2024 movies and TV shows to stream while enjoying your Thanksgiving leftovers

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

After filling up on turkey, pumpkin pie, and all of those tasty side dishes, finding a comfy spot on the couch to relax is definitely the move once guests have gone their merry way, or you’ve made your merry way back to your place. As we head into the final few weeks of the year, there are a ton of new TV shows and recent movie releases now available on streaming to catch up on as you dive into all of those leftovers. From sci-fi epics to family-friendly sequels and more, here are 10 movies from 2024 to stream over Thanksgiving break, plus five bingeworthy shows.2024 movies to streamGlen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones in “Twisters.”Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, & Amblin Entertainment1. ‘Alien: Romulus’[embedded content]Halloween may be in the rearview mirror, but if you’re in need of a good scare with some sci-fi flair, check out the latest installment in the “Alien” franchise. Set in between Ridley Scott’s 1979 “Alien” and James Cameron’s 1986 “Aliens,” director Fede Álvarez takes the helm for “Romulus,” which once again features spacefaring colonists fighting for their lives against the dreaded, face-hugging Xenomorphs. Starring Cailee Spaeny, the new flick earned 3 stars from Globe film critic Odie Henderson, who called it “the best ‘Alien’ movie since Cameron’s first sequel.” Available on Hulu2. ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’[embedded content]Will Smith and Martin Lawrence returned this summer for another round as Miami’s gun-slinging detectives Mike and Marcus in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” In the franchise’s fourth installment, the dynamic duo is on the run from some shady characters and must clear their names and restore the honor of their late boss, Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano). “This by-the-numbers hat tip to ‘The Fugitive’ even gets its own Tommy Lee Jones clone in the guise of FBI agent Judy Howard,” played by “Better Call Saul” star Rhea Seehorn, “who relentlessly pursues our heroes with more than one score to settle,” Henderson writes in his 2½-star review. Available on Netflix3. ‘Challengers’[embedded content]One of the steamiest films of 2024, “Challengers” is a tennis drama with a sexy spin, thanks to a love triangle among stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist. Directed by Luca Guadagnino and filmed around the Boston area, “Challengers” focuses on a trio of tennis players whose personal lives mingle with their athletic ambitions, leading to a fiery face-off on the court. “It’s tennis match as ménage à trois,” the Globe’s Mark Feeney writes in his 2½-star review. Available on Amazon Prime Video and MGM+4. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’[embedded content]The Marvel Cinematic Universe got a much needed shot in the arm with “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which brought the Merc with a Mouth into the same onscreen, multiversal playground as Captain America and the Hulk. Ryan Reynolds reprised his role as the katana-wielding antihero, this time teaming up with a variant of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine (albeit as a different version that has not yet appeared in the “X-Men” films), along with other superheroic misfits from past Marvel franchises. Feeney writes in his 2½-star review that the fourth-wall-breaking flick “is an extended (and very bloody) live-action Bugs Bunny movie, with Deadpool in the role of Bugs.” Available on Disney+5. ‘Despicable Me 4′Acton-raised actor and former “The Office” star Steve Carell just can’t quit Gru, returning to the now-reformed villain for a fourth time in the latest “Despicable Me” entry. As Gru tries to embrace family life with his girls and his wife, Lucy (Kristen Wiig), old nemesis Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) is back in his life to cause trouble. A fan of the franchise’s “Minion madness,” Henderson, who “proudly” declares his love of those yellow menaces in his glowing review, gave the family-friendly sequel 3 stars. Available on Peacock6. ‘Dune: Part Two’[embedded content]As one of the year’s highest-grossing box office hits, director Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” had fans flocking to theaters. Picking up in the aftermath of the first installment, Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides looks to lead the Fremen of Arrakis against House Harkonnen, the forces that killed his father and took control of the planet from his family. Also starring Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Josh Brolin, the sci-fi epic now has a prequel series, “Prophecy,” which recently debuted on HBO. Available on Max7. ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’[embedded content]In a year of sequels, prequels, and in-between-quels, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” brought the post-apocalyptic thrills to theaters in 2024. Anya Taylor-Joy plays a younger version of the fierce Imperator previously played by Charlize Theron in 2015’s “Fury Road,” with director George Miller shining the spotlight on the character’s action-packed origin story. Henderson writes in his 2½-star review that “Furiosa” is filled with “exciting action set pieces, all of which show Miller’s unmatched, preternatural skill at staging motor vehicle-inspired chaos.” Available on Max8. ‘Inside Out 2′“Inside Out 2″ was by far the biggest winner at this year’s box office, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all-time and the highest-grossing film overall of 2024 so far. Once again Amy Poehler stars as the emotion Joy. The Burlington-raised actress is joined this time around by a few new faces like Dorchester native Ayo Edebiri, as Envy, as they look to help the now hockey-playing Riley (Kensington Tallman) adjust to high school. Henderson writes in his 3-star review that “all the voice talent is good here, including the returning Poehler.” Available on Disney+9. ‘Thelma’[embedded content]Writer-director Josh Margolin gave audiences one the year’s biggest surprise hits with “Thelma” this summer. June Squibb, the 94-year-old actress, gets her first leading role in this hilarious action-comedy about a senior citizen who seeks revenge against a phone scammer. Also starring the legendary Richard Roundtree, “Thelma” earned 4 stars from Henderson, who called it “one of the year’s best films.” Available on Hulu10. ‘Twisters’[embedded content]This past summer of sequels found another surprise hit in “Twisters,” from director Lee Isaac Chung, a follow-up to Jan de Bont’s 1996 cult classic action flick. While the latest weather disaster film doesn’t feature any returning cast members, the new crop of storm chasers played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos shine as they face down tornados in the name of science (and YouTube views). Henderson gave “Twisters” 2½ stars in his review, writing that it “lives up to the sequel maxim of being louder, larger, and busier.” Available on Peacock2024 TV shows to streamAyo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White in “The Bear.”FX1. ‘The Bear’[embedded content]Not caught up on “The Bear” yet? Now’s the perfect time. Find that spark of culinary creativity with your leftovers courtesy of Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), and the Beef gang, who have transformed their Chicago joint into a fine-dining destination entering season three, which premiered this summer. While the latest installment doesn’t boast any chaotic holiday hoopla like season two’s unforgettable “Fishes” episode with Jamie Lee Curtis, the Berzatto matriarch does return for a more heartwarming appearance this season. “It’s a very good TV show, still, with first-rate portraiture,” former Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert lauded in his review. Available on Hulu2. ‘Hacks’[embedded content]No one’s been able to catch Jean Smart yet at the Emmys, as the acclaimed actress has won the award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for all three seasons of “Hacks” so far, including this year. For those who haven’t tuned in yet, the series centers around Smart’s Deborah Vance, a stand-up comic legend, and the budding bond with Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a young writer, as they help each other with their comedy careers. “Their evolved dynamic has helped to make season 3 a joy,” Glibert wrote in his review of the latest season. “The show has a new warmth, and something to root for.” Available on Max3. ‘Only Murders in the Building’[embedded content]Hulu’s comedy murder mystery continues to bring the laughs and the big-name stars, with the likes of Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy, and Eva Longoria all joining the fun this season. Meanwhile, Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short are back as the unlikely trio of true crime podcasters turned sleuths who must embark on a new investigation. Ahead of season four’s debut this past summer, the Globe’s Don Aucoin wrote that the show “deserves the fervent following it has attracted since its debut in 2021.” Available on Hulu4. ‘Shogun’[embedded content]No show earned as much acclaim in 2024 as FX’s “Shogun,” which set an Emmys record by taking home 18 awards this year, including the nod for outstanding drama series — a first for a Japanese-language show. Based on the James Clavell novel of the same name, “Shogun” follows Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a powerful leader at odds with his rivals in 17th-century Japan, finding an unlikely ally (and pawn) in English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), who becomes entangled in Japanese politics and palace intrigue. “The visuals are stunning, the storytelling is tight, the clashing and coinciding of agendas is brutal and engaging, and the performances are consistently strong,” Gilbert wrote of “Shogun” in his look at some of 2024’s top shows. Available on Hulu5. ‘Slow Horses’[embedded content]In addition to all the great outfits, acclaimed actor Gary Oldman also continues to shine as the curmudgeonly Jackson Lamb in Apple TV+’s “Slow Horses.” The British spy series, which has already been renewed for a fifth and sixth season, just wrapped its fourth season in October, continuing the odyssey of Oldman’s Lamb as he leads Slough House, a purgatory for wayward agents looking to get back into the espionage saddle. The show’s third season scored nine Emmy nominations in 2024, earning the win in the outstanding writing for a drama series category for the episode “Negotiating With Tigers” penned by Will Smith. Available on Apple TV+Matt Juul can be reached at [email protected].

