SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE Sequel Coming in 2026
By Movieguide® Contributor
On March 10 – international Mario Day (Mar10) – Nintendo announced a second Mario movie is in the works and is set to hit theaters in April 2026.
“We are now creating a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros… We’ll let you know the details once we’re ready to share more,” said Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. “This time too, the staff at Illumination and Nintendo are working together.”
“We’re thinking about broadening Mario’s world further, and it’ll have a bright fun story,” he continued. “We hope you’ll look forward to it!”
This is Miyamoto. We are now creating a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. This film is planned for release in theaters on April 3rd, 2026 in the US and many other markets, and throughout the month of April in other territories. [1/2]
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 10, 2024
While little is known about the plot of the upcoming movie, it will likely feature some of the mushroom kingdom’s most beloved characters, including Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi, and Princess Daisy, who were absent in the first movie.
The movie will be directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the co-directors who worked on THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE, which was released last year.
“[We are] busy at work storyboarding scenes and developing set designs for new environments,” the co-directors said after the movie was announced.
The SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE was an incredible success last year. It broke a $1 billion gross after less than one month in theaters and ended 2023 as the No. 2 movie of the year. It also broke records, becoming the highest-grossing animated movie ever, finishing with a $1.36 billion worldwide gross.
The movie’s incredible success was boosted by a star-studded cast and a fun, uplifting story great for parents and children alike. It won a Teddy Bear Award® at this year’s Movieguide® Awards. A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (2023) has a strong moral message about brotherhood, sacrifice, and working together to overcome evil. The movie has breathtaking animation that honors its iconic source material while breathing new life into the large cast of characters from both Mario video games and other Nintendo games of the same universe. For Mario and Luigi, love for one another helps them overcome their deepest fears and stand up against Bowser and his army of Koopas, Goombas, and Piranha Plants. Due to some intense animated action/violence, Movieguide® advises caution for younger children.
Since its release, some of the movie’s major stars have been eager to return to the world.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Despite THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE’s incredible success last year, Nintendo has been slow-going with a sequel and currently has nothing in the works.
The Mario brothers took the world by storm last year as one of the most popular video game franchises came to the big screen for the first time in 30 years. Ending 2023 as the No. 2 movie of the year, THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE grossed $1.36 billion at the global box office.
While most studios would be fast-tracking a sequel after this level of success, Nintendo has kept quiet about a follow-up movie, though it has green-lit a sequel.
“It has been radio silence,” Jack Black, who played Bowser in the movie, told Variety. “The only chatter has been coming from me, and I don’t even know if I’m allowed to chatter. I’ve been chomping at the bit to get back into business.”
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