• "The Cosby Show" star Geoffrey Owens said that he's still struggling to make money as a middle-class actor.
• Photos of Owens working at Trader Joe's went viral in 2018 and briefly led to more opportunities.
• Owens said he's still finding it difficult to "make my ends meet."

Geoffrey Owens rose to prominence playing Elvin Tibideaux on the hit sitcom "The Cosby Show." But six years after going viral for working at Trader Joe's, he's still struggling to make a living as a middle-class actor.

"I struggle every day to make my ends meet," Owens said during a recent interview with the Atlanta radio station V-103.

In August 2018, photos of Owens working at a Trader Joe's in New Jersey went viral, sparking conversations about the financial hardships of the average working actor.

Owens said that he was aware of some of job shaming comments from people, but he primarily received support and encouragement.

The actor said that for about two weeks after going viral, he gained lots of attention and recognition in his day-to-day life. It even led to job opportunities, like a role on the Tyler Perry series "The Haves and the Have Nots."

Additionally, Nicki Minaj donated $25,000 to Owens, but he told the radio station that he gave the money to charity instead of pocketing it because he wanted to earn his keep, rather than being gifted it.

Owens also said that he quit his supermarket job before the news hit in order to protect his privacy.

The actor explained that someone had already taken photos of him working at Trader Joe's and he wasn't comfortable worrying about that happening again.

"It wasn't like I quit knowing I would be making a lot of money soon or anything," Owens said. "I just felt like I wasn't going to be able to handle that kind of scrutiny and attack on my privacy."

Owens said that people have a difficult time understanding why an actor who's starred in movies and TV shows would need to work a normal job. He also said that residuals from "The Cosby Show" haven't benefitted him as much as people would assume.

"They don't understand the specifics of how my industry works," he said. "They don't understand the salaries, the pay scales."

In the years since going vial, Owens has guest starred on shows like "Power," "Power Book II: Ghost," and "The Rookie." Most recently, he appeared on the new CBS sitcom "Poppa's House" and currently stars as Mr. Santa in the holiday film "Mr. Santa: A Christmas Extravaganza."

Owens said that Trader Joe's was a "wonderful" place to be employed, and he's since gone back to work some hours.

"People have a false impression of what the average middle-class actor makes and their ability to make a living in the industry," he said. "So that's what drove me to work at Trader Joe's to begin with. But honestly, I'm not much better off now than I was then."

A rep for Owens didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

• I enjoyed teaching but became dissatisfied with the job and craved a more creative profession.
• After 12 years of writing, my second career is on the brink.
• I am considering a return to education and wonder if I ever should've left.

I liked being a teacher. After leaving the classroom at 33, people asked me if I did so because the kids were annoying. They were actually the reason I went to work.

The adults were problematic. Some teachers, administrators, and parents set poor precedents with the high schoolers in my stead, making their instruction more challenging. My teaching of English language arts wasn't having as great an impact on students as it should.

Disillusionment settled in around the time I began writing.

It seemed like nothing could stop me

At first, I blogged about movies and TV for fun, but over time, my writing improved. I grew confident I could write professionally and wanted people to appreciate my artistic expression.

In August 2012 I sent a letter of resignation to my principal, anointing myself a journalist. I thought, "If I can't make this career work by age 40, I'll go back to teaching."

I took any writing assignment I could get. Not wanting to live with my parents again, I supplemented my income by tending bar, tutoring, and managing social media accounts for various businesses.

Later, I became an editor and a content writer, realizing that "selling out" to help brand marketing efforts was an efficient way to make rent. My writing improved, and after some networking, my reportage was published by legacy outlets.

I even thrived during the pandemic. There were new opportunities at more publications and a studio focused on webinar-based marketing content production that had little trouble signing clients as companies went remote. I fully supported myself through writing.

My confidence and motivation quickly eroded with the industry's upheaval

Shortly after I moved into my own apartment, ending a five-year period with roommates, my professional life regressed.

The content studio shut down once new business dried up; mass layoffs in journalism flooded the gig market with desperate writers, while publications cut freelance budgets.

Then came inflation and writer rate cuts, which manifested with the emergence of technological developments that democratized the industry and others that eliminated the need for some writers altogether.

I'm the best writer I've ever been, but I'm having the most trouble making ends meet. My debt has swelled to five digits, and as the journalism field continues to contract, reporting likely won't be a substantial source of income for me going forward.

I contemplated whether switching careers was worth it

While I'm proud of my writing achievements, freelance journalism hasn't provided me with financial sustainability or the level of personal satisfaction I sought. The profession didn't owe me that, though, and today I'd much rather afford enjoyable experiences than score an interview with a cultural figure I admire.

That was work. It wasn't life.

Now, at nearly 46, I'm struggling to find a full-time position. Somehow, I can't even land a junior writer job in marketing, public relations, and communications, as I potentially start over again in a new field that theoretically offers more stability — though it may also have an uncertain future.

I'm broke and have no retirement fund. If I'd remained in education, that almost certainly would not be the case. Instead, I'd be 10 years away from retirement, with ample time out of the classroom to travel and do other activities I enjoy. More importantly, I would have helped many more students improve their reading and writing skills.

However, I doubt that I would have felt tremendous gratitude for such rewards. I thought I was entitled to them.

Struggling as much as I have will help me appreciate simple consistency when I turn my professional life around, and I haven't ruled out a return to teaching in order to do so.

I love writing. But maybe having a job I just liked should've been good enough.

• Kilindi is a five-star resort on the island of Zanzibar off the Tanzanian coast.
• The couples-only property features 15 private villas, and rates start at $1,220 a night for a pair.
• I spent two nights and discovered an ideal honeymoon destination.

After two nights at Kilindi, I wondered how there were any hibiscus flowers left on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania. Each day, the bright pink orbs were strewn across my king-size bed, garnished my daily coconut water, and were thoughtfully stuffed into rolled-up beach towels.

It's as if the resort didn't want me to forget I was in paradise. Even without a single flower, it would've been impossible not to notice inside Kilindi, an all-inclusive, five-star resort. Everywhere you look are reminders.

Last October, I spent two nights in one of Kilindi's villas. My stay included an open-air bathroom, butler service, and seven-course meals. (Business Insider received a media rate for the two-night stay.)

Lush gardens fill the pathways to each of the resort's 15 villas. When dusk hits, trees rustle as red colobus monkeys jump from branch to branch. If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of the nearby Indian Ocean or the erratic splash from your villa's private infinity pool.

A night at the couples-only property starts at $609 per person in a shared villa. The cost includes accommodation, meals, drinks, paddle boarding, kayaking, and laundry.

The 15-villa property was originally designed for a member of ABBA

Today, Kilindi is owned and operated by Elewana Collection, a luxury hospitality company with 16 properties across Tanzania and Kenya. Elewana acquired the property in the early 2010s, and it was previously designed for Benny Andersson of ABBA.

Kerian Day, the CEO of Elewana Collection, told BI that they acquired the resort to provide travelers with a post-safari retreat.

"You're having that adventure in nature, and it's very energetic," he said. "We felt that it was right to offer something that was complimentary to a safari and bush experience."

The first time Day saw the property, he said he was "wowed." My reaction was the same.

After spending 33 hours in airports and on planes, I landed in Zanzibar, where I had an hourlong drive to the resort. My driver navigated through roads and lively markets selling tropical fruits.

After a drive down a particularly bumpy dirt road, we arrived at Kilindi's entrance. The gates were pushed open, and I stepped out of the car into a pavilion, which serves as Kilindi's reception.

It was clear that the reception's location was intentional. It sits above the 15 villas, which allows you to soak in the entire 50-acre property.

Below are tropical gardens, and among the rich greenery are bright, whitewashed domes. Below that is a nearby fishing village, and the vibrant ocean stretches out behind that.

After filling out typical guest paperwork, I headed down a set of steps to my villa. Half of the villas sit on the ocean, and the other half are in the tropical bush.

After walking a gravel path, I reached the entrance. I met Lily, my personal butler, for the next three days.

She explained that each villa has a different design, but all feature an indoor bedroom area, an infinity pool, and an outdoor bathroom. My garden villa had three structures: the bedroom, the bathroom, and a lounge.

Together, we walked through the space's highlights. My bedroom had air conditioning, a large bed, a closet, a seating area, and a balcony. The four-poster bed was surrounded by a gauzy mosquito net and each evening, staff arrived for turndown service, transforming the room into a dreamy oasis.

Outside the bedroom was a plunge pool and a domed pavilion with a table and daybed. If guests didn't want to dine at the property's restaurant or on the beach, Lily said I could call her, place a food order, and she'd bring it up to my room for a meal in the lounge.

The third structure was the bathroom. The open-air pavilion had a pair of sinks, a toilet, and a waterfall shower with ocean views. Thanks to the surrounding gardens, there was privacy and no other villa in sight.

A beach and shared pavilion were a short walk away. It took about five minutes from my villa to either destination. At the beach, I found more lounge chairs, kayaks, snorkeling gear, and paddleboards. The beach connects to a nearby fishing village, so the area was bustling each morning with locals preparing their boats for a day on the water.

Guests can order drinks and food at the main pavilion and swim in the property's infinity pool. Dinner is served across the area: under the pavilion, near the pool, or in surrounding grassy areas.

Kilindi seemed like an ideal retreat for honeymooners and couples

For the three days, it was tempting not to leave Kilindi's property.

I hopped between my personal plunge pool and the main pavilion's infinity pool. I spent mornings paddleboarding around the shores of Zanzibar and headed to a multi-course breakfast afterward.

One evening, I had a seven-course dinner poolside. The next, I met a chef down at the beach who grilled me a seafood feast.

Beyond spa amenities, Kilindi's staff can also help arrange excursions across the island for additional fees. Zanzibar is home to Stone Town, where travelers can explore the island's historic neighborhood, which dates back to the 19th century. There are impressive diving and snorkeling spots along the island, and evenings can be spent watching the sunset on a wooden sailing dhow.

Lily was there throughout my stay, answering questions, serving food, sharing stories, and packing lunches when I finally ventured out for a morning of scuba diving.

It was a peaceful retreat for one, but I left thinking it'd be the ideal end of a safari honeymoon thanks to the hints of romance dotting the resort: No children were in sight, couples typically kept to themselves, and the entire property was designed around privacy. Activities like sunset boat rides were targeted for pairs, and the villas' plunge pools perfectly fit two.

And, of course, there were hibiscus flowers strewn across the bed each day.

• James Mangold spoke to Business Insider about his Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown."
• Mangold explained why Timothée Chalamet spoke in Dylan's voice on set even when he wasn't filming.
• He called the real Dylan's willingness to give notes on the script a "huge gift."

Writer-director James Mangold remembers exactly where he was and what he was doing five years ago when he decided to make a Bob Dylan biopic.

He was in a hotel room in Canada for the Toronto International Film Festival when he paused prepping for the world premiere of his 2019 movie "Ford v Ferrari" to take a meeting with Timothée Chalamet, then a young actor on the cusp of superstardom.

