Paramount+'s February slate includes the return of several highly anticipated series, starting with the season three premiere of thriller Yellowjackets (Feb. 14). The show, which received a handful of Primetime Emmy nominations, follows a group of teenage girls who survived a plane crash in the wilderness into their adult lives. The third installment picks up in the aftermath of a character's present-day death in season two. Fans of the Taylor Sheridan Yellowstone universe are getting the second (and final) season of prequel series and origin story 1923 (Feb. 23), starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as the Dutton family patriarch and matriarch in harsh conditions of the pre-Depression era. There are also new seasons of Paramount+ originals NCIS: Sydney (Feb. 7), The Equalizer (Feb. 16), and Tracker (Feb. 16). Paramount+ will stream the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 2. The showhosted by Trevor Noahis airing on CBS at 8 p.m. ET and will be available live for Paramount+ With Showtime subscribers. Finally, there's On TV: A Black History Month Special (Feb. 17), an hour-long news show hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner celebrating Black excellence in TV and entertainment. Heres everything else coming to the service in February. Note that titles with an asterisk are exclusive to Paramount+ With Showtime; everything else is also available to subscribers on the ad-supported plan. Those with two asterisks are available to Paramount+ With Showtime users streaming live on CBS and to all subscribers the following day.Paramount+ Originals and premieres coming in February 2025Available February 1Ride*Available February 267th Annual Grammy Awards**Available February 4Burden of Guilt, premiereAvailable February 6Death Without Mercy, premiere*Available February 12Eric Clapton UnpluggedOver 30 Years Later, special premiereAvailable February 14Yellowjackets, season 3 premiere*Available February 17On TV: A Black History Month Special**Available February 231923, season 2 premiereTV shows coming to Paramount+ in February 2025Available February 5Bar Rescue (season 9)The Patrick Star Show (season 2)Super Bowl Greatest Commercials: F.O.A.T special**Available February 7NCIS: Sydney (season 2 premiere)** Available February 12PAW Patrol: Big Truck PupsCMT Crossroads (seasons 1-3,5,10-16,18-20)How Did They Fix That? (season 3)MTV Unplugged (seasons 1-8, 10-13)VH1 Storytellers (seasons 1-9, 11-13,15,16)Available February 16The Equalizer (season 5 winter premiere)**Tracker (season 2 winter premiere)**Available February 17On TV: A Black History Month Special**Available February 24Beyond the Gates (season 1)Available February 26Survivor (season 48)**The Loud House (season 7)Movies coming to Paramount+ in February 2025Available February 1A Mighty HeartA Walk on the MoonAdoreAlong Came A SpiderAmerican GigoloAttack the BlockBabelBebe's KidsBirthday GirlBoys And GirlsBrokeback MountainChocolate CityCinema ParadisoCome AwayCritical ConditionDangerous BeautyDoubtFerris Bueller's Day OffGeostormHooking UpI Hope They Serve Beer In Hell*In & OutInto The WildJersey GirlJuiceJust Another Girl on the I.R.T.Like Water for ChocolateLosing IsaiahMansfield ParkMarvin's RoomMen, Women & ChildrenMenace II SocietyMuriel's WeddingMy Best Friend's WeddingMy Boss's DaughterO (Othello)Old SchoolPretty In PinkRoad to PerditionRoman HolidaySaturday Night FeverSerendipityShakespeare in LoveShall We Dance?ShooterSuffragetteTerms of EndearmentThe BabysitterThe Boy in the Striped PajamasThe Color PurpleThe Evening StarThe FirmThe Hunt for Red OctoberThe Love GuruThe Love LetterThe MaskThe Pursuit of HappynessThe SmurfsThe Smurfs 2The Stepford WivesThe To Do ListThe WoodTransformersVampire in BrooklynWhat Lies BeneathWhat Women WantWhen Harry Met SallyWin A Date With Tad Hamilton!World War ZWuthering Heights (2003)Available February 3Bull*The Nanny Diaries*Available February 12Fanboys*Available February 17Halloween*DeadlockAvailable February 24Southpaw*Available February 27The Aviary*Available February 28Crossing Over*

We may earn a commission from links on this page.In the same way that cranking up blues music can serve as a balm to a troubled soul, sinking into a deeply sad movie can be just the thing to give you a sense of catharsis. After all, everyone loves a good wallow once in a whileand in an era of highly calculated blockbusters designed not to offend anyone, its oddly refreshing to watch a movie thats unafraid to make you feel bad.It takes more than a mere unhappy ending to join the ranks of the all-time most depressing movies, however. These flicks favor a pervasive sense of existential gloom, whether they are drawing attention to the plight of people facing unimaginable true-life circumstances, or simply inviting us to explore a breadth of emotions The Avengers cant quite channel.Grave of the Fireflies (1988)The toll that war takes on children (a sadly evergreen topic) is made beautifully and heartbreakingly clear in Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies, the director's first film after co-founding Studio Ghibli. A pair of Japanese siblings narrowly escape the American firebombing of Kobe in the final months of World War II, but their struggles continue as they travel a war-torn countryside. The animators used a soft brown as a base, rather than the more traditional black ink, which gives the film a unique and dreamlike visual quality. Japanese animation has nothing to prove at this point, nor even back in 1988 when this was released, but Grave of the Fireflies makes very clear that anime is a medium, not a genre, and the stories filmmakers tell can be as deeply meaningful and moving as any in cinema. You can stream Grave of the Fireflies on Netflix. Grave of the Fireflies (1988) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix House of Sand and Fog (2003)A battle of wills between two indefatigable adversaries that ends well for neither of themnor for their families. Recovering drug addict Kathy Nicolo (Jennifer Connelly) is mistakenly evicted from her home, which is then bought for a pittance by a former Iranian Army colonel (Ben Kingsley) whose fortunes have fallen since coming to America. The two almost come to terms, with flashes of humanity in their interactions, but outside pressures force them into corners and ultimately to tragedy. You can stream House of Sand and Fog on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. House of Sand and Fog (2003) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ When the Wind Blows (1986) Veteran British