mario movie review christian

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Reviewed by: Alexander Malsan CONTRIBUTOR

Bravery, courage, sacrifice

Teamwork to stand up against evil

Brotherhood

Trying a new career, despite the risks

Dealing with bullies

Good conquering evil

Rulers who focus on conquering other lands

FEAR, Anxiety and Worry —What does the Bible say? Answer

S omewhere in an enchanted world, the dreaded King Bowser ( Jack Black ) and his army of Kooplas of the Dark Lands, are on the march, destroying everyone and everything in their path in search of a golden star. With this star Bowser will have the ultimate power and be virtually invincible, becoming the ruler of all worlds. All that’s left is to march on the Mushroom Kingdom, led by the benevolent Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ).

In the real world, however, we meet up with Mario ( Chris Pratt ) and Luigi, two brothers who have quit the construction industry to start up their own plumbing business, The Super Mario Brothers. There’s just one problem though: they haven’t had much luck with the business. On top of that, their family really isn’t that supportive of their dream. As Mario’s parents point out, they gave up a good solid job to start something that “might” be successful.

One day, during a city-wide water main break, the boys head underground into the sewers to try and fix the situation. Assessing the situation, they just happen to stumble upon a mysterious green pipe that sucks them into a mysterious universe. Both Mario and Luigi are separated: Luigi is transported to the Dark Lands, ruled by Bowser, and Mario to the Mushroom Kingdom.

Mario enlists the assistance of Princess Peach and Toad (the Princess’ assistant) to help him find Luigi, with one catch: Mario needs to assist Peach in assembling the great gorilla army to help defend the Mushroom kingdom from the upcoming attack by Bowser and the Kooplas.

As Mario would say, “Let’s a-go.”

Do you remember the first video game you played? Was it at home, on a console, or at the arcade at the mall? I can. In fact (without giving my age away), the first video game I played was the “Super Mario Brothers” on the Super Nintendo. I can remember the feel of the controller, putting the cartridge in, hearing the ding of the game, pressing start and guiding Mario through each level, bouncing on mushrooms, grabbing coins, and going down the castle flag pole at the end.

“The Super Mario Brothers Movie” brings with it all the imagination, the fun and excitement that those who have grown up playing both the original and the numerous additional games have come to enjoy (“Super Mario 2,” “Super Mario 3,”“ Super Mario Galaxy,” etc.). There are so many “Easter Eggs” (or references to past films) that many, like myself, will smile and point out. This can be both to the films credit AND to its detriment…

One of the main issues is that the film tries to be everything, everywhere, all at once, and that can genuinely be confusing. There are missing pieces, and the pacing is so incredibly fast (faster than a game of “Mario Kart”), that I was anxiously and furiously jotting down notes on the back of my clipboard as the film progressed. Additionally, with regards to the “Easter Eggs,” I feel like the plot itself was an afterthought to the filmmakers main intention which was, “Let’s see how many Mario Brothers references we can throw in in 90 minutes.”

Now, a reviewer from IGN stated quite boldly a few days ago, “Remember everyone, this is a children’s movie!”. Yes, of course it is. The children are going to be entertained, certainly, as the film starts with energy and never lets off the gas pedal (sorry another Mario Kart reference. I’ll stop ha ha). It’s okay, however, to stop and let the kids take in the special moments of the film though (e.g., the trips through the various other lands that aren’t as essential to the film).

I will, however, praise the animation. Once again, Illumination is providing some stiff competition against Pixar and Dreamworks. The scenes are beautifully canvased, color-wise, in the most perfect shades and hues, and the attention to detail is quite nice, particularly in the Mushroom Kingdom. Likewise, I commend some of the performances. One in particular that surprised me was Anya-Taylor Joy’s Princess Peach. She really played the part well.

Content for Concern

VIOLENCE: Most of the violence in the film is animated and light in nature. In one scene Bowser destroys an ice castle with his fire breath. A wizard tosses some penguins around (no one is seriously hurt). A dog is saved from almost falling out a window. A dog chases after Mario and Luigi in one scene. Skeleton Koopas rise from the ground and attack Luigi. Mario gets hit multiple times as he attempts an obstacle course (no serious injuries and again, slap-stick). A Koopa’s skin is burned off (not graphic). Someone has their fingers slammed by a piano cover.

Donkey Kong punches Mario multiple times in a fight sequence, and Mario knocks him unconscious with a couple hits. There is an epic Mario Kart race where we witness car chases and some peril and car crashes. Characters fall into some water. A character uses phrases like “fresh meat for the grinder.” Another states something about a “ritual sacrifice .” Two people are eaten by an eel and burped out. A character gets tossed around.

LANGUAGE: “Idiot” (1), “ Hell -hound” (1), “Stupid,” “You’re a joke,” (1), “Shut-up” (1)

SEXUAL CONTENT: Bowser thinks Peach is attractive and has a thing for her and so does Mario. Donkey Kong flexes his muscles while trying to impress the crowd at the beginning of the show.

DRUGS: Mushrooms that characters eat give special power-ups, like making them bigger, smaller, and giving different abilities (like becoming a cat).

OTHER: A cute, yet annoying character (to the other characters), in a positive tone, states, “There is no sunshine, only darkness ,” and “The only hope is the sweet release of death .”

Mario and Luigi back on Earth are considered the “little guys” and various characters, including their own family, are telling them to give up on their fantasies and that they shouldn’t aim so high in life because it will just ultimately lead to failure.

Thankfully, God is not like this family. He can use anyone at any time for anything. In fact, the Bible states that God has predestined according to His purpose, which means we have been chosen by Him, specifically, to do great things in His name. Imagine being hand selected by the Creator of the entire universe! What an honor and a privilege!

“For those whom He foreknew , He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son , so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined , He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified ; and these whom He justified, He also glorified .” — Romans 8:29-30

Jesus also states…

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit , and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” — John 15:16

And in Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians it also states…

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord , because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth .” — 2 Thessalonians 2:13

So never count yourself out! God is all-knowing, all-powerful and also all-loving. Because God is who He is, He chose us to be a part of his family, to be with Him in holy fellowship and to bear witness to others . As the Bible states…

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” — Matthew 22:14

UNIVERSALISM—Will ALL mankind eventually be saved? Answer

Can a saved person become lost? Answer

How can I be sure of my salvation? Answer

What is “the unpardonable sin”? How does sin become “unforgivable”? Answer

Final Thoughts

Video games have come a very long way in the past 50 years. Once upon a time, many thought the game “Pong” was the greatest game that was ever created, but soon that faded. One that has stood the test of time, though, has been the Mario Bros. games, with the first one released in 1983 for the Atari.

For me, attending “The Super Mario Brothers Movie” was like sitting down and playing the first Mario Bros. game, or in my case “The Super Mario Bros.” game. You’re going to sit down, get comfortable and not have a care in the world which is fine, as the “Super Mario Brothers” film, for all intents and purposes, is a fairly clean (and I do emphasize FAIRLY) film as far as children’s films are concerned (let’s be honest, there’s not a lot of clean newer films out there for children.

Sure, there’s some violence in the film, but most of it is cartoonish, or brief, or adventure-based and nothing overly graphic and that’s probably the worst, content-wise, to deal with. There is, however, some positive messaging about bravery, courage, teamwork, and brotherhood that could lend itself to some nice family discussions. In short, this is a film I can safely recommend to older children, teens and adults of all ages. Caution for young kids due to violence.

• Violence: Moderate
• Profane language: Mild
• Drugs/Alcohol: Mild
• Occult: Minor
• Wokeism: Minor
• Vulgar/Crude language: None
• Nudity: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

• Young people

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Christian Movie Review)

Verdict: The movie has everything necessary to level up as the next big animated franchise with vibrant visuals, a loving respect for the source material, and a wholesome story the whole family can enjoy.

About The Movie

That sound you hear is Illumination Studios punching out an infinite stream of coins from a yellow question-mark box. Thirty years after the abomination of 1993’s bizarre and joyless live-action Mario film, Nintendo’s iconic mustached plumber has finally grabbed hold of a 1-Up mushroom and found new life in animated form. The Super Mario Bros. Movie has everything necessary to level up as the next big animated franchise—vibrant visuals, a loving respect for the source material, and a wholesome story. This film is everything the live-action adaptation was not, which is to say, a total delight.       

After a fun opening showdown between Bowser and some penguins, the movie takes time to gain traction. The early scenes introducing the mono-colored brothers are set in real-world Brooklyn, and while there are some clever nods to the video game, it doesn’t really feel like Super Mario. But once they’re pulled through a green pipe into the Mushroom Kingdom, the film finds its footing. From that point on, it’s a joy. For viewers like me who remember every hidden coin block and warp pipe in the original Super Mario game or for younger audiences like my 8-year-old twin boys who’ve only experienced the more recent adventures in Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart , this film is a delight.

It is an earnest celebration of all things Super Mario, packed with easter eggs and references that bring the game—in its many iterations—to life. From a re-creation of Mario Kart (yes, the spiky blue shell is depicted as appropriately evil), to a nod to Mario and Donkey Kong’s first chronological showdown, to re-constructed levels from the original game, almost everything from the franchise’s history makes an appearance (the vastly underrated Super Mario 2 was tragically underrepresented, but I digress…).

From the visuals to the music to the references, it banks heavily on nostalgia and some level of previous engagement with the video game. Viewers who are unfamiliar with the source material may not enjoy the film to the same degree, though there is enough action and humor to serve as a potential entry point for Mario newbies as well.  

The story is fun but relatively simple. The characters are likeable even if they are left mostly undeveloped. This decision makes sense for a movie based on a video game that isn’t renowned for its complex characters or intricate plot. Chris Pratt is fine as Mario, with his non-traditional voice adequately explained in one of the first scenes. Making a bigger impression is Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), who is reimagined as a strong-willed monarch and action hero rather than a damsel in distress (a role instead given to poor Luigi). Having spent her fair share of time in Bowser’s clutches, I liked the new take on Peach, and her elevated role doesn’t come at the expense of Mario. As essentially the only female character in the movie, the story allows ample space for both her and Mario to shine as superstars. Speaking of stars, rounding out the cast is Bowser (voiced by Jack Black), who is exactly what you’d expect of a Koopa version of Jack Black.

Several areas of the film can be nitpicked. The animation is visually interesting, but not on par with many recent films. The use of non-Mario music felt odd. The opening act is slow and a bit awkward. But in the end, The Super Mario Bros. Movie succeeds for all the reasons the video game franchise has captivated players for decades. It’s a bright and colorful world filled with quirky characters, fast-paced and whimsical action, and joyful escapism. The movie may not be complex but, like the game, it’s fun for all ages.

