The Super Mario Bros. Movie was one of the biggest films of 2023, and if Nintendo truly wants to create a shared universe centered around Super Smash Bros., then these 10 movies have to be made next. The box office success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie was massive, with the film breaking all kinds of records and being one of the most profitable animated movies of all time. Thus, Illumination and Nintendo undoubtedly want to expand on The Super Mario Bros. Movie franchise, and the best way to do it is by making a Super Smash Bros. shared universe.
Although nothing has been confirmed, there has been lots of speculation surrounding a potential Super Smash Bros. movie. Super Smash Bros. is a fighting game franchise that acts as a massive crossover for Nintendo’s most popular properties, with this crossover idea being perfect for a shared movie universe. A The Legend of Zelda movie is in development, and movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu have already been released. If Nintendo wants to keep building out a shared Smash Bros. universe, however, there is still a lot of work to be done.
10 Kirby
Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight
The Kirby franchise is arguably Nintendo’s most popular platforming series after Mario, meaning that a Kirby movie is key to making a successful Super Smash Bros. universe. Kirby is also the brainchild of Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai, with the franchise having tons of representation in the crossover series. Kirby would lend itself perfectly to an animated family movie in the style of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, meaning that it is an obvious pick if Nintendo wants to dip into more franchises.
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9 Fire Emblem
Marth, Roy, Ike, Robin, Lucina, Corrin, Chrom, Byleth
Although the Fire Emblem series is far different from the Super Mario. Bros series, it too is key to making a successful Super Smash Bros. Movie. Fire Emblem is a tactical RPG series set in a medieval fantasy world, with characters like Marth, Roy, Ike, and more being mainstays in the Super Smash Bros. series. A Fire Emblem movie would have to be more mature than The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but it needs to happen if a Super Smash Bros. movie were to ever work.
8 EarthBound
Ness, Lucas
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Another Nintendo movie franchise that should happen after The Super Mario Bros. Movie is EarthBound (originally known as Mother), with the fan-favorite turn-based RPG series being an ideal pick for a movie. EarthBound is heavily reliant on its story, with its epic narrative and beautiful themes working perfectly for a film adaptation. EarthBound also has played a major role in the Super Smash Bros. franchise, with Ness being part of the series since the very first game.
7 F-Zero
Captain Falcon
Another Nintendo franchise that has been a staple of Super Smash Bros. since the very beginning is the futuristic racing franchise F-Zero. Although it has been a while since a new F-Zero game was released, the character of Captain Falcon has been entirely defined by his appearances in Super Smash Bros., as the series transformed him from a racer into a bounty-hunting brawler. A racing movie set in the future would be a fun angle for a Nintendo movie, which is why the company should adapt F-Zero to film.
6 Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, King K. Rool
After The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a Donkey Kong spinoff seems like an obvious pick. Donkey Kong and a few of his friends were already featured in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but there is still a lot to expand on, as the titular ape has headlined his own franchise for decades now. A movie expanding on characters like Diddy Kong and King K. Rool could go a long way in further establishing the Super Smash Bros. roster into Nintendo’s shared universe, with this being one of the more likely options.
5 Star Fox
Fox, Falco, Wolf
Another great pick for a Nintendo movie is Star Fox, with the narrative-heavy aerial combat series being fantastic for an expansive sci-fi franchise. Fox, Falco, and Wolf are already in Super Smash Bros., with the franchise’s massive amount of representation meaning that a movie has to be made to do the series justice. A Star Fox anime special was released by Nintendo, with it receiving critical acclaim. However, nothing has come of it, but a full-fledged Star Fox movie would be the perfect way to bring this idea back.
4 Metroid
Samus, Zero Suit Samus, Dark Samus, Ridley
Metroid is one of Nintendo’s most iconic sci-fi franchises, but a movie still hasn’t happened yet. Metroid is a video game series ripe for a film adaptation, as it was heavily inspired by movies like Ridley Scott’s Alien. Although Metroid would be more mature than some of Nintendo’s other movies, it would be a great way for the company to have a female-led film. A Metroid movie would be key to making a Nintendo cinematic universe, which is why Samus Aran needs to make the leap to film.
3 Kid Icarus
Pit, Palutena, Dark Pit
Kid Icarus is another franchise that is beloved by Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai, so if a Super Smash Bros. universe were to ever happen, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a Kid Icarus movie pop up first. The series follows Pit, an angel who isn’t able to fly, as he traverses a Greek-inspired world of mythology as an aid to the goddess Palutena. Kid Icarus is a major part of the more recent Super Smash Bros. games, and the story of Kid Icarus: Uprising would be perfect for a movie adaptation.
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2 Xenoblade Chronicles
Shulk, Pyra & Mythra
The Xenoblade Chronicles franchise is one of Nintendo’s more recent hits, but it too would be perfect for a movie adaptation. The three mainline Xenoblade Chronicles games have been massive hits, with each one being full of story and lore that could be adapted into the world of a Xenoblade Chronicles movie. Xenoblade Chronicles representation has been heavily added to the previous two Super Smash Bros. video games, and due to the franchise’s massive fanbase, a movie has to come eventually.
1 Street Fighter
Ryu, Ken
Although Street Fighter is a series made by Capcom, it is incredibly important to the Super Smash Bros. franchise. Ryu and Ken were added into alter installments of Super Smash Bros., but since the crossover is a fighting series, homaging the king of all fighting series is immensely important. Street Fighter movies have happened before, and a new Street Fighter movie would be a great way to follow up The Super Mario Bros. Movie and set up the Super Smash Bros. shared universe.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Mario jumps to the big screen in The Super Mario Bros Movie, directed by Teen Titans Go! collaborators Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and more appear in this animated comedy that pits the characters in an all-new adventure set in the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. You can buy The Super Mario Bros. Movie right now for $13, down from its usual price of $20.
- Director
- Aaron Horvath , Michael Jelenic
- Release Date
- April 5, 2023
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Writers
- Matthew Fogel
- Cast
- Chris Pratt , Charlie Day , Jack Black , Anya Taylor-Joy , Keegan Michael Key , Seth Rogen
- Runtime
- 92 Minutes
- Franchise(s)
- Super Mario Bros.
