This review contains full spoilers for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Season 1, Episode 6.After last weeks shocking betrayal (though just how shocking it was is debatable), the Crew has found itself on the back foot. That means its the perfect time for some of the characters to have a big, initially inexplicable fight about what their next step should be. Its an obvious plot move, one that this kind of team always has to go through, but Skeleton Crew has proven over and over again that it is at least enormously competent when it comes to running familiar stories through its Goonies but Star Wars filter.Much like episode 4 a few weeks ago, though less explicit than that one, Zero Friends Again is a showcase for one specific member of the Crewand one that maybe shouldve gotten a showcase a little sooner. Previous Skeleton Crew reviews have danced around the fact that one of the kids never got much to do and therefore didnt get a chance to showcase much personality, making her performance seem stiff and flat and emotionless. It didnt help that we knew nothing about her beyond the fact that she had ill-defined technological abilities and some sort of robot visor. This is Star Wars, and in terms of characterization, thats like saying oh, this character is just an elephant kid when we now know that theres more to Neel than that. But is there more to KB (Kyriana Kratter) than her robot visor and her flat emotional responses to everything? Every episode until now suggested that the answer was no, but now, finally, we get to see what else is going on with KBand its actually pretty emotional. It turns out that KBs robot visor isnt just some cool tech but part of a prosthetic of some sort. She makes a vague reference to being in an accident that changed her, and since then shes been scared of letting Fern (her best and only friend before joining the Crew) realize that there are certain things she just cant do anymore. Meanwhile, Fern has a problem recognizing that other peoples limitations are not the same as her own.Wim thinks its sweet that Fern doesnt treat KB any differently after this accident, but no, says KB, it means theres all of this pressure on her now to not be different even though she is. Its a powerful little sequence, with Skeleton Crew gently indicating that one of its kids was being unintentionally ableist, and it also underlines that the show is trying to make sure that the kids arent just archetypes. Plus, just to make sure it doesnt feel too sentimental or afterschool special, KB cooly shrugs off the fact that Wim literally saved her life with some emergency maintenance by calling him Jedi and eliciting a silent whoa from the kid.Its all resolved immensely easy, which is fine, because another thing that is clear in this episode is that the kids act like real, believable kids. Young people get into little fights like this, and then they immediately move on, usually by doing little more than reaffirming their friendships. This is also yet another example of Skeleton Crews faith in its audiencewe know KB and Fern love each other, we dont need to spend a single second more than necessary with them having their feelings hurt just for the sake of drama. PlayAll of that means that its really time for the adults of Skeleton Crew to start being more engaging. Jod Na Nawood only gets a couple of scenes in this episode, one with a great SM-33 moment (he comes to Jods rescue and is immediately shot) and the other with Jude Law putting on his charm and trying to win back his old pirate friends in front of the wolfman Captain Brutus. Laws monologuing here is fine, and it ends with him rallying the other scoundrels together in a space-shanty about Tak Rennods lost treasure planet that more or less works, but this just feels like plot with the surprisingly meaty kid stuff going on. Really, how did the people behind Skeleton Crew (including this weeks director, Bryce Dallas Howard) manage to make a show about space-pirates, starring famous handsome man Jude Law, where a bunch of kids are genuinely the most interesting part?And though thats not intended as a damning with faint praise criticism, it is a criticism. Now that a lot of the central mysteries are falling into place, theres less narrative momentum driving Skeleton Crew. That means the scenes where the kids grow and learn about each other are good, and the scenes that arent related to thatlike Jod on the pirate shipare the ones that will have to justify their existence with interesting developments that are, hopefully, more interesting than what we got here. Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV ShowHell, the kids accidentally upgraded their ship in this episode with no help from Jod. How long was he around without that happening? That says something about how value to this team.