For Consideration

Language: A character says “stupid,” and there are a few other rude remarks (such as Mario being told he’s a “joke”).  

Violence: Bowser talks about committing the “ritualistic sacrifice” of his prisoners (which simply involves lowering their cages into the lava), but they are rescued. One unfortunate Koopa is engulfed by Bowser’s fiery breath, reducing it to a “dry bones” skeleton (although still alive, because this is Mario). During a fight between Mario (in a catsuit) and Donkey Kong, the latter gets bloodless scratches on his face.

Sexuality: During a scene in which Bowser is rehearsing for his desired wedding with Princess Peach, his wizard henchman Kamek plays the role of the princess, complete with makeup, a tiara, and the iconic pink dress. It’s a classic gag that doesn’t seem nefarious, but it could perhaps be considered “cross-dressing.”

Other: There is a recurring gag surrounding a luma (a cute star-like creature) who has been a prisoner for so long it has lost its sanity and makes dark, despairing statements. The adorable character cheerfully makes comments like, “The only hope is the sweet release of death.” The creature is essentially suicidal, and it seems disappointed when Mario rescues the prisoners before they are lowered into the lava. It is clearly played for humor, and it is quite funny, although the dark humor is somewhat at odds with the film’s otherwise peppy tone and may concern some parents.  

Engage The Film

Perseverance & community.

Mario and Luigi are optimistic that they will accomplish something special, even if nobody else shares their opinion. They believe in themselves and refuse to give up when things don’t go their way. Several characters tell Mario, “You don’t know when to quit,” which he eventually realizes is a positive trait. The theme is not presented merely as an individualistic pursuit but as communal. Mario and Luigi share a special brotherly bond. There is no forced angst or drama between them. They care about each other, and they both believe they “can accomplish anything if we stick together.” In fact, the only thing that really seems to shake Mario’s belief in himself is his concern that his failure will negatively impact his brother. It’s a simple but wholesome theme that Christian parents can affirm and use as a discussion starter with their children.  

Commonalities & Differences

The inclusion of Donkey Kong characters sets up another positive theme about working as a team despite differences. The movie celebrates those differences while also showing how characters have more in common than they might initially realize. The theme is evident in the interactions between citizens of Mushroom Kingdom and the Kongs. Princess Peach declares that the Mushroom Kingdom’s toads possess “heart,” and the Kongs have “strength,” and that they can defeat Bowser by working together. On an individual level, Mario and Donkey Kong are forced to work together, even though they start off on shaky ground. Despite one being a short Italian human and the other a towering tie-wearing ape, they come to realize they both carry the weight of disapproving fathers and the desire to prove their worth. They have a lot in common, even if they don’t want to admit it.

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by Muhammad

Pretty good review, much better than most of the mainstream woke critics. I wouldn’t say the beginning of the movie (or any part of it) is slow. Also the fact that Peach is not a damsel-in-distress in very likely driven by some feminist influence, which thankfully Nintendo stepped in and toned down. Luigi should not have been captured by Bowser.

by Jay Brewer

Highly, highly recommended for all families with younger kids. Vibrant and likeable, the Mario brothers are great heroes. It’s also fun for all Nintendo and Super Mario fans, including this 41 yr-old dad. Good morals, positive characters, and a fun villain. But where was Yoshi?

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Are Great Graphics and Catchy Music Enough to Make a Blockbuster Movie?

Everyone seems to know Mario and Luigi, and while I have played a few games of Mario Kart in my life, I haven’t ever really paid attention to the other characters or any backstory. So I truly went into this movie with “fresh eyes.” In this Super Mario Bros. Movie Christian Review, I will tell you what you need to know as a parent before taking your children.

It is worth noting that this computer-animated film is a long time coming. The last Mario movie was in 1993 and was a flop. For years, it was doubtful that Shigeru Miyamoto, video game designer and game director at Nintendo , would ever let Hollywood touch his beloved characters again. It wasn’t until he met Chris Meledandri from Illuminations Studios that he considered another Mario movie.

Miyamoto had a lot of control over what was created for this movie, and he has high standards. But will the movie live up to viewers’ standards?

Synopsis: The Super Mario Bros. Movie Christian Review

Mario and Luigi are two Italian-American brothers living in Brooklyn, New York. These twin brothers are plumbers. They look like their video game counterparts, complete with mustaches; however, gone are the thick accents. The traditional red cap ith a white M on it is worn throughout the movie!

Mario and Luigi are working on a water main break when they are sucked into a pipe and transported to another world. 

Mario lands in Mushroom Kingdom, whose leader is Princess Peach, a pretty pink princess. However, Luigi is taken captive by the Koopas and King Bowser. Bowser is a sadistic fire-breathing ruler set on marrying Princess Peach. And he is sure that she will want to marry him.

Meanwhile, Mario wants to rescue his brother, and with the help of Princess Peach, the two set out to get the aid of Cranky Kong and the Kong Kingdom.

From the studio:

“From Illumination and Nintendo comes a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. The film will be released in North America on April 5, 2023, and in Japan on April 27, 2023. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (collaborators on Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies) from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel (The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, Illuminations’s Minions: The Rise of Gru), the film stars Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike. The film is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo. The film will be co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo and released worldwide by Universal Pictures.

What Parents Want to Know – The Super Mario Bros. Movie Christian Review

This is a very clean movie as far as language. There are a few phrases and words, such as stupid and dumb, but that is as bad as it gets as far as foul language. However, there are threatening phrases.

One character says, “I am going to break every bone in your tiny body.”

“Pain is the best teacher” is spoken. It may be true that we can learn from painful experiences. However, the character speaking that line is inflicting pain on another character.

One character in a cage says negative lines such as “the only hope is the sweet release of death” and other similar pessimistic verbiage.

This is where the PG rating comes in. Remember, this is all animated comic book violence. Things blow up, and fighting is similar to what you see in video games. On the big screen in the theater, it always seems more than on the television at home.

There is a floating monster island with glowing eyes that could be scary to some children. 

Characters are locked in cages, and at one point, they are shown being lowered into a pit of lava. Bowser says, “I’ll be ritualistically sacrificing them in your honor.” 

A character slams a piano cover onto another character’s hands.

There is a flashback in one scene where a child is bullying another child.

Some characters are “burned” and become animated skeletons. These skeletons are called Dry Bones.

Bowser and his army of Koopas, Dry Bones, and Boos (floating ghosts) are set on destroying Mushroom Kingdom and anyone who gets in Bowser’s way. Later in Brooklyn, Bowser throws cars, smashes things, and breathes fire in a frenzied attempt to destroy Mario.

A character becomes a cat and scratches another character. 

Mario is has an injured eye in one scene.

Negative Elements:

Mario and Luigi’s dad is disappointed in them. This is spoken both to them and they also repeat it about themselves. Donkey Kong expresses the same sentiments about his relationship with his father.

In a few scenes, there was constant yelling and screaming.

Donkey Kong flexes his pecs.

Spiritual Elements:

There are powers that characters get to aid in their fight against the opposing team. To get these powers, they eat super mushrooms. Powers from these magic mushrooms include growing bigger or smaller. There is also a Tanuki leaf that gives the ability to become a raccoon, an ice flower gives icy powers, the fire flower gives the ability to throw fireballs, and although unshown, a cat bell turns you into a cat. 

Peach exclaims that there are a lot of galaxies out there. She doesn’t know where she is from or how she got to Mushroom Kingdom as a young girl.

Positive Elements:

Mario believes that if he and Luigi stick together, things will go well.    Mario says, “Nothing can hurt us as long as we’re together.” This message of teamwork and sticking together is shown throughout the entire film. 

Mario also never gives up. He risks his life over and over to help others. 

At the end of the movie, Mario & Luigi’s dad and Donkey Kong’s dad recognize their son’s strengths and good qualities.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Christian Review – Viewing Recommendations:

This is a cute movie that the entire family can see. With fun and colorful graphics, it is sure to hold the attention of even the younger children, and it is fast-paced. There are great references for the Nintendo enthusiast. Personally, I will watch this movie again. With all the fun references to Nintendo and NES games from the past, it will be fun to try to find them all.

About the Movie:

Runtime: 1 hour, 32 min.

Rating: PG for action and mild violence

Release Date: April 5, 2023

Streaming Date: August 3, 2023 on Peacock

Cast of The Super Mario Bros. Movie:

Chris Pratt as the voice of Mario

Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach

Charlie Day as Luigi

Jack Black as Bowser

Keegan-Michael Key as Toad

Seth Roger as Donkey Kong

Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong

Sebastian Maniscalco as Foreman Spike

Charles Martinet as Mario & Luigi’s dad

Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek

Khartoum Payton as the Penguin King

Rino Romano as Uncle Tony

John DiMaggio as Uncle Arthur

Jessica DiCicco as Mario’s mom

Scott Melville as Koopa General

Eric Bauza as Toad General

Juliette Jelenic as Lumalee (a Luma)

Charles Martinet voiced Mario and Luigi since Mario’s Game Gallery to the present.

Director: Aaron Horvath

     Michael Jelenic

Writtten by: Matthew Fogel

Producer: Chris Meledandri

     Shigeru Miyamoto

Music by Koji Kondo’s (original Nintendo themes)

           Brian Tyler

Based on Mario by Nintendo

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can i stream the super mario bros. movie.

It will be available to stream on Peacock on August 3, 2023. It should be available on Netflix in late 2023.

Is The Super Mario Bros. Movie streaming on Disney+?

No. Because this is not a Disney movie, it will not be streaming on Disney+. Illuminations and Universal Pictures produced it. It will be streaming on Peacock and Netflix.

Should I stay until the end?

Yes. There is a mid-credit scene and a post-credit scene.

If I don’t know any of the characters, will I still enjoy the movie?

Yes. The storyline is an easy one to follow, and even if you have know knowledge of the characters or have never played the games, you will still enjoy the movie.

Easter Eggs from The Super Mario Bros. Movie:

First, most scenes have musical cues from the video games.

Such as Super Mario Bros. 3: The AirShip theme as they are going to take over the penguin kingdom. When Mario first meets Toad, Captain Toad’s theme is playing.

Multiple themes from the original NES game can be heard throughout the entire movie.

When approaching the Jungle Kong Kingdom the original Donkey Kong Country music is playing.

