1. Audiences said “let’s go to the movie theater” for The Super Mario Bros. Movie last weekend. The animated movie from Universal and Illumination earned $204.6 million in its first five days in 4,343 North American theaters, including $146.4 million over the weekend, according to estimates on April 9.
2. With an estimated $173 million in international earnings and a global total of $377 million, Mario broke records for video game adaptations — passing Warcraft’s $210 million — and for animated films — passing Frozen 2’s $358 million.
3. Its global total makes it the biggest movie opening of 2023. It’s also a record for Illumination, the animation shop behind the successful series Minions, which has made over $5 billion from its 13 films.
How familiar are you with the Super Mario games? Have you played Super Mario or any other Nintendo games and what is your impression of them?
4. Mario is an origin story of Brooklyn plumbers Mario — voiced by Chris Pratt — and Luigi, who fall into a pipe and come out in another world full of Nintendo’s most famous characters, from Bowser to Princess Peach. Critics were largely mixed, but audiences were more positive, giving it an “A” CinemaScore.
5. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle praised the movie’s directors and animators for creating a “cartoony” universe that matches the simplicity of the game and said that the movie is a “sincere effort to capture the fun and spirit of the Nintendo game.”
(1)Have you seen any good movies or TV shows that are based on video games?
(2)What would you say are the best films you’ve seen this year so far?
6. “And visually,” he added, “it’s a dream.” Jim Orr of Universal, said that theater owners were surprised by just how broad the audiences were and reported seeing some ticket buyers dressed in character costumes for the movie. According to exit polls, 59% of the audience was male and 45% were between the ages of 18 and 34.
7. Mario wasn’t the only movie doing well in theaters over the weekend. Second place went to John Wick Chapter 4 which made $14.6 million in its third weekend, bringing its total earnings to $147.1 million. Close behind was Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves which placed third with $14.5 million in its second weekend.
(1)What are your thoughts on the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
(2)Is it possible to successfully adapt one media into another? For example, video games into movies or manga into live action? What are some of the difficulties?
(3)Do you enjoy any media that is made mainly for children? For example, animated movies or children’s picture books? What do you find in them that is interesting? For example, “The Butt Detective”?
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