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This is an incomplete list of Nintendo-branded movies.
Mario series[]
Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach![]
Japan got a much more tasteful Mario movie, albeit only available on VHS release in 1986, predating the 1993 Super Mario Bros. live action movie. In this movie, Mario and Luigi (who is colored wrong for unknown reasons) must save Princess Peach from Bowser, who is holding her captive until she agrees to marry him. Toru Furuya stars as Mario, he would continue to voice the character until 1998.
Super Mario Bros. (1993)[]
Probably the most infamous of video game movies, Super Mario Bros. was a live action film based on the 1985 video game of the same name starring the late Bob Hoskins (Mario) and John Lequizamo (Luigi). The movie was released in 1993 and received very negative reviews, and this caused Nintendo to never produce/license any sort of live-action movie ever again.
Donkey Kong Country: The Legend of the Crystal Coconut (1999)[]
A direct-to-video CGI film produced by Nelvana, a Canadian animation studio. This film consists four episodes from the Donkey Kong Country TV series (consisting of Legend of the Crystal Coconut, Bug a Boogie, Ape-Nesia, and Booty and the Beast), also produced by Nelvana, though they are presented not in chronological order.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)[]
A CGI-animated Mario movie was released in April 5, 2023 starring Chris Pratt (Mamoru Miyano in Japan) as Mario. The film film grossed over $1.36 billion worldwide, setting multiple box-office records, including the biggest worldwide opening weekend for an animated film and becoming the highest-grossing film based on a video game. It is the second highest-grossing film of 2023, the fourth highest-grossing animated film (third if not counting the 2019 The Lion King remake), the highest-grossing non-Disney animated film, and Illumination's highest-grossing film. At the 81st Golden Globe Awards, the film received three nominations including one for Best Animated Feature Film.
The movie is notable for the final credited Mario role of Charles Martinet as a voice actor before he becomes Mario Ambassador on August 21, 2023.
Untitled Super Mario Bros. film (2026)[]
An untitled animated film based on the Super Mario Bros. franchise was announced in a press release on March 10, 2024. The film will be directed, produced, and written by the same individuals who worked on The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), though it is not currently known if the upcoming film is a sequel to it.[1]
Kirby series[]
Kirby: Fright to the Finish (2003)[]
This direct-to-video movie starring Kirby and friends was edited from the last five episodes of the TV show Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Animal Crossing series[]
Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing: The Movie) (2006)[]
This Japan-only movie stars a Villager named Ai who befriends other Animal Crossing characters like Celeste, Rosie, Tortimer.
Pokémon series[]
The line of anime feature films based on Pokémon the Series. There are 23 animated movies, one live action movie based on Detective Pikachu, several TV and short films, and a fan made movie. Many Pokémon films are among the highest-grossing anime films.
Main[]
- Pokémon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back
- Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One
- Pokémon 3: The Movie: Spell of the Unown: Entei
- Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi: Voice of the Forest
- Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias
- Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker
- Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys
- Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
- Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
- Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai
- Pokemon: Girantina and the Sky Warrior
- Pokemon: Arceus of the Jewel of Life
- Pokemon: Zoroark Master of Illusions
- Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom
- Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice
- Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
- Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
- Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
- Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
- Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
- Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us
- Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back-Evolution
- Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle
Others[]
- Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns
- The Legend of Thunder!
- Pichu Bros. in Party Panic
- Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
- Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles
Short films[]
Live action[]
Fan Made[]
The Legend of Zelda[]
In November 2023, it was announced that Nintendo was working with Sony Pictures to develop a live-action The Legend of Zelda film, with Wes Ball directing the film with Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad producing.
Star Fox[]
Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins (2016)[]
An animated short film titled Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins, which was released online on April 20, 2016. The short is based on the events of the game of the same name and was produced by Japanese animation studio Wit Studio, with assistance from Production I.G and Nintendo's lead producer and supervising director Shigeru Miyamoto. Joe Zieja (Claude von Riegan of Fire Emblem: Three Houses) provided the voice of Fox McCloud.
Miscellaneous[]
The Wizard (1989)[]
The film is known for its extensive product placement of Nintendo material, it also officially introduced Super Mario Bros. 3 to North America. Despite receiving generally negative reviews upon its initial release, the film has garnered a cult following.
