In The Receipts franchise, SPY interviews influential people about how their cultural intake and background informs their consumer behavior — and what they’ve learned about themselves from the things they’ve bought.

If there’s one thing Mike Schur knows, it’s comedy. After launching his career as a writer on Saturday Night Live in the late 1990s, Schur went on to shepherd into existence some of most genre-defining television comedies of the last quarter century — including The Office (as a writer and producer), Parks and Recreation (as a co-creator), The Good Place (as the creator), and, most recently, Amazon Freevee’s Primo (as an executive producer).

But if there’s one thing Mike Schur thinks about in his day-to-day life, it’s a serious philosophical question: What makes a good person, and how do you go about being one? The topic is both one he addresses in his television work (he cites it as inspiration for The Good Place) and that he tackles head-on in “How to Be Perfect,” his 2022 book about the quest for ethical integrity.

SPY asked Schur how this central question applies to consumerism — and if it’s even possible to have a morally sound relationship to, well, buying things.

SPY: You said that you’ve been preoccupied with ethics and your own morality since you were young. When did you start thinking about those types of questions?

My whole life, really, though I didn’t know that it was called ethics until I was much older. After college, I started thinking about the fact that ethics permeates every aspect of my life and everybody’s life — consumer choices, where you live, what job you have, who you work for. I was sometimes driven to distraction. I would think, “I want to do X and X comes with 5000 ethical questions that need to be answered before I can do X, and if I try to answer all of them to my satisfaction, I’ll be paralyzed.” Caring about it led to a daily struggle [that made it hard] for me to do anything. 

That is what then led me to think, “Well, if this is a dominant thing in my life, I ought to read a bunch of stuff to try to figure out what people have said about how to live.” That’s what launched me on the path to learning about philosophy.

Now that you’ve created a show and written a book related to this topic, do you feel like you’re done with it?

I feel like I’ve written about it to some degree of my own satisfaction. After I was done with The Good Place, I felt like I hadn’t quite crystallized everything that I wanted to say. Now that the book has been written, I don’t feel the same itch to write about it. I don’t think about the questions any less, though.

It reminds me of when the reboot craze was happening and a lot of people asked me if we were going to reboot Parks and Recreation. I had this feeling of like, I think that show was making a very specific argument at a very specific time and place — I don’t feel like there’s more to be said. I think I feel the same way about ethics that I feel about Parks and Rec. We said what we wanted to say, and now we would just be doing more of it just to do more of it. And that’s never a good idea.

SPY covers products and consumer trends. Given your exploration of philosophy the last few years, how do you view spending money? Is there an ethical way to spend money, to buy things?

This is the biggest question we face on a day-to-day basis. The book and the show both made an argument that if you want to ignore ethical questions, you probably can. A lot of people do. But if you choose not to ignore them, you realize that they are everywhere — there’s no escaping them. And I think the number one place that they crop up for the average person is in consumer choice. 

For example, when you buy a chicken breast from a grocery store, you’re making seven ethical choices, right? What was the animal humanely treated? Is the company that makes it a good company or a bad company? How far away was the chicken from the processing plant, which means what’s the carbon footprint of the chicken? How much plastic is used in the packaging? Every single choice, like it or not, comes with 12 ethical components. So is it possible to be a good, ethical agent in the world while buying things? No, frankly, it isn’t. There are better and worse choices, but there are no good or bad choices. 

Say someone wants to make better choices about their approach to consumption. What’s the first step you’d advise they take?

The decision to care one way or the other — it’s the most important step and it’s like 90 percent of the battle. The great majority of people tend not to care. I get it — there’s a lot going on in people’s lives. It’s asking a lot of people just to give a shit one way or the other. 

[Once you decide you care], you get into like, ‘Okay, how much research can a person be asked to do about this stuff?’ Like, if you go to the grocery store, and you have a list of 25 things. Is it unreasonable to say, before you go to the grocery store, do a half hour of research on each of the 25 things on your list to determine which brand is the best brand to buy? No one has the time for that. 

Overall, it’s the extent to which you can learn about the things you’re buying and learn why they might be better or worse to buy. Grocery shopping is one thing, but there are other things. How often do you fly? Jet fuel is an enormous polluter. The big purchases: your house, your car. The companies that you bank with. These big macro-decisions can be prioritized over the small ones. If you’re like me, or like Chidi from The Good Place, you will drive yourself to the brink of insanity mulling over every possible choice you ever make. I don’t think that’s a good way to live. I don’t like that I live that way!

You still feel like those questions are always in your brain?

I think I’ve gotten better. I think actually writing the show and writing the book was therapeutic for me in some way. It felt like a confessional, almost — like, this is what happens when you worry about everything. 

What is something you’ve bought that you’re happy you’ve bought?

It’s something I bought for my daughter recently. My daughter is 12 years old and she has the soul of a writer. Both of her parents are writers; she is a creative person. And she really wanted an iPad with a stylus. She wanted to draw and make notes and just be a person who’s interacting with the world in an artistic way. And I was like, ‘You know what, yeah — that’s worth it.’ She loves it. She carries it around everywhere. She’s constantly doodling and writing. I was like, ‘This is an argument in favor of letting your kids interact with technology.’ I think most of the discussion around kids and technology is that it’s going to rot their brains and destroy them. This is the flip side of that. It’s the good version, where she has a tool that she uses to express herself in different ways.

This is a pivot, but have you ever shoplifted?

When I was seven years old. I was driving with my grandmother, and steam started coming out of the engine area in the front. She pulled over to a gas station. While she was talking to the guy about the car, I went to wait in the little cash register area. I saw all the gum on the racks and had this overwhelming desire for it. I wasn’t allowed to have a lot of sugar.

So this was forbidden fruit.

Absolutely. So I took a pack of Juicy Fruit gum, which was 25 cents, and I put it in my pocket. No one else was around. I went outside, got back in the car, and we drove home. I was so scared. I was the most scared I’ve ever been in my life to this day. I was like, “I’m going to jail.” I ran up to my room and took the gum and chewed all the pieces really quickly. I threw them all away. I remember burying the wrappers really deep down in the garbage can. I lived in fear for a couple of days that I was going to go to prison for stealing the gum.

It was like [Edgar Allan Poe’s short story] “The Tell-Tale Heart” when I would lie in bed at night. I remember hearing my mom walk around downstairs thinking she’s looking in the garbage can — she’s going to find the wrappers. I’m going to jail. She’s going to turn me in. It was so awful and I hated it so much. So, the answer is yes, I shoplifted a pack of Juicy Fruit gum when I was seven, and then no for the rest of my life. Never again.

Who is the first person you told about this?

You, right now.

How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question

Buy Now On Amazon

$13.62 $28.99

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Prime Day is officially in full swing and the best Prime Day deals are better than ever.

So far, we’ve found a ton of Prime day deals on just about everything. Headphones, laptops, kitchen appliances — it’s basically all there. But, today we stumbled upon a cluster of deals under a category we weren’t necessarily expecting: board games.

Let the nostalgia set in with these classics on sale at up to 80% off today.

Catan

Buy Now On Amazon

$24.99 $49.00

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Start your quest and settle the world of Catan at almost 50% off during Prime Day.

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Guess Who?

Buy Now On Amazon

$11.49 $15.90

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Guess Who? has gotten a bit of a revamp in recent years. How? Well, not only does it include people cards, but it also includes pet cards, making for an extra exciting game for guessing on guessing on guessing.

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Rummikub

Buy Now On Amazon

$10.99 $36.99

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Rummikub is one of the world’s best-selling games of all time. So, if it isn’t already part of the board game shelf, now’s the time to pick it up at a whopping 70% off.

