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I saw the Super Mario Bros. Movie FIVE times: 3D vs 4DX vs IMAX vs Dolby review

My in-depth 3d vs 4dx vs imax vs dolby review.

Update: My in-depth testing in five different US theaters resulted in The Super Mario Bros. Movie in IMAX vs 3D vs 4DX vs Dolby review and I will tell you where to see the movie for the best picture and sound experience.

I didn’t want to just give you a The Super Mario Bros. Movie review that you can get at any publication. I wanted to watch the new film five times – in 3D, in 4DX, in IMAX, in Dolby Digital and in the 2D format – to compare the latest in cinema technology.

460 minutes (not counting previews) and $150. I count on paid subscribers to help keep The Shortcut running in a banner-ad-free format

Yes, the run time of the Mario movie is 92 minutes, so I spent 460 minutes and $150 watching the Nintendo and Universal flick at various AMC and Regal theaters around New York City. I guess I played a big part in helping Nintendo earn $377 million from The Super Mario Bros. Movie box office vs a budget of $100 million. By the end of its one-week run (it came out last Wednesday) the movie could be at $400 million, four times its $100 million budget.

My testing was all in an effort to tell you the best format to watch it this week. And good news: there’s a clear winner of The Super Mario Bros. movie review in all formats.

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Was The Super Mario Bros. Movie good?

I really liked it – all five times. I agree with the audience score more than I do cynical critics out there (more on why at the end for paid subscribers 🔒). You’d think seeing the movie repeatedly over the course of two days would be awful. Well, while I don’t recommend doing that , The Super Mario Bros. Movie run time is 92 minutes. It’s short and sweet. And I found new Nintendo-themed Easter eggs in the movie until my third time watching. From that point forward, I could mouth all of the dialogue.

The experience was different in every theater. IMAX had the largest screen (but also the largest crowd), Dolby had the best picture and sound, and the 4DX version kept me awake with moving seats and sensory effects. The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 3D and the standard version were a little repetitive by the time I reached my goal. Regardless, the majority of the audience around me loved it each and every time and there’s a reason its $377 million budget opening weekend beat Disney’s Frozen 2.

According to my five-movie watch test, Kids loved Mario, Peach, Luigi, Toad, Bowser and especially Donkey Koney even if they haven’t had decades of experience with Nintendo’s characters like you and I do. They have to start somewhere. Adults who played the games will get the biggest kick out of the nostalgia – it’s full of fun classic video game references that I won’t spoil. Just don’t go in thinking this movie is going to be the best thing you ever see. Some adults have been disappointed.

It’s worth seeing – at least once. Five times may be excessive. But I did it for SCIENCE.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 3D

✅ 3D does make layers – like Bowser’s snout – pop out

✅ Kids will love it regardless of the minimal 3D effects

❌ Super Mario Bros. Movie in 3D isn’t a game changer

❌ Spring for the rockin’ 4DX version if it’s in your area

💰 $27.30 spent on the movie ticket

Bowser’s snout and fire breath lift off the screen in such a noticeable way that, for a brief moment, it makes seeing The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 3D feel worth it. But I wouldn’t say 3D was a game-changer for watching this particular movie. It’s just that every layer seemed a little more 3D than 2D when using the plastic Real D 3D glasses I got on my way into the Regal Union Square in NYC.

Kids will love going to see The Super Mario Bros Movie in 3D regardless. Parents, who remember 3D movies designed for Disney parks, where things pop off the screen, will be the more disappointed group. I saw the 4DX version with the same 3D experience (Real D 3D), so watching it all over again in 3D felt like I was repeating the experience in a broken 4DX chair. The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 3D isn’t as worth it as the 4DX version if that option is in your area for anywhere from $3 to $5 more per ticket.

I wouldn’t pay extra to watch the Mario movie in 3D, though kids may love the perk no matter what I say. In my testing, they thought it was “Cool.” Adults, meanwhile, noticed that only a few scenes truly pop, while the bright, fast-paced Super Mario action on the screen constantly felt slightly layered. I paid $27.30, with the ticket costing $25.50 plus a $1.80 booking fee.

