The movie of Super Mario Bros from 2023 is a computer-animated adaptation of the famous Nintendo video game franchise. Produced by Illumination, Universal Pictures and Nintendo, and distributed by Universal, was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel. The voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen.
The plot of the film is the story of the origin of the brothers Mario and Luigi, Italian-American plumbers, who are transported to an alternate world. In this world they become involved in a battle between the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach, and the Koopas, led by BowserThe battle is because Bowser wants to marry Peach and will destroy the Mushroom Kingdom using a Super Star if she refuses.
The film was released in US theaters on April 5, 2023.It received mixed reviews and has already grossed $377 million worldwide, setting several box office records, including the biggest worldwide opening weekend for an animated film and the biggest domestic debut for a film based on a video game.
What's good about the movie?
The film has several positive aspects that make it enjoyable for both video game fans and general audiences. Some of them are:
- The animation is colorful, fluid, and detailed, faithfully recreating the look and feel of the worlds and characters in the Mario universe.
- The humor is fun, witty, and varied, mixing video game references, visual gags, absurd situations, and sarcastic dialogue.
- The action is dynamic, exciting, and creative, taking advantage of the protagonists' abilities and objects, as well as the characteristics of the environment.
- Its soundtrack is catchy, epic, and nostalgic, incorporating orchestral and modern versions of classic video game tunes.
- The voice cast is charismatic, expressive, and well-suited to the characters, with Chris Pratt as Mario, Jack Black as Bowser, and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad standing out in particular.
What's wrong with the movie?
The film also has some ups and downs, negative aspects that make it less satisfying or coherent than it could have been. Some of these are:
- The plot is predictable, simplistic and unoriginal, following the typical scheme of the hero who must rescue the princess from the evil villain (although the kidnapped person ends up being Luigi).
- The characters are flat, stereotypical and poorly developed, lacking psychological and emotional depth.
- The tone is inconsistent, abruptly shifting from comedy to drama to romance without a proper transition.
- The pace is uneven, alternating between scenes that are too long or slow and others that are too short or fast.
- The ending is anticlimactic, resolving the main conflict with a convenient and easy solution.
What do critics and audiences think?
The film has received mixed reviews from both professional critics and the general public.. According to the website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 56% approval rating based on 112 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10.
The critical consensus reads: “With the help of Princess Peach, Mario prepares to face the almighty Bowser to stop his plans to take over the world. The Super Mario Bros. Movie offers dazzling animation and witty humor, but falls short on plot, characters, and tone.”
According to On the Metacritic website, the film has a score of 58 out of 100, based on 28 reviews, indicating “mixed or average reviews.” According to the website IMDb, the film has a score of 6.7/10 based on 12,345 user votes.
Audiences have had mixed opinions about the film, depending on their level of familiarity and affection for the Mario video games. Some viewers have praised the film for its faithfulness to the source material, its fun quality, and its entertainment value, while others have criticized it for its lack of originality, its inconsistency, and its disappointing viewing experience.
What can we learn from the film?


The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2023 It is an example of how to adapt a video game franchise to a different medium such as film.
This animated feature film proves that it's possible to recreate the look, feel, and humor of video games with quality animation and a suitable voice cast. However, the film also demonstrates that it's not enough to simply replicate the visual and audio elements of video games; it's also necessary to create an engaging story, complex characters, and a consistent tone that captures audience attention and empathy.
The film also teaches us some lessons about the value of friendship, family and love.The feature film shows us that Mario and Luigi are two brothers who love and support each other, despite their differences and conflicts.
We can also see that Peach is a brave and kind princess, who fights for her kingdom and for her freedom, despite threats and obstacles.Bowser is perceived as an ambitious and cruel villain, who seeks power and dominance while battling his loneliness and insecurity. And we can't forget Toad, a loyal and fun ally who helps Mario and Luigi on their adventure, although he is often cowardly and clumsy.
It also invites us to reflect on what truly makes us happy and what truly matters in life.
What can we expect in the future?
The film has been a commercial success, grossing over $377 million worldwide. This has encouraged the producers to plan a sequel., which is expected to premiere in 2025.
The sequel will feature the same voice cast and creative team as the first film. The sequel will explore new worlds and characters from the Mario universe, including Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi, Daisy, Rosalina, Birdo, Pauline, Geno, Mallow, Cappy, and more.
It will also have more references and influences from other Nintendo video games., such as The Legend of Zelda, Kirby, Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and more. This second installment promises to be bigger, funnier, and more exciting than the first film.
What can we do?


If you've already seen the 2023 Super Mario Bros. movie and enjoyed it, and it also leaves you wanting to know more about the Mario universe, we recommend playing some of the franchise's video games.
There are video games for all tastes and ages, from classic platformers like Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World, and Super Mario 64 to modern adventures like Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Odyssey, and Super Mario Maker. There are also video games in other genres, such as racing (Mario Kart), sports (Mario Sports), fighting (Super Smash Bros.), role-playing (Paper Mario), puzzles (Dr. Mario), and educational (Mario Teaches Typing).
You can also read some of the comics or books based on the Mario universe, such as Super Mario Adventures, Super Mario-kun, or The Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia. You can also watch some of the animated series or films based on the Mario universe, such as The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!, or The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
You can also visit any of the theme parks or exhibitions dedicated to the Mario universe, such as Super Nintendo World, Nintendo Live, or The Art of Super Mario Odyssey.
And if you're feeling brave, you can participate in some of the online communities or forums dedicated to the Mario universe, such as Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, or Discord. There you can share your opinions, experiences, fan art, fan fiction, or memes on the topic.
Conclusion
The 2023 Super Mario Bros. movie is a computer-animated adaptation of the famous Nintendo video game franchise. It's worth noting that it has its strengths and weaknesses, but overall, it's an entertaining and fun film for fans and general audiences alike.
Its commercial success has been such that it has led to a sequel planned for 2025. The Mario universe is rich and varied, offering many options for enjoying it in different media and formats.
We hope this summary and analysis has helped you better understand the 2023 Super Mario Bros. movie and the Mario universe in general. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with your friends or leave us a comment with your thoughts.
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