It didn't take long for Mangold to realize he'd found his Dylan. By the time Chalamet left the room, the two agreed to make a movie on the life and times of one of the most beloved singer-songwriters in American music.

Things might not have gotten off the ground as quickly as they'd hoped — COVID happened, Chalamet went and made the first "Dune" movie, Mangold made "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" — but throughout those five years, the two continued to stay in contact and made separate pilgrimages to see Dylan.

Finally, "A Complete Unknown," which depicts Dylan's rise to fame alongside Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and his controversial switch from acoustic guitar to electric in the mid-1960s, is in theaters.

Mangold is one of the few directors working today who has the skill and Hollywood studio experience to pull off a Bob Dylan biopic. After finding success with his 2005 Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," which earned its stars Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar nomination and Reese Witherspoon an Oscar win, Disney's Searchlight Pictures arm knew the project was in capable hands.

"A Complete Unknown" is not a carbon copy of "Walk the Line." While the latter delved deep into the dynamic between Johnny Cash and June Carter, "A Complete Unknown," which Mangold co-wrote with Jay Cocks ("Gangs of New York"), examines the myth-building of Dylan and how his talents elevated the 1960s folk music scene.

But just as Mangold used "Walk the Line" as a showcase for Phoenix's talents, he's done the same with Chalamet in "A Complete Unknown." From talking in Dylan's voice even when the camera wasn't rolling to doing his own singing and even growing out his fingernails (more on that later), Chalamet immersed himself in the aura of Dylan, resulting in the best performance his career so far.

Business Insider spoke to Mangold over Zoom about Chalamet's dedication to the role, whether the disappointing box office for "Dial of Destiny" has made him hesitant about developing his upcoming "Star Wars" movie, and if he thinks Bob Dylan will ever watch "A Complete Unknown."

Business Insider: You've now had sit-downs with Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan while making their biopics. Have you developed a go-to icebreaker for when you first meet legends?

James Mangold: No. I don't have one. But the good thing is the script is the icebreaker. They've invited me into their homes or their spaces because they've read a script I've written. So we have something to talk about. I mean, when I met with Bob the ice breaker was, charmingly, him waxing poetic about loving my old movie "Cop Land." So that in itself was trippy and flattering. 

Do you think Dylan will ever watch "A Complete Unknown"?

I have no idea.

What's your gut telling you?

I honestly have no idea. The reality is I spent a lot of good time with him and I felt like I got a good feeling for him. He does things when he's ready, he gets involved with things when he's ready, he makes comments when he's ready.

I sympathize with his quandary. Do I ever want to watch a movie where some dude is playing me and acting out significant moments in my life? Is that going to be nothing but pleasant or is it going to be weird as hell? So the fact that he took the time to read my script, give me notes, give me advice, chip in ideas, show me where he would make lifts in some songs, and give me the benefit of his wisdom and his insight about that period so I might even dig deeper into those scenes, that was a huge gift and all the generosity I could ever expect from him. 

Watching D.A. Pennebaker's Bob Dylan documentary, "Dont Look Back," confirmed something that's in your movie: Dylan had some gnarly fingernails.

Yeah. 

Did Timmy grow those out or were fake nails put on him?

Yeah, he was growing them. If you look earlier in the movie, there are some scenes where they aren't as long. By the end, he had some full-on Nosferatu going on. 

A lot has been written about Timmy being Method during filming, specifically speaking in the Dylan voice when you weren't shooting. I would imagine a lot of that has to do with him just not wanting to lose the voice, right?

Timmy's not the only person who's ever done that, that's true for most of the actors in my movies doing dialects, they don't just do it and fall out of it the second the scene ends because —

There's a fear of losing the voice.

Well, you're also trying to make it more and more internalized. You're trying to make it something you don't have to think about. So, if you're turning it on and off, you're kind of making yourself hyper-aware of it. If you're just deciding to live in it, that's a whole other deal. 

Boyd Holbrook plays Johnny Cash in the movie. Was there ever a thought to call Joaquin Phoenix to see if he would do the Johnny Cash scenes?

The thought occurred to me, but then I realized he'd be 20-30 years too old to be playing the part. 

But you know movie magic, James! The hair and makeup department would have helped him look younger. 

Okay, but then what am I servicing? This kind of meta-movie universe stuff that has plagued us enough? I'm a big fan of making a movie and giving the public the movie. Don't try to suture the movie to another movie, just own it. Otherwise movies just become this hyper-expensive television series in which we never stop making new episodes every couple of years. 

Speaking of episodic films, you're currently developing a "Star Wars" movie. Are you less confident working on that seeing what happened with the reception for "Dial of Destiny"?

Well, "Dial of Destiny" has an 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. I mean, yes, they would have hoped it made more money, but I actually don't have a lot of shame about a movie that's liked by 87% of its fans.

The issue with "Star Wars" isn't my worrying about if there's an angry or resentful group that is somehow disappointed in what I did in "Dial of Destiny." Honestly, that's their prerogative, that's part of what makes movies great is you can think they're awesome or you can think they're terrible. I can't please everyone and I'm sorry they don't like it.

But in relation to "Star Wars," the bottom line is I don't even know if that's the next movie for me. That's something that Beau Willimon and I are working on writing and all the other tripwires and judgments along the way. I don't want to make it unless it's excellent.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

• Hanukkah means "dedication" in Hebrew.
• It's usually in December, but the dates change every year since Judaism follows a lunar calendar.
• The national menorah lit in Washington, DC, is 30 feet tall and requires a lift from a cherry picker to light.

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, takes place from December 25 through January 2 this year.

Hanukkah celebrates the victory of a small group of Jewish rebels over an enormous Greek army to defend their heritage, and a miraculously long-lasting flame that continues to serve as a symbol of hope and perseverance. 

Here are 10 facts you may not have known about Hanukkah.

Hanukkah means "dedication" in Hebrew.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem after a small Jewish army called the Maccabees reclaimed it from the Greek leader Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 164 BC.

According to tradition, while the Jews were living under the Greek empire around 167 BC, King Antiochus IV outlawed Judaism and desecrated the Holy Temple that stood in Jerusalem. A small Jewish army called the Maccabees led a rebellion against the Greeks and won.

When they returned to the Temple to relight the ritual menorah or candelabra, they found only enough oil to last one day, but it miraculously lasted eight.

Jewish people commemorate the Maccabees' victory and the miracle of the oil by lighting a menorah for eight nights and eating fried foods.

It is not a major religious holiday in the Jewish calendar.

The Books of the Maccabees are not included in the Jewish biblical canon, and the Babylonian Talmud only briefly explains the holiday's origins, citing the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days.

Other lesser-known biblical Jewish holidays, such as Sukkot and Shavuot, carry much more religious significance than Hanukkah. Still, Hanukkah became absorbed into the widespread culture of gift-giving and holiday cheer because of its proximity to Christmas.

Hanukkah usually takes place in December, but the dates change every year.

Hanukkah begins on the 25th of the Hebrew lunar month of Kislev every year, but the date in the Gregorian calendar varies.

The lunar calendar is shorter than the solar one, so an extra month is added to the Jewish calendar every two to three years to keep the holidays within certain agricultural seasons and times of year.

This year, Hanukkah began on the evening of December 25.

Hanukkah occasionally overlaps with Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Because the dates for Jewish holidays vary on the Gregorian calendar, sometimes an early Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving.

When the two holidays overlapped in 2013, the phenomenon became known as "Thanksgivukkah" complete with turkey-shaped menorahs playfully dubbed "menurkeys." The next Thanksgivukkah will take place in 2070.

In 2024, Hanukkah began on Christmas Day, another unusual overlap that has only occurred five times since 1900.

The word "menorah" actually refers to the candelabra with seven branches that was lit in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem.

The menorah lit by the Maccabees in the ancient Temple had seven branches — three on each side and one in the middle. The menorahs lit on Hanukkah today have nine branches, four candles on each side for all eight nights of the holiday, and one middle candle used to light the others.

The proper term for these nine-branched candelabras is "hanukkiot," but many people still call them "menorahs."

The White House hosts a Hanukkah reception every year.

Christmas celebrations at the White House date back to 1800, but Hanukkah wasn't acknowledged until much later.

President Jimmy Carter was the first president to recognize Hanukkah with a menorah lighting in 1979 on the Ellipse, a lawn south of the White House. President George W. Bush was the first to hold a menorah lighting inside the White House residence.

In 2022, carpenters created the first official White House menorah for the White House holiday decorations, using leftover wood from a Truman-era White House renovation circa 1950.

The national menorah is 30 feet tall and requires a cherry picker to reach high enough to light.

The secretary of the interior under Carter initially refused to issue a permit for a menorah on the White House lawn, citing the First Amendment.

Stu Eizenstat, one of Carter's advisors, argued that the permit for the national Christmas tree should also be denied on the same grounds, and the event was allowed to proceed.

Sufganiyot, or jelly doughnuts, can contain fillings other than jelly.

Jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot are a classic Hanukkah treat, but some chefs get creative with decadent toppings and fillings like chocolate or custard.

There are more traditional Hanukkah foods than just latkes and sufganiyot.

Fried foods are traditionally eaten on Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle of the long-lasting oil.

Jews of Sephardic ancestry make fried doughnut fritters called bimuelos on Hanukkah. A Ladino variation on the Spanish buneolos, they were a popular dish with Spanish Jews known as Marranos in the 15th to 17th centuries, according to My Jewish Learning.

Dreidels — spinning tops with Hebrew letters on them used to play a Hanukkah game — contain different letters depending on where you are in the world.

"Dreidel" is Yiddish for "spinning top." It has four sides, each with a different Hebrew letter. Players start with a supply of coins, chocolate or otherwise, and take turns spinning. Depending on which letter the top lands on, they put a coin in the middle, skip their turn, win half of the coins, or take home the entire pot.

The four letters on a dreidel each stand for a Hebrew word. Outside Israel, the letters represent a sentence that means "a great miracle happened there." In Israel, the last letter is changed, altering the meaning to "a great miracle happened here."

• I tried over 15 AI tools and features this year with a range of different uses.
• Google's AI Overviews is my favorite feature because it helps me find quick answers.
• NotebookLM's Audio Overviews is entertaining and useful for learning about a new topic.

As companies raced to scale AI this year, consumers were met with many AI product announcements — more than anyone could easily track.

The silver lining is that many of these tools are free to try, allowing people to explore how they might be able to apply the technology.

This year, I tried more than 15 AI tools and features ranging from chatbots to virtual shopping assistants and smart mirrors. The variety is an indication of just how widespread AI is becoming and how various industries are integrating it into products.

I found many tools impressive at first, but as the novelty of most of them wore off, I didn't become a regular user.

A few made a lasting impression, though — tools I could seamlessly integrate into my daily routine. Here are my top five, ranked in order of how often I use them.

1. AI Overviews

AI Overviews is a tool I use almost every day. I like that it enhances the search experience without making me open another application.

AI Overviews gives me the TLDR without me having to ask for it. It's especially helpful when I'm looking for a short answer, like contact info for a company or the release date of a product. Before AI Overviews, I had to dig through different pages to find the small bit of information I was looking for. AI Overviews not only brings it to the top of my search, but it also provides source links so I can fact-check.

