See the all-star cast voicing The Super Mario Bros. Movie

It's-a-me, Chris Pratt!

The voice cast and crew of 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'
The voice cast and crew of 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'. Photo:

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The animated Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Pratt as Mario. Adapting the beloved Nintendo property, the film centers on Mario and his brother Luigi, a pair of plumbers who get sucked into a pipe that lands them in the magical Mushroom Kingdom. They become embroiled in a battle between kingdom ruler Princess Peach and Bowser, the leader of the Dark Lands. The film was a massive box office smash, earning a whopping $1.36 billion worldwide.

Here's our roundup of the voices behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and where you've seen them before.

01 of 09

Chris Pratt as Mario

Chris Pratt; Mario
Chris Pratt voices Mario in 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'. Rich Fury/WireImage; Nintendo

"It was a really exciting and daunting challenge," Pratt told EW of voicing Mario. "We had to really dig in and figure out, Are they Italian? Are they American? We know a little bit about Charles Martinet's voice that he's sprinkled in there with the 'Wahoo!' and 'It's-a me!' and these Mario things, but how do you craft a 90-minute narrative with an emotional through-line and create a living, breathing person about who you'll care?"

Pratt became well-known for his scene-stealing role as Andy on Parks and Recreation. He transformed into a movie star for his performance as Peter Quill/Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Owen in Jurassic World (2015). He has also lent his voice to other animated films such as The LEGO Movie (2014) and Onward (2020).

02 of 09

Charlie Day as Luigi

Charlie Day; Luigi
Charlie Day; Luigi. Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage; Nintendo

Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Charlie Day talked about his experience working on the film. "They are top secret with this stuff," the actor said, "I know nothing. I show up and they're like 'You say this and you say that', and it's all very fun and good."

Day rose to prominence as Charlie Kelly on the long-running sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, finding further success in Horrible Bosses (2011), Pacific Rim (2013), and their respective sequels. His voice can be heard in Monsters University (2013) and, like Pratt, in The LEGO Movie.

03 of 09

Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach

Anya Taylor-Joy; Princess Peach
Anya Taylor-Joy; Princess Peach. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Nintendo

"I hope that you enjoy the movie as much as I enjoyed working on it," Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays the sweet Princess Peach, said in a virtual Nintendo Direct presentation.

Taylor-Joy's breakthrough came with the indie folk horror The Witch (2015), which she followed up with Split (2016) and Thoroughbreds (2017). She gained further acclaim for her work as a chess master in the Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit, as well as her role in The Menu (2022). The Super Mario Bros. Movie is her first voice role for a film.

04 of 09

Jack Black as Bowser

Jack Black; Bowser
Jack Black; Bowser. Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Nintendo

At New York Comic-Con 2022, Jack Black gave the audience an insight into Bowser's character. "I thought he was just gonna be this fire-breathing monster, but he's got a sensitive side," Black said. "He's got a little vulnerability, a little insecurity, and that's part of why he's so furious with rage is he struggles that maybe he isn't loved enough. And that was kind of a cool part of playing the part is seeing that other side of the villain."

Black has had a thriving career in comedy, with starring roles in films like Shallow Hal (2001), School of Rock (2003), Nacho Libre (2006), Tropic Thunder (2008), Bernie (2011), and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017). Before The Super Mario Bros. Movie, his voice could be heard as Po in the Kung Fu Panda movies.

05 of 09

Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong

Seth Rogen; Donkey Kong
Seth Rogen; Donkey Kong. Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images; Nintendo

In the virtual Nintendo Direct presentation, Seth Rogen said that "ever since I was a kid playing PlayChoice 10, I remember playing Mario Bros. and thinking, 'If they ever make a movie out of this, I better be in it.' And I'm happy to say that dream came true."

Rogen's background in comedy led to starring roles in Knocked Up (2007) and Pineapple Express (2008) among many others. He's also stepped behind the camera as a director, writer, and producer. He is a prolific voice actor, for the Kung Fu Panda movies, Sausage Party (2016), The Lion King (2019), and more.

06 of 09

Keegan-Michael Key as Toad

Keegan-Michael Key; Toad
Keegan-Michael Key; Toad. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Nintendo

"I got to improvise a song in [The] Super Mario Bros. [Movie], which was an absolute blast," Keegan-Michael Key told Variety about voicing Toad. "That was just a stick of fun, that whole thing."

Key worked as a cast member on MADtv before launching his own Emmy-winning sketch series, Key & Peele, with Jordan Peele. He, too, lent his voice to The LEGO Movie among numerous other films, including Toy Story 4 (2019), The Lion King, and Pinocchio (2022).

07 of 09

Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong

Fred Armisen; Cranky Kong
Fred Armisen; Cranky Kong. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images; Nintendo

Comedian Fred Armisen voices Donkey Kong's grandfather, Cranky Kong, in the film.

He broke through with his 11-year run as a repertory player on Saturday Night Live. He co-created and starred on the sketch series Portlandia and Documentary Now!, for which he earned multiple Emmy nominations. He voiced Brainy Smurf in multiple Smurfs movies and can also be heard in The LEGO Ninjago Movie (2017) and The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021).

08 of 09

Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek

Kevin Michael Richardson; Kamek
Kevin Michael Richardson; Kamek. JC Olivera/WireImage; Nintendo

From being heard on shows like Family Guy and in films like Trolls World Tour (2020), Kevin Michael Richardson has voiced countless of video game and animated characters, which sufficiently prepared him to take on the role of Kamek in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

09 of 09

Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike

Sebastian Maniscalco; Spike
Sebastian Maniscalco; Spike. JC Olivera/Getty Images; Nintendo

Stand-up comedian and actor Sebastian Maniscalco revealed on a 2021 podcast that he voices Foreman Spike, a construction worker who competes with the Mario brothers.

In addition to his work as a comedian, Maniscalco has appeared in the films Green Book (2018) and The Irishman (2019).

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