Is the Mario movie 3D or not?

Yes, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in 3D at most major theaters in the United States, according to my research of the movie. There are IMAX 3D showings that will offer a larger screen in 3D, too, but at a more expensive price. There’s confusion (it’s why I’m getting asked this question over and over) because the 3D film hasn’t been heavily promoted, so I’m here to set the record straight in my 3D review of the movie.

Illumination, the computer animation studio behind the film, made the Mario movie with 3D in mind – but it wasn’t mindblowing except for a few scenes. But, at all times, the front-most characters appear to bump off the screen a bit, while characters in the background seem further behind. If you opt to see the Mario movie in 3D, you’ll have to watch it with 3D glasses on (it’ll look blurry without them). It’s not optional.

But while kids loved seeing the Mario movie in 3D, but the 2D version from Dolby (as it’ll explain later) was a cut above the rest.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie in IMAX

✅ Massive screen – eight stories tall – makes details come alive

✅ Crowd was really into the movie on opening night

❌ Big theaters mean big loud crowds, 2nd place in sound

❌ You need almost exact center seats for ideal viewing angles

❌ Not all IMAX theaters with The Super Mario Bros. Movie are built the same

💰 $32.48 spent on the movie ticket

🍿 $14.99 for Mario-themed 🌟 Superstar tin of large popcorn (how could I not?)

This was the first time I watched The Super Mario Bros. Movie – right at 12:01 am on April 5 – and it had by far the biggest screen with the biggest price. Why? Because it was easy to see small details on this real IMAX screen at New York City’s AMC Lincoln Square 13 theater. Going the extra mile, my testing for The Super Mario Bros. Movie IMAX review was done in the largest theater in the United States, not in a theater retrofitted to be called IMAX Experience like so many are around the country.

Let me give you a specific example of why IMAX is a good choice: Mario’s red cap showed up more texturized on the eight-story-tall IMAX screen than when I watched Super Mario Bros. in 3D and standard 2D formats (Dolby Cinema did a really nice job of exhibiting this particular detail too). It’s hard not to be in awe of the IMAX screen size – it measures 100 feet wide or 1/3rd a football field minus the endzones.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie IMAX ticket cost $27.99, and there was a $2 surcharge for having a “Preferred Sightline Seat” and I got dinged for a $2.49 convenience fee. In total, I paid $32.48 for this ticket. IMAX theaters have such large screens that viewing angles matter, so I do recommend the extra $2 and getting the perfect middle spot (if you can’t, go to a later Super Mario Bros. Movie show time). Even with the line-of-sight premium I wasn’t exactly in the middle, so I still feel like I had a better angle and picture out of the Dolby Cinema the next day.

People were willing to pay on the opening night of this Nintendo movie, of course, and I thought that was a drawback. It dawned on me as I heard a few “Let’s-a-go!” shouts mid-movie: Who sees movie premiers at 12:01am (besides people who want to do a unique Super Mario Bros. movie review marathon in every format)? Late teens and early 20-somethings with disposable cash who can’t yet drink at a bar. Of course!

But, actually, this sometimes-obnoxious young adult audience was really into the movie – they’ve played Mario games for almost two decades and their reaction made the movie-watching experience more enjoyable. I just didn’t realize this until I went to see Super Mario Bros. in 4DX, which was filled with screaming kids for 92 minutes.

The IMAX ended up being my second favorite viewing experience overall. Just make sure you get a good seat – not in the first few rows and not on the sides – because the screen is so big, it makes a difference on your neck. Ideally, I would have chosen rows G or H at this particular IMAX theater but instead was forced to choose a seat in Row F (the last most center seat available). If I wasn’t in a time crunch, I would have chosen a later show time to get a seat further back and closer to the center.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 4DX

✅ 4D means the chairs move, kick and shake to the action

✅ Water and air cannons are also timed with the visuals

✅ 3D glasses add some depth enough for kids to love

❌ Not for the faint of heart who don’t like sensory overload

❌ Attracts kids who like to scream the! entire! time!

