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The Super Mario Bros. Movie parents guide

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parent Guide

The story is underwritten and the characters are flat but this film is bright, fun, and filled with jokes for viewers of all ages..

Theaters: Mario and Princess Peach travel through the Mushroom Kingdom to save Luigi and stop Bowser from conquering the world.

Release date April 5, 2023

Run Time: 92 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by savannah sillito.

Brooklyn brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are struggling to get their new plumbing business off the ground. While exploring the sewer system, they both get sucked into a mysterious pipe that leads them to magical worlds. Luigi finds himself in a barren world of lava and skeleton zombies ruled by the terrifying Bowser (Jack Black), while Mario falls into a world of mushrooms led by the courageous Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). With Bowser intent on taking over all the kingdoms in the realm, Mario and Peach team up to defeat him and save Luigi.

I told a coworker that I was seeing this movie and she asked if it would be a good choice for someone who has zero knowledge of the Nintendo property. To answer her question publicly, no. Although I enjoyed the film overall, which I’ll expand on in a moment, I don’t recommend it for people who don’t know anything about the Mario games. You do not have to be an expert (I know I’m not) but you should have some basic ideas of the characters and their worlds, or you’ll be completely lost and probably quite bored.

That all said, I had a great time and so did the theater full of kids. What little plot there is manages to be fun and deliver positive messages about courage, teamwork, and persistence. There are some great jokes that even got me howling with laughter and, contrived as the set pieces may be, they are super enjoyable. Troops of monkeys and turtles fighting Mad Max- style in Go Karts on a rainbow? Come on, that’s just great cinema. Jack Black is the glue holding this precarious production together as he brings the perfect balance of menace and ridiculousness and even gets to flex his musical chops.

I want to make a special shout out to the composer, Brian Tyler, who crafted the perfect blend of the original Nintendo score (by Koji Kondo) into an orchestral score. The soundtrack pays homage to the familiar themes, but not to the point that it becomes annoying; on the contrary, it’s absolutely fantastic.

Overall, I think children and fans of the franchise are going to have a blast with this movie. No, it’s not going to win any writing awards, but it made me laugh and it looks good which is more than I can say for most children’s media. Parents need only worry about the fantasy violence throughout, which could be a bit scary for very young viewers. If you’re ok with a lot of spectacle and not much substance, The Super Mario Bros Movie is sure to power up family movie night.

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie Rating & Content Info

Why is The Super Mario Bros. Movie rated PG? The Super Mario Bros. Movie is rated PG by the MPAA for action and mild violence.

Violence: There is fantasy action violence throughout including explosions, falls, magic, and fire. Characters fight, including with various powerups. A character is repeatedly struck and is seen with a bruised face. There is a brief scene of a character being tortured by magic. A male character has his moustache hair pulled out while being interrogated. A piano lid is slammed on someone’s hands. A monster eats two characters but they don’t die. A character is chased by zombie skeletons. Sexual Content: None. Profanity: There are some mild insults such as “idiot” and “stupid”. Alcohol / Drug Use: None.

Page last updated January 23, 2024

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parents' Guide

Loved this movie try these books….

If you’ve got a young Mario fan in your house, you will want to get a copy of Nintendo’s Super Mario Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years. Your youngster will be delighted with the abundance of trivia available here.

Adult video fans who want to learn the backstory behind Mario can read Jeff Ryan’s Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America.

Related home video titles:

Video games (real or imagined) are the inspiration for several family-friendly films. Fans of Disney movie franchises might enjoy Wreck-It-Ralph and Ralph Breaks the Internet .

Young game fans will enjoy The Angry Birds Movie and The Angry Birds Movie 2 . The bright blue hedgehog comes to the big screen in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Teen viewers and their parents will appreciate Ryan Reynolds’ performance in Free Guy, a movie that goes inside a video game as a character becomes self-aware and starts to make independent choices.

Also based on a game is Uncharted, a fast-paced action thriller starring Tom Holland. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves builds on the video game and its real world predecessor to create an engaging fantasy universe peopled with charming or villainous characters.

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The Momma Diaries

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parents Guide + Review

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie is one big dose of nostalgia for older generations, and a fun, vibrant ride for those younger. Wondering if the new Mario movie levels up to its high expectations? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements, including its PG rating, in my The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parents Guide and Movie Review. Here’s what parents need to know to help YOU decide if it’s appropriate for kids. As always, no spoilers!

The Super Mario Bros Movie Parents Guide

The Super Mario Bros. franchise is huge, and it’s certainly long overdue for an animated film. I remember the first time I was introduced to the OG Nintendo video game. My mind was blown. Never had I played something SO FUN! I practically begged my parents and pleaded my case as to why our family needed a Nintendo. It was $100, and that was A LOT of money back in the 80’s! Eventually, my parents caved, and my brother and I were beyond thrilled.

The thing about Mario is, they have ALWAYS been there since that very first game. The franchise continuously grows and adds more storylines, video games, and characters. It’s truly its own universe!

Creating an animated Mario movie was a no brainer. It’s just crazy that it hasn’t been done already!

Mario and Luigi Super Mario Bros. Movie

The Super Mario Bros. Movie has a very simple storyline, which is not all a bad thing! It’s truly a kids movie, which I strongly feel is something we need more of. With that being said, that’s not to say it won’t appeal to older generations, because it certainly will. The Super Mario Bros. Movie was made for true Mario fans.

Mushroom Kingdom

The Animation

Hats off to the Illumination and Universal Pictures team for creating an absolutely stunning visual world. The Super Mario Bros. Movie looks like you stepped right into a video game, and even at times playing along. The attention to detail utilized is truly incredible. From Brooklyn, to Mushroom Kingdom, to Kong Island, Gorilla Falls, Koopa Kingdom, and Rainbow Road, the vibrant colors and crisp imagery will fully immerse you into their worlds.

The Super Mario. Bros Movie Animation

Each member of the cast brings something to the table, and yes, even Chris Pratt as Mario. I promise you, he was a great choice and delivers perfectly. Anya Taylor-Joy is a huge standout as Princess Peach. I love how they modernized her character. Peach is a force to be reckoned with! Charlie Day (Luigi), Keegan-Michael Key (Toad), and Seth Rogen (Donkey Kong) bring the laughs, but its Jack Black’s Bowser that wins most memorable performance. This is Bowser like you’ve never seen him before!

Bowser Jack Black Mario Movie

We also need to give a major shoutout to Juliet Jelenic, who voices the dark and twisted, yet hilariously comical, Lumalee. She was my youngest son’s favorite character.

Lumalee the Super Mario Bros. Movie

Is The Super Mario Bros. Movie Kid Friendly? Here’s Your Parents Guide:

Mario and Luigi and very well-known characters, making this movie appeal to a multitude of ages. The Super Mario Bros. Movie has an MPA rating of PG for action and mild violence. It has a runtime of 92 minutes. Here’s what parents need to know before seeing the new Mario movie with your family.

Expect to see video game type violence. Fire, lava, explosions, destruction…basically things you’d see when playing a Mario video game.

There is no profanity in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, however, you will hear words like: stupid, dumb, idiot, and shut-up.

Mature Content

Bowser is dead set on marrying Peach, which is sort of awkward. He basically gives her an ultimatum, marry him or he will destroy Mushroom Kingdom. There is also bulling in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Age Recommendation

I would recommend The Super Mario Bros. Movie for all ages. I really think this film could have been rated G, however, I understand with the video game violence rating it PG was probably a safer choice. Again, the Mario movie is for the fans, young and young at heart. You will have a blast pointing out all of the different Easter eggs, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled!

Mario and Peach Mario movie

Overall Thoughts

The Super Mario Bros. Movie transports you right into a video game creating an immersive and engaging experience. The film is loaded with fan service and nostalgia from start to finish. Although the story is simple, it really doesn’t need to be complex. It’s a great film made for the whole family to enjoy together — which is something we need more of. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is tons of fun, filled with laughs, and will leave you wanting to go home to play Mario Kart. Let’s-a Go! The Super Mario Bros. Movie is now playing in theaters!

Is there an end credit scene in The Super Mario Bros. Movie?

There is one mid-credit scene and one post credit scene in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and you won’t want to miss either! I foresee more Mario movies in the future.

Super Mario Bros. Movie Parents Guide Review

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Synopsis

A Brooklyn plumber named Mario travels through the Mushroom Kingdom with a princess named Peach and an anthropomorphic mushroom named Toad to find Mario’s brother, Luigi, and to save the world from a ruthless fire-breathing Koopa named Bowser.

I HOPE YOU FOUND THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE PARENTS GUIDE AND REVIEW HELPFUL FOR YOUR FAMILY. WILL YOU BE SEEING IT IN THEATERS?!

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Where to watch.

Watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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While it's nowhere near as thrilling as turtle tipping your way to 128 lives, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a colorful -- albeit thinly plotted -- animated adventure that has about as many Nintendos as Nintendon'ts.

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Michael Jelenic

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super mario bros movie review for parents

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I can vividly remember playing the first Nintendo version of “Super Mario Bros.” when I was just a boy in the ‘80s. It was at a friend’s house, my first buddy to get an NES, and I went home and had a dream about the game. The goofy, jumping plumber has been a part of my entertainment life ever since. I’ve passed my love for the franchise down to my boys, who have all played the stunning “Super Mario Odyssey” to completion more than once. Mario has come a long way since the notoriously awful 1993 version of his adventure starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo , but the new “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” doesn’t reflect the franchise's creativity in the slightest. The latest animated blockbuster from Illumination is their most soulless to date, a film that feels like ChatGPT produced it after data and imagery from the games were fed into a computer. It is “The Chris Farley Show” of family entertainment, mistaking making references to something that was “awesome” for actually making a movie. And it is one of the most drenched-in-desperation animated films I’ve ever seen. “Remember this?!? Remember how much you liked it?!? Please like it again!” I so desperately wanted to see something that sparked the imagination of the kid in me, like that first game, or spoke to the fun I’ve had playing installments across multiple Nintendo platforms. Instead, I got a movie that's as hollow as a trailer, something that willfully avoids anything creative or ambitious. Mario and Luigi deserve so much better.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” opens in Brooklyn with the plumbers Mario ( Chris Pratt ) and his brother Luigi ( Charlie Day ) trying to get their new business off the ground. Some Nintendo easter eggs in the background of these initial scenes should produce a small smile from people of my generation, and there's a bit of inspiration structurally, like a clever early shot in which Mario and Luigi race through the city in a side-scrolling manner that mimics the earlier games. There’s also a nod to The Odyssey on a bookshelf in Mario’s room, implying that we’re about to watch a hero’s journey and a reference to the incredible Switch game. What follows doesn’t live up to either inspiration.