NYU to expand science and tech footprint at 770 Broadway

Science and Health

(Kaleo Zhu for WSN)

NYU will take over a 1.1 million-square-foot office space located at 770 Broadway, directly above Wegmans Astor Place, to expand its programming in science and technology. 
University spokesperson John Beckman said in a statement to WSN that the location was chosen for its proximity to other NYU buildings. The site is less than a 10-minute walk from the Silver Center and the Brown Building, both of which house most of the university’s laboratory facilities.
“770 Broadway is an exciting and important development, critical to fulfilling NYU’s bold aspirations in science and tech,” Beckman said. “We look forward to finalizing this transaction and then sharing more about our plans.” 
Under its lease with Vornado Realty Trust, NYU will pay a portion of the $700 million loan upfront and rent the space on an annual basis. Steve Roth, CEO of the real estate company  Vornado Realty Trust, had said that he expects negotiations with the university to close in January. Roth also said that without the advanced payment, the space averages around $100 per square foot — slightly above Manhattan’s median price. NYU will not have the option to buy the building until the 30th and 70th year of the lease. 
Students and staff who use the building will share the space with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, which has downsized its presence but will continue to lease around 500,000 square feet of the office space. 
NYU ranks as one of Manhattan’s largest owners of private property, surpassed only by Columbia University. Its property in the borough consists of 95 addresses that have a combined value of nearly $2.5 billion — making it the city’s wealthiest private landowner. 
The university has been pushing new STEM-related initiatives for several years. The most recent purchase comes after the university pledged to invest $1 billion in its current engineering facilities and faculty at the Tandon School of Engineering, which include the 3 MetroTech Center — a 10-story, 350,000-square-foot building in Brooklyn. NYU is also expanding its College of Arts & Science into a new site at 25 W. Fourth St., set to open next semester.
Contact Kaitlyn Sze Tu at [email protected].

