The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Cast View all

	Kevin Michael Richardson	Kamek
	Jack Black	Bowser
	Khary Payton	Penguin King
	Chris Pratt	Mario
	Charlie Day	Luigi
	Charles Martinet	Mario's Dad
	Sebastian Maniscalco	Spike
	Rino Romano	Uncle Tony
	John Di Maggio	Uncle Arthur
	Jessica Di Cicco	Mario's Mom
	Keegan-Michael Key	Toad
	Eric Bauza	Toad General
	Anya Taylor-Joy	Princess Peach
	Fred Armisen	Cranky Kong
	Seth Rogen	Donkey Kong
	Juliet Jelenic	Lumalee
	Scott Menville	Koopa General
	Carlos Alazraqui	Additional Voices
	Jason Broad	Additional Voices
	Ashly Burch	Additional Voices
	Rachel Butera	Additional Voices
	Cathy Cavadini	Additional Voices
	Will Collyer	Additional Voices
	Django Craig	Additional Voices
	Willow Geer	Additional Voices

Crew View all

Director	Aaron Horvath
	Michael Jelenic
Pierre Leduc
Fabien Polack
Writer	Matthew Fogel
Producer	Christelle Balcon, Yusuke Beppu, Brett Hoffman, Kelly Lake, Christopher Meledandri, Shigeru Miyamoto, Bill Ryan, Robert Taylor
Musician	Koji Kondo, Brian Tyler

Trailer

Edition details

Personal

Notes

My quick rating - 6.7/10. I figured that The Super Mario Bros. Movie would be one of those adaptations that is either completely full of nostalgia magic or a complete flaming blue shell disaster. It is surprising to me, however, that it did not induce me to throw my remote control (or, for the gamers in the room, the controller) at the wall, yet it is a fun ride through the Mushroom Kingdom. It starts off with the usual Brooklyn fare, with Mario and Luigi being two plumbers trying to pay the bills and maybe unclog a pipe or two without being roasted on social media. Of course, they get sucked into the magical realm because, let’s be honest, plumbing is a pretty dangerous job.

Once the brothers fall down the pipe (you know the one), The Super Mario Bros. Movie shifts into an energetic, colorful sprint as Mario and Luigi get separated. A classic move, but it works because Chris Pratt and Charlie Day bring an unexpected bond to their brotherly chaos. Their chemistry sells the entire backbone of the film. Even the early backlash over Pratt’s casting fades fast as he settles into Mario’s overalls surprisingly well. Charlie Day’s Luigi, meanwhile, is so perfectly anxious he could probably power a whole Luigi’s Mansion game just with his nerves.

The supporting cast is a riot, especially Anya Taylor-Joy’s Princess Peach, who is way more capable than any 80s cartridge ever allowed, and Keegan-Michael Key’s Toad, who steals scenes like he’s competing in a speedrun. And yes, Bowser is here. And yes, Jack Black sings. But hot take? Bowser didn’t fully steal the show for me. Maybe that’s blasphemy, but for a character whose boss battles can ruin childhood friendships, he felt a little too soft around the edges this time.

Visually, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a power-up in itself. The vibrant animation brings every corner of the Mushroom Kingdom to life, from the soaring platforms to the familiar enemies to the “I definitely died here as a kid” landscapes. The directing trio - Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc - pack in easter eggs with the precision of someone who’s memorized every warp zone. It’s delightful for us gamers, though if you’re sitting next to a hardcore Nintendo fan, prepare for an elbow in the ribs every 30 seconds as they whisper, “THAT’S FROM MARIO 3.”

Sure, there are some pacing issues here and there, and some of the jokes fall flatter than a failed triple jump attempt, but nothing here keeps The Super Mario Bros. Movie from being a fun time. It’s a film that has a little something for all, whether you’ve been a Mario fan since the days of NES or you just want a fun, lighthearted film for movie night. All in all, it’s a charming, colorful film that’s fun for families and proves that video game movies don't need to be dropped in a random cartridge landfill.

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