Ever since the announcement of the cast in 2021, fans have been eager for the release of Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. So far, the film has been proven to be a commercial sensation, breaking box office records worldwide, with a U.S. opening of $26 million and an international opening of $66 million.

Although some argue that the film is too simple or lacks depth, I argue that the story of the original game was a 2-dimensional as the game itself. The true magic of the film comes from the development of the world itself. It’s a perfect blend of exciting new elements and nostalgic references to every era of Mario games. 

While the film does feature a celebrity cast, which aren’t often known for their quality, each actor brilliantly brings their character to life. It’s obvious that Jack Black is having the time of his life bringing Bowser’s hilarious villainy to life, and Anya Taylor-Joy brings a compassionate and stoic performance fitting of a competent princess, bringing a new side to the iconic Princess Peach’s character.

Chris Pratt succeeds in creating a relatable version of Mario for the audience to attach to, and Charlie Day utilizes his talent for frenzied drama to elevate the often terrified Luigi. Together the two have a chemistry that can only be described as ‘super’.

While no plans for a sequel have been announced yet, a post-credit scene teases the hatching of a Yoshi egg, which teases the possibility of Mario reuniting with his favorite dinosaur pal. With the massive size and popularity of Mario, it is no surprise that the film is performing so well, and where there is financial success, there are sequels. 

If the franchise is to continue, there is still a massive cast of heroes and villains to introduce, and after this film, I am eager to see them adapted onto the big screen.