Best New Movies to Stream This Week

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Looking to settle in with a good movie? Me too. That's why I've pored over release schedules to bring you the best original and new-to-streaming movies you can watch on Netflix, Prime, Max, Hulu, and other streaming platforms this week.

This week most notable release is Back in Action, an action comedy powered-by Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. Meanwhile, on Prime, Jennifer Lopez stars in inspirational sports movie Unstoppable.

Back in Action

In Back in Action, the star power is turned up past 11. This action-comedy stars Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz as CIA agents who left the undercover life to raise a family together. But when their cover is blown, these seemingly normal parents come out of retirement to kick ass, take names, and make jokes. It's been over a decade since Diaz has appeared in a feature, so expect something special.

Where to stream: Netflix

Unstoppable

Jennifer Lopez anchors this inspiring story based on the real life of one-legged wrestler Anthony Robles, played by Jharrel Jerome. In Unstoppable, Lopez plays Anthony's mother Judy, one of those devoted movie moms who will not let her son give up on his dream of becoming a college wrestling champion, no matter how many sacrifices she has to make. Man, isn't the human spirit something?

Where to stream: Prime

A Different Man (2024)

If you like your comedy pitch black and shot through with absurdity and social commentary, A Different Man is the movie for you. Sebastian Stan plays Edward, a struggling actor with an extreme facial deformity. A medical procedure transforms him into a handsome dude—a different man—but he's only pretty on the outside. Edward soon learns that beauty is skin deep, but ugliness can go right down to the marrow. Like just about everything released by A24, A Different Man received well-deserved raves from critics.

Where to stream: Max

Henry Danger: The Movie

Henry Danger returns to TV in this straight-to-streaming-and-basic-cable feature. It's been five years since the final season of Nickelodeon's Henry Danger TV show, and you gotta wonder if the show's original audience aged out of fandom. Whatever, though: there will always be kids and tweens into a superhero that isn't dark and broody. Here, Danger teams up with a superfan to explore an alternative dimension which could trap the pair forever.

Where to stream: Paramount+

Hereditary (2018)

I love horror movies, and Hereditary is the best one that been made in the last decade, at least. Ari Aster's masterpiece is not a movie for the faint of heart. It's legitimately disturbing in a primal way, a carefully paced, slow burn of dread that becomes builds to a shocking conclusion. The cast is amazing, but Toni Collette's portrayal of a mother struggling with mental illness stands out as one of the most unsettling performances in horror movie history.

Where to stream: Netflix

Last week's picks

Flow (2024)

If you're anything like me, you missed French film Flow at Cannes and during its limited theatrical run in 2024. We should both be ashamed of ourselves. This breathtakingly beautiful animated adventure story about animals who must work together is exactly the kind of movie we both like. We're not alone, either: Flow earned a 97% positive critical rating and 99% positive audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. So let's treat ourselves better in the future, and start with watching Flow, all right?

Where to stream: VOD

Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action

If you wanted to pinpoint the moment Western Culture fell off the cliff that led to (gesturing vaguely at everything) this, the popularity of The Jerry Springer Show is a solid contender. Through interviews with the people responsible and plenty of footage from the show, Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the Chicago-based talk show that built an empire on fistfights and scandals, both in front of and behind the camera.

Where to stream: Netflix

Stopmotion (2023)

A tortured artist whose most disturbing creations become real isn't the most original plot in horror movie history, but if it ain't broke, why fix it? The art in this case is stop-motion animation, the creepiest kind of animation, and the creation that comes to life, The Ash Man, is a stop motion figure made of raw steak and roadkill, so it's going to get grisly. Stopmotion was written and directed by acclaimed stop motion animator Robert Morgan, so the details are spot-on.

