TL;DR: The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the rare "safe" blockbuster that actually delivers. It’s high-energy, visually stunning, and free of the edgy "adult winks" that plague other animated films. However, it is also a masterclass in ecosystem marketing—once your kid sees it, they will want the Nintendo Switch, the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe expansion pass, and probably a Lego Super Mario set.
Quick Links:
- The Movie: The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- The Best "Next Step" Game: Super Mario Wonder
- For Creative Kids: Super Mario Maker 2
- The Retro Deep Dive: The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
If you’ve been living under a Thwomp, here’s the gist: Illumination (the studio behind Minions) teamed up with Nintendo to create a definitive origin story for Mario and Luigi. It follows the Brooklyn plumbers as they get sucked through a warp pipe into the Mushroom Kingdom.
Mario has to team up with a surprisingly badass Princess Peach to save Luigi from Bowser, the King of the Koopas, who is voiced by Jack Black in a performance that is 50% villainy and 50% power-ballad-crooning.
It’s fast. It’s loud. It’s colorful. And for parents, it’s a 90-minute Easter egg hunt that rewards you for all those hours you spent playing the NES in 1988.
In a world of "Skibidi Toilet" and nonsensical YouTube shorts, The Super Mario Bros. Movie feels like a return to high-quality, coherent storytelling. Kids love it because it’s a visual feast—the Rainbow Road sequence alone is enough to keep a seven-year-old locked in.
But from a digital wellness perspective, Mario is what I call "Active Media." Unlike some shows that just turn kids into zombies, Mario content usually inspires them to do something. Whether it’s trying to recreate a level in Minecraft or asking to finally try Super Mario Odyssey, the movie acts as a bridge to interactive play.
Nintendo is the Disney of the gaming world. They don't just sell a movie; they sell a lifestyle. If your kid hasn't been a "gamer" yet, this movie is the most common entry point we see in the Screenwise community.
According to our data, roughly 65% of parents who watched the movie with kids under 10 reported an "immediate increase" in requests for Nintendo-related products. It's a deliberate funnel.
The Path from Screen to Controller
If the movie has sparked an obsession, here is how to navigate the "What's next?" conversation without just throwing money at the screen:
- The "I want to play that" Game: Super Mario Wonder. This is the best entry point for kids ages 5-10. It’s a 2D side-scroller (like the old days) but with modern "badges" that make the game easier for beginners.
- The Family Night Pick: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. If you have a Switch, this is mandatory. Use the "Auto-Steering" feature for younger kids so they don't get frustrated falling off the track.
- The Solo Adventure: Super Mario Odyssey. For kids 8+, this is a massive 3D world that rewards exploration and curiosity. It’s basically the "open world" version of the movie.
- The Creative Outlet: Super Mario Maker 2. If your kid loves building in Roblox, point them here. They can build their own Mario levels and learn basic game design logic.
Learn more about the best Nintendo Switch games for beginners
Nintendo and Illumination have officially announced that a sequel is coming on April 3, 2026.
While they’re keeping the plot under a literal green shell, the post-credits scene of the first movie featured a white-and-green speckled egg. This means Yoshi is coming. For parents, this means a whole new wave of merchandise and likely a spin-off game or two.
The sequel will likely expand the "Nintendo Cinematic Universe." We might see hints of The Legend of Zelda or even Metroid, though Nintendo tends to be very precious about their IP. Expect the 2026 release to be the biggest "family event" of the year.
The movie is rated PG, and for once, that rating actually makes sense.
- Violence: It’s all "cartoon violence." Characters get bopped, frozen, or knocked around, but there is no blood or realistic injury.
- Scare Factor: The "Dark Lands" scenes with the Dry Bones (skeleton turtles) can be a bit spooky for the 4-and-under crowd. If your kid is sensitive to "creepy" imagery, they might find the Luigi-in-the-woods scene a bit much.
- Language: Refreshingly clean. No "A-words" or "S-words" hidden in the dialogue. Bowser calls people "idiots" or "fools," which is about as edgy as it gets.
- The "Peaches" Song: Warning—this will stay in your head for three weeks. It’s a banger, but it’s a psychological hazard for parents.
Check out our full safety breakdown for The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Mario is "safe," but he isn't cheap. Unlike Fortnite or Roblox, which use "freemium" models to nickel-and-dime kids for skins, Nintendo sticks to the "Premium" model.
You pay $60 for a game, and you get the whole game. There are rarely "loot boxes" or predatory microtransactions in mainline Mario titles. However, the "gateway" effect means your kid will suddenly want the $300 console, the $60 game, and the $20 Amiibo figures.
Pro-tip: If your family is new to the ecosystem, look for a used Nintendo Switch Lite. It's cheaper and more durable for smaller hands.
Use the movie as a way to talk about resilience. The whole plot of Mario is "try, fail, try again." There’s a great training montage where Mario keeps falling off platforms and getting hit by obstacles, but he gets back up.
Ask your kids:
- "Why didn't Mario just quit when he couldn't jump the gap?"
- "What did Princess Peach do differently than Mario when they were training?"
- "If you were building a level in Super Mario Maker 2, what's the one obstacle you'd make really hard?"
Ask our chatbot for more conversation starters about gaming resilience
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a win. It’s high-quality entertainment that respects your kid's intelligence and your own nostalgia. While it is undeniably a giant commercial for the Nintendo ecosystem, that ecosystem is generally one of the "cleanest" and most family-friendly corners of the digital world.
If you’re looking for a Friday night movie that won't make you want to scroll on your phone the whole time, this is it. Just be prepared to hear "Peaches" on repeat for the foreseeable future.
- Watch the movie (it's currently streaming on Netflix in many regions).
- Check the Screenwise community data to see which Mario games other families in your school district are playing.
- Set up Nintendo Switch Parental Controls before you hand over the controller.
- Explore alternatives if your kid is "Mario'd out"—try The Lego Movie or Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.