In a way that makes little sense, Mario and Luigi find a massive chamber of pipes under Brooklyn, get sucked into one, and end up in the Mushroom Kingdom, which is being threatened by the villainous Bowser ( Jack Black ). The notorious bad guy has found the Super Star he needs to make his final assault on Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ) and the residents of her kingdom, including Toad (Keegan-Michael Key). Bowser doesn’t just want power; he wants to make the Princess his bride, singing some truly uninspired songs about his love for her. How on Earth a film like this gets a rock talent like half of Tenacious D and doesn’t let him unleash a few clever Bowser tunes is one of this film’s many mysteries.

Although Luigi lands in the pipeline that drops him immediately in the dark lands and makes him Bowser's prisoner—a dumb decision that sidelines him for an hour—Mario meets Princess Peach, who introduces him to power-ups. And so all the question-mark cubes get a chance to shine as Mario grows, shrinks, and even turns into a raccoon. They eventually recruit Donkey Kong ( Seth Rogen ), race down Rainbow Road, and save the day. That’s not a spoiler if you’ve ever seen a movie.

Fans of this movie will shout from the rooftops that the scripting for something called “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” doesn’t need to be a strength. And, to be fair, there are a few strong settings in terms of design. I enjoyed the choices made by the team in the structure of Donkey Kong Country, and the Rainbow Road “Super Mario Kart” sequence is well-directed. But I would ask why fans of a franchise that has inspired so much love for generations must be satisfied with the absolute minimum regarding storytelling. 

There are so few actual decisions made in the construction of this film. It’s just a collection of visual and character references cobbled together to form a 92-minute movie. Take a risk. Just do something . Anything. It got me thinking about the fun spin-offs that could exist, like a “ Mad Max: Fury Road ” version of the “Mario Kart” sequence that gets energy out of non-stop motion. Or a version that unpacks like “The LEGO Movie” that's more sharply aware of its references and world-building—something that even incorporates the player like that movie does in the end. I swear that almost everyone who has played a game like “Odyssey” could come up with something more inventive. Heck, almost any ten minutes of that game is more creative.

It doesn’t help that the voice work is uniformly mediocre too. Chris Pratt can be charismatic with the right material, but it sounds like he pounded this out in three hours in a voice studio. Charlie Day has such an expressive voice, but the movie barely uses him. Seth Rogen is always a welcome presence, and he at least seems to be having some fun. I wish I was too.

With the nostalgia craze merging with the power of Nintendo and Illumination, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” feels too big to fail. That means we’ll get a sequel, and I expect another cycle of the debate of “critics vs. fans.” I am both. And I want a world where the people who made films for a fan base as devoted as this one don’t take that fandom for granted. This is far from over. I suspect we will get a ton of films from the NES universe, including “Donkey Kong Country” and “The Legend of Zelda” (and let’s not forget “Kid Icarus”). But we need creators who don’t just see these games as products to be referenced but as foundations on which new ideas can be built. That ‘80s kid who dreamed of Mario deserves it.

In theaters today .

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

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Film credits.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie movie poster

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Rated PG for action and mild violence.

Chris Pratt as Mario (voice)

Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach (voice)

Charlie Day as Luigi (voice)

Jack Black as Bowser (voice)

Keegan Michael Key as Toad (voice)

Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong (voice)

Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong (voice)

Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek (voice)

Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike (voice)

Charles Martinet as Giuseppe (voice)

Khary Payton as Penguin King (voice)

Eric Bauza as General Toad (voice)

  • Michael Jelenic
  • Aaron Horvath
  • Matthew Fogel
  • Eric Osmond

Composer (original Nintendo themes by)

  • Brian Tyler

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review

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It took nearly four decades, one spectacular live-action misfire, and dozens of other failed video game adaptations to learn from, but none of it went to waste: Illumination and Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Movie finally gives the most iconic character in gaming the onscreen adventure he’s always deserved. Benefitting immensely from the endless creativity of the innumerable game developers, artists, and musicians who’ve made the Mario franchise a pop culture juggernaut, The Super Mario Bros. Movie rockets along with the momentum of a Bullet Bill exploding out of a cannon. The Mushroom Kingdom is realized with incredible detail and reverence, and not even a Paper Mario-thin plot can keep the magic of the games from being lost along the way.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s setup is dead simple: while on a plumbing job underneath Brooklyn, brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are sucked into the Mushroom Kingdom through a warp pipe and become embroiled in King Bowser’s (Jack Black) plans to steal the Super Star, which would give him the power to take over the Toad-filled domain of Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). Mario’s Cheep-Cheep-out-of-water journey hits all the predictable beats of the “warrior from another world” narrative, but decades of Mario games ensure co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!) have an infinite well of wild scenarios and iconography to pull from to stage inventive action moments, especially once Mario’s gotten a handle of how to properly fly with a Tanooki suit.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Nintendo Direct Trailer Stills

super mario bros movie review for parents

The Super Mario Bros. Movie almost always has an inventive in-world solution to whatever problem pops up that relies on something easily recognizable from the games, but never withholds explanation of how that thing works (even if the why goes rightfully ignored.) Whether it’s recreating the path of World 1-1 as Mario and Luigi parkour their way through Brooklyn or the pre-emptive giggle fans will get seeing Mario ingest a blue mushroom instead of a red one during a fight, The Super Mario Bros. Movie manages a great balance of accessibility for general audiences and inside jokes for those of us who’ve dipped in and out of the series over the years.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s heavy use of references isn’t a good thing in and of itself, but their inclusion feels justified because they are used in ways that feel relevant and organic to the world. At worst, sequences like the Rainbow Road race can feel a bit tacked on when they don’t fully make the case for being there with any kind of logical reason (being able to sell movie-branded Mario Kart toys doesn’t count), but then logic is not a currency anyone’s expecting The Super Mario Bros. Movie to trade in anyway. The movie trusts its audience isn’t going to care much about why platforms float, or why there are blocks with question marks all over the place full of power-ups that turn people into cats and flamethrowers. Once you’ve already bought in to things like that, giving 10 minutes of the movie up to staging a big-budget Mario Kart race so that a trek from A to B feels a little more lively is an easier pill to swallow.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s visual vibrance sets a very high bar for the other animated video game adaptations which will surely follow, be that from Nintendo or another studio. Bowser’s fire-versus-ice siege of the Penguin Kingdom, the expansive fungi vistas of the Mushroom Kingdom, and the lush greenery of the Kongs’ Jungle Kingdom are all super-saturated dreamscapes that coalesce into a bustling world begging to be explored further. Brian Tyler’s bombastic score takes care of the musical side of this equation, perfectly expressing the grandeur and whimsy of the games’ tracks at every turn and mining Koji Kondo’s original orchestrations to great effect. The Mario series has some of the most recognizable music cues in gaming history, and Tyler deploys many of them throughout the action just where you hope they’d drop.

The movie’s mostly excellent use of its source material does contrast with some ill-advised blockbuster animation tropes which can occasionally be grating. Kind of like someone stealing a star from you in Mario Party, the fantastic score makes the pop tracks that are shoehorned in feel lazy by comparison. A little “No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn” as Mario and Luigi parkour their way through the borough never hurt anyone, but by the time Mario and Peach are being karted around the Jungle Kingdom to A-Ha’s “Take On Me,” you may find the needle drops being a little too much of a snap back to reality. That goes double for the writers being unable to resist the urge to have Donkey Kong himself saying “it’s on like Donkey Kong.” Moments like this - as well as the frequent use of slo-mo to highlight jokes - are a bit too cute, and hint at how easily The Super Mario Bros. Movie could’ve slipped into “generic animated movie” territory had it given way to more of these low-hanging stabs at making sure Uncle Jack has his “I understood that reference!” moment, too.

Which Power-Up Do You Want to See Most in The Super Mario Bros. Movie?

super mario bros movie review for parents

The interminable Discourse surrounding the voice acting in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as expected, feels totally out of touch with what the cast actually ended up delivering: enthusiastic performances that bring life to the characters, with no real weak link among them. Chris Pratt and Charlie Day’s Mario Bros. are certainly not going to be taking home any commendations from the good people of Brooklyn on their New York accents, but each handily embody their character’s heroism and bravery (hard won though that may be for Luigi). There’s definitely been a flattening of the more cartoonish qualities to the lead characters’ in-game voices - something the movie addresses immediately - but the choice to ground conversations in more a more natural delivery balances well with the fantastical trappings of the Mushroom Kingdom. More than that, it still leaves room for supporting characters like Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), Kamek (Kevin Michael Richardson), and Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen) to be a little kookier and give the ensemble more range. And even though it’s a one-joke character with no impact on the plot, Lumalee’s (Juliet Jelenic, co-director Michael’s daughter) gleeful nihilism lands big laughs every time thanks mostly to the young voice actor’s unerring excitement, which bubbles behind every pitch black observation she makes while locked up with Luigi.