❌ Screen wasn’t as premium as IMAX or Dolby

💰 $30.30 spent on the movie ticket

For a movie about two struggling plumbers, Super Mario Bros. in 4D left me soaking wet. But that was part of the “4DX” fun – the chairs tilt, lean, shake and even kick (like a massage chair gone awry) in time with the thrilling action on the screen. Basically, every step that Bowser makes and every crash of a Mario Kart is highlighted with a nice rumble in the back or bottom. It adds a new dimension to the movie experience.

Air cannons in the seat headrest behind me and on the railing in front of me (or in the seat in front of everyone else, as I had a mid-section row) highlighted Bowser’s breath of fire and Mario dashes across the screen. There are also giant fans on the perimeter of the theater to simulate wind effects. The frequent puffs of air are going to be too much for some people, but it sure woke me up during my fourth time watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie. That’s good because the price was $28.50 with a $1.80 online booking fee for a total of $30.30.

The water canons won’t get you in the face, but they will make your pants wet – like, right where it looks awkward. Again, all part of the fun and there’s a button on the armrest to turn off the water effects if you wish. There are also ceiling-mounted sprinklers to simulate rain, though I didn’t notice any smell or heat effects in this particular 4DX movie and I found the screen to be smaller than IMAX and Dolby theaters, which took away from the experience. I wish I was closer on this one.

The next-gen theater technology made The Super Mario Bros. Movie extra exciting. It’s come a long way, too: I got to experience 4DX in 2014 when CJ 4DPLEX, the South Korean company behind the tech, opened the first 4DX theater at LA Live. Now, in 2023, I’m glad to see it has expanded to make nearly every major action and horror movie feel more like an amusement park ride at flagship Regal theaters nationwide. Everyone who likes a bit of sensory overload should try a 4DX movie at least once.

Be warned: depending on what time you go, Super Mario Bros. in 4D attracts a lot of kids (I went at 7pm). So you may be paying $23 to listen to exactly what you’d hear seated next to a five-year-old while on a roller coaster for two minutes – but this was 92 minutes of a child screaming their head off. I blame Bowser.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie in Dolby

✅ Dolby Vision brings out details on a very big, but intimate screen

✅ Dolby Atmos offered the best surround sound without distraction

✅ Raked stadium seating offers plush reclining leather chairs

❌ You’ll pay a little more for this premium experience

💰 $28.48 spent on the movie ticket

Here’s the clear winner: The Super Mario Bros. Movie in Dolby Cinema was the best way to watch it – the true superstar of the cinema. I went to the AMC 34th Street 14 in NYC, and it was the opposite of the screaming-kid-filled 4DX experience. I put my feet up thanks to the plush leather reclining chair, had a nice buffer between me and other people in my row, and watched the movie… for the fifth and final time.

Technology matters: Dolby Vision offers brighter brights (seen in the lush Mushroom Kingdom) and darker darks (when you pivot back to Bowser’s Badlands). The vivid colors in Mario’s red cap and his blue overalls really pop without the need to be 3D. Mario and Luigi’s matching blue overalls almost feel fuzzy thanks to this crisper picture format.

The texture on Mario’s cap that I spotted in the IMAX was just as clear on this big screen – and there were fewer people and more comfortable roomy seats. Dolby Atmos offered the best sound, blowing away the competition. Seeing The Super Mario Bros Movie in 4DX was cool, but more distracting with constant puffs of air, so it took away from the surround sound experience, allowing Dolby to one-up 4DX.

