Screenwriter Matthew Robinson stopped by r/movies to discuss his genre-bending new film, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. Directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Sam Rockwell, the movie blends time travel, alien invasions, and dark humor into a unique sci-fi cocktail.

In this AMA, Robinson opened up about writing for Rockwell's specific voice, the catharsis of darker plot lines, and the video game logic that fuels the story.

Casting the leads

Question:

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When you were writing the big monologue at the start of the movie, did you have Sam Rockwell in mind? It's a pretty ballsy way to start a movie if you don't have an actor that can carry that scene.

Matthew Robinson:

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I genuinely try to never have an actor in mind when writing a character, but... I 100 percent had Sam in mind the entire time. It was just impossible to shake from my head once I started writing "in his voice". He always was the prototype. Before Gore was involved, we used to tell people we wanted a "sam Rockwell type" for the role, never dreaming it would actually be him.

Question:

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Went in not knowing a ton about the movie but wanted to see Sam Rockwell. The high school scenes including the school shooting aftermath and cloning support group were unhinged in the best way. Everyone in the theater were laughing and gasping in disbelief simultaneously.

Do you have 1st hand experience dealing with schools either as a former teacher or by having kids in a school system?

Did you have Juno Temple in mind as the mother when you wrote that part? Her performance is incredible.

Thank you for your service.

Matthew Robinson:

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Great question! No formal teaching experience, but I tutored kids in my 20's. I spent a long time working on a pilot that never got picked up about public school teachers, so I had spent some time writing in that world before I got to GLHFDD. I also wrote the script before having kids (I have two now, who are now in the public school system -- not sure I would have had the stomach to write it post-kids.) I agree with you Juno is INCREDIBLE but I wasn't writing with anyone in mind for Susan at the time.

Structuring the story

Question:

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I read the January 2023 draft of the script a while ago. How long have you been kicking this premise around, and to what extent did such a wild concept change from the first draft to the final film?

Thanks in advance, you're a solid writer and I'm looking forward to your future output.

Matthew Robinson:

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Thank you. I started writing the script in 2017. The overall structure is exactly the same as it was in the first draft. The opening monologue is actually entirely unchanged. The biggest changes came in working on the Ingrid storyline and the 3rd act. Both of which went through many many many revisions. Ingrid and the Man from the Future were not related in the first draft! It was a such a "DUH!" moment when I realized their relationship a few years into the rewriting process.

Question:

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I love the ending, it really makes you think about the world we live in today and if it could be or reach a point in time where we live in a fabricated reality.

That being said the subject matter in today’s climate is pretty polarizing. When creating this film, did you ever think that the ending might be received differently? Did you have another potential ending or was it always gonna be the one we got in the final film?

Also can you explain how Susan’s son knew so much about what’s going on? There was some stuff he knew that he had no reason to know. Maybe I missed something, is there something special about him?

Matthew Robinson:

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In the original ending The Man from the Future dies, Susan puts on his time travel suit and shows up at Norm's diner to take over his sisyphean task. I still like that ending, but I love them taking on the task together even more -- and of course I love Ingrid being his mother, which wasn't in the original draft. There are so many themes in the movie about motherhood and birth that I can't imagine the movie any differently now.

I wrote a long response a few questions above this one about Susan's son. check it out!

Unraveling the mystery

Question:

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Do you have any explanation why Susan’s AI son already knew about the door?? That’s still my 1 question

Matthew Robinson:

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Great question. There are a few possible reasons for this, these are the main three, all three of them assume that the son is an AI (which, in my opinion, he has to be):

1: Her son is working for the AI the Man from the Future is trying to defeat and is keeping tabs on him through Susan to make sure he doesn't actually succeed but sell the illusion that he's succeeded (which to me is the AI's entire goal -- if the Man from the Future THINKS he's won without actually winning, then he'll stop trying to win)

2: Her son is a rogue AI, that is either already more advanced than the AI the Man from the Future is trying to defeat, or is less advanced and wants to stop the other AI from actualizing so that it has a chance to become the first real AI (second place won't matter in this fight).

3. Her son is a basically just an advanced LMM AI who is trying to fulfill it's programming of "making mother happy" and it knows that what she wants is a real son, so it knows that melding with the real AI will be its best option at achieving that.

In all of these scenarios the son is just a fancy google who was able to look up the blueprints for Norm's online and find the secret door.

Question:

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There’s been a lot of talk that the whole plot and world of the movie was AI and not real with the idea that main character puts on the glasses after he leaves the bunker (that being the only real scenes). Can you shed any light on this theory? To me, it explains the cat being part of the reality. What do you think of overall fan speculation on what is real and what isn’t?

Great movie btw, I had a blast!

Matthew Robinson:

Comment in r/movies

A lot of thought definitely went into the script about if the entirety of it was a simulation or real. I have my own opinion on it, Gore has his own, Sam has his own, I'd imagine most people involved have a theory. It was always important to everyone creatively involved that the movie worked both as a simulation and as reality. I love the idea that it's all Sam's VR hallucination as a child when he puts the headset on. I wish I had thought of that in the writing process! All that being said... I do personally have a hard time explaining the cat outside of simulation theory. Then again... technology from the far flung future would be indistinguishable from magic, right?

Production and advice

Question:

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There’s a blurred line between reality, or what’s presented to us as reality, and the way video games function. Save points. Multiple lives and retries. Treating people like NPCs.

Our main character even referred to the obstacle before entering the final house as a “bad prompt.”

Are we in the simulation the whole time?

Matthew Robinson:

Comment in r/movies

I love video games. You probably already know but the name comes from what people used to say to each other before games of Dota 2 (or League of Legends). It was important to me that almost everything in the movie had "video game logic". Is the entire thing a simulation/video game. We wrote it so that it 100 percent could be. Whether it is or not, is up to interpretation (although I have my own opinion that I'll keep to myself).

Question:

Comment in r/movies

Great timing... I'm heading to the theatre tonight to watch.

-How involved are you in the process after a script is set to be produced? Was this one any different than those previous?

-GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE marks your largest gap between films so far... what do you expect it to showcase that the previous ones didn't?

-What advice would you give to aspiring screenwriters in this market?

Matthew Robinson:

Comment in r/movies

- I always try to stay involved as much as possible in the development and production of a film I wrote. It depends on my relationship with the director, or the budget, or my relationship with the producers. There's a lot of factors. Gore wanted me on set as much as I could be. He was a wonderful collaborator.

- I hope this script showcases I love I have for unconventional story structures. They're hard to pull off, and even harder to get made, but I do love them.

- Write the movie you would wait 6 hours in the rain to see. Write the exact movie you wish existed that doesn't. Don't compromise a single word or beat. Write exactly the thing you want to see.

Robinson doesn’t want to solve the puzzle for you; he wants you arguing about it in the group chat long after the credits roll. Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die will likely inspire many conversations.

Want more screenwriter Q&As like this? Read the full AMA in r/movies, and find more in r/Screenwriting, r/flicks, and r/film.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Cinema requires suspension of disbelief. If the audience nitpicks the reality of every detail in a movie, they very much will not enjoy space operas or superhero blockbusters. But there are certain repetitive tropes that have become so standard in filmmaking that we forget just how absurd they are when contemplated in the real world. In a thread on r/AskReddit, cinephiles gather to call out the specific movie clichés that shatter their immersion every time they appear on screen, ranging from bad medical science to impossible physical feats.

1. The pristine ventilation system

Action movies love to send heroes crawling through air ducts to escape capture or eavesdrop on villains. Redditors point out that in reality, this would be a loud, dangerous, and incredibly filthy way to travel.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Spotless air ducts.

Comment in r/AskReddit

This apparently started from Die Hard. That movie took place in a newly constructed building, so it makes sense the ducts were clean. That unfortunately set the standard for the film industry, and they’ve been spotless ever since.

2. The convenient, trauma-free knockout

In film, getting knocked unconscious is often treated as a convenient way to fast-forward the plot or move a character to a new location. In reality, a blow to the head severe enough to cause prolonged unconsciousness is a life-altering medical emergency — one that needs the attention of an ER trauma center.

Comment in r/AskReddit

People getting pistol whipped and waking up later with little to no damage.

In real life, if you took head trauma that knocked you out for that long, you'd at least have a concussion and brain damage.

Comment in r/AskReddit

The convenient period of unconsciousness where you're immediately good to go afterwards. 

3. The frantic hacker

Movies have developed a visual shorthand for computer programming that involves typing at furious speeds and instantly bypassing firewalls. Actual programmers note that the real process involves a lot more staring, thinking, and waiting.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Hackers type 300 words per minute and say 'I’m in' after 5 seconds of frantic clacking.

Comment in r/AskReddit

But there is bunch of beeping and booping, digital noisery and there are random green words and symbols going everywhere when they do it! It just has to be realistic! And some are even wearing hacker glasses because they're so great at it!

4. Shocking a flatline

Medical dramas frequently rely on the suspense of using a defibrillator to restart a stopped heart. But those with medical knowledge point out that "shocking" is used to correct an irregular rhythm, not to fix a total lack of heart rhythm.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Everyone has a shockable rhythm in medical emergencies on tv or movies.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Yeah its kinda funny. They treat it like it somehow restarts the heart when the actual use is the opposite.

5. The quiet carnage of small towns

Murder mystery shows often take place in quaint villages that seem to have homicide rates higher than major war zones. Redditors find it amusing how these communities maintain their charm despite the statistically impossible number of funerals.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Horror movie small towns that experience random, but consistent, murders or disappearances and zero media coverage. Buffy shows up to Sunnydale high school and the town has to build three new funeral homes.

Comment in r/AskReddit

My aunt watches British detective dramas, and I’m pretty sure if the murder rate in the UK were as high as depicted, the entire population would be dead.

Let alone that most of these series happen in small towns. There must be something in the water.

6. The impossible cliff-hanging

The image of a hero dangling from a ledge by their fingertips is built into Hollywood DNA, but the physics rarely add up. Unless the character is a world-class rock climber, holding your entire body weight with just your fingers is virtually impossible for the average person.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Your average person with average upper body strength might be able to climb a climbing wall, but pulling themselves up and over a ledge bodily with just their arms is a FEAT beyond that. There's a reason it's the last challenge in American Ninja Warrior, and even they get a bit of a ramp and a running head start.

I mean, adults struggle to do that at the pool when half their body weight is supported by the water.

Every time I see that it makes me wonder, let alone someone catching onto something with just their fingers.

7. The midweek feast

In rom-coms and sitcoms, characters frequently enjoy elaborate breakfast spreads on Tuesday mornings before heading to work. For most viewers, the idea of having that much time and energy to produce such a bounty of food before a nine-to-five job is pure fantasy.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Stopping by to have breakfast at friends’ apartment before work… yeah sure

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And it's always at a time when the sun is way up on a weekday. Like, bro it's 10:00 AM, you're two hours late to work. 

8. Instant chloroform

Movies treat chloroform like an off button for human consciousness, usually rendering a victim senseless within seconds. In reality, the chemical takes several minutes of continuous inhalation to work, making it a terrible weapon for a stealth attack.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Chloroform putting people to sleep. It takes way longer than depicted.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Also only lasts while they are still breathing chloroform and too high of a dose is lethal. Good luck just dousing a rag in it and not killing someone

9. The universal scientist

Writers often simplify complex problems by having one brainiac character who is seemingly an expert in everything from astrophysics to biology. While this saves space in the cast list, it ignores how specialized modern science actually is.

Comment in r/AskReddit

The days of the universal genius are long past, science is too vast and too complex for one person to know it all. I understand why you don't want to introduce more characters, but it would be way better to have your science character say "I know just who to call for that question" than to answer everything on the spot or have the forensic medicine expert build a death ray satellite

10. The infinite fighting stamina

Action heroes can fight off waves of henchmen for 20 minutes and barely break a sweat. Redditors with fighting experience emphasize that real physical altercations are depleting, often leaving combatants empty of energy in under a minute.

Comment in r/AskReddit

The lack of general tiredness. A prolonged fight with even one henchmen would probably render someone out of breath for a good ten to twenty minutes. The hero, especially one in their sixties would be complaining all morning, and waking up the next day with an even more sore back.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I worked in law enforcement when I was younger, and FIT. A true 30 second wrestle with a person actually intent on killing or disabling you leaves you absolutely wrecked and feeling it for days, when you are in shape and in your 20s.

11. The private-in-public conversation

Characters often step just a few feet away from a group to have a secret conversation that miraculously no one else can hear. It's a convenient scene convention, but it falls apart the moment you think about how sound actually works.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Moving 4 feet from the other characters and having a full volume side convo that no one else can here

Extras not reacting to things

Comment in r/AskReddit

And yet, they can have conversations while one of them is staring out the window with their back to the other party across the room.

"WHAT?! You're going to need to face me, or speak way the hell up. I haven't caught a word you've said since you turned around. Seriously, you always do that. I usually just nod, and hope it wasn't anything important."

Movies often flee reality, rather than faithfully replicate it. And that's all well and good. A movie in which the audience watches a hacker spend six hours debugging code or a hero train for three weeks in physical therapy after a fight probably wouldn't sell many tickets. Still, it is fun to catch those moments where Hollywood logic completely detaches from the laws of physics and normal, lived life.

What movie trope do you find the most distracting? Read the full opinions in r/AskReddit, and find more conversations like this in r/movies, r/flicks, and r/MovieDetails.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

It's not uncommon to find yourself sitting down to watch a universally praised movie, only to feel completely underwhelmed by the time the credits roll. A redditor asked the community on r/Cinema:

What’s a movie everyone calls a “masterpiece” that just… didn’t work for you?
....
Not saying these films are bad. Just that, for whatever reason — pacing, tone, characters, hype, personal taste, they didn’t click for me the way they seem to for everyone else.

On the thread, viewers share the widely acclaimed films that failed to resonate with them.

1. Sinners (2025)

Despite generating significant buzz and acclaim, genre fans were perplexed by the "masterpiece" label attached to what they saw as a standard vampire flick.

Comment in r/Cinema

I like Sinners, but not sure why it’s considered a masterpiece lol. It’s a vampire movie

Comment in r/Cinema

Literally just watched Sinners for the first time a few days ago. I didn't get it either. Was basically a variation of From Dusk til Dawn. It was enjoyable, but not a masterpiece.

2. The Brutalist (2024)

This ambitious architectural drama has been hailed as a triumph, though some audience members felt it would have worked better as a miniseries than a feature film.

Comment in r/Cinema

100% on this. It was one of the most miserable viewing experiences I've had in recent years. Literally no likeable characters and a super convoluted narrative.

Comment in r/Cinema

What they actually meant with the title was that it would be brutal to sit through three and a half hours of. They tried to warn us!

3. The Social Network (2010)

David Fincher’s look at the founding of Facebook is widely considered a modern classic, even if some viewers found it too lenient on its subjects.

