Nintendo is set on making a significant impact in the film industry by adapting it’s beloved video game characters into major cinematic franchises. The overwhelming success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which raked in $1.4 billion in 2023, has shown that the era for Mario and his friends to take center stage is just beginning. The arrival of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie allowed audiences to dive back into this enchanting world after a three-year wait.
The $1 billion Blockbuster sequel has made it clear that The Super Mario Movie 3 is firmly on Nintendo’s agenda. While the next journey for Mario and his companions hasn’t been officially announced yet, the credits scene of Super Mario Galaxy Movie hints at what’s ahead.
Following the introduction of Rosalina, Daisy is poised to become part of the team alongside Mario, Luigi, Peach, and others. At this point, there is no confirmed release date from Nintendo and Illumination. Nevertheless, Toad’s voice actor, Keegan-Michael Key, mentioned to media channels that The Super Mario Movie 3 is looking at a 2029 launch.
Based on the release schedule of the previous two films, an early April 2029 premiere seems likely, ensuring the franchise continues it’s established rhythm. At first glance, this may seem fantastic, but the fact that The Super Mario Movie 3 is three years away poses a challenge for Nintendo’s future film lineup.
The video game company is gradually acclimating audiences to the sight of it’s beloved characters on the big screen, yet if Mario’s third installment doesn’t hit theaters sooner, that trend will not continue in 2028.
In 2028, Nintendo’s Cinematic Universe Is Experiencing A Significant Pause
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie appeared to mark the beginning of Nintendo’s strategy to provide annual cinematic experiences for audiences. Following it’s release in 2026, the live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda is set for 2027, having recently been rescheduled to the end of April to align more closely with the timeframe that fans expect for Nintendo films in theaters.
If The Super Mario Movie 3 is indeed slated for a 2029 release, as suggested by Keegan-Michael Key, then 2028 will be the only year in the near future without a Nintendo film. The studio will still manage to deliver three films in four years, making the interval between Zelda and Mario 3 even more astonishing.
In 2028, the absence of a Nintendo movie will be noticeable. Without these beloved characters in the spotlight, there’s an opportunity for other franchises to capture the audience’s attention.
This is just one of the many reasons why cinematic universes such as Marvel, DC, and Star Wars strive to avoid lengthy breaks. As attention spans diminish and audiences move on from certain franchises more quickly, taking gap years can prove to be detrimental.
Nintendo Still Has The Opportunity To Launch A Movie In 2028
Fortunately, we are only in the middle of 2026, giving Nintendo ample time to strategize the release of a movie in 2028 and determine which project it will be. The absence of confirmed animated or live-action films in development does not imply that the studio isn’t diligently working on several projects that could be ready for audiences in just two years.
Consider the speculated Donkey Kong spinoff film. In July 2025, Nintendo and Universal submitted a copyright registration for an Untitled Donkey Kong Project. Given that the animated spinoff movie featuring Seth Rogen’s character is expected to take three years to produce, a release in 2028 seems like a reasonable timeline.
In a similar vein, spinoffs such as Star Fox or Luigi’s Mansion might be progressing behind the scenes, potentially aligning for a timely release.
This presents us with a chance, albeit small, that Nintendo will devise something for 2028 before The Super Mario Movie 3 is set to premiere the next year. On the other hand, it’s also possible that the production of that film accelerates, allowing for an earlier launch.