Dolby Cinema was the happy middle ground among all formats. It felt closer to watching the Mario Bros. movie in my living room in a recliner. True, the IMAX screen was a lot larger (maybe 1/3rd the size), but Dolby’s screen felt more intimate and there were fewer theater distractions. Plus it “only” cost $28.48 (that’s actually pretty good in NYC). If I was going to see The Super Mario Bros. Movie in theaters again, it would probably be this experience – but I may wait until it’s streaming online to see it a sixth time.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie in RPX

✅ Much better screen and sound than the standard format

❌ Not nearly as big as an IMAX (but also not as pricey)

💰 $27.30 is the price I would have paid

I didn’t buy a ticket to see The Super Mario Bros. Movie in RPX (watching it six times in two days would seem a bit excessive, no?), but I did get the lowdown on the IMAX vs RPX vs Dolby differences. The RPX theater show time was right next door to my Mario Bros. movie in 3D show time. I would have paid $27.30 ($25.50 plus a $1.80 booking fee) for this experience.

This is the way to go if you’re going to a Regal movie theater (Dolby is the way to go at AMC) – you get Regal’s best picture and much better sound. There are also more comfortable reclining chairs that you won’t get in the standard cinema. The screen doesn’t have the mammoth height of an IMAX and I still think Dolby offers better acoustics, based on my past experiences. But RPX provides a big, more intimate experience and tickets fall in between standard and IMAX prices.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2D

✅ Cheapest way to see the same 92-minute movie

❌ No frills – 2D characters, standard picture and chair doesn’t movie

💰 $21.48 spent on the movie ticket

The Super Mario Bros. Movie has the same story no matter the format, so seeing the film in a standard theater – meaning in 2D – wasn’t a total letdown, but it didn’t have any of the highs of 4DX or Dolby or IMAX. The Nintendo characters were 2D, the chairs didn’t move with any fun gimmicks, the screen wasn’t what I could consider big in 2023 and the sound quality couldn’t match Dolby Atmos. You might not notice the differences, but coming from a nearby theater where I tested it in Dolby Cinema, I sure noticed. My favorite go-to detail in this review – Mario’s textured cap – kind of got lost in this smaller, less crisp screen vs the IMAX and Dolby pictures.

There were two upsides: I found many more Super Mario Bros. Movie show times in this standard format and the price of tickets was lower. Before the $1.99 “convenience fee,” the ticket cost $19.49 – under $20 in NYC! In the end, I paid $21.48 and it was the cheapest ticket for the two-day Mario Bros. Movie review marathon. It’s not my recommended viewing experience, but it gets the job done.

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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..

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

(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

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

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

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

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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The Super Mario Bros. Movie

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What to Know

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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The Super Mario Bros. Movie

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 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.

• 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)
• Aaron Horvath
• Michael Jelenic
• Brian Tyler
• Eric Osmond

Composer (original Nintendo themes by)

• Matthew Fogel

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‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Review: This Ain’t No Game

A famed video game character side-scrolls once again to the big screen in this bland, witless and flagrantly pandering animated comedy.

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By Calum Marsh

One thing every great Mario game has in common, from 2D classics like Super Mario World to seminal 3D installments like Super Mario 64 or the recent Nintendo Switch masterpiece Super Mario Odyssey, is a certain effortless charisma. No convoluted backstory, no sardonic attitude, no pretension whatsoever: just easy, straightforward video game fun, elevated by splashy visuals, tight controls and an attention to detail that borders on perfectionism.

Illumination and Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” the second attempt at a big-screen adaptation of the game franchise after the woefully unsuccessful “ Super Mario Bros. ” (1993), gets many things about Mario right, often painstakingly so. The Mushroom Kingdom, the magical land in which the film is largely set, looks pretty much exactly like the Mushroom Kingdom of the games. Fireflowers, super stars and question mark boxes all look, sound and function like they’re supposed to, and when the notoriously vexing blue shell makes a fan-baiting appearance, it spins, crashes and explodes in a way precisely faithful to the source material. Even Mario (a grating, unctuous Chris Pratt), who doesn’t sound like the Mario of the games, still manages to invoke trademark catchphrases like “it’s a-me” and “let’s a-go.”