Comment in r/Cinema

The Social Network... I didn't care for it, but at least it exposed viewers to the idea that deep down Zuck is an insecure loser and maybe just maybe Facebook isn't good for society.

Comment in r/Cinema

I remember thinking “there is just not enough material for a full movie”.

Reviewers went nuts about the cinematography and I was just like “really?”.

4. Avatar (2009)

James Cameron’s sci-fi juggernaut broke box office records and revived 3D cinema, yet many viewers feel the story itself doesn't hold up to the visual spectacle.

Comment in r/Cinema

I actually fell asleep in the theater during the first one. I’ve also fallen asleep every time I’ve tried to watch it at home. I don’t know what it is about that movie. It just makes me incredibly sleepy. Maybe it’s all the blue. 😆

Comment in r/Cinema

They’re alright 🤷 i like the world, I like the vibe. Fun to look at. Story is nothing new. It’s just fun to go watch in theatres, get immersed. Certainly not a masterpiece but I like them above most movies that come out. That said, has anyone called them a masterpiece?

5. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

While it dominated awards season with its wildly creative multiverse premise, the chaotic style and specific humor didn't resonate with every viewer.

Comment in r/Cinema

It felt like if they turned an episode of Rick and Morty into a movie. I loved it but can completely understand it not being most people’s cup of tea

Comment in r/Cinema

Thank you. I will never understand the reaction to this film and the cult-like status it’s received. It has cool effects and some good performances, but was it the best movie of that year? Not by a long shot.

6. La La Land (2016)

This colorful film revitalized the musical genre for many, but other viewers couldn't even make it past the opening act before tuning out.

Comment in r/Cinema

La La Land.

I tried to watch it with a friend but were ended up turning it off after 30 minutes.

Comment in r/Cinema

This, exactly. I don't know if La La Land was ever thought to be a masterpiece, but it was very well received and I couldn't make it past 20--30 minutes.

7. The Tree of Life (2011)

Terrence Malick’s experimental meditation on existence is visually arresting to fans, but completely impenetrable to others.

Comment in r/Cinema

For me, Tree Of Life. It was the most expensive wedding video I’ve ever seen.

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I will say that it’s one that unfolds more on rewatching. But if you hate it on the first watch there’s no reason to force the issue with a second viewing lol

8. Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan’s space epic is beloved for its scientific ambition, though critics in the thread felt the emotion didn't land quite as well as the physics.

Comment in r/Cinema

That movie has some incredible scenes, but the third act is also really, really dumb. I think it gets away with how dumb it is by being confusing to a lot of people. When it came out, it wasn't as hyped as it is now for that exact reason. It's weird how the opinion of it has changed. It has some of Nolan's best scenes, but overall I wouldn't say it's one of his best movies.

9. Crash (2004)

The Best Picture winner is often looked back on as a misstep, with viewers finding its approach to complex themes heavy-handed.

Comment in r/Cinema

Crash was a big deal when it came out but didn’t care for it and would never watch it again either.

Comment in r/Cinema

My least favorite movie ever. Insulting, insipid, and ridiculously whitewashed. How anyone gave this an Oscar is beyond comprehension.

10. The Shape of Water (2017)

This unique fantasy romance took home Best Picture, but the central creature-feature premise was a bridge too far for certain audiences.

Comment in r/Cinema

Hated it. Saw it when it came out, and I just didn't get why people were applauding in the theater at the end. It seemed like a 1950's movie with a guy in a rubber monster suit and a razor thin beauty-and-the-beastiality plot.

Comment in r/Cinema

Another disappointing fantasy for me. Great set designs, beautiful set designs

11. Lost in Translation (2003)

The Tokyo romance is embraced for its atmosphere, but some viewers found the characters more frustrating than charming, sparking a debate on the film's intent.

Comment in r/Cinema

Lost in Translation.

A bratty girl goes on a work trip with her husband, gets mad that he has to work, insults his clients, then takes up with a seedy actor.

A great Rotten Tomatoes score doesn't mean a movie is immune to criticism. Disagreeing with the Academy is half the fun of being a film fan, and if everyone loved the exact same movies, talking about cinema would be incredibly boring. Where do you stand on these classics?

If you want to defend your favorites or find more hot takes, check out the full thread in r/Cinema, or explore more movie opinions in r/movies, r/TrueFilm, and r/Flicks.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Writing a catchy melody is hard enough, but pacing a compelling narrative to fit inside a radio edit is a completely different tier of songwriting. A redditor surveyed the community on r/AskReddit, asking, "What’s the best story ever told in a song?"

In the thread, redditors discuss tracks that pack the most narrative punch. From murder ballads to heartbreaking family sagas, here are the musical tales that have stuck with listeners for decades.

1. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot

This 1976 hit recounts the final moments of a bulk carrier that sank in Lake Superior, preserving a tragedy in folk history.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Songs like that remind you music used to be oral history before entertainment.

2. "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence

This Southern Gothic classic delivers a cinematic plot complete with murder, betrayal, and a shocking twist ending.

Comment in r/AskReddit

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia it’s got murder, betrayal, and a twist ending, all packed into a few minutes. Classic storytelling that hits hard and sticks with you.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Lesson from this song: it’s not the smartest move in the world to use a gun to alert law enforcement while you’re standing over a dead body you’ve just discovered.

3. "Cat's in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin

This folk-rock staple serves as an emotional cautionary tale about prioritizing work over family.

Comment in r/AskReddit

So I was a teen when this came out and I thought it was a lame song. After I became a dad, not so much. Most pop songs are written for kids. This one hits us dads hard.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I was a teen when this came out. I turned down a promotion to spend more time with my kids. Now they are in their 30s and visit every few months even though it's a 4 hour drive.

4. "Stan" by Eminem

The horror-core track uses an epistolary format to tell the tragic story of an obsessive fan writing to his idol.

Comment in r/AskReddit

The song is so unsettling, but the line, “Oh shit, I forgot, how am I supposed to send this shit out?!” Always cracks me up

Comment in r/AskReddit

My favorite version of the song is the live version Eminem did with Elton John.

5. "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)" by Jim Croce

This song keeps listeners hanging onto every word of a heartbreak conversation with a telephone operator.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Operator by Jim Croce is the saddest of stories

Comment in r/AskReddit

I will always believe that Croce could write music and lyrics better than anyone.

6. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels Band

This high-energy song tells the myth of a fiddling battle for a person's soul.

Comment in r/AskReddit

The only issue with this song is that the devil’s fiddle solo is SO much cooler than Johnny’s.

No chance the devil would bow his head to that basic bullshit. Nor should he.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I’d forgotten about this song. I’m gonna have to go back and listen to it again now. Makes me chuckle just thinking about it.

7. "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes

To the surprise of many casual listeners, Rupert Holmes’ yacht rock anthem hides a clever rom-com plot within its breezy chorus.

Comment in r/AskReddit

if you like pina coladas
Escape by rupert holmes

if you pay attention to whole lyrics
the story is funny

Comment in r/AskReddit

I love this song. It's silly and funny and kinda sad, really. Basically both parties were attempting to cheat on each other!

8. "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash made this Shel Silverstein poem famous, detailing a life-long quest for revenge that ends in reconciliation.

Comment in r/AskReddit

The writer of A Boy Named Sue wrote a sequel called “The Father of a Boy Named Sue” told from the father’s perspective. Listen at your own risk.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I've used this as listening practice in low fluency ESL classes and it's always a hit with students :)

9. "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman’s breakout hit weaves a gritty, emotional narrative of working-class struggle and the hope for escape.

Comment in r/AskReddit

This is probably the most perfect song ever written.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Cried at point in life I shouldn’t have been crying lol. Had to wipe and hide those tears

When I hear this song, almost always, takes me back

10. "Taxi" by Harry Chapin

This melancholic Harry Chapin song tells the story of a taxi driver reconnecting momentarily with an old flame.

Comment in r/AskReddit

OMG, I never looked up the lyrics. It's kind of like Lyin Eyes by the Eagles--woman marries rich but has to pretend to be happy.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Guy was a genius. If he had lived I can only imagine the songs he would have written.

A great narrative doesn't need a screen or a massive word count; sometimes, all it takes is a clever arrangement of chords and lyrics to sink a massive freighter or win a fiddling contest against the devil. Do you have a favorite storytelling song?

Want to hear more redditor suggestions? Read the full thread in r/AskReddit, and find more conversations like this in r/Music, r/Songwriting, and r/ClassicRock.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Forget the dictionary — some of the best words in the English language are actually happy accidents coined by toddlers. One parent posted to r/daddit about this phenomenon:

What's a word that your kids mispronounce, or used to mispronounce, that made it into your family vocabulary? For us it is "boo-blerries" for blueberries. Been in rotation for 16 years now.

In the thread, other parents jumped in with their favorite silly household words.

1. The hand sanitizer revolution

For many toddlers, "hand sanitizer" is too many syllables to manage. Parents admit they’ve adopted the shorter, punchier versions permanently because they just roll off the tongue easier.

Comment in r/daddit

My kid turned “hand sanitizer” into her own portmanteau of “hanitizer” when she first started talking over a year ago, and I hope we never go back. 

Comment in r/daddit

I see hand sanitizer a lot here so I am glad we’re not the only ones. Here it’s called: “hanny sanny” 🤣

2. Helicopter remixes

Something about the word helicopter seems to completely baffle the developing brain, leading to some impressive linguistic gymnastics.

Comment in r/daddit

HopterCopter. He's 28 now, and the wife and I still use it.

Also "bismuss," as in "Dad has a bismuss meeting," from my second.

Edit: Clearly this is an issue, and someone needs to talk with Webster about the insanity of having a word that is so hard to pronounce be assigned to something so awesome.

3. Logic-defying time travel

Time is a complex concept, so it makes sense that children invent their own terminology for the past and future. Honestly, some of these descriptors are surprisingly precise, maybe even more logical than the actual dictionary definitions.

Comment in r/daddit

Lasterday. The day before today is Yesterday. All before that is Lasterday.

Nexterday did not catch on.

4. Yogurt's many names

As a favorite toddler snack, yogurt inspires quite a bit of variation in toddler-speak — much to their parents' delight.

Comment in r/daddit

My daughter calls it nogurt and I’ll definitely be using that forever

Comment in r/daddit

My son said "yeegort" for the longest time and I'm a little sad because he's starting to pronounce yogurt correctly now.

5. Carbonated water phenomenon

Carbonation provides a sensory experience that toddlers often struggle to categorize, leading them to call it all sorts of different names.

Comment in r/daddit

Sparkling water is spicy water at our house

Comment in r/daddit

Tickle water in our house

6. Pizza night lingo

Ordering dinner gets a lot more entertaining when the toppings have names that sound like cartoon characters. It turns out "pepperoni" is a surprisingly difficult word to master, even when it involves their favorite food.

Comment in r/daddit

Pepper Pony Pizza.
She only said it once. And it’s my favorite

Comment in r/daddit

My son says the same and I always ask him if he wants pepper pony just so I can hear him say "No, I don't like it pepper pony".

7. Construction instruction

The terminology can get muddled when building Lego sets or following rules; the word "instructions" can morph into words that sound a lot more dangerous — or more accurate.

Comment in r/daddit

Constructions = instructions Dalmation point = exclamation point muster mark = question mark

Comment in r/daddit

We got "destructions" as some combination of instructions and directions. Not helpful when we need to assemble Lego sets, using the destructions

8. New animal names

Kids and animals are a classic combo, and new names for animals are the obvious result. From "wobblys" to "famingalos," the animal kingdom's toddler names are often much cuter than the scientific names.

Comment in r/daddit

Wallabies are called "wobblys" across my whole extended family because of my 2 year old becoming obsessed with the "bouncing wobblys" at the zoo

Comment deleted

9. Better names for household items

The names of objects like binoculars are just complex enough to trip up a young tongue. The resulting words often sound like high-tech gadgets from a sci-fi movie rather than common items found in a drawer.

Comment in r/daddit

Reglear instead of regular Binoclears- instead of Binoculars And pookalele instead ukulele

Comment in r/daddit

Binoculars is a fun word to say as an adult. My 3 year old prefers Nockulators

10. Macaroni makeovers

The holy grail of kid cuisine is rarely referred to by its full name. The remixes are catchy enough to stick around long after the kids have learned to cook it themselves.

Comment in r/daddit

Mac n cheese is still cheese mackin to us

Comment in r/daddit

My son called it "nuggle cheese" when he was a toddler. My wife and I will never, ever stop.

11. Fruit updates

Healthy snacks get a rebrand in these comments. From cucumbers to bananas, the mispronunciations are often so cute that parents refuse to ever correct them, ensuring the words stay in the family lexicon forever.

Comment in r/daddit

Coonkcumbers- my daughter sometimes slips up and says this accidentally (she is 8). I been saying this since the first time I heard her say it.

But my favorite is scuss, meaning discuss. When she was a toddler and would cry about something she wanted, I would say we can discuss as a way to distract her, jokes on me because every time I said no to something she would cry “I want to scuss”

Comment in r/daddit

4yo exuberantly proclaims “boo-bellies!” And, when asked what her mom did for a living, a 6yo said “mommy is a hippo-phle-potomus!” (Phlebotomist)

These linguistic specifics turn the dinner table into a private club where everyone knows the password. You keep ordering "pepper pony" pizza and digging into a bowl of "yurgut" because these echoes are a warm memory. Every family deserves a dialect that only they can speak. Are there any words like that your family says?

Read the hilarious list of accidental inventions in the thread, and find more parenting humor in r/Mommit, r/Parenting, and r/toddlers.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Every parent enters the arena with a pristine manifesto of nonnegotiables until a toddler’s logic and sheer exhaustion turn those high ideals into a desperate quest for survival. A redditor asked the community on r/Parenting, "What’s a parenting rule you swore you’d never break… but absolutely did?" They explained:

Before I had kids, I had a whole list of “I will NEVER…” parenting rules.

Well…. parenting had other plans. 😅

What was your rule you swore you’d never break — but absolutely did? And what happened?

The comments capture the hilarious and humbling moment reality takes over.

1. Not saying "Because I said so"

Most parents start out vowing to always explain the logic behind their decisions; however, they also admit that defaulting to the phrase can sometimes be simpler.

Comment in r/Parenting

Because I said so.

After the fourth time of explaining the well thought out reasoning behind my decision and still getting "But why though" I finally caved and ask "look, do you want me to just say because I said so? Is that what we're aiming for here? I explained why multiple times, in different ways...so if that's not it for you, then it's because I said so. Got it? Good. Now lay down and go to sleep."

Comment in r/Parenting

I've found myself saying it more and more, simply because I want them to listen to ME. "Stop climbing the walls." "Why?" "Because I said so and because it leaves handprints on the walls."