“Money Heist” Director Starts Filming Netflix Movie About Karlag

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

ASTANA – Miguel Ángel Vivas, the acclaimed Spanish director of “Money Heist” (“La Casa de Papel”), has started filming “The Truce” (“La Tregua”), a Kazakh-Spanish movie about Karlag under an exclusive Netflix contract, the Karagandy Region administration’s press office reported on Nov. 26.
Photo credit: gov.kz. Click to see the map in full size. The map is designed by The Astana Times.
Karlag, short for Karaganda Corrective Labor Camp, was one of the largest labor camps within the Soviet Gulag system. Established in 1931, it was located in the Karagandy Region of Kazakhstan.
The film will tell about the hardships faced by people during the 1930s-1950s and the resilience of human dignity despite the daily struggle for survival. The atmosphere of Karlag will be conveyed through costumes, props, and sets created after extensive research in archives and museums.
The director placed his bet on the actors’ skills. The leading roles in the new film will be taken by Miguel Herrán, who played Rio in “Money Heist,” and Arón Piper, who played Ander Muñoz in the Netflix teen drama series “Elite.” Among Kazakh actors are Dina Tasbulatova, Altynai Nogerbek, Sergey Ufimtsev, and Farabi Akkozov.
Miguel Ángel Vivas, the acclaimed Spanish director of “Money Heist” (“La Casa de Papel”), has started filming “The Truce” (“La Tregua”), a Kazakh-Spanish movie about Karlag. Photo credit: gov.kz
Initially, the movie was planned to be filmed in Kazakhstan, but later plans changed – a replica of Karlag was built near the Spanish city of Bilbao.
“We are aware that it is impossible to accurately reproduce the entire setting – the Kazakh steppe, – but we have made every effort. Our team has studied a huge amount of documents; a colossal amount of work has been done by a group of production designers. It was a challenge, but we did everything possible to recreate a piece of Kazakhstan here in Bilbao,” said César Benítez, the director of Plano a Plano, the production company behind the film.
Photo credit: gov.kz
“The Truce” marks the first Netflix project with active involvement from Kazakh actors, producers, and coordinators. General producer Amanat Konakbayev emphasized the film’s potential to promote international cooperation.
“In the current conditions, when the world is facing challenges and searching for common ground, such projects show that art can unite,” he said.
Filming will take two and a half months, and the filmmakers hope to showcase the movie at major category-A film festivals.

Scientists make embarrassing discovery on asteroid sample they thought had signs of alien life

Science and Health

HOPES of finding traces of alien life in the universe have been scuppered yet again. And this time on asteroid Ryugu, a space rock with an orbit that passes between Earth and Mars. Photo taken of the surface of asteroid RyuguCredit: JAXASamples collected from asteroid RyuguCredit: JAXAThe asteroid Ryugu, as seen by Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft on June 26, 2018Credit: JAXAThe Hayabusa2 spacecraft collected the samples in February 2019, and delivered them to Earth in December 2020Credit: EPAThe Japanese Space Agency’s (JAXA) Hayabusa2 spacecraft retrieved the samples from Ryugu in 2019.Last year, stunned researchers found two organic compounds that are essential for living organisms in samples of the distant asteroid. The discovery supported the theory that perhaps space rocks like asteroids and meteors carry seeds of alien life used colonise the galaxy.But a team of researchers, led by Matthew Genge of Imperial College London, have since squashed that theory – at least in relation to asteroid Ryugu. READ MORE ON SPACEIn a recent paper published in the journal Meteoritics & Planetary Science, researchers confirmed that while the samples did host evidence of microbial life – it was not from an unknown alien species. The microorganisms, instead, originated a lot closer to home: on Earth.The findings indicate that the samples got contaminated by human microorganisms – tiny, microscopic creatures like bacteria, fungi and viruses. Trillions of microbes live in and on the human body, helping it to digest food and even fight against infection.Most read in ScienceThe discovery has branded these microorganisms the “world’s greatest colonisers” for their ability to spread even with the greatest precautions. Nasa finally opens mysterious sample from Bennu ‘doomsday asteroid’ – after battling lid for two months”The presence of terrestrial microorganism within a sample of Ryugu underlines that microorganisms are the world’s greatest colonisers and adept at circumventing contamination controls,” the paper reads. “The presence of microorganisms within space-returned samples, even those subject to stringent contamination controls is, therefore, not necessarily evidence of an extraterrestrial origin.”The “box of treasure”, as Nasa affectionately named the samples, were transported in hermetically sealed chambers, and opened in nitrogen filled clean rooms.Each particle was picked with sterilised tools, which were stored under nitrogen in airtight containers.”The discovery emphasizes that terrestrial biota can rapidly colonize extraterrestrial specimens even given contamination control precautions,” the team concluded.Space samples may even provide an untouched breeding ground for Earth-based microorganisms. What’s the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet?Here’s what you need to know, according to Nasa…Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth)Meteoroid: When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroidsMeteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it’ll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning upMeteorite: If a meteoroid doesn’t vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth’s atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteoriteComet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vaporizing)The Hayabusa2 spacecraft collected the samples in February 2019, and delivered them to Earth in December 2020. The rocky grains were extracted in Japan in July 2021 and analysed at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Centre later that same year. A small amount of sample – 30mg or roughly 0.001 ounce – was allocated for the international soluble organic analysis team. The sample was extracted like tea, according to Nasa, in many different solvents in Japan and analysed in labs in Japan, Goddard, and Europe.The Ryugu samples will be studied for years, alongside crumbles of asteroid Bennu that were collected by Nasa’s OSIRIS-REx mission.READ MORE SUN STORIESLaunched in 2016, the OSIRIS-REx mission’s target was Bennu, a “near-Earth” asteroid thought to have formed during the solar system’s first 10million years.The Bennu samples were returned to Earth in 2023, and eventually opened in January 2024 after some struggle opening the container they were stored in.After the container is successfully opened, scientists will document the asteroid samples with ultra-high-resolution photographs before weighing themCredit: SWNSAn artist’s depiction of asteroid Bennu which is believed to date back to the early days of our solar systemCredit: SWNS