Its New Year, its Netflix, so its time for a brand new Harlan Coben adaptation. Following on from The Stranger, Stay Close, and Fool Me Once is Missing You, adapted from Cobens 2014 thriller and starring Slow Horses Rosalind Eleazar in the lead role of Detective Inspector Kat Donovan. When Kats ex-fianc matches with her on a dating app after running out on her without a word over a decade earlier, she starts digging and unearths secrets going far beyond her ex.Eleazar joins a cast of fellow Coben newbies, plus repeat customers Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt and Marc Warren, whove all appeared as different characters in previous UK adaptations of the US authors thrillers by the same production company. Remind yourself of who they played before, and see where you may recognise the rest of the cast from below.Rosalind Eleazar as DI Kat DonovanKat Donovan is a tough detective inspector who heads up the Missing Persons Unit in the fictional area of Westbridge. 11 years ago, she lost both her police detective father Clint when he was murdered, and her fianc Josh when he disappeared without trace. Shes played by Rosalind Eleazar, whos currently best recognised for the role of MI5 agent Louisa Guy in Apple TV+s Slow Horses, and whose previous screen career includes roles in historical dramas The Personal History of David Copperfield and Harlots, as well as Sky comedy Breeders and thrillers Rellik and Deep Water.Ashley Walters as Josh BuchananJosh Buchanan is a journalist who disappeared suddenly from his fiance Kats life 11 years ago. Hes played by Ashley Walters, whos most celebrated for the role of Dushane in stunning London-set gangster drama Top Boy, but who has been acting since he was a child, and has a host of film and TV roles from Sket to Doctor Who to Cuffs, TV thriller Safe House, action-comedy Bulletproof and many more.Richard Armitage as Ellis StaggerEllis Stagger is a police detective who works with Kat Donovan at Westbridge and who used to work with her father Clint before his death. Hes played by Richard Armitage, whos had central roles in three previous Harlan Coben UK adaptation by this production company. Armitages first Coben role was in 2020s The Stranger as Adam Price, a man whose marriage implodes when hes targeted by a stranger with secrets about his wife. In 2021s Stay Close, he played photographer Ray Levine, who became involved in covering up a murder to protect a loved one. In 2024s Fool Me Once, Armitage played Joe Burkett, the son of a wealthy family who was shot dead but then confounded his widow by showing up on their young daughters nanny cam. Armitage is also well known for roles in the Hobbit films, Hannibal, Berlin Station, Strike Back and of course, Spooks.Jessica Plummer as Stacey EmbaloStacey is one of Kats pals and works as a private investigator, using entrapment to catch cheating spouses. Shes played by Jessica Plummer, whose previous roles have included Chantelle in EastEnders, excellent BBC psychological thriller The Girl Before and Netflix TV series The Decameron.Sir Lenny Henry as Clint DonovanClint Donovan has been dead for over a decade by the time we first meet his daughter Kat (see above), but his story is told through flashbacks in Missing You. He was a police detective, loving husband and doting father, and hes played by Sir Lenny Henry, a British comedy legend, writer, actor and fundraiser best known for his many TV roles from sketch comedy shows to recent self-penned shows Three Little Birds and Danny and the Human Zoo, as well as his founding work on Comic Relief and much more.Steve Pemberton as TitusTitus is a dog breeder who dotes on his pets and keeps very high standards for anybody wishing to adopt them. He also has his fingers in other business pies at his rural farm. Hes played by League of Gentlemen and Inside No. 9 star and writer Steve Pemberton, seen recently in Almas Not Normal series two, and soon to be seen in the Inside No. 9 stage show with Reece Shearsmith.James Nesbitt as CalliganCalligan is a shadowy figure in the Westridge crime world and somebody Kat seeks out to answer questions about her fathers murder. Hes played by James Nesbitt, who also appeared in 2021 Harlan Coben adaptation Stay Close in the role of DS Michael Broome, a detective investigating the disappearance of a number of men over several years. Nesbitt is a familiar face on screen, well-known for Bloodlands, Cold Feet, The Hobbit films, Suspect and Lucky Man.Mary Malone as AquaYoga teacher Aqua is a long-standing pal of Kats and used to be Joshs roommate once upon a time. Shes played by Mary Malone, who played one of Ruby Sundays mates Trudy and the singer of their band in Doctor Who Christmas special The Church on Ruby Road. Malone has also appeared in ITV crime drama Vera, fantasy The Prince, and Channel 4 comedy drama Chivalry, with writer-actors Sarah Solemani and Steve Coogan.Oscar Kennedy as BrendanBrendon Fells is a tech-savvy teenager who tracks down Kat after a loved ones disappearance. Hes played by Oscar Kennedy, whos been acting on screen since he was 11 years old and is now best known for playing Liams younger self in Liam Williams autobiographically inspired comedy Ladhood, Luke in the final series of Sky comedy Breeders and more recently, Jamie in BBC Threes Wreck. Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Marc Warren as Monte LeburneMonte Leburne is a nasty piece of work currently serving a prison sentence for murder. Though the role was originally announced as belonging to Paul Kaye, Monte is played by Marc Warren, who also appeared in 2018 Harlan Coben adaptation Safe in the role of doctor and friend of lead character Tom (Michael C. Hall) Pete Mayfield. Warren has recently been seen in Van der Valk, Big Boys series two, The Red King and Flack.Rudi Dharmalingam as Rishi MagariNeuroscience professor Rishi Magari gets into hot water early on in Missing You. Hes played by Rudi Dharmalingam, who plays James in The Split, Wemmick in Steven Knights recent Great Expectations adaptation, and Shiv in Sky sci-fi The Lazarus Project.Samantha Spiro as Nurse Sally SteinerNurse Steiner works in the local prison medical ward, and is played by Samantha Spiro, who also played Maureen in Sex Education, Liza in Ridley Road, Auntie Liz in Grandmas House along with a great many other comedy and dramatic screen roles from her work with Tracey Ullman, her celebrated role as Barbara Windsor in Babs, Doctor Who and much more.Lisa Faulkner as Dana FellsDana is Brendons mother, and becomes involved in a missing persons case. Shes played by Lisa Faulkner, whos a familiar face on screen with past roles in Brookside, Holby City, EastEnders, Murder in Suburbia and recently The Madame Blanc Mysteries and Archie.Jo Martin as Tessie SewellTessie is an old friend of Kats mum Odette, and a former colleague of her dad Clint. Shes played by Jo Martin, recognisable to Doctor Who fans as Ruth Clayton aka The Fugitive Doctor, and to everybody else as Max from Holby, Suzie from The Marlow Murder Club, Dawn in Champion, Grace in Dreaming Whilst Black and many more.ALSO APPEARINGThe Burning Girls and Boat Storys Charlie Hamblett as police tech whizz Charlie Pitts; The Last Kingdoms Simon Kunz as police retiree Terry Cole, Sanctuarys Felix Garcia-Guyer as Titus goon Reynaldo, and Matt Jay-Willis from Busted as Kats gym buddy date Darryl.All episodes of Harlan Cobens Missing You are streaming now on Netflix.