There have been times when I have not been able to explain the actual why, and there are also times when I think it's fair for them to do what I said because it was me that said it.

2. The screen time ban

Limiting screen time has become a top priority for many parents-to-be, who worry about the effect of screens on developing brains — a hot topic in the digital age. Yet, many parents confess that they've turned to the tablet in times of desparation.

Comment in r/Parenting

Screen time for sure.

Comment in r/Parenting

Same. Just take this tablet and stop talking to me for five minutes PLEASE 😭

Comment in r/Parenting

Yep. Didn't we all hope for that haha.

Mine are severely restricted and everything is locked down on their own devices, yet here we are watching Dragonball Z on my TV because I cannot be asked to leave the house today.

3. No fast food or candy

Nutrition is a common battleground, with parents starting out with the best intentions before they encounter their picky eater. Even qualified nutritionists in the thread admit that seeing a toddler happily eat a french fry is sometimes better than a hunger strike.

Comment in r/Parenting

Giving my toddler fast food and junk food.

I went to school for nutrition and I remember in the thick of my course work judging a friend HARD for giving her toddler McDonald’s French fries. My husband and I often talk about how everyone is a perfect parent before they are a parent. Definitely have eaten my fair share of crow while watching my toddler eat McDonald French fries 😂

Comment in r/Parenting

Ah yes, the fries, I didn't want my girl to be eating fries too. I have never seen my kid get so mad about not getting a food item and so happy with a fry in her hand.

4. Cloth diaper ambitions

Environmental concerns cause some expectant parents to stock up on reusable diapers — but as these commenters found out, the sheer volume of laundry required can make disposables look like a miracle.

Comment in r/Parenting

I swore I'd never use disposable diapers. That lasted about 8 hours.

Comment in r/Parenting

Oh god, we did reusables successfully for both kids but not from day one! No wonder you caved. Both of mine were weeks old before we made the switch, ain’t nobody got time to wash 20+ nappies a day while you’re still recovering from labour!

Comment in r/Parenting

LOL. This was me.

I researched the best kind to get. I bought a whole set of them. Had them all beautifully laid out in the top drawer of the changing table.

My husband thought I was nuts. "No, no. You'll see. It's better for the baby and the planet!" And I did buy one box of disposables to handle the first early days. "But after that, no more diapers to buy!"

After the first two days of changing diapers, I listed the cloth diapers on FB marketplace. Made a granola-mom-to-be VERY happy.

My husband is a kind person so he never brings this up.

5. A "no lying" policy

Honesty is a virtue, but transparency can backfire when dealing with toddlers. Parents admit to bending the truth for sanity's sake, from inventing Spotify outages to creative explanations about the ice cream truck.

Comment in r/Parenting

I always said I would never lie to my kids, and I usually don't, except I did tell them Disney songs are not available on Spotify and I do not regret it one bit.

Comment in r/Parenting

Lie to my kids. I promised I would always tell the truth no matter how hard. That we would help them deal with big emotions about not getting everything they want. To be honest, while for major things I have stuck to this promise, for little stuff? I will tell a lie. Things akin to “the ice-cream truck playing music means they’re sold out”

6. Judging picky eaters

It's easy to assume that picky eating is a symptom of permissive parenting, until you have a child who refuses everything. Redditors describe the humbling realization that some kids will reject food no matter what.

Comment in r/Parenting

I was utterly convinced that picky eating was a result of permissive parenting, so I was never going to let my kids be picky.

The universe humbled me extremely hard on that one; my kid is literally the pickiest eater I’ve ever met or heard about.

Comment in r/Parenting

My husband has been very humbled by our 21 month old for this one 😂 He always judged that my sister would make my nephew an individual pizza or a corn dog or spaghetti o’s because he usually refuses to eat what is made. He said our daughter wasn’t going to get away with that. A couple weeks ago he shared his pint of Ben & Jerry’s with her because “at least it’s calories!” 😂😂 And for any pearl graspers- I promise I got her to eat real food that night too lol

7. Co-sleeping bans

Safety guidelines and personal space preferences make the idea of co-sleeping a hard no for many parents. But exhaustion is a powerful motivator. Several parents describe the moment they brought the baby into bed just to get a few minutes of rest.

Comment in r/Parenting

I didn’t want to co sleep never did because I felt like it was too risky and unsafe and then I had to(researched safety etc) because I was having to get up every 15 minutes to feed him or soothe him back to sleep in the crib. He couldn’t handle sleeping in a separate place at all no matter what I did.

Comment in r/Parenting

This! Ong my first nursed every 10-15 minutes at night or screamed, and the only way I got any sleep at all was cosleeping. I finally gave it a shot after I, exhausted af, was jolted awake after accidentally falling asleep while rocking and nursing him yet again in the rocking chair. I woke because I felt his tiny baby body almost roll out of my arms and onto the floor. It felt so terrifying and I felt like an awful parent, but cosleeping saved me. (And maybe him)

8. Putting a child on a leash

Non-parents often judge the concept of having a kid tied to their parent. But these redditors — once their own toddlers start bolting toward traffic or disappearing in crowds — realized the leash was less about control and more about keeping their child safe.

Comment in r/Parenting

I haven’t actually done this but once I had an 18m old, I started understanding parents who use a leash. Especially since my son is a runner.

Comment in r/Parenting

100% what I came to say.

Me when oldest was our only: “Leashing your children!? Have you just tried parenting?! 👀”

Me when his younger sibling RAN before walking and loved ignoring the word NO!: “Damn right I’m keeping this kid attached to me in airports, grocery stores, parking lots and county fairs.” 😅

9. "No eating in the car"

Keeping a pristine vehicle seems doable... until busy schedules and hungry kids turned their no-food zones into mobile cafeterias.

Comment in r/Parenting

No eating in the car.

Im just a very bad planner, and forget the kids havent eaten until its time to leave, so we very quickly gave up and brought pouches and yogurts and various snacks into the car.

Also because I'm not a go out, go home, go back out kind of person, and I also dont like dragging my kids into restaurants, so if we had a lot of errands or whatever, we'd hit up fast food and have lunch in the car.

Comment in r/Parenting

forget the kids havent eaten until its time to leave

Oh thank god it's not just me! I feel so bad but I don't eat every meal and don't even think about food if I am not actually hungry, so it might be 11:45 and I am not at all hungry or thinking about lunch and we're trying to get out the door to run some errands (and had planned to leave like over an hour ago but nobody was getting their butts moving like they were supposed to) and then as soon as we finally pull out of the driveway one of them is shouting "I'm hungry!" and so we have to make a pit stop at the local drive thru...ugh.

These small surrenders aren't failures of discipline; they're the gears that keep a modern household from grinding to a halt. Give yourself credit for choosing a sane afternoon over a rigid rulebook. Is there anything else you'd add to this list?

Read more parenting fails in the thread in r/Parenting, and find more conversations like this in r/toddlers, r/Mommit, and r/Daddit.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Between Six Nations camp sessions, England rugby team captain Maro Itoje joined fans for an AMA post in r/rugbyunion, covering the realities of test rugby, life after it, and a few things you might not expect to come up in international camp.

On hard hits and on-pitch highs

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

Who's the hardest hitting tackler you've ever faced?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

It was actually one of my former teammates, Jacques Burger. He hit me once and it felt like I was cut in half with a samurai sword.

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

If you weren’t a lock, what position would you have wished to play at a professional level?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

I think lock and flanker are the only two positions I can play really. I wouldn’t mind playing a game at fly-half for a local rugby club.

On reading the game

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

Video analysts like Squidge Rugby do a fantastic job of breaking down plays for us mere mortals. How much analytical thinking are you actually doing during a match? Or is it all instinct from training and experience by the time the whistle first blows?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

During a game, you want to be as free as possible. You don’t want to be overthinking. However, a lot of analysis goes into your prep and how you approach the game.

During the game, you’re trying to deduct whether your analysis is correct and the opportunities are what you’re seeing. I try to adapt on the run. If the game shows something else, then you adapt to that.

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

Hi Maro, greetings from Italy! I have a question. As captain, how do you talk to referees? Do you speak naturally, or do you study the referee's personality before the match?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

I try and read their personalities. Some referees are open to dialogue, some are not, but I just try and be myself really. My natural way of speaking is quite calm, so I try and convey that to them.

On Sunday rituals and personal favorites

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

Celebrity Traitors, SAS Who Dares Wins or Strictly Come Dancing?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

I’d probably say Traitors at the moment. That would be my favourite.

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

What's your favourite book?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

I don’t have one favourite book but 'Dreams From My Father' by Barack Obama is definitely up there with one of the best books I’ve ever read. I loved it.

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

Whats your go to Chinese takeaway order?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

Great question. House special fired rice. Salt and pepper ribs, extra chilli sauce of course. I like duck, twice-cooked. Twice-cooked pork as well. I always get some Singapore fried noodles as well. 

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

What's your perfect Sunday?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

My perfect sunday is going to church in the morning. Coming back to a lovely lunch with the wife and family. Then relaxing, doing some recovery, and taking it easy.

On life beyond rugby

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

Maro! True legend mate. What’s been your career highlight? Plans post rugby career?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

It’s hard to say what my career highlight is. I’ve been fortunate to play for England a long time. Winning trophies for England is definitely up there. Winning European cups for Saracens. The Grand Slam was awesome, Lions Tours. They’re all great.

Plans post-career: I want to get into business. That’s quite open-ended, but more to come with that…

Question:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

Hi Maro, what do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t a professional rugby player?

Maro Itoje:

Comment in r/rugbyunion

I think I could have done a few things. Perhaps a lawyer, or a civil servant working somewhere within the government. I think I could have been a finance guy... a finance bro.

I think I also could’ve worked in the third sector. I don’t really know which way I would’ve gone, but any of those could’ve been a possibility.

For a man whose job involves absorbing hits from people built like Jacques Burger, Itoje handles questions from strangers on the internet with similar composure. The full thread has plenty more to dig into, including his earliest rugby memory and his music taste — but he shuts down a question about England's lineout calls immediately. It's a rare chance to see one of England's most guarded players actually let his guard down.

Want more athlete Q&As like this? Read the full AMA in r/rugbyunion, and find similar conversations in r/sports, r/nrl, and r/MLR.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Everybody has moments where they daydream about a simpler life or a more glamorous career. But is the grass really greener on the other side? Recently, a redditor asked the community on r/AskReddit, "What’s something people romanticize that is actually miserable?"

In the popular thread, redditors weigh in on the things people romanticize that are actually miserable to experience. The discussion offers a sobering look at how common fantasies often fall apart under the weight of daily logistics and physical exhaustion.

1. Subsistence farming and homesteading

The reality of the common back-to-basics fantasy of living off the land is defined by relentless manual labor that does not pause for illness or holidays. Farmers must remain in a constant state of vigilance against the elements, predators, and the unpredictable medical needs of their livestock.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Living on a farm you rely on for subsistence.   It’s so much more work, so much harder, so much smellier than everyone assumes.    

You better be ready to wake up when it’s dark and go get covered in actual shit every day.    Yes even when it’s cold and raining.   

Comment in r/AskReddit

I already assumed how bad the land/animals side of things had to be for homesteaders, but after watching that HBO show, Back to the Frontier, I underestimated how bad the women's side of the work would be. Waking up each day and beginning to tend to a fire in a stove/fireplace that you had to feed and deal with basically all day, maintaining a proper level of the fire for cooking, preparing/cooking meals from scratch, butchering animals for meals, maintaining and trying to keep a clean house, preparing foods for the next season, manually washing clothes, etc. Going to sleep exhausted to rinse and repeat do again each day.

Comment in r/AskReddit

And in the same realm, homesteaders.

24/7 365.

Your animals and land do not give a shit if you’re sick or it’s a holiday.

Everything needs food,water, and care.

Something always needs fixing or maintenance

2. Life in the past

People frequently look back on historical eras through the lens of grand architecture and elegant fashion, ignoring the pervasive filth and disease of the past. For the average person, these periods were characterized by back-breaking manual labor without the comfort of basic hygiene like plumbing or toothpaste.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Living in the middle ages or the 1920s.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Any time before antibiotics and indoor plumbing is a no for me dog.

Comment in r/AskReddit

THIS. Or Victorian era. People want to live like bridgerton. The normal person is not going to those parties or even serving those families, the normal person is toiling.

3. Turning a hobby into a career

Monetizing a favorite activity often replaces creative joy with the burden of professional survival. Like any job, you can become burned out; but in this case, it can permanently destroy the very passion that once provided an escape.

Comment in r/AskReddit

"Do what you love" is the perfect way to ruin both your job and whatever it was that you loved.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I love working on cars. There was a time I was working towards being a mechanic.

Then it hit me. Doing another oil change on another poorly maintained Corolla that needed so much more than the owner was willing to pay for.

I don't like this. I don't want to do this. Expensive tools, back pain, shoulder pain, busted knuckles, dumbass people who buy a used BMW but don't want to pay for expensive BMW parts (your funeral mate) it just grinds you down.

So I gave up on that career path. Got a job in a call center. Became some middle management douche. Air conditioning, paid holiday time, work from home days. It's nice.

4. Being famous

While fame seems glamorous, if actually achieved it can lead to a life of isolation where every personal relationship is tainted with suspicion. This loss of privacy prevents even simple daily tasks from being performed without the fear of being exploited for social media clout.

Comment in r/AskReddit

God I think about this often... Like you know how sometimes you'll just go grab a Starbucks and walk around Marshalls with a friend just to chat and have something to do? Famous people can never do that. They can never just casually go to a store, or out to a restaurant. Every single time they leave their house they have to make sure they look good and put together because if they don't their pictures will be all over the Internet the next day with everyone talking about how they've 'let themselves go'.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I always felt that being rich and famous was a genie wish, where unless you specified you were screwed.

I always try to imagine if a celebrity would do their own grocery shopping. Like Paris Hilton would never, but Steve Carrell would totally be knocking on watermelons.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Being famous. I can only imagine what my life would be like if a casual day out was full of paparazzi’s, talking to press all of the time, being misrepresented and criticized constantly by media, limiting your social circles to only people within the industry, your personal life constantly being invaded and presented to the public, etc etc etc. On a day to day basis, that would be horrible.

5. Practicing law

While TV shows suggest that lawyer life consists of nonstop, witty courtroom battles, real-life lawyers say that the career is dominated by exhaustive and repetitive document reviews.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I was talking to a friend who was a lawyer, I asked him about arguing in the courtroom, he said he just looks through documents in an office for a big company

Comment in r/AskReddit

Some lawyers argue in front of judges and juries. Unless they’re really, really good, that’s at most 30% of their time. The rest is looking at documents and writing.

Many lawyers only look at documents and never go to court. It sounds like your friend falls in that category as an in-house (working for a company) lawyer.

