'Super Mario Bros. Movie' to level up Easter weekend box office with massive $225 million debut

Remember those Mystery Blocks in the old Mario games that seemed to hold an endless supply of gold coins no matter how many times you head-butted them? Well, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is eyeing a very similar windfall at the global box office. 

According to a new report from Deadline, the hotly-anticipated animated blockbuster is tracking for a massive $225 million+ debut over the long Easter weekend once it arrives on the big screen tomorrow — Wednesday, April 5.

"Separated out, that’s $125M+ in U.S./Canada in 4,000 theaters over Wednesday through Sunday, and another $100M+ abroad," writes Deadline. As such, the release should have no problem vying for the mantle of highest-grossing video game movie in history (Warcraft, which brought in $391.5 million throughout its theatrical run, is still top banana).

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"A killer opening week in theaters is in the cards for The Super Mario Bros. Movie," Paul Dergarabedian, Senior Media Analyst at Comscore, tells SYFY WIRE. "With a four-quadrant appeal and an all-inclusive PG-rating that will give the movie a level up on the competition, the film is poised for one of the biggest debuts of the year — both globally and in North America. While video game adaptations have historically had mixed results at the box office, animated films from the genre have distinguished themselves by grabbing up a broad-based audience of families and kids of all ages for whom the nostalgia factor will play a key role in the decision to hit the multiplex ... Universal Pictures and Illumination have done a masterful job of building the perfect box office beast and what better great way for April to carry on the March movie madness momentum than this very ‘Super’ Mario!?"

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania currently holds the largest worldwide opening of 2023 so far with $225.3 million. And, to be fair, that was done over a traditional Friday-Sunday period, whereas Super Mario Bros. has been awarded a longer Chain Chomp-y leash. In terms of animation, Minions: The Rise of Gru set the COVID box office standard last summer with a weekend tally of $123 million across the Fourth of July vacation.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which marks the first film adaptation of a Nintendo game in 30 years, was helmed by the Teen Titans GO! duo of Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. Mario's creator, the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto, was directly involved as a producer alongside Illumination founder and CEO, Chris Meledandri. Matthew Fogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru) penned the screenplay.

The LEGO Movie alum Chris Pratt voices the titular plumber in the red hat and blue overalls. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Charlie Day, meanwhile, steps into the role of Mario's brother, Luigi. The siblings hope to launch a fledgling plumbing business in their hometown of Brooklyn when they are suddenly transported to the Mushroom Kingdom, a peaceful land under attack from Bowser (Jack Black). Joining forces with a slew of his fellow gaming icons — Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) — Mario sets out to rescue Luigi and thwart King Koopa.

Fred Armisen (Crankey Kong), Kevin Michael Richardson (Kamek), Sebastian Maniscalco (Spike) and longtime voice of Mario in the games, Charles Martinet round out the ensemble.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie warps onto the big screen tomorrow — Wednesday, April 5. Tickets are on sale here!

Want more Illumination goodness in your life? Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 are now streaming on Peacock.