Brooklyn, NY is filled with classic references to NES games. For example, there is an entire Punch-Out pizzeria dedicated to Punch Out and Punch Out memoriabilia. Inside the pizzeria was a knock-off Donkey Kong arcade game. Little Mac’s gloves and champion belt are on the wall. 

There were references to Duck Hunt, and even Nintendo’s earliest game system, The Game and Watch, LCD handhelds.

Additionally, make sure to watch for a glass Pikman in an upscale apartment. In this apartment, a post-modernist painting shows the dog from Duck Hunt.

Mario’s room is filled with references to old Nintendo and NES games. He is shown playing Kid Icarus on an NES. There is a poster of F-0. There is also a poster of Marathon. 

Expect to find Bowser’s Moving Lair and Bowser’s Castle. 

Koopa Paratroopa – say that ten times fast: One is shown turning into the Blue Shell from Mario Kart.

They briefly pass through an area with apples, and many Yoshis are seen (from Yoshi’s Island).

In addition, they build carts in reference to Mario Kart 7 and 8.

Last, but not finally, the ad from the plumbing company shows Mario and Luigi flying with yellow capes – super capes. This is a reference to Super Mario World’s Super Feather item.

Other Thoughts:

With the opening of Nintendo Land at Universal Studios Hollywood, and the upcoming opening of Super Nintendo World in Florida expected in 2025, I do think we will see more movies featuring Mario, Luigi, and the Nintendo World characters.

Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!

Christian Homeschooling mom – 30 years and counting

Autism Mom & Disney enthusiast

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Schooling with disney’s pinocchio movie plus review, 1 thought on “the super mario bros. movie christian review”.

You really glossed over the Lumalee character, who repeatedly pushes suicide. NOT for a kids movie.

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The super mario bros. movie, common sense media reviewers.

Colorful adventure is a bit more violent than the games.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Perseverance, teamwork, and courage are important.

Mario stands up for himself and his brother when i

Mario and Luigi are White, of Italian descent. The

Fantasy animated action violence: missiles being s

Mario and Bowser both express romantic interest in

Insulting, bullying language used to humiliate and

Based on the hugely popular Nintendo video game/en

True to the game, Mario eats magical mushrooms tha

Parents need to know that The Super Mario Bros. Movie is based on the hugely popular Nintendo video game/entertainment franchise. Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) team up for a quest that involves elements from several of the games, including Donkey Kong, Mario…

Positive Messages

Positive role models.

Mario stands up for himself and his brother when it comes to villains and those who bully others, and he doesn't let teasing or mean comments get the best of him. When it comes to achieving his goals, he puts in hard work and never stops trying. He also shows great courage when it comes to taking on a new world and obstacles. Princess Peach is brave, proactive, and relentless when it comes to defending her land and the creatures in it, putting their needs before her own. Mario and Peach have different goals but work together to achieve them.

Diverse Representations

Mario and Luigi are White, of Italian descent. The movie's take on their over-the-top Italian accents is that they're just for show, but Mario's time with his family reinforces some Italian American stereotypes. Though most of the actors who voice Mario's family are of Italian descent, Mario himself -- Chris Pratt -- is not. The movie's magical worlds feature almost all non-human creatures, but three Black actors voice key characters. Princess Peach is a skilled, brave female leader who leads an army to defend her kingdom. But as fierce and courageous as she is, she's the only female character in any of the lands and is portrayed as a love interest for both Bowser and Mario. In Brooklyn, a wealthy Black couple hire the Mario Bros. for a plumbing job. The creator and some film executives are Japanese.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Fantasy animated action violence: missiles being shot, fingers being crushed in a piano, talk of ritual sacrifices, chases in which characters are in peril. Extreme falls. Character put into intense pain through magic (they're never physically touched). One scary sequence plays like a horror movie, with skeleton zombies that have glowing red eyes chasing a terrified character, crawling out from the ground and eventually capturing him. Dog attack. Spaceship has horns and glowing red eyes. A menacing villain burns down a kingdom and threatens or attempts to kill positive and/or adorable characters. Mean, bullying behavior. Explosions. Adorable character is the voice of doom, making dark comments with the voice of a young child. Bowser's one-sided interest in marrying Peach is at the heart of the plot, and he uses violence against another to coerce her to agree to marry him.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Mario and Bowser both express romantic interest in Princess Peach. Some characters joke with Mario that she would never go out with him.

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Insulting, bullying language used to humiliate and put down main characters includes "idiot," "shut up," "stupid," "worthless," and "you're a joke." The ableist term "crazy" is used to describe a character.

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Products & Purchases

Based on the hugely popular Nintendo video game/entertainment franchise. The story weaves together various iterations of the video game and is essentially a commercial for the property. Extensive merchandising in conjunction with the film.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

True to the game, Mario eats magical mushrooms that give him temporary power.

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Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Super Mario Bros. Movie is based on the hugely popular Nintendo video game/entertainment franchise . Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt ) and Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ) team up for a quest that involves elements from several of the games, including Donkey Kong , Mario Kart , Super Mario 3D World , and more. The movie is a bit edgier than the games when it comes to cartoon violence, scares, and bullying. Expect missiles, explosions, a well-landed punch, and a plan to make "ritual sacrifices." While Mario and Peach are brave, they and other characters are often visibly panicked and are in constant peril from villain Bowser, who burns down the walls of a kingdom and issues deadly threats to those in his way. Some kids may be frightened by a scene in which Luigi is chased by zombie skeleton turtles with glowing red eyes that creep out of the ground en masse and eventually capture him. The Mario Bros. also hear a lot of insults and are the targets of bullying behavior by a former employer and get teased by family members ("idiot," "stupid," "shut up," etc.). And, of course, there are those magic mushrooms. But ultimately themes of perseverance, courage, and teamwork are clear. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (64)
• Kids say (99)

Based on 64 parent reviews

Fun Loving Movie Minus any Agenda

Great movie for families super fun, goofy and no politics, what's the story.

In THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE, Brooklyn plumbers Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt ) and his younger brother, Luigi ( Charlie Day ), fall down a mysterious portal and wind up separated inside a magical world. Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom, which is ruled by Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ), who's strategizing how to prevent her land from being conquered by the nefarious Bowser ( Jack Black ). When Mario realizes that Luigi has likely been taken prisoner by Bowser, he and Peach team up to save his brother and her people.

Is It Any Good?

Nintendo fans will feel like they grabbed a Super Star while watching this brightly colored magical adventure, which mashes several Mario games up into a full storyline. But for viewers who are less familiar, sitting through The Super Mario Bros. Movie may feel like watching a second grader play a Mario game: It's cute, but you can't help thinking about all the other things you could be doing with your time. Making movies based on video games that have beloved characters and a built-in fan base seems like a natural choice, but not many do it well (exceptions include Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu ), and The Super Mario Bros. Movie doesn't depart from that norm.

While it is fun to see the brothers in their "real life" environment in Brooklyn -- working as plumbers and living at home with their big Italian family -- as well as how the filmmakers incorporate elements of the games, the film isn't funny or creative enough to satisfy most teens or adults. Moreover, the child-friendly animation style is a tad misleading, as directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic up the scare factor, making Bowser and his minions more terrifying than they need to be. There's plenty of excitement, nonstop action, and colorful images, but this project as a whole doesn't exactly level up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how the cartoon action in The Super Mario Bros. Movie compares to that of others you've seen. Does this kind of violence have more or less impact than what's in live-action movies?

What moments did you recognize from the games? If you're a fan of the games, create your own story about Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach.

Talk about the behavior Mario and Luigi experience in Brooklyn. Is Spike bullying them? Is there a difference between that and how Mario's family speaks to the brothers? What's the difference between bullying and razzing, if there is one? What should you do if someone is trying to put you down?

How do Mario and Peach demonstrate perseverance, courage , and teamwork ? Why are these important character traits and life skills? Do you think video games teach you perseverance? Why, or why not?

Movie Details

• In theaters : April 5, 2023
• On DVD or streaming : June 13, 2023
• Cast : Chris Pratt , Anya Taylor-Joy , Charlie Day
• Directors : Aaron Horvath , Michael Jelenic
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Latino actors
• Studio : Universal Pictures
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More , Brothers and Sisters
• Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 92 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : action and mild violence
• Last updated : December 5, 2023

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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• DVD & Streaming

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

• Action/Adventure , Comedy , Kids

Content Caution

In Theaters

• April 5, 2023
• Chris Pratt as Mario; Charlie Day as Luigi; Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach; Jack Black as Bowser; Keegan-Michael Key as Toad; Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong; Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong

Home Release Date

• May 16, 2023
• Aaron Horvath; Michael Jelenic

Distributor

• Universal Pictures

Movie Review

You may think of Mario and his brother, Luigi, as a couple of thickly accented Italian plumbers with bright, monogramed outfits and bushy mustaches.

But hey, all of that is just for the commercials.

I mean, if you’re gonna break away and start your own plumbing business in Brooklyn, ya’ gotta have a schtick, right? Something people will remember. And as goofy as it sounds, That’s-a theirs! (Except for the mustaches, that is. All the men in their family are blessed with fabulous mustache-growing genes, dontcha’ know.)

However, even with a fake persona and a flashy pair of soup-strainers, Mario and Luigi’s business isn’t going so well. There’s always something that goes a bit sideways during their jobs.

Of course, Mario still holds a dream in his heart. He is convinced that if they stick together, he and his brother can be great. Hey, they may even save Brooklyn someday. Uh, plumbing-wise, that is.

And then Mario spots a newscast on TV and sits up with a flush of excitement. A huge water main has cracked open downtown, and the city is having a tough time stopping the flood. This could be the Mario Bros. chance.

Problem is, once Mario and Luigi get to the source of the city’s emergency, they end up being washed into the wrong place and down the wrong pipe. And before you can say Wahoo! They find themselves sucked into some oddly colorful magical dimension … hidden down deep under Brooklyn! Who woulda thunk it?

Mario lands in a Mushroom Kingdom ruled over by a pretty princess in pink named Peach. (Which is, frankly, not such a bad turn of events.) But, not everything is peachy. Mario has some pressing questions to answer.

What is this place? Where did Luigi go? Who’s this dangerous, fire-breathing King Bowser that the mushroomy residents are all afraid of? How can Mario get Princess Peach to give him the time of day?!

One thing’s for sure: Mario has never been a sit-back-and-watch-the-water-drip kinda guy. If he wants answers and solutions, he’s gonna step up with a wrench in hand and work ‘em out.