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ET The Extra-Terrestrial

Buy Now On Amazon

$5.99 $29.99

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This ET board game is just $6. What else is there to say?

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Game Card Storage Case

Buy Now On Amazon

$49.99 $73.99

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It’s not a board game, but it is a killer deal for board gamers with too many playing cards.

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Chess

Buy Now On Amazon

$8.39 $12.99

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It might not be the most grand chessboard on the planet, but it is on sale for under $9 right now. That said, it might as well be.

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Ticket to Ride

Buy Now On Amazon

$30.49 $54.99

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Right now, the ticket to ride the classic Ticket to Ride is only $30 at 45% off. How’s that for a trip across the United States?

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Monopoly: Pixar Edition

Buy Now On Amazon

$19.49 $27.99

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Limited edition Monopoly games for the win. Save 30% on all your Pixar favorites during Prime Day.

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Taboo

Buy Now On Amazon

$13.99 $24.99

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Back at it again with the buzzer and all!

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Othello

Buy Now On Amazon

$13.99 $19.99

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Yup, even the black and white classic is on sale for Prime Day.

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Connect 4

Buy Now On Amazon

$9.49 $13.99

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This two-person game is currently under $10 for Prime Day.

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Clue: Disney Villains Edition

Buy Now On Amazon

$22.84 $28.99

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And, here’s a must for the Disney nerds.

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The Game of Life

Buy Now On Amazon

$14.99 $21.99

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Time to make some life choices and snag The Game of Life for 32% off.

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Splendor

Buy Now On Amazon

$23.74 $44.99

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Design Europe’s most prestigious jewelry business of all time at almost 50% off during Prime Day.

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Azul

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$23.99 $39.99

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Destroying an opponents plans has never looked prettier.

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For civilians, Prime Day is a shopping holiday. For editors at the publications that drive audiences to Amazon in return for a percent (of a percent) of revenue, it’s something closer to a religious observance. Commerce editors — journalists trafficking in recommendations and reviews — plan weeks in advance. They set expectations. They set alarm clocks. 

There’s money to be made. 

In 2015, Amazon launched Prime Day as a 24-hour sale celebrating the company’s 20th birthday. The media hyped the event. Facebook bent but didn’t break. That day, people ordered more than 34.4 million items. It was huge. Then it got bigger. In 2019, people ordered 100 million items and Amazon extended the event to two full days. The next year, Prime Day sales surpassed the previous year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales combined. This year, consumers are expected to buy more than 100,000 items per minute.

Prime Day is an Amazon initiative, but it has become a media holiday akin to the Super Bowl or the Oscars. For this story, I interviewed four commerce editors, all of whom work for New York-based media companies with audiences north of a few million, about their experiences chasing deals and dollars. Each spoke on the condition that they remain anonymous.

One editor, who I’ll call Emma because I’ve always liked that name, was there at the first Prime Day back in 2015. At the time, it seemed like a reprieve. Historically, in her experience, covering Black Friday meant going to the Black Friday sales, which seemed to begin earlier and earlier. She left her Thanksgiving dinner table to tail frenetic shoppers down the aisles of box stores and across parking lots. Night turned to dawn turned to afternoon before she filed her story. 

The reprieve didn’t last, though. The C-Suite noticed the size of the opportunity. Reporting on deals, such as it was, could be done from a desk, but there was a lot of hunting and pecking to be done. “It feels like it goes on forever,” Emma says. “It’s like, ‘Oh, great. I found 30% off this no-name suitcase.’ It’s not exactly fulfilling work.”

Prime Day should feel low-stakes. It’s about finding good products. But when revenue is on the line, the stakes often feel… not low. This ratcheting up of pressure has caused some adverse reactions.

“At one point on Prime Day, I was supposed to be online with one writer to help me, and she just ghosted,” Emma recalls, laughing. “She just disappeared. I don’t think I ever fully got an answer as to what happened. She was apologetic, but I think it was actually the fear of Prime Day that gave her so much anxiety that she just didn’t show up to work.”

Increased expectations — in terms of both content production and revenue — can spook even the most buttoned-up teams, too. “Prime Day has become a major event,” says another editor who is not named Katherine. “We started having planning meetings back in April. The whole month of June is dedicated to it, even though it’s not until mid-July. The sheer quantity of posts we do, now — there’s pre-Prime Day, post-Prime Day, the actual Prime Day, one-offs, and multiple round-ups. What videos can we make for Instagram? Who’s sending out emails? Where are we going to be on the homepage? It’s all-encompassing.”

It’s probably not a zero-sum game, but it feels like it and so there’s an arms race. The biggest bomb is time. “You’re spending weeks and weeks and weeks searching, combing the whole site.” says Alexandra, an editor at a digital home and lifestyle publication. “You get kind of crazy.”

Not Katherine blames her own company, and others like it, for the lunacy.

“I think we helped create this frenzy that if you’re not taking advantage, you’re missing out on something,” she says. “Without our coverage, I think your average consumer might go and look on Amazon and be like, ‘I don’t see anything that looks like the best deal.’ But when five different websites are telling you that if you don’t get an air fryer now, you’re never going to have a better deal? You’ll believe it. Even when we kind of know that’s not true.”

Emma echoes this sentiment. “I think our industry has become obsessed with covering Prime Day because of how easy it is to get people to shop and how easy it is to make commission,” she says. “I think it’s for the same reason that everyone shops on Amazon. It’s quick and easy. That’s it.”

That said, there are concerns, none of which we’re surfacing here for the first time. In recent years, Amazon has come under fire for allegedly inflating prices. Additionally, a 2022 study investigated a pricing practice in which an Amazon seller frames a price increase as a discount by simultaneously increasing the price and introducing a higher list price. The study found this was a “prevalent practice adopted by a broad range of categories and sellers.” Multiple editors interviewed for this story observed deceptive pricing — that an item that was framed as discounted was actually available for the same price at other retailers.

Tracy, an editor at a general assignment digital publication, has some advice for the Prime Day shoppers worried about getting the best deal: “I tell my friends and family, unless you’re buying a TV or a mattress, you’re not really getting a deal on anything,” she says. “Amazon is just going to mark up the prices and say that it’s a deal, but if you’d checked 30 days ago, it would have been the same price.” (Pro tip: Use CamelCamelCamel to see the price history of an Amazon item.)

Although no editors I interviewed said they personally enjoyed covering Prime Day, Emma says some colleagues do feel a sense of achievement: “I think there are some people, especially ones who maybe haven’t been covering it for as long, who feel that it’s their Super Bowl,” she says. “They’ll see themselves smash through goals and make tons of money.” There’s a pause. 

“For the company, of course. Not for themselves.”

“At a recent press event I went to, there were tons of commerce editors,” Not Katherine adds. “Someone came up to me and said this was the fourth conversation they’d had about Prime Day in one hour. And I jokingly said, ‘Yes, should we make a drinking game out of it? Take a shot every time someone mentions Prime Day.’ We were all like, ‘Well, no — we don’t want to die.’”

When I talked to Alexandra recently, she was tired. Too much Prime Day on the brain. “I’ve lost too much sleep over this,” she says. “I’ve spent too much time recommending new products. You better buy something. You better fucking buy something.”

As adults, we have a tendency to try and relive our childhoods. There’s no shame in that. It’s just that jamming the GameCube controller through another Sudden Death in Super Smash Brothers can only get one so far. Sometimes, we want to relive juvenile moments in the great outdoors. To have a little fun in the sun. All it takes is a jump through the sprinklers. A cannonball in the swimming pool. A zoom down an inflatable waterslide.

