Despite receiving a lukewarm 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the much-anticipated Super Mario Bros. Movie has scored a gigantic worldwide opening day, amassing a staggering $66.2 million. The animated film earned an impressive “A” CinemaScore and a 96% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, defying critics’ expectations.
Broken down, the movie raked in $34.5 million internationally and $31.7 million domestically on its opening day alone. Projections indicate that the film is set to generate over $225 million globally in its opening weekend, with $125 million from the United States and Canada and another $100 million from international markets.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie, based on Nintendo’s beloved Mario video game franchise, was produced by Illumination, Universal Pictures, and Nintendo. It boasts an ensemble voice cast featuring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen.
The film explores an origin story for the iconic Mario and Luigi, Italian-American plumbers who find themselves transported to an alternate world, becoming embroiled in a conflict between the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach, and the Koopas, led by the villainous Bowser.
Despite the initial critical response, the movie’s nostalgic appeal and visually captivating animation could help offset its perceived shortcomings and win over die-hard fans of the gaming franchise.
This adaptation comes nearly three decades after the critical and commercial failure of the 1993 live-action Mario film, which left Nintendo hesitant to license its intellectual properties for future film adaptations. However, with renewed interest in the franchise and a partnership with Illumination and Universal, Nintendo has taken a bold step back into the world of film.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie premiered in Los Angeles on April 1, 2023, and was released in the United States on April 5. The movie is scheduled for release in Japan on April 28. While critics have praised the film’s animation, musical score, faithfulness to the source material, and Black’s performance, they have also criticized the plot, screenplay, and abundance of fan service. Despite these critiques, the film’s impressive opening day success suggests that audiences are ready to welcome Mario and Luigi back to the big screen.