The Best & Worst of Mario Films & Docs

As one of the most beloved and entertaining worlds in video gaming, Super Mario receives coverage of all types. Over the last decades, the titular characters in Nintendo’s Super Mario World have been covered in pop culture of all stripes—from mentions in rap songs to an unending reel of inspired cosplay.

However, there haven’t been too many projects that cover the exploits of Dinosaur Land from the perspective of narrative film and documentary filmmaking. In terms of entertainment value, Nintendo’s video games have replaced the need for a high-action Super Mario film (for the most part). 

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However, the absence of a groundbreaking documentary series is a bit more surprising. Regardless of the topic, documentaries tend to cater to hardcore fans who want a deeper dive into a given subject. For example, a seasoned poker player might want a pointed exploration of certain topics related to the industry—and they will have plenty of options. 

Some of the best documentaries in the genre cover poker from nuanced angles. Nosebleed takes a look at online poker play, while One of a Kind zeroes in on one of the game’s most influential pros, Stu Ungar, while Kid Poker instead shifts to cover Daniel Negreanu. No matter the specific interest, there’s a documentary that uncovers new insights into poker.

Super Mario fans haven’t had the same kind of fan treatment—at least, not until this year with the release of The Story of Super Mario World. Keep reading for more information on the best and worst film and documentary projects that cover Nintendo’s Super Mario.

Best: The Story of Super Mario World (2022)

In May 2022, director Norman Caruso dove deep into the subject of Nintendo’s Super Mario World from a historical and cultural perspective. This makes it a perfect documentary for diehard fans of Super Mario. With great attention to detail, Caruso guides viewers through the evolution of Super Mario to Super Mario World.

The project covers why each game was revolutionary in its own right, then compares each game’s impact as they were released with Nintendo’s console, the SNES. It dives deep into the decision-making of Nintendo execs, including Hiroshi Yamauchi and Shigeru Miyamoto, in the development of Super Mario World.

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Worst: Super Mario Bros. (1993)

The idea of creating a Super Mario-inspired film is a no-brainer. With Nintendo’s reel of memorable characters, unforgettable settings and obstacles, and plenty of light-heartedness, it has all the features of a major blockbuster. Unfortunately, one of the only major attempts flopped—big time.

Back in 1993, Hollywood Pictures attempted to make a live-action romp that covers Mario and Luigi’s attempts to save Princess Daisy from King Koopa in another dimension. The project was a box office and financial failure, which many felt was a mindless hodgepodge of Super Mario themes and American pop culture.

Shigeru Miyamoto eventually weighed in, saying it tried to replicate the game rather than be entertaining in its own right.

Best: This Ain’t No Video Game (1993)

Not everything about 1993’s failed Super Mario Bros. was a failure. In fact, it seems filmmakers were quite aware of their struggles, even as they began production on the film. This led to a behind-the-scenes mini-doc titled This Ain’t No Video Game, which was released when the film went to Blu-Ray.

The mini-doc has been a huge hit for cult fans of the original Super Mario Bros. film. Though a disaster in terms of critical reception, many Super Mario fans have made their peace with the 1993 Hollywood Pictures film—which has only made This Ain’t No Video Game even more meaningful. The retrospective interviews highlight what a disaster filming was, from the drama between cast and crew on set to the range of opinions on which direction the project should take.

Looking Forward: The ‘Untitled’ Mario Film

With a release date set for 2023, the stakes have never been higher for the Chris Pratt-led untitled Mario film. With big names like Jack Black and Seth Rogan on the lineup, it seems like the project will have the star power behind it to succeed. And with Nintendo’s name on the list of producers, hopes have never been higher that Mario fans might (finally) see a spot-on live action retelling.