The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is an animated movie produced by Nintendo in collaboration with and Illumination, co-produced by Mario franchise creator Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination co-founder. It was first announced during a financial briefing on January 31, 2018, and is scheduled for theatrical release on April 7, 2023 in North America, April 28, 2023 in Japan, and various other dates in spring 2023 in the rest of the world. It is the third feature film to be based on Mario, following the Japan-only animated film Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen! (1986) and the largely unsuccessful Super Mario Bros. live-action film (1993). The film's plot focuses on Mario, Princess Peach, Toad, and others as they venture to stop Bowser from taking over the world.

A teaser trailer for the film was broadcasted in the form of a Nintendo Direct presentation online and at on October 6, 2022 at 16:00 ET. A second trailer was released in a dedicated Nintendo Direct on November 29, 2022 at 17:00 ET. An official clip and commercial were revealed at.

Production
Reports on the supposed existence of the film circulated as early as November 2017;  Nintendo's then-president, Tatsumi Kimishima, stated in January 2018 that a deal had not been finalized, but that an announcement would come soon. By the end of January 2018, Nintendo affirmed that the film would indeed be moving forward.

Several days after the deal was made, Miyamoto explained why Illumination was chosen for the project over other animation companies, saying he has been interested in producing an animated film for quite some time, and contrary to popular belief, making a movie and making a game are completely different procedures. Miyamoto wanted someone with experience in the film industry to co-produce the film, and after talking with numerous directors and producers, he was introduced to Illumination through, with whom Nintendo was making a theme park. Miyamoto also stated that when he began talks with Meledandri, the latter read numerous interviews about him and felt that they had a similar approach in creation. Miyamoto described Meledandri as having experience in the field of animation beyond Illumination, being executive producer of  and other animated projects for, as well as being "extremely cost-conscious and time-conscious in his quest to make successful movies." Miyamoto also mentioned that Nintendo and Illumination had mutually agreed to call the deal off if neither company could think of an interesting premise, but also noted that the screenplay had been hashed out a number of times and discussions were in progression, hoping to provide more information once the schedule had been ironed out. Miyamoto would later state in early 2020 that the idea for the film came from bringing Nintendo's legacy content to services such as the Virtual Console; such transitions took time for the company, and Miyamoto viewed that as an opportunity to develop Nintendo's content business even further by combining its long-beloved software with video assets.

On November 6, 2018, Meledandri said that he was glad the 1993 film Super Mario Bros. was not well-received, citing the primary reason being that the producers did not involve Nintendo, whereas Illumination was "embracing" Miyamoto and keeping him "front and center" in the film's creation. He said that Illumination's Mario film was in "priority development," and hoped to release the film by 2022. Meledandri also noted that developing a Mario film is "an ambitious task," citing the challenge of adding depth to Mario that would simultaneously compromise generations of fans and feel organic to his iconography as well as supporting a three-act structure. By February 1, 2019, production of the film had formally begun; according to Nintendo, the funds for the production process were being jointly supplied by it and Universal.

Before details on the film's cast were formally announced, Sebastian Maniscalco offhandedly mentioned in a YouTube podcast uploaded on August 5, 2021 that he would be voicing the character Spike from the 1985 game Wrecking Crew, portrayed in the movie as "[the brothers'] boss."

The September 23, 2021 Nintendo Direct presentation featured an appearance from Shigeru Miyamoto announcing the movie as being scheduled for release in the 2022 holiday season (with a planned release date of December 21, 2022 in North America) and revealing its cast list. On the same day, the press release also announced Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic as directors, with Matthew Fogel writing the screenplay. On April 25, 2022, a post on Nintendo of America's Twitter account announced that the movie's release would be delayed to spring 2023 and revealed the North American and Japanese release dates.

Following criticism of Chris Pratt's casting as Mario, Chris Meledandri was quoted as saying that "All I can tell you is the voice that he's doing for us, and Mario, is phenomenal," and that Pratt's performance would not attempt to replicate the "tenor" of Charles Martinet's portrayal, adding "We cover it in the movie. So you'll see we definitely nod to that."

