Super Mario Bros. is an American animated media franchise part of Nintendo's Mario franchise. The franchise began with the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023, a collaborative project between Illumination, Nintendo, and Universal Pictures. The film was a major box office success and marked Nintendo's return to theatrical films after decades. A sequel was released in 2026, with reports suggesting that additional spin-off films are in development.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was released theatrically on April 5, 2023, in the United States. It was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel. The voice cast includes Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong.
The film follows Mario and Luigi, two plumbers from Brooklyn, who are transported into the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario teams up with Princess Peach and other allies to stop Bowser from taking over the realm. The movie combines action, comedy, and references to the video games' extensive history.
The film received mixed reviews from critics but was well received by audiences. It grossed over $1.36 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film based on a video game and the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2023.
In April 2023, Nintendo and Illumination announced that a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie was in development. The sequel is scheduled to be released on April 1, 2026. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are expected to return, along with screenwriter Matthew Fogel. While plot details have not been revealed, cast members such as Chris Pratt and Anya Taylor-Joy are expected to reprise their roles.
Following the success of the 2023 film, various sources reported that Illumination and Nintendo were exploring the idea of developing spin-offs featuring characters from the Mario universe. A Donkey KongâÂÂcentered film was rumored to be in development as early as 2024, possibly starring Seth Rogen reprising his role.
Other rumored spin-offs have included features focused on Luigi, Princess Peach, and the broader kingdoms introduced in the games. As of mid-2025, no official confirmation of spin-offs has been made by Nintendo or Universal Pictures.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed $574.9million in the United States and Canada, and $785.9million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.361billion. It also became the first film based on a video game to gross $1 billion worldwide.
As of March 31, 2026, the second film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is expected to top its predecessor's opening weekend, with a $160 million+ 5-day domestic opening and $350+ million 5-day worldwide opening.
The series has generally received mixed reviews from critcs.