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The Super Mario Bros. Movie is Illumination and Nintendo’s 2023 animated adventure, and it’s a bright, joyful love letter to Nintendo fans despite a thin story. Few movies have leaned into nostalgia as happily: it packs in decades of game references, and audiences turned it into one of the biggest animated films ever. This Super Mario Bros. Movie review looks at the story, the voice cast, the Easter eggs, how it compares with its 2026 sequel, and where to stream it now.
Quick verdict: The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a bright, fast, and joyful love letter to Nintendo fans. The story is thin and the pacing feels rushed, but the animation is gorgeous, Jack Black’s Bowser steals the show, and kids and longtime players alike will grin all the way through. Check The Super Mario Bros. Movie price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- What it is: Illumination and Nintendo’s 2023 animated film, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, and Jack Black voicing the leads.
- Where to watch: Peacock in the US as of 2026, or rent or buy it digitally. Streaming windows change, so check before you watch.
- Critic scores: A 59% Tomatometer and 95% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes, as reported in March 2026.
- Main weaknesses: A thin, predictable story and rushed pacing across its 92-minute runtime.
- Sequel: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opened on April 1, 2026, and passed $1 billion worldwide.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie at a glance
| Detail | The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) |
|---|---|
| US release date | April 5, 2023 (Universal Pictures) |
| Where to watch now | Peacock in the US as of 2026; rent or buy digitally |
| Directors | Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic |
| Screenplay | Matthew Fogel |
| Studios | Illumination and Nintendo |
| Voice cast | Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen |
| Runtime | 92 minutes |
| Rating | PG from the Motion Picture Association (MPA) |
| Budget and box office | About $100 million budget; about $1.36 billion worldwide |
| Critic scores | 59% Tomatometer and 95% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes (as reported in March 2026) |
Sources: Box Office Watch, CosmicBook News, and Peacock. Streaming windows change, so check before you watch.
What is The Super Mario Bros. Movie about?
Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are brothers who just launched a struggling plumbing business in Brooklyn. While trying to fix a burst water main, they get pulled into a mysterious green pipe and separated. Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom, where Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) rules, while Luigi ends up in the Dark Lands, the domain of the fire-breathing Bowser (Jack Black).
Bowser has a plan to conquer the kingdom and marry Peach, so Mario teams up with Peach and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) to stop him and rescue his brother. Their journey takes them to the Jungle Kingdom and Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen), and to a kart race that any Mario Kart player will recognize instantly. We’ll stop there to avoid spoilers.
Animation and Easter eggs
Illumination nails the look. The Mushroom Kingdom bursts with color, and the film translates the games’ designs into crisp, modern animation without losing the charm Shigeru Miyamoto created decades ago. The story borrows from across the series: the 3D adventures of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Odyssey, the classic side-scrolling stages, the power-ups, and Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road.
Longtime fans will spot countless references, from music cues to background gags. Brian Tyler’s score weaves in Koji Kondo’s famous game themes, and that soundtrack does a lot of the nostalgic heavy lifting. If you grew up with a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the 1980s or a Nintendo 64 in the 1990s, the opening minutes alone will hit hard.
The voice cast
- Jack Black as Bowser: The clear standout. Black makes Bowser menacing and hilarious, and his power ballad “Peaches” became a viral hit that earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. The film received three Golden Globe nominations in total.
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach: This Peach is a capable leader who trains Mario rather than waiting to be rescued, a welcome update to the character.
- Chris Pratt as Mario: Pratt’s casting drew skepticism, but his everyman take works fine, and the movie nods to the classic accent in a quick joke.
- Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key, and Seth Rogen: Day’s nervous Luigi, Key’s peppy Toad, and Rogen’s boastful Donkey Kong round out a fun ensemble.
Where it falls short
At 92 minutes, the movie races from set piece to set piece. Character moments get little room to breathe, and the plot rarely surprises. Critics noticed: the film landed a 59% Tomatometer, while audiences gave it 95%. That gap tells you who this movie is for. If you want a story with real depth, look elsewhere. If you want to see the games come alive, it delivers.
It also has nothing in common with the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. film beyond the Brooklyn setup, which most fans will consider a good thing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Gorgeous, colorful animation
- Jack Black’s scene-stealing Bowser
- Packed with references for longtime fans
- A stronger, more active Princess Peach
- Short and family friendly
Cons
- A thin, predictable story
- Rushed pacing
- Little emotional depth
- Less rewarding if you don’t know the games
The sequel: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
Universal released The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on April 1, 2026, with Horvath and Jelenic back as directors and the main cast returning. Inspired by the Super Mario Galaxy games, it sends the heroes into space and adds Donald Glover as Yoshi, Brie Larson as Rosalina, Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., and Glen Powell as Fox McCloud from the Star Fox series.
Critics liked it even less than the first film. It sat at a 42% Tomatometer from 219 reviews with an 88% Popcornmeter in June 2026, according to Resonate, and many reviewers called it all spectacle and little story. Audiences didn’t care: it opened to $372.5 million worldwide, according to the Associated Press, and in June it became the first 2026 release to pass $1 billion globally. It started streaming on Peacock on July 30, 2026, and What’s on Netflix reports it moves to Netflix in the US on November 30, 2026. An end-credits scene teases Princess Daisy, though Nintendo and Illumination haven’t confirmed a third film.
Games to play after the movie
The movies make a great gateway into the games. On Nintendo Switch, Super Mario Bros. Wonder offers fresh side-scrolling fun for families, while Super Mario Odyssey captures the movie’s globe-trotting 3D adventure. Nintendo also released Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 for Switch on October 2, 2025, the perfect companion to the sequel. Switch 2 owners can race with Mario Kart World. Our unique gifts for gamers guide has more ideas for Nintendo fans.
Shop related picks on Amazon
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries both Mario movies, the games that inspired them, and gear for a family movie night.
| Product | Format | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 4K Ultra High Definition, Blu-ray, or digital | Owning the original | Check price |
| The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Blu-ray or digital | Watching the sequel at home | Check price |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Nintendo Switch game | Family co-op play | Check price |
| Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Nintendo Switch game | Playing the sequel’s source material | Check price |
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 game | Recreating the movie’s kart race | Check price |
| Roku Streaming Stick 4K | Streaming stick | Streaming Peacock and Netflix | Check price |
- The soundtrack: Brian Tyler’s score and “Peaches” are fun for car rides with kids. Find the soundtrack on Amazon.
- A projector: A big wall image turns a family viewing into an event. See our Philips PPX4010 projector review or browse projectors on Amazon.
Who should watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
Watch it if you grew up with Nintendo, if you have kids who love the games, or if you want a breezy, feel-good animated movie. Skip it if you need a rich story or have no connection to the games, since much of the fun comes from recognizing what’s on screen. Looking for something darker for older viewers? Read our M3GAN review.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I stream The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie streams on Peacock in the US as of 2026, after earlier runs on Peacock and Netflix. You can also rent or buy it digitally.
Is The Super Mario Bros. Movie good for kids?
Yes, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is good for kids. It’s rated PG, runs just 92 minutes, and contains only mild cartoon action.
Is there a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
Yes, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It opened on April 1, 2026, and passed $1 billion worldwide.
Who voices Bowser?
Jack Black voices Bowser and performs the song “Peaches.”
Final verdict
The Super Mario Bros. Movie couldn’t be more nostalgic, and that’s exactly the point. It isn’t deep, but it’s a colorful, funny, and lovingly made tribute that works for both kids and the adults who grew up with a controller in hand. We rate it 4 out of 5 stars. Check The Super Mario Bros. Movie price on Amazon.