2. NotebookLM's Audio Overview

Google has nailed down the concept of personalized AI with its Audio Overview feature. Powered by the Gemini 1.5 large language model, NotebookLM's "Deep Dive" conversation allows users to generate a podcast featuring two AI hosts. The roughly 10-minute discussion is based on material you upload, such as articles, YouTube links, and documents.

While I'm an avid podcast listener, I like the idea of curating an episode with sources that I upload. I often use this tool as a supplement when learning about a new topic or as inspiration if I need to present information in a conversational way.

NotebookLM also creates other content based on the sources you upload, including study guides, briefing documents, and fact sheets. I don't use these tools quite as often, but if I were still in school, I could see these features being more helpful.

3. ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode

I love the conversational element of speaking with ChatGPT, and it never fails to impress an audience when I use it. I have had family members go back and forth with it for 15 minutes just for their entertainment.

I don't use ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode to get quick answers, but it serves its purpose when I have a complicated inquiry or simply don't want to type a whole paragraph. The feature sounds shockingly human-like, and it's usually accurate, although it doesn't provide the level of detail the chatbot might provide in a written response.

4. Otter.ai

Otter.ai is an AI transcription service. The free version provides users with 300 monthly minutes and the ability to transcribe 30 minutes at a time. In addition to its high level of accuracy, it generates a summary of the recording and provides action items and an outline.

The ability to record and transcribe in real time has helped me be more efficient. Rather than sift through hours of recordings and search for a keyword in every file, you can also ask Otter.ai's chatbot to find when a certain topic was discussed.

Amazon's Rufus

I referred to Amazon's AI shopping assistant Rufus as a "game changer" when I tried it out in July — and that still holds true. I use Rufus almost every time I open Amazon. It has helped me make purchasing decisions on mirrors, fitness trackers, espresso machines, and even books. It's not perfect, and it's not as useful as ChatGPT or Gemini for everyday use, but it definitely provides useful information and summarizes reviews. It also features suggested prompts on the product page.

I recently started using Rufus to help me find items from my purchase history. I share my Amazon Prime account with my family, and our order history is flooded with different products. If I'm checking on an item or want to reorder a product, I ask Rufus about it instead of scrolling through pages of orders.

• 2024 saw the premiere — and return — of tons of TV shows, but critics liked some more than others.
• Reviewers weren't that impressed by popular shows like "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."
• However, the third season of "The Bear" was one of the highest-rated shows of the year.

From top-rated dramas to new takes on popular franchises, there were plenty of TV shows to watch this year. However, not every series was a top choice among critics.

Here are 18 of the best and worst TV shows of 2024, according to critics.

"Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" garnered mixed reactions from critics. 

Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%

Summary: This drama anthology recounts the 1989 murders of Jose (Javier Bardem) and Kitty Menendez (Chloë Sevigny) at the hands of their sons, Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch).

Some critics didn't love the second installment of Ryan Murphy's "Monsters" anthology series, and many thought the show was too sensationalized.

"'Monsters' proves itself capable of confronting a complex case with sensitivity — which makes its increasing sensationalism and salaciousness all the more frustrating," critic Dan Einav wrote in a review for the Financial Times.

Critics were underwhelmed by the spy thriller "The Veil."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 54%

Summary: A suspected terrorist, Adilah El Idrissi (Yumna Marwan), and spy Imogen Salter (Elisabeth Moss) form an uneasy alliance as they journey around the globe.

Many critics were bored by what was advertised as an exciting, dramatic thriller.

"It's an intriguing set-up, but 'The Veil' is hobbled by poor pacing, a lack of originality, and a particularly bemusing performance by the otherwise very arresting Moss," Rohan Naahar wrote for The Indian Express.

Season four of "The Umbrella Academy" was a letdown for a lot of critics.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 55%

Summary: In the fourth and final season of the science-fiction series "The Umbrella Academy," the Hargreeves siblings find themselves in an alternate timeline.

Even critics who enjoyed the series found the finale to be disappointing.

"It felt disjointed and rushed, and I thought the ending was, at best, confusing, at worst, anticlimactic," Valerie Anne wrote for Autostraddle.

"The Perfect Couple" had a ton of star power — but a mediocre reception. 

Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%

Summary: Based on the book by Elin Hilderbrand, "The Perfect Couple" follows a family during a wedding weekend in Nantucket that's seemingly idyllic — until things take a grisly turn.

Although a few reviewers found "The Perfect Couple" to be a fun guilty pleasure, the fairly predictable show had a largely mixed reaction from critics.

"… There are way too many superfluous subplots, digressions, red herrings, and narrative dead ends," Robert W. Butler wrote for Butler's Cinema Scene. "For much of the series I felt I was treading water … getting in my exercise but going nowhere."

The prequel series "Dune: Prophecy" didn't reach the same heights as the movies.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 70%

Summary: Set 10,000 years before the events of "Dune" (2021) and "Dune: Part Two" (2024), this prequel series details the origins of the Bene Gesserit, an all-female order.

Although critics noted the high production quality of "Dune: Prophecy," many said the show had fits and starts before it found its rhythm.

"'Dune: Prophecy' is a visually impressive and obviously expensive production — albeit 'television impressive' as opposed to 'cinema impressive' — that despite its atrocious start did turn things around," Karl Puschmann wrote for The New Zealand Herald.

The TV adaptation of "Ted" took some critics by surprise. 

Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%

Summary: Set as a prequel to "Ted" (2012), this series follows 16-year-old John Bennett (Max Burkholder) as he navigates high school with his foulmouthed teddy bear, Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane), by his side.

Although it didn't earn rave reviews across the board, many critics said they enjoyed the series more than they expected to.

"The talking teddy bear show? Yeah. I don't know what to tell you, but it's really funny, weirdly progressive for a Seth MacFarlane show, and unexpectedly touching," Dustin Rowles wrote for Pajiba.

"House of the Dragon" saw slightly-less-favorable reviews in its second season.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%

Summary: In the second season of the "Game of Thrones" prequel, the power struggle between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) continues with deadly consequences.

The show's Rotten Tomatoes score dipped slightly from its first season, with some reviewers criticizing the writers for significantly slowing down the story's pace.

"The satisfactory direction of two character arcs, the forging of new alliances, dragons and riders set against the mandatory striking production values, somewhat offset the disappointing absence of massive, jolly battles," Mini Anthikad Chhibber wrote for The Hindu.

Critics thought "Agatha All Along" set itself apart from the rest of the Marvel universe. 

Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%

Summary: Set three years after the events of "WandaVision," this Marvel series follows Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) as she attempts to reclaim her powers, with an aspiring magic user (Joe Locke) and other unlikely allies tagging along for the ride.

After over 15 years of Marvel releases on the big and small screens, some critics felt content overload. However, "Agatha All Along" leaned into its own unique charm and was received as a refreshing new addition to the franchise.

"As a part of the MCU, this series demonstrates that Marvel can do serious and considered and that with the right team, the most minor of characters can have an important role in the ongoing narrative arc of the Cinematic Universe," Anne-Louise Fortune wrote for Starburst magazine.

The thriller "Sweetpea" earned positive reviews from critics.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

Summary: Rhiannon (Ella Purnell) leads an unassuming life as an assistant at a local newspaper. However, when her father dies, a series of events change the entire trajectory of her life.

Many critics were taken aback by the show's dark comedy, saying it packed a pretty hefty punch.

"With the police investigation getting dangerously close to discovering the truth, 'Sweetpea' quickly becomes a hugely entertaining watch with a fierce feminist edge," Andrew Murray wrote for The Upcoming.

Critics said the third season of "Bridgerton" followed the same familiar formula. 

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

Summary: Set in Regency-era London, the third season of the romantic drama follows Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) as she longs for her friendship with Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) to deepen into something more.

Many critics agreed the romance and tension of "Bridgerton" had become rather predictable — but for a cozy British drama, that wasn't necessarily bad.

"A 'Bridgerton' series should be able to do both: embrace ensemble storytelling while also achieving the full satisfaction and painstaking structural balance of a romance novel," Kathryn VanArendonk wrote for Vulture. "Season three does not pull this off, but 'Bridgerton' remains too much fun to consider breaking up with anytime soon."

Critics likened "St. Denis Medical" to comedies like "The Office" and "Superstore."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

Summary: In this mockumentary sitcom, a staff of workaholic doctors, nurses, and cocky surgeons try to get through their shifts and treat patients at an underfunded hospital.

Cocreated by "Superstore" showrunner Justin Spitzer — who was also a writer on the beloved sitcom "The Office" — "St. Denis Medical" was warmly received by critics who were looking for another workplace comedy to fill their TV needs.

"… 'St. Denis' has a lot of potential," Kelly Lawler wrote for USA Today, adding: "It fulfills a need for a smart broadcast sitcom this season."

Season three of "The Bear" was a critical low for the series, but it was still one of the top shows of the year.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Summary: In the third season of the dramatic series, chef Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and his team battle their personal struggles as they fight to keep their business afloat.

After stellar first and second seasons — rated 100% and 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively — the Chicago-centered series took a small dip in ratings but still emerged as one of the year's biggest shows.

"It's not quite Richie's epic rendition of Taylor Swift's 'Love Story' in 'Forks,' but season three still packs enough of a punch to keep us invested — and even enthralled in bits," Gautam Sunder wrote for The Hindu.

Critics loved the lead characters' infectious chemistry in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Summary: Two strangers (Donald Glover and Maya Erskine) go undercover as a married couple, John and Jane Smith, as they complete secret missions for a shadowy organization.

Praise for "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" led to a season two renewal. Still, the same stars may not return — which is unfortunate since many critics cited Glover and Erskine as highlights of the show.

"While the show may pull you in with the action or grandeur (including some absolutely killer guest stars) that accessorizes the story, the deep exploration of two people navigating a relationship under high-pressure circumstances is what will get you to stay," Hayley Croke wrote for Loud and Clear.

"Fallout" was a well-received adaptation of a beloved video-game series. 

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

Summary: In the postapocalyptic future, vault dweller Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) ventures into a nuclear wasteland to rescue her kidnapped father (Kyle MacLachlan).

Critics said shows like "Fallout" prove that video-game adaptations can be ambitious, rewarding — and ultimately — fun.

"'Fallout' has just enough guts and gore to not be for everyone, but whether you know the games or not, this television series welcomes everyone with open arms and a knife ready to plunge into your back," Sarah Marrs wrote for Lainey Gossip.

The success of "Nobody Wants This" instantly led to a series renewal. 

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

Summary: Joanne (Kristen Bell) cohosts a sex-and-dating podcast with her sister. Noah (Adam Brody) is a freshly single rabbi. After a chance encounter, the two feel an overpowering connection.

Critics were charmed by the romantic comedy, which begged to be binged.

In a review for Film Authority, Eddie Harrison wrote that the show "should work for just about everybody; this deft, supple story suddenly makes situation comedy look like the easiest thing to do, at a time when there really hasn't been a good one for years."