actors John Mills and Peggy Ashcroft voice Jim and Hilda Bloggs, an aging English couple who barely survive a nuclear missile strike only to find that their efforts to carry on, and to achieve some sense of normalcy, come to little. There's the tiniest hint of optimism near the end, but before that it's a very sweet, poignant reminder that even (or especially) the innocent can't escape the consequences of war.You can stream When the Wind Blows on Tubi, Freevee, and Prime Video. When the Wind Blows (1986) at Freevee Learn More Learn More at Freevee Dancer in the Dark (2000) A Czech immigrant and factory worker in the 1960s is losing her eyesight and desperate to pull together the money to secure an operation for her son that will spare him the same fate. In spite of the fantasy musical numbers that sustain Selma (Bjrk), and her own best intentions, fate and the greed of those she trusts conspire to bring her to a tragic end. The musical interludes are spectacular, but the contrast between Selmas dream worlds and her real life circumstances only serves to heighten the sense of tragedy and injustice. On the bright side: this is a period piece, and we know that the American healthcare system could never force anyone into such dire straights today. Phew. You can rent Dancer in the Dark from Prime Video. Dancer in the Dark (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Melancholia (2011) Sticking with the problematic master of mirth, Lars von Trier, its hard to argue that youre not getting exactly what it says on the tin when you sit down to watch a movie called Melancholia. (No refunds.) Here, von Trier adds a science fiction-ish twist to a story of modern malaise. The titular rogue planet is on a collision course with Earth, and two sisters handle that destiny in very different ways. The result is a string of depressive episodes, infidelity, and death by suicide that all eschew the hope that we might make some sort of wary peace with death. You can stream Melancholia on Netflix, Hulu, Tubi, and Prime Video. Melancholia (2011) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Requiem for a Dream (2000) A symphonic ode to the misery of addiction, Darren Aronofskys second feature plays like an X-rated version of the anti-drug films you watched in high school. Over the course of two punishing, stylishly filmed, and artfully edited hours, we watch as four characters lives fall apart as they try to use drugsfrom heroin to diet pillsto fill the empty places inside. It doesnt work out: Jared Leto gets gangrene from an infected injection site, Jennifer Connelly turns to prostitution to get the money for her next score, and Marlon Wayans winds up in prison, abused by the guards. And then theres Ellen Burstyn, who starts the film a lively, red-headed retiree and ends it a vacant-eyed, ashen amphetamine junkie in a squalid nursing home. Drugs are bad, mmmk? You can stream Requiem for a Dream on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Requiem for a Dream (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Speak No Evil (2022) I get that horror films are supposed to be scary, but then there are those than are less scary than they are unrelentingly bleak, which is distressing in a different way? Regardless, this 2022 Danish film is as grim as they come. It follows a young family that meets a nice couple and their son while traveling and accepts an invitation to stay at their home. To tell you what happens next would be a big spoiler, but I'd almost like to save you the angst of experiencing it. Needless to say, only bad things happen, and in the cruelest manner imaginableincluding to young children. Bad feelings all around, and one of the most hopeless endings ever. For some reason it got a Hollywood remake with James McAvoy? You can stream Speak No Evil on Shudder and AMC+ or rent it from Prime Video. Speak No Evil (2022) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Sophies Choice (1982) In flashbacks from just after the war, we learn the story of titular Holocaust survivor Sophie (Meryl Streep), who during those years, had been forced to decide which of her children would live and which would die. As with the William Styron novel on which the film is based, its a powerful, fact-based narrative that, unfortunately, has become a sort of shorthand for any difficult decision. You can stream Sophie's Choice on Tubi and Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Sophies Choice (1982) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Come and See (1985) Director Elem Klimov fought Soviet censors for nearly a decade to release his film, a truly harrowing look at the horrors of war as seen through the eyes of a Belarusian teenager who joins the anti-Nazi resistance following the invasion of his village. As the occupation continues, even survival for Flyora comes to feel like a curse; the accumulated horrors (including the deliberate burning of a church with dozens of people inside, an event that really took place) make Come and See one of the best war films ever madebecause all the greatest war films are really anti-war. You can stream Come and See on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Come and See (1985) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Leaving Las Vegas (1995) Nicolas Cage won an Oscar for portraying a suicidal alcoholic who drives to Vegas with a trunk full of booze and an intent to drink himself into oblivion in this critically acclaimed and horrifically bleak film from writer/director Mike Figgis, adapting the semi-autobiographical novel by John OBrien (who died by suicide shortly after selling the movie rights). I saw it once more than a decade ago, and to the best of my recollection, it involves nearly two hours of watching Cage guzzle hard liquor in a dingy hotel room while scream-crying, intercut with scenes of a sex worker (Elisabeth Shue, also Oscar-nominated) being subjected to a horrific sexual assault. I might have some details wrong, but it'll be a while yet before I can watch it again to verify. You can stream Leaving Las Vegas on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Leaving Las Vegas (1995) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Mist (2007) The titular mist (not to be confused with The Fog) settles over a town in this nihilistic Stephen King adaptation, putting a bunch of locals at each others throats after they become trapped in a grocery store at the end of the world. Frank Darabonts film makes clear that theres no outside evil that can remotely compete with the ignorance, fear, and religious