But while the details are meticulous, the attitude is all wrong, trading the simple, unaffected charm that has served the character so well since his introduction in 1981 for a snarky and fatuous air that leans hard on winking humor and bland, hackneyed irony. This is Mario in the Marvel mold: every line a punchline, every gag an arcane meta reference for the nerds who can’t get enough of that sort of thing. Served some spaghetti with mushrooms, Mario winces and says he hates mushrooms. Because in the game he’s always eating mushrooms, you see. Sound like fun yet?

In this rendition, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, Mario and his cowardly younger brother, Luigi (Charlie Day), are upstart plumbers from Brooklyn who, for reasons that feel both unnecessarily complicated and curiously underexplained, are zapped into the fantastical world of Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and the nefarious Bowser (Jack Black). Much of what transpires has some basis in the original games, in a way that often feels oppressively pandering, and the movie’s commitment to fan service frequently results in baffling decisions in the context of the film. When Mario recruits Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) to take on Bowser’s army, they elect to travel via go-kart. Are go-karts inherently interesting or compelling? No. Is there any logical reason why they would use go-karts? No. But there are go-karts in the video game Mario Kart, so in karts they go.

Every level of the original Super Mario Bros. ends with an apology that has become one of the game’s most enduring catchphrases: “Our princess is in another castle.” In “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” it’s deployed as a flat, mirthless inside joke — another pat reference, unfunny and predictable, charged with a yawning desperation to please. It doesn’t seem right that the spirit of such a pure and exuberant character should be reduced to something so flippant and basically cynical. And though every conceivable effort has been taken to make this “Mario” as Mario-like as possible, the attitude is antithetical to exactly what the franchise so wholesomely represents.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes. In theaters.

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• Movie Review
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the new gold standard for video game films

From its cheesy nostalgia plays to its breathtaking and imaginative visuals, Universal’s new Mario movie is everything a video game adaptation should be.

By Charles Pulliam-Moore , a reporter focusing on film, TV, and pop culture. Before The Verge, he wrote about comic books, labor, race, and more at io9 and Gizmodo for almost five years.

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The most delightful part of Nintendo’s entire Mario franchise is how — despite all their decades of conflicts in various video games — Mario, Bowser, Peach, and the rest of their crew have really always been a troupe of actors putting on whimsical stage plays for a captive audience. That idea alone isn’t exactly what defines Universal and Illumination’s new The Super Mario Bros. Movie from co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. But much in the same way Super Mario Bros. 3 ’s ending invited players to think about and appreciate it as being more than just a video game, The Super Mario Bros. Movie plays like a magical celebration of how this franchise has evolved.

For years after Nintendo’s first live-action Super Mario Bros. movie debuted in theaters and immediately bombed at the box office, it seemed as if the studio wanted nothing more than to leave the entire endeavor in the past and steer clear of trying to make movies. But one of the more intriguing things about Universal’s new feature — a co-production between Nintendo and Illumination — is how effectively it manages to weave together so many iconic elements from the franchise’s bigger outings, like the ’90s movie, Mario Kart , and the Donkey Kong games, into a story that’s equal parts nostalgic and reflective of the franchise’s future.

In addition to being generally good guys who know a thing or two about pipes, The Super Mario Bros. Movie ’s Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are also introduced as Brooklynites and small business owners trying to make a name for themselves in the film’s opening scenes. As adults and the two youngest members of their surprisingly large family, both of the Mario bros. know how crushing it can be to come home every day to nothing but incessant criticism. But at the heart of Mario and Luigi’s bond is also the mutual understanding that, so long as the two of them stick together, there’s little they can’t accomplish.

That attitude’s what gets the brothers up every morning and inspires them to go out into the world in search of bill-paying gigs. But it’s also why they’re both so game when they unexpectedly get sucked into the adventure of a lifetime by way of a mysterious green pipe hidden somewhere deep in New York City’s sewer system.

