The Super Mario Bros. Movie: A Blockbuster Hit
It’s-a blockbuster! “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” an animated adventure based on the classic video game, crushed the competition with its jaw-dropping $204.6 million domestic and $377 million global debut over the long Easter weekend.
Surpassing Expectations and Universal’s Biggest Franchises
Those results far exceeded expectations and even surpassed the starts of recent installments in Universal’s biggest franchises, like “Jurassic World Dominion” ($145 million domestically) and “Fast and Furious 9” ($70 million). So, expect a sequel to be announced faster than you can say “Let’s-a go!”
- The highest-grossing debut of 2023
- Biggest five-day (Wednesday-Sunday) opening of all-time
- Highest-grossing debut for Illumination
- Second-biggest debut ever for an animated movie
- Highest-grossing debut for a video game adaptation
- The biggest international opening of 2023
- Second-biggest animated opening of all-time (international)
- Biggest Illumination opening of all time (international)
- Biggest video game opening of all time (international)
- Biggest global opening of 2023
- Highest Illumination opening of all time (global)
- Biggest video game opening of all time (global)
- Highest animated opening weekend ever for Imax
Universal’s President of Domestic Distribution Marvels at Success
“The box office just kept growing and growing,” marvels Jim Orr, Universal’s president of domestic distribution. “It’s a tremendous worldwide debut, and the movie has a clear runway.”
Thriving Among Family Crowds
The PG film, which cost Universal, Illumination, and Nintendo roughly $100 million to bring to the big screen, thrived as the de facto choice among family crowds, who have been starved of compelling theatrical offerings since last December’s release, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.”
Reaching Beyond Families
But the kid-friendly film also expanded its reach beyond parents with young ones. Thanks to a heaping dose of nostalgia and positive word-of-mouth (reviews… not so much), “Mario” turned into a four-quadrant blockbuster — resonating with males and females, young and old, who grew up with Mario, Luigi, and other inhabitants of the fantastical Mushroom Kingdom.
Beloved by Different Generations
“The film is based on incredible IP, which is beloved by people of different generations,” says Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of distribution for Universal Pictures International.
Overcoming Hollywood’s Past Failures
Just because “Mario” is adapted from one of the most popular video games doesn’t mean the film was preordained for blockbuster status. In fact, 1993’s disastrous live-action “Super Mario Bros,” starring Bob Hoskins as Mario and John Leguizamo as Luigi, has become a legendary example of Hollywood’s failure to translate video game stories from consoles to cinemas correctly.
Mixed Reviews, Enthusiastic Audiences
Even though critics were mixed on the new adaptation, featuring the voices of Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, and Jack Black as Bowser, opening weekend audiences were enthusiastic and awarded the film an “A” CinemaScore. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” follows Mario and Luigi, Brooklyn-based plumbers, who get sucked into the mystical Mushroom Kingdom and help to stop the villainous Koopa King from world domination.
Records Smashed During Opening Weekend
Will “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” become the first movie of the year to hit $1 billion at the global box office? Many analysts believe it’ll cross the coveted milestone with ease. Until the working-class plumbers achieve ultimate box office glory, here are all the records that were super-smashed