extremism that were faced with on a daily basis. Once thats clear, the movie pushes things 10 steps further, ending on a note thats either a perfect summation of its message or unbearably cruel. Probably its both. You can stream The Mist on Prime Video and Freevee. The Mist (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Cure (1997) Kiyoshi Kurosawas serial killer drama feels a bit like Seven early on, but grows increasingly more philosophical and esoteric as it goes, despite maintaining a chilly detachment from all of the murders it depicts. Police detective Kenichi Takabe is on the hunt for a killer, even as his own home life is imploding. The killer, we eventually learn, is no killer at all, instead someone adept at manipulating others into doing his work for him. The movie toys with the idea that there might be something otherworldly at play, but thats less horrifying than the case it makes that we are, each of us, capable of incredibly dark acts, provided were given just enough of a push. You can stream Cure on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Cure (1997) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Road (2009) An unnamed man and his son wander through a bleak, desolate, post-apocalyptic America in search of a rumored safe haven to be found near the coast. Where other stories of this type invite us to have some fun with the idea that we might be clever enough to survive (and often throw in some zombies for good measure), The Road (as with the Cormac McCarthy on which its based) makes clear theres unlikely to be much to appreciate about the collapse of civilization. You can stream The Road on Peacock, Tubi, and Starz or rent it from Prime Video. The Road (2009) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Children of Men (2006) Alfonso Cuarns Children of Men suggests that were not much more than five years away from civilizations collapse after a period of war, natural disaster, and economic depression. So the idea that we still have five years on all of that is pretty hopeful, but otherwise, the world depicted herein which infertility has become an epidemicis one of deep desperation and a total absence of hope. As much as any film here, and thanks to Cuarns careful eye as a director, the sense of a world over the brink is in every shot. You can stream Children of Men on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Children of Men (2006) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Alien 3 (1992) While the first two Alien films were hardly laugh riots, David Finchers (troubled) sequel is almost certainly the most boldly disturbing franchise entry in the history of Hollywood sequels. The movie begins with the deaths of almost all the survivors from the previous film (and the gruesome autopsy of a beloved character) before dropping Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) into a prison colony in which the most likable character (Charles S. Dutton) is a serial murderer and convicted rapist. In an era of franchises increasingly calculated to be as inoffensive as possible, Im a big fan of its risk-taking, but hoo boy is it dark. You can rent Alien 3 from Prime Video. Alien 3 (1992) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Triangle (2009) A twisty-turny film that at first plays like a slasher-movie at sea, but then quickly turns into something far more disturbing. Jess is off on a boat trip with some friends, offering a slightly sketchy explanation for the absence of her autistic son, who was meant to join them. A sudden storm finds the group seeking shelter about a strangely empty ocean linerempty except for the person who keeps killing everyone. The film soon evolves into a time-loop science-fiction thriller, before revealing itself to be a punishment of mythological proportions. You can stream Triangle on Prime Video, Peacock, Tubi, and AMC+. Triangle (2009) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Timecrimes (2007) Another sci-fi mind-bender involving messing about with time, this Spanish thriller follows the tragic temporal fate of Hctor (Karra Elejalde) and his wife Clara (Candela Fernndez). Hctor spots a woman in the woods, naked and unconscious. Going to investigate, he's attacked by a mysterious man covered in bloody bandages. Fleeing, he winds up in the middle of a bizarre time travel experiment, one which sends him back in time and into a past that he only makes worse. And then makes worse again. And again. The fiendishly clever film from Nacho Vigalondo suggests that neither our best intentions nor all the time in the world can erase our most selfish mistakes. You can rent Timecrimes from Prime Video. Timecrimes (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Man Bites Dog (1992) Plenty of films tweak audiences for our willingness to wallow in onscreen horrors (see Rear Window for a cheerier example). Belgian mockumentary Man Bites Dog puts us through the wringer by putting us in the place of a film crew following a vicious serial killer. Theres a bit of a tongue-in-cheek style here, which does nothing to lessen the impact of the film crews increasing sympathy with the killer, who ultimately become accomplices to his actions. Man Bites Dog asks deeply uncomfortable questions about not just our tolerance for on-screen violence, but about the extent to which well stand aside in the face of real-world horrors, or even join in given the right incentives. You can stream Man Bites Dog on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Man Bites Dog (1992) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) Heather Matarazzo made a brilliant debut in Todd Solondz Welcome to the Dollhouse as Dawn Weiner, an extremely unpopular middle schooler whose life becomes a series of rejections, assaults, bullying, and disappointments. While the character is charming, this isnt a movie about a plucky nonconformist who beats the oddsits about the psychological trauma faced by those who dont fit in, and the terrible choice between staying true to yourself and accepting the resulting abuse, or hiding your light with in a bushel in the hope youll find a little peace. You can stream Welcome to the Dollhouse on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Precious (2009) Gabourey Sidibes 16-year-old Precious can neither read nor write and, as the movie opens, is pregnant for the second time as a result of a series of rapes by her father, even as her uncaring mother subjects her to physical and verbal abuse on a regular basis. Unlike many characters in these movies, theres a hint of hope for Preciousa transfer to a new school; the attention of a well-meaning teacherbut the road to (maybe) get to a better place is a dark and rocky one. You can stream Precious on Tubi and Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Precious (2009) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Revolutionary Road (2008) The horror in Sam Mendes Revolutionary Road is in the white-picket-fence conformity of the 1950s. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite post-Titanic in a story that sees the walls closing in on a young couple trying to make a go of it in a stifling world, before their efforts to escape into something more spiritually fulfilling threaten their relationship and eventually, their lives. The bright, clean streets of the titles Revolutionary Road come to feel as dystopian as those in another movies apocalypse. You can stream Revolutionary Road on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Revolutionary Road (2008) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ La Strada (1954) Federico Fellini was known for films filled with color and fantastical imagery, and theres a bit of that in his story of simple-minded Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina), purchased by widower and street performer Zampan (Anthony Quinn), previously married to Gelsominas late sister. Gelsomina's bright spirit and kind heart are gradually ground down by the cruel treatment of her new husband; when she finds a companion in another street performer (a clown, in this case), Zampans jealousy leads to tragedy, even though the strongman cant be bothered to show his wife any affection. Its a beautiful film, and a shattering one. You can stream La Strada on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. La Strada (1954) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Plague Dogs (1982) Snitter (John Hurt) and Rowf (Christopher Benjamin) escape from a cruel animal testing laboratory in this adult animated feature adapting the novel by Richard Adams (Watership Down). I'll skip over details of the experiments to which the two were subjected, except to say that they're both thoroughly cruel and also entirely reflective of real-life animal testing practices. The world at large is, unfortunately, not much kinder to the two escaped dogs than their former prison was. It's rather lovely, in its way, and beautifully animatedbut animal lovers, especially, will find it rough going. Which is certainly the point. You can stream The Plague Dogs on Tubi. The Plague Dogs (1982) at Tubi Learn More Learn More at Tubi The Father (2020) Anthony Hopkins won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Anthony, the titular father, at the end of his life and living with severe dementia. It's a brilliant performance in a movie that tells its story entirely from Anthony's perspective, his disorientation playing out as frequently horrifyingly disjointed moments in a life losing all connective tissue. In privileging the point of view of the patient, rather than the family or caregivers, the movie is intensely humane, but it doesn't soft-pedal the experience, and there's little comfort to be found. You can stream The Father on Starz or rent it from Prime Video. The Father (2020) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video All of Us Strangers (2023) A romantic ghost story on the surface, All of Us Strangers follows lonely screenwriter Adam (Andrew Scott) as he starts a relationship with his very mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal), the two of them the only residents of an imposing new apartment building. It's a relationship that draws Adam to return to his family home, where he finds his parents seemingly alive and well, despite them having died decades earlier. Without offering too many spoilers beyond that, the movie goes to very dark places from there, providing a strong reminder that loss is an inevitable part of life, yes, but also that the only real comfort is in forgetting and moving on. You can stream All of Us Strangers on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. All of Us Strangers (2023) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Threads (1984) A particularly effective take on the nuclear-war-is-bad-actually genre of the early and mid 1980s (see also: Testament and The Day After), this British film takes a chilling, faux documentary approach to the end of days. A young couple in Sheffield is getting ready to build a life and a family together when war breaks out between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, with a nuclear attack occurring on a NATO base about 20 miles from the city. The two are separated, and that is only the beginning of the horrors faced by Karen Meagher's Ruth Beckett. The emphasis is on the resulting breakdown in law and social order, with an ending shot that's a genuine punch to the gut. You can stream Threads on Tubi and Shudder or rent it from Prime Video. Threads (1984) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Manchester by the Sea (2016) There are moments of light in Manchester by the Sea, and it doesn't build to an ending that'e entirely crushing, but there's an awful lot of pain and anger along the way. Casey Affleck plays Lee, who is surprised to find out that he's been assigned custody of his deceased brother's son. The situation forces him to confront his past in the title town and, as we come to understand why sullen, alcoholic Lee can barely get through a day, it becomes clear why his past is holding him backand will continue to do so. (It's that bad.) You can stream Manchester by the Sea on Prime Video. Manchester by the Sea (2016) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Aftersun (2022) Initially, and on a surface level, Aftersun is a bright and charming look at a vacation at a cheap resort in Turkey involving a divorced dad (Paul Mescal, whom we've already discussed) and the daughter (Frankie Corio) he doesn't really see enough of. But there are unsettling elements from the very beginning, and a growing unease creeps into our perspective as an audience. We soon understand that what we're seeing is a memory, a grown woman's attempts to understand her father's life and death with only a child's memories to work from. That fun trip soon becomes something melancholy and deeply poignant. You can stream Aftersun on Netflix and Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Aftersun (2022) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Au Hasard Balthazar (1966) Robert Bressons film opens with the gift of a donkey named Balthazar to a sensitive