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In the wake of the 1993 debacle that was “Super Mario Bros.,” a film adaptation that spectacularly flopped, Nintendo steered clear of Hollywood for nearly three decades. However, the gaming giant eventually found a promising collaborator in Illumination, Universal’s animation studio known for producing hits such as “Despicable Me,” “Sing,” and “The Secret Life of Pets.” Together, they decided to give the Mushroom Kingdom another chance on the big screen, opting wisely for animation over live action.
Illumination/Nintendo
Their collaboration resulted in the 2023 release of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” Despite receiving lukewarm reviews from critics, it was a resounding success at the box office. The film quickly climbed the ranks to become the highest-grossing video game movie ever made. Even though “A Minecraft Movie” put up a strong fight for the title in 2025, it ultimately fell short, securing a respectable but clearly second place.
Initially, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” found its streaming home on Peacock, owned by Universal, before making its way to Netflix. It has since continued its journey across various platforms. Currently, audiences can enjoy this family-friendly adventure on Prime Video, where it is among the top 10 most-streamed films, according to FlixPatrol.
With global earnings nearing $1.4 billion, a sequel seemed all but inevitable. Yet, Nintendo took its time before officially greenlighting a follow-up, even after the first film’s success. In March 2024, fans got the confirmation they were waiting for: Nintendo and Illumination announced that a sequel was in the works.
After several months of anticipation, September 2025 brought exciting news as the sequel’s title and release date were unveiled. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” inspired by the popular “Super Mario Galaxy” games originally launched on the Nintendo Wii and later remastered for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, is slated to premiere on April 3, 2026.
Now’s a good time to prepare for the upcoming Super Mario movie sequel
Illumination/Nintendo
While it is confirmed that the main cast from the original film will return, details about new characters remain under wraps. However, Jack Black, who voices Bowser, has publicly expressed his desire to see Pedro Pascal join the ensemble as Wario, Mario’s mischievous counterpart.
After a period of vague updates, September 2025 brought the reveal of the sequel’s official title and release date. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” titled after the two “Super Mario Galaxy” games initially released for the Nintendo Wii console that have subsequently seen remastered versions for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, is set to hit theaters on April 3, 2026.
Other than confirming that the core cast from the first movie are returning and will be voiced by the same actors, it is not yet known which new characters will be joining the fray — though Bowser actor Jack Black says the sequel needs Pedro Pascal as Wario, Mario’s longtime evil doppelganger.
