The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a 2023 animated comedy directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, starring Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day and Keegan-Michael Key. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $1.36 billion worldwide on a $100 million budget. It earned 6 award nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language at the Golden Globes 2024. Critics gave it 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Directors
- Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $100M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is The Super Mario Bros. Movie About?
The premise of The Super Mario Bros. Movie without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Two brothers, Mario and Luigi, are transported through a magical pipe to a vibrant and unusual world. Separated during their arrival, Mario sets out on a perilous quest to find and rescue his brother. Along the way, he joins forces with the resourceful Toad and the courageous Princess Peach. Facing dangerous enemies and challenging obstacles, Mario must tap into his hidden abilities to save Luigi and find a way back home.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- based on video game
- princess
- super mario character
- talking gorilla
- talking penguin
- princess peach character
- castle
- evil
- nintendo
- brother brother relationship
- mushroom
- donkey kong character
+38 more Show fewer
- toad character
- unlikely hero
- rainbow road
- koopa troopa
- rainbow
- diddy kong character
- dixie kong character
- piranha plant
- sibling relationship
- older brother younger brother relationship
- brooklyn new york city
- shrinking in size
- talking turtle
- anthropomorphic gorilla
- blue collar worker
- anthropomorphic turtle
- trapped in a cage
- nintendo cinematic universe
- alternate world
- anthropomorphic penguin
- turtle
- new york city
- fictional kingdom
- manhole
- another world
- surprise during end credits
- surprise after end credits
- alternate universe
- banana peel
- 1980s music
- younger version of character
- alternate dimension
- plumber
- cgi animation
- computer animation
- 3d animation
- luigi mario character
- bowser a.k.a. king koopa character
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Cast & Characters
Chris Pratt leads the cast as Mario, with Charlie Day as Luigi and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Aaron Horvath
- Co-director Michael Jelenic
-
Chris Pratt as Mario -
Charlie Day as Luigi -
Keegan-Michael Key as Toad -
Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
Also Starring in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
· 6 more- Kevin Michael Richardson Kamek
- Jack Black Bowser
- Sebastian Maniscalco Spike
- Charles Martinet Mario's Dad, Giuseppe
- Fred Armisen Cranky Kong
- Seth Rogen Donkey Kong
More from Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
More films directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, best-rated first: Teen Titans Go! To the Movies and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Super Mario Bros. Movie 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in rewatch factor (85) and weakest in story & flow (55).
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Echo Score Breakdown
The Super Mario Bros. Movie delivers a vibrant visual experience that satisfies many fans, yet its narrative depth remains limited. Critics acknowledge the bright, faithful animation while noting a thin plot and occasional tonal inconsistency. Audience responses skew positive, especially among franchise enthusiasts who appreciate the faithful character designs and playful tone. Consequently, the film is best regarded as an entertaining family entry with strong aesthetic appeal but modest storytelling substance.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 82
In terms of art and craft, the film excels with a vivid color palette and detailed animation that closely mirrors the source game. Critics highlight the bright, busy visuals, and users praise the flawless CGI and faithful world design. Some note occasional loudness, but overall the production values are regarded as a primary strength that enhances the viewing experience.
- Character & Emotion 70
When evaluating character and emotion, performances receive mixed appraisals. Fans value the enthusiasm of the cast and the faithful recreation of iconic personalities, while several critics find the voice work uneven, particularly citing Chris Pratt and Seth Rogen. The emotional resonance is modest, offering enjoyable moments for enthusiasts without delivering deep character development.
- Story & Flow 55
The story and flow are described as predictable and perfunctory by many reviewers. Critics emphasize a lazy, thin plot that serves primarily as a vehicle for fan service. User comments acknowledge the predictability but consider it acceptable for a light‑hearted family fare. Overall, narrative ambition is limited, resulting in an average score for this aspect.
