--- title: "The Super Mario Bros. Movie: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-super-mario-bros-movie/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-super-mario-bros-movie" critics_score: 48 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 48 from 17 reviews: 4 positive, 4 mixed, 9 negative. The reviews lean negative, and the spread is wide. Most critics agree on what works: bright, fast animation, a score that folds in the game sounds, and Jack Black’s turn as Bowser, which even sceptical reviews pick out. The trouble is everything around it. Again and again the complaint is that the film is a parade of references without a story to hang them on: brisk, safe, loud and thin, aimed at children and at fans who will recognise the power-ups. The trade papers are kinder, with Variety calling it kinetic fun and The Hollywood Reporter a labour of love for fans. The British broadsheets are harshest. The Telegraph rates it below the 1993 live-action film, and The Times finds it charmless and machine-tooled. Between the two camps sit several reviews that find it decent for children and forgettable for anyone else. ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Rating Critics Pick. 4 April 2023. The film delivers sheer animated fun and a prankish video-game buzz that connects with audiences. It stands out for its kinetic energy, inventive set pieces, and Jack Black's standout vocal performance as Bowser. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/the-super-mario-bros-review-chris-pratt-anya-taylor-joy-jack-black-1235572328/) ## The AV Club — Matthew Huff Rating B. 4 April 2023. The critic praises the Easter egg-filled adventure built for Nintendo fans and the clever score that ties in game sounds. He notes it will please fans and younger viewers but falls short of greatness in story and freshness. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/super-mario-bros-movie-review-1850296739) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2023. The critic calls the movie mildly amusing, swift, noisy, and unrelentingly paced but ultimately inoffensive and not terribly interesting. It excels in eye-popping animation and set pieces but lacks depth or memorable jokes beyond a few standouts. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-04-04/super-mario-bros-movie-review-chris-pratt-voice) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2023. The review describes a colourful animated adventure that captures some of the games' carefree spirit in its action sequences but too often plays down to its young audience, prioritising rambunctious energy, familiar beats and franchise setup over wit, heart or a distinct identity. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review/5180806.article) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Rating 2/5. 5 April 2023. The critic calls it an improvement over the notorious 1993 live-action film thanks to its energetic animation and game references, but finds it ultimately a step backwards for video game adaptations, with hyperkinetic visuals that grow nauseating and little substance beyond fan service. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/super-mario-bros-movie-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Paul Attard Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2023. The critic sees the film as cheap fan service consisting of Easter eggs in search of a story rather than anything original. He singles out the voice cast’s solid work but laments the lack of emotional stakes or innovation beyond brand extension. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating 2/5. 7 April 2023. The film is fantastically charmless and machine-tooled, lacking feeling or storytelling verve while being emotionally bland yet garish. It seems designed to sedate young audiences with stereotypes and superficial references. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/super-mario-bros-film-review-tjx7rhtzx) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2023. The film is a tedious and flat disappointment that fails to capture the spirit of the games or deliver comedy. It relies on uninspired visuals and inert storytelling instead of clever adaptation. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/apr/04/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review-wackily-eccentric-gamer-guys-fall-flat-on-screen) ## The New York Times — Calum Marsh Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 5 April 2023. The critic finds the film bland, witless, and pandering. It prioritizes video-game references and snarky humor over the wholesome charm of the source material. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/05/movies/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review.html) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 5 April 2023. The critic calls the film another bad game adaptation that is generic and focus-group assembled outside of brief gameplay-evoking moments. He complains that it fails to assemble its iconography into a meaningful story and lacks purpose or wit. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-super-mario-bros-movie-is-another-bad-game-adaptation.html) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 1/5. 4 April 2023. This animated adaptation is even worse than the 1993 live-action version, feeling like a shallow brand extension that is shallow, sterile and inane. It prioritizes relentless fan-service references over any meaningful story or quality animation. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/super-mario-bros-review-monstrous-animation/) ## Empire — John Nugent 4 April 2023. This animated version is deeply faithful to the games as a greatest-hits parade of references and Easter eggs, with high-quality animation and some fun power-up moments. However, it feels like a feature-length cutscene lacking the joy of actual gameplay and features miscast voices. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-super-mario-bros-movie/) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★★☆☆. 6 April 2023. The movie is a risk-averse but refreshing children's film that faithfully reimagines the game world without pandering to adults or critics. It succeeds by being squarely aimed at kids with brisk pacing and authentic nods to the source material. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/ecda7228-07a5-4003-838a-57288b150ad2) ## IndieWire — Christian Zilko 4 April 2023. The critic views the adaptation as a winner that pulls out all the power-ups for a kid-friendly take. He notes the clever explanation for the voice choice and the film’s energetic approach to the source material. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review-1234825508/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck 4 April 2023. The critic finds the film a zippy animated adaptation that erases the memory of the poor 1993 live-action version, calling it a labor of love for fans. He singles out Jack Black’s exuberant voice work as Bowser and the fast-paced action sequences for praise. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review-1235366807/) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland 4 April 2023. The film is silly, earnest fun that panders to fans through visual nods to gameplay but succeeds as an unapologetic children's adventure with colourful animation and light humour. It hits the major notes of the Mario universe without overdoing adult winks. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/super-mario-bros-movie-review-fan-pandering-2253712) ## Total Film — Fay Watson 4 April 2023. The movie mostly sticks the landing as a fun, fast-paced take on the plumber siblings that subverts the damsel trope with a capable Peach and delivers faithful, affectionate animation. It does not match the genius of the original games but leaves room for more adventures. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating B+. 4 April 2023. The critic praises the film as a colorful, joyful celebration of the Mario franchise and Nintendo history that delivers fun for kids and fans alike. They single out its bright worlds, solid jokes, and overall charm as highlights. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review/) ## Consequence Rating B. 4 April 2023. The review calls the film a thin but fun love letter to the games and a solid watchable tribute better than the 1993 version. It highlights the fast pace, visuals, and loving nods to Nintendo while noting some characters feel underdeveloped. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2023/04/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review-chris-pratt/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3/5. 4 April 2023. The critic finds it a visually impressive but hollow family film that children will adore for its nostalgia and graphics, but criticizes it as derivative and empty inside. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/super-mario-bros-movie-review/) ## Polygon — Joshua Rivera Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2023. The critic finds the film overwhelmingly gorgeous and faithful to the games but ultimately nostalgia bait with little original hook or lasting memory. They single out its reliance on references and serviceable but brief moments of personality as the main issues. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23669990/super-mario-bros-movie-review-references/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 4/10. 4 April 2023. The film is exactly what its marketing promises: a brisk, colorful, and safe adaptation that prioritizes recognizable characters, gameplay nods, and Nintendo music over any creative risk or depth. It thrives on being unsurprising and is critic-proof due to its family appeal and box-office potential, but feels uninspiring overall. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1247880/super-mario-bros-movie-review-unsurprising/) ## NME — Nick Levine Rating 2/5. 4 April 2023. Paper-thin plot and lazy creative choices make it mediocre despite some witty riffs on the games; it's faithful but not fun enough. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/super-mario-bros-movie-review-chris-pratt-3425797) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond 4 April 2023. The critic finds the animated film a winner for families and a charmer faithful to the source material, with animation the right way to go. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic turn it into something likable and loaded with laughs that feels like playing the game, aided by bright colors, a zippy score, and an enjoyable voice cast. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/04/the-super-mario-bros-movie-review-chris-pratt-iconic-video-game-1235317269/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-super-mario-bros-movie.md