Critics called "English Teacher" a winning classroom comedy.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

Summary: English teacher Evan Marquez (Brian Jordan Alvarez) navigates the high-wire of modern high-school politics after a parent complains about him.

Bolstered by a lovable ensemble cast and Alvarez's distinctive brand of humor, "English Teacher" received a near-perfect reception from critics.

"'English Teacher' obviously has room to grow, but it makes a terrific entrance and reminds us that the comedy is television's most pliable genre," Craig Mathieson wrote for The Age.

"Shōgun" earned rave reviews and 18 Emmy wins. 

Rotten Tomatoes score: 99%

Summary: In 1600, worlds collide when English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) becomes shipwrecked in Japan and crosses paths with Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada).

"Shōgun" earned stellar reviews and even took a victory lap in the awards-show circuit when it became the first non-English-language series to win an Emmy for outstanding drama series.

"… In a world this massive, there's much to find fascinating, and audiences are sure to connect with many facets of its multidimensional historical saga," Abe Friedtanzer wrote for Cinema Daily US.

The fourth season of "Abbott Elementary" earned a perfect grade from critics.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

Summary: Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) and her fellow Willard R. Abbott Elementary School teachers navigate a series of challenges when a luxury golf course pops up in their neighborhood.

In its fourth season, "Abbott Elementary" continued to charm critics with its lovable ensemble cast, poignant writing, and relatable storylines.

"Overall, the season four premiere proves 'Abbott Elementary' to be as funny and feel-good as ever, cementing its place at the top of sitcoms, and indeed–all, currently airing shows, regardless of genre," Joshua Harris wrote for Paste magazine.

• OpenAI is the startup behind the viral AI chatbot ChatGPT, but the company has other AI products.
• DALL-E creates images based on detailed text descriptions and Sora creates videos.
• Whisper is a speech-recognition model that can transcribe and translate audio from many languages.

ChatGPT quickly went viral after it was released in November 2022. 

The tool has generated controversy and even kicked off a race among large tech companies like Google and Meta to develop their own, more powerful AI tools. OpenAI now has a $13 billion partnership with Microsoft and the tech giant has integrated GPT-4o into Copilot and the Azure AI cloud suite.

However, the startup behind it, OpenAI, has other AI products, too — and it recently made its AI video-generator Sora available to users. Take a look at some of the startup's other AI products.

DALL-E 

Just months before ChatGPT launched, OpenAI removed the waitlist for its generative AI art generator, DALL-E. It quickly grew to over 1.5 million daily users by September 2022, the company wrote in a blog post. The tool — which quickly creates imaginative and detailed artwork via a text prompt — sparked controversy among artists when it came out, who debated what DALL-E and other AI art generators like it could mean for people in creative jobs.

Since DALL-E launched, OpenAI released DALL-E 2 and DALL-E 3. The latest upgrade, DALL-E 3 understands more nuance and detail than previous versions, the company said.

The AI art generator creates original images called "generations" from detailed text prompts input by a person. You can write detailed prompts such as the one above — "astronaut fish swimming in an ocean in outer space, digital art" — and specify an art style or even reference a specific artist like Vincent Van Gogh.

You can also edit "generations" with the tool using one of the credits the program gives you each month, and upload your own photos to create images.

Whisper

Whisper is an automatic speech recognition model that transcribes speech to text and can identify and translate multiple languages to English. The model can transcribe in multiple languages too. 

The system was trained on 680,000 hours of multilingual and multitask supervised data collected from the internet, according to OpenAI.

In examples on its product page, Whisper transcribes an almost 30-second long audio of quick-spoken text, a clip of a K-pop song, an audio clip of spoken French, and an audio clip of someone speaking with a strong accent.

Whisper is now used in a number of industries including healthcare. Recently, an Associated Press report revealed that the technology is prone to hallucinations that include comments about race and violent rhetoric, which could pose problems if it's used in medical settings.

Codex

Codex is an AI system that translates natural language into code. OpenAI says Codex is "most capable" in Python, but is also proficient in over a dozen coding languages like JavaScript and Swift. 

The model can interpret simple commands input by a user. OpenAI says Codex is a "general-purpose programming model," which means it can be used for "essentially any programming task," although its results can vary. OpenAI said it's successfully used Codex "for transpilation, explaining code, and refactoring code."

OpenAI has some examples of how Codex works, including using the model to program a space-themed game and giving a computer spoken commands to edit a Word document.

Sora

OpenAI announced during its "Shipmas" livestream on December 9 that it would launch its AI video generator Sora to the public after making it available to a limited group of artists and creators in February. 

Sora can generate up to 20-second videos from written instructions. The tool can also complete a scene and extend existing videos by filling in missing frames.

The company showed off the new product and its various features, including the Explore page, which is a feed of videos shared by the Sora community. It also demonstrated various style presets for the videos like pastel symmetry, film noir, and balloon world.

The company said in a blog post that the product "may struggle to simulate the physics of a complex scene," as well as with depicting events that happen over time. It may also mix up left and right, the company said.

While the tool already made a strong impression on some in Hollywood, the tool's product designer said in the demonstration that Sora wasn't going to create feature films at the click of a button. Rather, the employee said the tool was moreso "an extension of the creator who's behind it."

API tools

OpenAI also has a set of tools geared toward developers. Its flagship reasoning models include o1, o1-mini, and the soon-to-be-released o3 and 03-mini models. OpenAI also has GPT models, including GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini. OpenAI offers Chat Completions API, Assistants API, Batch API, and Realtime API. Users can explore models and APIs in OpenAI's Playground without writing code. According to the company website, three million developers are building with its tools.

• This is the busiest time of year for returning holiday gifts.
• Retailers from Amazon to L.L. Bean have adopted a range of return policies.
• Most shoppers consider whether they can make free returns when deciding where to shop.

That unwanted kitchen gadget or too-big sweater someone gave you over the holidays represents a growing problem for retailers.

With the holiday shopping season over, retailers now face return requests from customers at the fastest pace of the year. The days between December 26 and 28 are the busiest for returns, with up to three times more than usual, payments platform Lightspeed Commerce found in a review of returns data collected over the last two years.

The amount of stuff that gets returned has been growing each year, too.

Marcus Shen, the CEO of B-Stock, which resells returned items and other excess merchandise, told Business Insider that his company has seen the volume of returns that it processes grow over the last few years. Some of the most-returned items include clothing, electronics, and toys, Shen said.

The share of goods returned to retailers is expected to reach almost 17% and be worth $890 billion this year, a report from the National Retail Federation, or NRF, found earlier this month. In 2019, it was about 8%.

The growth of e-commerce — and easy return policies at many retailers — has contributed to that explosion of returns, Shen said. Some shoppers even plan on making returns from the start with strategies like bracketing, which is buying multiple sizes or colors of an item with the intent to keep just one and return the others.

"I think that a lot of these very consumer-friendly policies are really a big driver here," Shen said.

Returns represent extra costs for the stores that handle them, whether it's the cost of shipping or marking down the price of the returned item when reselling it.

Many companies try to trim the costs of returns by offering customers incentives to use less costly methods. Earlier this year, for example, Amazon offered customers discounts on groceries if they stopped by an Amazon Fresh store to make a return.

Many retailers offer at least one free way to return a purchase, which often involves customers dropping their return off at a store or other physical location. That usually saves the retailer the cost of shipping the item from a customer's home to a processing center.

Many have also added incentives — or penalties — meant to steer customers toward those options.

Outdoor retailer REI, for instance, recently banned some customers who made frequent returns from doing so in the future. The action targeted a group of customers that had an average return rate of 79% on purchases, REI told ABC in November.

Amazon took a different approach with one of its policies, which tries to preempt returns entirely by letting shoppers on its website know when a product is frequently returned.

Other companies, such as L.L. Bean and GameStop, assess a fee of less than $10 in order to mail something back to them.

"Retailers are responding by investing in a variety of innovative returns options," the NRF said in its report. "But, at the same time, they are facing growing costs for managing and processing returns."

The NRF's report found that 76% of shoppers decide where to shop based on whether the retailer offers free returns.

"Given the priority shoppers place on free returns, retailers have to walk a fine line in implementing these policies," the NRF said in its report.

At the same time, retailers are paying more attention to controlling the costs of processing returns, Shen told BI.

Getting merchandise back to retailers is only part of the challenge: Once a retailer has the item, it has to decide whether to write it off completely or resell it at a discount, either to its own customers or through companies like Shen's.

"It's cash that's sitting on the floor of a warehouse," he said.

• We found so much to see, do, eat, and drink while exploring Germany and Austria.
• Some of my favorite experiences were Oktoberfest in Munich and a spa day in Baden-Baden.
• As an avid hiker, I enjoyed my time in the Black Forest and the German and Austrian Alps.

My husband and I recently returned from an almost monthlong trip to Germany and Austria.

Over the span of 25 days, we climbed mountains in the Alps, drank beer at Oktoberfest, visited castles and museums in Salzburg, and drank riesling on the Rhine River.

We had so many great adventures during our time abroad, but these are things I recommend to anyone visiting the area:

Treat yourself to a spa day (or two) in Baden-Baden.

The last thing I expected to find in a German town was a Roman-Irish bath — but Baden-Baden, on the northern edge of the Black Forest, is known for just that.

We spent a day at the thermal baths of Friedrichsbad, which had warm and hot air baths, thermal steam rooms, cold and warm pools, a quiet room, a cream service, and a reading room.

It's a nude spa, though it offers two days a week where swimwear is required. At first, being naked with a bunch of strangers threw us off, but once we got past feeling awkward, it was a unique, relaxing experience.

The next day, we also visited a nearby family-friendly thermal bath with hot and cold plunges and a sauna.

If you time your trip right, go to Oktoberfest in Munich.

We planned our trip for the fall for several reasons, but going to Oktoberfest in Munich was at the top of that list.

For our day at Oktoberfest, we arrived at the fairgrounds just as they opened. This gave us all day to visit multiple beer tents and throw back pints like we were in college all over again.

But the festival is more than just beer: It has live music, fried foods, and all sorts of rides. Our day was carefree and filled with good drinks, good food, and good times.

Consider challenging yourself with a tough hike in Berchtesgaden National Park.

My husband and I love taking long hiking trips on vacation.

I recognize that climbing mountains in the German Alps is not everyone's idea of a good time, but there are plenty of more accessible hikes in Berchtesgaden National Park for all skill levels, including the stunning Wimbach Gorge.

The best hike of our trip, however, was to Germany's highest waterfall. We scaled the cliffside using tree roots as handholds and footholds, dealing with rock scrambles, fallen trees, and slippery terrain the whole way up and down.

It's not for the faint of heart, but it's the most thrilling hike we encountered in Germany.

Don't miss the Eltz and Neuschwanstein castles.

Of the many castles we explored in Germany and Austria, my favorites were Eltz and Neuschwanstein.

The former is in the Rhine region of Germany and looks like it was plucked right out of a fairy-tale. A third of it is still in use by the descendants of the family who built it, so you can't take pictures inside, but you can learn its interesting history during the tour.