farm girl, Marie. The two are separated following a family tragedy, with the once-beloved beast of burden winding up as nothing more than a pack animal for a family that doesnt care for him beyond his ability to perform labor. Marie, meanwhile, ends up in a deeply abusive relationship, and, though fate reconnects woman and donkey at intervals over the years, neither is having a particularly good life and neither winds up with a particularly happy ending. Its a lovely movie, in many ways, but its definitely a banger in the depressing animal-story genre (and just maybe, the donkey is supposed to be a metaphor, but lets try not to think too much about that). You can stream Au Hazard Balthazar on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Au Hasard Balthazar (1966) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Cries and Whispers (1972) While Id never describe Ingmar Bergman as maudlin, its certainly the case that his best films, while masterpieces of acting, directing, and screenwriting, are deeply depressing, if not entirely pessimistic. Here, Agnes (Harriet Andersson) slowly dies of cancer while her sisters struggle with their own problems and insecurities, finding themselves unable to provide the needed support. The good work and genuine care of the maid, Anna, further exacerbates the feelings of inadequacy that keep the family from connecting when its most truly needed. You can stream Cries and Whispers on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Cries and Whispers (1972) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Million Dollar Baby (2004) The Clint Eastwood sports drama cleaned up at the major categories at the Oscars in its year, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for Hilary Swank), and Best Supporting Actor (for Morgan Freeman). All the more impressive given how dour the film is. It's wonderfully acted and a beautiful bit of filmmaking, but takes inspirational sports-movie tropes and turns them on their sides, building to a tragic ending that offers little in the way of Rocky-style inspiration. You can rent Million Dollar Baby from Prime Video. Million Dollar Baby (2004) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Passing (2021) Reenie Redfield (Tessa Thompson), a middle-class Black woman, runs into her old friend Clare (Ruth Negga)now bleach-blonde and passing for white, a dangerous thing to do in New York City of the 1920s. She's even married, with a husband who has no idea. The two offer up incredible performances as two women who see in each other roads not taken, but their unsettling encounter leads each of them along a road to tragedy. The film has a lyrical, dreamlike quality that only serves to augment and enhance the sense that walls are closing in for the two old friends. You can stream Passing on Netflix. Passing (2021) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix The Rapture (1991) A young swinger (this is 1991, when such terms were still in the parlance) played by Mimi Rogers becomes a born-again Christian after a sect convinces her that the Rapture is imminent. Her new piousness is challenged when her husband is murdered, and her despair leads her to contemplate taking her own daughters life (to get her to heaven faster, naturally). And thats not even the depressing part. Fearlessly depicting her characters transition from hedonism to zealotry to unimaginable despair, Rogers gives the best performance of her career; too bad its in a film youll almost definitely only want to watch once. You can rent The Rapture from Prime Video. The Rapture (1991) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Pianist (2002) In assembling this list, I struggled with how many Holocaust films to include; there are many, enough to populate an even longer list than this all by themselves. For better or worse, I will let Roman Polanskis The Pianist stay, and certainly it is one of the most unsparing in its depictions of that particular historical horror. Based on the memoir by the Polish-Jewish musician Wadysaw Szpilman (played by Adrien Brody, who won the Oscar), the movie takes us through the entire span of the war; as things get worse and worse and worse for the Polish Jews, Szpilman loses everything, including the love for music that is his only lifeline. Though its legacy is tarnished for being directed by Polanski (no small reason to leave it on the shelf), The Pianist remains a stunning accomplishment in the artful depiction of the worst of humanity. You can stream The Pianist on Peacock, Tubi, Prime Video, and Freevee. The Pianist (2002) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Umberto D. (1952) Any movie can be sad, but it takes a special flavor of cinematic hopelessness to get a film banned by the government for being too depressing. Yet thats exactly what happened to this story of an elderly Italian man (Carlo Battisti) struggling to keep a roof over his head after he is evicted; when that proves too tall an order, he elects for finding a home for his beloved dog before he ends his own life. Performed by a cast of mostly non-actors, Umberto D.s grim realism proved a bit too much for the Italian government, which felt it painted too bleak a picture of the state of the nation in the wake of World War II, and subsequently banned the export of films deemed unflattering to Italian society, according to Peter Becker, film historian and president of the Criterion Channel. You can stream Umberto D. on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Umberto D. (1952) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max

A week after DirecTV launched its first sports-only streaming package, Comcast unveiled a similar offering that adds news to the mix. The Xfinity Sports & News TV package combines over 50 broadcast, cable news and sports channels with Peacock, DVR storage and more.Although Xfinity Sports & News is being widely marketed and reported as costing $70 monthly, theres some extensive fine print attached. (With Comcast?? Cant be.)First, that price only applies to Xfinity Internet or Xfinity TV customers (new or existing). Youll pay at least $90 monthly if you want to stick with home internet from elsewhere. On top of that, your monthly price goes up by $10 without automatic billing through a bank account. Autopay with a credit or debit card adds an extra $8.So, it can be as little as $70 or as much as $100 per month. Plus tax. This is only a good deal compared to YouTube TV (which recently raised prices again) or Hulu + Live TV if youre already an Xfinity Internet customer whos cool with automatic payments.Even then, whether its a bargain will depend on whether it has all the content you want. Its national cable news lineup includes CNN, CNBC, MSNBC and Fox News. It has ESPN, FS1, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, GOLF Channel and SEC Network for live sports channels. Also on tap are local broadcast channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo and Univision affiliates. Plus, you get Peacock (which includes live sports in addition to its on-demand fare) and other extras like 300 hours of cloud DVR storage.If you want the best viewing experience, youll need an Xfinity X1 TV box, only available for Xfinity cable customers. But since that would be somewhat redundant, you can still watch through the Xfinity Stream app on streaming boxes like Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV and mobile devices.You can read more (and perhaps make yourself dizzy from fine print) at Xfinitys Sports & News landing page.