Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie is breaking new records as it soars high at the box office on its opening weekend, crushing every other competition, and that includes Disney’s Frozen 2, the reigning title-holder for the biggest animated film debut.
Nintendo learned from its mistake after the unsuccessful launch of the live-action Super Mario film. The Easter holiday was a huge opportunity for the viewers to see the movie in theaters, and now the figures keep adding up as the new week rolls in.
Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie Stirs Nostalgia Among Fans
As per Deadline, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is projected to gross over $368 million globally and snatch the title of the biggest animated film opening from Disney’s Frozen 2 with $358 million. The Chris Pratt-led film debuted in theaters with $66.4 million in just 24 hours!
The success of the movie can be attributed to the popularity of the franchise, a nostalgic adventure from the past that old and young audiences enjoy. Despite fans criticizing Chris Pratt’s accent based on the trailer, it did not affect so much the enthusiasm of everyone who paid for their tickets to go and see the film.
Although critics were a bit harsh in their reviews, fans showed positive reactions toward the movie. Rotten Tomatoes recorded critics’ score of 56 percent, while fans gave it a stellar 96 percent. Animated movies are popular genres among the public, and it seems that Universal and Illumination have found their golden child in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Because of the film’s outstanding performance in terms of commercial aspects, it would seem that word of mouth will keep its momentum in order to surpass the expectations and projected incomes.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Knows Exactly How To Attract Audiences
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is also raking in money in the international arena for its impressive overseas records. The animated film scored Universal with the all-time best opening in Mexico and Germany, while Illumination set the bar in Australia and Taiwan. China also contributed to the massive victory of the franchise as it became the top-grossing Hollywood title in the country since the pandemic.
It has everything a beloved animated movie ought to have – a family-friendly theme and several Easter eggs alluded to the Super Mario franchise. This seems like a marketing strategy from Illumination as fans would be eager to come back and watch the movie again just to spot these small Mario references.
Producer Chris Meledandri said in a Nintendo Direct video that the studio upgraded their animation and lighting rendering technology for the project, which would already cost a fortune. With a reported budget of $100 million, the most expensive Illumination film ever, The Super Mario Bros. Movie needs to at least make twice or more of its production budget to be considered a success.
The ensemble voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen.
With a stupendous opening weekend, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is set to become a billion-dollar franchise. Catch Mario and Luigi in theaters worldwide.
Source: Deadline, Nintendo Direct