Neuschwanstein is perhaps the most famous German castle — it even inspired Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. Since it's located in Bavaria, it's surrounded by dramatic scenery, including snowcapped mountains and a beautiful alpine lake.

Live out your favorite fairy-tales in the Black Forest.

If those castles aren't enough to satiate your need for fairy-tale magic, head to the Black Forest, which is said to have inspired the Brothers Grimm to come up with stories like Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, and Sleeping Beauty.

We went on multiple hikes in the Black Forest, which, despite its name, is one of the greenest places I've ever been.

The area felt lush and dramatic, with constant fog swirling around, occasionally revealing or concealing mountaintops, ancient ruins, and murky lakes.

Plus, while in the area, we got to try a hefty slice of Black Forest cake.

Take the Hungerburg funicular to the Alpenzoo — and then higher for amazing views of Innsbruck.

One of the best things we did in Austria was in Innsbruck, where we took the funicular up to the Alpenzoo (Alpine Zoo).

This zoo is built into the mountainside, so be ready for plenty of steep ascents and descents as you wander around. That's by design since it's home to animals who thrive on the mountainside. We saw bears, moose, marmots, otters, eagles, bison, ibexes, lynxes, and more.

After a few hours, we hopped back on the funicular and took it all the way to the snowy summit. Up there, we had sweeping views of Innsbruck below, which is surrounded on all sides by mountains.

Schedule time for a salt-mine tour.

We intended to hike to the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden, but it was closed due to avalanche risk while we were there. Instead, we pivoted to a tour of the nearby salt mine, and it was a great decision.

Our guided tour was excellent. We loved taking multiple fun modes of transportation throughout, including a mine train, a funicular, a boat that crossed a brine lake, and, my favorite, multiple long slides that took us deeper into the mines.

Berchtesgaden isn't the only place in the area where you can explore salt mines — Salzburg and Hallstatt also have tours.

Honestly, my list could keep going.

Looking for even more things to do in Germany and Austria? Here are a few of my honorable mentions:

• Spend an evening drinking local rieslings in Cochem while enjoying a view of the castle on the hill.
• Go to a Mozart concert in the Marble Hall of Salzburg's Mirabell Palace.
• Order schnitzel at a small mom-and-pop restaurant in Bavaria.
• Hike around Lake Gosau (near Hallstatt) and take the path that branches off to see the greenest swamp you'll ever encounter.

• The Netflix Korean-language series "Squid Game" returned for season two this week.
• The latest "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Joy to the World," is streaming on Disney+.
• Comedian Nate Bargatze has a new stand-up special on Netflix.

The year is winding down, but there are still plenty of new streaming releases to catch up on before 2025 arrives.

Netflix's wildly popular Korean-language show "Squid Game" returned three years after season one premiered and became a global phenomenon. Meanwhile "Doctor Who" fans, also known as Whovians, will rejoice in the franchise's annual Christmas special, released on Disney+ this week.

Comedy fans can check out Nate Bargatze's new stand-up special on Netflix. Those who have been keeping up with the ongoing drama surrounding the UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect, Luigi Mangione, can watch a special edition of "20/20" on Hulu.

Here's a complete rundown of all the best movies, shows, and documentaries to stream this weekend, broken down by what kind of entertainment you're looking for.

Whovians can tune into the new "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Doctor Who: Joy to the World."

The "Doctor Who" special, released on Christmas Day, follows the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) as he and a woman named Joy (Nicola Coughlan) meet at the Time Hotel and embark on a time-traveling adventure.

Streaming on: Disney+

Keep the Christmas season vibes going with "Elf."

In Jon Favreau's 2003 movie "Elf," Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a human raised by elves who experiences culture shock when he travels to New York City in search of his biological father.

Streaming on: Hulu, Max

Or another classic, "The Holiday," before it leaves Prime Video in a few days.

The iconic 2006 Nancy Meyers rom-com stars Cameron Diaz as Amanda and Kate Winslet as Iris, two heartbroken women who swap homes during the holidays and end up striking up new romances.

Streaming on: Prime Video

"Squid Game" returned for an explosive second season this week.

In season two of Netflix's breakout hit, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), known as Player 456, returns to the games and tries to end the deadly competition for good. The new season features two major plot twists, a high-stakes finale, and a tease for "Squid Game" season three, coming in 2025.

Streaming on: Netflix

Sports fans can get a behind-the-scenes look at Aaron Rodgers' comeback in "Aaron Rodgers: Enigma."

The three-episode docuseries follows Rodgers as he recovers from an Achilles heel injury, experiments with alternative medicine, and draws controversy for his stance on the COVID-19 vaccine.

Streaming on: Netflix

For sports-meets-true-crime, watch "ChiefsAholic: A Wolf in Chief's Clothing."

The documentary is based on the real-life story of Xaviar Babudar, a Kansas City Chiefs mega fan who funded his obsession through a series of bank and credit union robberies in 2022. Babudar, who was known as "ChiefsAholic," was charged with 19 counts in 2023.

Streaming on: Prime Video

There's already a primetime special about Luigi Mangione, called "Manhunt: Luigi Mangione and the CEO Murder — A Special Edition of 20/20."

The one-hour special chronicles the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a sidewalk in Manhattan in early December and unpacks the public's fascination with Luigi Mangione, who was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a five-day hunt for the killer.

The primetime special hit Hulu on December 20, after premiering on ABC the night prior. Mangione pleaded not guilty to state and federal murder charges.

Streaming on: Hulu

The 2022 psychological thriller "Alice, Darling" starring Anna Kendrick arrives on Hulu on Saturday.

Anna Kendrick portrays the titular Alice, a woman who goes on a vacation with two friends amid issues with her psychologically abusive boyfriend.

Streaming on: Hulu

For a romantic drama, check out "Culpa Tuya."

"Culpa Tuya" (which translates to "Your Fault") is the sequel to 2023 movie "Culpa Mia" ("My Fault") and continues the love story between the characters Nick (Gabriel Guevara) and Noah (Nicole Wallace).

The YA films are based on Mercedes Ron's New York Times best-selling book trilogy "Culpables."

Streaming on: Prime Video

For laughs, watch the new comedy special "Your Friend, Nate Bargatze."

After hosting "Saturday Night Live" for the second time and performing at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival earlier this year, stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze released this third comedy special on Netflix.

Streaming on: Netflix

Beyoncé's Christmas Day NFL halftime show, dubbed "Beyoncé Bowl," was released on Friday as a stand-alone special.

After experiencing livestreaming difficulties during the Mike Tyson and Jake Paul boxing match, Netflix was prepared for the Beyhive turnout for Beyoncé's halftime performance at the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game on Wednesday. The Texas native performed an array of tracks from her country album "Cowboy Carter" and brought out surprise guests including her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, Post Malone, and Shaboozey.

In case you missed her performance or want to watch it over and over again, "Beyoncé Bowl" is now available as a stand-alone special on the streamer.

Streaming on: Netflix

• It was a busy year for M&A in the creator economy.
• Startups in influencer marketing, talent management, and podcasting became acquisition targets.
• Companies also sought to expand globally by acquiring creator startups in new regions.

Dozens of merger and acquisition deals were signed between companies across the creator economy in 2024.

Two M&A experts told Business Insider that one of the most impactful sales was Publicis Groupe's purchase of Influential for $500 million, signaling that one of the world's largest ad holding companies viewed influencer marketing as a must-have offering.

"If influencers are the new gatekeepers and authority within these digital channels, then they're going to command audiences," Chris Erwin, the founder of the M&A advisory firm RockWater, told BI. "Advertising revenue dollars are going to flow towards them."

Goldman Sachs analysts highlighted influencer-marketing spending as a primary driver of growth in the creator economy when they valued the industry at $250 billion last year.

A few other clear trends emerged this year around deals. Outside influencer marketing, popular acquisition targets included talent-management firms and podcasting tech. Non-US firms also pushed to build out creator businesses globally through purchases.

BI combed through data from PitchBook and Crunchbase and connected with M&A insiders to understand some of the key deals in 2024. Here are four takeaways:

1. Influencer marketing was a big focus among acquirers in 2024. The category has a proven business model compared with some of the more experimental parts of the industry. Beyond Publicis' deal with Influential, other large advertising brands brought in influencer expertise through acquisitions.

A few noteworthy deals in this category:

• The marketing firm Stagwell announced in July that it had acquired the influencer-marketing agency Leaders.
• The Canadian talent agency Dulcedo Group acquired the influencer-marketing app Node in July.

2. The creator economy is maturing globally. Several companies made strategic deals across markets like India, Japan, and Australia. Publicis highlighted Influential's global reach in its announcement about the deal.
   
   "Creators really can be global from day one," said Ollie Forsyth, a former senior manager at the investment firm Antler who now writes the newsletter New Economies. He pointed to technologies like AI-powered audio-dubbing and video-editing tools as helping creators distribute content to a global audience.

A few noteworthy deals in this category:

• The French influencer firm Ykone announced in March that it had acquired a majority stake in the Indian influencer-marketing firm Barcode to build a business in the Indian influencer market.
• The Finnish influencer firm Boksi announced in February that it had acquired the German influencer-marketing company The Influencer GmbH to grow its business in Central Europe.

3. Podcasting is a hot category. As platforms like YouTube and Spotify drive listenership (and viewership) of longer content, advertisers are paying close attention. EMARKETER expects US ad spend for podcasts to hit $2.28 billion this year, a roughly 16% increase from 2023. Meanwhile, M&A deals in the category focused on podcasting tech and IP in 2024.
   
   "It's a publisher play of rolling up these popular networks of shows," said James Creech, an M&A advisor through Quartermast Advisors who founded Creator Economy Jobs. "I think that'll continue because you're likely to see a handful of winners in this space."

A few noteworthy deals in this category:

• Triton Digital said in March that it had acquired the podcasting-adtech firm Sounder to boost its targeting and brand-safety tech.
• Night announced in April that it had acquired The Roost, a podcast network that includes shows from Theo Von and other popular creators.

4. Creator-focused talent firms are continuing to consolidate. There's no shortage of talent managers and agencies looking to represent creators. But a smaller number are prepared to support the businesses of top creators who aim to book deals, exclusive podcast agreements, and Hollywood roles.

A few noteworthy deals in this category:

• The talent-management firm Wasserman announced in September that it had acquired the talent-management agency Long Haul to grow its gaming and sports creator business.
• The influencer-marketing and creator talent company Whalar announced in October it had acquired the influencer-management firm Sixteenth.

Looking ahead to 2025

Erwin and Creech are expecting the next year to be fruitful for creator-economy companies.

"We're going to see more activity next year," Creech said.

The two M&A advisors are watching closely whether consumer-packaged-goods companies will continue to shop for creator-owned businesses, such as Hershey's purchase of Maxx Chewning's Sour Strips brand in 2024.

Companies that raised new funding in 2024 may also signal where M&A activity is heading next in the industry. Creator startups with offerings in artificial intelligence, newsletter tech, influencer marketing, and e-commerce drew in investor dollars in the past year. Among the big rounds were the creator-marketing platform Agentio, the newsletter app Beehiiv, the social shopping app Flip, and the AI firm ElevenLabs. Startups flush with funding could become acquirers in 2025.

