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Super Mario Bros. 3

  • Video Game
  • 1988
  • E
IMDb RATING
9.2/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
May 28, 2018, marks the 25th anniversary of 'Super Mario Bros.' The very first live-action adaptation of a video game, ever, was based on the hugely successful series that helped pull the gaming industry out of the 1983 crash. But when it came to its big screen potential, only one man had the vision, producer Roland Joffé.
Play clip3:24
Watch 'Super Mario Bros.' 25 Years Later: Why the Movie Is Nothing Like the Game
1 Video
10 Photos
QuestActionAdventureFamilyFantasy

King Koopa has kidnapped Princess Toadstool, taken over all seven kingdoms in the Mushroom World, and put his seven kids in charge of all of them. It's the Mario Brothers to the rescue.King Koopa has kidnapped Princess Toadstool, taken over all seven kingdoms in the Mushroom World, and put his seven kids in charge of all of them. It's the Mario Brothers to the rescue.King Koopa has kidnapped Princess Toadstool, taken over all seven kingdoms in the Mushroom World, and put his seven kids in charge of all of them. It's the Mario Brothers to the rescue.

  • Directors
    • Shigeru Miyamoto
    • Takashi Tezuka
  • Writer
    • Shigeru Miyamoto
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    9.2/10
    6.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Shigeru Miyamoto
      • Takashi Tezuka
    • Writer
      • Shigeru Miyamoto
    • 27User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    'Super Mario Bros.' 25 Years Later: Why the Movie Is Nothing Like the Game
    Clip 3:24
    'Super Mario Bros.' 25 Years Later: Why the Movie Is Nothing Like the Game

    Photos9

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    User reviews27

    9.26.3K
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    Featured reviews

    MovieAddict2016

    The absolute best Super Mario video game - EVER!

    When I was a young teenager my best friend had an NES, and we used to play this game all the time. It's almost certainly the best Mario game, if not of all platforms than definitely NES. It makes up for the US release of "Mario 2" (which was a stinker) and the gameplay is fantastic -- one player is addictive, fun and well designed with worthy baddies. The two-player is just as enjoyable and chances are you'll lose yourself playing the game.

    Nowadays it's kinda hard to find this game although it might be available on Gameboy. If you do happen to come across it I definitely recommend it -- it's a very entertaining, involving game and one of the all-time best for the NES and has created a lasting legacy. When people think of the familiar traits of what Mario is today -- the mushrooms, the caps, the levels, the enemies, Bowser -- it all really started with this.

    Very highly recommended.
    10ashwin-siva

    Timeless Masterpiece

    Super Mario Bros. 3 is quite simply the best ever video game made by the human race. When I think about super mario, it takes me back to a simpler time, when life was all fun and games. What makes it so special darn special? Its simplicity, engrossing gameplay, super cool villains, wonderful music, eyecandy graphics and chaste storyline makes it stand up to the technological might of todays' powerful XBOXs and Playstations. IMHO, none of todays' games can hold a candle to the sheer panache of super mario bros. Our adorable little Mario did for the gaming world, what the wheel did for the human race, period! End of story! Long live the Legend of Super Mario!
    8johannultimate

    Mario's Biggest Leap Yet - A Creative, Challenging Classic

    Super Mario Bros. 3 isn't just a sequel-it's a total reinvention of what a Mario game could be. Bigger, bolder, and packed with ideas, it expanded the series in almost every direction. New power-ups, themed worlds, hidden secrets-it was ambitious for 1990, and in many ways, still holds up incredibly well today.

    Chapter 1: A World of Imagination

    From the moment the curtain rises on the opening screen, SMB3 plays like a stage show of Mario's greatest adventures. Each world has its own theme-deserts, giant lands, icy peaks-and each level within them offers new mechanics or enemies. The variety here is honestly staggering. You can tell Nintendo was bursting with ideas.

    The introduction of the overworld map was a game-changer. For the first time, you had choice in how to move through levels, find secrets, or skip ahead using warp whistles. It gave a real sense of progression and strategy without bogging things down.

    Chapter 2: Power-Ups and Personality

    The new suits-Raccoon, Frog, Tanooki, and Hammer Bros.-add real variety to the gameplay. Flying across levels, swimming with precision, or even turning into a statue to avoid enemies? It was imaginative and opened the door to experimentation. It made every item block feel like a potential game-changer.

