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| Image Credit: Universal Pictures |
The Super Mario Bros movie boosted video game sales.
2023 was a year of triumph for the Super Mario Bros. film, which proved to be a huge success with audiences and critics, earning the title of the most profitable film of the year. The Nintendo adaptation grossed a staggering $1.36 billion in worldwide box office, according to a new report from Deadline. According to reported estimates, after considering the film's revenues and subtracting expenses, the net total for the Universal studio was $559 million. This result positioned Super Mario Bros above other 2023 hits, such as Barbie, which placed second with $421 million in grosses.
Figures that provide a clear indication of the value of the partnership between Nintendo and Universal. Thus, the news of the film's success further consolidated the collaboration between the two companies, announcing a sequel to the Super Mario Bros. Movie scheduled for April 3, 2026. The film's success represented a significant turning point for Nintendo. After the failure of the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros film, the company had initially been reluctant to allow further Hollywood adaptations of its franchises. However, the success of the film demonstrated the potential for audience expansion and paved the way for new opportunities for the company.
In addition to its box office success, Super Mario Bros Movie had a positive impact on Nintendo's video game business. During the company's financial results last November, Nintendo revealed a significant increase in sales of Mario games on Switch and new users of Mario games for mobile devices, attributing those increases to the success of the film. As the film continues to celebrate its success, Nintendo is also teaming up with Sony on an adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. While details are still scarce, hopefully, this adaptation can replicate the success of the Mario film and satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers.
Source: comicbook