Because it’s so dense with painstakingly crafted details meant to spark joy from the jump, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when The Super Mario Bros. Movie ’s intangible magic — the general feeling, rather than the movie’s actual magic — first kicks in. But as the Mario bros. jump, flip, and twirl their way across town on foot in an early action sequence styled after the classic Mario side scrollers, you can immediately get a sense of just how serious the movie is about translating the essence of its source material into something that feels familiar but also like its own distinct quantity.

This ends up being the case with most of The Super Mario Bros. Movie ’s complex set pieces, which doesn’t come as a surprise given Illumination’s track record and Nintendo’s reputation for being extremely protective of its brands. What does come as something of a shock, though, is how genuinely inoffensive (which is to say “not off-putting”) Pratt and Day’s takes on Mario and Luigi are — a concern the movie addresses head-on with some solid gags and a textual explanation as to why Mario occasionally sounds like he might have spent some time in Pawnee, Indiana.

As much information about the Mario bros. as the film lays out before they’re isekai-ed across the galaxy, it’s far, far more reserved about others like Bowser (Jack Black) and his sorcerer Kamek (Kevin Michael Richardson), who serve as hammy villain foils to the Mushroom Kingdom’s Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her loyal subject Toad (Keegan-Michael Key.)

If you’ve played through games like Super Mario World or Super Mario Odyssey , then the general shape of The Super Mario Bros. Movie ’s plot will be obvious from the moment you first hear why Bowser’s so hell-bent on getting his hands on a certain star-shaped MacGuffin. The movie works, though, because as it’s building toward its logical and very traditional Mario kind of ending, it uses every possible opportunity it has to make its various fantastical worlds feel like living, breathing, organic places that you’d want to spend hours exploring if they were parts of an open-world video game. It’s cool as hell every single time someone’s outfit transforms after they ingest mushroom power-ups, but it’s things like being able to see each of the individual seeds on a fire flower’s face flicking like a candle that really make you appreciate how hard the movie’s working to get things “right.”

At times, it almost feels like Illumination might have gone overboard in terms of dotting its i’s and crossing its t’s for a movie that moves incredibly fast and consistently has the air of something that’s been crafted with children prone to rewatching the same thing in mind. But it’s just as easy to interpret those things about the film as signs of how much more immersive and engaging Nintendo plans for its Mario theme park and future games to be.

Watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie , it’s impossible not to imagine what it might be like to one day play a game as visually rich running on hardware that puts current-gen Nintendo Switch to shame. That’s probably (part of) the reason the movie exists. But as big-budget commercials for video games and consoles go, The Super Mario Bros. Movie ’s going to be undefeated for quite some time.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie also stars Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Charles Martinet. The movie’s slated to hit theaters on April 5th.

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Super Mario Movie 3D [Review And Easter Eggs]

Update: I watched The Super Mario Bros. Movie in five different theaters in the US. Here is my review of IMAX, 3D, 4DX, and Dolby. I will tell you where to get the best picture and sound experience.

I didn’t want to give you a regular review of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. I watched the film five times – in 3D, 4DX, IMAX, Dolby Digital, and 2D – to compare the latest cinema technologies.

Yes, the Mario movie is 92 minutes long. I spent 460 minutes and $150 watching it at different AMC and Regal theaters around New York City.

I guess I helped Nintendo make $377 million from The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which had a $100 million budget. By the end of its first week, the movie might reach $400 million, four times its budget.

I tested all formats to find the best way to watch it. Good news: there is a clear winner.

Did The Super Mario Bros. Movie Live Up to Expectations?

I really liked it all five times. I agree with the audience score more than the critics (more on this for paid subscribers). You might think watching the movie multiple times in two days would be terrible. Well, while I don’t suggest it, The Super Mario Bros.

Movie is only 92 minutes long. It’s short and enjoyable. I found new Nintendo-themed Easter eggs until my third viewing. After that, I could recite all the lines.