Jack Black’s Bowser feels like the standout vocal performance as the actor’s trademark bombast fits well with the Koopa King’s outsized sense of self. Bowser’s thirst for power isn’t explored in any serious way: he wants to take over the Mushroom Kingdom because he’s a bad guy and that’s what bad guys do - apparently he missed the point of that group session in Wreck-it Ralph. But Black’s Bowser is frightening, impetuous, and desperate for attention at times, and those frequent mood shifts lend his scenes unpredictability. Jables’ Bowser even performs a ballad in Peach’s honor which feels like a safe-for-work Tenacious D b-side, a descriptor I can’t imagine will upset any fans of Black’s musical chops.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is constantly and joyfully entertaining, and that’s crucial because it lacks any meaningful thematic throughline outside of “we can do anything when we work together!” That lesson feels like an obligated afterthought considering Mario and Luigi spend the majority of this movie separated - not because of any emotional fracture between them early on, but by pure happenstance (warp pipes are crazy!) The brothers mostly agree on everything, and both are quick to enlist the help of allies when the time comes, so the little effort that went into that aspect of the story goes very much amiss. This feels especially frustrating considering the pair of brief flashbacks which give us insights into the characters’ childhoods. Both of these short scenes manage a comparatively touching tone, and hint at better avenues the story could’ve explored to make Mario, Luigi, and Peach feel more fully formed.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a fireball of animated fantasy. Mario, Luigi, and Peach’s adventure delights with its infectious energy and smart implementations of video game callbacks, and the top-shelf animation renders the Mushroom Kingdom as an Oz-like wonderland that begs to be explored in the inevitable sequels that will follow. The assembled voice cast puts a unique spin on each of their characters, but undercooked emotional arcs don’t get the same attention as the aesthetics, something not helped by a paint-by-numbers plot that bafflingly keeps Mario and Luigi away from each other for half the movie. Illumination and Nintendo set out to deliver a Mario movie that anyone could enjoy, and that anyone with even a passing knowledge of the games could get lost in - they’ve undeniably succeeded on both fronts.

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super mario bros movie review for parents

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie First Reviews: Packed with Nostalgia and Easter Eggs, but Mostly Aimed at Kids

Critics say the movie has lots of fun details for observant fans of the franchise, but the thinly plotted story may leave some viewers wanting more..

super mario bros movie review for parents

TAGGED AS: Animation , First Reviews , movies , Video Games

Here’s what critics are saying about The Super Mario Bros. Movie :

Does it live up to expectations?

Purposefully focusing on a simple and beautiful adventure, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a solid success. –  Brandon Zachary, CBR
For better and worse, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is exactly what you’d expect from a Mario movie made by Illumination Entertainment. –  Reuben Baron, Looper.com
For some people, perhaps, it will be a point in the win column that “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is exactly what it looks like, and nothing more. –  Josh Spiegel, Slashfilm

Does it honor the games?

The fast-paced action effectively approximates the gaming experience. –  Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to be inside a Super Mario Bros. level, this film gets deliciously close. –  Lex Briscuso, The Wrap
The movie doesn’t so much duplicate the logistics of a Mario game as conjure the spirit of the game. –  Owen Gleiberman, Variety
It’s the ultimate in comforting familiarity. –  Jake Wilson, The Sydney Morning Herald
The only difference from the Nintendo games is that viewers don’t have to replay a section 45 times because they keep getting nicked by a rogue Koopa shell. –  Matthew Huff, AV Club
It leaves one feeling like they’re standing to the side and watching someone else play a video game. –  Zaki Hasan, San Francisco Chronicle

Chris Pratt as Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

(Photo by ©Universal Pictures)

Is it packed with Easter eggs?

Perhaps the film’s greatest asset is its clever reliance on the treasure trove of IP that Nintendo has to offer. – Matthew Huff, AV Club
This movie has a lot of fan service… This is not a bad thing; in fact, it is quite the opposite. Whenever it was possible to sneak something in, they did it. –  Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
The quantity of in-jokes and Easter eggs is high enough that fans of the games will likely enjoy themselves while watching it… The fan service really works. – Reuben Baron, Looper.com
There is some super fun stuff thrown into the background, even if it adds literally zero to the story itself. – Germain Lussier, io9.com
I found myself craving A LOT more video game humor than I was given (there were SO many missed opportunities for Nintendo jokes). – Christie Cronan, Raising Whasians
Far too often, The Super Mario Bros. Movie feels like it’s simply content to check off to-do notes and scratch the viewer’s nostalgia itch. That is, the film is a series of Easter eggs in search of a story. – Paul Attard, Slant Magazine

Does it help to be a fan of the games?

You don’t have to be a Mario fan to respond to it, but the film is going to remind the millions who are why they call it a joystick. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
While the references are sure to charm Nintendo lovers, and the standard Illumination-style cartoon humor will please youngsters, the film otherwise doesn’t have a ton to offer. – Matthew Huff, AV Club
Even Super Mario superfans might prefer the game. – Peter Bradshaw, Guardian

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Is it mostly for kids?

From its very first scenes, it’s clear The Super Mario Bros. Movie is made for children. – Germain Lussier, io9.com
For certain demographics (i.e. families lamenting the fact that it’s been months since a major kids movie hit theaters), this is going to be an absolute godsend. –  Christian Zilko, IndieWire
The Super Mario Bros Movie is very much a kids’ movie that adults will have fun with. – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
It’s one of the best kids’ films in recent years. – Ross Bonaime, Collider
If you’re a parent, you’re probably already going to see The Super Mario Bros. Movie regardless of what critics say, and you’ll probably have enough fun with it not to feel disappointed. – Reuben Baron, Looper.com
Kids will have a blast, especially with its nods to popular games, such as Luigi’s Mansion and Mario Kart . However, its childish sense of humor and lacking narrative fall short. – Jeff Nelson, Showbiz Cheat Sheet

But is it still entertaining?

The film features one jam-packed sequence after another, one highlight being Mario’s titanic battle with Donkey Kong. – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
It’s is a serious blast, with a spark of enchantment — that je ne sais quoi fusion of speed and trickery, magic and sophistication, and sheer play that… well, you feel it when you see it. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Even if it’s not your thing, everyone should find a way to coexist with this franchise very quickly. – Christian Zilko, IndieWire

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

How does it look?

This is a gorgeous movie. The 3D animation works extremely well. It is bright, vibrant, and colorful. – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
The film looks gorgeous… The attention to the world-building is perhaps the film’s best achievement, constructing an entire universe that feels colorful and unique compared to anything else in recent film. – Brandon Zachary, CBR
I was pleasantly surprised how the bright colors and crisp visuals expanded the Super Mario universe to the big screen in a fresh, exciting way. – Christie Cronan, Raising Whasians
The different worlds of the film—the Mushroom Kingdom, the Jungle Kingdom, Bowser’s Kingdom, and more—are all so rich and full of life. – Lex Briscuso, The Wrap
Stunningly beautiful… The movie might work even better if you could mute it, pause, and zoom around its designs. – Germain Lussier, io9.com
While the animation is crisp, it’s not enough to overcome the film’s many deficiencies in every other aspect of its composition. – Sean Mulvihill, Mulviews
It’s visually bland in ways that reminded me of European knockoff animations. – Peter Bradshaw, Guardian

What about the script?

Parents shouldn’t expect a Pixar-level experience, but Matthew Fogel’s script has as at least as much narrative heft as the best Mario games. – Christian Zilko, IndieWire
Fogel is asked to juggle an insane amount of elements here, and yet, he’s able to make all these parts come together in a satisfying way. – Ross Bonaime, Collider
The plot is as basic as can be, and character development is clearly not a priority. – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
It might not have the depth of something like Turning Red , Wolfwalkers , or Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio but it’s not trying to. – Brandon Zachary, CBR
When it comes to molding all that gimcrackery into, you know, a story, they lose the electronic pulse that made the game addictive. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
It is very formulaic and was clearly made so that even the youngest fan can understand and enjoy it. – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
A lot of the film’s jokes don’t land, at least for an adult audience, which will certainly make up a vast group for this picture. – Lex Briscuso, The Wrap
The Super Mario Bros. Movie feels as if Fogel was handed a list of iconic video game elements and was told to reverse engineer them into a barebones story. – Sean Mulvihill, Mulviews

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Do any of the voice performances stand out?

One of the film’s biggest MVPs is Keegan Michael-Key’s Toad, who is responsible for half of the movie’s most comedic moments. – Lex Briscuso, The Wrap
Jack Black, who voices this horny demon [Bowser], gives a stupendous performance. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
The real standout here is Jack Black as Bowser. His penchant for the grandiose makes him the perfect choice for the character. – Ross Bonaime, Collider
Jack Black as Bowser is one of his best performances ever. My favorite character hands down. – Christie Cronan, Raising Whasians

So it has a good villain?

Having a villain who’s a vulnerable ogre you’re at once appalled, amused, and fascinated by makes this a very different sort of kinetic kiddie fantasia. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
He’s the full package: menacing and vicious with a soft and insecure side that bubbles over at the perfect comedic moment. – Lex Briscuso, The Wrap
Black’s performance makes Bowser more than just a villain to be toppled. – Ross Bonaime, Collider

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

What about Chris Pratt’s work as Mario?

What Pratt does works. I promise you that. It makes sense and even if it bothers you at the beginning, you are going to quickly forget it as the movie continues. – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
Sorry to disappoint, but Pratt is a good choice for Mario, finding just the right amount of inflection for the character and without sounding like little more than a collection of the character’s famous lines. – Ross Bonaime, Collider
Pratt nails a modernized, slightly subdued version of a stereotypical Brooklyn accent that comes off natural and inoffensive, a logical portrayal of the Mario character. – Lex Briscuso, The Wrap
He’s not doing a terrible job so much as I’m not sure anyone really knows what the job is. – Reuben Baron, Looper.com

How is the length of the movie?

The brisk 92-minute running time is another plus, especially for younger attention spans. – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
With a runtime of only 92 minutes, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. – Matthew Huff, AV Club
It’s a shame that the svelte 92-minute runtime means we don’t get much time to linger in this vibrant setting. – Fay Watson, Total Film

Will we want more Super Mario Bros. movies?

There are multiple hints at what could be coming next for the franchise. I just have my fingers crossed for more Luigi. – Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
As far as I’m concerned, it’s Game Over. – Sean Mulvihill, Mulviews

The Super Mario Bros. Movie opens in theaters everywhere on April 5, 2023.

