Ever since Nintendo’s announcement of the film in 2018, fanatics around the world have eagerly awaited the release of the latest installment in the Super Mario video game franchise, The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The film has been in the works for several years and has been the topic of much discussion and speculation among fans of the popular franchise and for the most part, the plot of the movie had been kept under wraps during production until it finally hit theaters on April 5th. So, was this newest addition to the Mario universe worth the wait?

The plot follows an origin tale of the Italian-American plumber brothers Mario and Luigi, who are taken to a different universe and get entangled in a conflict between the Koopas, commanded by Bowser, and the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach. With just a 122-minute runtime, The Super Mario Bros. Movie offers plenty of fun for both loyal Super Mario aficionados or just the casual viewer. But for the former, the movie has plenty of nostalgic Mario references that will appease all of their desires. Junior at Ramapo Nick Stathakis agrees, remarking, “I thought they did a great job with the new Mario movie. It was extremely lighthearted but still enjoyable throughout.” 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie was produced by Illumination, the studio behind popular animated movies like Despicable Me, Minions, and The Secret Life of Pets. The film was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, who previously worked together on the hit animated TV show Teen Titans Go! Shigeru Miyamoto, the original creator of the Mario franchise, also served as a producer on the project (universalpictures.com). 

One of the most exciting aspects of the movie is the star-studded voice cast. Chris Pratt, who is best known for his roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, will voice Mario. The role of his brother Luigi will be played by Charlie Day, who is known for his work on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Other A-list cast members include Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad.

Upon release, critics gave the movie mixed reviews while viewers responded more favorably (59% critic score and 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes). It broke records at the box office for the largest worldwide opening weekend for an animated picture and the highest-grossing film based on a video game, earning over $876.4 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie so far in 2023 (deadline.com). Mathematics teacher Mr. Park was amazed at the movie’s box office success. “It’s crazy how much money the movie has already made. It really goes to show you just how massive Nintendo and the whole Super Mario franchise is worldwide,” he commented. 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is not The Godfather, but it isn’t trying to be. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and is overall a fun and charming animated adventure that is well worth the watch. Visit your local cinema now!