This month on Prime Video is full of new and exciting releases. 2024 action comedy The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt arrives on January 2. Directed by Zo Kravitz and starring Channing Tatum, the thriller Blink Twice makes its way to the streamer on January 21. Movies like The Social Network, Edge of Tomorrow, and The LEGO Movie also join Prime Videos library this month.As far as Prime originals go, season 3 of Harlem arrives on Prime Video January 23, followed by the original movie Youre Cordially Invited on January 30. Starring Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon, Youre Cordially Invited is a comedy centered around two families who happened to accidentally book the same wedding venue for the same day. As you might expect, chaos and hilarity ensue as each group tries to outdo the other and clash over their desire to each have the perfect day.Heres everything coming to Prime Video in January Amazon originals are designated with an asterisk.New on Amazon Prime Video January 2025January 1How to Get Away with Murder S1-S6 (2015)Wild Cards S1 (2024)A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)American Sniper (2015)Autumn In New York (2000)Barbershop (2002)Barbershop 2: Back In Business (1996)Basic (2003)Beauty Shop (2005)Benny & Joon (1993)Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)Boogie Nights (1997)Bridesmaids Unrated (2011)Captain Phillips (2013)Coffy (1973)Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream (2008)Cutting Edge 4: Fire and Ice (2010)Do the Right Thing (1989)Dope (2015)Edge of Tomorrow (2014)Fled (1996)Foxy Brown (1974)Hoodlum (1997)Horrible Bosses (2011)Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)Hotel Rwanda (2005)Imitation of Life (1959)In The Heat Of The Night (1967)Jumping the Broom (2011)Lee Daniels The Butler (2013)Liar Liar (1997)Life as We Know It (2010)Little Nicky (2000)MacGruber (2010)Major Payne (1995)Mississippi Burning (1989)Much Ado About Nothing (1993)Mystery Men (1999)Nicholas Nickleby (2002)Return to Me (2000)Rollerball (2002)Santa Claus: The Movie 25th Anniversary Edition (1985)Scent of a Woman (1993)Some Like It Hot (1959)Something Wild (1986)Somethings Gotta Give (2003)Soul Plane (2004)Stomp The Yard (2007)Supernova (2021)Tag (2018)Ted (Unrated) (2012)The Blues Brothers (1980)The Brothers (2001)The Company You Keep (2013)The Cutting Edge (1992)The Cutting Edge: Going For The Gold (2006)The Equalizer (2014)The Great Outdoors (1988)The Grey (2012)The Ides Of March (2011)The Land Before Time (1988)The Last Samurai (2003)The LEGO Movie (2014)The Sixth (2024)The Social Network (2010)The Way Back (2020)The Woman in Red (1984)Touch (2024)Unforgiven (1992)Valmont (1989)Wedding Daze (2008)Whats The Worst That Could Happen? (2001)Wicker Park (2004)xXx (2002)xXx: State of the Union (2005)Yentl (1984)

JONATHAN MITCHELLEvery item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.When it comes to designing a home, its easy to focus on the big-impact itemspaint colors, furniture, flooringbut sometimes its the subtle details that can truly elevate a space to something special. Window trim, while often overlooked, is one such element that can transform a room in a meaningful and impactful way. Its more than just a functional frame; its a design opportunity to cater to your aesthetic and enhance your home's unique character. From clean, modern lines to ornate, vintage-inspired silhouettes, window trim styles offer an abundance of choices to suit any aesthetic. Whether youre aiming for a sleek, minimalist look that won't take away from the room's other details or a more luxe, traditional feel, the best window trim ideas can tie your decor scheme together while adding depth and texture to your space. From experimenting with materiality to playing with color and shape, mixing up your window trim is a great way to adapt to the mood of each room, helping to reinforce the charm of a farmhouse kitchen or the refined elegance of a luxury city residence. Below, we're rounding up 14 modern window trim styles to help you approach your next design with creativity and just a bit of boldness. With so many options, window trim can be the finishing touch that pulls your vision together, making it a surprisingly powerful tool in creating a home that feels uniquely yours.More inspiration for your interiors:1Create a Natural Synergy Julie SoeferIf your window looks out to an expansive yard or wooded lot, you basically have all the inspiration you need for choosing a fresh material for your window frame. In this 1990s ranch house in Texas Hill country, designer Marie Flanigan chose white oak for a. modern window trim style that gives way to the wilderness beyond. Tour the Entire House2Pull Out a Funky ColorKEVIN J. MIYAZAKILooking for a way to tie your room's palette together? Your window frames can be an unexpected place to paint on a hue or add a pop of color. In the 2023 House Beautiful Whole Home, the team behind Design Alchemy incorporated a rusty orange throughout the entire space, including on the window frames throughout the expansive conservatory. Tour the Entire HouseAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3Complement a Textural TreatmentSeth SmootMany specialty paint treatmentsthink limewash or Roman clayaren't good candidates for millwork, but that doesn't mean you can't coordinate your window frame with the surrounding texture. In this corner cocktail bar by designer Lauren Nelson, a paint-matched taupe in the modern window trim style plays into the dynamic limewash used throughout the rest of the space. 