Video game movies have been steadily growing in popularity and quality, but companies like Nintendo have only begun to scratch the surface of what’s possible by adapting their IPs. For years, video game movies appeared to be cursed, with every adaptation failing to please fans of the source material, and ultimately struggling to fit into the medium of a feature-length project. However, movies like Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog helped turn the tide on how these movies are perceived.
Recognizing the space in the market, the incredibly popular Nintendo games company decided to throw its hat in the ring, and with their first major release, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, they managed to claim the title of highest box office for a video game adaptation of all time. However, while Mario may be the most recognizable and popular icon from Nintendo, the brand has a lot of other video game stars who could be great in an adaptation of their own.
10 Luigi
First things first, its worth looking at some of the characters who could naturally expand on the existing Super Mario movie and start forming a shared universe. Not every new franchise needs a universe of its own, but in the case of Nintendo, it makes sense for the company to build on the popularity of their titles, and, like the games, expand with new entries that star the supporting characters. And with that, why not start with someone who is potentially the closest to Mario, his brother, Luigi.
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Despite these two characters sharing a mustache and overalls in common, the games where each stars tend to operate in unique and different ways. While Mario has become famous for the platform games that take him through the Mushroom Kingdom, his brother has gained notoriety in his own rite for a more spooky style of game. Luigi could star in a solo project, especially considering his involvement in the 2023 movie was limited. And such a title could adapt and explore his Luigi’s Mansion games.
9 Donkey Kong
Moving away from the brothers, Donkey Kong is potentially the next most popular character from Nintendo, with the characters’ history extending all the way back to 1981. While the early games were simple arcade style puzzles where players jumped to avoid barrels, Donkey Kong has evolved to have a family, and several games of his own. These games made the character a much more layered and interesting figure with an entire extended family.
Most notably in this regard, the Donkey Kong Country games turn DK from a hulking villain in arcade games into a protagonist in his own rite. And, Nintendo has already set up the foundation for such a story to be adapted when they featured Donkey Kong and several other members of his crew in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Donkey Kong is certainly one of the best and most well liked characters from Nintendo, so it makes sense to adapt his story to the big screen.
8 Kirby
Next up, Kirby. The small pink morphing creature that looks like a perfect ball of bubblegum. In 1992, Kirby broke onto the scene in Kirby’s Dream Land, and the adorable creature has been a fan favorite ever since. The latest games starring this character have gotten infinitely more elaborate and creative than the early entries, and Kirby’s powers and story have only gotten bigger and more layered in the interceding decades, which could mean it’s time for the character to get their own movie.
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However, Kirby is one of the figures from Nintendo that did not actually make an appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. This doesn’t make it impossible for the character to appear, but it could imply that there are little or no plans to adapt a Kirby story in the near future. Despite this, Kirby is one of the characters that definitely needs to have their story adapted for the big screen, because the character is so interesting and visually entertaining.
7 Bowser
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore
Another character who needs to get their own adaptation has to be the arch nemesis of Mario himself, Bowser. The fact that the legendary actor, Jack Black, was cast in the role of Bowser for The Super Mario Bros. Movie only adds to the argument that this character needs a solo story. There is a big trend in Hollywood currently which has seen villains and anti-heroes getting a larger share of the spotlight as their complex stories deliver nuance and innovation from traditional hero stories.
Bowser is a villain, and his crimes of kidnapping Princess Peach are inexcusable, but they also seem to be a tortured soul. His pain and desire to be loved can be felt deeply in his moving musical tribute to Peach, and the story of this villain clearly runs deep. A Bowser movie could explore his origins, the aftermath of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, or simply look at a chapter in his life. All of which would make for an interesting and thought-provoking character story.
6 Yoshi
Yoshi may initially appear to be an odd choice, particularly since the character doesn’t tend to speak, but considering the long history between Yoshi’s and Mario, its worth exploring the characters story. In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Yoshi Island could be seen while Bowser was taking over parts of the Kingdom, which clearly means that these characters exist inside the existing Nintendo-verse. And, in the films final moments, a Yoshi egg could be seen about to hatch in the sewers beneath New York, indicating that the character will have a part to play in a sequel.