Seriously — inflatable water slides aren’t just built for children. However, although they’re available to buy, renting one might be the easier option. Cool cop (insert sunglasses emoji here) Ilinca Ene from Nutley, New Jersey, rents one yearly for a block party she throws with her neighbors. “They are a lot of fun for kids and adults,” Ene tells us. “I think adults have even more fun on them than kids do, sometimes.” 

New York-based editor and content strategist Leslie Horn Peterson has the same MO: she typically rents water slides for her kids’ birthday parties (her favorite is Fiesta Bounce in White Plains). The Westchester mom admits she enjoys the ease of renting because she can pick a new slide every time. “I wouldn’t have gotten a slide when my son was littler, but now that he’s almost five, I can get something more, dare I say, dangerous.” (Translation: Horn Peterson just wants a little more fun for the adults.)

Ultimately, the decision to rent an inflatable water slide versus buying comes down to one main issue: storage. “I don’t want to be stuck with one after [a party],” says Ene. Water slides take up a lot of space, and improper storage can damage them easily. Though buying will save frequent renters money in the long run, buyers will simply need to pay attention and take proper care of the slide year-round.

If buying sounds like the preferable option, see below for SPY’s top picks that are sure to make a splash this summer.

BEST OVERALL

WOW Sports Super Slide

Buy Now On Amazon $124.00

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Here’s the cold, hard truth: water slides for adults are expensive. This is why the majority of people rent. That said, we’re starting off with a relatively affordable blow-up run-and-jump option. Laid out at 25 feet by 6 feet, this slide can hold a maximum of 250 pounds in total, so the majority of adults can easily glide down the lawn. It’s made of heavy-duty PVC to minimize ripping, and it has built-in sprinkler spouts to disperse water throughout (so not even an inch will go dry). Don’t want to throw your body on the cold, hard ground? Understandable. Each slide also comes with a mega sled to soften the ride.

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RUNNER-UP, BEST OVERALL

JumpOrange Commercial Grade Inflatable Water Slide

Buy Now On Amazon $3,246.49

Buy Now

Fun has no age limit. Our runner-up pick, the JumpOrange inflatable water slide, is intended for anyone six years and up — meaning, yes, adults can ride it effortlessly. Standing at 15 feet tall, this slide is intended for one person at a time. It connects to a hose so that water can shoot down it and keep it slippery, and each one is designed with a tiny pool at the bottom so users don’t fly onto the nearby concrete or grass. Throw this up at the next block party to satisfy every thrill-seeking attendee.

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BEST SPLURGE

TentandTable Marble Wave Double Inflatable Water Slide

Buy Now On Amazon $6,299.99

Buy Now

Bigger, better slides tend to be more expensive — but some are worth the hefty price tag. This one is similar to an option that Horn Peterson can rent in White Plains, but it has double the capacity (two full-grown adults can ride it at the same time!). Made from powerful puncture- and flame-resistant material, each slide is built to last a lifetime. This slide isn’t a short guy, either. It stands 19 feet tall, towering over anyone waiting in line. Wondering how the slide stays wet? It’s built with a connector that attaches to any backyard hose. From there, water shoots down it until the party’s over.

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BEST NON-INFLATABLE

RESILIA Super Slip Lawn Water Slide Giant

Buy Now On Amazon $159.99

Buy Now

Not all great water slides for adults have to be inflatable. Sometimes, water slides can exist as a reimagined XXXXXXXL tarp from Home Depot. This 75-footer is a backyard staple for those who have slanted or hilly lawns. Sure, it works on flat surfaces, as well, but nothing can match that declined slide. Get ready to have the best backyard on the block.

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Josh Duhamel doesn’t care what you think of him, but he also doesn’t not care what you think of him.

The 50-year-old actor — who broke out as a soap star on All My Children in 1999 and memorably served as the toned, tanned, and gamely goofy love interest opposite Kate Bosworth (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!) and Katherine Heigl (Life as We Know It) in the 2000s — has evolved past his Hollywood hunk phase, while remaining, well… still very hunky.

But with his film directorial debut Buddy Games (2019), and the new sequel he also helmed, Buddy Games: Spring Awakening (available on digital platforms June 2), he aims for something more personal. Based on his own real-life summer competitions with Midwestern friends who knew him before he was pasted on billboards, the adult, hard R comedy movies take a cue from The Hangover and up the ante. Duhamel as “Bobfather” leads friends through absurd, grotesque dares (one man loses his testicles). As Duhamel explains, Spring Awakening intentionally tweaks so-called “woke” culture (there’s a deranged cult attempting to reprogram alpha males) alongside other psychedelic, gross-out gags. It’s not for everyone, but it’s for Duhamel, and for other dudes who don’t take themselves “quite so seriously,” in his words. 

Dressed casually in a faded pink T-shirt and baseball cap not quite covering his salt-and-pepper hair, Duhamel talked to SPY over Zoom about rom-com typecasting, critical blowback, and his favorite T-shirt of all time (hint: it involves Bruce Springsteen).

SPY: What’s something you’ve bought recently that makes you happy?

JD: Well, I just bought a Tomos electric motorbike. An e-bike. Those things are incredible. I bought one of those recently. And that’s been a lot of fun. 

I don’t buy a lot of toys for myself. Usually the stuff that I buy is meant to build something or make my space a little bit better. I tend to spend more money out at my cabin [in Minnesota] than I do in LA. It drives my wife crazy because she’s like, “You know that our cabin is nicer than our actual house.” I don’t even own a lawnmower here in LA, and I own a tractor and a skid steer out there.

SPY: What’s your favorite T-shirt you’ve ever owned?

JD: I have this Bruce Springsteen T-shirt from a concert back in the ‘80s. It’s light blue and it’s got a pink Cadillac on it.

Vintage Bruce Springsteen T-Shirt

Buy Now

$120.00

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Let’s get into the new Buddy Games movie. It seems like you’re embracing your Spring Breakers, give-no-fucks era. What did you want from the tone?

Josh Duhamel: I always loved the idea of: what would it be like to go back as a middle-aged man at 50? These guys lost one of their brothers, tragically, and at the funeral, they end up stealing this urn, and decide that they’re going to spread his ashes where he was happiest. And they realize they’re right in the middle of this spring break that they were banned from years ago.

And then we get into some stuff that is a little bit controversial — a lot of hot topics that people will either think are funny, or maybe they’ll take some offense. The idea was never to do anything mean-spirited. It was always meant to be good-natured — poking fun at all of it, including ourselves. But I think in general, people have been taking themselves a little bit too seriously and that the idea is that we can all laugh a little bit.

SPY: You’ve been working basically nonstop since the late ‘90s. Was this also a chance to recapture some youthful recklessness you missed out on?

JD: No. Believe me, we had plenty of fun back in the day back in college. And I have no desire to go back to that. It’s about the camaraderie and the brotherhood that we all have. I think those relationships are that much more valuable to us as we get older, because it’s hard to make old friends. It’s really about friendship at the end of the day. And [these guys] might learn a little something from the culture, and the culture might learn a little something from them, if we just stop digging our heels in the sand. Maybe listen to the other side. Part of the fun is, yeah, it is three white dudes who probably could learn a thing or two.

SPY: Who are the friends in your real-life Buddy Games?

JD: They’re just my boys from back home. We all grew up in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin. We’re just kind of spread out. They’re just regular guys, the guys that I’ve stayed closest to over the years. They’ve become family.

SPY: What made you want to get behind the camera for the first time with these movies?

