super mario bros movie reviews

‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Review: It’s-a Everything You Could Hope for From a Mario Movie

Starring Chris Pratt, Charlie Day & Jack Black, 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' brings Nintendo's iconic characters to the movies in a satisfying way.

Nearly thirty years ago, Nintendo made their first attempt at bringing their most iconic character to the movies with Super Mario Bros. , an unusual, gritty, and vaguely surrealistic take on the plumbing brothers Mario and Luigi as they made the journey from New York City to the Mushroom Kingdom. While the film is nowhere near as terrible as its reputation has led us to believe, the failure of that film caused Nintendo to be far more guarded about their properties, holding an iron grip on the rights to these video game characters for decades. Until now. If 1993’s Super Mario Bros. was a strange envisioning of what this video game world would look like, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the exact opposite: a colorful adventure brimming with references, a joyous celebration of this franchise’s history and the history of early Nintendo, and one of the best kids films in recent years.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie introduces us to Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt ) and Luigi ( Charlie Day ), two brothers in Brooklyn who are attempting to start their own plumbing business. Despite their family and others not having faith in the brothers, they’re optimistic in their venture, knowing that if they have each other, everything will be okay. After a plumbing incident threatens to leave Brooklyn covered in water, the brothers hit the sewers to try and fix the leak and make a name for themselves. But instead, Mario and Luigi end up in the Mushroom Kingdom, separated from each other during a dangerous time for the strange land.

Bowser ( Jack Black ) has gained a Super Star, which makes him invincible, and with this new power, he plans on heading to the Mushroom Kingdom with the plan of proposing to Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ), so the two can rule the kingdoms together. With the help of a bold Toad ( Keegan-Michael Key ), Mario meets Peach, who is readying to fight back against Bowser, as Mario attempts to find his brother, who has become caught in Bowser’s grasp.

RELATED: First 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' Reactions Call It Delightful, Easter Egg-Filled, a Love Letter to the Games

From the very beginning, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is bursting with love for this series that many of us have grown up with. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is made by filmmakers who have excelled at this type of animated films that become almost like open playgrounds, as co-director Aaron Horvath (alongside Michael Jelenic ) also co-directed 2018’s Teen Titans Go! To the Movies , while writer Matt Vogel also wrote The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part . Obviously, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in many ways a feature-length advertisement for Nintendo as a brand. However, Jelenic, Horvath, and Vogel make this feel more like a labor of love, as they’ve been given the keys to the (Mushroom) kingdom, and are allowed to go all-in with what any fan would want to see in a film like this. In many ways, The Super Mario Bros. Movie reminds of Wreck-It Ralph and the glee that came from seeing these characters on screen.

It’s also impressive how much The Super Mario Bros. Movie is able to fit into this narrative, from making the 1984 video game Wrecking Crew part of Mario’s story, referencing nearly every Mario game since the character’s creation, and even bringing the entire Donkey Kong crew into the mix (including the brilliant choice of having Seth Rogen as the voice of Donkey Kong) without feeling shoehorned in. It’s hard to imagine a film attempting to put as much into The Super Mario Bros. Movie as this film does, without making it feel overwhelmingly stuffed, while also doing the narrative justice in a way that doesn’t just feel like a reference-fest. Vogel is asked to juggle an insane amount of elements here, and yet, he’s able to make all these parts come together in a satisfying way.

Also bringing this world to life is a strong voice cast that are perfect fits for these classic characters. Sorry to disappoint, but Pratt is a good choice for Mario, finding just the right amount of inflection for the character and without sounding like little more than a collection of the character’s famous lines. Charlie Day is also an excellent choice for Mario’s nervous brother, Luigi, yet the character, unfortunately, doesn’t have enough to do—especially once he’s captured by Bowser early on. The same goes for Keegan-Michael Key’s Toad, who is along for the adventure, but rarely adds much to the proceedings. Seth Rogen is also brilliant as Donkey Kong, as he’s basically just presented as “what if Donkey Kong sounded exactly like Seth Rogen, including his laugh?” But the real standout here is Jack Black as Bowser. His penchant for the grandiose makes him the perfect choice for the character. He can be big and intimidating, but he can also sing love songs dedicated to Peach without it seeming out of character. To be fair, there’s not a lot of nuance to these characters, but Black’s performance makes Bowser more than just a villain to be toppled.

