The Super Mario Bros. Movie (U.S. movie)

The first theatrical Super Mario Bros. movie in 30 years. It’s also the first animated theatrical Super Mario Bros. movie in 37 years.

During the premiere of the movie in Los Angeles, the main cast wore outfits that resemble or represent their characters. Chris Pratt and Charlie Day wore suits representing the color of the Mario Bros. shirts, Jack Black wore a suit with spikes on the back representing Bowser, & Anya Taylor-Joy wore a pink racer jumpsuit representing Peach’s outfit.

An arcade cabinet at the Punch Out pizzeria early in the film is called "Jump Man." Mario was originally known as "Jumpman" when he first appeared in the video-game “Donkey Kong” (1981). The character's name was changed to Mario as a tribute to the landlord of Nintendo of America's warehouses, Mario Segale.

A French restaurant called "Chasse du Canard" can be seen in the background of some shots in Brooklyn. "Chasse du Canard" translates as "Duck Hunt," another early Nintendo Entertainment System game, which was often packaged with “Super Mario Bros.”. The restaurant's logo is one of the ducks from the same game.

Luigi's cellphone’s ringtone is the Nintendo GameCube’s startup jingle. While the default caller icon also resembles the default Mii from the Nintendo game systems since the Nintendo Wii.

The music played during Mario and Luigi's plumbing service TV commercial is actually the theme song of “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!” (1989).

When Mario and Luigi had to run to their first plumbing job, they had to run through a blocked off construction site. The layout of the construction site is a recreation of the classic side-scrolling level from the original “Super Mario Bros.” NES game, complete with Mario jumping down a flag pole of a restaurant called Castle Burger. The way he slides from it is exactly as he does in the game. Also the shape of the restaurant is the same design as the castles at the end of every level.

One of the residents in the Mushroom Kingdom was seen buying a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) cartridge at an antique store. The antique owner informed the resident to blow into the cartridge to get it to work. This is a reference to how many gamers would have to blow into the video game cartridges in order to errant the dust out of them.

When Mario and Luigi descend to the sewer in order to stop the water flow, they unintentionally break through a wall and found an unused part of the sewer, which has a sign that reads 'Level 1-2'. This is a homage to an infamous glitch found in the original Super Mario Bros. game, in which World 1-2, was a sewer level and the player could jump through a certain wall and end up in a warp zone that leads to the 'Minus World'. For many years, fans believed that this was a secret world built into the game, while in reality, it was simply a glitch that led to an improperly loaded environment, creating a level that can’t be beaten. In the movie, level 1-2 contains the portal to the Mushroom Kingdom, which in a sense is genuinely an access point to a secret world.

The designs for Mario and Luigi's parents and relatives were based on the sketches made by Nintendo that ended up being unused in the games.

The "Punch-Out!!" Pizzeria was named after the video game “Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!” (1987). The title was often shortened as "Punch Out!!" when Mike Tyson wasn't related to it. The game in question did featured Mario making an appearance as the boxing referee. The pizzeria also featured wall pictures of the characters Little Mac, Bear Hugger, Glass Joe and Doc Lewis.

In Mario’s bedroom, a model of an Arwing fighter from the Star Fox franchise as well as a poster of Captain Falcon's blue pod racer from the F-Zero franchise can be seen. While the other posters on the walls represent several early Nintendo sports games such as “Baseball” (1983), “Track And Field” (1983), “Kung-Fu” (1984) and “Slalom” (1986). The game “Kung-Fu” (1984), was the only title of the four that was actually originally released as an arcade game, but was added to the NES and Famicom library a year later.

The video game in which Mario was playing in his bedroom on an NES style console is the Greek themed adventure game “Kid Icarus” (1986). While a book of the Greek epic poem "The Odyssey" can be seen in the background. This is also a reference to the Nintendo Switch game “Super Mario Odyssey” (2017).

Spike, the man in blue who mocks Mario and Luigi at the Punch-Out!! Pizzeria, is in fact Foreman Spike who was introduced in the game “Wrecking Crew” (1984). The game featured Mario and Luigi working as demolition workers who use hammers to demolish walls. Spike is an NPC (Non-Playable Character), who appears in the game as the Mario Brothers’ rival demolishing walls (which prevents Mario and Luigi from winning points for destroying them), that in addition Spike can push the brothers off of the platforms if he hits them.

The spikey red-shelled turtle like creatures that Bowser didn't know the name of are known as a Spiny which was among the enemies from the “Super Mario Bros.” game.

A billboard in the background that is visible on one of the buildings in Brooklyn features an advertisement for 'Hanafuda Cards'. The Nintendo company was originally founded in 1889 with the sole purposes of producing and selling hand-crafted hanafuda. The company began to focus on video games starting in the 1970s but does continue to produce cards in Japan.Many of the cards include themed sets based on Mario, Pokémon, and Kirby.

Peach’s pink biking jumpsuit originated from the Nintendo Wii game “Mario Kart Wii” (2008).