Super Hornio Brothers (1993)[]
Super Hornio Brothers and Super Hornio Brothers II are two 1993 pornographic parodies of the Super Mario video game series released at the same time as the series' first official film, Super Mario Bros. Both films star director Buck Adams, along with T. T. Boy, Ron Jeremy and Chelsea Lynx together as the main characters. Nintendo bought the rights to the films to halt their distribution.
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005)[]
Film based on the 1997 Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy VII. Elements from the film were carried to Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate such as Cloud Strife's alternate costume and Final Smash, music, and Sephiroth's reveal trailer.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)[]
The Universal Pictures 2010 film adaptation of the book series of the same name bears the name of Scott's band, Sex Bob-omb, a nod to the Super Mario enemy. Young Neil can be seen playing a Nintendo DS throughout the film. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past's "Secret" chime is played in the beginning of the film, and is credited as such. Super Mario Brothers 2 (USA) is credited in the film because it was in the graphic novels, despite not being referenced in the film. Scott brings up that he learned the bass line from Final Fantasy II. Scott brings up the "Puck-Man" situation about Pac-Man twice in the film. Young Neil, a friend of Scott, is asked the question, "What do you play?" Neil responds with "Um... Zelda, Tetris. That's kind of a big question."
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)[]
The 2012 Disney film includes many video game references, including characters and visual gags.
Pixels (2015)[]
Donkey Kong and Pac-Man made appearances in the film.
8-Bit Christmas (2021)[]
Set in suburban Chicago in the late 1980s, the story centers on ten-year-old Jake Doyle's herculean quest to get the latest and greatest video game system for Christmas - the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Box office performance[]
| Movie | Year release | Total worldwide box office | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. | 1993 | $38,912,465 | Mario |
| Mewtwo Strikes Back | 1998 | $163,644,662 | Pokémon |
| The Power of One | 1999 | $133,949,270 | |
| Spell of the Unown: Entei | 2000 | $68,411,275 | |
| Celebi: Voice of the Forest | 2001 | $28,023,563 | |
| Heroes: Latios and Latias | 2002 | $20,867,919 | |
| Jirachi Wish Maker | 2003 | $33,393,751 | |
| Destiny Deoxys | 2004 | $34,337,258 | |
| Lucario and the Mystery of Mew | 2005 | $37,150,760 | |
| Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | 2006 | $26,851,324 | |
| Animal Crossing: The Movie | $16,216,731 | Animal Crossing | |
| The Rise of Darkrai | 2007 | $42,496,749 | Pokémon |
| Giratina and the Sky Warrior | 2008 | $43,338,599 | |
| Arceus and the Jewel of Life | 2009 | $50,673,078 | |
| Zoroark: Master of Illusions | 2010 | $71,143,529 | |
| Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom | 2011 | $57,082,491 | |
| Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice | 2012 | $46,008,255 | |
| Genesect and the Legend Awakened | 2013 | $32,293,377 | |
| Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction | 2014 | $26,732,338 | |
| Hoopa and the Clash of Ages | 2015 | $22,000,000 | |
| Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel | 2016 | $19,727,392 | |
| I Choose You! | 2017 | $37,552,144 | |
| The Power of Us | 2018 | $27,347,118 | |
| Detective Pikachu | 2019 | $433,005,346 | |
| Mewtwo Strikes Back — Evolution | $23,740,788 | ||
| Secrets of the Jungle | 2020 | $16,052,056 | |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 2023 | $1,362,738,119 | Mario |
See also[]
References[]
| Nintendo-related movie adaptations | |
|---|---|
| Mario | Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986; JP; video) • Super Mario Bros. (1993) • The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) • Untitled Super Mario Bros. film (2026) |
| Pokémon | Pokémon film series |
| Other series | Animal Crossing: The Movie (Animal Crossing; 2006; JP) • Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins (Star Fox, 2016) • Untitled The Legend of Zelda film (The Legend of Zelda; TBA) |
| Compiled | Donkey Kong Country: The Legend of the Crystal Coconut (1999; video) • Kirby: Fright to the Finish (2005; video/TV) |
| Miscellaneous | The Wizard (1989) • Super Hornio Brothers (1993) • Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005) • Wreck-It Ralph (2012) • Pixels (2015) • 8-Bit Christmas (2021) |