- Sensory Experience 78
Sensory experience receives positive feedback for its energetic soundtrack and cohesive visual style. Critics note the bright, colorful presentation, and users commend the high‑quality CGI and animation detail. While some describe the sound as loud, the overall auditory and visual cohesion contributes strongly to the film’s entertainment value.
- Rewatch Factor 85
Rewatch factor is high, driven by fan enthusiasm and repeat viewings. Multiple user reviews mention watching the movie several times and still finding enjoyment, especially in the nostalgic references and playful moments. Critics suggest limited appeal beyond fans, but the lasting appeal for the target audience translates into a strong replay value.
-
IMDb 7.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 58% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 95%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 46 Metascore
User score 8.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 76% User score
See on TMDB -
Movie Insider 4.2 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Super Mario Bros. Movie from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The story begins in an icy realm inhabited by blue penguins, where a formidable ship belonging to the Koopas descends from the skies. Upon landing, the Koopa army emerges to confront the defenseless penguins. Suddenly, Kamek (Kevin Michael Richardson) steps forward to introduce their malevolent king, Bowser (Jack Black). As the penguins make a feeble attempt to defend themselves, Kamek uses his sorcery to cast them aside effortlessly, just before Bowser unleashes his fiery breath to obliterate the penguins’ icy home. The villainous Bowser then approaches a question mark box, smashing it open to reveal the coveted Super Star. He arrogantly declares that no one can stand in his way.
Full summary
The whole story of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Box Office & Budget
The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed $1.36 billion worldwide on a $100 million budget, 14 times what it cost. $574.9 million came from the US and Canada and $785.8 million (58%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1.4B
14× its budget
- US & Canada
- $574.9M
- International
- $785.8M
- Budget
- $100M
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Awards & Nominations
The Super Mario Bros. Movie earned 6 award nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language at the Golden Globes 2024. The 6 nominations come from 4 ceremonies, the most at the Golden Globes 2024.
6 nominations4 ceremonies
-
Golden Globes 2024 3 nominations- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
- Nominated Best Original Song
- Nominated Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
-
Critics' Choice 2024 1 nomination- Nominated Best Song
-
Saturn Awards 2024 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Film
-
Critics' Choice 2023 1 nomination- Nominated Best Comedy
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Trailers & Videos
61 videos: 3 trailers, 15 teasers, 5 clips, 24 featurettes and 14 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer Official Trailer
- Trailer Final Trailer
- Teaser TV Spot 38
- Teaser TV Spot 52
How Well Do You Know The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who leads the Koopa army in their invasion?
Cars in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
2 cars on screen: the 1985 Chevrolet Astro and the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT.
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1985 Chevrolet Astro Background role -
2018 Dodge Durango SRT Background role
Seen The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
Movies Like The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Brothers: Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach and Stupid Mario Brothers: The Movie.
-
Super Mario Bros. 1993 -
Super Mario Brothers: Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach 1986 -
Stupid Mario Brothers: The Movie 2009 -
Super Mario vs. Son Goku 1995 -
Super Mario’s Fire Brigade 1989 -
Mario 1984 -
The Boss Baby 2017 -
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 2004 -
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run 2021 -
Super Mouse and the Roborats 1989 -
Smurfs 2025 -
Shrek 2001
Articles About The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Our article about The Super Mario Bros. Movie: “The Journey of Adaptations: From Video Games to Movies”.
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Remakes
The Super Mario Bros. Movie FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was The Super Mario Bros. Movie released?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was released on April 5, 2023.
Who directed The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic.
More films by Aaron Horvath Who is in the cast of The Super Mario Bros. Movie?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie stars Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Super Mario Bros. Movie make at the box office?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed $1.36 billion worldwide ($574.9 million domestic, $785.8 million international) on a budget of $100 million.
How is The Super Mario Bros. Movie rated?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, 46 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.
Was The Super Mario Bros. Movie nominated for any awards?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie received 6 nominations across 4 ceremonies.
Does The Super Mario Bros. Movie have a post-credit scene?
Yes. The Super Mario Bros. Movie has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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