Many lawyers in private practice only look at documents too. Those are transactional lawyers. Think mergers and acquisitions, setting up or purchasing companies, SEC compliance, or big real estate deals.

Comment in r/AskReddit

It truly is. I am a litigator and about 5 percent of my time is arguing to judges and juries and the rest is mind numbing discovery answering or document review. Yikes!

6. Owning a business

Owning your own business is frequently seen as a path to freedom, yet it often requires working far more hours with zero downtime. Founders are responsible for every crisis and must remain constantly available to clients, even during vacations or personal time.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Having their own business. A lot of times people have this idea of their dream business or making their hobby their business. The think they'll be able to set their own hours and it will give them so much freedom. A lot of business owners spend most of their time putting out fires.

Comment in r/AskReddit

This. Want to have the freedom to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Answer texts in the middle of every social occasion? Work for yourself :) 

Comment in r/AskReddit

Even my own husband (ex now) didn’t understand that. Like why I had to take my computer on vacation and make sure I had WiFi and could make calls, why I couldn’t leave at 6 when the shop closes or people calling on your “off” day. But I do miss it…

7. Work travel

Traveling for work is rarely the adventure people imagine, as it mostly consists of a monotonous cycle of airports and work sites. Frequent work travelers find themselves focu sing on finishing their tasks as quickly as possible just to return to the comfort of home.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I used to travel for work a lot. As in one week away, one week at home.

In my 20s while I was single it was great. In my 30s when married with was a bit annoying. In my 40s with kids it was hell.

Then Covid happened and the company realised that we could work remotely and not be onsite… so I’ve only traveled twice since 2020.

One thing to note is you don’t get to see much besides the airport, the hotel, and the site. You think you will get time to do touristy things but you don’t.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I’ve done a lot of work travel. You usually don’t have a lot of free time since you’re there for work. Lots of airports, hotels, office meetings etc.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Yep.

Everyone thinks my job is "amazing" because I am in a different city or country every week.

"You must see so much cool stuff".

Nope. I just work, go to the hotel and go to bed. I'm trying to get this shit done so I can get home.

Being Diamond with Hilton and Delta is not a flex like some think it is.

It is easy to look at a social media photo of a farm or a movie scene of a high-powered attorney and wish for that life. But as these community members have shown, every dream comes with a set of hardships that rarely make it into the highlight reel. Sometimes, the most boring parts of life, such as anonymity, a steady paycheck, and a hobby you are allowed to be mediocre at, are the things you should cherish. Which of these have you experienced firsthand?

Want more reflections on life? Read the full opinions in r/AskReddit, and find similar conversations in r/simpleliving, r/careerguidance, and r/socialskills.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Following 2025's Superman, fans were re-energized by the reemergence of the iconic DC superhero. Superhero movies are heavily scrutinized by fans, and the latest entry in the DC Universe is no exception. When early reviews dropped for Supergirl, one redditor in r/movies compiled the critical reception into a comprehensive review thread. That is where fans are gathering to share their thoughts on the highly anticipated film:

When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Supergirl reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion for an interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.

Director: Craig Gillespie

Cast: Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, David Corenswet, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ferdinand Kingsley, Diarmaid Murtagh

Rotten Tomatoes: 58%

Metacritic: 49 / 100

In the comments, redditors express their disappointment with the cinematic choices, dissect the script, and evaluate the leading star's performance.

[Warning! Spoilers ahead.]

Missing the comic's vibrant colors

Fans of the original comic book note how the film's drab aesthetics fail to capture the beautiful artwork of the source material. Instead of a unique visual experience, redditors feel the adaptation leans too heavily into familiar science fiction tropes.

Comment in r/movies

Woman of Tomorrow, the comic, has absolutely superb coloring. This movie claiming it is inspiration yet having such a dull brown color palette is a real letdown.

Comment in r/movies

Not only coloring from Mateus Lopes, but Bilquis Evely's artwork is imaginative and beautiful to look at.

It has a Barsoom series quality to it in terms of visuals and they adapted it into what seems like a cross between GotG and Fury Road.

They had the perfect opportunity to make something that feels unique from a visual pov in the superhero genre and they dropped the ball in favor of the familiar.

Comment in r/movies

Its gotten to the point that I hear about a movie and then see the washed out DC colors on the trailer and my excitement dies instantly.

The irony of a weak script

With early promises from studio heads about prioritizing strong screenplays, the negative reviews targeting the film's writing catch many commenters off guard. Redditors are surprised that a high-profile superhero project stumbled on the very foundation it was supposed to get right.

Comment in r/movies

Gunn talked alot last year about scripts, and how they won't make anything unless the script is good and completed. Obviously throwing small jabs at marvel. The irony that this movies biggest flaw is the script is funny.

Comment in r/movies

Oh. That's the opposite of what I was expecting lol. I thought these people knew how to make good movies.

Comment in r/movies

I never questioned James Gunn's ability to write and direct superhero movies, but I wasn't sure about his talent for finding other writers and directors, and he seems to have fallen at the first hurdle.

Misunderstanding the main villain

Commenters familiar with the source material criticize the cinematic portrayal of the antagonist. Redditors explain that the original villain succeeds specifically because of his unassuming nature, a nuance they believe the filmmakers missed by trying to make him look overly intimidating.

Comment in r/movies

So, Krem of the yellow hills is a boring character in the books. He's kraven, and petty and his design makes him look like a background character. He's a throw away.

But that's what's gauling about him. He's an unassuming baddy. This is fine. HOWEVER, it's incredibly important for the writer, the director and the performer to know this and it's really really hard to pull off. You need a real heavy hitter and a sharp understanding of that character and his motivation.

I keep thinking of Ike from Tombstone. That's basically Krem. Kinda dumb, cowardly, but fascinating to watch.

As soon as I saw him in the trailer I knew they didn't understand and felt the need to punch up his look to make him seem bad.

Comment in r/movies

The story is mostly about Kara and Ruthye having contrasting jaded+powerful / surprised+powerless perspectives on crazy stuff they encounter. 

Krem is just some guy. That's why Supergirl is so frustrated by him. 

Anyway, I hope fans find it more fun than the worst reviews suggest. I suspect I will :)

Translating beloved comic books to the big screen is always a delicate balancing act. While critical scores and early impressions paint a rocky picture for this cinematic venture, many fans remain eager to judge the movie for themselves. Whether the film ultimately finds its footing with broader audiences or becomes a cautionary tale of missed potential, it certainly has viewers talking.

What do you think of Supergirl? Check out the full thread on r/movies to read all the reviews, and discover more lively pop culture discussions in r/comicbooks, r/entertainment, and r/DC_Cinematic.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Traveling activates all of the senses, but there is something special about meals eaten abroad. A redditor asked the community on r/travel for the "best thing you have ever eaten while traveling":

In your travels, what was the most memorable, the best, or most delicious food or meal you've ever had? What was it? It could be any type of food you had either from a street vendor to a fancy restaurant. If so, which country or city? If you remember, what was the name of the restaurant or the food establishment?

In the thread, redditors share the most memorable things they have ever eaten while exploring the globe. These stories go beyond recommendations, illustrating how the right food at the right time can define an entire journey.

1. Bread and pastries in France

French baking traditions elevate basics through high-quality ingredients and government-regulated standards.

Comment in r/travel

I’ll never forget a baguette I ate in France with just butter. That was it. I thought it was the best thing I had ever eaten. Looking back it was probably just the right time and right place for that perfect meal, and it was also just a very good baguette 😉

Comment in r/travel

This is my same experience! I went to France alone, overseas. My first night, I found a little market by Champs du Mars and I got a warm baguette in a brown paper sack. I got some butter (and a few cheeses and small nottle of wine) and ate it on a park bench near the Eiffel Tower. That warm bread was melting the butter as the Eiffel Tower lit up in sparkly lights, and the Seine behind it was reflecting the light. Best meal of my life.

2. Authentic cooking in Italy

Italian food focuses on the purity of regional ingredients and traditional preparation methods that vary from city to city. From creamy, handmade gelato in historical centers to perfect ravioli in Florence, the flavors are often described as superior to any international imitations.

Comment in r/travel

i'm still chasing the high of the cacio e pepe I had in Venice in a little out of the way restaurant. It's literally just three ingredients plus pasta water, I have no idea why I can't make it as good.

Comment in r/travel

Maybe I'm basic, but I've enjoyed nothing more than margherita pizza in Italy. I have one every day I spend in Italy. That's probably 20 days collectively, so far. I've had it in Milan, Rome, Venice, Verona, and Turin, so far. Each one better than the last.

Comment in r/travel

I had gelato every single day during a 10-day trip to Italy last year. My favorite was raspberry shaped as a flower with a same flavored macaron on top. Mmmmmm.

3. Street food in Thailand

Thailand's street food scene offers an explosion of flavors balancing heat, acidity, and sweetness. Whether at a midnight market in Bangkok or a local stall in Chiang Mai, visitors often encounter dishes that change their perception of Thai cuisine.

Comment in r/travel

On the Thailand location, I had the best chicken basil from a spot right outside the Bangkok train station. Big line, lots of locals. We just arrived from the airport and figured, "Why not?" I've been chasing the flavor of that dish ever since.

Comment in r/travel

I remember having bad jet lag with the time difference to Thailand. I ended up going out to eat at 11pm at one of the night markets in Bangkok near Chinatown. Best damn experience I’ve ever had. I had a delicious meal gulped down with a large Singha-all for four bucks. Amazing.

Comment in r/travel

Papaya salad in thailand, had it every day and it blew my mind, thai basil stir fry, also blew my mind, a good pad thai, tom yum soup, and also this random ramen I had in Bangkok from a chain that for no reason had truffle in it and tasted absolutely insanely delicious

4. Fresh flavors in Vietnam

The culinary landscape of Vietnam is defined by fresh herbs, complex broths, and regional specialties that are difficult to find in their authentic form abroad. Travelers often find that dishes like bún chả or phở, when prepared by local street vendors, offer a depth of flavor that becomes an immediate obsession.

Comment in r/travel

Cha ca la vong in Hanoi, Vietnam. Lightly fried fish with dill, marinated in something like Greek yogurt, fish sauce and galangal. Delicious, and I've never found it anywhere in the U.S. I sometimes make it myself, but it's definitely a chore.

Comment in r/travel

Bun cha at Bun Cha Sinh Tu in Hanoi. One of the most mind blowing meals of my life, for like $3. I think about it almost every day.

Comment in r/travel

I won't/can't eat pho in Australia after eating it in Vietnam, it just doesn't compare. Bhan mi as well, so much better from a street vendor in Vietnam. 

5. Culinary precision in Japan

Japanese dining experiences emphasize technical mastery and a deep respect for the food. This dedication to excellence creates a sense of intimacy between the chef and the traveler, leading to truly transcendent meals.

Comment in r/travel

I was working with a Japanese company. Travelled to the plant. The CEO said “ I heard you like Japanese food, I’m going to show you Japanese food”. Rented out an entire restaurant for 20 of us. About a 30 course meal, all small plates. Just one after another of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. Sushi, crab legs, tempura, mushroom soup- It was amazing.

Comment in r/travel

Sushi at a tiny place I think in Osaka or Okinawa, I can’t quite remember. Chef had been there for 30 years, taught by his own father. Sat at the counter with space for only 6 of us. Morsel after delicious morsel just placed directly on the surface in front of us - no plates. Half-way through I turned to my Japanese friend Shiro and said “This is the best sushi I’ve had in my whole life”. He looked back at me and said “Tom, I think it’s the best sushi I’ve ever had too”. Truly transcendent moment.

Either that or Cerviche in Lima 😋

Special mention for the most delicious curry I ever ate in Goa, India, but disqualified as it gave me horrific food poisoning which lasted days 😅

Comment in r/travel

Goma Dofu (Roasted Sesame custard-like Tofu) at Mt Koya, Japan. We found it only in this remote mountainous part of Japan, accessible by train & then finally by the Koyasan cable car. Not much English spoken. However, when we disembarked, what did we hear coming from a small cafe across way?! The heroic theme from the movie “Rocky”!!!!! So bizarre! We went in & ate Goma Dofu. And then a second order! It’s roasted sesame seed-flavored tofu, subtly sweet with a custard texture. Haven’t found it anywhere else in Japan.

6. Regional classics in North America

Local traditions in North America often lead to life-changing meals that are inextricably tied to their specific environments. From the fresh catches of the Canadian coasts to slow-cooked meats in the Southern U.S., these favorites are celebrated for their authenticity and regional soul.

Comment in r/travel

I was driving the back roads of Louisiana deep in the bayou. I stopped at a little run down gas station to fill up. Not being from there it truly looked like what you see in the movies when they show the bayou. I went in to prepay and was punched in the face by the most delicious smell. I asked the lady what it was. In her perfect, thick creole accent she said they were cooking gumbo and crawfish on the back porch. To my surprise she invited me back for a bowl. So I sat on that porch that backed right up to a swamp, the only white guy, with a dozen or so folks I had just met and had what is still the best meal of my life.

Comment in r/travel

A lobster from New Brunswick Canada . Was down in st.andrews by the sea and there was a guy selling live lobsters from his pick up truck . If you wanted them cooked he had a microwave in the truck bed and would scoop a pail of water from the ocean and microwave the lobster right there. It sounds barbaric and unsanitary but by god was it the best thing I ate in my life.

Comment in r/travel

Honestly? Sitting outside Granville market in Vancouver on a perfect summer day listening to a busker play "what a wonderful world" and eating a plain, fresh rosemary and sea salt bagel from siegels bagels and watching the boats. Amazing bagel, amazing atmosphere and just magical for an Aussie tourist on her first overseas trip 😆

7. Traditional specialties in Turkey

Turkey and the Middle East offer rich, heritage-driven dishes that travelers find exceptionally difficult to recreate at home. From the birthplace of iconic kebabs to savory regional pastries, the depth of flavor in these traditional meals leaves a lasting impression.

Comment in r/travel

Iskander Kebap in Bursa, Turkey - the birthplace of Iskander Kebap we were told!

We were in our late 20's and my wife and I befriended a guy our age that was a local. He was super cool and we ended up hanging out with him for a few days. When he found out I really liked Iskander Kebap, he said "I know just the place to take you". Non-descript restaurant in a non-tourist area - it was almost like a diner.

It was so freaking delicious, I still think about it 25 years later. I had him take us back there before we left town and it was just as good the second time.

I will say if you're going to get Iskander Kebap, Bursa is the place to be. I had very tasty versions in different restaurants there, but nowhere else in Turkey or Turkish restaurants in the states has come close.

Comment in r/travel

Somewhere in the middle of Türkiye I ate this kebab rolled in flatbread filled with a crème situation. I have no idea where I was and what it was called. I was young and it was this really really long day of travel.

