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What is the plot?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) opens in a frigid, icy realm inhabited by blue penguins, peaceful creatures whose home is suddenly invaded by the menacing Koopa army. Their leader, Bowser, a towering, fire-breathing Koopa king, arrives aboard a massive flying ship, accompanied by his sorcerer Kamek. As the penguins attempt a futile defense, Kamek uses magic to effortlessly toss them aside, and Bowser incinerates their ice palace with his fiery breath. He then smashes open a mysterious question mark box, revealing the powerful Super Star, which he claims will make him unstoppable.
Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, New York, Italian-American brothers Mario and Luigi run a struggling plumbing business. They watch a commercial they produced for their new venture, only to be mocked by their former boss, Foreman Spike. Mario defends his timid brother Luigi, who is easily overwhelmed by their setbacks. Soon, they receive a call for their first plumbing job at a wealthy couple's home. However, Luigi accidentally steps on the couple's dog Francis's toy, provoking the dog to chase them through the house. Their attempt to fix a leaky faucet descends into chaos, culminating in a frantic rescue of Francis from nearly falling out a window.
Back at home, the brothers share a family dinner featuring pasta with mushrooms, which Mario dislikes. Their parents express skepticism about their plumbing business, especially their father, leaving Mario feeling disheartened and insignificant. Luigi comforts him, and Mario voices his desire to prove himself. When a news report reveals a massive water main leak flooding Brooklyn's streets, Mario sees an opportunity to demonstrate their worth. The brothers descend underground to fix the problem but are pulled into a network of mysterious pipes. As they navigate the sewers, they are sucked into separate Warp Pipes, transporting them to different fantastical realms.
Luigi lands in the Dark Lands, a grim, shadowy domain ruled by Bowser. He is pursued by skeletal Dry Bones warriors and captured by masked Shy Guys, becoming a prisoner of Bowser's forces. Meanwhile, Mario arrives in the vibrant Mushroom Kingdom, a land of giant mushrooms and colorful landscapes. There, he meets Toad, a cheerful mushroom-headed creature who deduces Luigi's location and guides Mario to Princess Peach's castle.
Princess Peach, the benevolent ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, is aware of Bowser's threat. She reveals that Bowser plans to marry her and use the Super Star's power to conquer the kingdom. Peach is determined to resist and has been preparing to ally with the Kong army to defend her realm. She welcomes Mario, thrilled to meet another human, and agrees to help find Luigi--but only if Mario proves himself worthy. Peach puts Mario through a rigorous obstacle course filled with perilous traps, including falling platforms, man-eating plants, and swinging wrecking balls. She introduces him to power-ups, especially mushrooms that increase his size and strength, though he loses these powers if hit. After many attempts, Mario impresses Peach with his perseverance.
Before setting out, Peach demonstrates her ability to wield fire using a mystical flower and shares that she was found as a lost child in the Mushroom Kingdom, raised by the Toads before becoming their princess. Mario, Peach, and Toad journey to the Jungle Kingdom to seek the aid of the Kong army. There, they meet Cranky Kong, who initially refuses to help. Cranky agrees only if Mario can defeat his son, Donkey Kong, in an arena battle. Mario struggles against Donkey Kong's brute strength but eventually triumphs by using a Cat Suit power-up that grants him agility and reflexes. This victory secures the Kongs' alliance.
Meanwhile, Luigi remains imprisoned alongside the captured penguins and their king, as well as a small, enigmatic star named Lumalee. Bowser, jealous of Mario's growing alliance with Peach and the Kongs, tortures Luigi by yanking his mustache hairs to extract information about Mario's whereabouts.
The heroes prepare for a final confrontation. Mario, Peach, Toad, and the Kong army race along Rainbow Road in karts to intercept Bowser's forces. They face ambushes from Bowser's Koopa army, including a blue-shelled Koopa General who destroys part of the road, causing Mario and Donkey Kong to fall into the ocean. The other Kongs are captured. Mario and Donkey Kong are swallowed by a giant Maw-Ray sea creature but escape by using a rocket from Donkey Kong's kart. Meanwhile, Peach and Toad return to the Mushroom Kingdom to warn the citizens and organize an evacuation.
