In 1986, video game characters, Mario and Luigi, better known as the Super Mario Bros., made the leap from the gaming realm into the movie world, via the animated feature film, Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!. The Japanese anime movie followed the two siblings as they set out to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the evil King Koopa!
Following this initial attempt to turn Mario and Luigi into movie stars, further Super Mario Bros. movies were put into production, including a live-action feature film. But how many Super Mario Bros. movies are there altogether and what are they?
For all the pipe-travelling, Bowser-bashin’, mushroom-hoppin’ details, keep reading!
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The Super Mario Bros. movies
Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986)
As noted above, the first Super Mario Bros. movie debuted in 1986. The Japanese animated adventure film, which was titled Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!, followed Mario and his brother Luigi as they embark on a quest through the Mushroom Kingdom to save Princess Peach from the clutches of the evil King Koopa.
During the course of the film, Koopa plans to marry Peach, much to the Princess’ dismay. However, if the Mario brothers can find three mystical power-ups (Mushroom, Flower, Star) they will be able to defeat him and save the day! (61 mins)
Super Mario Bros. (1993)
For the next Mario movie it’s over to live-action for 1993’s Super Mario Bros., starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo. In this film, Mario and Luigi are once again tasked with rescuing a princess, only this time around it’s Princess Daisy.
In the film, a series of kidnappings take place in Brooklyn, leading Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi to travel to a dystopian parallel universe. In this world, the ruthless President Koopa rules. (104 mins)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Thirty years would pass before the third Super Mario Bros. film debuted, and for this offering it was back to animation for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In the movie, the Brooklyn plumbers are transported to another world where they team up with Princess Peach as she fights against the evil Koopa forces, led by Bowser.
During the course of the movie, Mario and Luigi become separated, with the former arriving in the Mushroom Kingdom and the latter landing in the Dark Lands. However, once united the brothers become a force to be reckoned with and Bowser doesn’t stand a chance! (92 mins)
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
Due to the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a sequel was quickly put into production, titled The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. In this follow-up, Mario and Luigi befriend Yoshi, before joining together with Peach and Toad for an outer space adventure.
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The Super Mario Bros. movies in order
To date there are four Super Mario Bros. movies.
- Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986)
- Super Mario Bros. (1993)
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
The movies comprise a mix of animated and live-action feature films, and are not all connected. The film series breaks down as follows:
Anime
- Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986)
Live-action
- Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Computer animation
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
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Who are the cast of the Super Mario Bros. movies and are the movies the work of the same director?
Notable cast members in the Super Mario Bros. movie series include Tōru Furuya, Yū Mizushima, Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper, Samantha Mathis, Fisher Stevens, Richard Edson, Fiona Shaw, Mojo Nixon, Lance Henriksen, Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Charles Martinet, Benny Safdie, and Brie Larson.
In terms of directors, the Super Mario Bros. movies are the work of the following:
- Masami Hata directed Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach!
- Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton directed Super Mario Bros.
- Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic directed The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
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And finally, which is the best Super Mario Bros. movie?
According to IMDb, the Super Mario Bros. movies are rated as follows:
- Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986) – 5.7/10
- Super Mario Bros. (1993) – 4.2/10
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) – 7.0/10
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) – Not Yet Rated
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about the Super Mario. Bros movie series. For more movie posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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