JD: I’d had a lot of experiences working with these young directors, and oftentimes, I would find that I knew as much or more than they did just by proxy — just by being on set for so long. I always wanted to direct. I always felt I had an eye for it because I loved to work with directors to block out scenes, and I always had an idea of what a scene should look and feel like. I realized that I knew enough to know that I didn’t have to know everything. I just had to surround myself with good creative people who I could let do their jobs. 

SPY: But after all that creative work, it must sting to see the negative reviews of the Buddy Games movies.

JD: Everybody wants to make a great movie. You never set out to do the opposite. There have been a couple of haters out there, which I expected because of the nature of some of the themes here. That’s what it is. It is meant to make people think a little bit differently about some of the extremes in our culture.

SPY: People get outraged over whoever is cast as Batman. But by wading into those social issues, were you worried about sparking a backlash?

JD: Yes, and no. It’s inevitable. These kinds of movies are meant to be purely for entertainment purposes. This is a really fun movie. And the first movie got bashed, but the people ultimately decided, and the movie crushed. I don’t take any of that stuff too much to heart. In fact, with this one, I meant to poke a little bit. You can’t do this stuff to please everybody. You have to make the purest form of whatever your idea is. And that is all we tried to do.

SPY: Have you ever felt like you were pigeonholed earlier in your career as a romantic comedy heartthrob? 

JD: They’re always gonna put you in some kind of a box, whether you’re an action star, or a rom-com star, or a comedian, or a drama actor. You know, I started out in soaps, and when I left the soap [All My Children], I got Las Vegas, a primetime NBC show that went five years, and then I was a TV Guide guy until I got Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! [2004]. Then when I got Transformers, I wasn’t so much seen as a rom-com guy until I did Life as We Know It [2010]. Whatever you’re doing at the time, that is the box they want to put you in. For me, it’s always been about trying to break out of that box.

SPY: You were shirtless a lot in those earlier movies. Do you feel like you can relax more now when it comes to your training regimen or body?

JD: Yeah, I mean, I don’t try to stay in shape to be buff-looking when I take my shirt off, that’s for sure. I do it more for wellness now. But again, I care less about what people think these days than I ever have.

SPY: What kind of gear do you buy to get a Buddy Games competition going?

JD: Coolers come in handy. I’m a big fan of good cooler brands. I like Yeti a lot. Yeti cups, Yeti coolers — they do it right over there. They’re not cheap, by the way, but for Christmas, I always asked for them.

Yeti Tundra 35 Cooler

Buy Now

$275.00

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SPY: If you could get any celebrity friend to join your Buddy Games competition, who would it be? 

JD: Jerry O’Connell. I haven’t been able to hang out with him much lately. I think he’d be a great addition.

It’s the weekend and we all know what that means: it’s time to put away those weekday responsibilities and hide that daily grind face for a couple of blissful days. Naturally, you’ll probably indulge with a little TV while you’re at it.

Whether you want to recharge with a comedy, work your brain in a new way with an insightful doc, or lean forward in your seat with some over-the-top action, there’s something for you to watch this weekend.

We’ve got plenty of options from the live-action remake of a classic Disney flick to the series finales of two HBO powerhouse hits. Need some help deciding what to watch? Read on to see what we’re streaming and watching for the weekend of May 26 to May 28.

1. American Born Chinese

STREAMING NOW

Disney+’s new coming-of-age story based on a 2006 graphic novel series blends fantasy with classic high school drama. Everything Everywhere All at Once fans (which should mean everyone) will be excited to see a ton of familiar faces like Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Kwan, James Hong, Stephanie Hsu, and Brian Le. Disney+ typically slow-drips one episode at us a week, but this time around decided to give us it all at once. Check out season one in its entirety now.

2. Succession (Series Finale)

SUNDAY, MAY 28

After a season filled with tension and high stakes, season 4 of Succession (and the series at large) are coming to a close. Between this and The White Lotus, HBO really has been cornering the market in Emmy-award-winning shows where we get to watch rich people be miserable. The Roy family returns for its final season in squabbling for Dad’s approval and attention on March 26 at 9:00 PM ET. What are any of us going to do without our HBO Sunday nights?

3. Barry (Series Finale)

SUNDAY, MAY 28

Bill Hader run as a hitman turned actor is coming to close in the series finale of HBO’s Barry. The series both co-created by and starring Hader mixing crime-thrilling drama with a brand of dark comedy not found anywhere else. The show also stars Sarah Goldberg who gives one of the most nuanced performances among the whole cast, two powerhouses of comedy in Stephen Root and Henry Wrinkler flexing one just how strong their ranges are, and Anthony Carrigan who steals just about every scene he’s in. Catch the series finale this Sunday night at 10:00 PM ET on HBO.

4. Platonic

STREAMING NOW

Sharing the screen for the first time since the Neighbors films, Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen join up for a new comedy series exploring whether a man and woman can be friends in a true When Harry Met Sally nature. The new show is streaming now on Apple TV+.

5. The Little Mermaid

IN THEATERS NOW

Disney has been on a kick this past decade reimagining all our favorite classic animated movies as live-action. Halle Bailey stars as Ariel alongside Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, and Javier Bardem as King Triton. Journey under the sea a relive all your favorite songs an moments from The Little Mermaid

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of May 19

1. White Men Can’t Jump

FRIDAY, MAY 19

Originally a 1992 film starring Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, White Men Can’t Jump has been rebooted for modern audiences. The new movie now stars Singua Walls alongside Jack Harlow as the titular white man. This comedy centers around the duo hustling basketball players who just assume the white dude will be absolute ass. You can stream it now on Hulu.

2. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

STREAMING NOW

D&D has been around since the 70s but has entered a new renaissance in popularity this last decade in combination due to the rise of actual play podcasts, the easy-to-approach 5th Edition, and a global pandemic that sent many newcomers to play over Zoom. The movie starring Chris Pine, Sophia Lillis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Hugh Grant seems to capture the same lighthearted, pulp-action, fantasy fun players are having around tables across the world. Catch it streaming now on Paramount+/

3. Fast X

FRIDAY, MAY 19

Anyone who wants Hollywood to stop making Fast & Furious movies is out of their damn mind. This series kicks ass. Cars going fast and big action set pieces that I can inhale popcorn in front of. Vin Diesel and the gang keep upping the anty to batshit, unbelievable heights and the films are better for it. Fast 15 will have them sent back in time to drift chariots through Ancient Rome. Fast 30 will have Diesel die and race Satan in Hell. Never stop. Catch Fast X in theaters this weekend.

4. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

STREAMING NOW

The third entry in the Ant-Man trilogy has hit streaming. Journey into the Quantum Realm with Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, and Kathryn Newton as they face a new threat to the multiverse. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has come pretty far from a man building a suit in a cave with a box of scraps. Check out Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania streaming now on Disney+.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

AVAILABLE NOW

Alright, alright, hear me out. The long-awaited sequel to Breath of the Wild is finally here and its everything fans could have wanted. If you’re looking for something to watch, there are currently 98K people watching streamers play this game on Twitch. Its ridiculous physic engine is endlessly entertaining when combined with the new abilities the game offers like fusing weapons together or building wild contraptions and vehicles. If you have a Nintendo Switch, you should be hopping in yourself.

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of May 12

1. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

FRIDAY, MAY 12

This retrospective documentary features a combination of scripted elements, archival footage, and interviews to tell Michael J. Fox’s life starting as just some kid from Canada to becoming a movie star in the 1980s. It chronicles his public persona and celebrates his role in cinema while diving into the deeply personal challenges he faced after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 29. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie is streaming now on Apple TV+.

