History Film / SuperMarioBros

* AnimatedCreditsOpening: Partially. The movie opens with a weird, pixelated artstyle that shifts into live-action after the dinosaurs express their content with life. This was due to ExecutiveMeddling as the producers felt test audiences weren't getting the concept of the parallel dimensions and needed it spelled out. The idea was to have graphics reminiscent of the games but they opted for a cheaper and faster route.

* AnimatedCreditsOpening: Partially. The movie opens with a weird, pixelated artstyle as a reference to the video games, then shifts into live action after the dinosaurs express their content with life.

* Orphan'sPlotTrinket: * Princess Daisy wears a meteorite fragment around her neck that she never takes off since it was the only thing left with her when she was left in the human world. The meteorite fragment is the one thing Koopa needs to orchestrate his takeover of our world. (However, earlier scripts indicate the metallic egg was also necessary for Koopa's plan to merge the dimensions)

* EvolutionaryLevels: There's a gun with an "Evolve/Devolve" switch.
** Hilariously, there's also a "Now" switch in the main devolution chamber.

* LineLooping: * According to the post-production supervisor, Super Mario Bros. had the most ADR-looping of any film she had ever encountered.

The portal leads to an [[AlternateUnivere parallel world]] where reptiles, instead of mammals, evolved into people and became the dominant species on the planet. The alternate world is mostly barren wastelands, except for New York, which appears as a dark and dystopian version of itself, run by the despotic President Koopa and further besieged by a mysterious fungus. Attempting to rescue Daisy and Daniella, the Mario brothers end up going on a crazy adventure through every tier of this "Mushroom Kingdom" and eventually realize it's up to them to stop the whole world from going down the drain!

The portal leads to an alternate dimension where reptiles, instead of mammals, evolved into people and became the dominant species on the planet. The alternate world is mostly barren wastelands, except for New York, which appears as a dark and dystopian version of itself, run by the despotic President Koopa and further besieged by a mysterious fungus. Attempting to rescue Daisy and Daniella, the Mario brothers end up going on a crazy adventure through every tier of this "Mushroom Kingdom" and eventually realize it's up to them to stop the whole world from going down the drain!

** [[GasMaskedMooks The Snifits]], due to those weird noises they were constantly making.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Multiple figures were once involved in the project, from the directors wanting KevinCostner for Koopa, DustinHoffman lobbying for the chance to play Mario [[SoMyKidsCanWatch as a treat for his kids]], and HaroldRamis the producers original choice for director. (Contrary to popular rumor, Danny DeVito was never a choice for the role of Mario)

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Some of Lena's outfits, as well as dancers at the Boom Boom bar in a scene that was cut from theatrical release. You can still see them in the background in some scenes. Also check out Joseph Porro's [http://www.josephporro.com/www.josephporro.com/My_Films/Pages/Super_Mario_Bros..html early costume designs]].

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Some of Lena's outfits, as well as dancers at the Boom Boom bar in a scene that was cut from theatrical release. You can still see them in the background in some scenes. Also check out Joseph Porro's [http://www.josephporro.com/www.josephporro.com/My_Films/Pages/Super_Mario_Bros..html early costume designs].

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Some of Lena's outfits, as well as dancers at the Boom Boom bar in a scene that was cut from theatrical release. You can still see them in the background in some scenes. Also check out Joseph Porro's [http://www.josephporro.com/www.josephporro.com/My_Films/Pages/Super_Mario_Bros..html#grid early costume designs].

* ExecutiveMeddling: The fantasy-based production that predated the second, sci-fi-oriented production under directors Rocky and Annabel had already drained $10 million of the total budget. Faced with a massive delay already, the producers had over half the shooting script trimmed of sub-plots and backstory to save time. Rocky and Annabel were also rarely allowed to direct under their own style and forced to send daily updates to the producers so they could dictate further changes. Finally, over 20 minutes of deleted scenes were removed to get the rating down, including a scene at the Boom Boom Bar where Iggy and Spike rap while {{Stripperiffic}} girls dance around them. Finally, the producers had the atrocious animated intro made to make-up for the backstory clarified in the deleted scenes.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The fantasy-based production that predated the second, sci-fi-oriented production under directors Rocky and Annabel had already drained $10 million of the total budget. Faced with a massive delay already, the producers had over half the shooting script trimmed of sub-plots and backstory to save time. Rocky and Annabel were also rarely allowed to direct under their own style and forced to send daily updates to the producers so they could dictate further changes. Finally, over 20 minutes of deleted scenes were removed to get the rating down, including a scene at the Boom Boom Bar where Iggy and Spike rap while Stripperific girls dance around them.