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Super Mario Bros. Movie, The

image for Super Mario Bros. Movie, The

Short takes

Not suitable under 6; parental guidance to 8 (violence, scary scenes)

classification logo

This topic contains:

  • overall comments and recommendations
  • details of classification and consumer advice lines for Super Mario Bros. Movie, The
  • a review of Super Mario Bros. Movie, The completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 11 April 2023 .

Overall comments and recommendations

Children under 6 Not suitable due to violence and scary scenes.
Children aged 6–8 Parental guidance recommended due to violence and scary scenes.
Children aged 9 and over Ok for this age group.

About the movie

This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Australian Government Classification Board and the associated consumer advice lines. Other classification advice (OC) is provided where the Australian film classification is not available.

Name of movie: Super Mario Bros. Movie, The
Classification: PG
Consumer advice lines: Mild fantasy themes and animated violence, some scenes may scare young children
Length: 92 minutes

ACCM review

This review of the movie contains the following information:

  • a synopsis of the story
  • use of violence
  • material that may scare or disturb children
  • product placement
  • sexual references
  • nudity and sexual activity
  • use of substances
  • coarse language
  • the movie’s message

A synopsis of the story

The evil Bowser (voice of Jack Black), leader of a vast army of villainous turtles, attacks a peaceful penguin kingdom, imprisoning the inhabitants, laying waste to their beautiful castle, and stealing a powerful star. Nearby, a Mushroom Kingdom, ruled by the indomitable Princess Peach (voice of Anya Taylor-Joy), prepares for what they believe to be an impending attack.

Meanwhile, back in Brooklyn, Mario (voice of Chris Pratt) and his brother Luigi (voice of Charlie Day) have left their steady jobs at a reliable plumbing company to start a plumbing business of their own. Their first contract doesn’t go according to plan and Mario is feeling downhearted, until he sees a news broadcast depicting inept plumbers attempting to fix the city’s critical plumbing problems. Knowing he can help, Mario and Luigi set off to save their neighbourhood. They find themselves deep under the city in a cavernous room filled with unusual pipes and when Luigi suddenly vanishes, Mario ventures after him. The brothers are sucked into another world and separated on the journey: Luigi lands in the dangerous Badlands under Bowser’s control, where he is quickly captured; and Mario lands in a Mushroom Kingdom where he learns about the danger his brother is in and sets about trying to save him. Mario impresses the princess with his determination and noble character, and she agrees to take him with her to meet a Cranky Kong (voice of Fred Armisen) whose powerful son, Donkey Kong (voice of Seth Rogan), and vast Gorilla army is their only hope of winning the fight against Bowser, stopping his evil plan and saving Luigi, as well as everyone else captured along the way.

Themes info

Children and adolescents may react adversely at different ages to themes of crime, suicide, drug and alcohol dependence, death, serious illness, family breakdown, death or separation from a parent, animal distress or cruelty to animals, children as victims, natural disasters and racism. Occasionally reviews may also signal themes that some parents may simply wish to know about.

Separation from family members; Greed for power; Bullying.

Use of violence info

Research shows that children are at risk of learning that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution when violence is glamourised, performed by an attractive hero, successful, has few real life consequences, is set in a comic context and / or is mostly perpetrated by male characters with female victims, or by one race against another.

Repeated exposure to violent content can reinforce the message that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution. Repeated exposure also increases the risks that children will become desensitised to the use of violence in real life or develop an exaggerated view about the prevalence and likelihood of violence in their own world.

There is some violence in this movie, including:

  • Lava blasts fall to the earth as a penguin colony is attacked by Bowser’s army. He tells them to: “Open the gates or die”.
  • The penguins fight back, attacking the turtle creatures with snowballs.
  • Bowser lifts the penguins up, as if by magic, and throws them all aside. He then burns their castle to the ground, imprisons the penguins and steals a powerful star.
  • A character has a napkin rudely thrown in his face.
  • A character grabs Mario, lifts him up by the overalls and throws him on the ground.
  • A cat attacks Luigi in the face.
  • A woman is accidentally knocked over.
  • A violent dog attacks the brothers.
  • A character attacks Mario with a stick.
  • Mushroom guards chase Mario and attack him as he attempts to meet with Princess Peach.
  • There is repeated mention of ritualistic sacrifice.
  • Mario punches himself in the face.
  • Mario repeatedly smashes into things, falls off objects, is blasted with water, bitten by plants and is punched, smashed and hit, as he attempts to complete an obstacle course.
  • Bowser says he will destroy the Mushroom Kingdom if Princess Peach refuses to marry him.
  • A bully knocks a young Luigi down and smashes the Lego castle he is building. Young Mario shoves the bully aside and helps his brother.
  • A small turtle has his fingers crushed in a piano.
  • Bowser tortures Luigi and tries to rip off his moustache.
  • A creepy, child-like voice calls out in the prison abyss that: “There is no hope. NO escape. Only the sweet relief of death”.
  • A car slips on a banana peel, spins out of control, crashes, and explodes.
  • Donkey Kong tells Mario: “I am going to break every bone in your body”.
  • Mario and Donkey Kong fight. Mario is slapped, punched, bashed, and hit repeatedly. He is shown battered and bruised but he doesn’t give up.
  • Mario slashes Donkey Kong’s face and hits him with a barrel, knocking him unconscious.
  • Princess Peach blasts Bowser with cold and freezes him into a cube of ice.
  • The Gorilla army is attacked by Bowser. They shoot bananas while the Turtle army tries to blast characters out of the way.
  • Mario and his race cart are nearly crushed.
  • Mario knocks a turtle out of its vehicle.
  • Donkey Kong and Mario are blasted off a rainbow bridge. They fall into the water where Donkey Kong is hit on the head by a giant wheel and knocked unconscious. Mario saves him just as he is about to be eaten by a sea monster.
  • Moments later the monster raises up to the surface and eats both Mario and Donkey Kong.
  • Bowser threatens and tortures a Mushroom inhabitant in order to force the princess to agree to marry him.
  • Mario and Donkey Kong use a cannon blaster to blast themselves out of the sea monster.
  • Bowser attempts to burn his prisoners alive by lowering them into a lava pit.
  • Arrows are shot at characters.
  • Luigi is about to be burned alive. He is falling into the lava when Mario rescues him.
  • Princess Peach is blasted aside and Bowser launches a missile to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom.
  • The missile chases Mario and tries to explode everything in his wake.
  • Mario is blasted back to Brooklyn, along with the others, and numerous characters are nearly crushed by falling debris.
  • Bowser punches Mario; knocks him into a car; tries to burn and crush him; and knocks him into a wall. He is injured but doesn’t stop fighting.
  • Bowser hits Donkey Kong and is about to claw him when Mario and Luigi power up and punch Bowser through an army of his turtles. They hit, slam, punch, throw, and flip him until there is hardly anything left of Bowser.

Material that may scare or disturb children

Under five info.

Children under five are most likely to be frightened by scary visual images, such as monsters, physical transformations.

In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes, there are some scenes in this movie that could scare or disturb children under the age of five, including the following:

  • The opening images of Bowser’s army descending on the penguin kingdom, his ship filled with molten rock, its enormous horns and evil, glowing eyes as it launches its attack, may be upsetting for some very young viewers.
  • There is a creepy-looking sea monster that rises from the deep to eat Mario and Donkey Kong. The pair are able to get out eventually, but some children may be frightened by the sudden intensity of the scene.

Aged five to eight info

Children aged five to eight will also be frightened by scary visual images and will also be disturbed by depictions of the death of a parent, a child abandoned or separated from parents, children or animals being hurt or threatened and / or natural disasters.

In addition to the above-mentioned violent scenes and scary visual images, there are some scenes in this movie that could scare or disturb children aged five to eight, including the following:

  • Shortly after arriving in Bowser’s lands, Luigi is chased by zombie-like, skeletal creatures with red glowing eyes. Luigi is terrified as they come after him, clawing their way out of the ground and chasing him through a dark and deadly forest. More and more creatures join the chase, trying to get Luigi to fall into the lava river, grabbing at him and snatching at his face. He just barely manages to escape into a haunted-looking house and he bolts the door behind him. As he struggles to catch his breath, creepy, ghost-like creatures, with masks (like something out of a horror film), suddenly appear out of the darkness behind him. They look menacing and scary, and Luigi is screaming as the scene fades to darkness. He is later shown as a prisoner and Bowser talks about using him as a sacrifice.

Aged eight to thirteen info

Children aged eight to thirteen are most likely to be frightened by realistic threats and dangers, violence or threat of violence and / or stories in which children are hurt or threatened.

  • Nothing further of concern.

Product placement

The following products are displayed or used in this movie:

  • The entire movie showcases aspects of the Mario/Nintendo games.

Sexual references

There are some sexual references in this movie, including:

  • Bowser wants to marry Princess Peach; he describes how she is physically attractive to him and he is very jealous of Mario.
  • Mario briefly flirts with Princess Peach and another character teases him that she would never go out with him.

Nudity and sexual activity

  • None noted.

Use of substances

There is some use of substances in this movie, including:

  • Mario eats magic mushrooms that give him extraordinary, yet short lived, super strength.

Coarse language

There is some coarse language in this movie, including:

  • “You’re a joke and you always will be”.

In a nutshell

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a film based on the popular Nintendo videogame franchise. The plot, though predictable, is fast-paced and contains numerous twists and turns. The film will be best enjoyed by families with children over 8 and fans of the videogames.

The main messages from this movie are to believe in yourself and your own abilities, even if the entire world tells you differently; and to never give up or stop trying.

Values in this movie that parents may wish to reinforce with their children include:

  • Persistence
  • Determination.

This movie could also give parents the opportunity to discuss with their children attitudes and behaviours, and their real-life consequences, such as:

  • Settling for less and listening to those who would define your life by their standards.
  • Trying to force someone to do something against their will by harming or threatening to harm others.
  • Wanting power and control at all costs.
  • Belittling others and their life choices.

