The Super Mario Bros. Movie arrived in theaters in April and it has broken several records since. The animated adaptation grossed $31.7 million in its debut, jumping its way to a $204.6 million domestic gross by the end of its initial five-day run – the biggest debut of the year. Internationally, the film garnered $377 million to earn the spot for the biggest opening animated film of all time.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s five-day opening gross is also a record for Illumination as it has the highest debut of any of the studio’s releases. It continued its impressive run in its second weekend with an $87 million gross at the domestic box office which is the biggest second-weekend domestic gross ever, a record that previously belonged to Disney’s Frozen 2.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s latest gross takes its total box office earnings to $678 million gross making it the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time ahead of Warcraft, Rampage, and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, as well as the highest-grossing film of 2023 so far ahead of blockbusters like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, John Wick: Chapter 4, and Creed III.
Before it came out, analysts had a hard time predicting the film will reach the $1 billion mark. In fact, many distribution sources believed that the film would be front-loaded and would have lost its appeal by its second week. However, it has defied expectations and, if it continues on its current trajectory, could become the first film in 2023 to cross the $1 billion mark.
While John Wick is still showing in cinemas, it has lost its legs and can hardly be expected to put up a challenge. Given its superhero pedigree and budget, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania should have put up a challenge. However, that film flopped at the box office and has since ended its run.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie sees Chris Pratt voice the titular character. He is supported by an ensemble cast that includes Keegan-Michael Key, Anya Taylor-Joy, Fred Armisen, Seth Rogen, Charlie Day, and Jack Black. The film was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and based on a screenplay written by Matthew Fogel.
Given its impressive performance, fans will be expecting a sequel or a spinoff. However, none of the companies involved in its production – Illumination, Nintendo, and Universal Pictures – has announced any such plans. Nevertheless, some of the film’s cast have expressed interest in a sequel and spinoffs
Jack Black, who voiced Bowser in the film, has suggested that The Mandalorian actor Pedro Pascal should voice a new villain, Wario, in a sequel. Also, Charlie Day, who voiced Luigi, has stated his interest in reprising his role in a spinoff, and Seth Rogen, who voiced Donkey Kong, thinks the character and its family provide an opportunity for a spinoff. Given fans’ clamor for sequels and spinoffs, as well as the cast’s enthusiasm for the same, a new film from the universe might hit the big screen sooner rather than later.
