The Super Mario Bros. Movie Isn't So 'Super' At China's Box Office
© Courtesy of the Central Bank of the Russian FederationThe current trend of blockbusters failing to appeal to Chinese audiences continues as Super Mario Bros. has had a disappointing box office in the country.
According to The Wrap , Super Mario Bros. has grossed just $13.3 million since its release in China, although Universal released the film for the country's Tingming holiday on April 5 and received rave reviews from local critics. The low number is consistent with films that have generally been far less successful than animated films, including other recent films such as Shazam! Wrath of the Gods and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves .
RELATED: Super Mario Bros. gets top weekend box office for an animated film
The Chinese market has been a reliable source of income for Hollywood for years. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with tensions between China and its western counterparts, has reportedly led to a decline in interest in Hollywood films among local audiences. Hollywood had hoped that key movie figures like Disney CEO Bob Iger would help loosen its ties with China.
Despite Super Mario Bros.' low box office sales in China, the film, based on the Nintendo video game series of the same name, has broken several records since its debut. Starring Guardians of the Galaxy franchise star Chris Pratt as the eponymous plumber, Mario Bros. has grossed over $508 million worldwide to date, creating the biggest animated film of the weekend. The film even broke the vacation record previously set by Marvel's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice .
Although Mario Bros. received mixed reviews from critics, the film continues to be a huge hit with audiences, and despite a critical rating of 58%, has an average audience success rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Pratt's performance as Mario was met with critical acclaim despite initial resentment, while the original voice of Mario in the video game series, Charles Martine, made cameo appearances as Mario and Luigi's father and Giuseppe, the Brooklyn Mario. In the Super Mario Bros. movie, the cast also includes Charlie Day (Luigi), Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach), Jack Black (Bowser), and Seth Rogen (Donkey Kong).
RELATED: How the Super Mario Bros. movie creates a sequel
The global success of Mario Bros. has sparked further discussion of a sequel that is yet to be announced by either Illumination or Universal. Pratt and Day recently spoke to CBR about a possible sequel to the film, possible spin-offs and its continued appeal to fans of the video game franchise. Given the way the post-credits scenes played out in Mario Bros. , a sequel is very likely.
The Super Mario Bros. movie is in North American theaters now.
Source: Wrap