The Mario Bros. plumbing van's logo is the same logo font that's been used since the original “Super Mario Bros.” game. While the images of the brothers on the van are the original promotional images from the game's early days.

A painting of the hunting dog from the Famicom/NES game “Duck Hunt” (1984) can be seen at the end of the hallway in the apartment where the Mario Brothers do their first plumbing job.

The countdown sound from the game “Mario Kart 8” was used during the Illumination Entertainment logo with Stuart the Minion from the Despicable Me franchise.

The brand of piano in which Bowser was playing on is called "Ludwig Von Koopa". This is the name of Bowser’s eldest offspring of the Koopalings in the Super Mario Bros. video games. Ludwig was first introduced in the game “Super Mario Bros. 3” (1988) as the final boss in world 7.

When Mario and Toad enter the Mushroom Kingdom, a store called the "Crazy Cap Store" is visible in the background. This store can be found and be used to purchase costumes in the game “Super Mario Odyssey” (2017).

The musical piece performed by Bowser and Kamek together at the piano is the famous "Underground Theme" from the original Super Mario Bros. game. It was the background music used for World 1-2.

Mario wears two different suits known as the Cat suit and Tanooki suit. The Tanooki suit turns Mario into Tanooki Mario was first introduced in the game “Super Mario Bros. 3” (1988), which not only allowed Mario the ability to fly, but to the ability to turn himself into a stone statue for a few seconds (pushing "down" in the scroll and B button) which gave Mario a type of invulnerability. While the Cat suit turns Mario into Cat Mario, which allowed Mario to climb or cling to walls, claw swipe enemies, and claw dive on enemies from mid-air to slam into them. The suit was first introduced in the game “Super Mario 3D World” (2013).

Bowser’s song "Peaches" debuted at #83 on the Billboard Hot 100, this gave Jack Black his first solo hit, and his first hit overall since Tenacious D's "The Pick of Destiny" peaked at #78 back in 2006.

The concept of the various karts and bikes all having gliders originated from the game “Mario Kart 7”.

The website shown at the end of the Super Mario Brothers' Plumbing commercial (www.smbplumbing.com) was a real site at the time of the film's release. The website gave the business' phone number as 1-929-556-2746 (1-929-55-MARIO). At the time of the film's release, calling that number would play a recorded message from Luigi himself.

A Pikmin glass ornament can be seen in the customers’ lounge when Mario and Luigi attempt to repair the sink.

During the plumbing commercial, Mario and Luigi were shown making a poor visual effect that makes them appear to be flying over New York using yellow capes. This is a reference to a the cape that turns the brothers into Caped Mario & Caped Luigi, which was first introduced in “Super Mario World” (1990). The cape is obtainable by getting a Cape Feather, which grants the player the ability to fly indefinitely through the levels and attack enemies by spinning it around (using X Button or Y Button). In addition, while falling with the cape on (pushing A Button or B Button), the player can float down slowly.

This movie marks the first time in a non-video game media in which Princess Peach is referred to as “Peach” outside of Japan. As the previous non-video media that featured her were the three DiC Entertainment animated series in which she was referred to as "Princess Toadstool."

Right after Mario meets Toad in the Mushroom Kingdom, he then takes a look at a yellow-spotted orange ball creature with two long spiny green brambles for legs and yellow suction cup-like feet in which it moves in a lateral way with long steps. The creature in question is a Bramball which was first introduced in “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” (2009).

This movie surpassed “Frozen II” (2019) as having the highest-grossing opening worldwide for an animated film, grossing a total of $375.6 million. It also achieved the highest-grossing opening for a video game adaptation worldwide, surpassing the movie “Detective Pikachu” (2019). In addition, the film achieved the second highest-grossing opening weekend in the US and Canada for an animated film behind Pixar’s “Incredibles 2”, earning $146 million in a 3-day frame and $204 million in a five day frame over Easter weekend. On April 13th, it became the highest-grossing video game movie of all time, surpassing “Warcraft” (2016) in nine days.

The rap that plays when Donkey Kong is making his grand entrance in the arena is the "DK Rap," it is the same song that plays during the opening scene to the Nintendo 64 game “Donkey Kong 64” (1999).

The red girders featured in the jungle arena, as well as the concept of Donkey Kong throwing barrels at Mario, are a tribute to the original Donkey Kong arcade game.

While Mario and Luigi are working their first plumbing job, the woman who hired them can be seen reading a book entitled "Galaxy" which features a planet from the Nintendo Wii game “Super Mario Galaxy” (2007).

Upon voicing Bowser, Jack Black used Darth Vader as the main basis of inspiration upon doing the voice.

The concept of the Mario Brothers stopping a burst pipe under Brooklyn only to find a portal that leads to another world is similar to how the brothers found a portal to another world in the 1993 live action movie.

The appearance of the Mario Brothers’s father is based on the character design from the Legend of Zelda character Talon who first appeared in the Nintendo 64 game “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998). Ironically Talon's design was actually based on Mario himself.

