By the early 1990s, the concept of video games were still widely seen by most as a niche pastime for kids, or the occasional nerdy teenager. Though the likes of Nintendo were taking the world by storm in the budding video game market, there was still some room to grow for the industry in terms of being recognized as the next big entertainment medium. Enter the Super Mario Bros. movie the first attempt to adapt a popular video game franchise for the big screen in order to gain recognition from more general audiences. While a noble attempt, it perhaps instead became responsible for setting the disappointing standard many video game movie adaptations would follow.

The 1993 film was heavily panned upon release for being a confusing, over-the-top, and completely nonsensical interpretation of the massive gaming franchise. Though, like many absurdities and cult classics of the '90s, the film has achieved cult status over the years, with many enjoying giving it a watch just to say that they've experienced the hastily-made and poorly planned adventure. With an upcoming animated Mario Bros. movie coming later this year from Illumination, now's a great time to take a look back at the iconic plumbers' first jump to theaters, and if it's worth getting a second life.

The Super Mario Game Plan

The movie begins with presenting the idea that dinosaurs never really went extinct, but rather got sent to another dimension and are now attempting to take over the human world. Brooklyn-based plumbers Mario and Luigi end up getting roped into the affair, being accidentally sent to the dinosaur dimension known as Dinohattan (a play on Manhattan), and realize they must save the captured Princess Daisy, as well as their entire world, from the evil King Koopa. If the plot sounds like a drunken mess with characters' names being the only recognizable attributes, then it's becoming clear what put off most viewers from this messy interpretation.

Super Mario Bros.
Buena Vista Pictures/Entertainment Film Distributors 

Things were starting to look unsure as production began. The concept of a more faithful adaptation of the source material was deemed "too expensive," causing the whole idea, and the reason many of the actors signed on in the first place, to be scrapped. Replacing the fantastical and recognizable elements from the first draft would be a more grounded story with much less emphasis on massive set design and practical effects. The film bizarrely takes inspiration from works such as Blade Runner, adopting a cyber-punk aesthetic with a grungier and dirtier look, in stark contrast to the bright and vibrant video games that were meant to inspire it.

Signing on to direct the fantasy adventure would be visual effects pioneers and creators of Max Headroom, Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton. Up until that point, Jankel and Morton had specialized in stylized music videos, with their cutting-edge and artistic flair being thought of as a perfect fit to adapt the Super Mario Bros. franchise.

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It was from the husband and wife team that the final version of the screenplay was born, though not without heavy amounts of script rewrites, hoping to pull inspiration from anything that was popular at the time. With an unclear vision, a lack of experience, and a crushing deadline from Nintendo to have the film finished by a certain date, the stress had just begun, and when the actors began to be cast, things went from bad to worse.

Drunk Plumbers and Angry Turtles

The on-set experience of the Super Mario Bros. movie has become infamous with its seemingly endless stories of yelling, drinking, and complete cluelessness. Though the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Hanks were a few of the names thrown around for the cast, the roles finally went to Bob Hoskins as Mario, John Leguizamo as Luigi, and Dennis Hopper as King Koopa. To say the actors had a miserable experience making the film would be a complete understatement, with Hoskins later describing the project as the worst job he's ever done.

Bob Hoskins as Mario in Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

When Hoskins and Leguizamo weren't heavily drinking and smoking on set to ease the pain, the former was having near-death experiences due to general negligence of those involved. The film had been a particularly dreadful time for the actor, who ironically had never even heard of the source material to begin with, and admitted to only signing on for the paycheck. Having been nearly killed twice during the excruciating production, Hoskins spoke candidly on his time on set in a later interview with Entertainment Tonight.

If you're going to survive this film, you're going to have to be very, very careful [...] I got stabbed four times. Electrocuted. Broke a finger. Nearly got drowned.

Physical danger wasn't the only thing affecting the moods and morale of the actors. Constant script rewrites and arguments between the studio and directors caused complete uncertainty day-to-day on what the finished product was even going to look like. In particular, Dennis Hopper was infuriated by the changing of his lines and scenes without being told, and would rant on set for hours, halting all production to call to attention the absurdity and unprofessional nature of all involved.

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A majority of the heavy criticism from the actors was pointed towards the inexperience of the directors. Hopper's endless rants taking umbrage with their lack of preparation or writing capabilities represented the feelings of the cast, with Hoskins opting for a more succinct summation of their skills, referring to the duo as "F---ing idiots."

The Big Question

With all behind-the-scenes drama and production hell finally coming to a close, the film was released in 1993, receiving all-around negative reviews, as well as being a financial flop. The lead actors would go on to regret ever having been a part of the video game adaptation, though it still begs the question: is there anything about the movie that didn't turn out a complete disaster?

Super Mario Bros. hi-five in front of an elevator
Buena Vista Pictures / Entertainment Film Distributors

Charm is a very difficult thing to capture artificially; many times, films or television luck into it with the right cast, writing, or visual style that just ends up clicking whether it be intentional or not. In the case of Super Mario Bros., many cite its complete and total disregard for coherency, or understanding of the video game franchise, to be a fun and fascinating display. Though structurally, the movie is undoubtedly a mess, but as 'so bad it's good' films go, watching Bob Hoskins prance around in red overalls and Dennis Hopper's delighted face upon seeing a monkey are definitely recipes for a laugh.

Being the first attempt at making a movie adaptation of a video game franchise, the film comes with a certain legendary status for pioneering the very idea. Fans regularly revisit and reference the adventure for its absurdities and memorable moments, as well as even creating a completely fan-made rerelease cobbling together 20 extra minutes of unseen footage in what's known as the "Morton-Jankel" cut.

Ironically, after nearly 30 years, it's rare to hear the original Super Mario Bros. movie be brought up in any other context than endearment. Though the public may have bashed the flick upon release in the '90s, in the modern age of carefully constructed, sanitized, and nostalgia-fueled reboots, it's incredibly fun to go back and watch an adaptation that doesn't care at all about what it may even be based off of.

Unapologetically doing its own thing, and providing just as many entertaining stories from behind the camera as it does from in front, there will always be fond memories of Super Mario Bros. to many out there, though just don't ask anyone who was involved.