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/comcasts-sports-and-news-streaming-bundle-starts-at-70-monthly-203017976.html?src=rss

CNN is laying off more employees and making plans to launch another streaming service, according to a memo from CEO Mark Thompson obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. Around 200 employees jobs are being cut, affecting six percent of CNN's current staff.The changes are being made in response to "profound and irreversible shifts in the way audiences in America and around the world consume news," according to Thompson. Launching a new streaming service after the abject failure of CNN+ the former streaming home of Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy is apparently tied to that same thinking.According to Thompson:Today, I can announce thatwe plan to develop a new way for digital subscribers at home and abroad to stream news programming from us on any device they choose. It's early days but weve already established that theres immense demand for it not just in America but across much of the world.Some of CNN's shows are already available on Max, the streaming service of its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, but this new service would presumably be a benefit for subscribers who pay for CNN directly. The company launched a subscription to CNN.com in October 2024 for $3.99 per month or $29.99 per year.Given the less than 10,000 daily users CNN+ was reportedly able to bring in, it definitely seems like any new streaming service will have an uphill battle.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/another-cnn-streaming-service-is-coming-because-that-totally-worked-last-time-201116927.html?src=rss

Perplexity debuts election information hub.

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

You may have arrived in a hotel room to find a chocolate on your pillow or a welcome message on the TV. But imagine checking in and finding the exact pillow you specified, the temperature just right, and a personal menu, along with a bespoke wellness program. This is not a fairytaleits the future of luxury travel, powered by technology.Your preferences, such as temperature, lighting, meal options, and even activity schedules will be as easy to choose as booking as a room with a sea view or a taxi from the airport. And its not just peaceful sleep these accommodations will offer. Peace of mind is also paramount as discriminating guests are increasingly seeking destinations that offer regenerative services as well.As a category, regenerative resorts are often glamping or eco-friendly destinations that also seek to be carbon neutral at the very least, and increasingly carbon negative. They invest in their local communities, support local businesses, and prioritize the triple bottom linewhile offering unique and extraordinary experiences for travellers seeking both luxury and purpose.Eco-tourism built on technologyWhile eco-tourism may seem rooted in simplicity, it is fundamentally a high-tech industry. Luxury accommodations in natural settings often require advanced engineering to minimize environmental impact while ensuring resilience to extreme weather conditions. Architects and developers must consider the location, supply chain logistics, and local workforce capabilities when designing and constructing such resorts. Remote operations also rely on sophisticated off-grid energy systems and logistics to function efficiently.Modular construction is emerging as a key solution for eco-resorts. For instance, 3D-printed structures made from recycled materials offer a sustainable, efficient alternative to traditional building methods. These modular units can be produced in a fraction of the time and with significantly less waste. Companies like mine, Azure Printed Homes, are leveraging this technology to create eco-friendly accommodations for glamping and eco-resorts, reducing construction waste by 90% and cutting production time by 70%. Such advancements align with the needs of environmentally conscious and technologically savvy travellers.Create the guest connectionIn an increasingly crowded marketplace, eco-resorts face the challenge of effectively conveying their core values and unique offerings to potential guests. Digital platforms play a critical role in this effort, with many resorts using social media, booking sites, and influencer partnerships to reach their audience. As consumers become more discerning, authenticity is essential. Guests are willing to pay a premium for unique, meaningful experiences, but they also invest significant time researching their options.Technology is revolutionizing guest interactions before and during their stay. Smart keys integrated with mobile apps allow guests to adjust room temperatures, book dining reservations, or schedule activities with ease. AI-powered room features learn guest preferences to provide a personalized experience, transforming hotel stays from impersonal to tailored and intuitive. For remote eco-resorts, AI also enhances operational efficiency by monitoring emissions, optimizing waste management, and streamlining supply orders, all while maintaining the focus on sustainability.Transformational travel: Wellness meets the outdoorsThe fastest-growing segment of luxury travel is wellness tourism, driven by travellers seeking physical, mental, and emotional transformation. Unlike traditional vacationers who prioritize relaxation and sightseeing, todays travellers are also looking to be rejuvenated and inspired. Glamping and eco-resorts are ideally positioned to meet this demand by integrating wellness