Marshall High’s health science program preps students for careers in healthcare

Science and Health

Erica Wilson, a health science teacher at Marshall High School, is leading the charge in preparing students for healthcare careers through an expanded curriculum that now includes certifications in phlebotomy, medical assisting and electrocardiography (EKG).The program, which has grown significantly since Wilson introduced phlebotomy five years ago, now enrolls nearly 400 students across various health science courses.Wilson, who has seven years of teaching experience at Marshall High School, brings a wealth of industry knowledge as a practicing lab technician at Christus Good Shepherd.#placement_588539_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}She initiated the phlebotomy program to address healthcare industry demands and provide students with marketable skills.“When I first arrived, we only had a small certified nursing assistant (CNA) program with about 10 students,” Wilson said, “I knew there was an opportunity to grow by adding programs like medical assisting and phlebotomy, which are highly sought after in healthcare.”Today, Marshall High’s health science program has expanded to include six dual-credit courses offered through Panola College, enabling students to earn certifications and college credits while still in high school.Enrollment has since surged, with 396 students now participating, making it one of the largest career and technical education programs on campus, according to Wilson.Wilson attributes the growth to the program’s alignment with industry needs.“I had to demonstrate why these programs were necessary,” she said, “Healthcare requires trained professionals, and these courses prepare students for immediate job opportunities; the response has been overwhelmingly positive from students, parents and the community.”Students begin their journey in the program as freshmen with foundational courses like principles of health science.Over four years, they progress through subjects such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology.By the time they enter certification courses in their junior and senior years, students are well-prepared for hands-on training.“We start with the basics like safety, bloodborne pathogens and patient communication,” Wilson said, “By October, phlebotomy students are already practicing live draws; once they overcome that first patient interaction, their confidence soars.”In addition to clinical skills, students learn about the legal and ethical aspects of healthcare, including HIPAA compliance.They also gain trauma training, CPR certification and hands-on experience with advanced equipment like centrifuges.Through partnerships with Christus Good Shepherd facilities in Marshall and Longview, students gain real-world experience during clinical rotations.Wilson emphasized that the program’s rigorous standards ensure students are prepared for professional environments.“Students don’t just observe — they work” she said, “They’re riding on my license during their rotations, so they must demonstrate competence and confidence before starting clinicals.”With a 100% pass rate for phlebotomy and medical assisting certification exams in recent years, the program has established a strong track record of success.Marshall High’s health science program is set to grow further, with a new state-of-the-art facility funded through a CTE bond project.The building will feature advanced labs, modern equipment and specialized spaces to support the growing enrollment.“This expansion is a testament to how far we’ve come,” Wilson said, “Our students graduate with certifications, job-ready skills, and a strong foundation to pursue higher education or enter the workforce; it’s exciting to see them succeed.”