4Stay Sleek and ModernNathan SchroderIf ultra-modern is your aesthetic, sleek black window frames are an ideal choice for your spacebonus points if they incorporate metal. In this home by interior designer Philip Thomas Vanderford of Studio Thomas James, modern black window frames bring dimension and depth to a casual breakfast nook.Tour the Entire HouseAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Coordinate With Your Cabinetry Brie WilliamsIf you're looking for a color to inspire the modern window trim style in your kitchen, consider coordinating them with your cabinetry. Not only will it create a natural synergy throughout the space, but it will also add dimension to your kitchen at eye level, which can be helpful for balancing out heavy lower cabinetry. In this butler's pantry by designer Kelsey McGregor, any inky navy-black (Railings by Farrow & Ball) covers both the cabinets and nearby window frame, tying seamlessly into the plaid wallpaper. Tour the Entire House6Take a Hint From an EraLisa PetroleLike any architectural element, you want your window frames to meld seamlessly with the style of your home, not fight against it. In this kitchen designed by Hilary Walker and Ashley Maddox, midcentury modern elements carry over to the sleek framing around the nearby picture window. Tour the Entire HouseAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7Try Out TraditionJONATHAN MITCHELLAny pro will tell you, wood will never go out of styleand the same holds true when it comes to window frames. If you're on the hunt for a classic look that blends with any number of design styles, consider framing out your windows in traditional stained wood. In this waterborne home in Northern California, designer Colleen Dowd Saglimbeni of CDS Interiors opted for a rich walnut stain to bring dimension to the petite home. Tour the Entire House8Blend In With the SurroundingsRikki SnyderNot every room calls for windows that steal the spotlight. If you're looking for a modern window trim style that whispers instead of yells, consider painting them in the same paint hue as the walls, as the design team behind Becca Interiors did in this moody blue living room. Pro tip: Switching up your paint sheens (flat or eggshell for the walls, satin for the trim) can keep things looking dimensional and layered. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Dial Up the ThicknessJulie SoeferBecause window trim is standardized in most homes (around 3 inches), playing around with proportions can be a visually interesting way to modernize and personalize your space. In this Houston nursery, designer Marie Flanigan opted to go extra wide with the modern window trim style to lend a graphic punch. Tour the Entire House10Lay a Border of Contrast TileChaunte VaughnWhen designing a kitchen, playing around with a tile backsplash can be a fun way to frame out your window instead of opting for a traditional wood casing. Here, designer Meta Coleman opted for a vintage-inspired tile in burnt orange to contrast the funky blue and gray checkerboard backsplash seen throughout the rest of the space. Tour the Entire HouseAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Strike a Subtle BalanceMadeline TolleWho says you have to pick a prominent modern window trim style at all? This airy living room designed by Barette Widell of Widell Boschetti benefits from a barely there step trim inside the window casings, allowing the space to maintain its sleek lines and unadorned appeal. 12Incorporate Architectural DetailsAimee MazzengaThere are tons of ways to incorporate subtle architectural layers into your home, starting with your window trim. By choosing a certain profile or punctuating the corners with detailslike the rosettes seen here in a nook designed by Jae Jooyou can seamlessly integrate a distinct time and place into your room. Tour the Entire HouseAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Combine It With Your Millwork Read McKendree / JBSAThere's nothing worse than a room that feels disconnected; like all the elements exist on their own rather than blend seamlessly together. To avoid that vibe in your home, look for ways to create partnerships between various elements in your room. Here, designer Chauncey Boothby teamed classic window trim with millwork for a totally custom look. 14Surround It With Stunning StoneAimee MazzengaSometimes more is moreespecially where marble is concerned. For a glam look that goes heavy on luxury, consider trimming out your kitchen window with a stunning, veiny stone. Save a bit of money by keeping a traditional trim profile or up the ante with an entire wall's worth of stone, like in this kitchen by Wendy Labrum.Tour the Entire House

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We're now firmly in the territory of 2025, and while that means that you're still trying to remember what year it is, it's also a nice chance to refresh things. If you commute, or simply love music, then now's the ideal time to treat yourself to some new earbuds. Amazon currently has a deal that knocks a massive 55% off the excellent JBL Tune 230NC earbuds, but it won't last long, so don't miss out on it. See at AmazonThese earbuds pack a lot of punch into a fairly small package. They've got both excellent sound quality and seriously impressive base as well, so you'll have no issues enjoying your music or podcasts to their fullest. They also have great active noise cancelling to help you stay focussed, and an impressive battery life of up to 40 hours thanks to the charging case. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.Thanks to the quality of these earbuds, along with the 55% reduction, this is one of the best deals on earbuds going on right now. We don't know how long it'll last though, so don't miss out if you like the look of them. Why this deal mattersJBL makes a wide-range of headphones for just about every budget, but the pricier models are generally better quality. Normally $100, this deal knocks these earbuds down to just $45, which is an exceptionally good price.