As you might be able to tell, I’m a huge fan of Mario and these characters, and some of my earliest memories are of playing these games. Like many people over the last few decades, I have grown up with Mario and Nintendo, and for fans, this feels like the film that they wished the 1993 film would’ve been. It’s great to see Illumination knock this out of the park, because it truly seems like without this film working, it might be another 30 years before Nintendo even attempted another movie. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a jubilant celebration of Mario’s legacy and shows just how much there is to explore in these video game worlds. For 100-minutes straight, I had a smile on my face throughout The Super Mario Bros. Movie .

But what about the viewers who didn’t grow up with Mario, who aren’t going into this animated adventure already primed to love this world? The Super Mario Bros. Movie might be a little light on plot and character development for the uninitiated, but it makes up for it with bright, fun worlds, surprisingly solid jokes, and a charm that rivals Illumination’s previous films. But considering the source material, it is sort of wonderful how much plot and character The Super Mario Bros. Movie is able to deliver on, and while this experience might not be ideal for those who aren’t already familiar with this character, the humor and the vibrant worlds should be enough to make this an enjoyable experience.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie isn’t perfect, but as a kid who grew up watching The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and Super Mario Bros ., hoping that they’d one day get this character right in a different medium, this is sort of a dream come true of a film. The Super Mario Bros. Movie captures the spirit of the games, the deep history, and the incredible possibilities that these games have presented for decades, all in one of the most fun animated films in years, with a team behind it that you can feel loves these characters and this world.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie comes to theaters on April 5.

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie Reviews

Is The Super Mario Bros. Movie a great film? No. Is it worth going to see? Yes. Younger gamers will embrace it but older gamers maybe looking for a little more of a plot.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 22, 2023

Scientifically designed in a lab for the broadest possible appeal and the least offense that could possibly be made.

Full Review | Dec 19, 2023

I would have liked a story, but loosely connected action set-pieces within Nintendo's sprawling Mario-adjacent universe is still fun. This is an advertisement for new generations to board the bandwagon.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Dec 8, 2023

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a homage to the most relevant Nintendo saga... [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 29, 2023

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a DREAM COME TRUE for lifelong Nintendo fans and PERFECT DOWN TO THE LAST PIXEL. With gorgeous animation and unforgettable music, Nintendo and Illumination have made a delightful family film filled with heart.

Full Review | Sep 20, 2023

Its action, color, and silliness will appeal to kids while adult fans of the franchise will enjoy all the nostalgic connotations. It manages to tell a coherent, albeit forgettable, story with ample charm, thrills, and humor.

Full Review | Aug 23, 2023

Simple but effective for anyone who grew up with Mario in their lives.

Full Review | Aug 16, 2023

It is obvious that in an effort to appeal to a wide demographic, the movie fails on all counts because of a weak script, an over dependence on elements lifted directly from the video game and several voice casting mistakes.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Aug 8, 2023

Packed with fantastic references that will warm the hearts of those who lived and still live with Nintendo and Mario up close. Along with energetic action, dazzling animation and world-building, and iconic music.

Full Review | Original Score: A- | Jul 25, 2023

If folks grew up playing the games (or still do), and already treasure everything Mario, this is a must-see movie. For everyone else, the mileage in their kart will vary.

Full Review | Jul 25, 2023

PHENOMENAL ANIMATION! Short & Simple (too short if I’m honest) Chris Pratt is honestly PERFECT as MARIO (yes I’m as shocked as you) Jack Black might steal the show as BOWSER. But Brian Tyler’s SCORE is so GOOD

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jul 22, 2023

A rather forgettable affair.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Jul 11, 2023

This fun, visually gorgeous adaptation does the world's most famous plumber justice.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 8, 2023

The voice cast did a good job and the movie has some colorful, eye-popping visuals but overall it's pretty forgettable.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 3, 2023

This second big-screen adaptation of the popular video game series (after the ill-fated 1993 film) is vibrantly colored, speedily-paced (and not too long), and pleasantly diverting, if rather unremarkable in the long run.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 1, 2023

Harmless and charmless.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 27, 2023

Overall, The Super Mario Bros. Movie feels aimed squarely at kids and fans driven by nostalgia and fan service. Too desperate to pack in game references, too frenetic and too amped up; the film operates at a 10 the whole time. Not bad, just not for me

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jun 13, 2023

If you are a parent or guardian dragged to see The Super Mario Bros. Movie, be like Lumalee and abandon yourself to a nightmarish experience.

Full Review | Jun 3, 2023

Sometimes I get the feeling that the adventure of Mario and Luigi never goes beyond the routine level. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | May 24, 2023

A harmless, generic blur of kid’s 'content'.

Full Review | May 23, 2023

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.