With three Super Nintendo World theme parks, countless video games, and over a dozen movie and TV adaptations, the Super Mario Brothers have leapt through more than just pipes, they've jumped into the hearts of fans worldwide to become the most iconic plumbers in history. Even the creators at Nintendo likely never imagined that their simple game about two Italian brothers rescuing a princess from an evil turtle would grow into one of the most successful franchises in gaming and pop culture.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) shattered records, earning $1.3 billion globally and becoming the highest-grossing video game movie of all time, as well as the biggest worldwide opening for an animated film. While this blockbuster reignited excitement around the franchise, Mario and Luigi have been appearing on screens since way back in the 1980s. Outside of the standard movie and TV fare, they also inspired a game show called The Super Mario Challenge and The Mario Ice Capades, starring Jason Bateman and Alyssa Milano. Those aside, here's a complete look at all the Super Mario movies and TV shows in order of release, and where you can watch them online in India.
Saturday Supercade (1983)
Released in 1983, Saturday Supercade is a Saturday morning cartoon featuring short stories based on video game characters from the Golden Age of Arcade Games. While the series features Mario, it also includes characters from other Nintendo favorites, like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Space Ace, QBert*, among others.
Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986)
This 1986 Japanese animated film is one of the first-ever feature films based on a video game. The movie follows Mario and Luigi as they enter a new world through their television and set out on an adventure to rescue Princess Peach from the evil clutches of Bowser. Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! is also considered the earliest isekai anime to involve a virtual game world.
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989)
Based on the NES games Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 2, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! was the first dedicated American series chronicling the adventures of the Italian brothers and plumbers. The animated series was broadcast in syndication from September 4, 1989, to December 1, 1989 and later sparked a sequel series that ditched the live-action elements for full animation in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3.
King Koopa’s Kool Kartoons (1989)
King Koopa’s Kool Kartoons is a live-action, Sesame Street-esque show hosted by King Koopa, also known as Bowser. The show was part of the afternoon cartoon specials on television and aired only in Southern California in the fall of 1989, around the same time as The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, which was available nationwide. This limited regional airing is why it's not as well known today.
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990)
Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of the best-selling games on the NES. It introduced a whole new level of challenging gameplay and raised the bar for what NES games could achieve, becoming one of the most popular Mario titles of all time. The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 draws inspiration from the game’s rich storyline, following Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Peach as they battle King Koopa to protect their beloved Mushroom Kingdom.
Super Mario Bros. 1993
Super Mario Bros. is the first ever American Mario feature film. It differs from all the TV shows and movies that preceded it by bringing Princess Daisy into the spotlight, instead of following the familiar cast of Peach, Mario, and Luigi. The sci-fi comedy starred Bob Hoskins as Mario Mario and John Leguizamo as Luigi Mario. The movie marked a rare collaboration between Nintendo and Disney. At the time, the studio believed the Mario franchise was strong enough to experiment with, so the storyline didn’t closely follow the video game blueprint. Unfortunately, this departure wasn’t well received upon release, leading to a financial loss at the box office. However, years later, the film earned validation from fans.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Exactly 20 years after the first Super Mario Bros. American film came The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a grand-scale animated adventure that showcases the elaborate, imaginative, and expansive world of Mario and his galaxies like never before. The movie pays homage to how far video games have come by including elements from retro titles like Super Mario Bros., sister franchises like Donkey Kong, and fan-favorite games such as Mario Kart. Jack Black’s iconic tribute to Princess Peach with his song “Peaches” redeemed Bowser’s misunderstood antagonist character and won the Internet’s heart. It is the ultimate Mario movie, packed with countless hidden Easter eggs referencing every era of Mario’s history, which is a true celebration for lifelong fans.
How To Watch Every 'Super Mario' Movie And TV Show Online
To discover more about TV shows and movies currently streaming in India, check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!