It was the greatest thing I’ve ever eaten and I have no idea how to track it down again.

Comment in r/travel

Had kunefe at a hatay restaurant in Istanbul. So simple yet so delicious, a perfect balance of tastes

The stories shared by these travelers suggest that the "best thing" ever eaten is rarely just about the food. It is about the beautiful location, the local ingredients, the connection with the chefs, and the lasting memories. What is the most memorable meal you have ever had on the road?

Want more like this? Read the full discussion in r/travel, and find more conversations like this in r/solotravel, r/backpacking, and r/Cooking.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

For many men, a classic pair of jeans have long been considered the peak of casual comfort. But one pants-wearer is here to argue that dress pants are actually more comfortable. Recently, a redditor posted to r/unpopularopinion:

Dress pants are more comfortable than jeans.

Since Covid, jeans are apparently starting to become the norm. Besides not looking professional they are way more uncomfortable than dress pants. Dress pants are light and soft unlike jeans material. Dress pants are far more comfortable and flexible than jeans. The only thing more comfortable are sweat pants obviously but you can’t wear that in a professional setting (yet).

Jeans are uncomfortable and overrated and in certain professions have no place. Dress pants feel way better.

Edit: To clarify, I’m talking about the work setting.

Edit #2: I’m talking about men btw.

In the thread, redditors examine the counterintuitive idea that formal attire, when executed correctly, can feel as effortless as a pair of pajamas.

The luxury of tailoring

Most people associate formal wear with stiffness, but the reality can be the exact opposite. When quality materials and precise tailoring meet, the result is a garment that feels virtually weightless and non-constraining.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

I've been saying this for years. I have several pairs of "casual" dress pants that are my everyday dress pant for work (on days that I actually have to go to the office). They are the most comfortable pants I own. They aren't stiff like jeans, they aren't heavy, they breathe really well so they don't feel hot in the summer.

Just exceptionally better in every way. I have one pair of jeans I like that are more of a stretch denim (wife likes em too) that are okay but I only wear those for date nights usually with a sport coat.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

Absolutely. I have several tailored suits and I’d say most people haven’t worn truly comfortable clothes until they try something tailored to them.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

Oh ya 100%. An entire suit is like pj's. The most comfy thing to wear Not sure why some think otherwise. It's so soft and silky. It's cool to the touch. Not warm. Super thin. Fits perfectly. Its just excellent

Jeans are probably the most uncomfortable pants I can wear. Cotton pants. Or sporty polyester is always way more comfy.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

Agreed but only if they actually fit. Most guys wearing uncomfortable dress pants are wearing whatever they grabbed off the rack at Kohl's. A properly fitted pair of wool trousers feels like nothing. The issue is that good dress pants cost three times what jeans cost, and jeans forgive a bad fit way more. So people just default to denim and assume all dress pants feel like the stiff polyester ones they wore to prom.

Denim is easier to take care of

While people agree that the silkiness of dress pants is nice, nobody wants to dry clean their pants every week. The denim defense squad argues that jeans reign supreme because they are low-maintenance.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

Jeans are more durable and machine washable. That’s why they are popular not because of comfort.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

I wear the same pair of blue jeans every day to work. Zero decision making, easy to wash.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

It’s a poverty issue, jeans are more affordable in the long term. They last longer and are easier to wash and care

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

Jeans were not made to be comfortable, they were made to be durable.

Not all jeans are durable today, you gotta pay extra for that. They are still more durable than khakis or dress pants.

Bridging the gap with tech

A new category of apparel is emerging to resolve the tension between formal appearances and physical ease. By integrating synthetic stretches and breathable fabrics from the athletic world, these hybrid garments offer a high-performance solution for the modern commute. These options aim to provide a sharp, office-ready look while maintaining the flexibility of a jogger or sport pant.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

There are a lot of dress pants today that are crafted with super comfortable material.

I bought dress pants from Dockers and Banana Republic. They look good, slim at the leg, but super flexible and soft.

Even got some “dress” pants that are actually joggers. I wear them to work something and I don’t think people have been able to tell the difference unless they see the draw string.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

Try golf pants. I bought some and I'm never going back to anything else. They are like dress pants but made of some lightweight breathable high tech fabric. I like the Nike ones, but my underarmor pair is super comfortable too.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

And golf pants are even more comfy to me. And I don’t even golf. They look formal, but have nice elasticity to them.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

My complaint about dress pants isn't the material, it's the fact they sit higher on the waist, require a belt, and don't look good with sneakers.

Modern tech pants solve a lot of these issues, the comfort of dress pants but the fit of jeans and you can get away with sneakers.

Dressing for the weather

Regional weather patterns play a decisive role in determining which fabrics truly reign supreme for a person. While denim's thickness provides a sturdy barrier against freezing winds, it is often criticized for trapping heat in more humid environments.

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

I agree. But I live in a cold climate and jeans are cheaper than warm dress pants. So I wear jeans to work. I don't find jeans particularly uncomfortable though

Comment in r/unpopularopinion

I hate jeans, and I live in a hot region, I don't know how people wear them without their legs feeling like they are overheating.

The conversation highlights a shift in how we perceive professional attire versus casual wear. While many still associate a suit with the rigors of the office, enthusiasts are proving that high-quality tailoring might actually be the ultimate sartorial luxury. They suggest that our discomfort with certain types of clothing may stem more from poor sizing and low-quality manufacturing than from the designs and fabrics themselves. What style of pants will you reach for tomorrow morning?

Want more like this? Read the full discussion in r/unpopularopinion, and find more conversations like this in r/malefashionadvice, r/buyitforlife, and r/apparel.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

A truly great historical fiction novel doesn't just recite facts; it drops you into the dirt, the politics, and the daily lives of people who lived in an earlier time. In order to find the best of the genre, a redditor asked the r/suggestmeabook community, "What is the best historical fiction book you’ve ever read?"

In the comments, the community responded with titles that are more time machine than textbook.

1. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

This novel follows the descendants of two half-sisters born in 18th-century Ghana, tracing their bloodlines through hundreds of years of history.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

It’s hard to narrow it down to just one, but probably Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

This was a good one! I especially liked that it hits so many different time periods in history, between Africa and America. Solid recommendation!

2. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Set in an Italian monastery in 1327, this famous novel blends a murder mystery with deep philosophical and historical exploration.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

I have a PhD in medieval literature so nothing’s too “difficult” for me but I am wary of recommending literary fiction to my friends (many of whom are not readers, or only “occasional” readers) because they’ve told me the books I suggested were too long, too boring, too difficult, etc.

Some of my favorite historical novels also include A.S. Byatt’s “Possession” and “The Children’s Book” as well as Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose”, but I shudder to think what some of my friends would say if I ever recommended those books to them 🤣🤣🤣

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Eco is one of my favorite authors hands down. Everything he writes is an education and exploration and enlightenment all in one, and the writing itself is just a joy to read even in translation.

3. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Following a Korean family through generations of exile and discrimination in Japan, this novel is frequently cited as a deeply emotional experience.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. It‘s the first book that ever had me sobbing by the end.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Seconded, total masterpiece. The show is pretty great, too

4. Shōgun by James Clavell

An absolute titan of the genre, this epic novel throws an English navigator into the brutal, highly structured world of feudal Japan.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Shogun....

By miles and miles. It's a fantastic read and the audio book is stellar.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Shogun by James Clavell might be my favorite book ever written

5. Sarum by Edward Rutherford

Rather than focusing on a single era, this massive novel tells the story of a specific place in England over thousands of years.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Sarum by Edward Rutherford (story of England from prehistory to the 1980s).

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Such a great book! Rutherford has written several bangers. I loved both New York and China as well.

6. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

A Pulitzer Prize–winning novel that puts the reader directly on the battlefield at Gettysburg, told from the perspectives of the generals leading the charge.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, battle of Gettysburg in the American civil war.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

That book spiked a massive American Civil War hyperfixation in 6th grade me. Read it until it fell apart, watched the movie on repeat, dragged my family to your Gettysburg (we only lived a couple hours away so it wasn’t a big hassle), read biographies of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, plus his own memoirs (The Passing of the Armies). I have zero patience for the “both sides” nonsense as an adult but it’s still a well-written book.

7. The Huntress by Kate Quinn

For a more modern historical thriller, readers suggest this post-WWII hunt for a Nazi war criminal, told through intertwining perspectives.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

For historical fiction without any fantasy elements, probably The Huntress by Kate Quinn. It has three POVs - a Soviet Night Witch during the war, an American girl with a new stepmother just after the war, and a British Nazi Hunter five years after the war, determined to find the Nazi woman who murdered his brother.

For horror historical fiction, Revelator by Daryl Gregory, about a family in 1930s Appalachia that worships a strange mountain god.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

I read Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys years ago and it still sticks with me. More recently I absolutely loved The Huntress by Kate Quinn, and this is coming from someone who doesn't love WW2 historical fiction bc it so often feels like trauma porn or romanticized obsession with tragedy. The Huntress's plot twist felt obvious in a good way and had wonderfully well done characters.

8. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

The Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel. Not for everyone but what an incredible achievement!! She won the Booker Prize twice for these books :)

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

This is my favourite historical fiction trilogy too - her witty dialogue use of language, and the way she makes her characters come to life is amazing.
A close second is Mary Renault's Alexander the Great trilogy - it is such a good read.

9. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

This novel explores a devastating but often overlooked piece of history: the forced quarantine of leprosy patients on a Hawaiian island.

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Just finished Moloka’i by Alan Brennert and WOW!

Comment in r/suggestmeabook

Yes! I think about this one a lot. I love books with not only a good story but where you also learn history too that you were never taught in school. I knew zero about Hawaiian history before this book.

The hardest part about reading historical fiction is deciding where you want to travel next. These recommendations span hundreds of years and cross multiple continents, giving you a perfect starting point for your next reading binge. Pick an era, grab a book, and enjoy the trip.

Which era would you visit from your armchair first? Read the full thread in r/suggestmeabook, and find more conversations like this in r/books, r/HistoricalFiction, and r/literature.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

There are many theories on self-improvement, and things like journaling, cold plunges, and five-year plans are a just a few popular ways people try to change their lives for the better. Recently, someone crowdsourced the community on r/AskReddit to ask, "What’s the one thing you started doing in the last few years that quietly made your life 10× better, but nobody talks about?"

In the thread, redditors share the habits that actually moved the needle in their life.

The power of opting out

In a culture of constant connectivity and social obligation, redditors find that reclaiming their time and attention by setting boundaries produces immediate relief.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Saying "I don't want to" instead of making up excuses.

Comment in r/AskReddit

“No.” Is a complete sentence.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Turning off all non-human notifications. If it’s not a text or a call from a real person, my phone doesn't make a sound. No more 'limited time offers' or 'someone you don't know posted a story' buzzing in my pocket.

Comment in r/AskReddit

“I don’t feel like doing dinner”.

“I don’t feel like doing dinner WITH YOU” is unnecessary and rude. The first one delivers the message without being abrasive. If they ask why, then you can give your reason. If they don’t like or respect your reason then they’re not good friends anyway!

Back to basics

While bio-hacking trends come and go, the community overwhelmingly agrees that prioritizing consistent rest and physical strength offers returns that flashy wellness products can't match. These fundamentals play the biggest role in daily well-being.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Hitting the gym and starting strength training. Always have been a cardio person who likes running, but everytime I reduced weight, I gained it back fast. Finally started weights training and it made a remarkable difference.

Comment in r/AskReddit

It's already talked about though so many times and just needs execution which is the hard part. Sleep, diet, and exercise. Life 10x better in many aspects.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Going to bed at the same time every night. Sleep consistency changed everything.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I’ll see your “going to sleep” and raise you “waking up” at the same time every day for a great feeling I never realized existed in my adult life until very late.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Started going to bed at a decent time so I can enjoy the mornings. Morning > Nights. Nothing good happens after 9pm anyway.

And if I can’t sleep at night it means I didn’t exhaust myself enough during the day. Working out and being productive throughout the day helps.

Domestic upgrades

For many, the quality of everyday life would be improved by automating the drudgery of housework. These purchases aren't just about cleanliness; they are about removing the annoyances that cause low-grade stress.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Robot vacuum+mop. Keeping my apartment clean has always been a struggle for me, and it's always made me feel kinda worthless not being able to do it. Getting a machine to do it for me has taken a big load off of my brain so I can focus on all the other ways I'm not a good adult.

Comment in r/AskReddit

My wife will tell anyone that buying the robot vacuum/mop has helped her mental well being 10x. When she wakes up in the morning and the carpet has neat, straight, vacuum lines and she knows the kitchen floors are clean, she is instantly in a great mood.

Thanks Roborox! You might be secretly mapping my house for the Chinese government, but my wife loves it.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Installed "window inserts." Now my heating bill is half the neighbors. My house is a lot warmer. Wish I had done this years ago.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I had back pain and bought a side bed railing to help pull myself out of bed instead of using my lower back. I dont have back pain anymore.

The art of slowing down

Beyond productivity hacks, redditors argue for the radical acceptance of doing nothing and being present. Disconnecting allows people to actually enjoy the moments they were previously too busy documenting.

Comment in r/AskReddit

It's almost a surreal feeling. For me slowing down almost felt like everyone is swimming as hard and as fast as they can when in reality life should be like floating down a lazy river instead.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Sleep. Treat my cellphone like a landline (leave it plugged into the wall). Started reading novels instead of scrolling the internet.

That seems like 3 things but they are all connected.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Putting my phone down when I hang out with my kids. Especially watching my son play hockey. Man it's so much fun! I used to always be so preoccupied with capturing moments with my kids with my phone but now I just have those moments. 

These suggestions aren't about adding more to the to-do list, but rather stripping away the unnecessary. It turns out that small things like a consistent bedtime and a clean floor might make a big difference.

Want more suggestions like this? Read the full discussion in r/AskReddit, and find similar conversations in r/DecidingToBeBetter, r/simpleliving, and r/selfimprovement.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Between Steam deals, PlayStation discounts, and Xbox sales, games from the 2010s can be found for next to nothing these days. But which ones hold up? In a thread on r/AskGames, a redditor asked the community:

What are some 2010 era games that are a MUST PLAY even today?

2010–2020 games are very often in sales, with major price cuts, so I was wondering which ones I should pick up next?

In the comments, redditors sounded off on which titles from that era deserve a second look, with the recommendations ranging from blockbuster franchises to cult classics that many missed the first time around.

1. Sleeping Dogs

Often overshadowed by the titan that is Grand Theft Auto, this Hong Kong–based open-world crime drama has developed a massive cult following. Players consistently praise its atmosphere and melee combat system as elements that have aged surprisingly well.

