Super Mario Bros, produced by Illumination, achieved the biggest start for an animated film in France since Frozen 2 at the end of 2019, with more than 1.36 million registered viewers. A deserved success?
The cinema market is constantly evolving, with successes that can sometimes be surprising. This is the case for the movie Super Mario Bros, which has had a very successful start in the world. But this is also the case in France, with over 1.36 million viewers in just 5 days of operationmaking him the animated film with the biggest start Since Frozen 2fin 2019.
A dazzling success for Super Mario Bros. the film, in France, and everywhere else
As a reminder, Super Mario Bros. the movies was produced by Illumination, an American animation studio known for such hits as Me, ugly and mean et Minions. It is therefore a production with a substantial budget, estimated at 100 million dollars and nearly 377 million dollars in receipts from the first weekend of projection.
The film’s success is no coincidence, however. The marketing strategy put in place by Universal, which distributes the film in France, has been very effective: partnerships have been established with brands to promote the film, particularly in fast food restaurants, where toys bearing the image of Mario and Luigi were offered. Commercials were also broadcast on television and on social networks, with excerpts from the film that made you want to discover it on the big screen, like this very successful rap extract.
Of course, the franchise Super Mario Bros is a benchmark in the world of video games, with a colossal, loyal fanbase for nearly 38 years. This partly explains the enthusiasm for the film, which has won over fans while being accessible to the general public. Namely that the CEO of Universal France is now aiming for 4 or even 5 million admissions in France.
The film The Three Musketeers – D’Artagnanreleased at the same time as Super Mario Bros, also got off to a good start, with more than 600,000 spectators in attendance. It is a production of Pathé Films/Chapter 2, which has already produced successful films such as Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom.
Despite very poor press ratings, both films received rather high ratings on AlloCinea reference platform in France for film reviews and ratings: Super Mario Bros. the movies thus obtained a score of 4.3/5 and The Three Musketeers – D’Artagnan a rating of 4.1/5.
