Video games often prove to be considerably difficult to adapt for the big screen, but Mario has seen a rougher transition than most other gaming properties. After a disastrous cinematic debut with the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. movie, the series is finally receiving the theatrical treatment once again in 2022.
The latest effort comes courtesy of Illumination Entertainment, who has chosen to adapt the beloved Nintendo franchise as an animated movie. With Super Mario having made frequent appearances on Nintendo's gaming consoles over the years, there are many games which the animation studio could choose to adapt for their latest venture.
Super Mario Bros. (1983)
The very first Mario game, Super Mario Bros. released in 1983 and is one of the gaming industry's most influential releases yet. The videogame is not only responsible for inspiring the creation of many 2D platformers which followed, but it also provided the narrative backbone for the Mario entries which followed.
Its plot sees Mario traversing many castles across the Mushroom Kingdom, as his romantic crush Princess Peach is kidnapped by the plumber's arch-nemesis Bowser. The story's simplistic nature makes it accessible for all ages, which would lend itself well to the Mario movie's younger audience.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
The Mario franchise has taken many forms across its many releases, but its most unique gaming venture is arguably the Paper Mario spin-off series. In Paper Mario, the Mushroom Kingdom is transformed into a world populated by paper recreations of Mario and his friends. The most iconic entry in this videogame saga is perhaps The Thousand-Year Door, which impressed many audiences with its narrative approach.
The Thousand-Year Door's tale revolves around Mario on the hunt for the mythical Crystal Stars, which can be used to unlock the Thousand-Year Door and stop Grodus and the Shadow Queen from achieving world domination. Featuring a mixture of colorful characters and a unique art style, this game would be a perfect fit for Illumination Entertainment's animated feature.
Super Mario 64 (1996)
Mario's first 3D platformer is also one of his greatest. Super Mario 64 debuted in 1996 and is considered by many gamers to be a Super Mario game that has stood the test of time. This installment in the franchise is set largely within the grounds of Peach's Castle, with the plumber once again trying to save Princess Peach from Bowser.
The one element that truly makes Super Mario 64 stand out is the way it incorporates the different environments which Mario traverses within the narrative. Mario is transported to the different locations within this adventure via paintings dotted throughout the castle, which act as portals to other worlds. It's a wildly creative premise, which could allow the Mario movie to explore multiple realms within its story.
Mario & Sonic At The Winter Olympic Games (2009)
After Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games proved a hit with audiences in 2007, Nintendo and SEGA decided to follow this up with a sequel, based around the Winter Olympics. Mario & Sonic At The Winter Olympic Games is one of Mario's best sports games so far and could provide some rich source material for the Mario movie.
The game features a charming plot, regarding Bowser and Doctor Eggman's attempts to melt Frostown in order to sabotage the Olympic Games. With the Winter Olympics airing next year and Sonic The Hedgehog also releasing a feature movie in 2022, Mario's animated film could prove the ample opportunity for this game's cinematic adaptation, though an Olympic style setting would likely not work.
Super Mario Sunshine (2002)
Considered by many to be one of the best Nintendo Gamecube games, Super Mario Sunshine is the Mario game that most closely resembles a cinematic animation. Featuring a full voice cast and some gorgeous visuals, it's a video game that truly captures the franchise's potential for a CGI-animated movie, with one of the series' most interesting narratives.
When Mario and friends arrive on the tropical island of Isle Delfino, the plumber is framed by a mysterious imposter for vandalism. Its story is wonderfully bizarre and provides some truly fascinating pieces of backstory for Bowser, who it turns out has a son. The father and son subplot between Bowser and Bowser Jnr would give Jack Black, who is set to provide Bowser's voice, plenty of material to work with, which makes the prospects of a Sunshine film tantalizing to consider.
Mario Party Superstars (2021)
Clearly, Mario Party is one of Super Mario's best-known spin-off franchises, and its latest entry Mario Party Superstars promises to be the greatest yet. Set to release in October, this installment combines a number of features from previous Mario Party games and could provide the structural basis for Illumination Entertainment's Mario movie.
With the Mario Party franchise boasting a varied collection of playable individuals, A Mario Party cinematic adaptation would be an easy way to involve a large roster of Super Mario characters in the narrative. Added to this the sheer variety of the boards, which explore everything from tropical islands to space, and a Mario Party movie could carry bags of potential.
Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
Thought by many to be the best Mario game on the Nintendo Wii, Super Mario Galaxy is one of the franchise's finest efforts. It's also a game that shows plenty of promise for a movie adaptation. With its cinematic art style, bombastic orchestral score, and grand narrative scope, it's a game tailor-made to be turned into an animated feature.
Super Mario Galaxy features one of the Mario franchise's most enigmatic characters in Rosalina, who would make for an interesting addition to the film. Her backstory is a significant focus of the story, as players discover her origins along with Mario and learn how she ended up exploring the stars with the Lumas. The intergalactic exploration aspect would also lend itself well to animation, opening up many creative possibilities.
Mario Kart 8 (2014)
Arguably the most iconic of Mario's spin-off franchises, Mario Kart is a series that first debuted in 1992 and is still captivating audiences to this day. These games are among Nintendo's most innovative releases, with each entry adding a new gameplay gimmick. The zany nature of the game's items and karts bring to mind iconic cartoons such as Wacky Races, which could make it a perfect fit for an animated adaptation.
The most suitable candidate out of the entire Mario Kart range is possibly Mario Kart 8. Alongside the returning flight and underwater aspects to the series' vehicles, this entry also equips the karts with the ability to drive upside down and on vertical surfaces. This could allow Illumination Entertainment to create some unique imagery for their Mario movie, as characters traverse up walls and ceilings on their journey to win the Mario Kart Grand Prix.
Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
The Super Mario series has taken many strange forms over the years, but one of the most bizarre is easily Super Mario Odyssey. Considered by many gamers to be the best 3D Mario game, Odyssey follows Mario's attempts to stop Bowser's wedding to Peach. Along the way, he is aided by Cappy, a hat that allows him to possess the bodies of various creatures.
Cappy's possession abilities would open itself up well to an animated Mario feature, with its limitless nature inviting the screenplay to get creative with the bodies the plumber could take over. The game's twist ending, which sees Peach turn down both Mario and Bowser's hand in marriage, could add some real dramatic weight to the animated feature, with Mario forced to grapple with his unrequited love for the princess.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009)
Across the Mario franchise's history, there have been many Super Mario RPG video games. One of the most beloved, however, is the Mario & Luigi franchise. Beginning in 2003 with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, this role-playing saga has proven a hit with general audiences. The series is known particularly for its story, which makes it an ideal pick for a movie adaptation. Perhaps the greatest game for Illumination Entertainment to adapt would be Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
When Fawful takes over Bowser's castle, the plumbers - currently residing inside Bowser's body - are reluctantly forced to team up with their arch-nemesis in order to dethrone the maniacal mastermind, and restore order to the Mushroom Kingdom. The game's compelling plot would give Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, and Jack Black plenty of opportunity to bounce off one another as Mario, Luigi, and Bowser respectively, whilst offering a story that's less predictable than Bowser's frequent kidnaps of Peach.