The Super Mario Bros. Movie has been making headlines for all the right reasons, breaking records and impressing audiences worldwide. In just one and a half weeks since its release, the film has shattered box office records, setting new standards for video game-based movies.
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The movie has already grossed over $508.7 million worldwide, making it the highest-earning video game movie of all time in theatres and the biggest film of 2023 so far, according to Variety.
Nintendo’s decision to partner with Despicable Me studio Illumination and to focus on replicating the well-known art style of Mario games in animation has been a hit with audiences worldwide. After the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. film was a bizarre mess, Nintendo swore off movie adaptations of its properties for decades.
The success of this latest film marks a turning point for Nintendo, as they seem to have struck gold with the Super Mario Bros. Movie, even if the plot is not particularly noteworthy.
While it still has a long way to go to become one of the biggest animated films of all time, the Super Mario Bros. Movie has made an impressive start. It hasn’t broken into the top 50 yet, with the 2019 remake of The Lion King holding the top spot with $1.66 billion. However, movies and other non-gaming experiences such as theme parks will likely be a significant part of Nintendo’s business going forward.
A Mario sequel and films based on other Nintendo properties, such as a Breath of the Wild adaptation, seem inevitable, with Illumination founder Chris Meledandri having a seat on the board being a clear indication of this. The Super Mario Bros. Movie has demonstrated the immense potential of video game adaptations, and it will be exciting to see what Nintendo and their partners have in store for the future.
