It's been a long time since we last heard news of Illumination's Mario movie. After taking the internet by storm with its, shall we say, interesting lead cast, we heard in April that the plumber's return to the big screen was to be pushed back to 2023. A cause for celebration for some, this release date delay might have been the perfect opportunity to provide some more information about the upcoming animated feature; but whenever we have gone looking for news it appears that all updates were moved to another castle.
That's until now (well, almost). As noted yesterday by @DespicableOutof on Twitter, the movie now has an initial listing on the Illumination Studios Paris website, meaning we might finally have an idea of what this 'Mario Movie' will be called. After months of fumbling around for the right answer - is it The Mario Movie? Super Mario? Crouching Plumber Hidden Bowser? - it seems that Illumination Studios has settled on a name, and what a board meeting it must have been to come up with this one.
According to the site, we will no longer be foolishly dubbing the upcoming feature 'The Mario Movie', oh no. It seems that Illumination is pushing the boat out much further as they appear to have called the film - wait for it - Super Mario Bros.
Now we are just as surprised as you are that the team behind such titles as Despicable Me and, erm, Despicable Me 2, would make such an original naming decision with their newest Nintendo IP, but hey, at least everyone will know on what the film is based.
Of course, this title is neither officially confirmed by an Illumination statement, nor by the Big N itself, so the chances of finally seeing Chris Pratt starring in 'Plumb and Plumber' has not been rendered impossible just yet.
At the end of the day, selling a big name like Mario was always going to require a rather on-the-nose marketing campaign, and if that is the cause for one of the most predictable titles we've seen in a while then so be it. An original title was never anything more than a pipe dream.
What title would you choose instead of Super Mario Bros.? Get punny in the comments below!
[source illuminationmacguff.com, via gonintendo.com, twitter.com, gonintendo.com]
Comments 85
...but there already exists a movie with the title "Super Mario Bros.".
@EarthboundBenjy Didn't stop 'The Avengers'!
@Olliemar28 It did, thats why the film is called Avengers Assemble in the UK
@Bunkerneath That's in relation to the British TV show; I'm referencing the 1998 movie with Uma Thurman. So in the States at least, there are two movies called 'The Avengers'.
@EarthboundBenjy There's loads of different movies with the same title. Bad Boys, Twilight, Gladiator are just a few examples.
Oh my god! Who could have predicted that?!
@Olliemar28 Isn't the 1998 movie an adaptation of the series though?
No way!
Lost a lot of money betting on Super Mario Sisters.
doesn't seem ironclad-- "Minions 2" was actually called "Minions: The Rise of Gru," so these sort of seem like generic/internal use titles moreso than an indication of what the final official title would be imo
I'm shocked by this, I never would have guessed they would name it Super Mario Bros..
Still hoping that movie burns. So sick of potentially good movies being turned into vehicles for famous actors.
I was sure theyed go for Super Mario Bros. U: The Movie to distinguish the two movies. Now I'm only confused
Oh, great. Will it lead to a Chronologically Confusing series? Much like Rambo or Fast and Furious or, god forbid, Kingdom Hearts?
@Olliemar28 Technically, there aren't two called The Avengers. Its title is Marvel Studios' The Avengers.
Why would a studio attempt to be clever or original when trying to name a movie like this? You want people to come not congratulate yourself.
With this information, I will now have the power to fly to the moon!
Still hoping the movie does well. It may encourage Nintendo to branch out its other IP into other genres. A pipe dream of course, but the potential for series like Metroid, Zelda, Star Fox, etc. as movies/tv shows/anime or such is compelling to me.
Hopefully it's better than the original movie with that name!
...otherwise they can wait a few years and try New Super Mario Bros. It's not like they've done that before
It could still be a placeholder title to be fair... and the format of the page it appears on could easily exclude any title extensions too I.e. Super Mario Bros. "The Battle For Bowser's Deep Affection".
The Super Mario Bros movie is called the Super Mario Bros movie, who woulda thunk it?
Amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before,
I wouldn't be surprised if it was just called "Super Mario Bros." I wonder if the movie will make a callback to the 1993 movie? I know it's not the best movie out there (some would even say it's one of the worst), and it's not really faithful to the source material, but I personally love the movie, and at one point, it was my favorite movie of all time. So to see a callback to it would be a real treat.
What a revelation! Can't wait to see it, though.
This is going to be an extremely basic Mario product.
Thanks, now I want "Plumb and Plumber" to be a thing. XD
So they didn’t call the movie New Super Mario Bros. Movie Deluxe Ultimate OLED + Random Deleted Scene
Super Mario Bros Birth by Bowser dream drop odyssey 235/2 days
If Donkey Kong and Foreman Spike are in it, it only makes sense that it's going to plot out them being the Mario brothers and becoming super.
Doomed to live in the shadow of its predecessor. I dislike this movie's entire existence purely because of its attempt to "do it right" this time. The seminal 1993 film is a masterpiece and this one just reeks of tryhard energy.
What else were they gonna call it? Unsurprisingly, many reboots do the same thing. This one is done for every good reason.
Ah so it's a reboot of the '93 original then?
“Crouching Plumber Hidden Bowser”
Take my money lol
I was on pins and needles wondering if they were going to include the period.
Boy… after all these years and the only thing we get is the most basic title for this film.
Hopefully the movie won’t JUST be about Mario and Luigi rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser like the original Super Mario Bros. game. That will obviously be the main conflict of the plot, but there should be a twist to make the adventure grander. The fact that it has Foreman Spike and especially Cranky Kong implies something else might be up.
Also, I predict its teaser trailer will be shown in a Nintendo Direct, not just posted randomly.
Wait the Lorax was an Illumination film? I didn’t know that!
@EarthboundBenjy There’s 2 movies called The Grinch, the second one was produced my Illumination, so… reboots!
@Bunkerneath Really? Which one, the first one? I’ve never heard of this.
@RetroBox OH NO
The final title will be Super Mario Hollywood. Mario joins forces with Mel Gibson and together they fight to bring down the Hollywood cabal creeps.
@EarthboundBenjy Yes, and this movie will definitely be better than that one.
It's literally a placeholder, the site still stays its coming out holiday 2022 not spring 2023.
@EarthboundBenjy There is a great '80's fix to that .... They will just add the word "REAL" to the title to make it more "official" .... "The REAL Super Mario Bros" or for a more modern approach ..... "Super Mario Bros. +" or perhaps a more Nintendo take on the title ...... "Super Mario Bros. Deluxe"
@AnnoyingFrenzy They don't even need this movie to do well or would let how well it does dictate them branching other IP. Furokawa has already been enthusiastic about the animation/film business. If its true that a Donkey Kong movie spin off staring Seth Rogan is following much like him following Mario in the theme park. Then it will happen regardless.
Holy crapolini. Who even considered such an astounding title?!?
; )
Wow, no way!.. They may actually name a Super Mario Bros. movie “Super Mario Bros.”? (😱).. That is “Almost Unreal”!
Its going to be called Super Mario Bros:Luigis Death Stare
Uh, almost everything illumination makes is an insult to a child's mind and merely a way to get some peace as a parent for 90 minutes, which is a very low bar of quality. We need more studios like Ghibli, cartoon saloon and Laika.
I thought name it "Super Mario Movie" was a great idea. Is simple and fits well with the naming aesthetic used in most of Super Mario games. Honestly, even naming it "Super Mario Super Movie" sounds better than plain "Super Mario Bros." again, that title is gonna get kinda confusing.
Super smash Bros the movie.
It will start with mario winning the Fight, returns to normal live, then bowser starts bullying the poor mario.. kidnapping the princess... Again... Lol.
No just kidding, i think it will be action packed, mario jumping on goombas with their brains splashing all over the place haha.
No.. but i think it will be action packed with some amazing mario music and remixes.
'Get ready for a totally new adventure from the creators of Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. It's A Me, coming holidays 2022.'
Mario the Musical. Because it’s script leaked months ago to be a musical.
@Koda1000 the lead singer would be tom phantom:
Bwah...
