You probably already know a lot about Legos. You likely played with them as a kid (they've been around for more than 60 years now). You are aware that 2014's The Lego Movie was awesome (everything is!). And you definitely know that they hurt like hell to step on.
But a new documentary about the plastic building blocks, A Lego Brickumentary, might just teach you a few things. Directed by Kief Davidson and Daniel Junge, the Jason Bateman-narrated movie is a celebration of the timeless bricks and the people — kids and grown-ups — who live to build stuff with them. Here are five cool facts we learned from the film, which hits select theaters today.
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The Numbers Are Staggering
More than 100,000 Lego bricks are created a minute. The $4-billion brand has made over 100 Lego pieces for every person on the planet. They estimate that half a billion people have grown up with Legos. And just in case that's not enough math for you, a professor who appears in the film, Soren Eilers, has worked tirelessly to discover how many different ways you can build Lego blocks. The possibilities? Infinite. Lego Has Its Own Language
Lego is a worldwide phenomenon with some seriously devoted fans. Connecting with each other via online and in-person gatherings (including BrickFair and BrickCon), Lego enthusiasts have created their own community with their very own language. That lingo consists mainly of acronyms to describe not only the users, but the toys themselves, including terms like AFOL (Adult Fans of Lego), MOC (My Own Creation), and BURP (Big Ugly Rock Piece).
More than 100,000 Lego bricks are created a minute. The $4-billion brand has made over 100 Lego pieces for every person on the planet. They estimate that half a billion people have grown up with Legos. And just in case that's not enough math for you, a professor who appears in the film, Soren Eilers, has worked tirelessly to discover how many different ways you can build Lego blocks. The possibilities? Infinite. Lego Has Its Own Language
Lego is a worldwide phenomenon with some seriously devoted fans. Connecting with each other via online and in-person gatherings (including BrickFair and BrickCon), Lego enthusiasts have created their own community with their very own language. That lingo consists mainly of acronyms to describe not only the users, but the toys themselves, including terms like AFOL (Adult Fans of Lego), MOC (My Own Creation), and BURP (Big Ugly Rock Piece).
Legos Can Be Therapeutic
Much of the doc explores how devotees use the blocks to make art, create huge displays, and even employ them in the name of science (the MIT Media Lab studies city patterns with Legos). But one of the most fascinating segments in the documentary examines how Dr. Daniel LeGoff (yep, "Lego" is in his name) studied the positive effects that the toys had on children with autism. Playing with Legos not only gave the children a creative outlet, but also opened up a social avenue for them. Ed Sheeran Really, Really, REALLY Loves Legos
This is kind of a given considering the guy has a song called "Lego House" and a Lego tattoo. But the singer-songwriter, who makes an appearance in the documentary, also reveals that when his record went gold, his first major purchase wasn't a house or a car, but the Lego Death Star. So there you have it, the quickest way to Ed Sheeran's heart is through colorful plastic toys. The Biggest Lego Model Ever Built Was A Star Wars Replica
Back in 2013, Lego built its largest model to date, a life-size, full-scale model of the X-Wing fighter from Star Wars. The massive undertaking — which took a team of builders, mechanics, designers, and developers over 17,000 hours to complete — was created with over 5 million bricks (weighing in at 8 tons). The final product, which was unveiled in Times Square, has a wingspan of 44 feet, measures 5 feet from bow to stern, and stands 11 feet tall. It now lives in the Lego factory in Frankfurt, Germany. (Take note, Ed Sheeran!)
Much of the doc explores how devotees use the blocks to make art, create huge displays, and even employ them in the name of science (the MIT Media Lab studies city patterns with Legos). But one of the most fascinating segments in the documentary examines how Dr. Daniel LeGoff (yep, "Lego" is in his name) studied the positive effects that the toys had on children with autism. Playing with Legos not only gave the children a creative outlet, but also opened up a social avenue for them. Ed Sheeran Really, Really, REALLY Loves Legos
This is kind of a given considering the guy has a song called "Lego House" and a Lego tattoo. But the singer-songwriter, who makes an appearance in the documentary, also reveals that when his record went gold, his first major purchase wasn't a house or a car, but the Lego Death Star. So there you have it, the quickest way to Ed Sheeran's heart is through colorful plastic toys. The Biggest Lego Model Ever Built Was A Star Wars Replica
Back in 2013, Lego built its largest model to date, a life-size, full-scale model of the X-Wing fighter from Star Wars. The massive undertaking — which took a team of builders, mechanics, designers, and developers over 17,000 hours to complete — was created with over 5 million bricks (weighing in at 8 tons). The final product, which was unveiled in Times Square, has a wingspan of 44 feet, measures 5 feet from bow to stern, and stands 11 feet tall. It now lives in the Lego factory in Frankfurt, Germany. (Take note, Ed Sheeran!)