2. Air

FRIDAY, MAY 12

Ben Affleck returns to the director’s chair and once again works alongside hits good buddy Matt Damon to bring us a story focused on how Nike got put on the map. By betting the house on a rookie NBA player named Michael and building a sneaker line around him—forever changing the world of sports and athletic wear. After its run in theaters, the film is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

3. The Mother

FRIDAY, MAY 12

Jennifer Lopez is stepping away from the usual rom-com plots to become an action hero. Lopez stars as a deadly assassin who has to come out of years of hiding to rescue her kidnapped daughter. Hence, The Mother. If a high-octane thriller is what you’re looking for, seek no further. The Mother is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Fool’s Paradise

IN THEATERS NOW

In Charlie Day’s (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) directorial debut, he stars as a mute mental health patient who falls backward into becoming a movie star. The satirical comedy spoofs the nature of Hollywood and features performances from a star-studded cast including Ray Liota, Ken Jeong, Kate Beckinsale, and countless others. Fool’s Paradise is in theaters now.

5. Blackberry

IN THEATERS NOW

There’s been an influx of corporate biopics lately and it’s easy to dismiss them as just marketing for the brands they’re based on, thus worth skipping. This 98% Rotton Tomatoes score says otherwise. Blackberry is the latest of this particular “true story” genre of film which stars Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton. It’s a good weekend to be an Always Sunny fan. Blackberry is in theaters now.

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of May 5 to 7

1. The Other Two (Season 3)

THURSDAY, MAY 4

This half-hour comedy satirizes the entertainment industry as it follows the less-successful older millennial siblings of a gen z musical superstar who blew up overnight. Cary Dubak (Drew Tarver) is a working actor who found moderate success as the show has gone on with Brook Dubek (Heléne Yorke) settling in as the manager of her younger brother. The supporting cast of comedy powerhouses like Molly Shannon and Ken Marino help this show achieve some of the biggest laughs you’ll have watching TV in years. The first two episodes of season 3 are now streaming on HBO Max.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

FRIDAY, MAY 5

Between the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films, The Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker, James Gunn has proven his ability in telling a comedy-filled superhero story. He’s the reason names like Gamora, Star-Lord, and Groot are now instantly recognizable among the likes of Spider-Man and Captain America. This third entry into the Guardians of the Galaxy series deals with some of the ramifications set up in Avengers: Endgame like an alternate version of Gamora with no memory of the galaxy-saving team while also taking a closer look into Rocket’s backstory. The film hits theaters everywhere today.

3. Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All

STREAMING NOW

Get a close look into the personal life of global superstar Ed Sheeran. This all-new four-part docuseries follows Sheeran’s rise to fame, starting as an awkward kid with a stutter to one of the most famous musicians today. There’s a mix of personal footage from his early life to gigantic stadium performances. All four episodes are available now on Disney+.

4. Bupkis

STREAMING NOW

Pete Davidson stars as a fictionalized version of himself as a kid who grew up on Staten Island and entered the world of comedy. You might be thinking to yourself, “Hey isn’t that the premise of The King of Staten Island?” Well, that was a movie and this is a series. Totally different. Bupkis also stars Edi Falco as Davidson’s mother and Joe Pesci as his grandfather with appearances of some of Davidson’s real-life friends such as John Mulaney. The show is streaming now on Peacock.

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of April 27 to 29

1. Citadel

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

A new big-budget spy thriller comes from the Russo brother hits streaming this weekend. This espionage-filled action fest centers on Citadel agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) having experienced a convenient case of amnesia looking to track down a former associate (Stanley Tucci). The show definitely has some big Jason Borne vibes with the premise. The first two episodes dropped together on Prime Video today with new episodes coming out every Thursday.

2. Peter Pan & Wendy

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

It seems Disney plans to stop remaking its beloved classics in live-action as soon the boy who never ages grows up—never. The latest in the long line of these live-action remakes comes straight to Disney+ with Peter Pan & Wendy. The story seems pretty unchanged from the 1953 animated classic. You’ll be in for pretty much the same experience as any of these remakes—a story you love told through a new lens.

3. Love & Death

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons starring in an ’80s true crime story filled with adultery and ax murders—what more could you want? This limited series is based on the true events of Candy Montgomery—a faithful, church-going housewife who seeks a bit more thrills in life by having an affair that leads to the brutal death of her lover’s wife. The first three episodes were released to HBO Max together with new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays.

4. John Mulaney: “Baby J”

STREAMING NOW

John Mulaney’s latest special was released this week. This comedy set takes on a notably darker tone than Mulaney’s previous specials. The Emmy-winning comedian has had rough several years between divorce, relapsing, and rehab, and his return to the stage does not shy away from these touchy topics. What you get is some wild stories with a lot of laughs. Check out John Mulaney: “Baby J” on Netflix.

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of April 21 to 23

1. Beau Is Afraid

IN THEATERS NOW

Joaquin Phoenix is back as an anti-social depressive weirdo in the latest project from Ari Aster. While Aster previous projects Midsommar and Hereditary are unquestionably horror movies, Beau Is Afraid is a bit harder to pin down. It’s frightening, unsettling, and yet hilarious at times with its absurdism and surreal nature that isn’t quite like anything else. Beau Is Afraid arrives in theaters Friday, April 21.

2. Jury Duty

STREAMING NOW

Ever feel like your life might be like the Truman Show? That everything around you was being catered to you specifically with everyone you run across all being actors in on it except for you? Well, that paranoid feeling is exactly what’s happened to Ronald Gladden after responding to a jury duty summons letter. In this docu-series, the court case, lawyers, judge, and eleven of the twelve jurors are fake. All actors (including James Marsden of Westworld and Sonic the Hedgehog). You can stream the series for free on Amazon Freevee.

3. Evil Dead Rise

IN THEATERS NOW

The Evil Dead series has a brand new sequel hitting theaters. This iconic horror franchise which pioneered the spooky remote cabin trope leaves the woods behind for a new city environment. This new story centers on two estranged sisters meeting for the first time in years whose familiar problems quickly become replaced by hellish ones. You can check out Evil Dead Rise in theaters Friday, April 21.

4. Better Call Saul (Final Season)

STREAMING NOW

The critically acclaimed and beloved spinoff series to Breaking Bad concluded last year, but cord-cutters can finally watch its final season now that it dropped on Netflix this past week. The public defender’s crawl to criminal corruption has been a slow burn all series until shit has finally hit the fan. Learn Jimmy McGill’s fate in the final season of Better Call Saul now on Netflix.

5. Mrs. Davis

STREAMING NOW

Betty Gilpin of Netflix’s GLOW stars as a nun with a palpable distaste for an all-powerful Alexa-like AI technology by the name of “Mrs. Davis.” She is sent on a holy mission to recover the Holy Grail of all things in order to take down the artificial intelligence and anyone devoted to it. The first four episodes of the eight-episode season have dropped all at once on Peacock with the remaining receiving the weekly-release treatment every Thursday.

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of April 14 to 16

1. Barry (Season 4)

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

Bill Hader returns as a hitman turned actor in the fourth and final season premiere of HBO’s Barry. The series both co-created by and starring Hader mixing crime-thrilling drama with a brand of dark comedy not found anywhere else. The show also stars Sarah Goldberg who gives one of the most nuanced performances among the whole cast, two powerhouses of comedy in Stephen Root and Henry Wrinkler flexing one just how strong their ranges are, and Anthony Carrigan who steals just about every scene he’s in. Catch the season four premiere this Sunday night at 9:00 PM ET on HBO.

