You've probably been there. You've got the popcorn, the kids are finally settled, and you type "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" into the Hulu search bar only to be met with a bunch of random documentaries or unrelated cartoons. It's frustrating. Honestly, the streaming landscape in 2026 is a total mess of licensing deals and "exclusive" windows that make finding a simple blockbuster feel like a chore.
If you’re looking for the super mario bros movie on hulu, I have some bad news, a little bit of good news, and a lot of context on why things are so annoying right now.
Basically, the 2023 hit starring Chris Pratt and Charlie Day isn't on Hulu. It never was.
Universal Pictures and Illumination handled the distribution for this one, and they have a very specific "pay-one" window deal. That deal is with Peacock and Netflix. Because Hulu is primarily owned by Disney (especially after the full buyout of Comcast's stake), getting a massive Universal property onto a Disney-controlled platform is about as likely as Bowser actually winning Peach's heart. It's just not in the cards.
The Streaming Maze: Where Is Mario Actually Hiding?
If you're hunting for the red-hatted plumber, you have to look toward the platforms that actually paid for the rights. For a long time, Netflix has been the primary home for Illumination’s library. That’s why you see Despicable Me and Minions cycling through their "Top 10" lists constantly.
But wait. There’s a catch.
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Since Comcast owns NBCUniversal, they want their own service, Peacock, to be the first stop. The movie typically bounces between Peacock and Netflix. If it’s not on one, it’s almost certainly on the other. It's a revolving door strategy meant to maximize subscribers for both services.
Sometimes people get confused because Hulu does have a "Live TV" tier. If you pay for the expensive Hulu + Live TV package, you might see the movie pop up if it’s airing on a premium cable channel like FX or TNT. But that’s not really "on Hulu" in the way we usually mean it. You're just watching a digital cable feed that happens to be piped through the Hulu app.
What about the 1993 version?
Now, this is where things get weird. Occasionally, the cult classic (or disaster, depending on who you ask) 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. movie pops up on various services. It’s been on Hulu before. It’s been on Tubi. It’s been on Pluto TV.
That movie is a fever dream of 90s practical effects and Bob Hoskins looking perpetually confused. If you see people talking about the super mario bros movie on hulu, they might be talking about this weird relic of cinema history. Or they might be using a third-party "add-on" like Max or Starz through the Hulu interface.
It’s all very convoluted.
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Why Universal Keeps Mario Away From Disney
Business is business. Universal and Disney are the two biggest rivals in the theme park world and the animation world. Why would Universal give their biggest hit in a decade to a platform that Disney uses to promote its own brands?
They wouldn't.
The revenue model for a movie like this is built on "windows."
- Theatrical release (The big screen).
- PVOD (Buying it for $19.99 on Amazon or Apple).
- Physical media (The 4K Blu-ray collectors still love).
- Pay-One Window (The exclusive streaming deal, currently Netflix/Peacock).
- Post-Pay-One (Where it might eventually land on basic cable or other services).
We are still very much in that fourth stage. Until that contract expires or is renegotiated, Mario and Luigi are staying far away from the green-hued interface of Hulu.
Real Talk: The Only Way to Watch It Right Now
If you are dead set on watching it tonight and you don't have Netflix or Peacock, you have two real options.
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First, you can rent it. Every major digital storefront has it. Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play. It’s usually about $3.99 to $5.99. It’s the cost of a latte. Just do it and save yourself the headache of scrolling through "Suggested for You" lists that don't actually have what you want.
Second, check your local library. Seriously. Physical media is making a weirdly strong comeback in 2026 because people are tired of their favorite movies disappearing from streaming services overnight. Most libraries carry the Blu-ray. It’s free. It’s high quality. It works when the internet goes down.
Common Misconceptions About Hulu’s Library
A lot of people think Hulu is a "catch-all" for movies. It used to be, back when it was a joint venture between all the major studios. But once Disney took the wheel, the "joint" part of the venture died.
- "I saw an ad for it on Hulu!" You likely saw an ad for the movie appearing on a different service, or an ad for Hulu + Live TV showing it on a cable channel.
- "It’s coming next month." Unless there’s a massive shift in how NBCUniversal handles their licensing, this is almost certainly a rumor started by "content farm" websites looking for clicks.
- "Just use a VPN." Even with a VPN, the movie is tied to specific regional distributors. In some countries, it might be on a different service, but in the US, the Peacock/Netflix lock is tight.
What You Should Do Next
Stop searching for the super mario bros movie on hulu because you’re just going to find a bunch of "related content" that isn't what you're looking for. Instead, follow these steps to get your Mario fix:
- Check your Netflix or Peacock apps first. If you have either, use the search function there.
- Use an aggregator app. Apps like JustWatch or ScreenHits are lifesavers. You type in the movie, and it tells you exactly where it is streaming today based on your subscriptions. It updates in real-time.
- Look for the "1993" tag. If you do see a Mario movie on Hulu, double-check the year. If it says 1993, be prepared for a very different experience involving goombas with tiny heads and a lot of mud.
- Consider the "Digital Purchase" route. If you have kids, they're going to want to watch this movie twenty times. Buying it for $10-15 on a digital storefront is actually cheaper than maintaining three different streaming subscriptions just to hope it stays on one of them.
Streaming is fragmented. It’s annoying. But knowing which studio owns what will save you a lot of time in the long run. Illumination belongs to Universal. Universal stays away from Hulu. It’s that simple.