7 Mario Power-Ups That Still Haven’t Appeared in the Movies, Ranked by Franchise Importance

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Power-ups are a classic and beloved part of Super Mario games, and the new movie from Nintendo and Illumination cleverly weaves them into the plot. The film features an exciting obstacle course where Princess Peach (voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy) shows Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) how to use power-ups, skills he’ll need to survive on Kong Island. From the Tanooki Suit to the Fire Flower, the movie demonstrates that these items aren’t just nostalgic nods to fans – they’re crucial for battles and the overall story in the Mushroom Kingdom.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie really expanded on the world established in the first film. The sequel pulled from decades of Mario history, giving characters a wide range of power-ups. Luigi got a Frog Suit, Toad donned a Penguin Suit for a fight in an icy casino, and Mario used a Drill Mushroom during the final battle. We also saw classic elements like Cloud Flower platforms, a Blimp Yoshi, Ice Flower attacks, and a Bubble Flower. The movie ended with Mario using a Red Star and Cape Feather to defeat a dragon and celebrate the rebuilding of Peach’s castle. After two films, the collaboration between Nintendo and Illumination has brought a lot of Mario’s universe to life, but there are still some famous power-ups we haven’t seen on the big screen yet.

7) Goomba’s Shoe

The Goomba’s Shoe first showed up in Super Mario Bros. 3 and is exactly what it sounds like – a large green boot formerly worn by a Goomba that Mario can take control of. It lets him defeat enemies that are normally out of reach. While it hasn’t appeared in many levels throughout the Super Mario series, its silly and unexpected design has made it a fan favorite for years. It hasn’t had a huge impact on the overall franchise, but the Goomba’s Shoe is still remembered as one of the funniest visual jokes from Super Mario Bros. 3.

6) Boo Mushroom

First appearing in Super Mario Galaxy, the Boo Mushroom turns Mario into a ghost, letting him float and pass through walls – but making him weak to light. While it’s mostly been featured in the Galaxy games, limiting its overall impact on the Mario franchise, the Boo Mushroom has a unique look that no other power-up shares. A ghostly sequence in a future Mario movie, especially one with a spooky atmosphere, would give the animators a chance to create a truly memorable and different visual for Mario.

5) Double Cherry

First appearing in Super Mario 3D World, the Double Cherry instantly creates a perfect copy of your character. This lets you control two Marios (or other characters) at the same time, which is great for teamwork – hitting multiple switches or taking on enemies faster. It led to some incredibly fun and unpredictable level designs, because managing two characters with the same controls can be hilariously challenging! The Double Cherry is unique to that game, and fans have noticed it’s missing from both Super Mario Bros. Movie films.

4) Blue Shell

The Blue Shell, a power-up first seen in New Super Mario Bros., lets Mario retract into a shell and speed across surfaces while protecting himself from enemies. It’s based on the Spiny Shell from Mario Kart. While The Super Mario Bros. Movie featured the Spiny Shell as a powerful weapon, the Blue Shell suit – which transforms Mario into a fast, armored vehicle – wasn’t included. This is a missed opportunity, as the suit has a unique look and would be perfect for action-packed chase scenes or obstacle courses. Despite being a natural fit and appearing in previous games, it hasn’t been used in either of the recent films.

3) Propeller Suit

In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the Propeller Mushroom gave Mario and Luigi a unique way to fly: it spun them like a drill upwards, then sent them spiraling down, breaking through anything below. Unlike the gliding in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie or true flight, the Propeller Suit felt wild and relied on building up speed and crashing down. Because New Super Mario Bros. Wii was so popular, the Propeller Suit is well-known to many players, making it a great addition to a future movie.

2) Elephant Fruit

Okay, so the Elephant Fruit in Super Mario Bros. Wonder is seriously a game-changer. It turns Mario into this huge elephant, and it’s SO much fun – you can smash through anything, spray water, and basically create new paths. Nintendo really pushed Elephant Mario in all their ads, and the toys and merch have been flying off the shelves since the game came out. Honestly, with how popular it is, I think they need to include it in the Super Mario movie sequels. It’s just too iconic to pass up!

1) Hammer Suit

In the original Super Mario Bros. games, the Hammer Suit from Super Mario Bros. 3 was the strongest power-up available. It transformed Mario into a powerful fighter who could defeat almost any enemy, even those immune to fireballs. Its look – a gray suit and helmet inspired by the Hammer Bros. – is also incredibly iconic from that era of gaming. The recent Super Mario Bros. Movie included a battle with Hammer Bros., which makes the fact that Mario doesn’t use the Hammer Suit in the film seem like a conscious choice to hold it back for a future appearance.

Okay, so I’m seriously hyped for the next Mario movie! I’m trying to think… what power-ups would be amazing to see on the big screen? Let me know what you guys are hoping for in the comments, and let’s chat about it over on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-08 00:13