2. Beef

STREAMING NOW

A new series starring Steven Yuen and Ali Wong showed up seemingly out of nowhere. Beef follows two depressed strangers who have a minor incident in a parking lot that grows into an all-out war with each other. It works as a social commentary and coming-of-age story for millennials hitting their midlife crisis years in an emerging genre media critic Megan Cruz refers to as “millennial rage.” The whole season dropped at once so you can binge it all from start to finish this weekend on Netflix.

3. Renfield

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

Most everyone has at some point worked for a boss they hate, sometimes going as far as calling them absolute evil. Well, Renfield follows the story of the emotionally tortured assistant to evil incarnate itself, Dracula. And who better to portray a bombastic powerful entity than Nicolas Cage? If you and your friends are in the mood for seeing Nicolas Cage be, well, Nicolas Cage, check out Renfield in theaters now.

4. Rennervations

STREAMING NOW

This four-part series follows Jeremy Renner repurposing decommissioned government vehicles into something kids and communities around the world can benefit from. It’s like Pimp My Ride on a larger and more wholesome scale. Avenger friends of Hawkeye like Anthony Mackie pop up throughout the series to help out too. This feel-good comfort show will have you smiling from start to finish. Stream it now on Disney+.

5. Florida Man

STREAMING NOW

You’ve probably come across headlines starting out with “Florida Man…” followed by the wildest shit you’ve ever read. This limited series from Donald Todd (Ugly Betty, This Is Us) aims to capture that energy, following a disgraced former cop in severe debt making his way back to his home state of Florida to track down the runaway girlfriend of a mobster. All seven episodes are available now on Netflix.

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of April 7 to 9

1. Air

IN THEATERS NOW

Ben Affleck returns to the director’s chair and once again works alongside hits good buddy Matt Damon to bring us a story focused on how Nike got put on the map. By betting the house on a rookie NBA player named Michael and building a sneaker line around him—forever changing the world of sports and athletic wear. Although it’s an Amazon-produced film, Air is starting off with a theatrical run before it inevitably gets added to Amazon Prime.

2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

IN THEATERS NOW

Wahoo! Super Mario and his pals have come to the big screen for the first time since the 90s in an animated adaptation that feels true to the video game series it’s based on. This star-studded cast features the likes of Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Jack Black as Bowser. You can check out the family flick in theaters now.

3. Catching Lightning

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

This documentary series investigates how the fighter “Lightning” Lee Murray started from small brawls working his way up to the UFC and then nearly pulled off one of the largest bank robberies in British history. Catching Lightning is split into four parts with the first part hitting Showtime on April 7 at 8:00 PM ET.

4. Paint

IN THEATERS NOW

Owen Wilson starts as a warm-hearted public TV painter with a big poofy perm who is transparently based on the beloved, late Bob Ross. The character of Carl Nargle is challenged when a newer and younger artist takes the spotlight away from his fading career. The IFC Films produced movie is in theaters now.

5. Dave (Season 3)

STREAMING NOW

Follow the journey of an anxiety-filled, sometimes awkward suburbanite to stardom as he believes he will one day be known as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Starring Lil Dicky as a fictionalized version of himself and guest starring a rotating cast of industry greats, this FXX comedy series can be as darkly hilarious as it is surprisingly heartfelt. Season 3 airs weekly on FXX at 10:00 PM ET with new episodes available to stream on Fubo. If you need to catch up, Seasons 1 and 2 can be watched on Hulu.

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of March 31 to April 2

1. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

IN THEATERS NOW

D&D has been around since the 70s but has entered a new renaissance in popularity this last decade in combination due to the rise of actual play podcasts, the easy-to-approach 5th Edition, and a global pandemic that sent many newcomers to play over Zoom. The movie starring Chris Pine, Sophia Lillis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Hugh Grant seems to capture the same lighthearted, pulp-action, fantasy fun players are having around tables across the world.

2. Tetris

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

A movie based on Tetris may sound absolutely ludicrous on its surface, but what we have here is a Cold War thriller about acquiring the licensing and distribution rights to the Soviet Russian-owned video game. Taron Egerton of Kingsman and Rocketman fame stars as the man responsible for bringing the addictive puzzle game into a global sensation. The flick is available to stream now on Apple TV+.

3. Party Down

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

The six-episode revival of the cult-hit catering-based sitcom Party Down premiered back in February—over a decade after season 2’s final episode. This ensemble cast is full of audience favorites like Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Ken Marino, and Martin Starr and the new season picked right back up with all these characters returning to the same dead-end catering gig. The season finale releases on March 31 at 10:00 PM ET on Starz and the Starz app.

4. Everything Everywhere All at Once

STREAMING NOW

The 2023 Oscars were dominated by the Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (collectively known as “Daniels”) film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Having received 11 nominations and won seven awards, this genre-blending absurdist action-comedy drama will overload the senses and leave you laughing as much as crying. The story follows a middle-aged immigrant mother pulled into an insane, multiversal adventure with stakes both at intimate and interdimensional levels. On the surface, it’s an over-the-top action-comedy movie with fights the likes of which you’ve never seen. At its heart, it’s the story of intergenerational trauma and the love between a mother and daughter. It’s streaming now on Paramaount+.

5. Knock at the Cabin

STREAMING NOW

This new horror flick from M. Night Shyamalan follows a young girl and her parents vacationing at a remote cabin. Their cozy getaway is turned on its head after being taken hostage by four armed strangers informing them one member of their family must be sacrificed to avoid apocalyptic consequences. And you know when Dave Bautista has his tiny glasses on, he’s going to give a bone-chilling performance.

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of March 24 to 26

1. Succession

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

After a short week off following the season finale of The Last of Us, we have our HBO Sunday nights back with the season 4 premiere of Succession. Between this and The White Lotus, HBO really has been cornering the market in Emmy-award-winning shows where we get to watch rich people be miserable. The Roy family returns for its final season in squabbling for Dad’s approval and attention on March 26 at 9:00 PM ET.

2. Yellowjackets

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

A promising high school girls’ soccer team has their futures ripped away from them after a plane taking them to a championship game crashes in the Ontario wilderness. The story follows a dual-narrative focusing on what the group of teenage girls had to do to survive back in this 1990s horror fiasco paired with a present-day mystery involving those who made it out. Melanie Lynskey is a rockstar here and season 2 kicks back this Sunday at 9:00 PM ET on Showtime.

3. John Wick: Chapter 4

IN THEATERS NOW

John Wick is thinkin’ he’s back for a fourth time. Keanu Reeves returns once more as the titular hitman with an even bigger price on his head than ever before. He’s joined on screen by the likes of Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ian McShane, and, of course, the late Lance Reddick. John Wick: Chapter 4 hit theaters today, March 24.

4. Lucky Hank

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

Bob Odenkirk returns for a brand new AMC series after concluding his run as the lovable scoundrel Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Lucky Hank is a comedy based on the 1997 novel Straight Man by Richard Russo. Professor Hank Deveraux is a teacher having a midlife crisis that goes over the deep end (sound familiar?) To get an idea for the tone, the story is being adapted for television by Paul Lieberstein who has written for shows like King of the Hill and The Office in which he portrayed Toby. The next episode airs Sunday night at 9:00 PM ET on AMC. and the first episode is actually available on YouTube for free.