, the creator of animated series ' and ', revealed himself to be the head of story for the film on his profile.

In the Nintendo Direct presentation in October 2022, it was announced that is composing the score for the film, which includes themes from the Mario games, in collaboration with series composer Koji Kondo.

English

 * Chris Pratt as Mario
 * Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
 * Charlie Day as Luigi
 * Jack Black as Bowser
 * Keegan-Michael Key as Toad
 * Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong
 * Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong
 * Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek
 * Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike
 * Eric Bauza as Koopa Troopa soldiers
 * Khary Payton as the penguin king
 * Jessica DiCicco as a yellow Toad
 * Charles Martinet has also been confirmed to make cameos in the film.

Japanese

 * Mamoru Miyano as Mario
 * Arisa Shida as Princess Peach
 * Tasuku Hatanaka as Luigi
 * Kenta Miyake as Bowser
 * Tomokazu Seki as Toad

Italian

 * Claudio Santamaria as Mario

Other characters

 * Koopa Troopas
 * Koopa Paratroopas
 * Dry Bones
 * Penguins
 * Toads
 * Toadette
 * Cheep Cheeps
 * Biddybuds
 * Spiny Cheep Cheeps, Jellybeams, Bloopers, and Baby Bloopers
 * Shy Guys
 * Kongs
 * Diddy Kong
 * Dixie Kong
 * Funky Kong
 * Kiddy Kong
 * Swanky Kong
 * Bob-ombs
 * Swoops
 * Buzzy Beetles
 * Piranha Plants
 * Goombas and Goomba Towers
 * Spinies
 * Sledge Bros
 * Hammer Bros
 * Snifits
 * Banzai Bills
 * Yoshis
 * Bramball
 * Pauline
 * Little birds
 * Lumalee

Foreign translations
In addition to English, the movie is confirmed to be dubbed into the following languages:
 * Bulgarian
 * Czech
 * Danish
 * Dutch
 * Finnish
 * Flemish
 * Canadian French
 * European French
 * German
 * Greek
 * Hindi
 * Hebrew
 * Hungarian
 * Icelandic
 * Italian
 * Japanese
 * Latvian
 * Lithuanian
 * Taiwanese Mandarin
 * Norwegian
 * Polish
 * Brazilian Portuguese
 * European Portuguese
 * Serbian
 * Slovak
 * Slovenian
 * European Spanish
 * Latin American Spanish
 * Swedish
 * Turkish
 * Ukrainian

Additionally, a version of the movie in English with Japanese subtitles will be released. The movie will also be available in English as an option in many other territories where English is not a native language, with locally translated subtitles.

McDonald's
On October 6, 2022, a Happy Meal promotion with toys based on The Super Mario Bros. Movie were leaked on. In December 2022, McDonald's launched a Happy Meal promotion with toys based on The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Two distinct lines of toys were released, each one in a specific set of countries that differs from the other's.