You're a sci-fi fan and want a suggestion of some quality TV shows to watch. Sure, there are tons of options out there, but we've got a shortcut for you: flip on Netflix. The company reigns supreme regarding streaming entertainment and for good reason. Their selection is top-notch. And when it comes to genre programming, they're jam-packed with goodies.Of course, shows likeStranger ThingsandBlack Mirrorcome up quickly when discussing sci-fi programming. But there's way more to the streamer's library than those two titles. The high-concept3 Body Problemflips the alien invasion trope on its head, making for an incredible viewing experience. Then there are cult titles like Dark, Supacell, Maniac andThe OA. These series disrupt conventional expectations of what sci-fi can offer.The handful of titles mentioned above only scratch the surface -- so many binge-worthy adventures await you. Grab your favorite snack, pour yourself a refreshing beverage and get ready, because these are the best Netflix sci-fi TV shows you should watch right now.Read more:The Best Sci-Fi TV Shows to Watch on Prime Video Right NowSee at Netflix Netflix Stranger Things Stranger Things caught on like wildfire when the genre series quietly premiered its first season to Netflix in 2016. What began as an homage to '80s cinema, with callouts to E.T., Dungeons & Dragons, Goonies and the works of Stephen King, has blossomed into a layered and sweeping sci-fi adventure. The program follows a group of kids in Hawkins, Indiana, who, after meeting a mysterious girl they name Eleven, discover a sinister dimension hiding right under their feet. Government cover-ups, demonic hell-beasts and a cast full of beloved misfit characters make-up this tour-de-force genre series. Netflix 3 Body Problem 3 Body Problem was created by Game of Thrones alums David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with The Terror showrunner Alexander Woo, and is based on the Hugo Award-winning novel by Liu Cixin. The high-concept sci-fi series connects a watershed moment in 1960s China to the present day, where a group of scientists must face an emerging global threat unlike anything humanity has ever seen. Netflix The Umbrella Academy Inspired by the comic book created by Gerard Way and Gabriel B, the series follows a group of adopted superhero siblings who have been raised to save the world. From time travel to saving humanity from multiple apocalyptic events, the ongoing adventures of the dysfunctional Hargreeves flips expected genre tropes on their heads. It's weird, off-beat, hilarious and poignant. Netflix Supacell Supacell takes the familiar superhero narrative and flips the script. The series follows four Black people living in South London who suddenly develop superpowers. What connects each of them to their newfound abilities are their families' histories with sickle cell disorder -- a common hereditary condition. Using the genre as its narrative foundation, the show delves into the human drama that plays out between these characters while highlighting relevant cultural themes like racism, human trafficking and predatory health care practices. Netflix Black Mirror Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror set the standard for what a modern-day genre anthology series can do. Each story featured throughout the series, which currently has six seasons and an interactive standalone movie worth visiting, takes place in a near future world where technology has impacted humanity in wonderful, strange and terrifying ways. Uplifting to horrific, Black Mirror is a brain bug of a television show that'll keep you thinking long after the credits roll. Netflix The OA They broke the mold when they made The OA. The two-season series created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij follows the story of Prairie Johnson (Marling), a young blind woman who, after being missing for seven years, returns to her family with her sight restored. Where was she all these years? How can she see? Parallel existence across multiple dimensions, that's how. Okay, that answer barely scratches the surface of this extremely unique and layered program. Come for the Quantum Physics, stay for the interpretive dance routines. Netflix Dark Like Stranger Things, Dark kicks off with the inexplicable disappearance of a child. Instead of another version of the Upside Down plaguing the town, the German series dabbles with time travel to explore how a family and community can be impacted by the event of a kid going missing. A noir slow burn than leans heavily on the horrors of generational trauma, Dark lasted three seasons on Netflix. It will definitely get under your skin. Netflix 1899 1899 was created by Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar -- the same duo who brought Dark to Netflix -- and follows a group of passengers on a ship heading to New York during the turn of the century. This is more than a run-of-the-mill period piece, though. As soon as things kick off, the show throws time travel, multiple dimensions, reality simulations and other bits of sci-fi craziness at the screen. It may not have gotten a season 2, but there's still a lot of genre goodness to mull over here. Cho Wonjin/Netflix Parasyte: The Grey In Parasyte: The Grey, alien parasites land on Earth and begin turning people into shape-shifting monsters. To battle this growing Invasion of the Body Snatchers-style threat, survivors -- otherwise known as "The Grey" -- rise up to save humanity and the planet. Inspired by the manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki, this Korean series should please any horror and sci-fi fan. Netflix Sense8 Matrix creators Lilly and Lana Wachowski teamed up with Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski to bring Sense8 to Netflix. The supernatural drama follows eight random people from around the world who learn they are emotionally and mentally linked. Labeled "sensates," the group learns from each other as they literally are forced to walk in each others' shoes and take on new and exciting skills. Things wouldn't be complete without the inclusion of a shadowy organization who's hunting them all down. Over two seasons, the program explored timely issues like gender, sexuality and identity, blending genres like telenovela, K-drama, Bollywood and Euro-noir as it hops around the globe. Netflix Altered Carbon Based on the book by Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon exists in a future world where consciousness can be moved from one body to the other. Joel Kinnaman starred in the first season as ex-soldier Takeshi Kovacs. His mission to solve a murder evolves into a journey of self-discovery as he works to track down his lost love and answers regarding his previous life. Season 2 finds Anthony Mackie stepping into the role to further the cyberpunk noir tale. Netflix Love, Death + Robots Mixing different animation styles with live-action, Love, Death + Robots is an anthology unlike many others. The series, which has drawn comparisons to Black Mirror, dips into a multitude of standalone stories that explore a world where sentient robots, creatures and other such beings have more humanity than humanity itself. Des Willie/Netflix Lost in Space Using the 1965 series as inspiration, this Lost in Space follows the Robinson family on a space mission to colonize a new planet as humanity's teeters on the brink of collapse. The show is heavy on the family drama, which can be off-putting at times. But thanks to the sociopolitical conflict, a cool alien robot friend and Parker Posey's deliciously villainous Dr. Smith, the show holds up. Netflix Maniac Emma Stone and Jonah Hill star in this mind-bending drama from Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective) and Patrick Somerville (The Leftovers). The 10-episode series follows Annie (Stone) and Owen (Hill) as they enter a drug trial for a medication that will allegedly cure all their problems. As you can probably guess, it doesn't. Stone and Hill look like they're having crazy fun throughout the program, as they get to try on a variety of different characters. The addition of Sonoya Mizuno, Justin Theroux and Sally Field to the cast make this an under-appreciated gem worth your attention. Netflix Manifest For its first three seasons, Manifest was an NBC original. After it was canceled by the network, Netflix swooped in to revive the series. The story follows the passengers of Flight 828, who arrive at their destination five years after originally taking off. The survivors begin having premonitions and visions that help them save others from disasters that have yet to happen. It's sorta like Lost and Final Destination had a baby, kinda. Netflix Alice in Borderland Alice in Borderland is based on the manga by Haro Aso and follows a group of characters in a parallel version of Tokyo forced to compete in a bunch of twisted games to stay alive. This battle royale-style thriller will appeal to fans of life-or-death competition titles like Squid Game, The Hunger Games and, obviously, Battle Royale.

Netflix has made a name for itself in the cinematic world, releasing original films that have dominated industry awards shows like the Oscars and theGolden Globes. The streaming giant received 18 nominations for this year's Academy Awards, including two for the sports drama NYAD. Its new deal with Sony brings theatrical releases like Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse and Godzilla Minus One to stream, alongside standout originals like the holiday romp Hot Frosty and the critically-acclaimed, Golden Globe-nominated Emilia Prez, starring Selena Gomez, Karla Sofa Gascn and Zoe Saldaa.Here are 14 of the best movies you can watch on Netflix right now, including some fun holiday favorites for the season. If you'd rather go with a series, check out our picks for the best TV shows to watch on Netflix.Read more: Where to Watch All the 2024 Oscar WinnersSee at Netflix Jason McDonald/Netflix Maestro (2023) This biographical film nabbed seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Picture. Maestro tells the story of conductor Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) and his relationship with actor Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan). In addition to starring in the romance drama, Cooper also directed and co-wrote the film, and produced it alongside Hollywood legends like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. Allyson Riggs/Netflix Rebel Ridge (2024) Former Marine Terry Richmond heads into a small town to bail his cousin out of jail where local law enforcement illegally seizes his cash. Tensions mount and corruption reigns as he uncovers a deeper conspiracy that involves murder, collusion and greed. Toho Godzilla Minus One (2023) Godzilla Minus One is an Academy Award-winning Japanese-language movie written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki. Set in 1945, the story centers Kichi Shikishima, a young pilot dealing with PTSD in a post-World War II era. After surviving an encounter with Godzilla, he and others realize the kaiju is gearing up to attack Tokyo. The Sony film is available to stream on Netflix now. Netflix Society of the Snow (2023) The award-winning film, Society of the Snow, is based on true events and adapted from the book of the same name. In 1972, a rugby team from Uruguay boarded a plane to Chile for a game. The plane crashed in the Andes mountains, leaving survivors