Where to stream: Hulu

Look Into My Eyes

I'm inclined to think of "psychics" as cynical ghouls who exploit grief for profit, but Look into My Eyes' director Lana Wilson has a more nuanced view of the craft. Her documentary examines the relationship between small-time, New York psychics and their clients without weighing in on whether the mediums' claims are true. Instead of exploitation, Wilson finds healing, faith, and human connection. No matter how skeptical you are, it's a fascinating take on the subject.

Where to stream: Max

from Lifehacker https://ift.tt/Jh87K5o
https://ift.tt/1eqbx0d

Read More

How ‘Scary Hour’ Helps Me Stay on Top of My Finances

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

We all have those money tasks that make our stomachs churn. You know the ones—checking your credit card balance after a spendy month, finally opening that medical bill, or diving into your retirement account settings. Enter "Scary Hour," a trending productivity technique that's helping me transform financial anxiety into actionable progress.

What is Scary Hour?

The concept is beautifully simple: set aside one hour to tackle tasks you've been avoiding due to anxiety or fear. While the term is trending on TikTok (RIP), it's a fresh spin on established time-blocking techniques. But there's something powerful about naming this dedicated time for facing our fears—it acknowledges that these tasks are indeed scary, and that's okay.

My financial Scary Hour approach

I started implementing this Scary Hour for my finances after realizing I had a growing pile of "I'll deal with that later" money tasks. Hey, there's nothing like writing about personal finance all day to make you procrastinate your own personal finances. Here's how I structure my financial Scary Hour:

• I schedule it for Tuesday mornings, when my energy is high and my mind is already in productivity mode from starting the work week

• My phone goes on Do Not Disturb

• I make my favorite ginger tea (a small reward helps!)

• I keep a physical notepad handy for action items

• I set a timer for exactly 60 minutes

What I actually do during Scary Hour

In my first session, I tackled the immediate anxiety-inducing tasks:

• Reviewed all account balances

• Categorized last month's "miscellaneous" purchases

• Called about an incorrect charge I'd been avoiding (I had accidentally overpaid my credit card and created a negative balance)

• Finally calculated my true monthly restaurant spending (ouch!)

You can work on your deeper financial planning, too:

• Reviewing and adjusting investment allocations

• Comparing insurance quotes

• Reading through employee benefits documentation

• Creating debt payoff scenarios

• Analyzing spending patterns in traditionally "scary" categories

Why this productivity hack works

The beauty of Scary Hour lies in its constraints. Knowing I only have to face these tasks for 60 minutes makes them feel manageable. Plus, the timer creates a sense of urgency that helps overcome analysis paralysis—a common obstacle I know I face in all things financial decision-making.

Most importantly, this approach creates a dedicated space for financial self-care. Not only do you get to reduce anxiety by making scary tasks routine, but you can actually turn scary tasks into small wins. If you're looking to transform vague money worries into concrete actions, this is the hack for you.

Tips for your own financial Scary Hour

Begin with quick wins like unsubscribing from tempting retail emails, making that one phone call you've been avoiding, checking the balance on a neglected account, or filing away important financial documents.

From these bite-sized action items, you can build yourself a little momentum. As you get comfortable, tackle bigger tasks, like creating a new budget, consolidating debt, or maybe even researching estate planning.

Make this habit sustainable by keeping a running list of tasks for future scary hours. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and be easy on yourself if you miss a week. After all, I find the real magic happens outside of Scary Hour. By regularly facing financial fears in a controlled setting, you'll likely find that money matters become less scary overall. I've noticed myself making quicker financial decisions, feeling more confident in money conversations, and experiencing less anxiety about day-to-day money management.

The bottom line

Money doesn't have to be scary all the time. By dedicating just one hour a week to facing financial fears, you can transform anxiety into action. Remember, the goal isn't to eliminate financial stress completely—it's to build the confidence to handle it effectively.

