Super Mario Review [3D, 4DX, IMAX, and Dolby]

This review isn’t just about the movie itself – it’s a comparison of the latest cinema technology. So, after watching the film five times in various formats, I’ll guide you to the best spot for an exceptional picture and sound experience.

I dedicated 460 minutes to watching the Super Mario Bros. Movie at various theaters in New York City. It seems I played a significant role in contributing to the movie’s box office success. 

By the end of its one-week run, it might reach a total of $400 million in earnings, four times its initial budget. My goal in all this testing was to determine the optimal format for viewing the movie. Fortunately, I’ve discovered the perfect way to enjoy the Super Mario Bros. movie.

Did the Super Mario Bros. Movie Hit the Mark?

Each theater gave a different experience. IMAX had the biggest screen but also the most people. Dolby had the best picture and sound.

I still enjoyed the Super Mario Bros. Movie every time. The short 92-minute runtime made it easy to watch again and again. I found new Easter eggs until my third viewing. By then, I knew all the dialogue.

Some critics are unsure, but I agree with the audience’s positive reaction. Their excitement showed in the movie’s $377 million opening weekend, even beating Disney’s Frozen 2.

After five viewings, I saw that kids loved characters like Mario, Peach, Luigi, Toad, Bowser, and especially Donkey Kong, even if they didn’t know the games well.

For adults who remember the games, there’s a lot of nostalgia and fun references. But don’t expect it to be the best movie ever. Some adults felt let down.

It’s definitely worth watching at least once. Watching it five times might be a bit excessive, but I did it all in the name of SCIENCE.

Super Mario Bros. Movie: Experience the Adventure in 3D Viewing

• Ticket cost: $27.30.
• Kids will love it, even with few 3D effects.
• 3D adds depth, making Bowser’s nose pop out.
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 3D isn’t groundbreaking.
• Opt for the exciting 4DX version if it’s available near you.

Bowser’s snout and fire breath really pop in 3D, making the experience momentarily worth it. However, the 3D effect isn’t a game-changer for this movie. With the Real D 3D glasses I got at Regal Union Square in NYC, the layers felt a bit more 3D than 2D.

Kids will love seeing The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 3D, but parents who remember the old Disney park 3D movies with their dramatic pop-out effects might be disappointed. I also watched the 4DX version, which included the same 3D experience. 

It felt like repeating the 3D in a malfunctioning 4DX chair. The 3D version isn’t as worthwhile as the 4DX version, even if the latter costs $3 to $5 more per ticket.

I wouldn’t spend extra for the 3D Mario movie. The ticket cost $25.50, plus a $1.80 booking fee, totaling $27.30. Kids thought it was “cool” regardless of my opinion. For adults, only a few scenes really stood out. The bright, fast-paced action felt layered most of the time.

Does the Mario Movie Have a 3D Version?

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is available in 3D at most major theaters in the U.S., including IMAX 3D showings that offer a larger screen at a higher price. Despite the lack of heavy promotion for the 3D version, I’m here to clarify things with my 3D review of the movie.

Illumination, the studio behind the film, created it with 3D in mind. However, only a few scenes are truly impressive. 

The front characters pop off the screen slightly, while the background characters appear more distant. Watching the 3D version requires 3D glasses; otherwise, the image will be blurry.

Kids enjoyed the Mario movie in 3D, but as I’ll explain later, the 2D Dolby version stood out as the best.

Super Mario Bros. Adventure on the IMAX Screen

• Spent $32.48 on the movie ticket.
• Mario-themed Superstar large popcorn tin cost $14.99 (had to get it!).
• The massive screen, eight stories tall, makes every detail vivid.
• The crowd was very excited on opening night.
• Big theaters mean noisy crowds; sound quality comes second.
• Ideal viewing requires almost perfect center seats.
• Not all IMAX theaters showing The Super Mario Bros. Movie are the same.

This was a true experience on the largest screen in the United States, not one of those retrofitted theaters.

This enormous screen truly shows its advantage. For example, Mario’s red cap appeared more textured on the eight-story-tall screen compared to the 3D and standard 2D formats. 

Another premium format also did a great job with this detail. The screen is 100 feet wide, about a third of a football field.

The ticket for this experience cost 27.99, with an additional 2 for a “Preferred Sightline Seat” and a 2.49 convenience fee, totaling 32.48. Because these screens are so large, viewing angles matter a lot. I recommend paying the extra 2 for the ideal middle spot.

If that’s not possible, opt for a later showtime. Even with the premium seat, I wasn’t exactly in the middle, so I found the premium format theater the next day offered a better angle and picture.