Comment in r/AskGames

Sleeping Dogs is usually very cheap and still holds up (janky gunplay aside)

Comment in r/AskGames

Still holding out for a sequel or anything in the same universe, I played that game to absolute death

Comment in r/AskGames

I replay it about once every year or two.

2. The Mass Effect trilogy

While the saga began in the late 2000s, the bulk of the trilogy defined the early 2010s RPG landscape. For those who missed them the first time around, the community insists these sci-fi epics are essential playing.

Comment in r/AskGames

Mass Effect (first game came out in 07 but the 2nd and 3rd were in the 2010s so I’m counting it!)

Comment in r/AskGames

Alternatively, if you find it on a sale the ME: Legendary Edition looks and plays great and includes all DLC as far as I know

Comment in r/AskGames

If you’re on PC they do really well with mods. If not they are a blast on console too!

3. Deus Ex: Human Revolution & Mankind Divided

Immersive simulation games are a rare breed, and the modern Deus Ex entries are frequently cited as the genre's peak. They offer deep, cyberpunk worlds and flexible gameplay for a price point that redditors say is usually a steal.

Comment in r/AskGames

Both modern Deus Ex games, Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, are typically dirt cheap.

Comment in r/AskGames

some of the best games ever made 

Comment in r/AskGames

Human Revolution came first and is the better game overall. There are some improvements in the next one, though, and it is definitely a good game in its own right. It is interesting to play these games present day as we seemingly inch closer to the world and tech presented in the games.

4. Spec Ops: The Line

Don't let the generic military cover art fool you: This third-person shooter is widely revered for its subversion of genre tropes, and has a harrowing narrative that sticks with players long after the credits roll.

Comment in r/AskGames

Spec Ops The Line. It looks like a generic 3rd person shooter but it's incredible.

5. Max Payne 3

This gritty shooter took the noir detective out of New York and into Brazil, adding a level of polish to the play that redditors feel is still unmatched. Despite a shift in tone from the originals, it remains a favorite for pure action.

Comment in r/AskGames

Max Payne 3. Still holds up well today

Comment in r/AskGames

It gets a lot of unfair hate due to the change in tone... but to be honest MP3 is my favourite of the trilogy.

It just feels so damn satisfying to play, and I loved the slowed aging Max.

Comment in r/AskGames

That’s the cool part about it, other than just being genuinely fun to play. It’s one of the more adult oriented games I can think of. And it does tie in to the first two games as well.

Both of those are still fun to play even though they feel a bit dated, but that doesn’t bother me at all. Max Payne 1 and 2 are being remastered/remade so that will be really good whenever they’re released

6. The Dishonored Series

The Dishonored games are celebrated for their immersive simulation gameplay, which gives players the freedom to choose between stealthy, non-lethal approaches or creative, supernatural fighting.

Comment in r/AskGames

Replaying it now, Dishonored 1 (+DLC) & 2. Seriously amazing games and everything that’s great about 2010s games.

Also both on sale. I think Dishonored 1 + DLC is … $4 and D2 is $7.

Comment in r/AskGames

Dishonored (2012) is my #1 favorite game of all time

Comment in r/AskGames

If you are interested, its story DLCs are also peak

7. NCAA Football and NCAA Basketball

Redditors argue that early 2010s collegiate sports titles offered far more depth and enjoyment than the modern versions available today. Many gamers still consider this era the peak of the genre.

Comment in r/AskGames

The NCAA football and basketball games back then were so much better than modern attempts.

Comment in r/AskGames

If you’re not into the sports they probably wouldn’t be fun to you, but they were a lot more fun than the modern games.

The 2010s produced a staggering amount of great games, and this list barely scratches the surface of what redditors surface in the thread. What comes through clearly is that the best games of the era aren't just technically impressive for their time; they created worlds and tell stories that players are still replaying years later. Given that most of these titles now cost less than a movie ticket, the only real question is: Where do you start?

Want more throwback gaming recommendations like this? Read the full discussion in r/AskGames, and find more conversations like this in r/patientgamers, r/ShouldIbuythisgame, and r/Games.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Most of us agree that a partner's phone is private property, but sometimes an accidental glance or a borrowed device reveals more than we bargained for. A redditor crowdsourced the community on r/AskReddit to ask, "What’s something you found on a partner’s phone that instantly changed the relationship forever — but they never knew you saw it?"

In the viral thread, redditors weighed in on the secret photos, notes, and messages they stumbled upon that completely altered their view of the person they were dating for better or for worse.

1. The two-faced texters

Few things shatter trust faster than seeing a partner present a completely different version of reality to their friends. For these redditors, a glance at a message thread proved that the person they were dating was not who they thought they were.

Comment in r/AskReddit

She left a facebook messenger conversation between her and her friend open on her computer. I'd use her computer when was at class but it was her complaining how much time I spent at her apartment and that I was smothering her by always being around. I was surprised by this as she'd have a breakdown and accuse me of abandoning her when I'd leave to stay at my own place for a few days.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Been together since ‘17. Had a gut feeling to check his phone but he always was guarded when it come to it. He fell asleep one day with YouTube open, looked through his instagram and for the past six months he was in a group chat with two other people sending each other videos of using the restroom in diapers and exchanging feet pics. All for amounts of money that never exceeded 10$. No idea how to even approach this.

2. The strategic saboteurs

Some discoveries are less about immediate betrayal and more about realizing a partner views the relationship as a battlefield. Discovering "fight logs" or calculated plans to manufacture drama is a glaring red flag.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Notes keeping track of how long since we last had a fight, when to pick the next one if we haven’t had one by then, and potential things to pick a fight about. She didn’t believe in a relationship going more than 4 weeks without a fight.

Also a list of my passwords she’d managed to uncover.

Comment in r/AskReddit

She told her colleagues and friends she divorced me because I was abusive.

I wasn’t. She didn’t.

She just wanted to play around in her circle without being judged by pretending she was single.

No one ever asked me, I just got blocked.

3. The undeniable evidence

Sometimes, there is no gray area. Seeing a text notification or a saved video can instantly validate a gut feeling, providing the concrete proof needed to walk away from a cheating partner.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Proof that she was cheating. Took a video with my own phone of all the proof.

Then confronted her that I knew she was cheating but didn't tell her how. She confessed to cheating with an entirely different person than what I had proof of. Wild times lol.

Comment in r/AskReddit

A couple months into dating a girl I was sitting in the passenger seat of her car waiting for her to come back from running inside her house when I saw a text come through on her phone that said, "Happy anniversary, baby. Can't wait to see you tonight!" So, yeah, that ended.

4. Notes app declarations of love

However, phone revelations can be positive as well. For the redditors below, stumbling upon a Notes file revealed a level of care that deepened their bond immediately.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Notes app with a list of stuff about me - favourite movies, flowers I'd like to get, shoe size, anything and everything. There were subdivisions like potential gifts to buy, what to do if im angry at him, stuff about my seasonal depression and what helps. It was almost 3 pages long and titled "My love".

I fell in love more. It showed hes serious about me and willing to put in effort.

Comment in r/AskReddit

He handed me his phone when he was driving so I could text his mom for him. When I unlocked his phone it opened to a note that was just a list of everything I've ever mentioned that I liked and it was titled "gift ideas". Like one of the items in the list was something I had seen in the window of a shop and mentioned that I thought it was cute then we just kept walking. It made me feel so loved to know that he paid attention to every tiny thing. We're married now lol

Comment in r/AskReddit

I went through my partner's phone after he passed away from cancer last year. I had to find contact numbers for a few friends not on the funeral list we made.

In his notes app, I found phrases he used in his letters to me, as we often wrote to each other when he was in hospital and visiting times were short. English was not his first language and I hadn't realised how hard he had practised in order to say what he wanted to say. I sent myself a copy of those notes and look at them often.

5. The secret fan clubs

It is common to present a curated version of oneself to the world, but discovering that a partner cherishes real moments — or brags about their significant other to strangers — can be a powerful confidence boost.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I was using his phone when mine had died and I have a habit of closing apps (he had a million open and it was driving me nuts) and his Reddit was open.

He doesn’t post most much, just follows and likes a bunch of wood working and bush crafting subreddits, but the few posts he commented on were about me.

It made my heart feel so happy I wanted to vomit lol. My favorite comment was about someone planning Valentine’s Day for their partner and he said something like “one Valentine’s Day my wife surprised me with a giant blanket fort. She had her parents watch our daughter, bought all my favorite snacks and sushi for dinner, had lord of the rings ready to play and made a pillow nest on the floor inside the fort. Best. Wife. Ever.”

He doesn’t have social media and isn’t one for writing letters or cards, doesn’t make a big show of his affections for me, so to see him gushing about me online was so 😭😭

I love that goose.

Comment in r/AskReddit

A folder with pictures of me, but not pictures on dates or anything, mostly pictures of me making silly faces or sleeping or eating. It showed me that he values me being comfortable and just existing a lot more than being dolled up and perfect constantly.

Comment in r/AskReddit

There was a photo album of nothing but pictures of me and our son titled, "My Perfect Men." There were pictures in there I didn't even know about -- him helping me wash my car, us laying on the couch, him teaching me Minecraft, me helping him ride a bike, etc.

I was a mess for a while. Ugly crying. Happy tears, but ugly crying. I had no idea I was loved so deeply by her.

My wife is quiet, introverted and didn't grow up in an environment that was outwardly loving. I wasn't snooping at all, but asked her to share some recent pictures of our son after a sports day at his school. I saw her in a different light after that. Our already good marriage hit a level I didn't even know was possible.

6. The hidden future planners

There is a specific kind of joy that comes from borrowing a phone for a quick Google search, only to find that the previous browser tabs are dedicated to planning a permanent future together.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Me and my fiancé have a really chill relationship. We respect that phones are private so we don’t snoop but use each others phones all the time for stuff like a torch etc when we grab whatever’s nearest or to google a number.

I was asking about something and he said look it up and passed his phone. I went to google and it opened his last tab … he was looking at engagement rings. I clicked on another tab and searched on that instead to try to hide that I’d seen it. I never confessed I’d seen it but Christ.

I knew pretty early on I wanted to spend my life with him and we’d had casual conversations but I’m a natural sceptic. To see that just really solidified in my little worried brain that he wasn’t lying when he said he loved me.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I saw my wife keeps an app for reminders for everyone’s birthday and significant dates of our relationship. She also has a bunch of photo montages she created of us together. I never question her love and devotion of me.

Whether it is a heartwarming list of gift ideas or a heartbreaking evidence of deception, these discoveries show that even in our digital age, the truth has a way of coming out. Although privacy is important, what people keep on their devices is often the most honest reflection of how they value others in their lives. Have you ever discovered something on another person's phone?

Want to read more discoveries? Read the full discussion in r/AskReddit, and find more conversations like this in r/relationships, r/dating_advice, and r/Marriage.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

A great movie needs a great ending, but some finales go beyond simple resolution to become legendary cultural moments. In a thread on r/moviequestions, one redditor asks: "What film has the most satisfying ending you’ve ever seen?" The conversation often starts with The Shawshank Redemption, whose ending is frequently cited as a key reason for the film’s success; here are seven movies whose endings really hit.

[Warning! Spoilers ahead.]

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

It is widely regarded as the ultimate payoff in cinema, delivering a sense of hope and freedom that feels earned after a long, arduous journey.

Comment in r/moviequestions

The Shawshank Redemption. It's a great film throughout, but the ending is why people stick with the movie no matter when they stumble on it flipping through TV channels late at night.

Comment in r/moviequestions

I find I'm so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head.

I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain.

I hope I can make it across the border.

I hope to see my friend and shake his hand.

I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams.

I hope.

...it's a beautiful movie, and that is a beautiful monologue. It's a summary of the whole movie. And then you get to see these two men embrace as they finally meet as free men. I always cry. It's a perfect ending.

2. The Sixth Sense (1999)

Beyond the famous twist, the resolution provides deep emotional healing for the characters, offering a tear-jerking moment of acceptance between a mother and her son.

Comment in r/moviequestions

The Sixth Sense.

Cole finally getting his moment of acceptance and being acknowledged- not just in general, but by the most important person in his life- that he sees ghosts, is just *chef's kiss.

Lynn getting her moment of peace and feeling loved knowing that her mother ALWAYS did care, is just *chef's kiss.

The fact that as mother and son, they're experiencing this together, is *chef's kiss.

The catharsis of it all. Just perfect. Makes me cry every time.

Comment in r/moviequestions

I watched it home alone, went in cold, didn’t know anything about it. Hit play again as soon as it ended. Never before or since have I watched a movie back to back.

3. The Matrix (1999)

Some movies end with a fade-out, but this sci-fi landmark ends with a surge of adrenaline, combining perfect music and visuals to leave the audience feeling invincible.

Comment in r/moviequestions

The Matrix

Phone rings. Neo’s monologue. Flies(!) off. Banger music starts playing.

Everybody left the movie theater pumped as hell. Never felt a crowd energized like that before or since.

Comment in r/moviequestions

the first time i saw the matrix in theaters, the projector actually locked up on the last shot/start of the credits, and the light bulb eventually burned a hole in the film while rage against the machine was playing. it was actually a fire hazard that they eventually evacuated the theater for but it FELT like it was part of the movie, it matched the tone so well and it was metal as hell, i'll remember it for as long as i live lol

4. Primal Fear (1996)

A great thriller knows how to pull the rug out from under the audience, delivering a final reveal that chills the spine and recontextualizes everything that came before.

Comment in r/moviequestions

My heart still drops at the final scene in Primal Fear, no matter how many times I've seen it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, an ending that is perfect because of how monumental it isn't is The Big Lebowski - the Dude abides and nothing really changes, minus Donnie being deadbut The Dude's deadbeat life goes on, man.

Comment in r/moviequestions

The slow clap in Primal Fear gives me chills every time, and I've seen that movie more times than I can count.

5. Cool Runnings (1993)

Triumph isn't always about winning the gold; sometimes it is about dignity and pride, culminating in a slow clap that captures the heart of sportsmanship.

Comment in r/moviequestions

Cool Runnings.

Not kidding. The slow clap at the end gets me every time.

Comment in r/moviequestions

100%. One of the few movies that makes me cry every single time.

"Ya dead? man?" - and then, for the first time, "No. We got to finish the race." Even the Europeans had to clap.

6. Fight Club (1999)

There is a strange beauty in destruction, especially when paired with the perfect song to signal the end of one world and the start of something wildly different.

Comment in r/moviequestions

Fight Club

“You met me at a very strange point in my life.”

OoooooOoooooooh where is My Mind starts playing softly

BOOOM… building falling, BOOM another one…

music intensifies

Roll credits!

Comment in r/moviequestions

The ending is so artistic. Paired with The Pixies as Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter hold hands, their silhouette against the backdrop of the cityscape exploding—it’s just a beautiful scene really.