Start your own financial Scary Hour this week. Your future self will thank you for facing those fears, one hour at a time.

from Lifehacker https://ift.tt/STmIqn9
https://ift.tt/eyMNdFO

Read More

What to Expect From Samsung's Galaxy S25 Unpacked Stream

Another year, another Samsung Galaxy Unpacked. The Android giant has gotten into a habit of hosting at least two of these events per year, one for foldables and one for pretty much everything else. With the foldables having gotten center stage last time, it’s likely time for the rest of its products, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, to get its turn. While only those under NDA know for sure what we’ll see, here’s what we’re expecting to see when the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked streams on January 22 at 1 PM ET.

Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra

Samsung likes to kick off each year by announcing its latest non-folding phones, and there’s no reason to expect this year to be different. Typically, this means a standard variant, a larger screen “plus” size, and a more powerful “ultra” version. Given that Samsung has already registered three new model numbers with the FCC (thanks, 91Mobiles), that’s what we can expect this year, too (prior leaks had pointed at a "slim" model, although there's no FCC listing for it yet).

As for specs, that’s where it gets a bit interesting. The biggest tidbit from the FCC leaks is potential support for 45W fast charging, although Android Headlines claims to have pictures of the devices themselves. These show a move to rounded corners and thinner bezels, but the rest of the design looks largely untouched.

As for internals, leakers are expecting all S25 models to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which was revealed in October and stated to be coming to Samsung products. This tracks with prior Galaxy devices, which also used the same chip across all models, although details have differed from region to region before. Now, said regional differences are said to not be in play.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite promises improvements anywhere from 35 to 62% depending on the task at hand, with the biggest improvement being to web browsing—key for a mobile phone.

Samsung phones are also known for their cameras, although both Android Headlines and popular leaker Ice Universe claim only the Galaxy S25 Ultra will see an improvement here, and only to its ultra-wide lens, which will go from 12MP to 50MP.

Screens are unlikely to change from their current OLED setup, and as for software, the phones are set to use Samsung’s One UI 7, which is already in beta and runs over Android 15. Also expect a bunch of AI-centric announcements, although solid leaks have yet to emerge there.

There’s also potential accessory news on the horizon, as the Wireless Power Consortium has said that Samsung will support Qi2 wireless charging on its new phones. According to leaker chunvn8888, that doesn’t mean it’ll have built-in magnets (which Qi2 supports), but Samsung will sell a case with a built-in magnetic ring.

Galaxy Ring 2

News on the Galaxy Ring 2 is a bit less clear, but hit-or-miss Taiwanese publication DigiTimes says Samsung might tease it during the event. The publication is expecting two additional sizes, updated sensors, and new AI features, but given that the first model launched in July, it’ll likely be some time until you can buy a follow up. However, Korean leaker Lanzuk says Samsung might launch the wearable a bit earlier than expected.

Samsung AR and XR

Finally, it’s possible we’ll hear more about Samsung’s augmented and extended reality initiatives. Samsung has previously announced an Android-based extended reality headset alongside Google called Project Moohan, so it’s possible the company might demo it during Unpacked, but don’t expect it to be available right away. Google is still seeding developers with software and equipment for the new platform, although the company does say it expects Moohan to start selling by the end of the year.

On that note, also don’t expect to see anything substantive regarding Samsung’s previously confirmed AR glasses. DigiTimes says the glasses will look fairly unassuming, but given that they’ll also rely on Google tech, they’re probably still in the oven as well.

from Lifehacker https://ift.tt/ZbXFCso
https://ift.tt/PpoFXtz

Read More

What the Leaks Got Right About the Switch 2

Early this morning, Nintendo finally revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 in a surprise video announcement. That itself wasn't necessarily that much of a surprise: Recent rumors had suggested the company would do as much, and sooner rather than later. But in a slightly unexpected move, Nintendo dropped the video on YouTube without much fanfare or hype. Aside from a complimentary post on X, the company basically said, "Well, here you go."