to contend with injuries, illness, cold temperatures and death. Not everyone makes it, and those facing death make agonizing choices to live. Netflix The Greatest Night In Pop (2024) If you weren't around at the time, it's hard to explain just how huge "We Are the World" was. Recorded by a supergroup of popular musiciansassembled on the fly on the night of the 1985 American Music Awardsthe charity single benefiting Ethiopian famine victims sold over 20 million copies and featured the likes of Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Diana Ross. (It feels impossible to imagine so many mega-stars assembling in one room for something like this today.) Luckily for us, there were cameras rolling the entire time as dozens of the world's most famous musicians pulled the epic all-night recording session. The recently departed Quincy Jones proves the night's true star, wrangling a studio full of nerves, egos, and a little too much wine to produce something genuinely special. Netflix Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) A standalone sequel to 2019's hit film Knives Out, Glass Onion follows detective Benoit Blanc's (Daniel Craig) mission to uncover a mysterious death, after tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites friends to his private Greek island. The film features fun plot twists, and is broken up by lighthearted humor and aloof characters played by an all-star cast. Netflix Leave the World Behind (2023) An absorbingly unsettling psychological thriller, Leave the World Behind chronicles the strange events that arise during a family's getaway at an opulent rental home. A blackout renders their phones, TVs and other electronics useless, and two strangers show up at the door. TikTok has been flooded with clips and analyses of this apocalypse movie, with people reflecting on potential "hidden messages" and real-life parallels. Check it out and see what you make of it. Netflix Emilia Prez (2024) Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaa and Karla Sofa Gascn star in Emilia Prez, a film that earned a whopping ten Golden Globe nominations this year, including Best Picture, Best Director, and nods for all three of its lead actors. In the film, Gascn stars as Mexican cartel leader Emilia who hires a lawyer named Rita (Saldaa) to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self. The crime-comedy-musical that defies all labels was also named one of the ten best films of 2024 by AFI. Netflix Nimona (2023) This animated drama, based on the graphic novel of the same name, is set in a futuristic medieval world, in which a knight (Riz Ahmed) is framed for a crime. A shapeshifting teenager named Nimona (Chlo Grace Moretz) whom he's been trained to destroy may be his only hope for proving his innocence. Ali Gler/Netflix The Swimmers (2022) This biographical film tells the story of two sisters, Yusra (Nathalie Issa) and Sarah Mardini (Manal Issa), who escape war-torn Syria. Amid all the strife and upheaval, Yusra works toward her dream of swimming in the Olympics. It's a touching narrative of hope and survival. Netflix All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) A World War I drama based on the classic novel of the same name, this epic depicts the horrors of war through the eyes of 17-year-old German soldier Paul Bumer (Felix Kammerer). At first enthused about joining the army in spite of his parents' wishes Bumer gets a violent wake-up call. All Quiet on the Western Front was a dominating force at the 95th Annual Academy Awards, as it was nominated for nine Oscars and ultimately walked away with four, including Best International Feature Film. Netflix NYAD (2023) Annette Bening and Jodie Foster both scored Oscar nominations (for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively) for their roles in NYAD, the Netflix original film about marathon swimmer Diana Nyad and her devoted coach Bonnie Stoll. The remarkable true story is not a full biopic but a chapter of Nyad's accomplished life when, at the age of 60, Nyad became obsessed with completing the arduous, near-impossible 110 mile swim from Cuba to Florida. Determined to become the first person to finish the swim without a shark cage, the film is a story of Nyad's determination, ushered along by the support of those closest to her. Netflix Hot Frosty (2024) Netflix is known for its original holiday movies and the streaming giant has put out some popular ones for several years now. With its latest Christmas movie, Hot Frosty, the company goes full fan service, referencing many of those older films, including Falling for Christmas and A Christmas Prince (there's a sly Mean Girls joke, too). It's also giving fans of family-friendly Hallmark holiday movies a little more skin than they're used to. When Kathy (Lacey Chabert) places an enchanted scarf on a snowman with chiseled abs (just go with it), it comes to life and she finds purpose and joy while he's around. The almost perpetually shirtless snowman, Jack, is played by Schitt's Creek star Dustin Milligan, and let's just say he's been working out a lot since he played Ted. Sony Pictures Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was not just one of the best animated movies of 2023, it was one of the best films of the year, period. The animated superhero movie brings together various versions of Peter Parker/Spider-Man from across time and space, using a portal to connect their worlds as they battle the supervillain known as The Spot. Jam-packed with dozens of famous voices, from Shameik Moore to Jason Schwartzman and Hailee Steinfeld, the film is the first half of an epic saga that'll conclude with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which may not arrive until 2027.