Each theater gave a different experience. IMAX had the biggest screen (and the biggest crowd), Dolby had the best picture and sound, and 4DX kept me alert with moving seats and sensory effects. By the time I finished, the 3D and standard versions felt a bit repetitive.

Still, most of the audience loved it every time, and that’s why its $377 million opening weekend beat Disney’s Frozen 2.

After five times watching the movie, I noticed that kids loved Mario, Peach, Luigi, Toad, Bowser, and especially Donkey Kong. They enjoyed it even without years of knowing Nintendo’s characters like we do.

There are many fun classic video game references, but I won’t spoil them. Just don’t expect this movie to be the best thing you ever see. Some adults have felt disappointed.

Super Mario Bros. 3D Adventure

3D makes layers like Bowser’s snout stand out. Kids will enjoy it even with the minimal 3D effects. Bowser’s snout and fire breath really pop off the screen for a moment. However, 3D isn’t a game-changer for this movie.

Each layer looked a bit more 3D than 2D with the plastic Real D 3D glasses I got at Regal Union Square in NYC. I spent $27.30 on the movie ticket.

Kids will enjoy watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 3D. However, parents who remember old 3D movies from Disney parks may be disappointed.

I watched the 4DX version with the same 3D experience, and seeing it again in 3D felt like using a broken 4DX chair. The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 3D isn’t as good as the 4DX version, which costs $3 to $5 more per ticket if available.

I wouldn’t pay extra for the 3D version, but kids might still find it fun. They thought it was “cool.” Adults noticed that only a few scenes really stand out, and the action felt slightly layered. My ticket cost $27.30, including a $1.80 booking fee.

3D or Not: What to Expe ct from the Mario Movie

Yes, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in 3D at most major theaters in the United States. My research shows that there are also IMAX 3D showings, which offer a larger screen, but they cost more. There’s confusion because the 3D version hasn’t been well-promoted, so I’m clarifying this in my review.

Illumination, the studio behind the film, made it with 3D in mind. The 3D effects are not amazing, except in a few scenes. However, the front characters appear to pop off the screen a bit, while background characters seem further away.

If you choose to watch the Mario movie in 3D, you’ll need 3D glasses. It will look blurry without them, so they are not optional.

Kids enjoyed the Mario movie in 3D, but the 2D version from Dolby was even better.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie in IMAX

This was my first time watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie, right at 12:01 am on April 5. The screen was the biggest, and so was the price.

Why? Because the real IMAX screen at New York City’s AMC Lincoln Square 13 theater made it easy to see small details. For my review, I chose the largest theater in the United States, not a retrofitted IMAX Experience theater.

Here’s why IMAX is a good choice: Mario’s red cap looked more textured on the eight-story-tall IMAX screen than in 3D or standard 2D formats. Dolby Cinema also did well with this detail. The IMAX screen size is impressive – 100 feet wide, or about 1/3 of a football field without the end zones.

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Super Mario Bros Movie review

• 2023 movies
• Animation films
• Chris Pratt
• Super Mario
• Super Mario Bros Movie

If you’re looking for a no spoilers Super Mario Bros Movie review, this is the one that will blue shell the living daylights out of the rest. Too long have we suffered under the glare or sour-faced critics and our take on Mario’s big return to the big screen should steer you in the right direction.

To start with, there’s the big question when you look at any movie and that’s, is it worth spending all that cash on at the big screen. Our honest answer is a big yes to any Mario game fans, Nintendo lovers or animated movie buffs out there, because this is everything you will have wanted and more.

Don’t forget to  follow us on Twitter  to see news and updates on upcoming film releases. You can also see more on the film in the run up to the release with The Super Mario Bros Movie Twitter page at  https://twitter.com/supermariomovie .

Story, characters and pacing review

The general synopsis for the Super Mario Movie is that the two brothers find themselves in the Mushroom Kingdom just as Bowser is in the process of launching a major offensive. It’s pretty close to the general story for most Mario games and there’s more than enough of a journey to make it work well for the movie.