Perhaps it's due to the fact the Switch 2 itself has been leaked to death that the company is taking less pleasure in the announcement. After all, accessory maker Genki essentially showed the tech world the Switch 2's design at CES last week (though Nintendo says Genki's products were based on unofficial hardware, so it's possible Nintendo felt a drawn-out reveal wasn't necessary. Regardless, it you're really interested in the Switch 2, chances are you knew a lot about it already. Now, you've seen it for real.

This is the Switch 2

In the video announcement, Nintendo gives us a direct comparison between the original Switch (not the Switch OLED) and the new console. You can see how much larger the Switch 2's display and hardware is, as well as some subtle tweaks in I/O. The kickstand design is much different, and much more flexible, as you can bend the console back to a steeper degree.

But the biggest changes, at least aesthetically, seem to be to the Joy-Cons. Nintendo opted to make them larger, slightly change their shape, and bump up the size of the shoulder buttons. The company has also flipped the color scheme: Colorful Joy-Cons on the OG Switch had black accents on the rails, but the new Joy-Cons are almost entirely black, with the colors added as accents to the rails and under the joysticks. As expected, the Joy-Cons connect to the new Switch magnetically, instead of aligning the rails with the console and clicking into place.

The reveal doesn't offer a super close look at the dock, but it does appear similar to the Switch OLED's, but in black—save, of course, for the large "2" next to the Switch logo. The same goes for the Joy-Con grip: It looks like a larger, more refined version of the OG Switch's grip, though Nintendo did display how you can "pop" the Joy-Con out to the side, showing off its magnetic connection.

Did we get any news of Switch 2 exclusive games?

Yes! Although we don't know many details yet. In the trailer, we appear to get a glimpse of a new Mario Kart, as the character designs are definitely not the same as those in Mario Kart 8: Deluxe.

Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube

Aside from that, there's no word on actual titles, available at launch or otherwise. However, Nintendo said Switch 2 will play both exclusive and original Switch games, and both physical and digital copies, so your existing cartridges should work with the new console. That said, some Switch games may not be supported by or fully compatible with Switch 2. Nintendo doesn't elaborate further, but this might be a situation where it makes sense to hold onto your original Switch, instead of trading it in for the new console.

Did the Switch 2 reveal include anything else?

Not really! Nintendo being Nintendo, this is just a sneak peak more or less confirming the massive amount of leaks and rumors we've already sifted through. Nintendo has longed promised a Switch 2 reveal in Q1 2025, and we got that. Now we wait for more information.

Nintendo points customers to a page on its website for more details about Switch 2, but as of this article, it's just hosting a link to the reveal video. Perhaps they'll update the site with more information over time. For now, this is the Switch 2. It may not be surprising, but after so much time and so many leaks, it's hard to believe it's finally official.

from Lifehacker https://ift.tt/vVNtP40
https://ift.tt/0d8QgTD

Read More

This Ultra-Portable JBL Speaker Is $25 Right Now

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If you’re looking for a compact Bluetooth speaker that’s as tough as it is portable, the JBL Go 3 (available in blue and camouflage), might be worth a look. Currently available on Woot for $24.95 (down from $49.95), this little speaker packs a surprising punch for its size. It also comes with a 90-day Woot limited warranty, with free shipping for Prime members. This deal lasts 19 days or until it sells out. That said, it doesn’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or PO boxes.

At just 2.7 by 3.4 by 1.6 inches and weighing 7.4 ounces, the Go 3 is small enough to toss into a bag (or even a pocket). Its rugged design, including a sporty lanyard and a cloth grille exterior, feels durable and ready for adventure. Additionally, its IP67 rating means it’s waterproof and dust-proof, so whether it’s by the pool or in the shower, you won’t have to worry about water damage. For controls, you’ve got the basics: buttons for play/pause, volume, power, and Bluetooth pairing. Double-tapping the play button skips forward a track, though you’ll miss having a backtrack option. There’s also no speakerphone functionality—a letdown, but forgivable at this price.