December 31, 20244 min readDo We Live in a Special Part of the Universe?According to a tenet scientists call the cosmological principle, our place in space is in no way exceptional. But recent observations could overturn this long-held assumptionBy Sarah Scoles edited by Lee Billings & Jeanna BrynerAn illustration of the cosmic web, the universes large-scale structure of composed of galaxy-rich clumps and filaments alongside giant intergalactic voids mostly bereft of matter. At even larger scales, cosmic structure seems to smooth out into near-featureless homogeneity. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library/Alamy Stock PhotoEver since humans started gazing at the heavens through telescopes, we have discovered, bit by bit, that in celestial terms were apparently not so special. Earth was not the center of the universe, it turned out. It wasnt even the center of the solar system! The solar system, unfortunately, wasnt the center of the universe either. In fact, there were many star systems fundamentally like it, together making up a galaxy. And, wouldnt you know, the galaxy wasnt special but one of many, which all had their own solar systems, which also had planets, some of which presumably host their own ensemble of egoistic creatures with an overinflated sense of cosmic importance.This notion of mediocrity has been baked into cosmology, in the form of the cosmological principle. Its gist is that the universe is basically the same everywhere we lookhomogenized like milk, made of common materials evenly distributed in every direction. At the top of the cosmic hierarchy, giant groups of galaxies clump into sprawling, matter-rich filaments and sheets around gaping intergalactic voids, but past that, structure seems to peter out. If you could zoom way out and look at the universes big picture, says Alexia Lopez of the University of Central Lancashire in England, it would look really smooth.Lopez compares the cosmos with a beach: If you plunked a handful of sand under a microscope, the sand grains would look like the special individuals they are. You would see the different colors, shapes and sizes, she says. But if you were to walk across the beach, looking out at the sand dunes, all you would see is a uniform golden beige color.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.That means Earth (or any of the other trillions of planets that must exist) and its tiny corner of the cosmos appear to hold no particularly privileged place in comparison to everything else. And this homogeneity is convenient for astronomers because it lets them look at the universe in part as a reliable way of making inferences about the whole; whether here in the Milky Way or in a nameless galaxy billions of light-years distant, prevailing conditions should be essentially the same.This simplifying ethos applies to everything from understanding how dark matter weighs down galaxy clusters to estimating how common life-friendly conditions might be throughout the cosmos, and it allows astronomers to simplify their mathematical models of the universes past as well as their predictions of its future. Everything is based on the idea that [the cosmological principle] is true, Lopez says. It is also a very vague assumption. So its really hard to validate.Validation is especially challenging when significant evidence exists to the contraryand a host of recent observations suggest indeed that the universe could be stranger and have larger variations than cosmologists had so comfortably supposed.If thats the case, humans (and anyone else out there) actually might have a sort of special view of the light-years beyondnot privileged, per se, but also not average, in that average would no longer even be a useful concept at sufficiently large scales. Different observers may see slightly different universes, at least at large scales, says Valerio Marra, a professor at the Federal University of Esprito Santo in Brazil and a researcher at the Astronomical Observatory of Trieste in Italy.Astronomers havent thrown out the cosmological principle just yet, but they are gathering clues about its potential weaknesses. One approach involves looking for structures so large they challenge cosmic smoothness even at a hugely wide zoom. Scientists have calculated that anything wider than about 1.2 billion light-years would upset the homogeneous cosmic apple cart.And astronomers have found some. Lopez, for instance, has discovered a beast called the Giant Arca curve of galaxies strung across some 3.3 billion light-years. Shes also discovered the Big Ring, a torus of galaxies about 1.3 billion light-years across and four billion around. The two strangenesses are close together and may themselves be connected into an even larger structure.The study of cosmology itself also gives reason to raise an eyebrow at the cosmological principle. For instance, the light leftover from the big bang, called the cosmic microwave background, has some mysterious large-scale fluctuations that dont look totally random, notes Dragan Huterer, a cosmologist at the University of Michigan. This was never satisfactorily explained, he says.Some scientists have argued that such potential challenges to the cosmological principle might be explained by another principle, cosmic variance, which refers to the statistical uncertainty inherent in astronomers measurements of the universe. We are always limited by what we can see and therefore always mathematically uncertain about what conclusions to draw from a limited sample. Maybe the variations astronomers saw were simply the result of incompleteness rather than a real reflection of the universes properties; perhaps what seems to be an anomalous bump in cosmic smoothness would flatten out when compared with an unobserved chunk of the cosmos adjacent to the volume visible to us.And when it comes to studying suitably large patches of the universe, cosmologists are very limited indeed: the observable universe is only so big. If you say, Im going to study the shapes of galaxies, well, lucky you: you have billions and billions of galaxies in the universe. You can address your questions with statistics, and your sample variance will be very small, Huterer says. On larger scales, you only get a few examples because the observable universe only splits into so many big sections.Marra thought for a while that certain cosmological discrepancies could be a result of cosmic variance. But its not enough to explain it anymore, according to his and others calculations.Still, most cosmic observations hold up against the cosmological principle very well. So while scientists have enough information to reasonably question the ideas validity, they arent at all ready to abandon itleast of all because no one has a solid alternative schema to replace it.Theres no smoking-gun evidence for the violation of principle, Huterer says. However, there are some very interesting anomalies.Regardless, its a hard problem to decipher because of the nature of cosmology. Unlike in some lab experiment that you can do over and over and over again, Huterer says, you only get one universe.