5. Double Fine Psych Odyssey

STREAMING NOW

This is by far the most comprehensive behind-the-scenes look into video game development. Double Fine Psych Odyssey follows the seven-year development cycle of the sequel to the beloved 3D platformer Psychonauts. This 32-part series totaling at 20+ hours takes an in-depth look at the Double Fine team’s struggle to find funding, navigate interpersonal drama, and overcome creative conflicts—eventually resulting in the release of Psychonauts 2. If you have even the slightest interest in what goes into the creation of your favorite games, this is a must-watch. And it’s free in its entirety on YouTube.

REWIND: What We Were Watching and Streaming the Weekend of March 17 to 19

1. Ted Lasso

STREAMING NOW

The beloved Jason Sudekis vehicle returns for its third and possibly final season. AFC Richmond has worked its way back into the Premier League but now faces a former friend now rival in West Ham United’s new coach Nate Shelley (Nick Mohammed). Well, have to see if the everpresent optimism of the warmhearted Ted Lasso can bring the underdog team to victory. Or at least not last place. The first episode is live now and new episodes drop on Apple TV+ at 3:00 AM ET.

2. March Madness

Everyone’s favorite NCAA Tournament is in full swing. The games are split across CBS, TBS, and TNT which is no biggie for those subscribed to cable packages, but if you’ve gone fast and loose with cutting the cord, you can still tune in for each game. The TBS and TNT games can be watched with a Sling TV subscription which is only $20 for the first month. Paramount+ and its premium tier will get you the CBS games for $9.99. And then you can always cancel after March Madness concludes and re-up next year.

3. Money Shot: The Pornhub Story

STREAMING NOW

This 94-minute documentary deep dives with performers, activists, and past employees of the biggest name in the industry responsible for teenagers being able to use a mouse with their left hand just as well as their right hand. Director Suzzanne Hillinger takes a close look at the scandals and successes surrounding Pornhub over the years and gives a voice to the sex workers behind the porn many of us watch every day. Maybe not every day, but a lot of days.

4. Shazam! Fury of the Gods

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

In a pile of dark and edgy melodrama that the DC cinematic universe is built on, the first Shazam! came as a pleasant surprise that embraced its goofy nature and stood out among the other films in its franchise. It’s hard to not smile at Zachary Levi’s childish charm and its sequel appears to bring more of the same which is a good thing. You can watch him take on a new trio of villains called the Daughters of Atlus in theaters now.

5. Monster Factory

STREAMING NOW

If you’re trying to justify your Apple TV+ subscription beyond Ted Lasso, tune in for the premiere of Monster Factory. This docuseries follows a wrestling school of lovable misfits training for their chance at going pro. Watch as they quite literally learn the ropes while leaving their blood, sweat, and tears in the ring chasing their dream. The six-episode series all dropped at once so have at it.

As the new nostalgia-baiting, Chris Pratt-starring Super Mario Bros. Movie collects coins (*dinging sound effect*) at the box office, the speculating goombas of the retro video game market are getting stomped by a market correction. 

During the pandemic, alternative investing markets became invincibility star-level unstoppable. The price of sneakers, bitcoins, paintings, JPEGs of primates, cardboard pocket monsters, and Wu-Tang albums shot up as enthusiasts and speculators gleefully watched line graphs side scroll up and to the right. In 2021, an anonymous bidder paid $1.56 million for a copy of Super Mario 64 (a 1996 N64 classic, and a pioneer for 3D platformers)—still in its original packaging—through Heritage Auctions. It was a record price for a video game, just two days after an early production copy of The Legend of Zelda (1986) sold for $870,000.

Now it seems like the market is giving way faster than a sand pit (*Wahwah sound effect*). But assets, like heroic Italian plumbers, have multiple lives. Resurrection is part of the game.

“If you have the first million-dollar sale of something, in theory, that should be followed by many more millions of dollars,” says Kelsey Lewin, codirector of the Video Game History Foundation and co-owner of Pink Gorilla, a chain of retro game stores based in Seattle. “It didn’t really end up working out that way for video games.”

Mario didn’t become Basquiat. The Super Mario 64 sale remains a record, and the overall market has since been “challenged, both by idiosyncratic issues as well as issues plaguing broader, speculative collectible markets,” the research firm Altan Insights wrote in a 2022 report, noting that its Fractional Video Game Index had dropped by almost 48 percent since 2021.

There were always rumors of the self-dealing among collectors. And that made sense. Self-dealing or creative manipulation drove up the price of a number of blockchain assets and is a feature of the art market. But Lewin knows both the buyer and seller in the record sale and he doesn’t doubt its authenticity. He’s just confused by the why of it all.

“There were dozens of known [sealed] copies of Super Mario 64,” she says. “It felt like firing too soon on the wrong thing. A million-dollar video game would have absolutely happened naturally. This one felt a little bit more artificial.”

But that statement underlines the opportunity. The first million-dollar video game was going to happen. Bubble or no, it’s reason enough for a hundred thousand former Duck Hunters to go rifling through the basement cabinets.

“We all thought it was going to be the very first Super Mario Bros. (1985) on the NES. And the earliest print possible,” Lewin says, explaining that a sealed copy of the first print has never been found. There’s a reason why. They were issued on a limited basis. “You would have to be one of the crazy people who picked up an NES in New York City at FAO Schwarz, bought some games, took it home, and decided to never open Mario in order to have one.”

The gamers vs. the ‘rich people.’

The Super Mario 64 exposed a deep division. 

While a legitimate game collecting market has existed since the late ‘90s, when enthusiasts bought, sold, and traded the scarcest titles then—see: your dad’s dusty Atari cartridges—it was a small-scale, low-stakes affair. In the 2000s, collecting grew out a genuine passion and nostalgia for the earliest Nintendo titles in the ‘80s and ‘90s, as that era’s kids grew into childless adults with a decent chunk of disposable income.

But the market has been particularly revved up in recent years largely thanks to non-gamer collectors. Around 2017, Lewin first noticed outsiders popping up at retro game conventions, migrating from other spaces, whether superheroes or other memorabilia, seeing an untapped opportunity. 

Whereas traditional gamer types don’t have a natural affinity for unopened, unplayed games, collectors familiar with the auction dynamic world fetishize such objects. “They were like, ‘I’m going to buy every sealed game. I think there’s really something here,’” Lewin remembers of those expos. Then the speculative buying of sealed games took off. Then the finance guys went Bowser online during the pandemic. They were viewed as invaders by the old-school collectors

“They think video games are meant to be played, and rich people are coming in and mucking around,” Lewin says.

“Collect what makes you happy,” says Nintendo obsessive Nick Gray, (@retrogaminguy on Instagram). “The masterpieces will always hold value. I personally only collect what resonates with me.”

Because he sees collecting as a direct path to joy rather than one mediated by cash, Gray doesn’t worry too much about speculators.  Unlike him, speculators gravitate toward massive characters with a lasting cultural imprint and intact shrink-wrapped plastic. Gamers like the weird, esoteric stuff (Game Boy sewing machine, anyone?) and are more interested in maintaining their relics and sharing their joy with others.

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“The thing about these collectors is that there’s only a handful of them who are willing to pony up when it comes to anything over $5,000,” says Nate Walker, an avid retro gamer and the coordinator of the KC Retro Gaming Swap and Collectibles Show in Kansas City, Missouri. “That’s the truth, and they collect pieces and lock them away—Indiana Jones-type shit.”

Walker’s own collection is driven by a desire to “preserve” what he considers a crucial part of game history. But he also delights in hunting down a well-liked retro game for a few bucks at a yard sale, and flipping it for $100 on eBay. Having done that hundreds of times, he’s made some money.

And therein lies the inevitable irony; passion at scale becomes difficult to differentiate from speculation.

