The Super Mario Bros. Movie that was released on April 5, 2023, has become a topic of intense debate among both viewers and critics. The movie is based on the popular video game franchise Super Mario Bros which has been around since 1985 with the first installation; Super Mario Bros, and it had a lot to live up to. While the majority of the viewers have praised the movie for its faithfulness to the source material and the nostalgia it came with others and critics have criticized it for its lackluster plot, simple characters, and uninspired direction.

On the one hand, some viewers have enjoyed the movie for what it is: a fun and nostalgic adaptation of the Super Mario Bros. games. They appreciated the nods to the game's iconic characters, locations, and music, and they find the movie to be a lighthearted and enjoyable journey through the Mushroom Kingdom. Some viewers even go so far as to say that the movie captures the spirit of the games and does justice to the beloved franchise, which is incredibly difficult to do in this age because of the game-to-movie adaptations that performed poorly, such as Angry Birds in 2016 that got below 50% on both audience and critic. Due to multiple poorly done game-to-movie adaptations, there is skepticism towards upcoming movies such as Super Mario Bros this year. The movie was able to prove that game-to-movie adaptations are possible and can be successful. Currently, the movie is the first movie to reach over 1 billion dollars in 2023.

On the other hand, many critics have panned the movie, citing its weak writing, poor direction, and lack of originality. They argue that the movie fails to capture the magic of the games and that it is nothing more than a hollow cash grab that relies too heavily on nostalgia and brand recognition. They also point out the movie's lack of engaging characters, shallow plot, and uninspired action sequences. A Rotten Tomatoes Critic said ‘"The Super Mario Bros. Movie" unfortunately borrowed Guy Ritchie’s playbook from his disaster of a movie “Aladdin,” yep, there’s torture in ” Mario Bros,” just as in “Aladdin,” which teaches kids to bully to get their way...nope, not on my watch.’ She rated the movie a 2.4 out of 5. There are similar critics that think the same but the common theme among the critics was that it was dull and forgettable.

The debate between viewers and critics centers around the movie's faithfulness to the source material versus its merit as a standalone film. While viewers appreciate the movie's nod to the games' iconic imagery and characters, critics argue that this is not enough to make a good movie and it's too simple to be something called good. Some viewers argue that critics are being too harsh on the movie and that it is meant to be a fun and lighthearted adaptation of the games as well as targeted at children and not 30 to 40-year-old adults. They argue that the movie's goal is not to be a cinematic masterpiece, but rather to entertain and delight fans of the games. They point out that the movie has its moments of humor and charm, and that it is worth watching for those who are fans of the games.

Critics, on the other hand, argue that it is not enough for a movie to simply rely on nostalgia and brand recognition to be successful. They say that the film should have had a stronger script, more engaging characters, and more original ideas. They point out that while the movie does have its moments of charm, these are not enough to carry the film.

Ultimately, whether or not someone enjoys the Super Mario Bros. Movie will come down to personal taste. Those who are fans of the games may appreciate the movie's nods to the franchise, while those who are looking for a more substantial and engaging film may find it lacking. Personally as someone who watches various movies and has grown up playing Super Mario Bro games. When I saw it for the first time in the theaters, it was a wave of nostalgia that came over me, and that nostalgia disguised the flaws of the movie after reflecting on and writing this. I agree with the critics about the plot and storytelling aspects of the movie but agree with the audience about the nostalgia. Remember this is a kid's movie for the most part so for these film industries, the plot, and characters aren't as important because the audience is made up mostly of children who don't know how to distinguish between a good and bad movie.