‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Is Here! Is Our Video Game Movie Future?

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2023

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong. Charles clocks it as structurally identical to Shrek and out of step with how ambitious animation has gotten elsewhere. Ben calls it a fun, competently made Mario movie, straight down the middle, that fills a real hole in Illumination's slate. Sean thinks it's the rare kids' movie willing to just be 90 minutes and get out. All three single out Jack Black's Bowser, who sings, as the one performance taking real swings.

Super Mario Bros. 1993

The Bob Hoskins version. Sean rewatched it for this episode and hasn't recovered. Ben calls it the original sin of video game adaptations, and thinks the new film's biggest job was undoing the damage it did to Nintendo's trust in Hollywood.

Is our video game movie future here?from Mortal Kombat to Tetris

Mortal Kombat 2021

The Warner Bros. adaptation Sean and Ben covered two years ago. Sean says it's already been forgotten.

Uncharted 2022

Ben didn't love it. It told a prequel story instead of adapting the games directly, which he's fine with in theory, but he's not sure it would have done the same numbers against tougher 2023 competition.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City 2021

Mentioned in passing as the most recent live-action entry in a franchise Sean calls 'somewhat low-rent.'

Sonic the Hedgehog 2020

Cited as proof the Nintendo-style caution isn't universal: a distinctly American, irreverent take that still did well internationally.

Gran Turismo 2023

Coming in August; noted as part of the wave without much discussion.

Borderlands 2024

Cate Blanchett-led adaptation written by Craig Mazin, which lost director Eli Roth partway through and picked up Tim Miller.

Tetris 2023

Sean watched it the same weekend. Not a fan of the invented Cold War car chases or the on-the-nose retro graphics, but likes the broader idea of movies about video game culture rather than direct adaptations.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu 2019

Cited as the only other major theatrical feature Nintendo has put its name on in three decades, alongside the new Mario movie.

Also mentioned raised along the way

Animation comparisons ShrekPuss in Boots: The Last WishSpider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseThe Mitchells vs. the Machines

In passing How to Blow Up a PipelineAir

Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads

TV The Last of UsCastlevaniaArcaneCyberpunk: EdgerunnersMythic QuestPlayersDead PixelsThe GuildFalloutResident EvilThe Legend of Zelda (Netflix series)

Video games Super Mario Bros. (NES)Super Mario Bros. 2Super Mario Bros. 3Super Mario WorldDonkey Kong CountrySuper Mario KartSuper Mario OdysseySuper Mario GalaxySuper Smash Bros.Duck HuntThe Legend of ZeldaDonkey KongMario GolfGod of WarMass EffectBioShockFallout (game)Gears of WarSifuDeath StrandingGhost of TsushimaMetroidResident Evil 4 (remake)Fortnite

Books Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

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