The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a 2023 American computer-animated adventure comedy movie. It was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. It was produced by Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto.
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | |
| Produced by | |
| Screenplay by | Matthew Fogel |
| Based on | Mario by Nintendo |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Brian Tyler (score) Tom Holkenborg (score) Koji Kondo (themes) |
| Edited by | Claire Dodgson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country |  United States Japan |
| Budget | $100 million |
| Box office | $1,023,241,390 |
The movie was released in the United States and United Kingdom on April 5, 2023 by Universal Pictures. It received mixed reviews from critics, while reviews from the audience were mostly positive.
Plot
In Brooklyn, New York, Italian-American brothers Mario and Luigi have started a plumbing business. Their former boss, Spike, makes fun of them, while their dad does not approve this. Later in the news, there is a big water leak, and Mario and Luigi try to fix it, but they are sucked into a Warp Pipe and separated.
Mario arrives in the Mushroom Kingdom, ruled by Princess Peach, and Luigi arrives in the Dark Lands, ruled by Bowser. Bowser wants to marry Peach and says he will destroy the Mushroom Kingdom with a Super Star if she says no. Luigi is captured by Bowser, who sees Mario as an enemy for his love of Peach. Later, Mario meets Toad, who brings him to Peach. Peach seeks to join forces with the Kongs, a group of apes, to stop Bowser, bringing Mario and Toad with her. Arriving at the Jungle Kingdom, the ruler, Cranky Kong, agrees to help Peach, but only if Mario defeats his son, Donkey Kong, in a fight. Mario is able to defeat Donkey Kong with a Cat Suit.
Afterwards, Mario, Peach, Toad, and the Kongs use karts to drive back to the Mushroom Kingdom, but are attacked by Bowser's army on Rainbow Road. In the battle, a blue-shelled Koopa General destroys part of the road, causing Mario and Donkey Kong to fall into the ocean while the other Kongs are captured. Peach and Toad survive and return to the Mushroom Kingdom to warn its people to leave. Next, Bowser soon arrives at the kingdom in his flying castle and proposes to Peach, who accepts hesitantly after Toad is tortured. Meanwhile, Mario and Donkey Kong had survived the fall, but are swallowed by an eel-like Maw-Ray. After coming to an understanding with one another since both want their dads to respect them, the two escape the Maw-Ray by using a rocket and head to Bowser and Peach's wedding.
At the wedding, Bowser plans to kill his prisoners by dropping them in lava. Toad is able to sneak an Ice Flower into's Peach's flowers, which she uses to freeze Bowser. Mario and Donkey Kong arrive, freeing the prisoners and Luigi. Angry, Bowser frees himself, and orders a Bomber Bill to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario is able to lead the Bomber Bill into the Warp Pipe, where it explodes and creates a vacuum that sucks everyone and Bowser's castle to Brooklyn. Back in Brooklyn, Mario and Luigi fight Bowser and are able to get the Super Star, which makes them invincible, and they defeat the Koopas. Bowser is then shrunk by Peach with a Blue Mushroom and is imprisoned. The people of Brooklyn celebrate Mario and Luigi as heroes, including their parents and Spike. At the end, the brothers now live in the Mushroom Kingdom.
Voice cast
- Chris Pratt as Mario, a struggling Italian-American plumber from Brooklyn, New York, who is accidentally transported to the world of the Mushroom Kingdom and embarks on a quest to save his brother.
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario's mentor and love interest, who entered the world of the Mushroom Kingdom as an infant and was raised by the Toads.
- Charlie Day as Luigi, Mario's timid younger fraternal brother and fellow plumber, who is captured by Bowser and his army.
- Jack Black as Bowser, an anthropomorphic dragon-turtle hybrid and the King of the Koopas, who rules the Dark Lands, steals a powerful Super Star, and plots to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom by marrying Peach.
- Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, a Mushroom Kingdom resident whose species is also named Toad, who aspires to go on his first real adventure.
- Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, an anthropomorphic necktie-wearing gorilla and heir to the throne of the Jungle Kingdom.
- Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, an elderly anthropomorphic gorilla, the ruler of the Jungle Kingdom, and Donkey Kong's father.
- Sebastian Maniscalco as Foreman Spike, Mario and Luigi's antagonistic former boss from the Wrecking Crew.
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek, a Koopa sorcerer and Bowser's advisor and informant.
- Eric Bauza as Diddy Kong, an anthropomorphic cap-wearing monkey and Donkey Kong's cousin.
- Scott Menville as Koopa General, the winged, blue-shelled leader of Bowser's army.
- Charles Martinet as Papa, Mario and Luigi's father
- Jessica DiCicco as Mama, Mario and Luigi's mother
Marketing
On September 23, 2021, a teaser poster was released following the cast announcement. On October 4, 2022, another teaser poster was released featuring Mario in the Mushroom Kingdom. On October 6, 2022, a teaser trailer was released. The teaser shows Bowser and Kamek fighting penguins, Mario arriving in the Mushroom Kingdom, and Luigi being chased by Dry Bones. Black and Key were praised for their roles as Bowser and Toad while Pratt was heavily criticized for sounding too similar to his regular voice. On November 28, 2022, another teaser poster featuring Peach's Castle was released. The next day, a trailer was released online. The trailer shows Mario losing a fight to Donkey Kong, Peach rallying the Toads for a battle against Bowser, who is seemed to have kidnapped Luigi, Mario training on a Super Mario-themed course, and many characters racing on Rainbow Road. During the 2022 Game Awards, a clip was released. The clip features Toad showing Mario around the Mushroom Kingdom. Pratt's performance in the clip seemed to get better. On January 29, 2023, a new ad was released. The ad features Cat Mario and Rogen's voice for Donkey Kong. On February 3, 2023, an official poster for the film was released featuring the Rainbow Road track from the second trailer, the cast of characters, Peach's Castle, and the Dark Lands. 3 days later, a promo for the film featuring Mario constantly going through the pipes was released on the film's Twitter account. More new posters featuring Mario, Luigi, and Peach were released the following days before an ad for the Super Mario Bros. Plumbing company was released on February 12, followed by more new posters featuring Bowser, Donkey Kong, and Toad.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Media
Directors Aaron Horvath (left) and Michael Jelenic (right)
A bus advertising the film in London