Let’s-a-go!

Positive Elements

Mario. Luigi and Princess Peach all fight to protect the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom. And they’re willing to give their all to protect one another.

Peach steps up alone to face a threatening army in order to give her people more time to escape, for instance. And Luigi grabs a manhole cover, taking the brunt of an attack, to shield Mario from Bowser’s flames. For Mario’s part, we see him risk his life to save Donkey Kong from drowning, even though they were at odds with each other.

Peach finds herself quite taken with Mario, in fact—not because he’s tall and handsome or an incredible fighter, but because he’s sincere, kind and refuses to give up.

Mario and Luigi also have a special brotherly bond. Luigi is something of an accident-prone mess-up at times. But Mario resolutely declares, “Nothing can hurt us as long as we’re together!” And indeed, the Bros. are a much more formidable force together.

We learn that both Mario and Donkey Kong are bothered by a seeming lack of respect from their fathers. But by story’ end, both dad’s step forward (at different times) to publicly praise their sons for the brave and upright choices they make.

Even though Bowser is a bully-like ruler who’s not afraid to fire-blast his foes, at his core he’s really seeking Peach’s approval. He declares that he’d actually like nothing better than to simply marry her in a “fairytale wedding.” But, of course, his destructive choices belie any small sighing positives that might peek through in his character.

Spiritual Elements

The magical realms that Mario and Luigi slip into are never really explained, apart from Peach mentioning that there’s a “huge universe out there with a lot of galaxies.” In fact, she notes that she herself stumbled into the Mushroom Kingdom when she was just a little girl. And the mushroomy toad residents there raised her and then made her their princess.

Later in the movie, the magical force that drew Mario and Luigi into that foreign world is reversed, sending Mushroom Kingdom characters into Brooklyn.

It’s not spiritual, per se, but both Bowser’s visage and his dark, floating volcanic lair have a very foreboding and perhaps even devilish-looking vibe to them. It’s also a bit reminiscent of Mordor for Lord of the Rings. That darkness is offset somewhat by Bowser’s goofy minions. But sensitive young viewers might be frightened by Bowser’s foreboding appearance.

A scene early in the film has some of Bowser’s minions crawling up out of the ground to pursue Luigi through a dark forest in a way that’s reminiscent of zombie movies, another scene that could be intense for young or sensitive viewers.

Sexual Content

Both Mario and Bowser find Princess Peach to be quite appealing from first sight. And its obvious that Peach kinda thinks Mario is pretty special, too.

Bowser practices his wedding proposal to Princess Peach by dressing up his male wizard like Peach and having him roleplay her response in a scene that’s played for laughs (and which doesn’t seem to be making a political statement, though some might interpret it otherwise).

Violent Content

Once Mario and Luigi find themselves in Peach’s magical realm, the peril of their situation increases dramatically. It’s a cartoony peril but could at times be stressful for younger viewers. That peril is reinforced by threats Bowser and some of his henchmen make to various people. Someone says, “This guy’s brother is going to die imminently.” Another says, “Mario, you’re a dead man!”

Bowser also blows out flamethrower-like bursts of fire that melt an icy castle and burn up a variety of things, including a Koopa that’s transformed from flesh to animated skeleton form. He declares his plans to conquer and rule everything. He sends out his army of Koopas and Ghost Guys and Dry Bones to attack Mario, Peach and the good-guy army.

These battlers smash into each other in Mario Karts, as well as punching and bashing at one another. Vehicles explode and are smashed. A large group of skeleton-like Dry Bones chase and grab at Luigi.

Donkey Kong and Mario jump into battle with each other, and Kong pounds the plumber around, smashing him with barrels and throwing him into walls. It’s only when Mario dons a Cat suit that he comes back with quick scratching attacks. Mario also gets thumped around repeatedly as he tries to make his way through Peach’s obstacle course filled with spikes, clubs and traps.

Again, none of these attacks or thumping falls are bloody or more than cartoony bashes, but the skirmishes can be frenetic at times. And after one pounding battle with Bowser, Mario looks pretty beaten up and bruised until he regroups and steps out once more.

Elsewhere, Bowser intends to destroy a city with a large bomb. And in the real world of Brooklyn, he sends vehicles flying, endangers a large crowd of people and blasts things with fire. But in the end, his destructive plot is foiled.

On a more intimate level, Bowser slams a piano’s wooden keyboard cover down on a sidekick’s fingers and tells him, “Pain is the best teacher.” He declares that he will kill Mario and plans to kill Luigi to set Mario back on his heels. Bowser also decides to sacrifice a large group of prisoners by lowering their cages into a lake of lava. “I’ll be ritualistically sacrificing them in your honor,” he tells Peach. The cages are lowered and begin to melt, but the prisoners are saved.

Crude or Profane Language

Mario and Luigi’s former boss, Spike, calls the brothers “stupid” for leaving his employ. “You’re a joke and you always will be,” he tells them. Someone is told to “shut up.” Other name-calling includes similar phrases, such as “idiot,” “lunatic” and “psycho.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Mario and others bop yellow Question Blocks that hold magic mushrooms. They gobble them down and are given special power-ups. One can make you bigger, another smaller, for instance. We also see the mushrooms give Mario special Cat and Racoon suits to battle with. Peach consumes a (similar) ice flower that gives her icy powers.

Other Negative Elements

There’s one oddly dark element in the mix that’s played for laughs. In the group of prisoners that Bowser is holding elevated in cages, a particular glowing Luma character makes fatalistic statements. This star-like critter is utterly cute-looking but sighs out statements such as, “The only hope is the sweet release of death,” and, “There is no sunshine, only darkness.” These declarations drive the other prisoners crazy as they plead for it to be quiet.

With the announcement of a new animated Super Mario Bros. movie, I’d wager there were a lot of people worrying that some Hollywood braintrust was going to, once again, ruin a memory from their childhood. (Yeah, I’m old enough to remember that truly horrible live-action Mario pic from the ‘90s.)

But worry not: Mario and crew come through the cinematic translation this time with lots of colorful and sparkling charm to spare.

Granted, this pic has the slow upfront load time of an old Game Cube—with story set-up fanservice that tiny fans likely won’t catch. And the central characters don’t sound or always act like you remember (though Jack Black’s Bowser is a hoot.) But their hearts are all in the right place.

There are heroes, cartoony perils, loving family members and a happy ending. In fact, once the gang gets to goofily stomping Koopas, chucking Donkey Kong barrels and gleefully Mario-Karting about, you can’t help but enjoy yourself.

That said, the only real concern is that some scenes might be visually frightening to really young or sensitive viewers. Much of the peril here, most of it really, is pretty cartoony. But Bowser’s glowing eyes and volcanic HQ do have a dark feel to them that might be upsetting to some.

Still, this is a movie for fans, first and foremost. And I suspect most who’ve played any of these games will have a ball watching this rollicking big-screen homage to Nintendo’s flagship franchise.

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie review: This faithful adaptation often feels like a cutscene

The new animated film — featuring the voices of Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and more — faithfully recreates the look and feel of Nintendo's games.

Christian Holub is a writer covering comics and other geeky pop culture. He's still mad about 'Firefly' getting canceled.

Movies and video games have changed a lot since the last time Mario and Luigi were on the big screen. When Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo played the titular roles in 1993's Super Mario Bros ., the concept of adaptation was very loose: The idea wasn't to replicate the experience of playing a Mario video game but rather to build an original story for a different medium with some of the same names and characters. Decades later, viewers have come to expect much more faithful translations. And so we have a new Super Mario Bros. Movie , which looks and feels much closer to Nintendo's iconic games — but, as a result, often feels like an extended cutscene.

The new animated movie from directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic ( Teen Titans Go! To The Movies ) opens with twin brothers Mario ( Chris Pratt ) and Luigi ( Charlie Day ) working together as plumbers in a Brooklyn somewhat like our own. They suddenly get transported to another realm, where the warlord Bowser ( Jack Black ) is on the warpath against the Mushroom Kingdom ruled by Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ). While Luigi ends up captured by Bowser's soldiers, Mario finds himself embedded with Peach and her Toads as they try to build a resistance movement.

Despite the storied iconography of these characters, The Super Mario Bros. Movie infuses them all with distinctly modern characterizations. Instead of being a helpless damsel, Peach is an incredibly skilled and capable warrior-ruler who runs circles around the male characters. A female protagonist for the Rey generation, this princess hardly needs rescuing; her goal is to protect her mushroom-headed subjects from Bowser's wrath, while Mario just wants to save his brother. Donkey Kong ( Seth Rogen ) has the muscles to impress a colosseum crowd but remains desperate for the approval of his kingly father — he comes off like Succession 's Kendall Roy in a red tie.

Bowser, meanwhile, is portrayed as a lovesick playground bully who only knows how to express his unrequited affection for the princess by invading her kingdom. Black's performance is the standout of this voice cast (which makes sense given his years of experience in the Kung Fu Panda franchise), and Bowser's many parody songs expressing his love for Peach make great use of the Tenacious D vocalist's unique skills.

When Peach and Mario are preparing to face off against Bowser, they basically play a classic Super Mario game: running across pipes and girders, grabbing power-up mushrooms, the works. But this movie takes just as much from other Mario-involved games like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart . Peach's characterization is clearly influenced by modern archetypes of strong female protagonists, but it also fits perfectly for people who grow up playing her in Smash , where she is more than capable of beating up Bowser or Donkey Kong. The Mario Kart homage is more explicit, and the heroes' race against Bowser's Koopas down Rainbow Road joins the coconut pirates sequence from Moana in the amusing lineage of "kids' movie homages to Mad Max: Fury Road ."

It's all quite fun, with a good sense of humor and a consistent computer-animated aesthetic — plus, at 90 minutes including credits, it's short, sweet, and over before anything can get annoying. But it's hard to escape the feeling, especially during the aforementioned Rainbow Road sequence, that you would probably be having more fun just playing a game together instead. Grade: B-

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Related content:

• The Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer introduces Anya Taylor-Joy's Peach, Seth Rogen's Donkey Kong
• It's-a me! Chris Pratt debuts his Super Mario voice in trailer for animated movie
• John Leguizamo, OG cinematic Luigi, says new Super Mario Bros. movie casting 'kinda sucks'

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How to Watch "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" (As A Christian)

It's a me, Mario!

The Mario movie is here after much anticipation and controversy about Chris Pratt's voice. How was it? We review the film and more on this episode, featuring our friend Javan Wallace.