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Guide For Geek Moms

THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE Parents Guide Movie Review

By: Author mandipie4u

Posted on Last updated: April 10, 2023

Categories Entertainment , Films

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a fun ride that will bring back all the nostalgia from the video games and win over a new generation. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parents Guide

The Super Mario Bros. Movie releases in theaters across North America tomorrow, April 5, 2023. The film stars Chriss Pratt (Mario), Charlie Day (Luigi), Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach), Jack Black (Bowser), Keegan-Michael Key (Toad), Seth Rogen (Donkey Kong), and Fred Armisen (Cranky Kong). It was written by Matthew Fogel and directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. Check out these details in my parents guide movie review.

If you enjoyed The Super Mario Bros. Movie parents guide movie review, check out these other articles: Netflix’s Beef parents guide review , Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies parents guide review , AppleTV+ Tetris parents guide movie review , AppleTV+ The Big Door Prize parents guide review , Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves parents guide movie review .

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Quotes

The super mario bros. movie parents guide.

In The Super Mario Bros. Movie : While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt; Jurassic World and The LEGO Movie franchises) and brother Luigi (Charlie Day; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi. With the assistance of a Mushroom Kingdom resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key; The Lion King) and some training from the strong-willed ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy;The Queen’s Gambit), Mario taps into his own power.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parents Guide

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Age Rating Parents Guide

Let’s take a look at what  parents  need to know about the age rating of the movie before letting their younger children watch  The Super Mario Bros. Movie .

Language :  The Super Mario Bros. Movie contains mild language, with no profanity used. The strongest words viewers will come across are “stupid” and “idiot.” There are no stronger words, strong language, or snippets of language.

Mature Content : The biggest concern for parents is some of the violent content. Characters are shown in peril, falling out of the window, hanging above lava, having discussions about sacrifices, scary looking dinosaurs and other creatures and other various threats of violence and frightening scenes. No drug use, drug abuse or drug use content. No sexual content, sex scenes or brief nudity.

Age Rating of The Super Mario Bros Movie Rating :  Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie has a PG rating for action and mild violence, and the parents’ advisory recommends it for an adult audience, younger adults, and teens 13 and older. The suggestion of parental guidance or an adult guardian is highly suggested for young kids (or older kids) under 13 years of age for this PG-rated motion picture. The minimum age recommendation is 13 years old; it is not suitable for young children. Young viewers are not recommended to view this film.

Overall Thoughts

The Super Mario Bros. Movie will win the hearts of fans of the video games, bringing back all the nostalgia from the game and its iconic characters. Expect to see plenty of Easter eggs as Mario and Luigi enter the gaming world, including where the mushroom people and jungle people live. The animation really brings the worlds to life with its vibrant colors that pop, giving it a video game feel.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie has a solid ensemble cast, all of whom give genuine and believable performances and bring the personality needed for their characters. When the trailer hit, there was much controversy over the fact that Chris Pratt, who voices Mario, doesn’t really sound like Mario but rather uses his own voice for the role. Watching the film, this was never really a problem or distraction for the role of Mario or any of the other characters. Although the movie is very aware of itself and, in fact, addresses the “voice” early on, even giving Pratt a chance to delight viewers with his version of Mario.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie runs around 90 minutes, which is the perfect length for this type of film geared towards a younger audience. It packs tons of actions and silly jokes to make the time fly by; there was never a dull moment. While the plot leaves much to be desired and was extremely predictable, it really didn’t bog down the story at all. Along with the content of the film being extremely family-friendly—no curse words or overly mature themes—it makes for the perfect film to enjoy with the entire family.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parents Guide

parents mario

A fan review for parents: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

A cautionary tale for any parents taking their kids to see The Super Mario Bros Movie: DO NOT go into this movie under the impression that you WON’T jump back in time and introduce your children to the heroes that we need and most certainly deserve. We have waited many many years to see these characters get the justice they deserve from creators bringing them to life. The Super Mario Bros Movie is absolute cinematic nostalgia for adults and an animated thrill ride for kids. Welcome to the wonderful world of Nintendo. Finally, it seems like they got it right.

parents mario

What is the movie about?

Well, it is pretty straight forward actually. That is probably one of the only “faults” with the movie. There is about as much of a plot as there is in the game. Honestly, it works though. The story centers around Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt; Jurassic World and The LEGO Movie franchises) and brother Luigi (Charlie Day; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) who are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world while working underground to fix a water main and “save” Brooklyn. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi. Assisted by the loyal Mushroom Kingdom resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key; The Lion King) and with some training from the strong-willed (and, human?) ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy; The Queen’s Gambit), Mario taps into his own power.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie features an extraordinary comedic cast, including Jack Black (Jumanji films) as Bowser, Seth Rogen (Neighbors franchise) as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Saturday Night Live) as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson (American Dad!, Family Guy) as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco (Green Book) as Spike, plus a special voice appearance by Charles Martinet, who has voiced the characters of Mario and Luigi in the Super Mario games for more than 30 years.

What did they get right?

In my opinion, almost everything. From the animation style, to the voice performances, and the superb musical arrangement – it all contributed to an awesome audience experience. I cannot wait to get back tot the theater with my whole family and unlock the ultimate family achievement: making a memory.

The animation style

This movie was bright and colorful, but in a muted and soft way that did not feel too flashy and overstimulating. This will be a major bonus for parents nervous to bring their kids to a big screen movie where the potential for stimulation overload in public is a risk. It was easy on the eyes and fun to watch. 

The voice performances

I know that people are curious and nervous over the casting choices, but I have to say that the lack of Italian “accents” (that were always a bit TOO over the top and stereotypical for me) are addressed early on and I felt was handled wonderfully. It actually added to the characters that they were just normal guys from Brooklyn trying to make their way in business in any way they could. The voice acting overall was well done and very rarely did I even have a moment of realizing who the voices were despite how recognizable the actors behind the characters are. Jack Black was a stand out in that regard. His voice is so unique, but only occasionally did it stand out separate from the character Bowser. Chris Pratt did a great job as Mario, and I know that there have been people who were understandably nervous. All of the cast work giving voices to the characters that we all know and still felt authentic and not forced in any way that took anything from the job at hand: defeating Bowser.

The musical arrangement

I could not stop smiling while watching the movie. It felt like an absolute thrill ride that was driven by the ultimate soundtrack of my youth. From the 80’s power ballads perfectly placed throughout the film to the flashback inducing twinkle of the piano keys as you remember grabbing up all of the coins… the iconic music cannot be unsung. It was subtle most of the time, but when those tunes from the games surfaced I found myself smiling every time. I will say that the original Bowser song he composes on a piano (stay for the mid-credit scene for the extended cut) was hilarious and very Jack Black-esque in all the best ways!

The animation

I always get a little cautious seeing animated films in the theater because there’s a tendency for them to lean into how bright they can be. It sometimes feels like it can be a bit of sensory overload. Not only was this movie, extremely bright and colorful, it was animated in a way that did not feel flashy or overwhelming, which I think a lot of parents will really appreciate.

I know that people were nervous online in advance of the movie opening about the lack of accents, Italian accent with Mario and Luigi, but not only did it feel natural for them not to have accents, it is addressed early on, and when they move forward, everything feels Natural. The entire cast is fantastic, and each brought something to the role that made you think of them as the character, and not as the actor that you already associate in real life. There were only a few moments when Bowser‘s voice for me really even reminded me that he was Jack Black. And to be honest those moments for when he was singing and they were an absolute joy and no one could’ve done it as good as Jack Black does. A stand out character the was the sweet little maudlin flame guy Lumalee from Super Mario Galaxy. He absolutely made you laugh out loud every single time his character appeared on the screen. What a scene stealer! Grab any merchandise you can for him now because your kids will certainly want it. 

What should parents know?

The only thing I would caution parents to remember when taking their kids to see this film is that if they can take a moment to put themselves back in the shoes of their childhood selves. Remember how intensely scary Bowser’s castle could be, Dry Bones when they suddenly reanimated, and even the occasional underwater creature (Maw-Ray the Eel in Super Mario 64?!) that could pop up and scare you? Sometimes we forget that those things were all certainly designed back then to create tension, and for little ones they create tension now. There are even a few scenes early on with characters in the forest that come off a little past creepy and more slightly scary. Of course, not every kid is going to find this intense or scary, but you know your children and it is something to consider if you have a child under the age of six for sure. One other caution for parents is that there is a lot of fire and lava involving the Bowser character. If your child has a fear of lava or fire, definitely consider whether or not the big screen is going to be a place to experience some harrowing action scenarios involving those elements.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie – Only In Theaters April 5

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Looking for a movie to see this weekend in theaters without the kids? Check out Shazam! Fury of the Gods

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April 6, 2023 at 2:53 pm

I’m taking my son to see the movie Saturday. Thanks for your review!

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April 6, 2023 at 3:15 pm

You will love it! There are two post credit scenes to keep an eye out for too!

[…] If you liked this review, make sure to read my review of Super Mario Brothers. […]

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super mario bros movie review for parents

Super Mario Bros. (1993)

  • Parents Guide

Certification

  • Violence & Gore (5)
  • Profanity (1)
  • Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking (1)
  • Frightening & Intense Scenes (4)
  • Spoilers (2)
MPAA Rated PG for sci-fi action, mild language and sensuality
Certification (Manitoba/Ontario) (Nova Scotia/Québec) (original rating) (2018, re-rating) (original rating) (video rating) (theatrical rating) (video rating) (DVD, current rating) (DLSV) (certificate#32422)

Sex & Nudity

  • Mild 21 of 58 found this mild Severity? None 19 Mild 21 Moderate 4 Severe 14 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.