References to other media

 * Donkey Kong: In the colosseum, the platform Mario and Donkey Kong stand on is the red girders from the level 25m. Barrels and blue ladders can also be seen in the same scene.
 * Nintendo Entertainment System: The Toad at the antique store asks about an NES cartridge, to which the clerk tells them to blow into it.
 * Wrecking Crew: Foreman Spike appears in the film.
 * Super Mario Bros.: The Warp Pipe sound from this game can be heard several times throughout the movie. The bridge over a sea of jumping Cheep Cheeps that Mario, Princess Peach and Toad walk across is very similar to World 2-3 from this game. A screenshot of the exterior of a castle can be seen inside the antique store and a nearby barrel contains axes. The store's "open" sign is styled after this game's in-game logo. The Ground Theme, Underground Theme, and Underwater Theme are arranged in this film's score.
 * Super Mario Bros. 2: The design of the poster featuring Toadette is based on the title screen of this game. Magical Potions can be seen in the antique store.
 * Super Mario Bros. 3: Music Boxes, P Switches, P-Wings, Lakitu's Clouds, anchors, treasure chests as they appear in this game's Toad Houses, and a hammer can be seen in the antique store. On the back wall of the store is a picture of Princess Peach as she appears in this game's letters. The Tanooki Suit, which debuted in Super Mario Bros. 3, also appears. The sign above the vertical lift Mario and Toad use resembles the world maps from this game. The Toad House/P Switch music and Spade Panel minigame music are arranged in this film's score. Toad refers to the Koopa Troop's territory as "the dark lands".
 * The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!: The snippet of the Ground Theme from the Mario Rap is reused in the teaser trailer before Mario's first appearance. Two posters for this film use lyrics from the rap.
 * Super Mario World: The game's coin sound effect plays when the first Toad hits a Coin Block. A Dragon Coin, ! Blocks, Power Balloons, and keys and Trampolines styled after the ones from this game can be spotted in the antique store. Cape Feathers appear in the teaser poster. The map of Peach's Castle and its surrounding areas resemble the world map from this game. The Ground Theme is arranged in this film's score.
 * Mario Kart series: A Rainbow Road appears, which Mario, Peach, Toad and the Kongs drive karts on.
 * Donkey Kong Country series: Donkey Kong Island appears in the model of the surrounding landmasses in Peach's Castle. Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, and Swanky Kong appear on the character poster featuring Donkey Kong.
 * Super Mario All-Stars: Various signs around the Mushroom Kingdom use sprites from this game.
 * Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island: Yoshi's Island appears in the model of the surrounding landmasses in Peach's Castle.
 * Super Mario 64: A cannon from this game appears in the teaser poster. The Main Theme is arranged in this film's score.
 * Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!: Swanky Kong is in his attire from this game.
 * Yoshi's Story: At the construction site are crates that have pictures of grapes and bananas on them which resemble their depictions from this game. Later, watermelons with zig-zag lines appear on a fruit stand, resembling the watermelons from this game.


 * Super Mario Sunshine: A Strollin' Stu sound can be heard right before Mario meets Toad, though the sound is very faint.
 * New Super Mario Bros. series: The "Super Mario Bros." part of the series' logo is seen on the side of the Super Mario Bros. Plumbing van. As Mario exits the Warp Pipe to Peach's Castle, a "bah" is played.
 * Mario Kart Wii: Princess Peach wears her bike outfit in the movie. Mario's vehicle resembles the Standard Kart M, Peach's vehicle resembles the Mach Bike, and Toad's vehicle resembles the Tiny Titan.
 * New Super Mario Bros. Wii: The hills surrounding Peach's Castle resembles the hills from this game. A Bramball appears in Mario's poster and in the film. This game's coin sound can be faintly heard when the second Toad hits a Coin Block.
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns: A pair of Rocket Barrels, as seen in this game as well as in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, appears as part of Donkey Kong's Kart.
 * Super Mario 3D Land: A Boomerang Flower can be seen in the antique store. Biddybuds and little birds appear.
 * New Super Mario Bros. U: Rocky peaks that resemble the formations seen at Rock-Candy Mines appear.
 * Super Mario 3D World: Toad and Mario travel through a Clear Pipe, which debuts in this game, to reach Peach's Castle. Mario briefly runs like how he does in this game after reaching the top of the construction site. Voxel Super Bells can be seen at the front of the antique store. Some trees resemble those from this game. Diamond-patterned blocks from this game appear.
 * Super Mario Odyssey: A Crazy Cap store appears. Patches designed after the Fossil Falls, Tostarena, and Peach's Castle stickers from this game appear on Toad's backpack.
 * Super Mario Maker 2: Builder Toads can be seen when Toad and Mario travel across lifts. A Super Hammer appears on a sign at the construction site.