On this episode, we talk about archetypes, whether saving princesses is outdated, and the Bible's love of symbolism.

#mariobrosmovie #thesupermariobrosmovie #mario

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‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Review: Kid-Friendly Video Game Adaptation Pulls Out All the Power-Ups

Christian zilko.

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Nintendo has always stood out as an oasis of untapped potential for an entertainment industry that’s determined to wring every drop of content out of every other preexisting brand. The Super Mario games have produced some of the most beloved characters in pop culture history, and the iconography of warp pipes, mushrooms, go-karts, and carnivorous plants is instantly recognizable. It’s the kind of pre-packaged movie franchise that Bob Iger probably salivated over during his mid-2000s IP shopping spree.

When you really think about it, the only remarkable thing about “ The Super Mario Bros. Movie ” is that it took somebody this long to make it.

For years, the elephant in the room was the horrendous “Super Mario Bros.” from 1993 . That monstrosity, which infamously reimagined Mario and Luigi as live-action New York plumbers played by Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo, reportedly scared Nintendo executives out of the movie business for a quarter century. But in fairness to everyone involved, the source material wasn’t particularly fleshed out at the time. The filmmakers had to make everything up because Mario and his friends were just pixelated little silhouettes who ran in one direction through a two-dimensional world. At that point, you might as well just make a movie about Tetris!

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But the subsequent decades have seen the “Mario” universe grow into a sprawling three-dimensional world. Not only do we know all the heroes and villains and side characters, but most of us can name a few racetracks from the fictional auto racing league that exists within the games. Simply put, there was already an incredible blueprint for a movie franchise. When Illumination announced plans to make an animated Mario movie, all it had to do was translate what already existed to the big screen without screwing it up.

Fortunately, nobody screwed it up. From the decision to cast the onetime Least Offensive Actor on the Planet Chris Pratt in the titular role to the production design that seems to be an exact replica the Wii-era Mario games, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” largely plays things by the book, which is exactly what the assignment called for. Co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic have delivered a perfectly serviceable movie that is going to make a lot of kids very happy and a lot of adults very rich. 

When we meet our heroes, Mario (Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are just Brooklyn plumbers trying to make ends meet. They recently started their own business, but things are going so poorly that they still live with their disapproving parents. The film cleverly explains the whole “Chris Pratt’s Mario voice sounds a lot like his regular voice” thing by revealing that the two brothers play up their Italian heritage by speaking in stereotypically Italian accents in their plumbing commercials. But outside of the marketing gimmick, they just sound like everyone else in Brooklyn.

After a plumbing accident sucks them into the New York sewer system, the brothers are pulled into in two separate vortexes that lead them into two alternative dimensions. Mario ends up in the idyllic Mushroom Kingdom, while Luigi is pulled into a hellish kingdom of darkness ruled by the evil Bowser (Jack Black).

As Mario sets out to look for his brother, he seeks the help of Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ), the human woman who rules over a kingdom that otherwise consists exclusively of anthropomorphic mushrooms. (It’s fair to wonder why her title is “Princess” rather than “Queen,” considering that she’s the kingdom’s top reigning monarch and has no royal parents, but it appears that the “Super Mario Bros.” universe is one where titles of nobility are determined strictly by alliteration.)

The two humans soon realize that they can help each other. Peach is sick of living under the constant threat of war from Bowser, so she recruits Mario to help her mobilize an army to take him down and retrieve Luigi in the process. Once she teaches Mario how to navigate this strange video game-like world, they can set out for the Kong Jungle and attempt to recruit an infantry of gorillas to back them.

Mario quickly learns that power-ups are the key to his survival. Peach explains to him that all those floating cubes with question marks on them are actually filled with various mushrooms, flowers, costumes, and other nifty items that allow the stout plumber to punch above his weight against gorillas and dinosaurs. (A scene where Mario dons a cat costume and scratches Donkey Kong with his claws is probably awesome for innocent minds who don’t immediately think about furries.) Once he learns how to make himself huge and occasionally breathe fire, it’s over for the nefarious actors in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Parents shouldn’t expect a Pixar-level experience, but Matthew Fogel’s script has as at least much narrative heft as the best Mario games. Kids’ movies can be — and often are —  so much worse. Nobody is reinventing the blue shell, but Horvath and Jelenic do an excellent job of recreating the Mushroom Kingdom from the recent video games while adding a decidedly cinematic flair. For certain demographics (i.e. families lamenting the fact that it’s been months since a major kids movie hit theaters), this is going to be an absolute godsend.

But even if it’s not your thing, everyone should find a way to coexist with this franchise very quickly. Because it’s hard to see a future where we don’t get a lot more of these. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is a true masterclass in exploiting juicy IP, building out an intricate-yet-familiar world that’s littered with video game Easter eggs that could set up other movies. A spin-off film about Rogen’s Donkey Kong has been rumored for a while, and it seems inevitable that another half dozen have been sketched out on a whiteboard somewhere.

Remember, Illumination has squeezed six movies (and counting!) out of a bunch of pill-shaped yellow guys who look like they just walked out of a hair plug appointment. There’s no reason to think this franchise can’t be at least that big.

Universal Pictures will release “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” in theaters on Wednesday, April 5.

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While it's nowhere near as thrilling as turtle tipping your way to 128 lives, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a colorful -- albeit thinly plotted -- animated adventure that has about as many Nintendos as Nintendon'ts.

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Critics’ consensus on ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’? It’s a-mixed

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Opening weekend, here we come.

Reviews are officially in for Nintendo and Universal Pictures’ “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which hits theaters Wednesday and has generated quite a bit of buzz leading up to its Easter-weekend release.

The animated film based on the cherished video-game series of the same name boasts a star-studded voice cast, including Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong and Chris Pratt as Mario.

When the family flick was announced back in 2021, fans and social media users immediately questioned the decision to cast Pratt — who has been racking up credits in blockbuster movie franchises like item boxes in Mario Kart — as everyone’s favorite Italian plumber.

Review: ‘Wahoo!’ isn’t quite right for mildly amusing, hectic ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’

‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie,’ starring Chris Pratt, is mildly amusing, swift, noisy and unrelentingly paced.

April 4, 2023

In her review for Tribune News Service, film critic Katie Walsh deemed Pratt and Day’s vocal performances as sibling duo Mario and Luigi “so unremarkable that it could have been anyone at all.”

“Fortunately, this loud, hectic movie doesn’t overstay its welcome, but it wouldn’t have the material to last a second longer,” Walsh writes .

“It’s bright, busy, inoffensive and exactly the opposite of the weird, dark, edgy 1993 movie adaptation. That may be better for the business of Mario, but it’s not exactly terribly interesting either.”

Here’s a sampling of reviews of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” ranging from “Oh, no!” to “Wahoo!”

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“There are also plenty of Easter eggs to be enjoyed by gameplayers as well as humor that can be appreciated by adults ... and kids alike,” KiMi Robinson writes .

“Much credit goes to the cast for having so much fun with their characters; Charlie Day, for one, manages to infuse as much Charlie Day into Luigi as he does in any live action role. ... ‘The Super Mario Bros.’ is family-friendly movie theater catnip over the Easter weekend, and it’s sure to be an enjoyable watch for the average viewer.”

Associated Press

“It makes you ... want to play Mario,” Jake Coyle writes .

“As nice as it is to look at ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie,’ it’s not anywhere near as fun as it would be to play it. It’s a-him, Mario, but it’s no a-masterpiece. The storyline is only a touch above the interstitial bits of plot you usually get between gameplay. With the exception of Jack Black’s grandly lovesick Bowser ... there’s nothing here that deepens these characters beyond their usual 2-D adventures. Mario may be a modern-day Mickey Mouse but his kingdom is on the console.”

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“It’s all quite fun, with a good sense of humor and a consistent computer-animated aesthetic — plus, at 90 minutes including credits, it’s short, sweet, and over before anything can get annoying,” Christian Holub writes .

“But it’s hard to escape the feeling, especially during the ... Rainbow Road sequence, that you would probably be having more fun just playing a game together instead.”

Hollywood Reporter

“After the debacle that was the 1993 live-action Super Mario Brothers movie adaptation, the creators of the new animated version clearly felt the need to restore the faith of the wildly popular video game’s legions of fans,” Frank Scheck writes .

“While devoted players will weigh in on whether the film fulfills that goal sufficiently, The Super Mario Bros. Movie feels like a labor of love that should easily weather any nitpicking from purists. It should also prove a major cash cow for co-producers Nintendo, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures, with sequels and spin-offs virtually guaranteed. While Matthew Fogel’s screenplay won’t win any awards, it builds a reasonable framework for the 90 minutes of nearly nonstop mayhem that ensues.”

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“The movie’s mostly excellent use of its source material does contrast with some ill-advised blockbuster animation tropes which can occasionally be grating,” Tom Jorgensen writes .

“Moments like this — as well as the frequent use of slo-mo to highlight jokes — are a bit too cute, and hint at how easily The Super Mario Bros. Movie could’ve slipped into ‘generic animated movie’ territory had it given way to more of these low-hanging stabs at making sure Uncle Jack has his ‘I understood that reference!’ moment, too.”

Independent

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie ... is nothing more and nothing less than what you’d expect from a Mario film,” Clarisse Loughrey writes .

“Its comfortable mediocrity is no better captured than in its choice to cast Chris Pratt — the current face of generic, easy-to-market heroism — in the starring role. Pratt, it should be said, is perfectly capable of the sort of outsized performance Mario needed, having previously turned in himbos of equal, puppyish élan in The Lego Movie and Guardians of the Galaxy. But the Pratt called upon here is of the blandly sincere, hire-a-hero variety, delivering lines like ‘let’s-a-go!’ and ‘mamma mia!’ with all the vigour of a contractual obligation and not a trace of Italian.”

“From the decision to cast the onetime Least Offensive Actor on the Planet Chris Pratt in the titular role to the production design that seems to be an exact replica the Wii-era Mario games, ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ largely plays things by the book, which is exactly what the assignment called for,” Christian Zilko writes .

“Co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic have delivered a perfectly serviceable movie that is going to make a lot of kids very happy and a lot of adults very rich.”

New York Times

“While the details are meticulous, the attitude is all wrong, trading the simple, unaffected charm that has served the character so well since his introduction in 1981 for a snarky and fatuous air that leans hard on winking humor and bland, hackneyed irony,” Calum Marsh writes .

