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Our 25 Most Popular Stories of 2023
Once again, Mental Floss readers proved to be curious about all sorts of niche topics—and our editors and writers were happy to oblige their interests.
MOVIES
Net Zero: The 10 Worst Movies of 2023, According to Rotten Tomatoes
You've never heard of most of these movies. There's good reason for that.
25 Things to Look for During the 24-Hour ‘A Christmas Story’ Marathon
You know Ralphie Parker’s plight by heart, but can you spot the many flubs in Bob Clark’s ‘A Christmas Story’?
The Most Popular Christmas Movie in Each State
How many states opted for 'Elf' over 'A Christmas Story'? Did 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' get the shaft? Discover the topography of holiday movies here.
Watch More Than 15 Minutes of Deleted Scenes From ‘Home Alone’
These deleted scenes shed more light on Harry's motivations, Kevin's siblings' feelings, and more.
18 Brilliant Gifts for the Movie Buff in Your Life
From addictive trivia games to portable projectors, here are 18 brilliant gifts for movie lovers who know their stuff.
How “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Went From Morbid Omen to Holiday Mainstay
The original “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” implied that you’d never have a merry Christmas again.
Was Willy Wonka a Stone-Cold Serial Killer? One Wild Fan Theory Says Yes
Willy Wonka is undoubtedly an eccentric man. But could he and his band of Oompa-Loompas be hiding a homicidal secret?
“And All Through the House”: When ‘Tales From the Crypt’ Gifted Viewers With a Killer Santa
In 1989, the HBO anthology series 'Tales From the Crypt' resurrected a killer idea: a homicidal Kris Kringle.
The 10 Best Comedies to Stream on Netflix Right Now
From creepy, kooky family hits to indie success stories, Netflix has an impressive selection of comedies.
8 Fascinating Facts About Quicksand
In the 1960s, one in 35 movies featured someone getting sucked into quicksand.
Bear-ily We Roll Along: A Paddington Musical Is Happening
The top-notch creative team for the Paddington musical includes McFly's Tom Fletcher and 'Nell Gwynn' playwright Jessica Swale.
15 Surprising Facts About Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet contains multitudes, from his rapper alter-ego to an obsession with 'The Office.'
45 of Google’s Top Trending Searches of 2023
Google Trends is summarizing a year in data spikes.
How Did The McCallisters Afford That Palatial House In ‘Home Alone’?
What do Kevin McCallister’s parents do for a living to afford the family such a lavish lifestyle?
Dumbo Drop: How World War II Kept Dumbo From Becoming ’TIME’ Magazine’s “Mammal of the Year”
The precocious pachyderm nearly made the cover. Then Pearl Harbor was attacked.
The UK Is Drowning in Fake Wonka Bars
The bootleg chocolate bars are prompting health and safety concerns.
20 Famous Movie Lines You’re Probably Misquoting
From 'King Kong' to 'Titanic,' these famous movie quotes often get muddled in the retelling.
The 11 Best Horror Movies to Stream on Amazon Prime Video Right Now
Subscribers to the Amazon Prime Video have access to some of the best horror movies. Here’s what to watch when you’re in the mood for something spooky.
No, Aardman Animations Isn't Running Out of Clay Anytime Soon
The clay empire behind Wallace and Gromit will be making stop-motion magic for years to come.
The 25 Best Movie Sequels of All Time, According to Internet Voters
It's hard to nail the second movie in a series—here are 25 successes.
10 Fascinating Facts About ‘Ex Machina‘
Alex Garland‘s directorial debut contains what might be the most dense, obscure in-joke in cinema history.
When Crispin Glover Was Replaced by a Lookalike in ‘Back to the Future II’
Audiences thought the actor reprised his role as George McFly in the ‘Back to the Future’ sequels. But Glover had never stepped foot on set.
25 Surprising Facts About ’Love Actually’ for Its 20th Anniversary
Richard Curtis’s multi-layered romantic comedy has become a staple of holiday movie marathons.