Violence & Gore

  • Mild 24 of 43 found this mild Severity? None 4 Mild 24 Moderate 4 Severe 11 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.
  • There are some scary looking dinosaurs, and a couple of people do die: one is instantaneously turned into a skeleton and fossilized on a cave wall, and the other turns into green slime. The weapons used are primarily flame-throwers, and while one creature (a humanoid with a lizard head) catches fire, he's not harmed. Edit
  • A small dinosaur -- supposed to be the equivalent of a dog -- gnaws on a woman's foot, and she promptly stabs him; both seem uninjured. Edit
  • A man is changed into a chimpanzee. Edit
  • Gore is mainly of the disgusting and slimy variety. Edit
  • There are various threats of violence. Edit
  • Mild 22 of 51 found this mild Severity? None 13 Mild 22 Moderate 1 Severe 15 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.
  • 2 misuses of "hell." Both are near the beginning of the movie. Edit

Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking

  • Mild 20 of 43 found this mild Severity? None 11 Mild 20 Moderate 1 Severe 11 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.
  • One minor character is seen with a cigarette in her hand most of the time she is on-screen. Edit

Frightening & Intense Scenes

  • Moderate 13 of 62 found this moderate Severity? None 5 Mild 22 Moderate 13 Severe 22 We were unable to submit your evaluation. Please try again later.
  • The entirety of the de-evolution scene. Edit
  • Goombas in this movie look creepy Edit
  • Koopa's kingdom is a dark and derelict dystopia. Edit
  • There is a police car chase where Mario and Luigi drive the police car out of town while being chased and attacked by other policeman. Edit

The Parents Guide items below may give away important plot points.

  • Lots of cleavage and one kiss. A baby is hatched out of a giant egg, nude, but no gentials are shown on camera. There are some sexual references. Edit
  • When Mario and Luigi shoot at Koopa with the Devolver Gun, he devolved into a large, mutated carnivorous beast temporarily before transforming back to a Tyrannosaurus Rex and ending as primordial slime. Edit

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Home » Parent Movie Reviews » Age Rating Of The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)

Age Rating Of The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)

Posted on Last updated: April 15, 2024

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Your video game-loving kids might be asking if they can see this one. The star power is there! But can they? What is the true age rating of The Super Mario Bros. Movie? Can your kids watch this one? We’re covering the 7 big things parents need to know about the age rating for Super Mario Bros. Movie in this parents guide .

super-mario-bros parents guide movie poster

Table of Contents

About The Super Marios Bros. Movie

Based on the world of Nintendo’s Mario games, the film invites audiences into a vibrant, thrilling new universe unlike any created before in an action-packed, exuberant cinematic comedy event.

While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt; Jurassic World and The LEGO Movie franchises) and brother Luigi (Charlie Day; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world.

But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.

With the assistance of a Mushroom Kingdom resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key; The Lion King ) and some training from the strong-willed ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach ( Anya Taylor-Joy ; The Queen’s Gambit), Mario taps into his own power.

Watch the trailer for Super Mario Bros. Movie here.

super mario bros parents guide

Cast of The Super Mario Bros. Movie

  • Chris Pratt as Mario
  • Charlie Day as Luigi
  • Keegan-Michael Key as Toad
  • Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach
  • Jack Black as Bowser
  • Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong
  • Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong
  • Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek
  • Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike
  • Charles Martinet

age rating of super mario bros movie parents guide mario

Age Rating of The Super Marios Bros. Movie: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)

Can your kids watch this one? What is the age rating of The Super Marios Bros. Movie?

This parent’s guide will help you decide if your family can handle the seven big issues with movies and shows: mature topics, gore, violence, language, sex, romance, and nudity. We’ll also give the age rating and age-appropriate recommendations.

super mario bros parents guide mario and luigi

This movie is rated PG, so you can expect the language to be mild and more suitable for children.

There are no big swears in Super Mario Bros. Movie, but there are still some things families may object to in the dialogue.

Your kids will hear phrases like:

Thankfully, no major curse words are dropped in this movie.

Age Rating of The Super Marios Bros. Movie: Is It Safe For Teens When It Comes To Sex, Romance, and Nudity?

There’s a bit of love, marriage talk, and romance, but it’s really played towards a kid’s level and understanding.

There is no sexual content or nudity in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

luigi super mario bros age rating

Violence and Gore: Is The Super Marios Bros. Movie Too Scary For Kids Under 10?

There are a few times that they caught us with a jump scare! We felt a water scene with a creature was fairly intense.

But that’s really as far as Super Mario Bros Movie goes when it comes to scary.

The cartoon violence is what you will see on most shows, so this movie doesn’t stand out as particularly scary or violent.

Characters are in peril and do have to fight their way out of scary situations by punching and using weapons. Axes and spears are used.

If you or your kids have played the Mario video games, you’ll recognize the more intense “levels” so to speak.

Is The Super Marios Bros. Movie Ok For Kids: Mature Topics

A few jokes are made about making sacrifices which could lead to questions from young kids. There are also some potty jokes that may or may not play well with your family.

Bowser low key stalks Peach and forces her into a marriage pact.

But there’s no smoking, drinking, or drug use in the movie, or anything super concerning on an adult theme level for younger kids.

A caged character spouts some concerning doom and gloom quotes as well. Most kids may not understand it but those that do might be concerned.

super mario bros movie parents guide

Age Rating of The Super Marios Bros. Movie: What Ages Can Really Watch This One?

The Super Marios Bros. Movie is rated PG for cartoon violence and some mild language.

Parents Guide: Is The Super Marios Bros. Movie Appropriate For Kids Under 10?

photosensitivity warning: there are short scenes with bright flashes.

We think kids as young as 5 or 6 could handle this one.

Especially if they are already well versed in the Super Mario Brothers video game world; they won’t have any issue understanding and enjoying the content.

To be clear: you don’t need to know the games to follow the plot either. But gamers will probably level up in enjoyment here.

The movie clocks in right at 90 minutes, which is the sweet spot for kinder-level attention spans!

Could you take younger children? Maybe.

We didn’t find anything super concerning in our viewing, but of course, you know your child best. This might be a load them up on snacks to distract them kind of film if you plan to take the whole family, and don’t want to leave the littlest ones at home.

Stick around til the very end for an end credit scene! You do have time to hit a bathroom between the mid credit scene and end credit scene though.

super-mario-bros-movie-2023

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Want More Age Rating Recommendations? Get the parents guides for movies and tv shows here

Patty Holliday is a parent movie reviewer, writer, and podcaster living in the Washington, DC area. Her goal is to bridge the gap between casual fandom and picky critic with parent movie and television reviews. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.

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super mario bros movie review for parents

  • DVD & Streaming

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

  • Action/Adventure , Comedy , Kids

Content Caution

The Super Mario Bros Movie 2023

In Theaters

  • April 5, 2023
  • Chris Pratt as Mario; Charlie Day as Luigi; Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach; Jack Black as Bowser; Keegan-Michael Key as Toad; Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong; Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong

Home Release Date

  • May 16, 2023
  • Aaron Horvath; Michael Jelenic

Distributor

  • Universal Pictures

Movie Review

You may think of Mario and his brother, Luigi, as a couple of thickly accented Italian plumbers with bright, monogramed outfits and bushy mustaches.

But hey, all of that is just for the commercials.

I mean, if you’re gonna break away and start your own plumbing business in Brooklyn, ya’ gotta have a schtick, right? Something people will remember. And as goofy as it sounds, That’s-a theirs! (Except for the mustaches, that is. All the men in their family are blessed with fabulous mustache-growing genes, dontcha’ know.)

However, even with a fake persona and a flashy pair of soup-strainers, Mario and Luigi’s business isn’t going so well. There’s always something that goes a bit sideways during their jobs.

Of course, Mario still holds a dream in his heart. He is convinced that if they stick together, he and his brother can be great. Hey, they may even save Brooklyn someday. Uh, plumbing-wise, that is.

And then Mario spots a newscast on TV and sits up with a flush of excitement. A huge water main has cracked open downtown, and the city is having a tough time stopping the flood. This could be the Mario Bros. chance.

Problem is, once Mario and Luigi get to the source of the city’s emergency, they end up being washed into the wrong place and down the wrong pipe. And before you can say Wahoo! They find themselves sucked into some oddly colorful magical dimension … hidden down deep under Brooklyn! Who woulda thunk it?

Mario lands in a Mushroom Kingdom ruled over by a pretty princess in pink named Peach. (Which is, frankly, not such a bad turn of events.) But, not everything is peachy. Mario has some pressing questions to answer.

What is this place? Where did Luigi go? Who’s this dangerous, fire-breathing King Bowser that the mushroomy residents are all afraid of? How can Mario get Princess Peach to give him the time of day?!

One thing’s for sure: Mario has never been a sit-back-and-watch-the-water-drip kinda guy. If he wants answers and solutions, he’s gonna step up with a wrench in hand and work ‘em out.

Let’s-a-go!

Positive Elements

Mario. Luigi and Princess Peach all fight to protect the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom. And they’re willing to give their all to protect one another.

Peach steps up alone to face a threatening army in order to give her people more time to escape, for instance. And Luigi grabs a manhole cover, taking the brunt of an attack, to shield Mario from Bowser’s flames. For Mario’s part, we see him risk his life to save Donkey Kong from drowning, even though they were at odds with each other.

Peach finds herself quite taken with Mario, in fact—not because he’s tall and handsome or an incredible fighter, but because he’s sincere, kind and refuses to give up.

Mario and Luigi also have a special brotherly bond. Luigi is something of an accident-prone mess-up at times. But Mario resolutely declares, “Nothing can hurt us as long as we’re together!” And indeed, the Bros. are a much more formidable force together.

We learn that both Mario and Donkey Kong are bothered by a seeming lack of respect from their fathers. But by story’ end, both dad’s step forward (at different times) to publicly praise their sons for the brave and upright choices they make.

Even though Bowser is a bully-like ruler who’s not afraid to fire-blast his foes, at his core he’s really seeking Peach’s approval. He declares that he’d actually like nothing better than to simply marry her in a “fairytale wedding.” But, of course, his destructive choices belie any small sighing positives that might peek through in his character.