7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

An epic journey deserves an epic farewell, and fans appreciate that this fantasy masterpiece takes the time to say goodbye to its characters properly — several times over.

Comment in r/moviequestions

LOTR: Return of the King - it's amazing, and you get like 4 endings

Comment in r/moviequestions

quantity AND quality

8. Casablanca (1942)

This golden-age classic defined the bittersweet ending, blending romance, sacrifice, and wit into a final scene that remains iconic decades later.

Comment in r/moviequestions

Casablanca. Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Comment in r/moviequestions

Truly satisfying in every way. The proper resolution of the romance, saving the heroic resistance fighter, regaining honor and patriotism, killing a Nazi, welshing on a bet...

A perfect ending is what makes a movie truly unforgettable. These eight films prove that a great finale can stay with you long after the credits roll.

Which finale stays with you? Read the full discussion in r/moviequestions, and find more conversations like this in r/movies, r/flicks, and r/TrueFilm.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Everyone notices their grocery bill climbing, but some specific items have jumped from the bargain bin to the top shelf. Ingredients like ground beef that were once reliably affordable have become elevated and therefore more expensive. In a thread on r/AskReddit, redditors discuss the meals that have become unexpectedly pricey.

1. Chicken wings

Once considered a byproduct suitable only for stocks or bar snacks, these have become a main event with a price tag to match.

Comment in r/AskReddit

When i was younger, I'm 40 now, you could get like 20 full wings from the grocery store for like $5... then Buffalo Wings became a thing.

Comment in r/AskReddit

A local sports bar used to have 10 cent wing nights here. I believe it was on Monday nights for football. Of course their expectation was you’d order $2 in wings, but $100 in beer.

2. Oxtail

What was once a scrap cut used for slow cooking by those on a budget is now a trendy, high-cost ingredient.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Oxtail. My dad used to make an oxtail stew, but it’s so expensive now that he usually uses short rib instead.

Comment in r/AskReddit

It's honestly sad seeing these foods that poorer cultures made into delicious fare becoming too expensive for those people to partake in.

3. Fast food

The days of filling up on a handful of coins are gone, as drive-thru combos now rival sit-down restaurant prices.

Comment in r/AskReddit

My dad said that in '94 when I was still little, he'd go to McDonald's to get me a happy meal because they were $1.20 and it was cheaper than making the food at home sometimes. I remember he'd load up on burgers from the dollar menu to take them to work. Then we'd hit arby's when they had a 5 for 1 deal and get several of those for the same reason. Those were simpler times

Comment in r/AskReddit

Most of the time, fast food used to be reasonable quality, fast and cheap. Now it is usually none of those. That really only leaves convenience.

4. Seafood and lobster

Living by the coast used to mean cheap access to ocean bounty, but historical "poverty foods" like lobster are now status symbols.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Basically any seafood, and also living by the sea used to be a poor thing

Comment in r/AskReddit

Isn't Lobster among the most famous for this? I think it used to be poor people food and then someday someone was like "Hey lets make that shit Deluxe Gourmet Food".

5. Packaged snacks

The snack aisle has seen some of the most aggressive "shrinkflation" and price hikes, making simple crackers feel like a splurge.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Have you noticed the snacks aisle is ridiculous now? $8 for a box of goldfish?? And look at some of the bagged crackers. Might not seem that expensive when you look at the bag size, but when you lift it and it’s mostly just air!!

Comment in r/AskReddit

Chips are almost all over $5 now. I used to pick up the occasional bag for the kids but now I just can't stomach the price for something that has no nutritional value.

6. Ground Beef

The ultimate versatile budget meat for families is becoming a strain on the wallet for many households.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Beef. Ground beef prices is crazy

Comment in r/AskReddit

It really is amazing. Ground beef used to be the go-to meat when you're on a budget. Now is only for upper middle class.

7. Stew meat

Even the tougher chunks of beef meant for boiling down are fetching premium prices per pound.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Yep. We used to eat beef stew or chuck roast at least monthly. Now we haven't had either in two years. I want them, but then I look up the prices and put a different meal on the shopping list.

Comment in r/AskReddit

The only time I ever shoplifted was during covid when the prices exploded when I went to get chuck roast last after buying everything else on a tight budget and the price was double what it was just a few months before, ruining my staple budget pot roast. Now I just don't cook with beef at all.

8. Bell peppers

Cooking healthy at home is getting harder when individual vegetables like bell pepper cost as much as an entire processed meal used to.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Ugh I hate the price of peppers. Growing up my uncle worked at a pepper farm and he’d bring us a huge box a week, I’d eat them like people eat apples. I crave them all the time but they’re way too expensive to eat like I used to.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I will say, as a hobby gardener, bell peppers are the easiest thing I have ever grown. One plant produces so much and if you have 2 or 3 plants you are drowning in bell peppers. I couldnt give them away fast enough! So the price for them at the store now amazes me.

9. Cereal

A simple breakfast bowl is no longer a cheap way to start the day, with name-brand boxes shocking shoppers.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Box of Raisin Bran. $9.00 at local store. Ridiculous. Actually pricing us into eating healthy.

Comment in r/AskReddit

£5 pounds is about $6.81 USD and the local grocery store is charging about 7-9 USD for cereal,and that's with the U.S government subsidizing grains like corn and wheat (which is why corn syrup is so prevalent in sodas and foods that usually have cane sugar in other countries)

And yet my local grocery store is charging just as much as UK prices when in the very recent past our food has almost always been cheaper than the UK

10. Ramen

The ultimate symbol of struggling college students survives, but even those cents-per-packet prices are creeping up.

Comment in r/AskReddit

The instant packets are over $1 each now, i just buy plain noodle packs and mix my own flavors

Comment in r/AskReddit

They used to be 10/$1! Now they’re .50 a piece. It was always my go to lazy meal

Grocery prices are changing, and some foods are no longer as affordable as they once were. Shoppers need to get creative in the kitchen or use alternative proteins to stay on budget.

Want more food conversations? Read the full thread in r/AskReddit, and find more discussions like this in r/Frugal, r/EatCheapAndHealthy, and r/GroceryStores.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

People often feel confident belting out certain songs in the privacy of their showers or cars, tunes that feel “easy” to replicate. But stepping up to a microphone in front of an audience can quickly go from hopeful to horrible. In a thread on r/CasualConversation, one redditor asks:

What's a song that's deceptively hard to sing? The kind where you'd say "oh, I got this" and then immediately get humbled at karaoke?

Redditors shared the tracks that consistently humble them at karaoke.

1. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

Cyndi Lauper’s signature hit might feel like a breezy pop anthem, but trying to perform it reveals just how much vocal stamina is actually required. Redditors note that the relentless pacing leaves almost no room to breathe.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: sure, singing in the right key is hard but it’s the lung capacity you have to have that takes everyone down. It’s a fun song to sing in the car when you can take breaks, but so hard when you have to do it all from start to finish.

2. "Hey Jude"

The Beatles created one of the most iconic singalongs in history, but leading the singalong is a different beast entirely. Users point out that the legendary outro can turn a fun performance into an awkward endurance test.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

Hey Jude - it’s about 3 minutes of “Na na na na, hey Jude” at the end that makes it painfully awkward to get through

3. "Dancing Queen"

ABBA songs are famous for their catchy melodies, but they are also notoriously difficult due to their wide vocal ranges. Karaoke regulars warn that this specific disco classic is a trap for the unprepared.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

Dancing Queen. It's got a weird rhythm and fast lyrics and cool vocals. Karaoke gals always start with this and always get humbled.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

I am consistently humbled by ABBA

4. "Clint Eastwood"

Gorillaz tracks often blend relaxed vocals with intricate production, leading people to believe they are easy to sing. However, users find that the transitions and rapping sections are much faster and more complex than they remember.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

Ive been singing karaoke for 20 years. It is relaxing.

But every song you sing in your car or shower, you feel like you know it 100%. You can sing it and mumble certain parts or mess up and the singer finishes and you pick right up.

I explain to people who want to sing and are scared to, to try to sing the song without the words and only the music. It is way harder than you think.

I have about 40 songs I sing without looking at the screen. And another 50 or so that Ill use the screen for the words.

Singing like that is tough. It is always fun to try new songs and be humbled when I am no where near close enough. .

Gorilla Clint Eastwood is one i want to do, but is incredibly hard. The transitions are insane.

Edit: Thank you!!! Holy crap!

Comment in r/CasualConversation

The key to Clint Eastwood is to have a partner to sing the chorus. My husband and I do it for karaoke and it's ALWAYS a hit.

5. "You're My Best Friend"

Freddie Mercury had a unique vocal agility that allowed him to sound effortless even when singing in difficult registers. Redditors note that this particular Queen track sits in an awkward "uncanny valley" for most average singers.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

You're My Best Friend is in a key that i find too high to sing without belting, but too low to use falsetto

Comment in r/CasualConversation

Yeah he manages to keep that light airy tone so high up in his range, it's insane lol

Or he could in the '70s, I don't remember any point where he does similar in the '80s when the smoking was starting to affect his voice and he adapted/transitioned into his raspier style of singing

6. "Welcome to the Black Parade"

Emo anthems often require a level of raw energy and high-pitched belting that can shred an untrained voice. Fans of My Chemical Romance point out that the band's most famous hits are marathon sessions of intensity.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

I'm a huge My Chemical Romance fan and have sung pretty much every one of their songs that are available in karaoke catalogues. I can handle most of their songs pretty well but there are a few that are just near impossible:

Welcome to the Black Parade, by far their most famous song, is nearly impossible. The last part already starts crazy high and then there's a key change that makes it even higher. Easy to see how Gerard Way destroyed his voice singing this every show for 2 years.

Famous Last Words: Similar situation to WTTBP but actually even higher.

Although imo the most deceptively difficult song is Helena. It's not as high as some of their other songs, but it's high enough, and the intensity is pretty much 100% all the way through with only real break for the vocals being in the bridge. I've never been able to make it all the way through the song without my voice giving out.

7. "American Pie"

Don McLean's opus is a masterpiece of storytelling, but it is also an endurance challenge due to its sheer length. Redditors warn that the novelty of the song wears off long before you actually reach the final verse.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

I remember realizing this at work one day in HS when it played on the radio XD.

I was cleaning the kitchen up with a couple coworkers & it felt like every few minutes would stop to be like 'ok guys this isn't funny anymore'

Comment in r/CasualConversation

I saw him perform this at Glastonbury and I swear to you he made it last forty five minutes, no exaggeration.

8. "Rolling in the Deep"

Adele is widely recognized as a vocal powerhouse, yet many karaoke-goers still attempt her hits. The consensus is that while the verses might be manageable, the repetitive power needed for the chorus is exhausting.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

Rolling in the deep - Adele The chorus is so hard to get right!

Comment in r/CasualConversation

I came here to say this but for a different reason, I do get it right , but I don't have the stamina to keep going the gazillion repetitions.

9. "Happy Birthday"

Despite it's popularity, this song is rarely done well in a group setting. Redditors explain that because the melody makes a significant octave jump, choosing the wrong starting pitch ensures everyone will be screeching by the end.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

Happy Birthday. It lures you in with its ubiquity and promise of simplicity, leaving most people in the room three-quarters of the way through questioning whether they even started on the right note.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

As a former professional singer I now consider it my public duty to hurry and start the song first and get everyone on a low start note. Otherwise that octave jump wrecks people.

10. "No Rain"

This '90s classic by Blind Melon relies heavily on Shannon Hoon’s very specific vocal texture. Redditors found that without that unique tone, the song falls flat or feels surprisingly difficult to navigate.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

No Rain by Blind Melon. Embarrassed myself pretty badly when I tried it a few months ago

Comment in r/CasualConversation

Shannon Hoon had such a distinctive sounding voice. I really think he was the only one who could pull that song off

11. "Birdhouse in Your Soul"

They Might Be Giants are known for wordy, fast-paced lyrics that require precision articulation. Fans note that John Linnell’s breath control is almost superhuman, making his songs a recipe for lightheadedness.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

Birdhouse In Your Soul. Or basically any They Might Be Giants with John Linnell on vocals for that matter. The man has the craziest breath control and you don't realise until you're nearly passing out trying to sing along.

Comment in r/CasualConversation

I have to sing this song over and over when my toddler goes to sleep, as he demands it, and I would do a lot of things I wouldn't be proud of to get him to sleep. I have good breath control, but those key changes are tricky.

The songs we think we can conquer alone often have a way of humbling us in front of an audience, but that’s part of the fun. Whether you nail it or crack a note, every performance is a reminder that music is meant to be enjoyed, if you're alone in the car or singing in front of a crowd of people.

What is your karaoke kryptonite? Read the thread in r/CasualConversation, and find more conversations like this in r/Karaoke, r/Singing, and r/Music.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Cinema inherently requires a suspension of disbelief, yet certain lazy shortcuts have become so repetitive they snap the audience right out of the experience. Looking to connect on these pet peeves, a film fan asked the community on r/AskReddit: "What stereotype in movies are you absolutely sick of?"

In the thread, moviegoers air their grievances regarding the most exhausted tropes in cinema history.

1. The horror housing folly

Why do struggling writers always move into sprawling Victorian mansions in horror movies? The economics never make sense, and the family usually ignores every red flag imaginable for the sake of the plot.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Horror films that start with a middle class family moving to a big house in the country, usually they're grieving the loss of a child and their other child has stopped talking. Bonus points if one of the parents is a struggling writer.

"A fresh start will be good for all of us, especially Billy."

Comment in r/AskReddit

And the house is always sight unseen until they pull into the driveway and gasp at how lovely it is. 🏡

2. The middle-class mansion

Characters with modest incomes somehow live in architectural marvels with chef's kitchens, setting unrealistic expectations for everyone watching.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Everybody, regardless of job/income, lives in a mansion

Comment in r/AskReddit

"I'm middle class."

Has a multi-million dollar house with a custom, handcrafted kitchen.

3. The refusal to communicate

Entire plots often hinge on two adults refusing to have a thirty-second conversation to clear up a misunderstanding. It is a cheap way to generate drama that often leaves the audience screaming at the screen.

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Miscommunication for drama or to delay two people who are clearly endgame getting together. I just hate the miscommunication trope where two people refuse to talk to each other or just assume the situation or what they think the other person wants. I hate, hate, hate it, especially when they're trying to portray people as competent and decently communicative otherwise. Get rid of it please.

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“Just talk to each other! Jesus!”

I say this to the screen a lot.

4. The bumbling dad

The incompetent father figure who can't function without help is a lazy stereotype and tired dynamic that insults parents and influences how kids view the adults in their lives.

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The parents in kid-centric shows are always complete boobs, especially the dads. As impressionable as kids are (especially teens) they end up having this bias against older folks, firmly believing that anyone more than 10 years older than them are complete morons.

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Bluey breaks this mould so well. The parents are not idiots but not perfect either.

