HomeEnding ExplanationThe Super Mario Bros. Movie | Ending Explained

The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Ending Explained

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In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, we will explain the film’s ending.

Cast

  • Mario – Chris Pratt
  • Luigi – Charlie Day
  • Princess Peach – Anya Taylor-Joy
  • Toad – Keegan-Michael Key
  • Donkey Kong – Seth Rogen
  • Cranky Kong – Fred Armisen
  • Bowser – Jack Black
  • Written by – Matthew Fogel
  • Directed by – Aaron Horvath | Michael Jelenic

The end of The Super Mario Bros. Movie explained

Recap

The Super Mario Bros. Movie climax occurs in Brooklyn. An explosion causes a Warp Pipe in the Mushroom Kingdom to throw the main conflict from Peach’s castle to Mario and Luigi’s home. A fistfight with Bowser leaves Mario badly beaten, but his friends step up. The teamwork and support from family, friends, and borough locals leads to Mario and Luigi gaining the power of the Super Star. Infused with invincible energy, the brothers defeat Bowser. This experience not only solidifies their friendship with Peach and Donkey Kong, but also earns the brothers the respect of their family, peers, and borough. 

Instead of going back to work in Brooklyn, where the two would be extraordinarily famous and business, you can assume, would be booming, the brothers have moved to the Mushroom Kingdom. Awake, energized, and ready to seize the day, Mario and Luigi head off to enjoy this new adventure. 

The after credits scene shows an egg hatching. 

Meaning

The showdown between the heroes and Bowser is a battle between ideologies. Bowser embodies a negative, selfish, inconsiderate worldview that doesn’t value people for who they are. Bowser wants followers more than friends. Even though he says he loves Peach, he doesn’t know Peach. While Mario and friends embody positive qualities of trust, friendship, service, and kindness. Their teamwork overcomes Bowser’s might. 

If the brothers had stayed in Brooklyn and enjoyed the fruits of their fame, it would convey a message that “doing something big is what matters”. Want your parents to love you? Achieve something huge. Want your old boss to respect you? Become famous. Want to succeed in business? Go viral. In some ways, Mario and Luigi would be resting on their laurels. Choosing to go to the Mushroom Kingdom is bold. It’s a new world they barely know much less understand. But it’s adventure. It’s not staying anchored to a place just because you were born there. It’s not allowing a sense of obligation to keep you tied to a family that hadn’t previously supported you. There’s no malice in Mario and Luigi going to the Mushroom Kingdom. They’re simply embracing the journey that feels right to them. And that can be a very empowering message. You love your home. You love your family. But go where you believe you should go. 

Lastly, the egg, of course, is a reference to the fan-favorite character Yoshi. For the Yosh-heads, it’s arguably the most important scene in all of The Super Mario Bros. Movie—as it’s a promise of Yoshi’s appearance in the inevitable sequel. 

Share Your Opinion

Is there more to the ending that you think should be part of the Colossus Movie Guide for The Super Mario Bros. Movie? Leave your thoughts below and we’ll consider adding them. 

Chris
Chris
Chris Lambert is co-founder of Colossus. He writes about complex movie endings, narrative construction, and how movies connect to the psychology of our day-to-day lives.
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