“This is Mario in the Marvel mold: every line a punchline, every gag an arcane meta reference for the nerds who can’t get enough of that sort of thing. Served some spaghetti with mushrooms, Mario winces and says he hates mushrooms. Because in the game he’s always eating mushrooms, you see. Sound like fun yet?”

“There’s a perfect Mario game for nearly every kind of person — which gives the little plumber and his endless incarnations the sort of magical appeal that every modern movie franchise is desperate for,” Joshua Rivera writes . “Illumination’s animated adventure The Super Mario Bros. Movie attempts to bottle that appeal, but mostly just ends up referencing it. ... The Super Mario Bros. Movie feels like it’s made to be screenshotted more than watched. Nearly every frame is packed with a dizzying number of Easter eggs and references to Mario games and other Nintendo franchises.

“Cataloging them all might be the most enjoyable way to watch the movie, because when it comes to regular movie things like plot and character, well, all that gets blue-shelled to hell. (If you got that reference, you’ll probably like this movie more than the average viewer.)”

Screen Rant

“Black’s performance is truly what makes Bowser sing, ensuring every scene featuring the villain is one of the movie’s highlights. Beyond Black, Day is also pitch perfect as Luigi and Rogen is extremely fun as Donkey Kong. Taylor-Joy and Key are good, if unmemorable as Peach and Toad,” Molly Freeman writes .

“Pratt, whose casting as Mario was met with skepticism, doesn’t make a strong case for why he was a good choice to voice such an iconic character. He’s simply fine — not so bad as to be distracting, but not strong enough to be at all interesting either, which is about the same as The Super Mario Bros. Movie as a whole.”

“It’s going to be a huge, huge hit, but not just because of its beloved gamer pedigree. (That didn’t help “Super Mario Bros.” in 1993)” Owen Gleiberman writes .

“It’s because the movie, as directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (from a script by Matthew Fogel), is a serious blast, with a spark of enchantment — that je ne sais quoi fusion of speed and trickery, magic and sophistication, and sheer play that … well, you feel it when you see it.”

Washington Post

“The artistry is enough to keep children and adults watching. It may help that Mario gains power by eating mushrooms — a good message about healthy eating, on the one hand, yet one with an obvious psychedelic resonance at the same time,” Pat Padua writes .

“At its 8-bit heart, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is ultimately about family. (You know, the people you spend time with when you’re not playing video games.)”

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I can vividly remember playing the first Nintendo version of “Super Mario Bros.” when I was just a boy in the ‘80s. It was at a friend’s house, my first buddy to get an NES, and I went home and had a dream about the game. The goofy, jumping plumber has been a part of my entertainment life ever since. I’ve passed my love for the franchise down to my boys, who have all played the stunning “Super Mario Odyssey” to completion more than once. Mario has come a long way since the notoriously awful 1993 version of his adventure starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo , but the new “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” doesn’t reflect the franchise's creativity in the slightest. The latest animated blockbuster from Illumination is their most soulless to date, a film that feels like ChatGPT produced it after data and imagery from the games were fed into a computer. It is “The Chris Farley Show” of family entertainment, mistaking making references to something that was “awesome” for actually making a movie. And it is one of the most drenched-in-desperation animated films I’ve ever seen. “Remember this?!? Remember how much you liked it?!? Please like it again!” I so desperately wanted to see something that sparked the imagination of the kid in me, like that first game, or spoke to the fun I’ve had playing installments across multiple Nintendo platforms. Instead, I got a movie that's as hollow as a trailer, something that willfully avoids anything creative or ambitious. Mario and Luigi deserve so much better.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” opens in Brooklyn with the plumbers Mario ( Chris Pratt ) and his brother Luigi ( Charlie Day ) trying to get their new business off the ground. Some Nintendo easter eggs in the background of these initial scenes should produce a small smile from people of my generation, and there's a bit of inspiration structurally, like a clever early shot in which Mario and Luigi race through the city in a side-scrolling manner that mimics the earlier games. There’s also a nod to The Odyssey on a bookshelf in Mario’s room, implying that we’re about to watch a hero’s journey and a reference to the incredible Switch game. What follows doesn’t live up to either inspiration.

In a way that makes little sense, Mario and Luigi find a massive chamber of pipes under Brooklyn, get sucked into one, and end up in the Mushroom Kingdom, which is being threatened by the villainous Bowser ( Jack Black ). The notorious bad guy has found the Super Star he needs to make his final assault on Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ) and the residents of her kingdom, including Toad (Keegan-Michael Key). Bowser doesn’t just want power; he wants to make the Princess his bride, singing some truly uninspired songs about his love for her. How on Earth a film like this gets a rock talent like half of Tenacious D and doesn’t let him unleash a few clever Bowser tunes is one of this film’s many mysteries.

Although Luigi lands in the pipeline that drops him immediately in the dark lands and makes him Bowser's prisoner—a dumb decision that sidelines him for an hour—Mario meets Princess Peach, who introduces him to power-ups. And so all the question-mark cubes get a chance to shine as Mario grows, shrinks, and even turns into a raccoon. They eventually recruit Donkey Kong ( Seth Rogen ), race down Rainbow Road, and save the day. That’s not a spoiler if you’ve ever seen a movie.

Fans of this movie will shout from the rooftops that the scripting for something called “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” doesn’t need to be a strength. And, to be fair, there are a few strong settings in terms of design. I enjoyed the choices made by the team in the structure of Donkey Kong Country, and the Rainbow Road “Super Mario Kart” sequence is well-directed. But I would ask why fans of a franchise that has inspired so much love for generations must be satisfied with the absolute minimum regarding storytelling. 

There are so few actual decisions made in the construction of this film. It’s just a collection of visual and character references cobbled together to form a 92-minute movie. Take a risk. Just do something . Anything. It got me thinking about the fun spin-offs that could exist, like a “ Mad Max: Fury Road ” version of the “Mario Kart” sequence that gets energy out of non-stop motion. Or a version that unpacks like “The LEGO Movie” that's more sharply aware of its references and world-building—something that even incorporates the player like that movie does in the end. I swear that almost everyone who has played a game like “Odyssey” could come up with something more inventive. Heck, almost any ten minutes of that game is more creative.

It doesn’t help that the voice work is uniformly mediocre too. Chris Pratt can be charismatic with the right material, but it sounds like he pounded this out in three hours in a voice studio. Charlie Day has such an expressive voice, but the movie barely uses him. Seth Rogen is always a welcome presence, and he at least seems to be having some fun. I wish I was too.

With the nostalgia craze merging with the power of Nintendo and Illumination, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” feels too big to fail. That means we’ll get a sequel, and I expect another cycle of the debate of “critics vs. fans.” I am both. And I want a world where the people who made films for a fan base as devoted as this one don’t take that fandom for granted. This is far from over. I suspect we will get a ton of films from the NES universe, including “Donkey Kong Country” and “The Legend of Zelda” (and let’s not forget “Kid Icarus”). But we need creators who don’t just see these games as products to be referenced but as foundations on which new ideas can be built. That ‘80s kid who dreamed of Mario deserves it.

In theaters today .

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

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Film Credits

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Rated PG for action and mild violence.

Chris Pratt as Mario (voice)

Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach (voice)

Charlie Day as Luigi (voice)

Jack Black as Bowser (voice)

Keegan Michael Key as Toad (voice)

Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong (voice)

Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong (voice)

Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek (voice)

Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike (voice)

Charles Martinet as Giuseppe (voice)

Khary Payton as Penguin King (voice)

Eric Bauza as General Toad (voice)

• Michael Jelenic
• Aaron Horvath
• Matthew Fogel
• Eric Osmond

Composer (original Nintendo themes by)

• Brian Tyler

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Widely considered to be one of the greatest video game franchises ever, Super Mario Bros . is an iconic, generation-spanning success that has taken on many iterations to always keep up with the times. One area in which it failed miserably was the 1993 live-action film version that starred Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as Mario and Luigi, Brooklyn-based plumbers who go on a fantastical adventure. It was a critical and commercial flop, though it managed to find some bit of a cult following in the ensuing decades.

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A Japanese anime version of Super Mario in 1987 was perhaps the first, or at least one of the first, movie adaptations of a video game, however modest that hourlong effort was. This time all the bells and whistles are there with a star voice cast that includes Chris Pratt as Mario and the irrepressible Charlie Day as younger brother Luigi, two New York Lower Borough-based plumbers from an Italian family that perhaps doesn’t appreciate their talents as much as they should. Stumbling into a crisis situation that requires a quick fix on bursting water pipes in the street, they instead are swept throughout the labyrinth of those pipes and spilled out into another world, much like when Alice went down the rabbit hole.

While Mario finds himself landing in the colorful and friendly Mushroom Kingdom, brother Luigi is in for something completely terrifying as he has been swept into the Dark Lands, where ruling King of Koopas, fearsome giant turtle Bowser ( Jack Black ), enlists him, by threat of death, in his quest to marry Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ) in order to capture her Mushroom Kingdom and rule the world. Fortunately, Mario is on the case and helped by the cheerful resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), who befriends him and introduces him to the princess. They team up to stop Bowser in his tracks and rescue Luigi. Joining them eventually is Donkey Kong (of course), voiced amusingly by Seth Rogen , an enthusiastic and skilled citizen of the Jungle Kingdom and Kong Army run by his weary father Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen). In a battle to the death, Mario has to prove his worth to all before they will team for the ultimate battle that is a staple of this sort of entertainment these days.

All of this is immensely likable and loaded with laughs, if not raging wit. Having the likes of Black and Rogen in the voice cast definitely ups the ante of some stabs at subversive humor, and all seem to be enjoying this stint, which definitely is set up for sequels as Mario and Luigi are about to start a new act in their long careers. The CGI animation goes big for bright colors juxtaposed with the ominous Dark Lands, and the film is helped immensely by a zippy and lilting musical score from Brian Tyler. As proof of the filmmakers’ attempts to be true to their source, there is even room for Charles Martinet, original voice of Mario and Luigi video games for the past three decades.

Producers are Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Mario creator and Nintendo’s Representative Director and Fellow Shigeru Miyamoto. Universal releases it Wednesday in theaters.

Title: The Super Mario Bros. Movie Studio: Universal/Illumination Release date: April 5, 2023 Directors: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic Screenwriter: Matthew Fogel Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen Rating: PG Running time: 1hr 32 min

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Movie Review: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Families with fans of Nintendo’s long-running Mario video game franchise will (mostly) love this big-screen adaptation of Mario and Luigi joining Princess Peach to protect her magical Mushroom Kingdom from big-bad Bowser’s dastardly plans. 

