Following the huge success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, many believe a Super Smash Bros. movie is the next logical step for Nintendo and Illumination. Fans have wanted to see the popular fighting game adapted for the big screen ever since the first Mario movie came out, and with the current momentum, now seems like a great time to start developing it.
Following the disappointing performance of the 1993 film Super Mario Bros., Nintendo stopped making movies for many years. When they decided to try again, they knew they needed to focus on their most famous series. The 2023 film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, was a hit, proving Nintendo could succeed in filmmaking. Now, after the movie’s huge success, Nintendo and Illumination are exploring ways to build on that momentum. While a direct sequel seems likely, an even more exciting option might be in the works.
The Success Of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Makes A Smash Bros. Movie Inevitable
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a huge hit, confirming that the success of the first movie wasn’t a one-time event. It was the first film of 2026 to earn over $300 million domestically, and has now grossed $629 million worldwide. While the original Super Mario Bros. Movie made $1.36 billion, this sequel is still expected to perform very well in theaters.
While Mario movies are doing well now, Nintendo needs to find ways to keep improving with each new film. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie already explores a very large story within the Mario universe, so making movies based on other games might not feel as grand. One solution could be to create a movie based on the Super Smash Bros. franchise, which is already a large and popular part of the Mario world.
A movie based on Super Smash Bros. would likely create even more excitement than another Mario movie, making it the ideal next step for the franchise. It would introduce fans to a wider range of Nintendo characters on the big screen, while still featuring popular faces like Mario and Princess Peach. This combination would allow for a larger, more epic story, building on the success of the Super Mario Bros. films.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hints at the potential for even more Nintendo characters to appear together in future films. The movie features Fox McCloud from Star Fox, who many now recognize from Super Smash Bros., and includes a cameo by the aliens from Pikmin. This brings the total number of Smash Bros. franchises represented to three (or five if you include Donkey Kong and Yoshi individually). With these characters now combined, the stage is set for a larger crossover event featuring even more Nintendo favorites.
Where Else Could Nintendo Go After The Mario Galaxy Movie?
The success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie presents a challenge for Nintendo. It’s hard to imagine a direct sequel to Super Mario Galaxy that would feel as epic and ambitious. This is likely why there’s so much talk about a Super Smash Bros. movie – introducing characters from Star Fox and Pikmin could allow Nintendo to eventually revisit Mario without the sequel feeling underwhelming.
If Nintendo doesn’t make a Super Smash Bros. movie, a Super Mario Odyssey film seems like the next logical choice. However, since elements from Odyssey were already used in the Super Mario Galaxy movie, it might not happen. A more playful idea would be a movie based on the Super Mario Party spin-off games. The Galaxy movie’s ending already hinted at the character Daisy, who often appears in those spin-offs, and it would be a great way to introduce Wario and Waluigi to the big screen.
Honestly, I think Nintendo should really consider spinoff movies. I’ve been hearing about a Donkey Kong or Luigi’s Mansion movie since the first Mario film came out, and those feel fresh enough to really get me excited – more so than another Mario adventure, if I’m being honest. A Star Fox movie would be amazing too, even if it might not make quite as much money as something with Mario’s name on it. Nintendo has a lot of options, but I really hope they go with a Super Smash Bros. movie – that feels like the perfect fit.
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2026-04-15 16:41