In 2021, Chris Pratt was announced as the star of two major animated films to very mixed reactions, but the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie is good news for his upcoming project. After rising to fame in the beloved roles of Andy in Parks and Recreation and Starlord in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, Pratt experienced somewhat of a downfall, at least in terms of his public image. His affiliation with Hillsong Church and certain Instagram comments led to great scrutiny online. However, despite being disliked, Pratt’s movies are still popular, with The Super Mario Bros. Movie being a prime example.
Pratt’s casting in The Super Mario Bros. Movie was also part of a larger trend in major animation adaptations that contributed to the backlash. Nintendo released the first Super Mario game in 1985, and for over 30 years, Mario has been voiced in-game by Charles Martinet. Yet, Pratt, an actor with very limited voice acting experience, was cast in the role when it came time to bring Mario to the big screen. The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s cast being full of big-name actors rather than trained, more experienced voice actors is part of a larger animated film practice that has caused great controversy.
Super Mario’s Success Is Great News For Chris Pratt’s Garfield Movies
This trend is being continued in the upcoming 2024 Garfield movie, with Pratt having been cast in the titular role alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Bowen Yang, and more. Since 2007, iconic voice actor Frank Welker has been the go-to for Garfield, but The Super Mario Bros. Movie has proved that Pratt might be a better choice than originally thought. Not only does the film, along with Onward and The Lego Movie franchise, add to Pratt’s voice acting experience, but it also shows that he can lead a hugely successful animated film.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie hit big at the box office, making over $1 billion dollars as one of the biggest successes of 2023. It currently sits as the third-highest-grossing animated film of all time, having toppled Frozen. The Super Mario Bros. Movie smashed expectations, which is great news for the divisive Garfield movie. Like Mario, the iconic cat has an existing, built-in audience, and Pratt has proven himself as a voice actor and box office draw. These factors can remove any skepticism that might have previously existed and held Garfield back from being just as successful as The Super Mario Bros. Movie became.
Mario’s $1.3 Billion Box Office Justifies Chris Pratt’s Garfield Casting
Though experienced voice actors getting overlooked when it comes to big screen adaptations can seem wrong and unfair, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has shown that there is a reason for this. Something that all the highest-grossing animated films have in common is their star-studded casts, with big names like Pratt undoubtedly having an impact at the box office. Beyond Pratt’s Mario voice being better than expected, the film making over $1.3 billion at the box office helps justify his casting. It might seem like stunt casting, but Pratt’s growing experience and success in animation through The Super Mario Bros. Movie should be seen as a positive for Garfield.