It does a pretty good job of developing the characters beyond the more superficial stories from the games, which gives the film more heart and emotional investment. In all fairness for old-school Mario fans it has us at “It’s a me”, but for more general viewers the additional details will definitely make it more appealing.

There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, so it’s not just a case of going from A to B without much in between. It also combines action with adventure, comedy and a little drama to give the story a well balanced finish that will leave you hoping for more Mario movies in the future.

Our only criticism is that it could have taken it’s time a little more and added in additional content to make some of the sequences more interesting and develop more of the side characters a little further. It comes together in the end, but it’s a bit of a blur at times, but then that’s going to result in a lot of home media re-watches when it comes out on DVD, Blu-ray and digital later in the year.

Cast review

When the Super Mario Movie cast was first announced it picked up a lot of flack online with Chris Pratt in the lead role and other big stars like Seth Rogan and Jack Black in the mix. In all fairness the trailers have already confirmed that the fears were unfounded, but when you’re watching the film itself you only really see the characters.

This is especially true of Chris Pratt who is pretty much pitch perfect throughout the film and it’s a similar story for Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad. Seth Rogan is always going to be Seth Rogan in anything he does, but it kind of works for his part as Donkey Kong.

As with any film like this, a lot of the weighting comes down to the success of the villain to deliver the goods and the good news is that Jack Black does a solid job as Bowser. He’s got such a recognizable voice that it’s impossible not to think of him whenever Bowser goes into full growl mode, but he’s definitely the best man for the part.

The only minor question mark we have in terms of our cast review for the Mario Movie is that Cranky Cong sounds a little off. He’s played by Fred Armisan and he just doesn’t sound Cranky enough if we’re being critical, but it really doesn’t change much for the film overall.

Visual impact

If you didn’t already get it from the trailer, the visual impact of the Mario Movie is off the charts. It’s been crafted to the nth degree to deliver a real big screen adventure into the Mushroom Kingdom that will keep you smiling throughout the film.

It’s so good, in fact, that you might want to see it in 3D to get even more out of it. If you watch it once in 2D, but want to head back to see it again then the 3D option is well worth a shout.

There are some clever screen jumping moments with a lot more action than we were expecting. It’ll look great on home media too when that comes around, but unfortunately 3D Blu-ray is much less of a thing than it used to be, so it’ll be a surprise if it lands on the format.

Maybe we’ll get a minor resurgence in the 3D home format with the prospect of Avatar 2, but we still don’t know if that’s actually coming down the line or not. As a result, you might want to catch it with specs on the big screen before you miss your chance.

Music review

As with all Illumination films, the music in the Super Mario Movie is excellent. We’re not going to ruin any of the surprises for you, but there are some real gems in the mix. This includes eighties classics, modern hits and heavy metal power plays, so there’s a lot to enjoy.

It may not be up there with Sing or Sing 2, but when you add in all of the adaptations of the Mario video game music you’ve got a lot of magic. It’ll remind you of some of the best platforming fun of your life and for any newcomers to gaming it might just inspire you to pick up the Nintendo Switch or the soon to arrive console that will be coming next.

Credits scenes review

You can read more about what actually takes place in the credits scenes with the link above, but as this is a spoiler free review we’ll just say that they’re good. There are two of them to look forward to with the first just after the cast credits roll and the second right at the very end of the credits.

They’re not going to set the social media world alight, but they’re a good mix of fun and teaser. We were hoping for something a little more impactful, but with so much content to cover we’re expecting the Super Mario Bros Movie to become a huge series and maybe Illumination’s most successful to-date.

Super Mario Bros Movie review score: 4.5/5

You can also check out our  movie news  section to keep tabs on the latest upcoming films, or visit the official website  www.thesupermariobros.movie .

More Super Mario news and features:

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Last Updated on April 26, 2023 by Gerard Harris