    And yet, the game doesn't rely on power-ups alone. The level design itself is sharp and often surprising. There's a real rhythm to how the game teaches you, tests you, and then twists what you thought you knew.

    Chapter 3: Not Quite Perfect

    While it's undeniably one of the best NES games ever made, it's not flawless. The difficulty spikes hard in the later worlds, and some stages can feel unfair, especially when you're low on power-ups. The save system (or lack thereof, originally) could make longer sessions a bit frustrating. And with so many one-hit-death moments, the game occasionally feels more punishing than rewarding.

    Final Thoughts

    Still, those nitpicks are small compared to how innovative, colorful, and replayable Super Mario Bros. 3 is. It set the standard for 2D platformers and remains a nostalgic masterpiece for a reason.

    8/10 - A brilliant, endlessly creative game that pushed the NES to its limits. A true classic, even if it occasionally bites back.
    10jerekra

    Mario At The Best!!!

    Super Mario 3 is not only one of the greatest Mario Video Games, it is one of the greatest Video Games ever.

    The plot is pretty simple. Basically you are traveling through eight different worlds in an attempt to rescue Princess Toadstool, nothing new.

    Each world is interesting in its own right. There is the desert world, ice world, sky world, and big world.(big world is cool in that all the enemies are much bigger than Mario) The levels are colorful and exciting and there are plenty of times where you must try to solve puzzling situations. Great fun levels.

    A great thing about this game is the power ups. You have the mushroom that makes you bigger, and the fire flower that makes you able to shoot out fire balls. There are a lot of new power ups as well, and I stress A LOT. Here is a list of them.

    Leaf Gives you a racoon tail and ears and allows you to hover and fly short distances. Frog Suit Allows you to swim great in the water. Tanoki Suit It is an entire full body Racoon Suit that has the same abilities as the leaf plus you can turn into a statue. Hammer Brother Suit Wearing a hammer brother suit you are able to throw hammers at enemies. P Wing Allows you to fly through an entire level.

    Another great feature is that you are able to obtain a lot of different items and store them. You can then use them when you are on the menu of whatever world you are in prior to starting a level. Being able to store items and use them when you wish is a great feature.

    There are lots of fun games in each world. You get to battle hammer brothers for items and also you get to play a matching N Card game for items and another slot machine game for items.

    Gameplay is pretty good but it takes practice. Once you get the hang though it is great fun.

    A great CLASSIC video game that is a must play. AWESOME!!!!!
    9Catherine_Grace_Zeh

    One of the best Nintendo games I have ever played

    SUPER MARIO BROTHERS 3, in my opinion, is one of the best Nintendo games I have ever played. Even though I haven't owned a Nintendo Wii system for very long, I've played this game many times before. To be honest, I enjoy it very much. In addition, even though I've never beaten the game, I still enjoy the game very much. When and if you can get a Nintendo Wii, this game should definitely be on your list of downloads. Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say that the people at Nintendo know how to keep video game fanatics entertained. Now, in conclusion, if you're a video game fanatic, this is definitely one you'll want to play and own.

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    Related interests

    Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
    Quest
    Bruce Willis and Taniel in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The enemy known as "Chained Chomp" was inspired by an experience co-director Shigeru Miyamoto had as a child. He was walking home from school one day when a dog tried to attack him, but it reached the end of its chain, just out of reach of Shigeru. In the game, the Chomps are tethered as well, but after waiting for 175 seconds, they will break free and chase the player.
    • Goofs
      During the card matching game, Toad's quote should have read "Flip over any two cards and see if they match. Miss twice and you're out!", not "your out"; therefore, it is using an incorrect homophone.
    • Quotes

      Princess Toadstool: Thank you, but our Princess is in another castle... just kidding. Ha ha ha! Bye bye.

    • Alternate versions
      Originally, at the end of the Japanese version of World 5-1, you would go through the pipe. You would emerge on the other side of the wall, and would find the goal area after about 20 more blocks of vacant terrain. This ending was shortened in the U.S. version, as the "darkness" was moved ahead to where the pipe and wall used to be. The wall was removed to fix an odd, harmless glitch that would happen if you were to fly over the wall after going through the pipe.
    • Connections
      Edited into Super Mario Maker (2015)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 15, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Nintendo .com creators of the game (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Super Mario Brothers 3
    • Production companies
      • Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development (EAD)
      • Nintendo
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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