"If you are looking to sell or to raise capital now, it's a good time to do it," Erwin said.

• Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciquerra blamed critics for the failure of "Kraven" and "Madame Web."
• He said that the recent Marvel movies were "crucified" by the press.
• Vinciquerra said that the studio needs to "rethink" how they continue the franchise.

Tony Vinciquerra, the Sony Pictures CEO, said critics are to blame for the box office failure of its recent Marvel movies "Kraven the Hunter" and "Madame Web."

Sony has owned the rights to Spider-Man and other superhero characters since buying them from Marvel in the 1990s. In 2017, Sony launched a new series of Marvel movies, a rival to Disney's popular Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Some have done pretty well, like the "Venom" trilogy, which stars Tom Hardy as the titular antihero and has collectively made some $1.8 billion, according to TheNumbers.com.

Others less so, particularly "Madame Web" and "Kraven the Hunter," released in February and December respectively.

According to Box Office Mojo, "Madame Web" just broke $100 million worldwide, and "Kraven the Hunter" has made $43 million at the time of writing.

"Madame Web" had a budget of $80 million per Forbes, and Variety reported that "Kraven the Hunter" had a budget of more than $100 million, marking both as uninspiring returns on investment.

Speaking to The Los Angeles Times, Vinciquerra described "Kraven" as "the worst launch" that Sony has had since starting its Marvel franchise.

He said: "So that didn't work out very well, which I still don't understand, because the film is not a bad film."

"Kraven" currently has a 17% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Vinciquerra went on to defend "Madame Web," which received a lowly 11% score.

He said: "'Madame Web' underperformed in the theaters because the press just crucified it. It was not a bad film, and it did great on Netflix. For some reason, the press decided that they didn't want us making these films out of 'Kraven' and 'Madame Web,' and the critics just destroyed them."

"They also did it with 'Venom,' but the audience loved 'Venom' and made 'Venom' a massive hit. These are not terrible films. They were just destroyed by the critics in the press, for some reason," he said.

The movies are origin stories for Spider-Man characters, and are distinct from the Tom Holland-led "Spider-Man" movies in the Disney Marvel franchise.

"Madame Web" was met with overwhelming criticism on its release. The Daily Telegraph's Robbie Collin said: "What an unreservedly hopeless film this is: a sort of two-hour explosion in a boringness factory, in which the forces of dullness and stupidity combine in new and infinitely perturbing ways."

The Wall Street Journal's Zachary Sprang tore into "Kraven" and wrote: "About as exciting as the board meeting from which it surely sprang."

Vinciquerra also suggested that the studio might need a new strategy in light of the persistently poor critical showing.

He said: "I do think we need to rethink it, just because it's snake-bitten. If we put another one out, it's going to get destroyed, no matter how good or bad it is."

For now, Sony hasn't announced its next live-action Marvel movie, although it's soon to release an animated Spider-Man sequel, "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse."

• Luxury powerhouses struggled in 2024 as they faced macroeconomic headwinds.
• The stock price of Kering, the owner of Gucci, has fallen more than 40% this year.
• Two luxury companies, Hermès and Richemont, managed to buck the trend.

2024 was a bad year for luxury.

Many of the world's largest luxury companies saw their share prices decline this year as the market for high-end goods experienced a brutal slowdown.

"50 million luxury consumers have either opted out of the luxury goods market or been forced out of it in the last two years," Claudia D'Arpizio, who leads Bain's global luxury goods and fashion practice, wrote in a report last month.

"The negative environment predicted by many in the fashion industry this time a year ago has now materialized," a McKinsey report said earlier this year.

One chart — featuring some of the luxury's most notable companies — shows just how rough 2024 was through mid-December.

Only two companies — Hermès and Richemont, the parent company of Cartier and Van Cleef — managed to beat the STOXX Europe 600, an index that represents a mix of European stocks, this year.

Meanwhile, share prices for LVMH — the largest of the luxury conglomerates and owner of brands like Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior — and Burberry have fallen this year. (Prada and Moncler also slipped, though aren't pictured here.)

Kering, the company behind Balenciaga and Saint Laurent, fared the worst. Its stock price dropped more than 40% this year as its headline brand, Gucci, floundered.

While certain high-end lines suffered from specific pitfalls — Burberry priced their goods too high, Gucci spread itself too thin — the economy at large was to blame for a number of luxury's troubles.

"Many are navigating a momentary crisis, driven by macroeconomic pressures and a polarized customer base," Claudia D'Arpizio, who leads Bain's global luxury goods and fashion practice, wrote in a report.

An economic crisis in China, where real estate sales slumped and unemployment rose, meant a consistent group of luxury shoppers reined in their spending. In America, inflation squeezed the aspirational shoppers who had rushed to buy expensive goods during the post-pandemic spending boom. And in Europe, political uncertainty led consumers to hold off on big purchases.

2025 may be brighter for high-end companies, however.

HSBC analysts wrote in a December note that they believe the third quarter will be the "trough for the sector." Meantime, EMARKETER, a sister company to Business Insider, predicts that personal luxury retail sales will grow 4.1% next year — up from a low of 3.2% this year.

• An Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed after sustaining damage over Russia, killing 38.
• The plane was likely hit by Russian air defense before the crash, BI reported Thursday.
• Several airlines are canceling flights to Russia, citing passenger safety and risks.

Airlines are avoiding Russian airspace after an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed on Wednesday, killing 38 passengers.

The Embraer 190 jet was bound for Russia from Azerbaijan — but veered off course after sustaining some kind of damage over Russia.

It managed to reach Aktau airport in Kazakhstan before crash-landing. 29 passengers survived.

The reason for the crash remains unknown. Business Insider reported Thursday, citing reports from Euronews and The New York Times, that Azerbaijani investigators believed Russia shot the plane down, a view supported by many analysts.

Several airlines suspended flights to Russia since the crash.

Azerbaijan Airlines said it would suspend flights to 10 Russian cities starting Saturday, citing "physical and technical external interference."

"The suspension will remain in effect until the completion of the final investigation," it said.

El Al, Israel's flagship carrier, said in a Telegram post on Thursday that it was suspending all flights on the Tel Aviv-Moscow route for this week due to the events in Russia's airspace.

It said it would carry out a new assessment next week on whether the route would be resumed.

Flydubai, an Emirati low-cost carrier, said it would suspend flights from Sochi in Russia until January 2 inclusive and from Mineralnye Vody until January 3, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia reported on Friday.

Qazaq Air, a Kazakh air carrier, said it was temporarily suspending flights from Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, to Yekaterinburg, Russia, from Saturday until January 27, 2025.

Western airlines generally have not operated in Russia's airspace since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, meaning they have no services to divert or cancel.

Peter Frankopan, an expert on Russian and Balkans history at Oxford University, told Business Insider that if Moscow is determined to be at fault, it will "make people nervous about ever flying over Russian airspace."

"That has significance during the war and after it is over — including for Russian revenues from overflights," he said, referring to fees paid to countries for the right to cross their airspace.

According to a Reuters analysis, Russia had spent over $12 billion in state subsidies and loans as of December 2023 to sustain its civil aviation industry since Western sanctions took effect.

• Aaron Taylor-Johnson leads "Kraven the Hunter," an origin story for the "Spider-Man" villain.
• Sony produced the movie, and it previously made all the "Spider-Man" films alongside Marvel.
• Here's every Sony Marvel movie, ranked.

When superhero fans think of Marvel movies, they tend to think of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Avengers. But Marvel Studios and Disney aren't the only ones adapting over 80 years of beloved comic book adventures.

In 1999, Sony and Columbia Pictures bought the rights to "Spider-Man" and other characters from Marvel Entertainment, which was still facing financial difficulty after filing for bankruptcy in 1996.

Fast-forward to the early 2000s, and Tobey Maguire starred in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man." Sony continued to make Marvel movies in the years that followed and even set up its own shared universe to rival the MCU.

The studio found success in bringing the alien antihero, "Venom," to the big screen with Tom Hardy playing the lead in two movies, which have raked in $1.4 billion worldwide, according to industry data provider thenumbers.com.

The most recent film, "Kraven the Hunter," tells the villain's origin story, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson starring in the title role. Here's how it stacks up against the other "Spider-Man" movies.

18. "Madame Web"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 11%

"Madame Web" is the most nonsensical Sony Marvel movie thanks to its baffling story. Ezekiel (Tahar Rahim), a man with spider-like powers, hunts a group of girls who he believes will kill him in the future. Cassandra Web (Dakota Johnson) uses her clairvoyant abilities to stop him. editing means most of Ezekiel's scenes are dubbed over, which pulls the audience out every time he speaks.

The poorly-written movie also tries to shoehorn as much Spider-Man-related lore into the plot as possible, including the birth of baby Peter Parker — which bears little influence on the adventure. It just happens. Basically, "Madame Web" is a mess.

17. "Morbius"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%

"Morbius" follows Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) as he tries to cure himself of a degenerative disease using bats from Costa Rica. Instead, he turns into a bloodthirsty vampire. While it attempts to be a comic book horror movie, "Morbius" quickly descends into a predictably boring punch-up between Leto and Matt Smith. Yawn.

16. "Kraven the Hunter"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 17%

"Kraven the Hunter" tries to replicate the success of "Venom" by pitching its lead character, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as a brutal vigilante who has no issue with dishing out bloody vengeance against those who wrong him.

The action is nothing special, though Taylor-Johnson does a decent job of carrying those sequences. The convoluted origin story tries to cram too much into its two-hour runtime, and the result is a mediocre mess.

15. "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 19%

Nicolas Cage's second time as Ghost Rider came in 2011's "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," with a completely forgettable storyline involving demons hunting a young boy. Fans have seen this plot numerous times over: a grizzled fighter protects an innocent person. It falls flat on its flaming face.

14. "Ghost Rider"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 27%

"Ghost Rider" isn't a bad film, but it is incredibly average. It's a shame because the character is completely over the top: He's a motorbike rider who turns into a flaming skeleton at night and fights demons. But it was moderately successful, earning $228 million worldwide, according to Box Offive Mojo. Cage's wacky performance shows he had fun with the role, but the film doesn't showcase how scary Ghost Rider can be like he is in the comics, which feels like a missed opportunity.

13. "Venom"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 30%

The first "Venom" movie is a strange blend of a dark, gritty superhero movie and a slapstick rom-com around journalist Brock and a gooey, Symbiote alien called Venom. It never quite finds its footing, and the outcome is a subpar comic book adventure that somehow managed to make $800,000 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Stranger things have happened.

12."Venom: The Last Dance"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 37%

"Venom: The Last Dance" is the worst of the "Venom" trilogy. It attempts to create a new big villain for Sony's growing universe with the god of the Symbiotes, Knull (Andy Serkis). But it fails to tap into anything interesting about the character from the comics because the story is pulled in so many different directions.

The messy plot sees Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) on the run from Knull's huge monsters who have been sent to kill the not-so-dynamic duo. Rushed sub-plots include: Brock and Venom running from the military, an alien-loving family looking for Area 51, and a talented scientist experimenting on the Symbiotes.