Spiritual Elements

The magical realms that Mario and Luigi slip into are never really explained, apart from Peach mentioning that there’s a “huge universe out there with a lot of galaxies.” In fact, she notes that she herself stumbled into the Mushroom Kingdom when she was just a little girl. And the mushroomy toad residents there raised her and then made her their princess.

Later in the movie, the magical force that drew Mario and Luigi into that foreign world is reversed, sending Mushroom Kingdom characters into Brooklyn.

It’s not spiritual, per se, but both Bowser’s visage and his dark, floating volcanic lair have a very foreboding and perhaps even devilish-looking vibe to them. It’s also a bit reminiscent of Mordor for Lord of the Rings. That darkness is offset somewhat by Bowser’s goofy minions. But sensitive young viewers might be frightened by Bowser’s foreboding appearance.

A scene early in the film has some of Bowser’s minions crawling up out of the ground to pursue Luigi through a dark forest in a way that’s reminiscent of zombie movies, another scene that could be intense for young or sensitive viewers.

Sexual Content

Both Mario and Bowser find Princess Peach to be quite appealing from first sight. And its obvious that Peach kinda thinks Mario is pretty special, too.

Bowser practices his wedding proposal to Princess Peach by dressing up his male wizard like Peach and having him roleplay her response in a scene that’s played for laughs (and which doesn’t seem to be making a political statement, though some might interpret it otherwise).

Violent Content

Once Mario and Luigi find themselves in Peach’s magical realm, the peril of their situation increases dramatically. It’s a cartoony peril but could at times be stressful for younger viewers. That peril is reinforced by threats Bowser and some of his henchmen make to various people. Someone says, “This guy’s brother is going to die imminently.” Another says, “Mario, you’re a dead man!”

Bowser also blows out flamethrower-like bursts of fire that melt an icy castle and burn up a variety of things, including a Koopa that’s transformed from flesh to animated skeleton form. He declares his plans to conquer and rule everything. He sends out his army of Koopas and Ghost Guys and Dry Bones to attack Mario, Peach and the good-guy army.

These battlers smash into each other in Mario Karts, as well as punching and bashing at one another. Vehicles explode and are smashed. A large group of skeleton-like Dry Bones chase and grab at Luigi.

Donkey Kong and Mario jump into battle with each other, and Kong pounds the plumber around, smashing him with barrels and throwing him into walls. It’s only when Mario dons a Cat suit that he comes back with quick scratching attacks. Mario also gets thumped around repeatedly as he tries to make his way through Peach’s obstacle course filled with spikes, clubs and traps.

Again, none of these attacks or thumping falls are bloody or more than cartoony bashes, but the skirmishes can be frenetic at times. And after one pounding battle with Bowser, Mario looks pretty beaten up and bruised until he regroups and steps out once more.

Elsewhere, Bowser intends to destroy a city with a large bomb. And in the real world of Brooklyn, he sends vehicles flying, endangers a large crowd of people and blasts things with fire. But in the end, his destructive plot is foiled.

On a more intimate level, Bowser slams a piano’s wooden keyboard cover down on a sidekick’s fingers and tells him, “Pain is the best teacher.” He declares that he will kill Mario and plans to kill Luigi to set Mario back on his heels. Bowser also decides to sacrifice a large group of prisoners by lowering their cages into a lake of lava. “I’ll be ritualistically sacrificing them in your honor,” he tells Peach. The cages are lowered and begin to melt, but the prisoners are saved.

Crude or Profane Language

Mario and Luigi’s former boss, Spike, calls the brothers “stupid” for leaving his employ. “You’re a joke and you always will be,” he tells them. Someone is told to “shut up.” Other name-calling includes similar phrases, such as “idiot,” “lunatic” and “psycho.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Mario and others bop yellow Question Blocks that hold magic mushrooms. They gobble them down and are given special power-ups. One can make you bigger, another smaller, for instance. We also see the mushrooms give Mario special Cat and Racoon suits to battle with. Peach consumes a (similar) ice flower that gives her icy powers.

Other Negative Elements

There’s one oddly dark element in the mix that’s played for laughs. In the group of prisoners that Bowser is holding elevated in cages, a particular glowing Luma character makes fatalistic statements. This star-like critter is utterly cute-looking but sighs out statements such as, “The only hope is the sweet release of death,” and, “There is no sunshine, only darkness.” These declarations drive the other prisoners crazy as they plead for it to be quiet.

With the announcement of a new animated Super Mario Bros. movie, I’d wager there were a lot of people worrying that some Hollywood braintrust was going to, once again, ruin a memory from their childhood. (Yeah, I’m old enough to remember that truly horrible live-action Mario pic from the ‘90s.)

But worry not: Mario and crew come through the cinematic translation this time with lots of colorful and sparkling charm to spare.

Granted, this pic has the slow upfront load time of an old Game Cube—with story set-up fanservice that tiny fans likely won’t catch. And the central characters don’t sound or always act like you remember (though Jack Black’s Bowser is a hoot.) But their hearts are all in the right place.

There are heroes, cartoony perils, loving family members and a happy ending. In fact, once the gang gets to goofily stomping Koopas, chucking Donkey Kong barrels and gleefully Mario-Karting about, you can’t help but enjoy yourself.

That said, the only real concern is that some scenes might be visually frightening to really young or sensitive viewers. Much of the peril here, most of it really, is pretty cartoony. But Bowser’s glowing eyes and volcanic HQ do have a dark feel to them that might be upsetting to some.

Still, this is a movie for fans, first and foremost. And I suspect most who’ve played any of these games will have a ball watching this rollicking big-screen homage to Nintendo’s flagship franchise.

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After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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The Super Mario Bros Movie 2 Gets April 24, 2026 Release Date in Japan

Featured Image: The Super Mario Bros Movie 2 Gets April 24, 2026 Release Date in Japan

The upcoming Super Mario  animated movie sequel (tentatively The Super Mario Bros Movie 2 ) has revealed an April 24, 2026 release date in Japan. That is almost exactly 3 years after the first movie’s premiere in the country (April 28, 2023). An important note is that the first movie started screening internationally 3 weeks earlier than Japan (April 7, 2023).

mario movie visual

As previously announced , the film will be co-produced by Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri and Nintendo representative director Shigeru Miyamoto, with Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic directing. Matthew Fogel will be in charge of the screenplay. You can watch the Japanese-dubbed trailer of the first movie below.

The first movie was a huge hit, and its opening broke the record for the highest earning animated movie opening in history. Prior adaptations for  Super Mario  were the 1986 anime film  Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!  and the 1993 live-action film  Super Mario Bros.

Source: Oricon ©Nintendo

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super mario bros movie review for parents

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The super mario bros. movie.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Poster: Lots of colorful Mario characters stand in front of the movie's title

  • Parents say (64)
  • Kids say (103)

Based on 103 kid reviews

Decent Movie

This movie wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great (in my opinion). Very predictable plot and got bored quite quickly. In terms of age rating I’ll give it a 9 due to a little bit of violence.

This title has:

  • Educational value
  • Great messages
  • Great role models
  • Too much violence

Report this review

Holy crud this was good, how does commen sense media give this 3 stars, i mean, it’s a good family movie 🤷‍♀️, great fun for all, why is it only 3 stars, a lot much better than expected, the best movie i have ever seen, #peaches peaches peaches peaches peaches.

A new Super Mario Bros. movie is officially coming in 2026

Nintendo boss Shigeru Miyamoto shared the news

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The next Super Mario Bros. movie has a release date – and it's coming in 2026.

Nintendo boss Shigeru Miyamoto shared the news on Twitter last night. "Hello, this is Miyamoto. We will be broadcasting a Nintendo Direct tonight, but before that I would like to make an announcement," he wrote via Nintendo's account . "The release date for the new Super Mario animated movie in Japan has been set for April 24, 2026. We are working with the Illumination team to make it a fun movie, so please continue to look forward to it."

The first movie, released in 2023, sees the titular plumber (voiced by Chris Pratt) and his brother Luigi (Charlie Day) transported from Brooklyn to the Mushroom Kingdom as they find themselves on a mission to save both worlds from Bowser (Jack Black) and his army. The voice cast also includes Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, and Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong. No casting information for the next movie has been revealed yet.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie became the highest-grossing movie based on a video game and the third-highest-grossing animated movie of all time (behind The Lion King and Frozen 2 ). The film was also the second-highest-grossing movie of 2023, beaten only by Barbie at last year's box office. 

The new Super Mario Bros. movie hits the big screen on April 24, 2026. In the meantime, check out our guide to the biggest upcoming movies on the way for the rest of this year. 

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I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related across the Total Film and SFX sections. I help bring you all the latest news and also the occasional feature too. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. 

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super mario bros movie review for parents

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Super mario bros. movie sequel set for april 2026.

Hello, this is Miyamoto. We will be broadcasting a Nintendo Direct tonight, but before that I would like to make an announcement. The release date for the new Super Mario animated movie in Japan has been set for April 24, 2026. We are working with the Illumination team to make it a fun movie, so please continue to look forward to it.
The film is scheduled for theatrical release in most countries and regions, including the United States, on April 3, 2026, and in other countries and regions during April 2026.

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The Mario Movie Sequel Has Found Its Release Date

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Maika Monroe teases an even darker sequel in  They Follow . The Doctor and Mel face a storm of death in Doctor Who ’s season finale. Plus, what to expect from the next House of the Dragon . To me, my spoilers!

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Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto has announced that the animated sequel will release on April 24, 2026 in Japan, with confirmation the film will arrive several weeks earlier in the U.S., on April 3.

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During a recent interview with Collider , Maika Monroe described the long-awaited sequel to It Follows as being “bigger, darker and more fucked up” than the original.

But as you know with the first film, I’m not taking any credit in this, David is brilliant. I mean, he is brilliant. The whole movie transformed at that point. It was changing the game in the genre, and he wouldn’t ever make a sequel if he didn’t think it was going to top it . He’s very specific, turns down so many… He just knows what he wants to do and what he wants to make. I mean, at first I’m like, “Oh, a sequel? Where are we going to go here?” And I read it, and it’s just so fucking good. It’s so good. I’m so excited. I think where you’ll meet Jay at this point is maybe not what’s expected, but it’s so cool. It’s just, of course, as everyone says for sequels, literally, though, is just bigger and darker and more fucked up. Reading it was the craziest thing ever.