As for sound, the Go 3 is surprisingly well-rounded. It won’t shake the room with bass, but its mono 1.5-inch driver delivers clear mids and highs and avoids distortion even at high volumes, according to this PCMag review. Battery life is decent at around five hours, but your mileage may vary depending on volume levels.

from Lifehacker https://ift.tt/e6MpzIZ
https://ift.tt/6HNEg52

Read More

You Can Connect Two Bluetooth Headsets to Your Mac Simultaneously

Want to watch a movie with a friend on your Mac? Perhaps you're stuck on a long flight, or like me, your MacBook Air speakers went bust. Either way, you'll be happy to know that the Mac has a built-in feature that can merge multiple different sound outputs—no third-party app needed. You can easily use two sets of Bluetooth headphones to listen to the same audio, without any noticeable audio drift or lag.

First, connect both devices to Bluetooth

The first step is to connect both devices to your Mac using Bluetooth. You can do this by going to Control Center > Bluetooth.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

If your devices aren't yet paired, you won't see them there. In that case, go to System Settings > Bluetooth and pair the headphones to your Mac first.

Merge two audio outputs

To start the process, open the Audio MIDI Setup app. You'll find this in Applications/Utilities in the Finder app. Or you can use Spotlight Search or Launchpad to find and open the app.

Click the Plus button in the bottom-left corner of the window, and choose the Create Multi-Output Device option.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

You'll see all the connected devices here. Choose the two devices that you want to use for media playback. You are free to choose one of the devices as the Primary Device at the top. Automatically, the app will enable the Drift Correction feature for the secondary device to make sure that audio is synced perfectly for both devices.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Next, double-click the Multi-Output Device name from the sidebar to rename it to something you'll easily remember. To test this out now, control-click this group and choose the Use This Device for Sound Output option. The audio output will instantly switch to the headphones pair.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

But there is a better way to switch to the headphones pair, by using the Sound menu in Control Center.

Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, and click the Devices menu from the Sound option (you can drag the Sound menu to the menu bar for easier access).

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Here, choose the newly created audio pair. If you're doing this for the first time, choose the Multi-Output Device option. It will now be updated with your custom group name, making it much easier to choose the output the next time around.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

The next time you're ready to listen in the same configuration, remember to first connect the two devices individually from the Bluetooth menu, and then select them as a pair from the Sound menu (they won't be listed as a pair directly in the Bluetooth menu, for some reason).

from Lifehacker https://ift.tt/rztNOFR
https://ift.tt/JfSTpQk

Read More

I'm a Certified Personal Trainer, and These Are My Favorite Health and Fitness Apps

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

I’ve tested tons of health and fitness apps over the years—some to write about, some because I was curious, and some because they are genuinely useful to me. Here is my Fitness App Hall of Fame: the fitness apps that I use the most, and the ones that I think are the most useful for everybody. All of these apps are available on both iOS and Android.

The best apps for tracking nutrition: Cronometer and Macrofactor

Credit: Beth Skwarecki/Cronometer

I’m including two apps here because one (Macrofactor) only works if you pay for a subscription. I’m a happy subscriber, but for those looking for a free option, I can wholeheartedly recommend Cronometer. 

Cronometer is a nutrition tracker that, unlike certain more popular apps (coughMFPcough), just does its job and stays out of your way. Don’t want to see a calorie goal on your main screen? You can hide it. Want to scan the barcodes on food packages? That’s a free feature. (There’s a premium tier that gives you even more features, of course, but none of the essentials are hidden behind it.)

By the way: Make sure to either follow my link or to check the spelling if you’re typing the name into the app store. There is at least one other app with a confusingly similar name.

Credit: Beth Skwarecki/MacroFactor

MacroFactor is a nutrition tracker, but it also does a clever thing that is incredibly valuable, yet underrated in the fitness world: It notices how many calories you’ve been eating lately, and whether your weight has been changing. Based on that, it estimates your total daily calorie burn, without you having to log any exercise or worry about how accurate your wearable is. If you’re eating 2,300 calories and your weight is steady, you know that your body burns 2,300 calories per day. 

