10 Movies Made For Terrible Reasons

3. To Market Nintendo Products - The Wizard

House of the Dead
Universal

Product placement doesn't get more hilariously egregious than 1989's cult family film The Wizard, which features prolonged appearances by numerous Nintendo products, including the doomed Power Glove accessory and Super Mario Bros. 3, the latter of which wasn't yet released in North America.

The Wizard came to fruition when, at the start of 1989, Universal approached Nintendo to collaborate on a video game-centric film inspired by Nintendo gaming competitions.

And so, a script was rushed into development, with Nintendo having approval on the final screenplay and which of its products would be featured.

Shooting was completed that summer and the movie hit screens that December, where it turned a modest profit off the back of marketing that focused on hyping up the Super Mario Bros. 3 footage.

Critical reception wasn't so hot, though, with most skewering The Wizard for being a thinly-veiled, 100-minute Nintendo commercial - a claim it's incredibly tough for anybody who's seen the film to argue with.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.