Hum...ah-ehm
Bwaaaah-Bwah-Bwah
BwaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Bwah
Ahem-har...
Humph!
You think yours is a real moustache?
Who's done me a thousand wrongs
Ever since Donkey Kong?
Slithering down every pipe
Despite his plumb-shaped body type!
Who's gonna run in fear
While screaming 'Mamma miaaaaaaaaaa'?
Who leaves me gray and grim?
Oh, what does Peach see in him?
MARIO!
With great joy in my heart
Each time I watch Mario Kart!
You're first and doing so well
But here comes the Spiny Shell! (Ha ha ha!)
And now you and your Rabbid friends
Have finally met your ends!
Just let me catch my breath
Then I'll 'high C' you to death!
Act 2 (unused):
So that is all you've got,
You didn't hurt me a lot!
I'll help you to recap:
Between you and me, There's a gap!
Mario, you're such a bore...
Your blows just make me snore!
You haven't hurt me a single bit (Ha ha ha!)
Prepare for my greatest HIT!
Act 3:
Who do you think you are?
You should kneel, I’m the STAR!
You are nothing but a parody
I’ll find you a good role in a TRAGEDY. (Hahahaha!)
“It’s-a me!” “Let’s-a go!”
The only words you know!
My art will touch your princess’s HEART
And you will be pulled APAAAAART!
You think you’ll win this tournament?
I’ll send you to retirement!
You’re so NOT worth the hassle!
Your princess is in another castle!
Mushrooms won’t end the pain...
Time for the Phantom to start his reign!
It will be called Super Mario Bros.: Quest for the Spaghetti (yes I suddenly remembered the Hotel Mario YTPs).
@link3710 that's pretty selfish. Never understood why people think that way. Don't like it don't watch it but let the fans have their fun. Jerk.
Dammit. I had my money on "On the buses: Varney's Last Stand"
Pretty sure they got it wrong... it starts as 'Mario Bros.' .. they don't become 'Super' until the sequel.
... Wun can only hope.
It's a perfectly fine name. Why fix what's not broken? I'd prefer that over some sort of pretentious, contrived, goofy title.
@Comicdude Dunno how it's selfish. I want more people to have good movies, and if movies like this succeed there will be less good movies for everyone to watch.
@Severian it is
@link3710 Why would you hope not to have something fun?
@Zequio ? I mean that'd be great if it did happen, but the chances are slim to none of this movie being even marginally acceptable. If it does great, but if not, I want it to burn financially so that there's a chance we might get a good one someday.
EDIT: Also, if this does well financially and it's a bad movie, they'll bloat the market with sequels until the Mario IP is damaged and Nintendo ends up pulling back on mario releases everywhere (again). Last time that happened we lost most of the good spin-offs and Paper Mario got destroyed, I'd rather not see take 2.
How bout just "Mario Bros" with the end of movie leading to how the two end up becoming super with the follow-up movie the sequel being the actual "Super Mario Bros. "
By that time we'll have Kirby movie donkey Kong and a couple other Nintendo highlights which will all lead into the "Super smash Brothers movie."
Which will ultimately be Lead from these other Nintendo movies showing how they all clump up into being "fighters smash bros brawl" ! All from the big bad white gooey covered hand enemy. From the evil Disney with the likes of Han Solo!
It's outrageous! It's unfair!
@RiasGremory I would definitely enjoy a Mario and Rabbids movie!
So many words, so little to say.
Question : What title would you choose instead of Super Mario Bros.?
Me : MARIO (I Believe...) 🤭
Just like Mortal Kombat last year. Not surprising, I don't even think they want to acknowledge the '93 film. Just think of it as a different pass at the same source material. This has as much to do with the old movie as that movie had with the Super Mario Bros Super Show tv series. I guess they could have followed in the Turtles' footsteps. The CGI reboot could be SMB, and then later we can get a live-action/CGI hybrid called "Mario Bros." lol
@Severian yea that movie was an adaptation of the series. I think he was referencing that incarnation was an American-produced film, so in the US we have two films we call The Avengers. Though as someone pointed out, the MCU film legally has "Marvel's" or "Marvel Studio's" slapped on. There are other examples though, like Total Recall. And some just slap "The" in front to be extra confusing (Suicide Squad and Predator franchises for example).