Seaside tourist attraction files for insolvency amid £51m debt

Travel

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreA seaside tourist attraction which owes £51 million to the council has filed for insolvency.Bosses of Brighton seafront’s observation tower, Brighton i360, have announced the notification of administrators, blaming escalating costs, bad summer weather and the cost-of-living crisis as the reasons behind the decision.But Brighton and Hove City Council chiefs have said the “extremely disappointing” move will hit the council’s budget after it loaned millions to the project in 2014 and remains the biggest creditor.The viewing deck will remain open while it enters the financial process and reviews options including for administrators to try to find a buyer to rescue the tourist attraction.The city landmark opened in 2016, after councillors agreed to take out a Government loan and pass it on to developers.As of November 2024, the total amount owed to the council was £51 million, while the actual loss to the council stands at £32 million for its loan debt and interest repayable to the Government, the council said.The i360 in Brighton opened in 2016 (Steve Parsons/PA)

Anurag Kashyap’s canned debut film ‘Paanch’ to release after 22 years

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Anurag Kashyap’s maiden directorial ‘Paanch’ is finally going to see the light of the day after 22 years! After The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) raised objections, the film got canned in 2003. The film didn’t recieve the green light for its violence, depiction of drug abuse, and use of strong language. Now, Tutu Sharma, one of ‘Paanch’s producers, has confirmed that the Kay Kay Menon-led title will get a theatrical release “within six months.” Reportedly, the film is based on the 1976–77 Joshi-Abhyankar serial murders in Pune.
In his conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Tutu Sharma revealed that Anurag Kashyap’s debut directorial is finally hitting theatres. He said, “Paanch is definitely coming next year. I plan to release it in cinemas within six months. The film was banned and the negatives have slightly deteriorated. The process of restoring them has already started. As soon as it’s ready, we’ll release Paanch.”

He added, “The issues (with the Central Board of Film Certification) were resolved. But then we faced some more challenges; hence, the film was lying on the cans. Also, the trend of re-runs is here now. So, one can imagine the potential of Paanch. That’s a very encouraging sign. Also, the times are such that such films are being watched, and they have an audience.”

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Nationwide books £2.3bn gain on Virgin Money UK acquisition

Arts & Culture, Books

Nationwide Building Society has booked a larger than expected accounting gain of £2.3 billion on its acquisition of Virgin Money UK, while reporting a 24 per cent slide in underlying interim profits.Britain’s biggest mutual with 16 million customers said the gain on acquisition was because the £2.8 billion purchase price for Virgin was at a large discount to its book value and its fair-value assessment of Virgin’s assets.Underlying profits at Nationwide fell to £959 million in the six months to 30 September as the society passed on higher than average savings rates to its customers and because of the timing effect of base rate changes.Member benefits — a calculation of how much is passed on to members in better than average savings and mortgage rates and other perks — rose from £885 million to £950 million.Debbie Crosbie, chief executive, indicated that the society was on track to pay its so-called Fairer Share Payment to core customers again next year. This amounted to £100 payouts for3.85 million members last time.AdvertisementShe hailed record half-year net new lending of £6 billion and record new depositor balances of £8.3 billion as evidence of Nationwide’s strong showing and said the profit on the Virgin deal gave it the headroom to cover the integration costs and fresh investment in customer service.She announced 500 new jobs in call centres and business support arrangements to help cement Virgin into the wider group.Even with the accounting profit, however, Nationwide’s core capital ratio has fallen sharply from 28.4 per cent to 19.6 per cent as it shoulders more risk-weighted assets from the deal.Nationwide surprised the mutual sector when it announced its cash bid for Virgin earlier this year, a deal that has made it the second biggest mortgage provider and pushed it deeper into credit cards and business banking.It now says it is the second biggest retail bank in the UK. “We now have a connection with one in three people in the UK,” Crosbie said.AdvertisementShe said the society’s controversial advertising campaign, which features a venal and arrogant high street bank boss played by Dominic West, was achieving “cut-through with young people” and helped win the bank a record 39,000 new student current accounts, up from 14,700 last time.Nationwide was forced to change the wording of the adverts after a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority from Santander but has carried on the campaign.Credit quality was good, with a tiny £7 million set aside for future defaults, down from £54 million last time. The closely watched net interest margin — the difference between average lending rates and average deposit rates — widened to 1.5 per cent from 1.46 per cent but was down on the full-year number of 1.66 per cent.John Cronin, analyst at SeaPoint Insights, said the Virgin accounting gain was the standout feature of the results: “It is much higher than had been expected when the deal was first announced and reflects positive fair value adjustments at acquisition, as well as some tangible equity build at Virgin Money UK since the deal was first announced.”

