The movie tells the story of two Brooklyn plumbers who are brothers and best friends: Mario, the brave one with the “let’s-a go” attitude, and the perpetually anxious Luigi, who would prefer to go nowhere. We open with the Super Mario Brothers reckoning with their struggling plumbing business, and wind up in a whirlwind adventure through Mushroom Kingdom. Through their journey, we meet a cast of familiar, lovable characters, ultimately uniting to defeat the power-hungry villain, Bowser. The Super Mario Bros. Movie takes what millions of gamers worldwide have loved for over three decades and levels it up to a new and breathtaking cinematic experience.

For in-depth thoughts on The Super Mario Bros. Movie, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The Super Mario Bros. Movie comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a stunning 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision transfer that is sure to wow audiences. One of the most pleasing upgrades with this format comes in the form of the dazzling colors. With every single hue that appears on screen, you come to understand that this is what the format was made for as they radiate off with a grand intensity. Black levels are very deep and strong with no hint of compression artifacts or digital anomalies of the sort. Highlights are maintained at the perfect level to avoid blooming.

The technology in animation keeps improving to unimaginable heights which really makes the viewing experience something special. The classic character designs render with perfect fluid motions throughout no matter the environment. The level of detail the animation team puts into each background will have you wanting to rewatch again and again to take in everything. The textures of the different character designs and environments are extremely impressive and give the film a real sense of depth. When it comes to the characters, all of the subtle facets that give them personality stand out in a brilliant way. Universal has delivered the perfect home entertainment experience.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray provides a Dolby Atmos track that gives this spritely film a dynamic soundscape. Dialogue is crisp and clear in the center channel without ever getting overshadowed by the music or sound effects. The low end activity from the subwoofer digs deep when it comes to strength and nuance as it provides excellent texture. Environmental sound effects are rendered with precision within the mix so that directionality is never an issue.

This film has been granted a track that is not struggling for nuance. The implementation of the height channels are not to be taken for granted as they replicate the feeling of existing in the middle of the action. Much of the activity is focused on the front channels, but activity extends to the surrounds and rears to allow for a more immersive experience. The film really makes an impression when it comes to the music, and this track renders it with a flawless fidelity. The audio matches the brilliance of the visuals. There are optional English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles provided.

Special Features

Getting To Know The Cast: A 19-minute collection of interviews with the cast and creative team focusing on the characters they bring to the feature film, the vocal performances that bring them to life, how they fit into this overall story, and much more.

- Chris Pratt as Mario (2:31)

- Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach (2:42)

- Charlie Day as Luigi (2:10)

- Jack Black as Bowser (3:29)

- Keegan-Michael Key as Toad (2:26)

- Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong (2:16)

- Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong (1:21)

- Juliet Jelenic as Lumalee (1:30)

Leveling Up – Making The Super Mario Bros. Movie: A 28-minute collection of featurettes which explores various facets of this film.

- Level 1- Inspiration (4:54)

- Level 2 – Design (6:18)

- Level 3 – Music (2:48)

- Level 4 – Locations (5:57)

- Level 5 – Power Ups (4:01)

- Level 6 – Easter Eggs (3:32)

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Field Guide: A seven-minute journey through various lands and characters as explained by the actors.

“Peaches” Lyric Video: A two-minute lyric video is provided for the hit song complete with an introduction from Jack Black.

Leadership Lessons From Anya Taylor-Joy: A three-minute piece in which the actress shares some key lessons she learned from playing the iconic heroine.

Final Thoughts

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a true rollercoaster of a cinematic experience. From the opening moments you feel as if you are just holding on as we go from one kinetic set piece to the next with little time to breathe. This results in an experience that is rarely boring, but it is far from nourishing. Fans will love all of the references and easter eggs brought over from the source material, and the technical construction is beyond reproach. The film will make you laugh and cheer, but those who want something a bit less surface level will be wishing for a bit more humanity within these characters. Universal has provided this one with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that is a homerun from the top-notch A/V presentation to the nifty special features. If you are simply looking for a joyous and spry adventure with characters you love, you will likely have a good time. Recommended

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.