Sporting his mustache, red cap, and iconic outfit with silky overalls, Super Mario stands out as THE iconic character in the world of video games. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or not, young or old, everyone has heard of this Italian-American plumber who first appeared on our screens in 1985.
At forty-one years old, he stars in 36 console adventures (not counting spin-off games like Mario Kart), with a total of 452 million sales as of March 2025 (according to Nintendo’s figures). Astounding. This makes it the best-selling saga in video game history.
A pure product of the Japanese company Nintendo, Mario logically made his way to the cinema. Not always with success. In 1993, the disastrous Super Mario Bros. was released. A total failure despite the presence of Bob Hoskins in the lead role, along with Dennis Hopper (as Bowser). A flop that became a cult classic, but not for the right reasons.
It wasn’t until 2023 that we saw a worthy adaptation. This time in an animated film. A success that made a splash at the box office on its first weekend, earning 377 million dollars in revenue. Directed by Aron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the movie captures the essence of the saga, especially in its music. And visually, the film is a triumph.
This naturally called for a sequel, which hits theaters this Wednesday, with high expectations for this Super Mario Galaxy, an adaptation of the 2007 video game released on Wii. One of the best in the series.
The ultimate anti-hero
With all this in mind, one question remains: how to explain such success? Mario emerges as the ultimate anti-hero. Slightly chubby, big-nosed, no superpowers—he is the creation of Shigeru Miyamoto, a key figure at Nintendo. In this colorful universe, there’s no complex plot, violence, or intricate storytelling: just a versatile hero that appeals to everyone. Even the villains come across as somewhat likable.
Over time, Mario’s adventures have evolved. The hero used to always rescue Princess Peach. But gradually, the unassuming mustached hero made way for the heroines. Nintendo developed worlds around the character of Peach, showing her independence. In the 2023 film, she comes across as strong and independent, almost stealing the spotlight from Mario when it comes to saving Luigi.
What’s most surprising is that Mario was originally a side character. He didn’t even have a name when he first appeared in the arcade game Donkey Kong (1981). But players loved him and nicknamed him Jumpman.
Another anecdote: his pixelated mustache was originally a decision to deal with the technical difficulties of creating a realistic mouth at the time. Legends are sometimes born from fortunate accidents. And after over 40 years, Mario has become inseparable from “pop culture.” His mustache as well.
