Looking for the correct The Super Mario movies in order? You’re not alone — between a 1993 cult classic and Illumination’s modern animated duology, it’s easy to assume there’s a tangled timeline to untangle. Good news: there isn’t. For the two current Illumination films, release order and story order are exactly the same, straightforward sequel to sequel. The only wrinkle is the 1993 live-action film, which exists in its own separate continuity entirely.
Created by Shigeru Miyamoto’s Nintendo and brought to the screen by Illumination, the modern films have grossed well over $2 billion combined, with The Super Mario Bros. Movie becoming the highest-grossing video game adaptation ever. Here’s your quick-answer breakdown before we dig into every film.
Quick Answer: The Super Mario Movies in Order
| # | Film | Year | Director | Continuity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Mario Bros. | 1993 | Rocky Morton, Annabel Jankel | Standalone (not connected) |
| 2 | The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 2023 | Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic | Illumination Universe |
| 3 | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | 2026 | Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic | Illumination Universe |
Callout: If you only care about the “real” continuity, you can skip the 1993 film entirely — watch the 2023 and 2026 Illumination films back-to-back and you’ll follow the story perfectly.
The Super Mario Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Long before Chris Pratt picked up a red cap, Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo played Mario and Luigi in this gritty, dinosaur-noir take on the Mushroom Kingdom. The plot hook: the brothers chase a kidnapped Daisy into a parallel dystopian dimension ruled by an evolved-reptile version of Bowser. Famously, the production was so chaotic that directors Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel reportedly stopped speaking to the cast toward the end of the shoot. It flopped in 1993 but earned a cult following decades later — and has zero connection to what comes next.
2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
This is where the modern Super Mario movies in order actually begins. Mario and Luigi, two Brooklyn plumbers, get sucked through a pipe into the Mushroom Kingdom and must team up with Princess Peach to stop Bowser’s invasion. Director duo Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic packed the film with note-perfect game references, and it became the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2023. A quiet post-credits tease of Yoshi’s egg set up exactly where the sequel would go next.
3. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
Picking up the Yoshi thread, this sequel expands the world dramatically, pulling in Princess Rosalina, Fox McCloud, and a trip into outer space itself. Composer Brian Tyler returned and wove in themes from the actual Super Mario Galaxy games alongside Star Fox motifs, working with longtime Nintendo composer Koji Kondo. It opened as 2026’s biggest debut of the year and quickly crossed $600 million worldwide, despite a more divided critical response than the first film. It closes out the current chapter of the story, with the next installment still years away.
Do You Need to Watch the 1993 Movie Before the Illumination Films?
No. The 1993 Super Mario Bros. has no characters, plot, or continuity ties to the 2023 and 2026 films — it’s a completely separate adaptation of the same source material, similar to how different comic book movie universes retell the same characters.
Minimum viable watch order (if you’re short on time):
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
That’s it — those two films tell one continuous story. The 1993 movie is purely optional, for curiosity or nostalgia only.
How Many Super Mario Movies Are There?
There are currently three Super Mario movies total: the standalone 1993 live-action film, plus two connected films in the Illumination animated series (2023 and 2026). No official theatrical shorts have been released alongside them.
All The Super Mario Movies in Order by Release Date
1. Super Mario Bros. — May 28, 1993
2. The Super Mario Bros. Movie — April 5, 2023
3. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — April 3, 2026
What’s Next for the Franchise?
Nintendo and Illumination have confirmed a new untitled animated film for April 12, 2028, though its identity is still unconfirmed. Industry chatter points more toward a Donkey Kong spinoff — Seth Rogen’s take on the character was a breakout in the 2023 film — than a direct Mario threequel.
A true third Mario film has been informally teased by cast members for around 2029, but nothing is officially dated yet. Separately, Nintendo’s live-action Legend of Zelda arrives in 2027, though that’s a different franchise entirely and not part of the Mario continuity. Treat all of this as a directional roadmap, not a confirmed release calendar — Nintendo’s slate has shifted before.
FAQ
Is the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie canon to the 2023 movie?
No. They’re entirely separate continuities with different casts, tones, and stories — the 1993 film isn’t referenced in the Illumination universe at all.
What order should I watch the Super Mario movies in?
Release order and story order match: 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie first, then 2026’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Add the 1993 film only if you’re curious, in any order.
Do I need to know the games to follow the movies?
No, though familiarity with games like Super Mario Galaxy adds extra layers of recognition — the films are built to work for newcomers first.
Will there be a Super Mario Bros. Movie 3?
It hasn’t been officially confirmed yet. Cast members have mentioned a possible 2029 window, while 2028’s untitled Nintendo/Illumination film is currently expected to be a different project, likely Donkey Kong.
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