Honestly, nobody expected the Mario movie to be that big. When Illumination and Nintendo finally dropped the film, it didn't just break the box office; it triggered a total frenzy for plastic. I’m talking about Super Mario Bros movie toys—those chunky, colorful, and surprisingly detailed figures that started appearing on Target shelves months before Chris Pratt’s Mario voice even hit the speakers.
It was a weird time for collectors. Usually, movie tie-in toys are kind of cheap. You know the ones—hollow plastic, bad paint jobs, and zero articulation. But Jakks Pacific, the company behind the main line, actually put some effort into these. They realized that the audience wasn't just six-year-olds; it was thirty-somethings who grew up with a NES controller glued to their hands.
The Jakks Pacific Effect: More Than Just Cheap Plastic
Jakks Pacific has held the Nintendo license for a while now, but the Super Mario Bros movie toys line was a different beast entirely. They shifted from the classic "evergreen" game designs to these hyper-stylized versions that mirrored the movie's textures. Mario actually had denim patterns on his overalls. Peach had a realistic fabric-like flow to her dress.
The standout? The 7-inch Bowser.
This thing is a beast. It breathes "fire" (well, illuminated mist), and it’s heavy. It’s the kind of toy that makes you realize how far manufacturing has come. Most movie toys feel like disposable junk, but this Bowser became a centerpiece for people who don't even consider themselves "toy people."
Jakks also released a series of 5-inch figures that included everyone from the main cast. Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad all came with "realistic" acrylic eyes. It’s a small detail, but it makes them look alive compared to the flat, painted-on eyes of the standard $10 figures you find in the grocery store aisle.
Why the Van Was a Secret Weapon
Then there was the plumbing van. Remember the "Super Mario Bros. Plumbing" commercial from the start of the movie? The toy version is a tiny, fold-out playset. It’s meta. It’s nostalgic. It’s exactly the kind of thing that targets the "Google Discover" crowd because it taps into that specific 80s/90s aesthetic that just won't die.
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It wasn't just about the figures. It was about world-building.
The Mystery of the Missing Waves
One thing most people get wrong about these toys is the supply chain. If you walked into a Walmart in late 2024, you probably saw empty pegs. There was a weird gap between the first wave of releases and the inevitable "restocks" that happens when a movie becomes a billion-dollar hit.
Collectors started hunting for the "Mini World" sets. These were tiny, micro-scale dioramas of the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser’s Castle. They were cheap—maybe five or six bucks—but they were incredibly hard to find because resellers figured out they were perfect for office desk decorations.
- The Jungle Kingdom playset, featuring a tiny Mario on a kart, became a sleeper hit.
- Kamek, the Magikoopa, was surprisingly scarce for a while.
- The "Fire Breathing Bowser" sold out three times over during the holiday season.
You see, Nintendo is notoriously protective of their IP. They don't just let any company slap a logo on a box. The quality control on these movie toys had to meet Shigeru Miyamoto’s standards, which is probably why we didn't see the usual deluge of "fast-food quality" tie-ins that usually plague big animated releases.
The Hot Wheels Connection
We have to talk about Mattel. While Jakks did the figures, Mattel handled the Super Mario Bros movie toys in the die-cast world. Their Hot Wheels "Jungle Kingdom" line was a direct tie-in to the Mario Kart sequence in the film.
It’s funny. You’d think a car is just a car, but these were different. They used the specific movie karts—the ones made of wood and scrap metal—rather than the sleek, futuristic karts from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. For a die-cast collector, that distinction is everything.
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The "Pink Gold Peach" or the "Standard Kart" variants are fine, but the movie karts have a grit to them. They look like they belong in a George Miller movie, just... with more rainbows.
Is It a Good Investment?
Look, I'm not a financial advisor. But if you look at the history of Nintendo merch, movie-specific stuff tends to hold value. Why? Because once the sequel comes out, the original movie designs often get retired.
Take the "Movie Peach" figure. She’s wearing her biker suit for most of the film. That’s a specific look that deviates from her classic pink gown. In five years, when the sequel toys are on the shelf, the "Biker Peach" from the first film will be the one people are hunting for on eBay.
Common Misconceptions
People think these are just repackaged versions of the toys we’ve had since 2014. They aren't.
- Scale: The movie figures are 5-inch, while the standard line is 4-inch. They don't even stand together on a shelf without looking weird.
- Articulation: The movie line has way more points of movement. Mario can actually "jump" into a pose that doesn't look like he’s having a muscle spasm.
- Packaging: The "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" branding is distinct. If the box doesn't have the movie logo, it’s just the standard evergreen line.
What to Look for Right Now
If you're just starting to look for Super Mario Bros movie toys, don't just go for the standard Mario. Everyone has a Mario.
Seek out the Tanooki Suit Mario or the Fire Flower Mario variants if you can find them. These were released in smaller quantities. Also, the "Floating Island" playset is a masterpiece of engineering for a kids' toy. It uses magnets to make the platforms look like they’re hovering. It’s clever. It’s tactile.
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The biggest mistake? Buying the "knock-offs" from random third-party sites. These movie designs are intricate. The bootlegs always mess up the eyes, and they end up looking like something out of a creepypasta. Stick to Jakks Pacific, Mattel, or Lego.
Wait—Lego.
Lego didn't actually do a "Movie" line. They have their own "Super Mario" buildable course system, which is great, but it’s not movie toys. A lot of people got confused and bought the Lego Bowser thinking it was the movie Bowser. It’s not. The Lego one is a $270 beast that takes six hours to build. The Jakks movie Bowser is a $30 toy you can actually play with. Know the difference before you drop your paycheck.
How to Care for the Collection
If you're one of those "New in Box" (NIB) collectors, you need to watch the cardboard. Jakks used a very thin cardstock for the 5-inch line. It creases if you even look at it wrong.
- Store them away from direct sunlight (the red paint on Mario’s hat fades fast).
- Avoid humid basements; the "acrylic eyes" can actually fog up from the inside if there’s a temperature swing.
- If you open them, keep the accessories in a labeled sandwich bag. Those tiny plungers and mushrooms are impossible to find once they go under the couch.
Basically, these toys represent a moment in time. They represent when Nintendo finally "won" Hollywood. For decades, the 1993 live-action movie was the only reference we had. Those toys were nightmare fuel. Now, we have a line of figures that actually look like the characters we love.
Whether you're buying them for a kid who wants to reenact the "Peaches" song for the hundredth time or you're a collector trying to complete a shelf, the quality is there. Just don't wait too long. Once the production run for the first movie ends, these versions will be gone.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
- Check Local Stock: Use inventory trackers like BrickSeek to check local Target and Walmart stores for the "Fire Breathing Bowser" before resorting to marked-up eBay listings.
- Verify the Scale: Ensure you are buying the 5-inch movie line specifically if you want the high-detail versions with acrylic eyes, as the 4-inch "Evergreen" line looks very similar on the shelf.
- Inspect the Paint: Jakks Pacific toys sometimes have "paint bleed" on the M logo on Mario's hat; if buying in person, compare multiple boxes to find the cleanest application.
- Preserve the Packaging: If you are collecting for future value, look for boxes with the "Illumination" logo in the corner, as these are the true first-edition movie tie-ins.