Mario is a legendary video game character who first appeared in arcades and then rose to fame on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985. He continues to be a major influence, especially in platform games, and the excitement surrounding the recent release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie proves his enduring popularity.
Mario, the famous plumber from Italy, is already well-known from previous movies like 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. A new film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, looks set to be another huge hit.
New Mario movies aren’t made very often, unlike the games. Luckily, there are a number of films that Mario fans can still enjoy, even if they don’t all take place in the Mushroom Kingdom. Here’s a list of movies perfect for anyone who loves Mario and Luigi.
10. Super Mario Bros (2023)
The incredibly popular Super Mario Bros. Movie from 2023 is an obvious addition to any list celebrating the iconic character, and it’s also broken records as the highest-grossing film ever based on a video game.
Mario, voiced by Chris Pratt, and his brother Luigi, voiced by Charlie Day, are Brooklyn plumbers who suddenly find themselves in the magical Mushroom Kingdom. When Bowser (Jack Black) kidnaps Luigi, Mario teams up with beloved characters from the Super Mario games to save his brother and the kingdom.
The story is simple and enjoyable, and it’s packed with references that video game fans will appreciate. Nintendo fans, in particular, will love all the bonus content, including a soundtrack with remixed versions of classic songs.
If you love Super Mario, you’ll definitely enjoy the 2023 movie, and it’s a perfect way to get excited for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
9. A Minecraft Movie (2025)
The movie Minecraft is based on the hugely popular video game of the same name. While it doesn’t follow the game’s story as directly as the Super Mario Bros. Movie, Minecraft is a major part of gaming culture, and fans of the game will likely enjoy the film.
The movie follows Jack Black, playing Steve, an adventurous explorer who unexpectedly finds himself inside the world of Minecraft. Soon, others join him – including Garrett, played by Jason Momoa – and they all get caught up in the challenges of surviving on this unusual, block-filled planet.
People who love Minecraft will really enjoy A Minecraft Movie, which is full of Easter eggs and references to the game. While it’s different from The Super Mario Bros. Movie, gamers will love recognizing familiar elements from the world of gaming.
8. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Wreck-It Ralph is a fantastic Disney movie that takes place inside a world of arcade games. When the arcade closes at night, the characters from those games come alive and interact with each other.
As a gamer, I think this movie is brilliant! It’s full of fun references to classic games like Mario, and even nods to franchises like Halo. What really grabbed me was the story – Ralph, voiced by John C. Reilly, isn’t the hero, he’s actually the villain of his own game, Fix-It Felix Jr., and that’s a really fresh take!
Similar to classic Pixar films, Wreck-It Ralph is perfect for children, but it also includes plenty of clever jokes and references that adults will appreciate, making it enjoyable for the whole family.
7. Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017)
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle isn’t a remake of the original Jumanji film with Robin Williams. Instead, it reimagines the story with a modern update, sending the characters inside a video game.
While you won’t see Mario himself, Jumanji still operates like a video game. Players have three lives, and losing them all means the game ends.
The movie Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart. It’s a funny film that playfully pokes fun at common video game ideas. Plus, there’s a fantastic follow-up movie called Jumanji: The Next Level that continues the adventure.
6. Super Mario Bros (1993)
Most people familiar with Super Mario know about the excellent 2023 movie. However, fewer are aware of the 1993 live-action film, which is a strange and unusual movie from a time when adaptations of video games weren’t taken seriously by critics or fans.
The 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie is surprisingly gritty and dark compared to the cheerful video game it’s based on. It’s a live-action film featuring Bob Hoskins as Mario and John Leguizamo as Luigi, who play plumbers, but the story doesn’t include the familiar Mushroom Kingdom.
The movie largely unfolds in the industrial setting of Dinohatten, a fantastical world. The main characters are on a mission to rescue Daisy, played by Samantha Mathis, from the villain Koopa, portrayed by Dennis Hoffman.