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However, Yoshi is a character who has enough history to lead in his own story. He is so much more than a temporary mount and helper for Mario, who has a family and story of his own that can be seen in the Yoshi Island video games that began releasing in 1995, as part of a Super Mario sequel, before the character began leading his own titles. These games could easily be used as the premise for the next Super Mario Bros. Movie, but Yoshi’s story could be further expanded beyond Mario.
5 Peach
In the games, it’s true that Peach has had a history of being a damsel in distress who requires rescuing, but The Super Mario Bros. Movie made sure that Peach was no victim. Instead, she became a warrior queen who led the Mushroom Kingdom and helped to train Mario to become a hero in his own rite. But, it could be well worth giving Peach a solo story that builds on this new story, and establishes her as the tough and battle-ready version of the character.
It also doesn’t hurt that she is a strong female character, and Nintendo doesn’t have a huge selection of characters like that to choose from. By building up Peach’s story, it can build on the existing universe of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but also put the focus on the magical Mushroom Kingdom. Mario was a visitor to that world, but Peach is a part of it, and she could be the perfect character to expand on that story.
4 Wario
While still being linked to Mario, Wario is a very different character, who, in some ways, is the antithesis of Mario. Wario is a villain, and he has often been portrayed as the enemy of Mario who tries to steal treasure. However, the character has also appeared in a handful of games as an antihero. Considering the trend once again, Wario could be a fun character to give his own story and explore a very different style of story in Nintendo’s multiverse.
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Giving Wario a solo story would also be a great way to build up this character ahead of any conflict or confrontation with Mario. Bowser has already had a chance to star as the bad guy in one story. It’s worthwhile mixing up the characters and building out the cast for the future of these stories. Wario is a character who is designed to be a contrasting figure to Mario, and this could make for a really intriguing rivalry.
3 Link
While Mario may be the most universally loved character to come from Nintendo, another franchise stands out as being one of the most celebrated with a dedicated fanbase and an ever-growing library of games. The Legend of Zelda games deliver a more free-flowing and expansive version of the base story that could be found in Mario games, with the hero, Link, trying to rescue the princess, Zelda from the forces of evil. The narrative is larger, the world is more vast, and everything takes on another layer of fantasy.
Bringing Hyrule to the big screen would make for a fascinating new branch of the teased Nintendo Cinematic Universe, and the character of Link is central to those stories. This would mean that Nintendo could explore more fantasy-rooted stories, create a branch that is distinct, both visually and narratively, from Mario, and get a whole other fanbase enthusiastic about their adaptations. And, due to the more complex nature of the stories, it would likely appeal to a slightly older audience, capturing another demographic for Nintendo.
2 Fox McCloud
From fantasy to sci-fi, another exciting set of stories from Nintendo is set in the depths of space, following the incredible Star Fox team. The games are set in the Lylat system, where many of the planets are populated with various species of beings who often resemble humanoid versions of Earth’s animals. However, while Lylat was typically peaceful, a greedy and ambitious scientist raised an army to try and take control of the entire system.
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Opposing this tyrant, there stands a small group of mercenaries hired to pilot incredible ships known as Arwings and fight back against the terrible Andross. Leading the team, Fox McCloud stands out as the hero and protagonist of the first game, and along with his team, they become heroes who protect their solar system from tyrannical rule. This would make for another exciting corner of the Nintendo universe that could overlap, or exist independently of the Mario stories.
1 Samus
Finally, with another deep space sci-fi story, but one that has a distinctly different tone, the Metroid games are another set of popular titles from Nintendo. In these action-adventure games, Samus Aran frequently stands alone as a bounty hunter who fights various alien threats as she finds tools and upgrades that enhance her suit and grant her new abilities. The games are about exploration, and with an ominous setting, they offer something different to everything else on this list.
On another note, the games feature a strong female lead, and as mentioned above, these can sometimes be few and far between in Nintendo games. Samus stands out as one of the most impressive and adventurous female protagonists in any game, on a similar level to Tomb Raider, but without the overt sexualization of the character. As a result, it would be well worth Nintendo’s time and money to give this character, who stands out as one of their best, a movie highlighting them.