10 Critically Reviled Video Game Movies (That Really Aren't THAT Bad)
6. Super Mario Bros.
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 23%
Critics Consensus: "Despite flashy sets and special effects, Super Mario Bros. is too light on story and substance to be anything more than a novelty."
Super Mario Bros.' admittedly brilliant tagline of 'This Ain't No Game' couldn't have been more accurate here, because the 1993 film was too loosely based on the iconic Nintendo video game series to ever stand a chance of being a faithful adaptation. While it certainly attempted to recreate some game-like elements, it was still too outlandish to live up to expectations.
That being said, if you can allow yourself to get over that, you might see the film in a whole new light.
A joyously corny adventure with a plot so off-the-wall that it rarely makes sense, Super Mario Bros. is actually a really fun adventure with some exceptionally larger-than-life performances from Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Samantha Mathis and Dennis Hopper and special practical effects that were very revolutionary for their time.
A poor video game adaptation, yes, but a remotely decent film nonetheless.