The movie’s overall feel is quite different from the games, but it’s still enjoyable as a fresh and unconventional interpretation of the series.
5. Ready Player One (2018)
Ready Player One is a thrilling science fiction story about a huge virtual treasure hunt where winning—or losing—has real-world consequences.
The film takes place in the near future, and centers around a massive virtual reality world called the OASIS. When the OASIS’s creator dies, he leaves behind a contest: whoever finds a hidden Easter egg within the virtual world will inherit his entire fortune.
As a film and gaming fan, I was really drawn into the story of Parzival, played by Tye Sheridan, and his quest with Art3mis – Olivia Cooke is fantastic! They’re on a hunt for this huge prize, but it’s not easy. They’re facing danger both inside the virtual world, the OASIS, and in real life. Honestly, the movie is packed with nods to all sorts of pop culture, and it’s so cool seeing characters like Tracer from Overwatch make an appearance – any gamer will instantly get that!
4. The Lego Movie (2014)
While The Lego Movie doesn’t have as many obvious references to video games as some other films, it includes a few subtle nods for dedicated gamers. Plus, the movie’s overall feel is reminiscent of the 2023 Super Mario Bros. movie.
Before The Lego Movie came out, a lot of people doubted it would be good. It seemed hard to believe that the filmmakers, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, could build a compelling story around Lego bricks. But they proved everyone wrong! The movie created a wonderfully imaginative Lego universe and featured Chris Pratt as Emmett, an ordinary Lego construction worker.
This movie is full of fun references to popular culture and Lego games, all while telling a heartwarming story about a father and his son.
3. Free Guy (2021)
Free Guy is a fresh and unique take on video game movies. It’s about a character in a virtual world, Free City, who realizes he’s living inside a game.
Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, a simple bank teller who lives in the city of Free City. When he meets a gamer named Millie (Jodie Comer), he starts to wonder if things are as they seem. The movie Free Guy has a really fun idea at its core, and it’s packed with nods to classic video game elements.
The movie features several Easter eggs for Super Mario fans, like a Toad figure appearing in one scene. Although Free Guy isn’t based on a specific video game, it includes plenty of references that gamers will appreciate.
2. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 (2013)
While not directly based on a video game, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 includes lots of references to pop culture and gaming. The story takes place in a bright, imaginative world filled with ‘foodimals’ – adorable creatures literally made of food!
The movie picks up right after the first one ended. Scientist Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader) invented a machine that could make it rain food, but it went wrong. Now, strange creatures made of food – called foodimals – live on an island.
Anna Faris is back as Sam Sparks in a new adventure that’s even more over-the-top than the first movie. It’s packed with physical comedy, but also explores surprisingly thoughtful ideas about owning up to your actions and growing as a person.
If you like Super Mario games, you’ll probably have fun with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 because it looks great and has funny characters. It’s a good idea to watch the first Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movie beforehand to understand the story better.
1. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Sonic the Hedgehog was essentially Sega’s competitor to Super Mario. Throughout the 1990s, Sega and Nintendo were major rivals in the video game industry, and many gamers chose Sega consoles as an alternative to Nintendo.
It’s great that Sonic the Hedgehog had a successful movie in 2020, a few years before the Super Mario Bros. movie in 2023. Sonic’s movie faced early criticism due to its initial character design, but was quickly redesigned. Since then, Sonic has starred in three popular films, and another one is planned for 2027.
As a huge Sonic fan, I was really pleased with Ben Schwarz as the voice of Sonic in the recent movies. The story kicks off with him accidentally getting on Dr. Robotnik’s radar – played brilliantly by Jim Carrey, by the way! The first film, from 2020, actually felt pretty true to the games I grew up with. And honestly, Jim Carrey is Robotnik. He brings this wonderfully over-the-top, chaotic energy to the character that just works perfectly.
If you’re a Super Mario fan, you’ll likely appreciate the Sonic the Hedgehog movie and the sequels.
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2026-04-03 15:27