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie - Review

Mario’s cinematic pipe dream comes true..

It took nearly four decades, one spectacular live-action misfire, and dozens of other failed video game adaptations to learn from, but none of it went to waste: Illumination and Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Movie finally gives the most iconic character in gaming the onscreen adventure he’s always deserved. Benefitting immensely from the endless creativity of the innumerable game developers, artists, and musicians who’ve made the Mario franchise a pop culture juggernaut, The Super Mario Bros. Movie rockets along with the momentum of a Bullet Bill exploding out of a cannon. The Mushroom Kingdom is realized with incredible detail and reverence, and not even a Paper Mario-thin plot can keep the magic of the games from being lost along the way.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s setup is dead simple: while on a plumbing job underneath Brooklyn, brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are sucked into the Mushroom Kingdom through a warp pipe and become embroiled in King Bowser’s (Jack Black) plans to steal the Super Star, which would give him the power to take over the Toad-filled domain of Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). Mario’s Cheep-Cheep-out-of-water journey hits all the predictable beats of the “warrior from another world” narrative, but decades of Mario games ensure co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!) have an infinite well of wild scenarios and iconography to pull from to stage inventive action moments, especially once Mario’s gotten a handle of how to properly fly with a Tanooki suit.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie almost always has an inventive in-world solution to whatever problem pops up that relies on something easily recognizable from the games, but never withholds explanation of how that thing works (even if the why goes rightfully ignored.) Whether it’s recreating the path of World 1-1 as Mario and Luigi parkour their way through Brooklyn or the pre-emptive giggle fans will get seeing Mario ingest a blue mushroom instead of a red one during a fight, The Super Mario Bros. Movie manages a great balance of accessibility for general audiences and inside jokes for those of us who’ve dipped in and out of the series over the years.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s heavy use of references isn’t a good thing in and of itself, but their inclusion feels justified because they are used in ways that feel relevant and organic to the world. At worst, sequences like the Rainbow Road race can feel a bit tacked on when they don’t fully make the case for being there with any kind of logical reason (being able to sell movie-branded Mario Kart toys doesn’t count), but then logic is not a currency anyone’s expecting The Super Mario Bros. Movie to trade in anyway. The movie trusts its audience isn’t going to care much about why platforms float, or why there are blocks with question marks all over the place full of power-ups that turn people into cats and flamethrowers. Once you’ve already bought in to things like that, giving 10 minutes of the movie up to staging a big-budget Mario Kart race so that a trek from A to B feels a little more lively is an easier pill to swallow. 

The bombastic score perfectly expresses the grandeur and whimsy of the games' tracks.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s visual vibrance sets a very high bar for the other animated video game adaptations which will surely follow, be that from Nintendo or another studio. Bowser’s fire-versus-ice siege of the Penguin Kingdom, the expansive fungi vistas of the Mushroom Kingdom, and the lush greenery of the Kongs’ Jungle Kingdom are all super-saturated dreamscapes that coalesce into a bustling world begging to be explored further. Brian Tyler’s bombastic score takes care of the musical side of this equation, perfectly expressing the grandeur and whimsy of the games’ tracks at every turn and mining Koji Kondo’s original orchestrations to great effect. The Mario series has some of the most recognizable music cues in gaming history, and Tyler deploys many of them throughout the action just where you hope they’d drop. 

The movie’s mostly excellent use of its source material does contrast with some ill-advised blockbuster animation tropes which can occasionally be grating. Kind of like someone stealing a star from you in Mario Party, the fantastic score makes the pop tracks that are shoehorned in feel lazy by comparison. A little “No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn” as Mario and Luigi parkour their way through the borough never hurt anyone, but by the time Mario and Peach are being karted around the Jungle Kingdom to A-Ha’s “Take On Me,” you may find the needle drops being a little too much of a snap back to reality. That goes double for the writers being unable to resist the urge to have Donkey Kong himself saying “it’s on like Donkey Kong.” Moments like this - as well as the frequent use of slo-mo to highlight jokes - are a bit too cute, and hint at how easily The Super Mario Bros. Movie could’ve slipped into “generic animated movie” territory had it given way to more of these low-hanging stabs at making sure Uncle Jack has his “I understood that reference!” moment, too.

The interminable Discourse surrounding the voice acting in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as expected, feels totally out of touch with what the cast actually ended up delivering: enthusiastic performances that bring life to the characters, with no real weak link among them. Chris Pratt and Charlie Day’s Mario Bros. are certainly not going to be taking home any commendations from the good people of Brooklyn on their New York accents, but each handily embody their character’s heroism and bravery (hard won though that may be for Luigi). There’s definitely been a flattening of the more cartoonish qualities to the lead characters’ in-game voices - something the movie addresses immediately - but the choice to ground conversations in more a more natural delivery balances well with the fantastical trappings of the Mushroom Kingdom. More than that, it still leaves room for supporting characters like Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), Kamek (Kevin Michael Richardson), and Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen) to be a little kookier and give the ensemble more range. And even though it’s a one-joke character with no impact on the plot, Lumalee’s (Juliet Jelenic, co-director Michael’s daughter) gleeful nihilism lands big laughs every time thanks mostly to the young voice actor’s unerring excitement, which bubbles behind every pitch black observation she makes while locked up with Luigi. 

Jack Black’s Bowser feels like the standout vocal performance as the actor’s trademark bombast fits well with the Koopa King’s outsized sense of self. Bowser’s thirst for power isn’t explored in any serious way: he wants to take over the Mushroom Kingdom because he’s a bad guy and that’s what bad guys do - apparently he missed the point of that group session in Wreck-it Ralph. But Black’s Bowser is frightening, impetuous, and desperate for attention at times, and those frequent mood shifts lend his scenes unpredictability. Jables’ Bowser even performs a ballad in Peach’s honor which feels like a safe-for-work Tenacious D b-side, a descriptor I can’t imagine will upset any fans of Black’s musical chops.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is constantly and joyfully entertaining, and that’s crucial because it lacks any meaningful thematic throughline outside of “we can do anything when we work together!” That lesson feels like an obligated afterthought considering Mario and Luigi spend the majority of this movie separated - not because of any emotional fracture between them early on, but by pure happenstance (warp pipes are crazy!) The brothers mostly agree on everything, and both are quick to enlist the help of allies when the time comes, so the little effort that went into that aspect of the story goes very much amiss. This feels especially frustrating considering the pair of brief flashbacks which give us insights into the characters’ childhoods. Both of these short scenes manage a comparatively touching tone, and hint at better avenues the story could’ve explored to make Mario, Luigi, and Peach feel more fully formed. 

The Verdict

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a fireball of animated fantasy. Mario, Luigi, and Peach’s adventure delights with its infectious energy and smart implementations of video game callbacks, and the top-shelf animation renders the Mushroom Kingdom as an Oz-like wonderland that begs to be explored in the inevitable sequels that will follow. The assembled voice cast puts a unique spin on each of their characters, but undercooked emotional arcs don’t get the same attention as the aesthetics, something not helped by a paint-by-numbers plot that bafflingly keeps Mario and Luigi away from each other for half the movie. Illumination and Nintendo set out to deliver a Mario movie that anyone could enjoy, and that anyone with even a passing knowledge of the games could get lost in - they’ve undeniably succeeded on both fronts.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

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Everything we know about the super mario bros. movie, we break down all the details, including who made it, who's in it, what the story might be, and what this could mean for the future of video game adaptations..

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Video game adaptations sure are leveling up this year, if you’ll forgive the pun. HBO’s take on The Last of Us got the year off to a good start, but this spring, the most iconic video game character of all will be making the jump (pun also intended) to the cinema. The Super Mario Bros. Movie , from Illumination and Universal Pictures in collaboration with Nintendo, will stomp into theaters on April 5, 2023.

If you have questions about The Super Mario Bros. Movie , allow us to answer them as if we were punching a big floating “?” block. Let’s-a go!

The Cast is Mostly A-List Actors

(Photo by Jon Kopaloff, Phillip Faraone, Samir Hussein, Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Nintendo announced the cast of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in September 2021, with Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto revealing the news during a Nintendo Direct event — one of the gaming company’s regularly streamed preview presentations. Mario is a man of few words in the games; Charles Martinet has voiced the character since 1992, but “It’s-a me, Mario!” isn’t quite enough dialogue to fill a feature-length script. A new, more talkative voice actor was required.

But when Miyamoto revealed that Mario would be voiced by Chris Pratt , there was some outcry. The Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World star has done voice work before — he’s quite good in The LEGO Movie and Onward — but there were criticisms that he was overexposed as an actor and that his Mario voice would probably just end up sounding like… Chris Pratt. Your mileage may vary on the first point, but when trailers for the movie came out, it was confirmed that Mario does indeed sound like Chris Pratt in this film. Meanwhile, Martinet will still feature in the film in what’s been described as surprise cameos.

(Photo by Universal Pictures)

The rest of the cast is less controversial. Anya Taylor-Joy , star of The Witch , The Northman , and Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit , voices Princess Peach. The movie, as with more recent games in the Mario series, gives Peach more agency as a capable leader of Mushroom Kingdom rather than just relegating her status to a damsel in distress. Charlie Day of It’s Always Sunny in Philidelphia , Pacific Rim , and The LEGO Movie (in which he co-starred with Pratt) plays Luigi, Mario’s younger, green-clad brother. Day’s on-screen persona tends to lean towards the manic, which should be a good fit for Luigi. Jack Black voices Bowser, Mario’s archenemy and frequent kidnapper of Princess Peach. Based on early reactions to the trailers, Black’s take on King Koopa looks poised to be a highlight of the film, as he’s imbuing the character with a good mixture of menace, bluster, and comedy.

Keegan-Michael Key ( Key & Peele , Wendell and Wild ) voices Toad, Peach’s dutiful but oft-hapless assistant. Seth Rogen voices Donkey Kong, who was technically Mario’s first villain when they both made their debut in the 1981 arcade game, but they’ve since become allies — or at least acquaintances who go-kart and party together. Fred Armisen voices Cranky Kong, an elderly and, well, cranky member of Donkey Kong’s family. Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco voices Foreman Spike, a relatively obscure Mario character who made his debut as Mario and Luigi’s boss in the 1985 game Wrecking Crew . Kevin Michael Richardson , a veteran voice actor, lends his pipes to the role of Kamek, Bowser’s magic-using right-hand man — err, koopa — and Khary Payton voices the Penguin King, the monarch of a chilly land that Bowser conquers.