The Top 10 Christmas films with the most blunders & bloopers

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

With the holidays around the corner and the recent release of ‘Meet Me Next Christmas’ igniting a jaw-dropping 1,100% surge in global interest, it’s clear: holiday movie marathon season is officially here!
But as we settle in with our favourite Christmas classics, have you ever wondered if those beloved films are as seamless as they seem? According to a new report from CasinoAus even the most iconic holiday flicks are sprinkled with festive fails and laughable blunders. From continuity errors to unexpected crew cameos, these charming mishaps only add to the magic of the season.The Goofiest Holiday Films1. A Christmas Story (1983)Topping the list is Bob Clark’s A Christmas Story, with an astonishing 100 blunders packed into its runtime—averaging 1.08 mishaps per minute! The majority of these (56 to be exact) are continuity errors, disrupting the film’s visual flow in amusing ways.
Some standout gaffes include:A crew member popping into frame.

A jar of pickles mysteriously reappearing after it disappears.Despite its goofs, this classic family comedy holds an impressive 7.9/10 IMDb rating, proving that holiday spirit trumps perfection every time.2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)In second place is the chaotic and hilarious National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. With 104 blunders averaging 1.07 mishaps per minute, this fan-favourite doesn’t skimp on festive fails.
One of its most famous goofs? The moon remains inexplicably full for ten consecutive days on Clark Griswold’s advent calendar! But even with its flaws, the film has cemented itself as a holiday must-watch, boasting a solid 7.5 IMDb score.3. Home Alone (1990)Coming in third is the iconic Home Alone. While Kevin McCallister’s ingenious traps baffle the bad guys, they didn’t escape eagle-eyed movie buffs, who spotted 99 blunders in the film.Highlights include:
A Tide detergent bottle that magically vanishes.

A boot that alternates between dry and wet in the same scene.Still, with over £379 million in box office earnings, Home Alone remains the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time and a staple for families worldwide.Here’s the top 10 blunders and bloopers:RankMovieYearNumber of MishapsIMDb Rating/10Number of Mishaps per minute1A Christmas Story19831007.91.082National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation19891047.51.073Home Alone1990997.70.964Gremlins1984777.30.735It’s a Wonderful Life1946638.60.486Love Actually2003647.60.477Elf2003457.10.468Jingle All The Way1996335.70.379How the Grinch Stole Christmas2000376.30.3610The Santa Clause1994346.60.35Why We Love These BlundersAn expert from CasinoAus reflects on the findings:
“These findings remind us that holiday movies, especially the nostalgic classics, hold a special charm that goes beyond flawless filmmaking. Christmas films are like comfort food for the soul, and their little mishaps actually add to the magic rather than take away from it. When we rewatch these movies, we’re not just seeing a story – we’re revisiting fond memories, childhood traditions, and that warm, familiar feeling. So, a few continuity errors or crew cameos? Those quirks give us even more reason to embrace these films as beloved holiday staples. After all, the spirit of Christmas is about joy and togetherness, not perfection!”Celebrate the Season with Your Favorite ClassicsSo as you queue up your holiday movie marathon this year, keep an eye out for those sneaky slip-ups. Whether it’s a misplaced prop, a wandering crew member, or a hilarious continuity error, these moments are just another reason to love the films that bring us so much holiday joy.After all, imperfections are what make the holidays, and the movies we adore truly special. 🎄