Goofy, camp, grittier than the games, and appropriately saturated with TheNineties, good performances from all the leads, particularly Hoskins, save a ridiculous adaptation of brilliant but nearly unadaptable source material.

* CompositeCharacter: Princess Peach's personality and looks with Daisy's name. Probably done because "Peach" stands out a bit.
** Or maybe because back then both Toadstool and Daisy's names were [[DidNotDoTheResearch rather mixed up by people who did not realize they're totally different characters]].
** And because "Toadstool" is a dreadful name for a heroine, which is what Peach was known as in America back then.
** Averted? The villain is "President Koopa", but the script and related media name Daisy's father as "King ''Bowser''". They were clearly implying much more than what they got to show.

* [=~Everything's Better With Dinosaurs~=]: Most of them are humanoid dinosaurs, but dinosaurs nonetheless.

** Mario and Luigi's leisure suits. Classy.

* NightmareFuel: Koopa coming on to Daisy. With his face and tongue getting more reptilian.

* OldShame: [[IceAge John Leguizamo's]] film debut. His next film, ''To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar'' earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
** Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper as well, though they were both well into their careers.
* ParentalAbandonment: Luigi mentions that he was mostly raised by Mario. No mention of what happened to their parents, though.

** For one thing, they gave Koopa a wife. (And then ''didn't'' have him have kids.)

* ShoutOut: Tons to the games, although a lot of them are awkward and minimal. The barrels of the flamethrower/fireball guns look vaguely like red flower petals and the cartridges which power the jump-boots(themselves a reference to the Bros' incredible jumping ability in the games) resemble Bullet Bills.

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Most of Lena's outfits.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Danny [=DeVito=] was initially cast as Mario, but dropped out.
** The directors apparently wanted ''KevinCostner'' to play Koopa.
*** '''DustinHoffman''' ''actually lobbied'' for the chance to play Mario, [[SoMyKidsCanWatch as a treat for his kids]].
** An early draft of the script shows that Bowser only disguises himself as a human in his first two scenes, Daisy is named Hildy and Bowser's trying to marry her in attempt to obtain the Crown of Invincibility with which to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, actual game enemies like Piranha Plants and Thwomps make appearances, Toad accompanies the Mario Bros. on their journey, [[strike:Yoshi]] a baby dinosaur named Junior thinks Mario is his mother (this becomes HilariousInHindsight if you read this after seeing [[Series/SuperMarioWorld "Mama Luigi"]]), Luigi gets Raccoon Power at one point, one of Bowser's lackeys tells Mario "YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle", Mario and Luigi sing a VillainSong for Bowser, [[spoiler:Bowser [[DisneyVillainDeath ends up falling into a pit of lava]]]]... In other words, this draft is actually something ''like'' the games.

** {{George Clinton}}'s [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=733O0xJDx8o "Walk the Dinosaur"]], later CoveredUp by QueenLatifah for ''IceAge: Dawn of the Dinosaurs'', which [[ActorAllusion coincidentally]] also featured John Leguizamo.
*** The George Clinton version is also a cover. It was originally done by Was(Not Was).

** The George Clinton version is also a cover. It was originally done by Was(Not Was).

* CultClassic: For any fan of the Mario series, this is a must-see. Counts under GuiltyPleasures as well, which eases some of the pain.

** Also, check out [[spoiler: the Tyrannosaurus's]] coloring, just before it [[spoiler: turns into slime]]. Yellow muzzle and belly, green elsewhere...it's Bowser's color scheme!
** Speaking of FridgeBrilliance, the ActionGirl is named Daisy because she's Luigi's love intrest and not Mario's.
*** Also, this movie's ending sets up the plot for the games, because Daisy came to tell them that Bowser(Koopa's uncle and the father of Iggy, Spike, and the other Koopa Kids) had kidnapped Peach (Daisy's sister) to lure the Mario Bros. to his final lair so he can kill them to avenge Koopa's death.