The Super Mario Bros Movie
Released in theaters on Apr 5, 2023
Released on Peacock on August 3, 2023
Runtime: 92 Minutes
Rated PG
At this point, is there anyone on the planet who doesn’t recognize Super Mario? Nintendo’s iconic hero jumps onto the big screen in a vibrant CGI adventure that brings the beloved games to life. When Mario and his brother Luigi are mysteriously pulled through a warp pipe from Brooklyn into the colorful chaos of the Mushroom Kingdom, their world is turned upside down. Separated from Luigi, Mario finds himself teaming up with Princess Peach and a host of familiar faces, racing against time to stop the power-hungry Bowser’s evil plans—and to rescue his brother before it’s too late.
Themes:
Family, brothers, plumbing, other worlds, good vs. bad, mushrooms, race karts, power, marriage, love vs. obsession, heroism, courage, dreaming big, trying new things, turtles, villains with delusional grandeur, kingdoms, teamwork, overcoming differences, prison, prisoners, death, taking over the world, power up blocks, cat suits, bullet bills, and Koopas,
Language:
The worst thing I caught (unless my ears deceive me) was Luigi referring to a mean dog as a hellhound. There is name-calling such as: idiot in overalls, stupid Mario brothers, nuts, insane, etc. There are some characters that make fun of one another and characters that threaten others. Some examples of these expressions: you call that flirting, you’re a joke, you’re a dead man, kill his brother, etc.
Stuff to be aware of:
There is cartoon fighting (no blood) and there will be some turtles stomped into their shells, just like the video game. Bowser does talk about ritualistically sacrificing his prisoners, which he tries to do. Normal bad guy stuff right?
There is a haunted house feeling scene with Luigi running from Dry Bones (Skellington koopa troopas) and then enters a scary castle with Shy Guys (little red guys with masks). There is also an invasion scene with lots of lava and a castle being burned down that I have been informed has scared some younger viewers.
The only other thing that some parents may want to be aware of is Lumalee (blue star guy), who says negatively humorous lines in a cute voice. He is pretty funny, but I bet there are going to be some little kids who hear the audience laugh at him and decide to quote him to be funny. He says things like, “There is no escape. The only hope is the sweet relief of death.”, “Ohh, fresh meat for the grinder.”, and “There is no sunshine, only darkness.”
Overall:
In a time when so many “kids’ movies” feel the need to layer in heavy themes or cater just as much to adults as to kids, it’s refreshing to get something that simply aims to be fun. The Super Mario Bros. Movie embraces that fully—it’s colorful, energetic, and built to make you smile.
Yes, longtime fans will catch plenty of Easter eggs, but at its core, this movie feels like playing a Mario game—and that’s exactly what it should be. Princess Peach steps into a more active, heroic role, helping guide Mario as he grows into the hero he needs to be to save both the Mushroom Kingdom and his brother. Beyond that welcome twist, the story follows a familiar and straightforward path: fast-moving set pieces, a rescue mission at the center, plenty of power-ups, and even a fun nod to kart racing. The movie doesn’t slow down to explain the rules of this world or Bowser’s motivations—and honestly, it doesn’t need to. This is Mario. If you’re watching, you probably already know the basics.
Did I enjoy it? Absolutely. Is it on the level of Pixar’s early classics? No—but it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it plays like a love letter to Mario fans, and that’s exactly what I hoped for.
My only small critique—and this may just be a personal preference—is with Bowser. As one of my favorite villains, I loved Jack Black’s performance overall, but there were moments where it felt a little more like “Jack Black playing Bowser” than Bowser himself. Again, that may just be a me thing—but it stood out just enough to mention.