Entertainment
Solo Leveling ReAwakening Proves Sony's Big-Screen Anime Gamble Is Going To Work
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
The last few weeks have been setting records in Hollywood, with movie theaters running out of popcorn and candy every single day as audiences rush out to watch Wicked, Moana 2, and Gladiator 2. Look a little deeper into the box office reports though, and you’ll find what might be the biggest surprise of the Holiday season: Solo Leveling ReAwakening. The anime film that isn’t an actual new movie in the hit isekai series is nothing more than a recap of Season 1 and the first two episodes of Season 2, yet the Sony-produced film has made over $5 million worldwide.
A Feature-Length Advertisement
Considering the film is comprised of existing footage and two episodes that are going to be broadcast on television in January, that $5 million box office haul is incredibly impressive. Solo Leveling ReAwakening has been a huge hit in the United States, where it earned over $3 million, and that has made Sony incredibly happy. Earlier this year, Sony executives said they wanted to bring more anime films into American theaters, and here we have proof that even a glorified advertisement can turn a profit with minimal investment.
Sony has become the biggest name in anime since acquiring Crunchyroll, but if the rumored acquisition of Kadokawa, one of Japan’s largest manga and anime publishers, ends up going through, it will have a stranglehold on the entire industry. And it couldn’t have come at a better time, with anime hotter than ever. Solo Leveling ReAwakening doesn’t have even half the appeal of Demon Slayer, the worldwide hit anime ditching television for movies, so if a new isekai can turn thousands into millions, what’s a big-screen adaptation of the Infinite Castle arc going to do?
Solo Leveling Is Incredibly Popular
Here’s where I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of Solo Leveling; even though I did see Solo Leveling ReAwakening in theaters, my current isekai of choice is still Rising of the Shield Hero. And while it’s more of a reverse isekai with monsters coming through portals into the world of humans, it hits a lot of the same story beats, but I do enjoy the hero, Sung Jin-Woo, and the revelation of the Season 1 finale makes him even more interesting in Season 2.
Jin-Woo’s unique ability to level up makes him stand out among the other Hunters in Solo Leveling ReAwakening, who are locked into the levels they were granted upon awakening to their powers. It’s a simple premise, but the Job Change quest at the end of Season 1 changed everything about where I thought the story was going, and then “The Red Gate” arc that kicks off Season 2 throws more twists into what was, until then, a fairly standard adventure anime underneath the surface. I will say, up on the big screen, scenes from Season 1 that I first saw while streaming looked much, much better, and I’m now excited to see more of what’s coming in Season 2.
Sony’s Path To Anime Domination
Solo Leveling ReAwakening is a blatant advertisement, but there’s still something novel about seeing an anime in a movie theater, and I think Sony is making the right move to bring more and more movies over to the United States. With a theatrical budget of near zero, Sony might make more on their anime advertisement than Warner Bros will their anime-influenced Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim, which is currently projected to make around $7 million in its opening weekend. It’s hard to believe the same company that gave us Madame Web and Morbius is also lifting anime to brand-new heights and printing money in the process.
Solo Leveling is available to stream on Crunchyroll, which, by the way, is owned by Sony.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