This movie was Kamek’s first appearance in a non-video game media, as well as the first time he was given an English voice actor.

This movie was Charles Martinet's final Mario project before he was appointed a Mario ambassador for the Nintendo company.

Kevin Michael Richardson’s voice over role as Kamek was inspired by actor Peter Lorre.

Despite the movie’s release date being pushed back from December 2022 to April 2023, the McDonalds’ Happy Meal Toys of the movie’s characters still came around less than a month after the originally intended release date.

Toad's monster-truck kart makes the same exact noise as his horn used in the game “Mario Kart 8”.

During the flashback of Peach's backstory of how she came to the Mushroom Kingdom, she was very briefly seen dressed in an outfit that's actually a Toad's typical outfit adapted to human proportions.

Toad's backpack contains patches depicting the locations of Fossil Falls and Tostarena.

When Mario walks in front of the Antiques Shop in Mushroom City, inside the shop it can be found some items from Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988): Lakitu's Cloud (a white cloud with a smiley face): it can be used by Mario and Luigi in order to skip a level within the map. Hammer: it's the weapon in which Mario and Luigi use when they acquire the Hammer Suit. Music Box: it has the ability to make enemies sleep. Only can be used on the map. P-Wing (a white wing with a red "P" inside): which can give Mario the ability to fly permanently for the duration of a level. P-Switch (a blue block with a white "P" letter on it): that can only be activated by jumping on it. Upon activation, all Brick Blocks from an area are turned into coins and vice versa just for a total of 10 seconds. It can also make hidden Blue Coins in some levels appear onscreen.

The hardhat-wearing Toads resemble the Builder Toads from the Story Mode of the game “Super Mario Maker 2”.

When the Mario Brothers are watching the TV news coverage on the flood in Brooklyn, below the screen there is a round of headlines among which the audience can read "detects signals from the FS-176 system". This is referring to the solar system of the Metroid franchise. FS-176 is the solar system which contains the planets Bilium, Oormine II, Tallon IV, Twin Tabula and Zebes. Bilium, Oormine II and Twin Tabula are mentioned in the Nintendo Gamecube game “Metroid Prime” (2002), but were not planets that can be visited within the game. However the planet Tallon IV is the main setting of the game. While Zebes is the main setting for the games “Metroid” (1986), “Super Metroid” (1994) and “Metroid: Zero Mission” (2004).

Toad wears the same type of backpack that he wore in the game “Captain Toad Treasure Tracker”.

Anya Taylor-Joy did dressed up as Princess Peach for Halloween in 2022, less than six months prior to the premiere of the movie.

Coincidentally, when Anya Taylor-Joy began to English(Spanish was her first spoken language), she started learning English while watching the movie “School of Rock” (2003), in which her co-star Jack Black portrays the main protagonist.

Toad’s appearance in the movie, was based on his appearance in “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” (2008).

Anya Taylor-Joy did admitted that she played some of the Super Mario games as a form of research on how to voice Princess Peach.

One of the Brooklyn denizens (the one seen trying to exit a car in the opening and in the crowd at the end of the film) bears a striking resemblance to Kit Ellis. Ellis was a former employee of Nintendo who was best known as a co-host for Nintendo Minute, a YouTube series that ran from 2013 to 2021. Ellis and his friend and co-host Krysta Yang attended the movie's premier in Los Angeles and were both delighted to see the character.

Seth Rogen did his trademark laugh almost deliberately during the scene when Mario shrinks himself with a Mini Mushroom during his fight against Donkey Kong.

Toadsworth was originally supposed to appear in the movie when addressing the council in Princess Peach's castle, but he ended up being removed from the movie and was replaced with the Toad General instead.

The uniforms and helmets worn by the guards at Princess Peach's palace are the exact replicas of those worn by the Swiss Guard, the armed force and honor guard unit which has the sole purpose of protecting the Pope and the Vatican City since their establishment in 1506.

Both Chris Pratt and Charlie Day spoke in Italian accents during the Mario Brothers’ plumbing commercial. In reality, Charlie Day’s heritage is part Italian while Chris Pratt doesn’t have any Italian heritage.

This is the first Illumination animated movie to have the title card appear at the end of the movie rather than the beginning.

Actresses Amanda Seyfried, Emma Stone, Jodie Comer, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jennifer Lawrence, Mandy Moore and Kristen Bell were all considered for the role of Princess Peach before Anya Taylor-Joy got the part.

Charles Martinet wasn't ever considered to reprise his role as the voice of the Mario Brothers for this movie, despite that he voiced the characters for over 30 years for the Mario games. Nintendo however still wanted him to be part of the movie and he was given the role of Mario's dad and Giuseppe.

This movie marks the first time Donkey Kong appears in an animated feature length movie. Not counting the movie “Pixels” (2015) in which he had a cameo and was only shown in the movie by permission from Nintendo.