Super Mario Bros. Movie
Nostalgia also played a significant role in the film’s success. The Mario franchise has been popular in video game media for decades, and recent gaming adaptations have achieved unprecedented success. The Super Mario Bros. Movie attracted pre-existing fans from both domestic and international audiences, despite mixed reviews.
The movie’s wide appeal to both families and adults seeking to see their childhood hero brought to life on the big screen has also helped its performance. The success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie may pave the way for more family-friendly video game adaptations in the future, leading Nintendo to consider adapting some of its other properties.
The production companies Universal Pictures, Illumination, and Nintendo released The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023, an animated adventure film based on the Mario video game franchise. Matthew Fogel wrote the movie, while Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic directed it. The voice cast included Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen. The film revolves around the story of two Italian-American plumbers, Mario and Luigi, who get transported to another world and caught in a battle between the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach, and the Koopas, led by Bowser.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie premiered in the US on April 5, 2023. Though reviewers had mixed reactions, audiences embraced the movie. The film’s worldwide box office revenue surpassed $1.161 billion, breaking various records, including the largest opening weekend for an animated film globally and the highest-grossing video game adaptation. Furthermore, the film became the top-grossing release of 2023, the fifth highest-grossing animated film, the 24th highest-grossing film of all time, the highest-grossing Illumination production, and the highest-grossing non-Disney/Pixar animated film.