The Plot Does Not Seem to Be Based on Any One Mario Game

Typically speaking, the Super Mario games are not known for having deep, complex plots. There are exceptions — the Paper Mario series of RPGs are fairly lore-dense — but for the most part, the mainline platformer games are pretty bare-bones: Mario must find peach and defeat Bowser. The spin-off games are devoid of a plot. (Mario and Bowser and Co. race go-karts because of… reasons?) The Super Mario Bros. Movie , based on the trailers, seems to be adding a little more context to the basic premise while also drawing in lots of video game Easter eggs.

Bowser is attempting to conquer the world, as one does, and once he obtains a Super Star (the sort that makes Mario temporarily invincible in the games), he has the power he’ll need to do so. Only Mario — who it appears is a newcomer to Mushroom Kingdom — stands in his way. As a character, Mario is said to be an Italian plumber from New York City, but most games don’t really engage with his supposed real-world background or hometown. He just jumps around and plays golf and tennis in Mushroom Kingdom. It seems like the movie’s Mario hails from a place that’s more like our real world and less fantastical than Mushroom Kingdom, but it’s unclear exactly where he’s from.

Upon arriving in Mushroom Kingdom, Mario meets Toad and is taken to Princess Peach, who attempts to train Mario in order to face off with Bowser. There are Yoshis, a Super Smash Bros. -like duel with Donkey Kong, and a Mad Max -esque chase down Rainbow Road, a classic course from the Mario Kart games.

This Is Not the First Mario Movie

(Photo by ©Buena Vista Pictures)

There have actually been two movies based on Mario before this one. In 1986, the anime film Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! opened in Japan. It’s notable for being the first film ever that was based on a video game, though it technically shares the honor because Running Boy: Star Soldier’s Secret , another video game adaptation, came out on the very same day. The plot follows Mario as he’s sucked into the video game he’s playing, an early example of what’s now known as the isekai genre.

Western audiences are probably more familiar with 1993’s live-action Super Mario Bros. , which is either a cult classic or one of the worst films ever made, depending on who you ask. Starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as the titular Bros. and Dennis Hopper as Bowser, the film drastically altered the basic Mario story, reimagining King Koopa as a highly evolved dinosaur from a parallel world that first formed when a special meteor hit the earth. It’s a mess, albeit one that’s not without its charms, but its commercial and critical failure is reportedly part of the reason it’s taken so long for Nintendo to allow more film adaptations. Nintendo worked with Universal Parks & Resorts to build Mario-themed lands at Universal’s theme parks, and that relationship helped lead to the upcoming feature film.

Talk of a new movie began in the mid-2010s and production began in earnest in 2018 when Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination founder Chris Meledandri were confirmed as co-producers. The film is directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic ; Horvath oversaw Teen Titans Go! to the Movies , while The Super Mario Bros. Movie marks Jelenic’s feature film debut.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Could Be Just the Beginning

Nintendo saw some big-screen success in 2019 with the release of Pokémon Detective Pikachu , a live-action adaptation of a Pokémon spin-off game. Should The Super Mario Bros. movie be a success, there will probably be even more adaptations, and Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has said as much. There are already (unconfirmed) reports that Illumination is prepping a Donkey Kong spin-off, but there are so many Nintendo IPs that could easily become movies. The Legend of Zelda ? Metroid ? Star Fox ? Fire Emblem ? And imagine them all coming together in an Avengers -style crossover (too much?). It could be the start of a new wave of video game adaptations, one that could finally disprove the conventional wisdom that all video game adaptations are bad.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie opens in US theaters on April 5, 2023, and it will open in Japan shortly afterward on April 28.

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‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Review: This Ain’t No Game

A famed video game character side-scrolls once again to the big screen in this bland, witless and flagrantly pandering animated comedy.

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By Calum Marsh

One thing every great Mario game has in common, from 2D classics like Super Mario World to seminal 3D installments like Super Mario 64 or the recent Nintendo Switch masterpiece Super Mario Odyssey, is a certain effortless charisma. No convoluted backstory, no sardonic attitude, no pretension whatsoever: just easy, straightforward video game fun, elevated by splashy visuals, tight controls and an attention to detail that borders on perfectionism.

Illumination and Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” the second attempt at a big-screen adaptation of the game franchise after the woefully unsuccessful “ Super Mario Bros. ” (1993), gets many things about Mario right, often painstakingly so. The Mushroom Kingdom, the magical land in which the film is largely set, looks pretty much exactly like the Mushroom Kingdom of the games. Fireflowers, super stars and question mark boxes all look, sound and function like they’re supposed to, and when the notoriously vexing blue shell makes a fan-baiting appearance, it spins, crashes and explodes in a way precisely faithful to the source material. Even Mario (a grating, unctuous Chris Pratt), who doesn’t sound like the Mario of the games, still manages to invoke trademark catchphrases like “it’s a-me” and “let’s a-go.”

But while the details are meticulous, the attitude is all wrong, trading the simple, unaffected charm that has served the character so well since his introduction in 1981 for a snarky and fatuous air that leans hard on winking humor and bland, hackneyed irony. This is Mario in the Marvel mold: every line a punchline, every gag an arcane meta reference for the nerds who can’t get enough of that sort of thing. Served some spaghetti with mushrooms, Mario winces and says he hates mushrooms. Because in the game he’s always eating mushrooms, you see. Sound like fun yet?

In this rendition, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, Mario and his cowardly younger brother, Luigi (Charlie Day), are upstart plumbers from Brooklyn who, for reasons that feel both unnecessarily complicated and curiously underexplained, are zapped into the fantastical world of Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and the nefarious Bowser (Jack Black). Much of what transpires has some basis in the original games, in a way that often feels oppressively pandering, and the movie’s commitment to fan service frequently results in baffling decisions in the context of the film. When Mario recruits Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) to take on Bowser’s army, they elect to travel via go-kart. Are go-karts inherently interesting or compelling? No. Is there any logical reason why they would use go-karts? No. But there are go-karts in the video game Mario Kart, so in karts they go.

Every level of the original Super Mario Bros. ends with an apology that has become one of the game’s most enduring catchphrases: “Our princess is in another castle.” In “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” it’s deployed as a flat, mirthless inside joke — another pat reference, unfunny and predictable, charged with a yawning desperation to please. It doesn’t seem right that the spirit of such a pure and exuberant character should be reduced to something so flippant and basically cynical. And though every conceivable effort has been taken to make this “Mario” as Mario-like as possible, the attitude is antithetical to exactly what the franchise so wholesomely represents.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes. In theaters.

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parent Guide

The story is underwritten and the characters are flat but this film is bright, fun, and filled with jokes for viewers of all ages..

Theaters: Mario and Princess Peach travel through the Mushroom Kingdom to save Luigi and stop Bowser from conquering the world.

Release date April 5, 2023

Run Time: 92 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by savannah sillito.

Brooklyn brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are struggling to get their new plumbing business off the ground. While exploring the sewer system, they both get sucked into a mysterious pipe that leads them to magical worlds. Luigi finds himself in a barren world of lava and skeleton zombies ruled by the terrifying Bowser (Jack Black), while Mario falls into a world of mushrooms led by the courageous Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). With Bowser intent on taking over all the kingdoms in the realm, Mario and Peach team up to defeat him and save Luigi.

I told a coworker that I was seeing this movie and she asked if it would be a good choice for someone who has zero knowledge of the Nintendo property. To answer her question publicly, no. Although I enjoyed the film overall, which I’ll expand on in a moment, I don’t recommend it for people who don’t know anything about the Mario games. You do not have to be an expert (I know I’m not) but you should have some basic ideas of the characters and their worlds, or you’ll be completely lost and probably quite bored.

That all said, I had a great time and so did the theater full of kids. What little plot there is manages to be fun and deliver positive messages about courage, teamwork, and persistence. There are some great jokes that even got me howling with laughter and, contrived as the set pieces may be, they are super enjoyable. Troops of monkeys and turtles fighting Mad Max- style in Go Karts on a rainbow? Come on, that’s just great cinema. Jack Black is the glue holding this precarious production together as he brings the perfect balance of menace and ridiculousness and even gets to flex his musical chops.

I want to make a special shout out to the composer, Brian Tyler, who crafted the perfect blend of the original Nintendo score (by Koji Kondo) into an orchestral score. The soundtrack pays homage to the familiar themes, but not to the point that it becomes annoying; on the contrary, it’s absolutely fantastic.

Overall, I think children and fans of the franchise are going to have a blast with this movie. No, it’s not going to win any writing awards, but it made me laugh and it looks good which is more than I can say for most children’s media. Parents need only worry about the fantasy violence throughout, which could be a bit scary for very young viewers. If you’re ok with a lot of spectacle and not much substance, The Super Mario Bros Movie is sure to power up family movie night.

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Savannah sillito, watch the trailer for the super mario bros. movie.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Rating & Content Info

Why is The Super Mario Bros. Movie rated PG? The Super Mario Bros. Movie is rated PG by the MPAA for action and mild violence.

Violence: There is fantasy action violence throughout including explosions, falls, magic, and fire. Characters fight, including with various powerups. A character is repeatedly struck and is seen with a bruised face. There is a brief scene of a character being tortured by magic. A male character has his moustache hair pulled out while being interrogated. A piano lid is slammed on someone’s hands. A monster eats two characters but they don’t die. A character is chased by zombie skeletons. Sexual Content: None. Profanity: There are some mild insults such as “idiot” and “stupid”. Alcohol / Drug Use: None.

Page last updated January 23, 2024

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parents' Guide

Loved this movie try these books….

If you’ve got a young Mario fan in your house, you will want to get a copy of Nintendo’s Super Mario Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years. Your youngster will be delighted with the abundance of trivia available here.

Adult video fans who want to learn the backstory behind Mario can read Jeff Ryan’s Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America.

Related home video titles:

Video games (real or imagined) are the inspiration for several family-friendly films. Fans of Disney movie franchises might enjoy Wreck-It-Ralph and Ralph Breaks the Internet .

Young game fans will enjoy The Angry Birds Movie and The Angry Birds Movie 2 . The bright blue hedgehog comes to the big screen in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Teen viewers and their parents will appreciate Ryan Reynolds’ performance in Free Guy, a movie that goes inside a video game as a character becomes self-aware and starts to make independent choices.

Also based on a game is Uncharted, a fast-paced action thriller starring Tom Holland. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves builds on the video game and its real world predecessor to create an engaging fantasy universe peopled with charming or villainous characters.