programs into their natural settings.In Mexico, for example, The House of AA offers wellness programs supervised by shamans who design a tailor-made personal development program for guests. They are known as the Architects of Life, the resorts website says. These programs unlock our inner doors, be they physical, emotional or spiritual.Offerings range from guided hikes and yoga sessions to bespoke wellness regimens, tailored to individual needs. Resorts are increasingly incorporating data-driven personalization, using guest preferences shared before arrival to craft unique experiences. Some destinations draw on ancient rituals and spiritual practices to deepen the guests connection to their surroundings, creating truly unforgettable journeys. For example, certain wellness programs integrate mindfulness, meditation, and even guided stargazing, reflecting the growing popularity of dark sky tourism.Themed resorts provide the ideal something extraSome resorts offer an immersive educational experience such as Observer Ranch, a year-round space-themed campground located an hour south of Colorado Springs. This unique destination, owned by childrens book author Kat Davidson, offers stunning mountain views, a learning center, and a library with resources on science, nature, homesteading, and sustainability. Guests can enjoy educational classes, hands-on workshops, and fun events like model rocket launches.Redefine luxury through sustainabilityLuxury is being redefined as travellers move away from excess and opulence toward meaningful, exclusive experiences. Modern luxury emphasizes privacy, authenticity, and a connection to nature. This shift aligns with the concept of barefoot luxury, which prioritizes simplicity and sustainability over extravagance.Technology plays a pivotal role in fostering this new vision of luxury. Tools like the My Green Butler app encourage eco-conscious behaviors by gamifying the guest experience. Guests earn rewards for actions like reusing towels or reducing water and energy consumption. These small incentives not only enhance the guest experience but also reinforce the resorts commitment to sustainability. By engaging guests in sustainable practices, resorts hope to inspire lasting behavioral changes that extend beyond the vacation.Transformative travel offers more than just relaxation; it provides guests with a renewed perspective on the value of natural resources and the importance of preserving them. By combining sustainability, personalization, and cutting-edge technology, the luxury travel industry is poised to create experiences that are as impactful as they are unforgettable.Gene Eidelman is the cofounder of Azure Printed Homes. Stephanie Curtis-Raleigh is the founder of Eco Resort Network.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloombergs philanthropy arm said on Thursday it will provide funding to help cover the U.S. contribution to the UN climate bodys budget, filling a gap left by President Donald Trump.The new Republican president announced after taking office on Monday that he would withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and end the countrys international climate funding. Trump had also withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris deal in his first 2017-2021 White House term.Bloomberg is a media billionaire who also serves as a UN special envoy on climate change.Bloomberg Philanthropies and other U.S. climate funders will ensure the United States meets its global climate obligations, the organization said in a statement, adding this included covering the amount the U.S. owes each year to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).Bloomberg Philanthropies did not give details of the amounts of funding or who the other climate funders are.The UNFCCC is the U.N.s leading climate body. It runs annual climate negotiations among nearly 200 countries and helps implement the agreements that are made in these talksthe biggest of which is the 2015 Paris Agreement.Michael Bloomberg also pledged to work with states, cities, and companies to ensure that the U.S. stayed on track with its global climate obligations.From 2017 to 2020, during a period of federal inaction, cities, states, businesses, and the public rose to the challenge to uphold our nations commitmentsand now, we are ready to do it again, he said in the statement.The U.S. is responsible for funding around 21% of the UNFCCCs core budget. Last year, it paid the UNFCCC a 7.2 million euro ($7.4 million) required contribution for 2024, and also paid off a 3.4 million euro arrears for missed contributions over 2010-2023.A Reuters analysis of UNFCCC documents last year found the U.N. body is experiencing a severe budget shortfall, which diplomats said had begun to disrupt parts of the worlds climate dialogue.We deeply appreciate the generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the leadership shown by Mike Bloomberg, U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell said in a statement.Linda Kalcher, executive director at think-tank Strategic Perspectives, said Bloombergs move demonstrated a willingnessalso shared by some U.S. statesto step up and try to fill the gap left by the U.S. withdrawal from international climate cooperation.This is where the other U.S. actors come in. I can foresee that a lot of interaction will happen again with the U.S. businesses and states that want to continue, said Kalcher, who is also a former climate adviser to the UN Secretary-General.While the UN climate bodys core budget is formed of contributions from governments, other parts of its budget can accept contributions from philanthropies and other organizations.Bloomberg Philanthropies already contributed $4.5 million to the UNFCCC last year, according to UN public documents reviewed by Reuters.The UNFCCCs main budget lines total 240 million euros for 2024-2025, with about half of that expected to be allocated for this year.Valerie Volcovici, Frances Kerry and Kate Abnett, Reuters