Throw in some painfully generic dialogue, and "Venom: The Last Dance" feels like someone asked an AI to make a comic book movie with the prompts: "Venom," "Tom Hardy," "rock music," and "cinematic universe."

11. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

Andrew Garfield played Parker for a second time in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." He revels in the chance to explore the hero even further as he grapples with his family's legacy. His chemistry with Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy deepens including that heartbreaking ending. It's just disappointing that, like other early "Spider-Man" movies, it tries to do too much.

This sequel is so preoccupied with setting up sequels and a spinoff that it forgets to focus on the fact that audiences fell in love with Garfield's take on both Parker and Spider-Man.

10. "Venom: Let There Be Carnage"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 57%

"Venom: Let There Be Carnage" is similar to the first film, except a piece of the Symbiote is now bonded to a depraved serial killer called Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), and they call themselves Carnage. The film's boring plot revolves around Brock (Hardy again) and Venom trying to stop Carnage from killing more people. There's not much substance to it, but it leans harder into the fun slapstick comedy between Eddie and Venom.

9. "Spider-Man 3"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 63%

"Spider-Man 3" is the mediocre ending to Sam Raimi's trilogy, starring Tobey Maguire as the titular hero. Although the film's attempt to adapt the Venom storyline is admirable, it ultimately falls short.

It tries too hard to cram in Topher Grace as Eddie Brock/Venom, Harry Osborn (James Franco) as the new Green Goblin, and Thomas Haden Church as the Sandman. Plus, the climax rushes at breakneck speed to resolve everything, making the film a disappointing end to Raimi's trilogy and Maguire's time as Spider-Man.

8. "The Amazing Spider-Man"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%

"The Amazing Spider-Man" arrived in theaters in 2012, only five years after "Spider-Man 3". The new take on the hero introduced Garfield as Parker in an edgier story that leaned closer to the "Ultimate Spider-Man" comics.

Garfield's dedicated performance and his endearing dynamic with Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy make up for the cluttered plot, which sees Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) try to turn the world into lizards to rid humanity of all illnesses.

7. "Spider-Man"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

2002's "Spider-Man" is the blueprint for every subsequent cinematic version of the iconic hero. Raimi masterfully translated the Web-Slinger from the page to the screen, complete with the will-they-won't-they dynamic with Mary-Jane Watson (Kristen Dunst). Maguire delivers a pitch-perfect dorky performance as Parker, but he also nails Spider-Man's signature quips.

The story is cheesy in places, but when the characters are that engaging, who cares? It gets bonus points for Willem Dafoe's delightfully ham-fisted Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin.

6. "Spider-Man: Far From Home"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Back in 2019, "Spider-Man: Far From Home" looked at how Parker copes with the death of his mentor, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), following the events of "Avengers: Endgame." Although it's understandable why he fails to notice that Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal) is up to no good as a new "hero" named Mysterio, it's irritating nonetheless.

He arrives in the story claiming to be from a different universe, holding all the information about a mystery unfolding around the world, and Peter barely suspects a thing.

Regardless, it is still pretty fun watching Spider-Man try to work out of his comfort zone across Europe, proving that the hero doesn't need the cityscape of New York to thrill audiences. Plus, Holland and Zendaya's adorably awkward dynamic adds a surprisingly authentic teen romance story amongst the thrilling fight sequences and plot twists.

5. "Spider-Man: Homecoming"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

"Spider-Man: Homecoming" is Tom Holland's second outing as the Wall-Crawler after his MCU introduction in "Captain America: Civil War." While most MCU movies involve end-of-the-world stakes, "Homecoming" refreshingly focuses on a smaller threat, as the hero tries to stop Michael Keaton's Vulture from selling experimental weapons to gangsters in his neighborhood. It deserves your attention for its smart third-act twist.

4. "Spider-Man: No Way Home"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

Yes, Maguire and Garfield returning to play their respective Spider-Men next to Holland in the multiverse story is an exhilarating treat. It helps that the trio has exquisite chemistry together throughout the climax. However, the plot is just an excuse to bring heroes and villains back from previous films rather than trying to tell a truly original story.

However, it manages to raise emotional stakes outside of the multiverse mcguffin, largely due to a tearjerker gut punch involving Parker's Aunt May (Marisa Tomei).

The sequel also does a great job of pushing Holland's young hero to his limits. It'll be interesting to see how Marvel and Sony carry him forward after stripping the character back to basics in the film's closing moments. Tom Holland confirmed "Spider-Man 4" starts filming in Summer 2025.

3. "Spider-Man 2"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 2" continues the franchise by exploring how Parker copes with maintaining his life and his college degree while battling a man with eight mechanical arms. Sure, it's a silly premise, but the film offers a fascinating juxtaposition between Parker's insecurities next to the villainous Doctor Octopus' (Alfred Molina) genuine desire to better the world.

Plus, Spidey's fight with Doc Ock on the subway is one of the best live-action superhero fights of all time.

2. "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" is the follow-up to 2018's "Into the Spider-Verse," and sees Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) face the realization that he was never meant to get spider-powers. It's crammed full of Easter eggs that nod to live-action "Spider-Man" movies and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The comic-inspired animation also makes each new dimension unique with different color palettes and musical cues. And that's without mentioning the fiercely elegant fight scenes. But it's Miles' conviction that he's meant to be a hero that really makes his story worth revisiting again and again.

1. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" hurls the audience into a multiverse story with numerous Spider-Men. But it does a fantastic job of weaving in a heartfelt, coming-of-age story about a young teenager, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore). He struggles to balance the weight of getting superpowers with the pressure of starting a school for talented students and making his parents proud.

Throw in its gorgeous animation style, and it's easily the best Sony Marvel movie of the last two decades.

• Militaries like the US, China, and Russia are building robot dogs to employ in security and combat operations.
• Some of these remote-controlled canines feature guns, rocket launchers, and flamethrowers
• These robotic dogs can fill a variety of jobs, from scouting to counter-drone roles.

Militaries, law enforcement, and more around the world are increasingly turning to robot dogs — which, if we're being honest, look like something straight out of a science-fiction nightmare — for a variety of missions ranging from security patrol to combat.

Robot dogs first really came on the scene in the early 2000s with Boston Dynamics' "BigDog" design. They are becoming increasingly prolific with improved designs, and they have been used in both military and security activities. In November, for instance, it was reported that robot dogs had been added to President-elect Donald Trump's security detail and were on patrol at his home in Mar-a-Lago.

Some of the remote-controlled canines are equipped with sensor systems, while others have been equipped with rifles and other weapons. One Ohio company made one with a flamethrower.

Some of these designs not only look eerily similar to real dogs but also act like them, which can be unsettling. Their emergence comes as uncrewed systems take on greater roles, from the civilian sector to the armed forces, and amid growing competition in this emerging technology space prompted by the great realization of what they could do in future wars.

Militaries have been incorporating robot dogs into operations for a few years now. They've performed scouting and security missions and explosive ordnance disposal, relying on sensing systems and advanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

By joining manned formations, the quadrupedal unmanned systems can assist their human companions and complete functions that may be too dangerous or impossible for them. But that doesn't mean some of these military robot dogs aren't a little disconcerting. It's kind of weird that they can jump, roll, and play like dogs.

In the US

Across the US military, the services are experimenting with robot dogs. The Marine Corps has tested its systems with remote assault rifles and anti-armor rocket launchers. In some cases, these robots are designed specifically for counter-drone operations — in other words, putting a drone up against another drone.

The Army has also conducted urban assault drills alongside robot dogs. In March, it deployed one of the systems in a training environment as part of Project Convergence, a series of exercises and experiments focused on future war-fighting, at Fort Irwin in California. The quadruped was there to "provide enhanced situational awareness and support for frontline soldiers, acting as their eyes and ears," the Army said.

Then, in August, the Army and its industry partners tested one armed with a service rifle as part of Fort Drum's "Operation Hard Kill," which tests counter-drone systems they're working on. The dog is remotely controlled, meaning an operator can remain a safe distance away from it while testing it.

The rifle was also enhanced with artificial intelligence, suggesting automated targeting. The Marine Corps, too, has been experimenting with AI-enabled weapons on its robot dogs.

US defense officials have long considered the development of weaponized robot dogs experimental, exploring what might be possible in future conflicts.

Efforts to adopt robot dogs really ramped up in 2020 when the Air Force began integrating robot dogs into an exercise securing an airfield against a simulated attack. Other Air Force efforts have seen robot dogs helping airmen respond to nuclear and chemical threats.

And at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, for example, autonomous canines have been assisting with base security, a first for the US military.

One video showed these drones sitting and rolling around like they were actual dogs. One of the biggest players in this space is Ghost Robotics, which develops Q-UGVs, quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles, for the US military. Ghost Robotics describes one of its Q-UGVs, Vision 60, as "a mid-sized high-endurance, agile, and durable all-weather drone for use in a broad range of unstructured urban and natural environments for defense, homeland, and enterprise applications.

In China

The US isn't alone in its robot dog research endeavors; rivals are also interested in these unusual capabilities. China's advancements with robot dogs have often mirrored US efforts and raised some concerns in Washington.

Earlier this year, Chinese state-run media showed off one of Beijing's developments in this space — a robot dog running around a testing range and shooting an automatic rifle.

Footage of the system prompted US lawmakers to raise concerns with the Pentagon on "the threat of rifle-toting robot dogs used by China."

China has also shown off its robot dogs at military exercises, including a joint one with Cambodia and other militaries last year. And at a defense trade show, a Chinese defense company, Kestrel Defense, shared footage of one of the drone systems carrying guns and smoke grenades.

In Russia

Russia, too, has been working on integrating robot dogs into its military. Its most prominent exhibition came in 2022 during a Russian army trade show, when a robot dog wrapped in an odd black coverall and carrying an anti-tank weapon walked around the exhibit.

Video footage showed the dog even acting like a real dog — stomping and spinning around as if excited and lying down. Imagine something like that on the battlefield.

At the time of the reveal, observers said that the dog looked to be a commercially available one from Chinese company Unitree, or at least included some similar parts and functions. The Russian company responsible for the system, Machine Intellect, said it's useful for transporting supplies, attacking targets, and scouting.

In actual combat

In the Ukraine war, robot dogs have seen use on the battlefield, the first known combat deployment of these machines. Built by British company Robot Alliance, the systems aren't autonomous, instead being operated by remote control. They are capable of doing many of the things other drones in Ukraine have done, including reconnaissance and attacking unsuspecting troops.

The dogs have also been useful for scouting out the insides of buildings and trenches, particularly smaller areas where operators have trouble flying an aerial drone.

"Such a dog should be in every unit," Kurt, a commander in the 28th Mechanized Brigade, said, per a post from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

• Early Walker is the founder of W&W Towing.
• He grew it into a highly profitable business that was acquired earlier this year.
• A friend has helped him learn about money management and avoiding flashiness.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Early Walker, senior vice president of government affairs at Vehicle Management Solutions. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I've been working since I was old enough to swing a hammer. My dad was an electrician and preacher, and I worked afternoons with him since grade school. When I was 9 I started my own business, mowing yards and shoveling near my family's home on the West Side of Chicago.