MacroFactor costs $11.99 per month, or about $71.99 for a year. I learned a ton from tracking my calorie burn with MacroFactor, and I highly recommend it if you are OK with calorie tracking and are interested in gaining weight, losing weight, or fueling appropriately for exercise. 

The best app for tracking your runs: Strava

Credit: Beth Skwarecki/Strava

If you have a wearable you like, the matching app is probably the best one for the nuts and bolts of daily workout tracking. (That would be Garmin Connect if you have a Garmin watch, Fitbit if you have a Fitbit or a Pixel watch, and so on.) But Strava collects the data from any wearable (or none at all—you can enter runs manually) and shows you maps and statistics, plus lets you know what your friends have been up to. 

This recommendation comes with a caveat: If you want to maintain your privacy—and especially if you run in places where there aren’t many other runners—you’ll want to be aware of Strava’s privacy issues and lock down your settings if you aren’t comfortable with the defaults. Even with those caveats, Strava is still my pick for the best running app. There is a premium tier with extra mapping tools for planning your running routes, and extra analysis tools to see how much and how fast you've run. It costs $11.99/month or $79.99/year

The best app to keep you from getting bored on your runs: Nike Run Club

Credit: Beth Skwarecki/Nike Run Club

There are lots of ways to find workouts to follow along with, including getting workouts from a wearable like a Garmin, or subscribing to a service like Apple Fitness+ or Peloton. But the standout in this category is one that is simple, free, and well-produced. It is the venerable Nike Run Club, which doesn’t even require you to wear a watch. You just start a run from your phone, and soon you have Coach Bennett or one of the other friendly voices guiding you through. I love this app, and I’d gladly recommend it to anyone who is getting bored with their runs. 

The best app to track strength training: Hevy

Credit: Beth Skwarecki/Hevy

My caveat for this recommendation is that I don’t use a strength training app on the regular. I get workouts from my real-life coach through a coaching app that my gym uses, and I keep track of all the important stuff in a paper training journal. But I’ve experimented with enough strength training apps that I know which ones are out there, and I definitely have a favorite: It’s Hevy. 

When I tested the fitness-tracking abilities of the Pixel Watch 3, I found that the Hevy watch app was miles better than any of the watch’s native strength-training features. It won’t track your heart rate, which is a good thing. But it does give you a wrist-based interface to track the lifts you’re doing, and the watch app updates the phone app and vice versa. Hevy also works with the iPhone and Apple Watch, and of course you can use it just on a phone. 

Hevy lets you plan out your routine. It can time your rests, if you like. It will keep track of your progress and show you how you’ve gotten stronger over time. There’s even a desktop version so you can see your workouts on a computer screen for more detailed planning. 

The best app for monitoring injuries and health issues: Bearable

Credit: Beth Skwarecki/Bearable

Everybody hurts sometimes, as the philosophers R.E.M. once told us. Sometimes we get hurt while working out, or sometimes we get aches and pains out of nowhere and have to work around them when we exercise. In some cases, especially with back pain, how we feel may be dependent on all kinds of things in our daily life. Maybe your back pain is better on days you exercise, for example, and worse on days you have a lot of stress at work.

Keeping track of those factors in your head can be difficult, but I’ve found Bearable to be helpful. You can decide what you’d like to track each day—like how stressed you are, and whether you did your physical therapy exercises—and rate how much that sore back (or whatever) is bothering you. Patterns quickly emerge. When I was using it, I found it really encouraging to see that my pain wasn’t always so bad, and that there really were things in my control that helped me to feel better. It's not limited to injuries, either—you can use it to track chronic health issues or even mental health.

from Lifehacker https://ift.tt/e9R7lUd
https://ift.tt/z1qhIFl

Read More