Bowser arrives in the Mushroom Kingdom aboard his flying castle and proposes marriage to Peach. She refuses, but when Bowser's advisor Kamek tortures Toad, Peach reluctantly agrees to protect her people. Bowser then prepares a dark ritual to sacrifice his prisoners, including Luigi and the penguins, by lowering them into a lava pit. At the wedding ceremony, Peach reveals her true intentions by using an Ice Flower hidden in her bouquet to freeze Bowser and the mechanism lowering the prisoners. A fierce battle erupts between Bowser's army and the Mushroom Kingdom defenders. Donkey Kong arrives to rescue Luigi, and Mario dons a Tanooki Suit that grants him flight to save his brother. Bowser breaks free and launches a massive Bomber Bill missile to destroy the kingdom. Mario intercepts the missile, steering it into a Warp Pipe where it detonates, creating a vacuum that sucks Bowser's castle and occupants into Brooklyn.
Back in Brooklyn, Bowser, enraged and desperate, attacks Mario, overpowering him and defeating Peach, Toad, and Donkey Kong. Mario, inspired by a commercial of their plumbing business playing on a television, regains his resolve. Luigi shields Mario from Bowser's fire breath, and together they seize the Super Star. The brothers become temporarily invincible, transforming into the legendary Super Mario Brothers. They unleash a powerful assault on Bowser and his Koopa army, destroying Bowser's ship and defeating him. Peach then feeds Bowser a blue Mini Mushroom, shrinking him to a tiny size, and Toad traps him in a jar. The citizens of Brooklyn, including Mario and Luigi's parents and even Foreman Spike, celebrate the brothers as heroes.
In the aftermath, Mario and Luigi continue their plumbing business, now residing in the Mushroom Kingdom. They hop into a portal pipe, ready for new adventures. The film closes with a mid-credits scene where a miniature Bowser attempts to sing in his cage but is silenced by Toad. The post-credits scene shows a small, speckled egg hatching in the Brooklyn sewers, revealing the voice of Yoshi, hinting at future stories.
Throughout the film, character relationships evolve significantly. Mario grows from a frustrated underdog into a courageous hero, motivated by his love for his brother and his desire to prove himself. Luigi, initially timid and fearful, demonstrates resilience despite his captivity and torture. Princess Peach emerges as a strong, independent leader with mysterious origins and powerful abilities. Bowser's motivations center on his desire for power and control, as well as jealousy and possessiveness over Peach. The alliance with the Kongs adds depth to the political intrigue, showcasing the necessity of unity against a common enemy.
Major battles include the arena fight between Mario and Donkey Kong, the Rainbow Road kart chase and ambush, the wedding ceremony battle where Peach freezes Bowser, and the final showdown in Brooklyn where the brothers harness the Super Star's power to defeat Bowser. The film balances action, humor, and character development, culminating in a satisfying resolution where good triumphs over evil and the brothers find their place as heroes in both worlds.
What is the ending?
At the end of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach and Toad, planning to marry Peach and sacrifice everyone in her honor. Mario and Donkey Kong escape a sea monster and rush to stop the wedding. Peach uses an Ice Flower power-up to freeze Bowser and prevent the sacrifice. Bowser then launches a Bomber Bill to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom, but Mario redirects it into a Warp Pipe, causing an explosion that sends everyone back to Brooklyn and opens portals between worlds. Mario and Luigi team up, grab the Super Star power-up, become invincible, and defeat Bowser. Peach shrinks Bowser with a blue mushroom, making him harmless. The Mario brothers are hailed as heroes and settle into the Mushroom Kingdom to start a new adventure together.
Narrated scene by scene:
The climax begins with Bowser having captured Princess Peach and Toad, while the Kong army, Luigi, and the Penguins are imprisoned. Mario and Donkey Kong find themselves trapped inside the belly of a giant sea monster, a creature reminiscent of the ones from Super Mario 64. They manage a daring escape by flying out of the monster's mouth on Donkey Kong's cart, but by the time they emerge, Bowser's forces have already taken over Toad Town and the wedding ceremony is underway.
Princess Peach, under duress, reluctantly agrees to marry Bowser to protect Toad from harm. Bowser's plan is not only to marry Peach but also to sacrifice all the prisoners in her honor as part of the ceremony. However, Peach secretly smuggles an Ice Flower power-up into her bouquet, which she uses at the critical moment to freeze Bowser and the chain mechanism that would lower the prisoners into lava, halting the sacrifice.
Meanwhile, Mario and Donkey Kong fight their way through Bowser's army to free the prisoners. Mario uses a Tanooki Suit power-up to save Luigi from captivity. Bowser breaks free from the ice and retaliates by launching a Bomber Bill missile aimed at destroying the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario intercepts the missile and redirects it into the Warp Pipe that originally brought him to the Mushroom Kingdom. The missile detonates inside the pipe, causing a massive explosion that sucks Bowser's castle and everyone inside it back to Brooklyn, creating a vacuum effect and opening portals between the different galaxies.