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Finally, HBO has released a trailer revealing what to expect in the weeks ahead of House of the Dragon .

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power .

IMAGES

  1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review

    super mario bros movie review for parents

  2. THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE Parents Guide Movie Review

    super mario bros movie review for parents

  3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Movie Review for Parents

    super mario bros movie review for parents

  4. The Super Mario Bros Movie Parents Guide

    super mario bros movie review for parents

  5. Mario's Parents Mom and Dad Images From the Super Mario Bros. Movie

    super mario bros movie review for parents

  6. Age Rating Of The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)

    super mario bros movie review for parents

VIDEO

  1. I edited The Super Mario Bros Movie because im bored

  2. Universal Sent Another Super Mario Bros Movie Care Package!

  3. The Super Mario Bros spoiler Mario save a dog

  4. Is the Super Mario Bros Movie Good or BAD?

  5. Super Mario Bros Movie Review: AHHHHHHHHH

  6. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (dunkview)

COMMENTS

  1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Movie Review

    Our review: Parents say ( 64 ): Kids say ( 103 ): Nintendo fans will feel like they grabbed a Super Star while watching this brightly colored magical adventure, which mashes several Mario games up into a full storyline. But for viewers who are less familiar, sitting through The Super Mario Bros. Movie may feel like watching a second grader play ...

  2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

    Bowser's castle spaceship has horns and glowing red eyes to make it have a scary design. Mario's family is unsupportive and rude to him for starting his own business at the beginning of the movie. May be disturbing for some people. A dog is intimidating. Mild/Moderate for neurodivergent viewers. Donkey Kong and Mario get into a sassy argument ...

  3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Movie Review for Parents

    Parents need only worry about the fantasy violence throughout, which could be a bit scary for very young viewers. If you're ok with a lot of spectacle and not much substance, The Super Mario Bros Movie is sure to power up family movie night. Directed by Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic. Starring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day.

  4. Parent reviews for The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    Helpful. H. R. Parent of 10, 14 and 17-year-old. April 10, 2023. age 6+. Great movie for families! Super fun, goofy and no politics! Great movie to watch with the whole family! Whether you're a Mario Bros. fan already or simply want a good movie for movie night, it has something for everyone! The film has so many fun moments and lots of awesome ...

  5. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review

    Considering the full PG rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Super Mario Bros. Movie to kids younger than the age of 3-4 years old. The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2023 PG rating is pretty light and comparable to Despicable Me/Minions movie ratings (without the crude humor).

  6. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Parents Guide + Review

    Here's Your Parents Guide: Mario and Luigi and very well-known characters, making this movie appeal to a multitude of ages. The Super Mario Bros. Movie has an MPA rating of PG for action and mild violence. It has a runtime of 92 minutes. Here's what parents need to know before seeing the new Mario movie with your family.

  7. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    The Super Mario Bros. Movie VIOLENCE/GORE 3 - Many large blobs of lava splat down on frozen ground as a giant rock formation shaped like a monster hovers toward a kingdom; a hatch is opened and small soldiers pour out accompanied by other flying soldiers all carrying spears; a large monster with horns, claws and sharp teeth stomps out of the vessel and demands, "Open the gates or die ...

  8. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    Movieclips: Best Songs: Sing, Minions, Super Mario Bros. and More Movieclips: Best Songs: Sing, Minions, Super Mario Bros. and More 33:13 The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Exclusive Featurette ...

  9. The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Video Review

    Is The Super Mario Bros. Movie OK for your child? Watch Common Sense Media's video review to help you make informed decisions. ... Movie & TV reviews for parents. Use app. For Parents; For Educators; Our Work and Impact; Language: English. English Español. Search Or browse by category: Movies; TV Shows; ... Movie Review. 1:08 age 8+ Spider-Man ...

  10. The Super Mario Bros. Movie movie review (2023)

    "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" opens in Brooklyn with the plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt) and his brother Luigi (Charlie Day) trying to get their new business off the ground.Some Nintendo easter eggs in the background of these initial scenes should produce a small smile from people of my generation, and there's a bit of inspiration structurally, like a clever early shot in which Mario and ...

  11. The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review

    Verdict. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a fireball of animated fantasy. Mario, Luigi, and Peach's adventure delights with its infectious energy and smart implementations of video game callbacks ...

  12. The Super Mario Bros. Movie: A Movie Review For Parents

    Overall Rating: ⭐ 5.0 / 5. Recommended Age: 7 and up. For decades now, Mario and Luigi have been beloved childhood video game characters for both us and our kids. So it only made sense to make a brand-new full-motion picture dedicated to the dynamic duo! The Super Mario Bros. Movie begins with Mario and Luigi as real-world plumbers trying to ...

  13. The Super Mario Bros. Movie First Reviews: Packed with Nostalgia and

    If you're a parent, you're probably already going to see The Super Mario Bros. Movie regardless of what critics say, and you'll probably have enough fun with it not to feel disappointed. - Reuben Baron, Looper.com. Kids will have a blast, especially with its nods to popular games, such as Luigi's Mansion and Mario Kart. However, its ...

  14. Super Mario Bros. Movie, The

    Movie review of Super Mario Bros. Movie, The by Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 11 April 2023 to help parents find age-appropriate and enjoyable movies for their children. ... This movie could also give parents the opportunity to discuss with their children attitudes and behaviours, and their real-life consequences, such ...

  15. THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE Parents Guide Movie Review

    The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a fun ride that will bring back all the nostalgia from the video games and win over a new generation. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review. The Super Mario Bros. Movie releases in theaters across North America tomorrow, April 5, 2023. The film stars Chriss Pratt (Mario), Charlie Day (Luigi), Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach), Jack Black (Bowser ...

  16. A fan review for parents: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    The Super Mario Bros. Movie features an extraordinary comedic cast, including Jack Black (Jumanji films) as Bowser, Seth Rogen (Neighbors franchise) as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Saturday Night Live) as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson (American Dad!, Family Guy) as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco (Green Book) as Spike, plus a ...

  17. Super Mario Bros. (1993)

    A small dinosaur -- supposed to be the equivalent of a dog -- gnaws on a woman's foot, and she promptly stabs him; both seem uninjured. A man is changed into a chimpanzee. Gore is mainly of the disgusting and slimy variety. There are various threats of violence.

  18. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    The Super Mario Bros. Movie rating review for parents - Find out if The Super Mario Bros. Movie is okay for kids with our complete listing of the sex, profanity, violence and more in the movie. Home; Artistic Reviews; ... Screenit.com is an amazing resource for parents, educators, church groups or anyone who wants to make an informed decision ...

  19. 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' Movie Review

    The best thing that you can say about 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' is that it knows exactly what it wants to be: a movie for seven-year-olds.

  20. Age Rating Of The Super Mario Bros. Movie: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)

    This movie is rated PG, so you can expect the language to be mild and more suitable for children. There are no big swears in Super Mario Bros. Movie, but there are still some things families may object to in the dialogue. Your kids will hear phrases like: Thankfully, no major curse words are dropped in this movie.

  21. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    Movie Review. You may think of Mario and his brother, Luigi, as a couple of thickly accented Italian plumbers with bright, monogramed outfits and bushy mustaches. ... With the announcement of a new animated Super Mario Bros. movie, I'd wager there were a lot of people worrying that some Hollywood braintrust was going to, once again, ruin a ...

  22. Watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    Magically teleported from Brooklyn to the Mushroom Kingdom, two plucky plumbers team up with a princess to battle a tyrannical fire-breathing turtle. Watch trailers & learn more.

  23. The Super Mario Bros Movie 2 Gets April 24, 2026 Release Date in Japan

    The upcoming Super Mario animated movie sequel (tentatively The Super Mario Bros Movie 2) has revealed an April 24, 2026 release date in Japan.That is almost exactly 3 years after the first movie's premiere in the country (April 28, 2023). An important note is that the first movie started screening internationally 3 weeks earlier than Japan (April 7, 2023).

  24. Kid reviews for The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    April 5, 2023. age 5+. This movie was the best movie I have ever seen! The animation was beautiful, the story was amazing, and the voice actors were great. If you are a video game fan and love good movies this the movie you want to see. It is perfect for kids 5 and up. Even teens and adults will like this movie.

  25. The Next Super Mario Bros. Movie Has A Release Date In Japan

    We will be broadcasting a Nintendo Direct tonight, but before that I would like to make an announcement. The release date for the new Super Mario animated movie in Japan has been set for April 24 ...

  26. REVIEW

    If you've never heard of Super Mario Bros: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach, boy do I have a story for you...0:00 What IS the 1986 Mario Movie?1:06...

  27. A new Super Mario Bros. movie is officially coming in 2026

    The new Super Mario Bros. movie hits the big screen on April 24, 2026. In the meantime, ... GAME REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS TV REVIEWS. 1. Still Wakes the Deep review: "A moody, ambient piece of short ...

  28. Super Mario Bros. Movie Sequel Set for April 2026

    Shigeru Miyamoto took to the Twitter/X account of Nintendo Japan to reveal the release date of the next Super Mario Bros. Movie! The movie will launch in Japan on April 24th, 2026. Here's the full quote, auto-translated via Google Translate on the X website: Hello, this is Miyamoto. We will be broadcasting a Nintendo Direct tonight, but ...

  29. Film Screening: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

    2:00PM. Douglass. 1 Votes. Buy Tickets. Join us for a screening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). Based on the Super Mario video games, the animated film follows Mario on his adventures with his friends. Mario joins forces with Princess Peach and Toad. The trio is in search of Mario's brother Luigi. Together, they hope to defeat the evil ...

  30. The Mario Movie Sequel Has Found Its Release Date

    The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2. Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has announced that the animated sequel will release on April 24, 2026 in Japan, with confirmation the film will arrive several weeks ...