The year is 2025. The political landscape, unpredictable. Your identity is your most valuable asset, so in order to protect it, you decide to take the identity of someone else. Sounds like the perfect setup for a dystopian sci-fi movie, and for the Become Anyone 2.0 Mask a DIY project from Sean Hodgins.The mask, created more as a fun project than a vigilante face-guard, features nearly 3000 LEDs coming together to turn your entire face into a massive display of sorts. While LED face masks do exist, none are as advanced as the one Hodgins made. Although its fairly low-res and low-poly, youve essentially got an RGB display wrapped around your face, allowing you to play videos, display text, or even apply anyones face as a graphic, allowing you to become anyone. DOOM? Sure. Peter Griffin of Family Guy? Why not. Tommy Vercetti from GTA Vice City? Hell Yes!Designer: Sean HodginsThe mask is essentially an amalgamation of 16 LED matrix panels, precisely arranged to wrap around a face. The LED layout creates a seamless grid for displaying animations, expressions, or even video loops, driven by either a PixelBlaze or Raspberry Pi controller. The ambitious goal of using only circuit boards to construct the masks body ensures its both functional and visually strikinga wearable pixel art canvas. From DOOMs snarling faces to trippy animated patterns, this mask is as versatile as it is mesmerizing.The design process starts with a 3D-printed template to ensure a perfect facial fit. This is crucial because any misalignment could strain the fragile solder joints when mounted to a welding helmet-style head strap. Once the fit is locked in, the technical heavy lifting begins. Hodgins is laser-focused on precision, using a stencil to apply solder paste before manually placing thousands of SK6805-1515 LEDs onto the PCB panels. If youve ever soldered a single LED, imagine doing that nearly 3000 timesunless, of course, you have a pick-and-place machine handy. For those attempting this project manually, consider it a test of your soldering stamina.Once the LED placement is complete, the boards are reflowed using a toaster ovenproof that even the simplest tools can achieve incredible results in the hands of a skilled creator. The next challenge is cutting and preparing the panels, ensuring each one fits snugly into the larger mask assembly. Smoothing out the PCB edges with a belt grinder might sound aggressive, but its a surprisingly effective way to guarantee clean, flat joins.The most nerve-wracking stage comes with soldering the panels together to form the full-face grid. This process requires the steady patience of a neurosurgeon. Using the 3D template as a guide, Hodgins connects each panel at just the right angle, securing power, ground, and data connections with delicate wiring. The result is a solid matrix of LEDs thats ready for testing.Powering the mask is no small feat either. A hefty battery feeds power through 18-gauge wiring, ensuring the masks energy-hungry LEDs stay lit without frying the circuits. The final touch comes in programming the animations. If using a Raspberry Pi, additional logic level shifting is required to handle the 5V LED signals. Alternatively, PixelBlaze offers a plug-and-play solution, perfect for those prioritizing ease of use over custom video playback.For anyone daring enough to recreate this project, Hodgins provides open-source files for the PCB design and a detailed step-by-step guide on Instructables. Youll need access to some advanced tools like a reflow oven, soldering iron, and potentially a pick-and-place machine. Patience is your most essential tool, though, as this project is as intricate as it is rewarding. But for those who succeed, the payoff is immense: a cyberpunk accessory that would fit right into the worlds of Blade Runner or Cyberpunk 2077.So, whether youre a DOOM fan, an electronics enthusiast, or someone who just loves the idea of turning their face into a programmable LED screen, the Become Anyone 2.0 mask is the ultimate DIY project. And hey, if you manage to build one, you might just outshine every cosplayer at the next conventionliterally.The post Futuristic DIY LED Mask lets you turn into a DOOM Character or practically anyone you want first appeared on Yanko Design.

Designed by Rover Tiny Homes, the Cortes is a spacious and comfortable full-time residence with two downstairs bedrooms and a large living room. It measures around 38 feet in length and is equipped with three slide-out sections, which expand the already impressive floor space. The home is based on a triple-axle trailer, and weighs around 20,000 lb, making it quite a hefty tiny home. It will have to be delivered and isnt the best fit for regular towing. The tiny house is finished in hardwearing metal siding and is topped off with a metal roof.Designer: Rover Tiny HomesThe Cortes tiny home features three manually operated slide-out sections, also known as bump-outs, as mentioned before. To extend these sections, a hand crank is used to push them out. Since the house isnt supposed to be moved around a lot, this manual operation wont be much of an inconvenience.Once the sections have been expanded, the total floor space increases quite a bit from 304 square feet to 374 square feet. This expanded space benefits the living room and bedrooms. The living room is filled with natural light thanks to some generous glazing. It includes a comfortable sofa and additional seating, making it a welcoming area for relaxation or entertaining guests.The bedrooms are located on the ground floor, and they offer ample headroom, allowing residents to stand comfortably. The master bedroom features a double bed, while the second bedroom is equipped with a single bed, making it suitable for guests or children. Thr bedrooms are thoughtfully designed with built-in storage space, maximizing the functionality and organization within the limited area. These clever and nifty features make the tiny home a practical and comfortable residence, providing ample living space and storage.The kitchen is located next to the living room, and it is quite well-designed and stocked with an oven and stove, a fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, a dishwasher, and a breakfast bar for two. The space is also equipped with loads of cabinetry and storage space, making it a thoughtfully-designed and well-furnished room. The bathroom is also nearby, and it is furnished with a shower/bath, which isnt commonly seen in a tiny home. It also includes a flushing toilet and a vanity sink.Besides the main living areas and the two ground-floor bedrooms, the tiny house also includes a third, smaller bedroom, which offers additional flexibility in its use. This room is intended to be a typical loft space with a low ceiling, which creates a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The loft is accessible via a sturdy ladder located conveniently in the kitchen area, allowing for easy access without taking up much floor space. The Cortes is currently priced at around US$125,000.The post With Three Slide-Out Sections, The Living Space Of This Tiny Home Can Be Remarkably Expanded first appeared on Yanko Design.