Despite that, I didn't think I wanted to work for myself as an adult. Instead, I took jobs in sales, and later in government, but nothing seemed to work out. My family had shown me the value of being self-employed, and I couldn't unsee it. I didn't like knowing there was a cap on my income in a traditional job, or that someone else was profiting off my work.

I realized there was big money in government contracts

Even when I was working a traditional job I was dabbling in entrepreneurship. Around the time I was 30 — 10 years ago — I was part owner of a car dealership. I got tired of paying other people to tow our vehicles, so I bought a cheap $8,000 tow truck. It was from the early 1980s and had no AC or heat, but soon other people were calling me for tows.

I wanted to quit my day job, but I had to find a reason for people to hire me and my raggedy old truck. So, I started advertising a $40 local tow. That undercut all my competition, and I was still making a profit. My schedule filled up.

I realized the real money was in municipal towing contracts. There weren't really any Black people holding those contracts, so I saw an opportunity. I started meeting with mayors, especially Black mayors, to learn about what I would need to get those lucrative contracts.

Turns out I needed a much newer truck, more tow vehicles and drivers, and a large tow lot to store vehicles. I was determined to make it work, so I took out a 20-year lease on a lot, and formally started W&W Towing.

Within 3 years, my company was turning over $1 million

Launching and scaling the business was difficult because my credit was terrible. Back in high school, my strict dad didn't let me have a cell phone. So, I'd taken out a cell phone contract that I couldn't afford, and never paid the bill.

That ruined my credit and years later it was keeping me from being approved for vehicle and business loans. As I built the business I was also rebuilding my credit. No one had ever taught me the importance of credit, but now I understood it first hand.

That hard work paid off. Within three years of launching W&W Towing, the business was bringing in over $1 million a year. This year, the company was acquired, which meant a substantial payment for me. I don't like to talk about my exact net worth, but if I didn't want to work again, I wouldn't have to. I've been a millionaire for a couple years at this point.

My friend isn't afraid to teach me

As I've built wealth, I've learned that money is a tool. You have to make it work for you. I was never taught that, but it's a lesson I want to teach my five kids, who range in age from 2 to 16.

Like any tool, you need to be taught how to use money. At first I didn't realize the importance of having an accountant, a business bank account, and insurance. Later, I learned about high yield savings accounts and investments.

I have a close friend who is a multi-millionaire. He teaches me things I don't even know to ask about. Once he saw me paying for gas with my debit card, which led to a whole lesson about credit card points.

I've learned that when you can play with money, you benefit. If I want to splurge on something, I try to find an asset that can cover that expense. For example, investing in real estate gave me a new income stream that pays for travel, including a recent trip to Kenya for my 40th birthday.

Another passion of mine is philanthropy. Having money lets me support the same Chicago neighborhood that helped me get here.

I've learned money isn't loud, so I live humbly

I think it's easy to obtain money, but hard to keep it. A lot of people want to keep up with the Joneses, and I get the temptation. I'm selling my house right now, and my first instinct was to upgrade to something bigger. But then I realized that I could use the profits, along with some savings, to buy a more modest house with cash. Living without a mortgage is the better choice by far, and will improve my finances in the long run.

My rich friend always tells me "money isn't loud." The people who have the most don't wear or drive their wealth. They let their portfolio speak for itself.

• When my husband and I took a trip to Rome, we wanted a less-touristy Italian adventure.
• At the suggestion of a tour guide in Rome, we took a train to a smaller town called Bracciano.
• We explored the Bracciano Castle and relaxed on the beach without having to deal with any crowds.

During a 25-day trip to Italy, my husband and I spent six nights in Rome.

By the end of our time in the city, I would've done almost anything to escape the crowds.

Luckily, our tour guide for the Vatican told us about the less-populated lakeside town of Bracciano, just an hour's train ride away.

For our last full day in Rome, we packed a bag, hopped on a train, and got outside the city limits to explore something a little slower-paced.

Bracciano is a small town in Lazio, situated above a lake.

Bracciano, which shares its name with the lake, is close to several other small towns you can explore.

For a day trip, though, I recommend just sticking with one town.

It was easy to take the train from Rome to Bracciano (we spent about $15 for two round-trip tickets), explore the town, relax by the water, and return to our hotel.

We started our day by walking to get cappuccinos and pastries in the town square.

The main attraction in Bracciano seemed to be a well-preserved historic castle.

Our train dropped us off about an hour before the castle opened.

To kill some time, we went to a café and sat at tables overlooking the town square and the castle. We enjoyed pastries and cappuccinos and people watched.

This town is much less touristy than Rome, so we mostly saw Italians going to work, running errands, and walking their dogs.

The Bracciano Castle has a self-guided tour.

Exploring the Bracciano Castle, or Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano, was a welcome change from the guided tours in Rome.

Rather than ushering past all the highlights with a group of 20-plus people, we got to take our time in each castle area while listening to a free English audio guide.

We visited on a weekday at the end of the summer season and were the only people in the castle for most of our two-hour visit.

We went outside for some stunning views.

We climbed ramparts and saw gorgeous views of the lake during our time at Bracciano Castle.

We stopped for pictures and enjoyed the nice breeze.

The rooms were filled with medieval history.

After exploring the ramparts, as well as the castle's armory, kitchen, and courtyard, we saw some of the interior rooms curated with furniture, weapons, and artwork from the castle's history.

The lake was also a highlight of the trip.

After a few hours in the castle, my husband and I took a lunch break and headed toward the lake.

The walk from the city center and castle to the lakeside took about 20 minutes.

The castle and the town are technically up on a hill, so I recommend wearing shoes with a good grip for the descent to the water.

All the private beaches with boat rentals were closed for the end of the summer, but there were plenty of public shores for us to relax on.

We loved relaxing by the water.

We got an excellent water-view spot and pulled out our books, which we didn't have much time to enjoy back in busy Rome.

We didn't end up swimming in the lake, but my husband snuck in a nap by the water.

I sat on the beach and watched people swim far out into the water, teenagers canoodle on the beach, and an older woman curse at her phone in Italian while waiting at a bus stop.

We finally felt immersed in Italian culture, far from other tourists.

We ended our day with wine and dessert.

Though it was the end of summer, a few restaurants were open on the lake.

We grabbed a table on the water, shared a bottle of wine, and ate some of the most delicious desserts of the entire trip.

I ordered a lemon sorbet, and my husband stuck with his tried-and-true tiramisu.

We then hiked back up to the city, which I found to be a much tougher climb, and boarded our return train to Rome.

Having escaped the crowds of the Eternal City for a day, we felt refreshed and ready to dive back into our hectic travels.

This story was originally published on January 13, 2024, and most recently updated on December 27, 2024.

• I spend at least $275 at Costco when shopping for my family of four.
• I stock up on several essentials, including snacks, dog food, and sparkling water.
• I also buy non-food items like journals and children's medicine from Costco.

Growing up in South Georgia, Sam's Club reigned supreme for me when it came to grocery shopping.

However, I started shopping at Costco 12 years ago — which became a game changer when it came to budgeting for my family of four. From snacks for my kids to dog food, here are 11 items I typically make sure to put in my cart.

Prices may vary by location.

I stock up on big bags of snacks to feed my kids and their friends.

My two kids, aged 9 and 13, are perpetual snackers. Most of their friends live nearby, so our house — and especially our pantry — feels like it has a revolving door of snackers.

That's why I like to keep a steady supply of snacks on hand for them. On Costco runs, I always buy their favorites: the Frito-Lay variety snack pack ($18), one large bag of Dot's pretzels ($10), and one large bag of Wonderful pistachios ($20).

Kirkland Signature dog food and treats keep our pups healthy and happy.

I exclusively buy our two cattle dogs food from Costco. The Kirkland Signature healthy-weight dog food ($32) is not only a great deal, but it's also filled with protein.

I buy the Kirkland Signature dental chews ($37) as well because they keep our pups' teeth clean and cost less than the Greenies dental treats.

I firmly believe Costco has the best-tasting sparkling water.

This Kirkland Signature sparkling water 35-count variety pack ($11) includes lime, lemon, and grapefruit flavors.

My husband likes to pour a can over ice and drink it throughout the day, and I mix it with tonic water and flavored bitters for a dry mocktail in the evenings.

Costco sells my husband's and daughter's favorite ramen.

My husband and 13-year-old daughter consume massive amounts of ramen, and Costco carries two of their favorite quick-cooking varieties: Cup Noodles in the chicken flavor and TanTanMen with chili oil ($12 each).

Eaten as a hearty snack, lunch, or dinner, ramen is a go-to at our house, so I make sure it's always in my cart.

I buy Campbell's chicken-noodle soup year-round.

In addition to being delicious, Campbell's chicken-noodle soup is made with real broth and hearty chunks of chicken breast, making it a go-to for sick days in our household.

Our local grocery store doesn't stock this variety, so I get an 8-pack at Costco for $13.60.

I buy children's liquid Tylenol and Motrin as sick-day staples.

I keep plenty of children's liquid Tylenol and Motrin ($13 each) on hand, especially during cold and flu season.

Costco's three-packs are a steal compared to buying single bottles at my local grocery store or pharmacy.

I only buy bread at Costco since loaves come in a two-pack.

When buying a two-pack of bread ($5), I refrigerate one and freeze the other to prevent mold.

I like to try different kinds, but I opted for Grandma Sycamore's white bread on this particular shopping trip, which is ideal for making cinnamon toast or sandwiches.

I'm obsessed with the Kirkland Signature Italian-sausage-and-beef lasagna.

I've seen people rave about the Kirkland Signature Italian-sausage-and-beef lasagna ($17) online — and I can see why. It's nice and thick, with hearty layers of sausage that add an extra kick of flavor.

I prefer to cook it in the microwave before throwing it in the oven broiler for a minute or two to get the cheese brown and crispy on top.

Kirkland Signature's whole-bean coffee House Blend is my go-to for a daily pick-me-up.

I brew freshly ground coffee every morning, and the Kirkland Signature whole-bean coffee House Blend in the medium roast ($14) is my favorite by far.

The Kirkland Signature version is exceptionally smooth with a mild acidity, meaning it's not too strong or weak. It's perfect for everyday coffee drinkers.

I make dinner using the Kirkland Signature farm-raised Atlantic salmon filets.

The Kirkland Signature farm-raised Atlantic salmon filets ($35) are boneless and skinless, making them great for the kids.

For dinner, I prefer to oven-roast salmon on a sheet of Kirkland Signature parchment paper. Sometimes, I'll marinate them in a teriyaki or miso sauce so the edges caramelize to a brown, crispy texture.

I love the notebooks Costco sells.

I prefer to handwrite the first draft of anything I'm working on, so I'm very particular about the look and feel of notebooks I use. I bought this three-pack of notebooks ($15) on a whim a while back and now I write in them exclusively.

They have an exceptionally sturdy cover and pages that lie flat, making them ideal for writing and transcribing.