Back in Brooklyn, Mario attempts to grab the Super Star power-up but is attacked by Bowser, who quickly defeats Peach, Toad, and Donkey Kong. Mario is nearly incinerated but is saved by Luigi. Seeing a commercial for their plumbing business on a nearby TV, Mario finds renewed courage. The brothers grab the Super Star, which grants them temporary invincibility. Empowered, they battle Bowser and his forces, destroying Bowser's castle and incapacitating him.
Princess Peach then feeds Bowser a blue Mini Mushroom, which shrinks him down to a tiny, harmless size. Toad imprisons Bowser in a jar, ensuring he is no longer a threat. The people of Brooklyn, including Mario and Luigi's parents and Spike, celebrate the brothers as heroes.
The film concludes with Mario and Luigi moving into a house in the Mushroom Kingdom, beginning a new chapter of their lives as plumbers and adventurers, having finally made their parents proud. The post-credits scenes hint at future adventures, including the introduction of Yoshi, suggesting the story will continue in a sequel.
Fates of main characters at the end:
- Mario and Luigi: Victorious heroes, now living in the Mushroom Kingdom, continuing their plumbing work and adventures.
- Princess Peach: Rescued and empowered, she plays a key role in defeating Bowser and remains a central figure in the Mushroom Kingdom.
- Bowser: Defeated, shrunk to a harmless size, and imprisoned in a jar.
- Donkey Kong and Toad: Freed from captivity and safe, allies to Mario and Luigi.
- The Mushroom Kingdom and Brooklyn: Connected through portals, setting the stage for future cross-world adventures.
Is there a post-credit scene?
Yes, The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) has two post-credits scenes. The first is a mid-credits scene where a miniaturized Bowser, who has been defeated and shrunk, is locked in a cage and humorously sings a reprise of his earlier "Peaches" song, expressing his feelings for Princess Peach and hinting at his plans for revenge. The second scene occurs after the final credits and introduces Yoshi, a beloved character from the games who did not appear in the main film. In this scene, Yoshi's egg hatches beneath the streets of Brooklyn, setting up his likely role in future installments of the franchise.
What happens to Mario and Luigi after they enter the portal to the Mushroom Kingdom?
After entering the portal, Mario and Luigi are separated; Mario ends up in the Mushroom Kingdom while Luigi finds himself in the Darklands. This separation drives the main plot as Mario teams up with allies to confront Bowser and rescue Luigi.
What roles do Donkey Kong and Toad play in the story?
Donkey Kong is portrayed as insecure about being seen only as a smashing machine, while Toad is brave and willing to do anything for his friends. Both characters join Mario and Princess Peach in the effort to stop Bowser, adding humor and dynamic interactions to the story.
Why is Princess Peach called Peach instead of Toadstool, and Bowser instead of King Koopa in the movie?
The movie uses the names Peach and Bowser, which are more familiar to modern audiences, instead of the older names Toadstool and King Koopa. This naming choice aligns with the contemporary branding of the Mario franchise.
What is the significance of the mid-credit and post-credit scenes?
In the mid-credit scene, a miniaturized Bowser tries to play his 'Peaches' song again but is interrupted by a Toad guard. The post-credit scene reveals a Yoshi egg cracking in the New York sewers, hinting at Yoshi's introduction in future stories.
How are Mario and Luigi's personalities and struggles depicted in the movie?
Mario is confident but struggles to live up to his family's expectations, while Luigi is fearful and often unlucky. Their contrasting personalities influence their actions and development throughout the film, with Mario taking a leadership role and Luigi facing his fears.
Is this family friendly?
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) is generally family-friendly and rated PG, suitable for most children with some parental guidance due to mild action and cartoonish violence. It features bright, colorful animation and a fun tone that appeals to a wide audience, including kids.
Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for sensitive children or viewers include:
- Mild cartoon violence and action: Characters face threats, battles between armies, and perilous situations such as near-crushing, falling, and being swallowed by a sea monster, though these are presented in a non-graphic, animated style.
- Threats and intimidation: The villain Bowser threatens and tortures a character to coerce a marriage agreement, which might be unsettling for very young or sensitive viewers.
- Bullying and name-calling: Some scenes include teasing and bullying behavior.
- Mild sexual content: A few scenes involve flirting, an unwelcome marriage proposal, and a female character wearing a dress revealing cleavage and bare shoulders.
- Some peril and tension: Adventure sequences resemble video game obstacles and power-ups, with moments of suspense and danger.
Overall, the film balances these elements with humor, positive themes like determination and friendship, and lacks strong language or graphic content, making it appropriate for family viewing with awareness of the above mild content.