I'll wait for an official announcement. Quite possible they wanted to keep it simple and straightforward or could be just a placeholder.
@link3710 Have you actually seen the movie yet? Not trying to be combative or argumentative. Just not sure how you can come to the conclusion the movie won't be decent if we haven't even gotten as much as a screenshot
@Lony85 I always expected it to be called Super Mario Bros The Movie.
I think it's fairly surprising considering Super Mario Bros is a fairly redundant brand. What was the last one, New Super Mario Bros U like 10 years ago. Surely Super Mario was the expected title here
@UmbreonsPapa Of course I haven't. But I do know the following:
A: The entire marketing campaign so far has been about "Look at all these famous people, most of whom don't have decent voice acting experience but we hired just because they're famous." And no, I'm not saying it's all of them aren't VAs, but most of them aren't. You'd think it'd be a bad idea to cast a lead actor and actress who have basically no voice acting experience, but here we are.
B: It's Illumination, their track record is horrific.
Given those two factors, the chances of the movie being good are minimal. Again, if it's good, then good for it, but given that it almost certainly won't be I hope that we don't have yet another case of famous actors carrying a terrible movie and Hollywood getting rewarded for the practice. I hate the practice of hiring famous actors for animated movies just to act as an advertising point.
With the way, animated movies, are marketed here in, America. I could totally see, ‘Plumb and Plummer’ on a giant billboard, advertising this movie. And that’s not a good thing. 🙁 It would be nice to see this movies, marketed a different way.
@Mioaionios you mean daisy a d peaches?
@HammerGalladeBro family
@Bootieboy219
Maybe, I don't know.
@link3710 Actually no. You don’t want “more people to have more good movies” you want more movies that you deem to be good to exist. You’re effectively saying that if a film you don’t like does well they’re all wrong and ruining an IP. To each their own but that’s a literal snobbish mindset.
I appreciate the movie puns in this! 😂
Mine would be: plumb hard: clog another day.
@UmbreonsPapa I thought they'd just go with "Mario".
Easy sell, you could make the title really pretty...
I have so little faith in this thing…
@Jprhino84 Really? Cause I thought I made it clear that I don't want Nintendo to firebomb the Mario IP again when they're just starting to relax. If this succeeds, that's all but guaranteed to happen within the next decade. Dunno how that's selfish.
And to be clear... More good movies would be nice, but I really wouldn't care if I didn't think this was preface to Nintendo wrecking all creativity with Mario again to try and repair the damage these movies will do.
@link3710 Let’s break down your waffle shall we? You know the film is bad because it will be a flop. Unless it makes money which is worse because Nintendo would start creatively pillaging Mario. But then if it actually loses money, Nintendo will rip the Mario IP to shreds in a desperate attempt to salvage it. It’s circular nonsense built on assumptions and a personal dislike of the film. You’re “guaranteeing” a terrible outcome regardless of actual success based on nothing of substance.You’re just eager to tear down a film that artistically offends you. I don’t care, you do you. I’m all for personal tastes. But stop trying to spin what you’re saying.
I'm interested in seeing the official merch that will be coming out w/the film. Will there be Lego Super Mario: Super Mario Bros: the movie, Lego sets? How about official movie candy products? Will this film take a page out the Street Fighter series and release: Super Mario Bros-The Movie: The Game?
Hey, as long as the Mario movie is half as great as "Mario Warfare", they can call it whatever the heck they want
"The Super Mario Bros. Super Movie", with the movie interspersed with live action scenes of Chris Pratt and Charlie Day, dressed as the 'stached siblings, interacting with various celebrities in their home. And the end credits features Chris Pratt dancing to a cover of "Do The Mario" (performed by Billie Eilish), superimposed over scenes from the film. And a touching tribute to Captain Lou Albano at the end.
@link3710 Aannnd a few weeks later... it was *GOOD! and very succesful!
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