Summary
The Super Mario Bros Movie was full of great Bowser moments, with some of his best scenes leaving a greater impact than others. The Illumination adaptation of the stories surrounding the Super Mario video games was a smash hit for many reasons, but Jack Black’s Bowser repeatedly stole the show. The classic video game villain was high energy, hilarious, and deliciously evil, standing out against the other characters as an excellent form of comedic relief and impactful conflict.
Given Black’s stand-out performance as Bowser in The Super Mario Bros Movie, it’s no surprise that some of the most watched clips from the movie on YouTube are those featuring the villain. Bowser’s start-of-film introduction attacking the Snow Kingdom, his viral ballad about Princess Peach, the extravagant marriage proposal practiced on his cronies, the big moment Mario and Luigi destroy the villain (for now, anyway), and much much more—there are several great moments to choose from. Until the character returns for the promised Super Mario Bros Movie 2, some of Bowser’s scenes are truly worth watching again and again.
10 Bowser Attacking Snow Kingdom
The opening scene of The Super Mario Bros Movie demonstrates Bowser’s power.
The opening scene of The Super Mario Bros Movie featured Bowser’s attack on Snow Kingdom, and this was a great way to introduce the villain. Though the Penguins put up the best fight they could, they were no match for Bowser’s strength, which is showcased perfectly during his efforts to claim the Super Star. The scene is full of intense action, demonstrating how, while he’s hilarious, Bowser is also a significant threat. Still, compared to other movie moments that dive into the comedy behind the character, this scene doesn’t stand out as much in the end.
9 Bowser Announcing His Wedding Plans To His Cronies
Bowser’s cronies didn’t love his plan to marry Peach.
Bowser traditionally aspires to marry Peach in the Mario video games, and this is something his cronies typically follow along with despite the strangeness. This makes the scene in which the King Koopa announces his plan to propose to the Princess after conquering the Mushroom Kingdom all the more comical. His confession also greatly contrasted with the scene’s mood, which included rock and roll, mosh pits, and more traditional villain monologues about Bower’s plan to take over the world. The intense proclamation that he would make Peach his wife in a “fairytale wedding” was easily among Black’s best-delivered lines.
8 Bowser Interrogating Luigi About Mario
Bowser’s scene with Luigi was pure comedy.
Though he’s a great feature of the film, Bowser didn’t carry The Super Mario Bros Movie alone. Some of the best scenes involve the villain’s interactions with the other characters, and Charlie Day’s Luigi was nearly just as comedically charged as Black’s Bowser. In the scene where the King Koopa interrogates Luigi about Mario, he begins to torture the human by pulling at his mustache. It’s just ridiculous enough to be hilarious and made only better by the increasingly absurd questions and answers about Mario’s attractiveness. Though the scene lacks the video game references or action of some of the higher-ranking moments on this list, it still holds its own rather well.
7 Bowser’s Attack On Brooklyn
Bowser attacking Brooklyn was the climactic apex of The Super Mario Bros Movie.
Though Bowser’s attack on the Snow Kingdom at the beginning of The Super Mario Bros Movie provided a taste of the villain’s power, the climactic scene in which he begins laying waste to Brooklyn is of an entirely different level. At this point in the film, Bowser is at the high point of his rage since Mario has gotten in the way of all his plans. He holds nothing back, and we even get a couple Super Smash Bros Easter eggs mixed in with the combat of this Super Mario Bros Movie scene. Though not particularly funny, and therefore not as good as other Bowser moments, this scene is the reminder that the goofy Koopa is still a villain to be reckoned with.
6 Peach & Bowser’s Wedding Scene
Bowser and Peach’s wedding was packed full of video game Easter eggs.
During the wedding scene in The Super Mario Bros Movie, Bowser believes that all his dreams have come true, and it’s almost cute. The Easter eggs from Super Mario Odyssey are a great touch, and the villain’s obliviousness to Peach’s contempt makes the scene all the more hilarious (with his joyful declaration that he would be ritualistically sacrificing the prisoners in her honor serving as the comedic cherry on top). Of course, the wedding scene includes a great moment from Peach, too, who reveals her plans to Bowser’s great disappointment. It feels like a scene straight out of one of the Mario games.
5 Mario & Luigi’s Beatdown Of Bowser
The satisfying resolution to Bowser’s villainy in The Super Mario Bros Movie.
Though it’s not the best moment from Bowser’s perspective, the scene in which Mario and Luigi use the Super Star to decimate the villain is the emotional high point of The Super Mario Bros Movie. Bowser puts up a pretty good fight, with several more combat moves pulled from the boss battles of various Super Mario games. Of course, the Koopa is no match for the now invincible brothers and he definitely loses the battle. It was a satisfying end for the character, with plenty of promise that next time, in The Super Mario Bros Movie 2, he will bring even more force.
4 Mini Bowser Performing “Peaches”
Mini Bowser was surprisingly adorable.
The second time that Bowser sings the song “Peaches” in The Super Mario Bros Movie is after Princess Peach shrinks him and places him in a cage in the Mushroom Kingdom. The Toads were kind enough to give him a mini piano to play during his imprisonment, which allowed him to sing the next verse in his song dedicated to the princess. The song didn’t have quite the same impact as the first time he played it in the film, but the tantrum thrown by mini Bowser once the Toads tell him to keep it down (and the fact this is the last we see of the character) allows the scene to stand out.
3 Bowser Rehearsing His Proposal With Kamek
Bowser and Kemek’s relationship dynamic made them better villains in The Super Mario Bros Movie.
Bowser’s character is enhanced by the addition of his left-hand man, Kamek the Magikoopa, who comes across as even more evil than his master. This makes the scene in which they rehearse Bowser’s proposal all the more hilarious, with their villainy contradicting the uncomfortable tenderness of the moment. This scene also adds to the comedy of the scene in which Bowser actually proposes to Peach since her reaction is (predictably) very different from the one Kamek anticipated.
2 Bowser and Kamek Playing The Underground Theme
“The Underground Theme” was a clever use of Mario game Easter eggs.
The Super Mario Bros Movie included several Easter eggs from the many Super Mario video games and did so in a way that felt organic and contributed perfectly to the plot. A great example of this is Bowser’s invitation for Magikoopa to “jam” with him (a line that is every bit Jack Black), and the pair play the “Underground Theme” from the classic games. This wasn’t simply thrown in for the sake of it—the song served to add suspense as Bowser’s rage quietly grew, ultimately leading to Kamek’s hands getting crushed by the fallboard. It was an Easter egg turned into a valuable look at the dynamic between these two characters.
1 Bowser’s Full Piano Performance Of “Peaches”
Jack Black’s “Peaches” performance was the stand-out scene of The Super Mario Movie.
Easily the most iconic moment of The Super Mario Bros Movie, the song “Peaches” has been viewed on YouTube 94 million times. There’s just something about the villain’s evilness juxtaposed with the tender ballad that appeals to audiences, making Bowser more adored than he is despised. Of course, such a scene was made possible by Black, whose influence on the song is unmistakable. Then, the flashing images of Peach in the style of a cheesy ’80s music video pulled the whole moment together. Ultimately, the “Peaches” scene is a significant part of what made Bowser’s moments in The Super Mario Bros Movie so great.
Release Date: 2023-04-05
Director: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Cast: Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Anya Taylor-Joy, Keegan Michael Key, Seth Rogen
Rating: PG
Runtime: 92 Minutes
Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Studio: Universal Pictures, Illumination, Nintendo
Writers: Matthew Fogel
Distributor(s): Universal Pictures
Franchise(s): Super Mario Bros.