5. The "I'm in" hacker

Hollywood depicts hacking as furious typing accompanied by 3D graphics and flashing text. These high-speed, mouse-free digital break-ins — and the comically weak passwords they exploit — can be painfully hilarious to watch.

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Wall of green text

popup on screen saying ACCESS GRANTED

"I'm in".

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Having the IT guy or anyone being decent with computers is now an expert hacker and can hack into anything.

6. Apocalypse-ready beauty routines

Even when waking up from a coma or fighting off zombies in a wasteland, female leads rarely have a hair out of place. The suspension of disbelief breaks when survival situations look more like shampoo commercials.

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Women ALWAYS have perfect makeup and professional grade hairstyling - even when they wake up first thing in the morning. 🙄

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Just woke up? Artfully mussed hair and shiny lip gloss.

Dying of cancer? Smokey eyes and loose curls.

Zombie apocalypse? Literally haven’t bathed in months? Beach waves!

7. The ignored expert

There is always a protagonist who, despite knowing exactly what's happening, faces skepticism from everyone else until the very last moment. Alternatively, the only competent person available is a retired operative who just wants to be left alone.

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The protagonist is clever, smart, but somehow no one believes his theories and solutions. Surprise surprise, he was right all along.

Retired ex Navy SEAL, ex special ops (you name it). Lives a quiet life, and only wants to be left alone. Mysterious person shows up and convinces him/her to go back on the field.

8. Unrealistic romantic turns

The leap from visceral hatred to undying love in romantic comedies can happen with whiplash-inducing speed. These movies gloss over the complex emotional work required to change a heart, opting instead for a montage that solves everything.

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Man and woman meet. They hate each other from the pit of their very beings. Movie progresses to show man and or woman doing nice things that the other one notices. The softening of the hearts begins and ends with them falling into each others' arms and declaring their love.

Grouchy old man lives in a neighborhood. The neighbors wear him down with their kindness. He eventually turns into a squishy teddy bear of a human that everyone loves.

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And then, magically, what she does and does not find physically attractive is fundamentally altered. Chemistry is for jerks!

9. Keeping car keys in the sun visor

If movies are to be believed, the sun visor is the universal place to stor car keys regardless of the theft risk. Mechanics and drivers everywhere are baffled by this pervasive — and highly insecure — on-screen habit.

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Finding car keys in the sun visor.

10. Defibrillators as magic wands

Medical dramas frequently misuse lifesaving equipment for dramatic effect. The defibrillator has become a magical resurrection device in fiction, shocking flatlines back to life, much to the annoyance of actual medical professionals.

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Using a defibrillator to restart a person's heart.

Shock paddles are only for shocking the heart back into rhythm.

IF SOMEONE FLATLINES, YOU USE CPR GODDAMNIT!!!

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As an ex EMT, this one annoys the absolute hell out of me. There's loads of rhythms not compatible with life that aren't the 'flatline' and asystole (the flatline) isn't bloody shockable! Really takes me out of the movie.

11. The sepia-toned foreign country

Color grading is often used as a clumsy shorthand for geography, tinting entire nations yellow or brown. It is a visual stereotype that reduces complex, vibrant places to a single dusty aesthetic.

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Mexico is yellow/orange, full of unpaved dirt roads, small, seedy, ugly towns, everybody is brown and fat… doesn’t matter how progressive and woke a director or writer is they alway resort to this idiot stereotype.

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I hate the Mexico Yellow Filter ™️. Also hate when the main characters need to go to “Unspecified Arab Country” and it’s just:

“SHOT OF DESERT DUNES, MAN IN TURBAN RIDING CAMEL, VAGULEY MIDDLE EASTERN RIFF PLAYS, ORANGE YELLOW FILTER, MAN IN TURBAN GETS OFF CAMEL TO GREET MC, “hello my friends!”

Movies will always need narrative shortcuts, but audiences are clearly craving a bit more authenticity in their storytelling. When the plot relies too heavily on clichés — like a car key magically kept in the sun visor, or easily hacked systems — it pulls viewers right out of the experience.

Which cliché makes you roll your eyes the hardest? Read the full list in r/AskReddit, and find more conversations like this in r/movies, r/MovieDetails, and r/Flicks.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

In film, television, comics, and fiction, a hero is often only as good as their ride — but luckily for them, there are a lot of good ones. Recently, someone started a conversation with the r/TopCharacterTropes community by posting, "Character vehicles so iconic they’re treated with the same respect as an actual member of the team."

The post kicked off a spirited discussion in which redditors named the mechanical marvels that transcended their status as props to become beloved characters in their own right. Whether they are sentient spaceships or beat-up muscle cars, these machines earned their spot on the call sheet.

1. Doctor Who's TARDIS

Technicalities aside, the Doctor's time machine is a conscious entity with a soul. It doesn't just take the passengers where they want to go, but rather where they need to be.

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I mean the TARDIS is a living being so I'll argue it is 100% a member of the team

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The TARDIS is a member of the team. She's sentient, has been The Doctor's longest companion, often gives him what he needs, and always takes him where he needs to go.

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There's even a whole episode where the TARDIS gets personified.

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It's canon that River knows how to pilot the TARDIS because it told her how to do so, she also gets jelous a couple times.

2. The titular Herbie

The Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own defined the "sentient car" trope. While some argue he is the protagonist rather than a vehicle, his loyalty to his drivers is undeniable.

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Isnt this the one where the car is actualy sentient?

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A.  Fully agree that Herbie is the GOAT! ❤️  That said... 🤓  B. OBJECTION  Herby is, canon, not a car but a sentient being and main character. Herby cannot qualify, as Herbie IS the protagonist and main character, not a vehicle the character rides in. The entire gimick of the series is that Herbie is sentient. Like Mr. Ed is not the best transportation in the Mr. Ed show. He IS the show.

3. One Piece's ships, especially The Going Merry

Fans of One Piece understand the deep emotional bond between a pirate crew and their first proper ship. This caravel wasn't just transport; it fought to stay afloat for its family until the very end.

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The Going Merry from One Piece.

I mean, I guess the Sunny too, but I'm still bitter lol

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Merry-Go had the most beautiful conclusion, I'm not sad they had to move on, even if I miss the OG. 

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Sunny is probably going to have a similar fate in the final battle after finding the One Piece.

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Technically every ship in One Piece has a soul in the form of a Klabuterman. It’s just that the Going Merry is only one we’ve seen in the story because it’s used as a sign for the Straw Hats that they still need to develop further. Which in turn leads to the creation of the Sunny and later their training during the timeskip.

4. Supernatural's Chevy Impala, Baby

In Supernatural, the black 1967 Chevy Impala served as the Winchesters' only permanent home. It witnessed every conversation, every tear, and every battle, becoming the third brother in the dynamic.

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Supernatural single-handedly made the Chevy Impala the second most filmed model vehicle. Distant second, behind the Ford Crown Victoria. 

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Dean's Impala "Baby" from Supernatural.

The car even gets a whole backstory: https://youtu.be/lWIs6qVMuu8?si=K778QzqBTKhXSAg0

5. Little Einsteins' rocket

More than just a mode of transport, this red multidisciplinary craft is the heart of the team. Capable of transforming into everything from a submarine to a spacecraft, Rocket uses musical power and "super-fast" maneuvers to help the Little Einsteins complete their missions.

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He also has a rivalry with another living aircraft

Said living aircraft is also a MiG-29

WHY IS BRO PICKING A FIGHT WITH A MIG-29 THAT'S SAPIENT

I REMEMBER WATCHING THIS SHOW AS A KID AND NEVER REALIZING BIG JET WAS A FREAKING MIG 29!

6. Star Trek's U.S.S. Enterprise

Space operas rely heavily on the vessels that carry heroes between stars. Fans argue that these ships, often quirky and temperamental, serve as the heart and home of their respective crews.

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Genuinely had more tears in my eyes when it blows up in the third movie than when Kirk's son died or something

TBF the enterprise does blow up a lot but seeing it fall and burn in the atmosphere wasn't the same

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"Fate protects fools, little children, and ships named Enterprise" Commander William Riker (post-beard).

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Really any ship (or station) of Star Trek

7. Star Wars' Millennium Falcon

Although the Star Wars franchise features many famed starships, the Millennium Falcon gets the best character arc.

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• Millennium Falcon (Star Wars)

• The Galactica (Battlestar Galactica)

• Serenity (Firefly)

• The Normandy (Mass Effect) (doubly so when EDI the ship AI becomes unshackled and essentially becomes an extension of the ship)

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I don't know, I think there's a big difference between an iconic ship and a "ship as a character".

The Falcon has this thing where characters will recurrently talk about it and its performance, be it insulting it or admiring it, and most importantly, Han Solo talks to it.

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I think you can put half of Star Wars’s ships in, especially the TIE Fighter, X-Wing and Star Destroyers.

Whether it's because they provide a home base, a personality to bounce off of, or just a really cool escape route, these vehicles prove that you don't need a heartbeat to be the heart of a team.

Want more discussions like this? Read the full thread in r/TopCharacterTropes and find more conversations like this in r/scifi, r/movies, and r/television.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Every reader knows the specific heartbreak of watching a beloved novel get butchered on the big screen. But sometimes, filmmakers get it right, capturing the spirit of the source material or trimming the fat to create something even better. Recently, a redditor asked the community on r/suggestmeabook to "Suggest me a book with a film adaptation that does the book justice," continuing:

I’ve been doing this thing where I read book then watch the film, and I have been let down by the film every time.

I can’t name a film adapted from a book that was as good as the book. Do you know of any books that have been adapted and the film didn’t add/ remove characters or change major plot points?

In the thread, redditors discussed the adaptations that actually lived up to the hype.

1. Holes (2003)

This Louis Sachar novel is a staple of many childhoods, and redditors agree the Disney adaptation managed to capture the book's quirky, distinct tone perfectly.

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Holes. It's a YA novel/family movie, it's done really well. 

And I might be misremembering because it was many years ago, but I think Life of Pi was good? 

I also think Lord of the Rings movies feel really true to the books. 

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Holes definitely. Great book with a great movie adaptation.

Rewatched it last month. Still a solid movie

2. The Princess Bride (1987)

It is rare for a fanbase to universally agree that a movie is better than the book, but this '80s classic benefits from the novel's author, William Goldman, writing the screenplay himself.

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The Princess Bride. The book and film feel quite different, but both are wonderful. The author of the book wrote the screenplay (and he was an accomplished screenwriter as well as an author), and it's very interesting to compare them.

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The Princess Bride, though William Goldman also did the screenplay

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Goldman really is great. I always imagined that the movie of The Princess Bride would be about six hours long if he had followed the book more closely. When I worked in a bookstore, we had quite a number of people asking for books by S. Morgenstern. No. Not making it up. Good times. I was very into his stuff years ago, & his collections of screenplays (with essays) are incredibly exciting. His other novels are fun, too. Aside from his other adaptations (there are several), he was pretty much known in Hollywood as the premiere script doctor. (Another person who did this: Carrie Fisher!) Check out his filmography... it's long.

3. The Lord of the Rings (2001)

Peter Jackson’s trilogy is often cited as the gold standard for high-fantasy adaptations, translating Tolkien’s dense world-building into a coherent cinematic masterpiece.

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The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

The books are obviously great. The movies streamline them. They cut out several of the side quests and the Scourging of the Shire. Peter Jackson and other powers-that-be decided that the movies were about Frodo's journey and the destruction of the ring. Anything else that was not directly needed with that story was cut.

Read the books at least once. The movies get to the point very well, despite what was cut.

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Lord of the Rings original trilogy is a classic

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the Lord of the Rings trilogy!

Practical Magic; I thought the movie was actually better than the book 

the BBC Emma mini series from 2009

4. No Country for Old Men (2007)

Cormac McCarthy’s sparse, gritty prose was a perfect match for the Coen Brothers, who translated the tense atmosphere of the novel directly to the screen.

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The Coen Brothers have arguably done this best. No Country for Old Men. And True Grit. No Country is very faithful to the book. That is no guarantee of success, even with a great book, even with a book as well suited to cinema as No Country. What they do is, when watching the film, make you FEEL the same way you feel when you read the book. They are the great managers of tone in film, perhaps the greatest. The dread, the terrible thrill is evoked in both media. It’s a triumph. True Grit is not a remake of the film. It is an adaptation of the book, done new. Again it recreates the tone of the book. Portis is one of the most colorful purveyors of the English language we have had. It is comic, with the emotion of the wistful resolution twice earned. That is what the Coen’s achieved in True Grit. In a different way, Godfather is an incredible adaptation. It is an adaptation of a rather inferior, albeit wildly popular novel. It is pulp and the movie is a much greater artistic achievement. Much. The challenge of adaptation is trying to translate the interiority of some of our great works. So, choosing the right work is the first and possibly most important decision.

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Well, True Grit by the Coen Brothers is a very good movie, but I think it fails the book in some important ways. No Country for Old Men, on the other hand, I remember as being the best book/movie combo ever.

5. The Godfather (1972)

This is a classic example where the film lifted the core narrative out of a messy novel, removing strange subplots to create a focused crime drama.

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The Godfather.

Pretty much the only difference is the film removes a subplot which was disconnected from the main story and was a bit weird anyway. The book would be better without it.

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No, the movie far exceeds the book. The book is weird, clumsy, and kind of cartoony in various ways. The movie totally elevates the story into a work of art and mystery.

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How about more-than-justice. The Godfather is considered one of the greatest American films. The book is not as esteemed.

6. Fight Club (1999)

Chuck Palahniuk’s transgressive novel needed a specific visual style to work on screen, and David Fincher delivered a movie that even fans of the book admit is a cut above.

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Fight Club. Extremely true to the book except the ending which was changed for the better, even according to the author

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Fight Club. Even Chuck Palahniuk, the author of the original book, said that David Fincher’s movie improved upon the book and made connections between characters that he himself hadn’t thought to make.

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I've read close to 100 books that have been made into movies. Fight Club stands out as the one where the movie was closest to the book.

7. Stardust (2007)

This fairy tale is beloved, but the film adaptation tweaked the ending and tone in ways that many viewers found more satisfying than the original text.

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Stardust.

I actually think the movie might be better than the book.

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Stardust

In many ways I think the movie actually improves on the book, which is an extreme rarity in my mind

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Stardust! While I enjoyed the book, the movie was far more enjoyable and I revisit it more often:)

These picks show that a good adaptation isn’t about copying every page, it’s about knowing what to keep, what to cut, and what to translate for a new medium. Of course, this list barely scratches the surface. Which book-to-movie adaptation do you think actually nailed it, or even surpassed the original?

Want more reading (or watching) inspiration? Read the full thread in r/suggestmeabook and find similar discussions in r/books, r/movies, and r/explainafilmplotbadly.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.