One of my less interesting pastimes (among many) is that as the credits of a film roll (usually on fast forward or equivalent) I try to guess its MPAA number, assuming it has one. That's the number accompanying the Motion Picture Association of America logo that appears right at the end of the credits for American films, and sometimes ones from other jurisdictions if they've registered with the MPAA.
Currently they're up to the 52,000 range; I count it a good night if I can get within a few hundred, and up to now the closest I've managed is within about 70.
I've just watched, for the first time, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017); an excellent film, with a story bathed in tragedy yet frequently very funny, and highly recommended if you haven't seen it.
As the credits rolled and I held the button down to skip through them as fast as possible, I came up with my guess: released in 2017, so… 50,861. I almost second-guessed myself, as I had a feeling they might have hit 51,000 by that year, but I decided to stick with it.
End of the credits approaches, I go back to normal speed, the MPAA logo scrolls onto the screen, with the number… 50,861!
The first time I've ever got it spot on
And I expect the last, but once in a lifetime is probably more than most people ever manage, assuming anybody else even engages in such an idiotic pursuit
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