‘Get out ahead of the market’

It’s hard to feel bad for the speculators losing money on paper as the retro video game market goes down a pipe. But it’s also hard to argue that they were wrong. Alternative investments are creeping back like so many skeletal turtles. Bitcoin is pushing ahead. The art market is rocking (*course clear sound effect*). The current correction looks more like a buy opportunity than a kill screen.

For those eager to jump into the retro market via their own gaming credentials, Lewin has a couple pro recommendations: start small, keeping your goals modest, so you will quickly accumulate a “mini-collection to feel proud of,” she says. 

And “get out ahead of the market.” N64 and GameCube titles are what’s hot now, but soon it’ll be the very next generation in vintage gaming. “I think right now is a really fantastic time to collect for the PlayStation 4. Very few games are expensive yet, and most are under $25.” Hold on for 5 or 10 years, and you might be surprised what your stash is worth.

BEST INDIE DARLING

Stray

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BEST SPORTS MEMORABILIA CROSSOVER

Madden NFL 18

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BEST FRANCHISE PLAY

The Last of Us Part II

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Three things are certain in March: daylight savings time, the start of spring, and a riveting end to another NCAA basketball season. March Madness brings the diehard college fan and casual viewer together to fill out brackets of 64 teams with wild optimism.

Today and tomorrow, the excitement begins with the “First Four,” a batch of four games that serve as a primer for the “madness.” They also seed the last four spots. These four games will be on truTV at 6:40 p.m. EDT, with SE Missouri State facing Texas A&M-CC. This will be followed by Pitt playing Mississippi State at 9:10 p.m. EDT.

Tomorrow night the Knights of FDU hit the court against the Tigers of Texas Southern at 6:40 p.m. EDT, with Nevada’s Wolfpack challenging Arizona State’s Sun Devils at 9:10 p.m. EDT. Again, these games will be on truTV.

Thursday, March 16, the tournaments kick into high gear with 16 games across CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV. Get ready for all the hoop action to start with the first game at 12:15 p.m. EDT. The day begins with fan favorites, West Virginia and Maryland. The last game will start at 10:05 p.m. EDT.

The same times will apply for Friday. Once winners start to emerge, the rest begins to shake out. The second round will be on March 18 and 19, then the Sweet 16 on March 23 and 24, followed by the Elite 8 on March 25 and 26. The Final Four head off against each other on April 1, with the Championship decider on April 3.

Now, let us help you fill out that bracket. In the East, Duke and Kentucky are in a good position to make it to the Final Four. Duke is playing insanely well and has one of the best freshman players.

In the Midwest, Kent State will be an exciting team to watch, and they’ve got a bit of underdog charm. If there is an upset this year, we feel good about this team with its incredible turnover margin and great defense. If you’re going to put your money on anyone, Texas is a safe bet after beating an excellent Kansas team by 20 points.

For the West, VCU is a beautifully competitive team in the tournament every year; they’re definitely a second-round team. Iona could very well be a sleeper in 2023. The takeaway is to avoid any Big 10 school — they just aren’t it when performing under pressure.

And finally, in the South, Arizona is the team. They could pull away with the whole kit and caboodle. Alabama should leave this group easily too, with no real challenges, but you never know. That’s why we watch after all; you never know.

Here are a few options so you won’t miss a single game.

Sling TV

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Watch the best month of college basketball for as little as $20 for the first month of SlingTV. This is one of the most affordable packages for both men’s and women’s games on TruTV, TBS, and TNT.

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DirectTV

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All the channels you need starting at $64.99 for Satellite or $74.99 for DirectTV stream. You will have access to local CBS networks and their affiliates, where most games will be televised.

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Paramount+

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Grab every channel you need to watch every game for the whole tournament. Paramount+ runs for only $9.99 a month or $99.99 annually. Bonus points for this package because you can cancel anytime.

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Nerdom loves to make puns out of calendars days to make pseudo-holidays like May the Fourth for Star Wars fans or Julysixth Park for dinosaur heads. Nintendo fans have today, March 10, which ha been deemed MAR10 Day. Now to celebrate, a ton of Mario games for the Switch are on sale! Let’s-a-go!

Nintendo is known to keep its prices relatively high for its first-party games. While companies like Ubisoft will have their new releases cut in half just a couple short months after hitting shelves, Nintendo remains way less fast and loose with its discounts. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a game that launched with the console back in 2017 yet stays at roughly its full price of $60 six years later. That’s why when Nintendo has a sale, it’s a big deal.

Fan favorites like Super Mario Odyessy, Mario Party Superstars, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are all down to $40. Games starring friends of the red hat-wearing plumber like Luigi’s Mansion 3, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, and Yoshi’s Crafted World are also all down to $40.

In addition, the part video game part toy Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is discounted. This Switch game comes with an RC car of either Mario or Luigi which you can drive around your house while controlling from your Nintendo Switch via the built-in camera. That’s down to $60 for each set.

If you’ve been holding out for any discounts before grabbing these must-have Switch titles, stop waiting. This is probably the lowest you’ll see it before the next big sale when everything is down to just $40 again.

Super Mario Odyssey

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$39.00 $59.99

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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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$39.00 $59.99

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Luigi's Mansion 3

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$9.88

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New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

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$39.00 $59.99

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Mario Party Superstars

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$39.99

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Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

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$39.99

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Super Mario Maker 2

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$89.99

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Yoshi's Crafted World

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$39.00 $59.99

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Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

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$59.99 $99.99

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Good news for Funko POP! fans around the world, there’s yet another excellent sale on the big-headed figures, with a staggering array of different films, TV shows, and even musical artists on display here. There’s very little rhyme or reason to any of it, but the discounts are up to 45% off, so it’s hard to argue with.

What’s odd is that the Star Wars Funko POP! sale is still ongoing too, which means that whether it’s for Skywalker and co, or just a mish-mash of different things, now’s a great time to grab some of the best Funko POP! figures around as a treat for a budding collector’s shelf, or as a gift for an upcoming birthday.

Spy has gone ahead and picked out six different options to have a look at, but it’s worth taking some time to check out the full sale to see if there’s anything eye-grabbing there. After all, with such a wide range of options, it’s impossible to put them all into one post.

POP Funko Marvel: Year of The Shield – Captain America Through The Ages 5 Pack

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$32.99 $59.99

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It turns out the world has had a lot of Captain America variations, and this 5-pack shows off some of the ways the outfit has changed through the years.

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Funko Pop! Games: Pokemon – Raichu

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$8.99 $12.99

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People are unlikely to ever actually evolve their Pikachus into Raichu, so this Funko POP! is probably the most attention the poor evolved Pokemon has had in years.

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Funko Pop! Animation: Hunter x Hunter – Gon Freecs Jajank

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$9.99 $12.99

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Hunter x Hunter is an awe-inspiring manga that’s still underway, but got turned into an anime that’s currently finished. It’s a rollercoaster of high and low emotions, and this Funko is of the main character, Gon.

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Funko POP! Animation: Avatar – Aang with Momo

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$9.99 $12.99

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Avatar: The Last Airbender remains one of the best cartoon series of all time, and both Aang and Momo are incredible characters, especially with how cute they look here.

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Funko POP Pop! Disney: Beauty and The Beast – Belle

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$9.49 $12.99

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Beauty and The Beast is a classic tale, one as old as time, no matter how many times it gets remade. This Belle figure shows the titular beauty holding a mirror with a tiny beast in it.

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Funko Pop! Albums: Linkin Park – Reanimation

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$11.49 $13.87

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This is one of the most interesting Funko POP! offerings. Lots of people adored Linkin Park, and can now show that love on a shelf by grabbing this unique tribute.

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