The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a massive box office hit, and these 10 upcoming video game movie adaptations have the potential to recreate the film’s $1.3 billion success. The Super Mario franchise is one of the most popular gaming series in history, with the idea of a film based on the franchise seeming like a surefire success. This turned out to be the correct assumption, with The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s box office bringing in a massive profit. While it will be hard to beat The Super Mario Bros. Movie, these 10 upcoming video game adaptations could match it.
For the longest time, movie adaptations of video games were considered to be a terrible idea, with release after release failing critically and commercially. However, video game movies have managed to turn their reputation around in recent years, with projects like Detective Pikachu, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Five Nights at Freddy’s proving that these movies can be commercial hits while catering to fans. Now that The Super Mario Bros. Movie has proven just how big video game adaptations can be, all kinds of franchises are getting in on it, with these 10 potentially being big successes.
Related
10 Non-Nintendo Video Game Franchises That Could Rival The Mario Movie’s Box Office Success
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a huge success, and while other Nintendo games could make great movies, these 10 non-Nintendo series could rival it.
10 Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Releases December 20, 2024
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is on the way and the third film in the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy could manage to match the success of the franchise’s longtime Nintendo rival. Both Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 were big hits, and with the introduction of Shadow confirmed to be happening in the upcoming sequel, there is more hype than ever. The star-studded cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the franchise’s recognizability, and the exciting new story could make the film even more of a success than its predecessors, possibly matching The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
9 The Legend of Zelda
Release Unknown
Nintendo recently confirmed that a The Legend of Zelda movie is in development, and it could easily be as successful as Nintendo’s other feature film franchise. The Legend of Zelda has been Nintendo’s second-biggest first-party franchise for decades now, with it being right behind the Super Mario series in terms of public recognition. Recent releases have caused The Legend of Zelda to be bigger than ever, and with the spotlight being put on the franchise for a live-action movie, it is possible that The Legend of Zelda could match or surpass The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
8 Minecraft
Releases April 4, 2025
Minecraft is one of the most iconic games of all time, and now that a movie is officially on the way, it is almost guaranteed to be as big (if not bigger) than The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Minecraft has a star-studded cast that even features The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s own Jack Black, with this definitely pulling in viewers who may not be familiar with the franchise. Minecraft is expected to be a massive hit, with it possibly even being the start of a movie franchise, and it would be surprising if it isn’t as big as The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
7 Detective Pikachu 2
Release Unknown
Detective Pikachu was one of the earliest great video game movie adaptations, but despite the film being a big success, development on Detective Pikachu 2 has moved pretty slowly. However, recent updates on Detective Pikachu 2 have shown that the film is still in the works, meaning that the sequel can now rival the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The Pokémon franchise is absolutely massive, and its immense popularity will most likely allow it to find even greater success than the original film.
6 Mortal Kombat 2
Release Unknown
The first entry in the modern Mortal Kombat movie series was a hit with fans, but it didn’t get a fair shot at box office glory, with it being released on HBO Max due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Mortal Kombat 2 is gearing up to get the full theatrical treatment, and the exciting sequel can show just how big the fighting franchise is. Although the R-rating will most likely keep it from making as much as a PG or PG-13 movie, Mortal Kombat 2 can still find a fair bit of success.
Related
Where Princess Peach Came From: 6 Biggest Super Mario Movie 2 Theories
The Super Mario Bros Movie revealed that Peach came from a different world than the Mushroom Kingdom, and it seems a sequel will provide more answers.
5 Five Nights At Freddy’s 2
Release Unknown
2023’s Five Nights at Freddy’s movie was one of the biggest films of the year, with Five Nights at Freddy’s breaking box office records in some big ways. Although a sequel hasn’t been officially confirmed just yet, several figures involved with the film have hinted that a sequel is coming, so it wouldn’t be surprising if one was announced soon. The first Five Nights at Freddy’s movie brought the franchise back into the public eye, and a sequel could capitalize on this popularity in order to be an even bigger hit.
4 Death Stranding
Release Unknown
Hideo Kojima is currently working on developing his Death Stranding video game into live-action, and it will undoubtedly be a massive critical success. Kojima has made friends with some of Hollywood’s most prolific directors, such as Jordan Peele, Guillermo del Toro, and Nicolas Winding Refn. These connections could make Death Stranding one of the best video game adaptations ever made, and while its box office probably won’t be as big as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, its critical reception can easily pass that of Nintendo’s animated film.
3 Mega Man
Release Unknown
.png)
A Mega Man movie has been in various stages of development for years now, and while this was shaken up due to Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the film is reportedly still in the works. Mega Man is one of the most iconic franchises of the 8-bit era, with the action platformer getting all kinds of sequels throughout the past few decades. Mega Man could easily be as big as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and hopefully more news on the film will appear soon.
2 It Takes Two
Release Unknown
A movie adaptation of the multiplayer co-op game It Takes Two is currently in the works, and it could be one of the more successful video game adaptations when it releases. The original game is fresh in everybody’s name, and its critically acclaimed story could carry over to the film. It Takes Two is animated and family-friendly, meaning that it hits many of the major markers that allowed The Super Mario Bros. Movie to succeed.
1 The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2
Release Unknown
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a huge success, and the movie that will have the easiest time matching it will be its own sequel, The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2. Although The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 isn’t confirmed yet, it will most likely happen, as Illumination is known for making a plethora of sequels. The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 could bring in even more fans, allowing it to excel past where The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘s box office stopped.
