Super Mario Bros. (film)

Super Mario Bros. (also known as Super Mario Bros.: The Movie) is a 1993 fantasy adventure film[7] based on Nintendo's Super Mario video game series. The first feature-length live-action film based on a video game,[8] it was directed by the husband-and-wife team of Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, written by Parker Bennett, Terry Runté, and Ed Solomon, and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures through Hollywood Pictures. It follows brothers Mario (Bob Hoskins) and Luigi Mario (John Leguizamo) in their quest to rescue Princess Daisy (Samantha Mathis) from a dystopic parallel universe ruled by the ruthless President Koopa (Dennis Hopper).

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Super Mario Bros.
Theatrical release poster by Steven Chorney
Directed by	Rocky Morton Annabel Jankel
Written by	Parker Bennett Terry Runté Ed Solomon
Based on	Mario by Nintendo
Produced by	Jake Eberts Roland Joffé
Starring	Bob Hoskins John Leguizamo Dennis Hopper Samantha Mathis Fisher Stevens Fiona Shaw Richard Edson
Cinematography	Dean Semler
Edited by	Mark Goldblatt
Music by	Alan Silvestri
Production companies	Hollywood Pictures[1] Lightmotive[1] Allied Filmmakers[1] Cinergi Pictures[1]
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (United States)[1] Entertainment Film Distributors (United Kingdom)[2]
Release date	May 28, 1993 (1993-05-28)
Running time	104 minutes[3]
Countries	United States[2] United Kingdom[2]
Language	English
Budget	$42–48 million[4][5]
Box office	$38.9 million[6]

Development began after producer Roland Joffé obtained the Mario film rights from Nintendo. Given free creative license by Nintendo, which believed the Mario brand was strong enough for experimentation, the screenwriters envisioned Super Mario Bros. as a subversive comedy influenced by Ghostbusters (1984) and The Wizard of Oz (1939). The setting was inspired by the game Super Mario World (1990) with elements drawn from fairy tales and contemporary American culture. The production innovated and introduced many filmmaking techniques now considered pivotal in the transition from practical to digital visual effects, including the use of Autodesk Flame. Filming took place from May to July 1992.

Released on May 28, 1993, Super Mario Bros. was a critical and financial failure, grossing $38.9 million worldwide against a budget of $42–48 million. Though appearing on several lists of the worst films ever made, it has developed a following over the years,[9][10] and has been reappraised by some as a cult classic.[11][12][13] In 2013, a webcomic sequel was produced in collaboration with Bennett.