No Super Smash Bros. movie has been officially announced. The story that Illumination was pitching one appeared in December 2023 and was attributed to leaker Daniel Richtman; the cited reports did not establish that Nintendo approved the idea or that a film entered development. Nintendo has officially confirmed animated Mario films with Illumination, but that is not confirmation of a wider Nintendo cinematic universe.
Where the Super Smash Bros. movie rumor came from
On December 21, 2023, ComicBook.com reported that Illumination was preparing a pitch for a shared Nintendo cinematic universe that would build through spin-off films and culminate in a Super Smash Bros. movie. The outlet attributed the claim to leaker Daniel Richtman, also known as DanielRPK. It was a report about a leaker’s claim, not an announcement from Nintendo or Illumination.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Super Smash Bros Ultimate | $54.59 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61bkI3XqQ7L._SL160_.jpg)
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $59.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Renewed) | $35.82 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Nintendo Switch (International Version) | $55.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Nintendo Wire covered the rumor on December 22, attributing it to DanielkRpk via ResetEra. It said it was unknown whether Nintendo had agreed to the pitch and urged readers to treat the report skeptically. That second article confirms the rumor circulated; it does not independently verify that a pitch was made or accepted.
What Nintendo and Illumination have officially confirmed
Nintendo’s announcements establish a partnership for Mario films, not a Super Smash Bros. film or an all-Nintendo shared universe.
#1 Best Overall
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
- In February 2018, Nintendo announced its partnership with Illumination to develop a movie starring Mario. Nintendo said Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri would produce it, with Nintendo and Universal Pictures co-financing the film and Universal distributing it theatrically worldwide.
- In March 2024, Nintendo announced another animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros., again with Nintendo and Universal Pictures co-financing and Universal handling worldwide theatrical distribution.
Neither announcement mentions a Smash movie, spin-off plan, or shared cinematic universe. A confirmed Mario-film partnership should not be treated as confirmation of the separate 2023 pitch rumor.
What the 2026 crossover comments mean
In an April 1, 2026 report, GameSpot quoted Miyamoto and Meledandri discussing crossovers in a Mario film. Miyamoto said, “I don’t think you’ll have a situation [where] all Nintendo characters would be joining [together in one film].” Meledandri described a more selective process, in which ideas such as a Pikmin cameo arise around what might be fun in a particular scene and Miyamoto decides whether they feel right.
Rank #2
Those remarks support a scene-by-scene approach to crossover ideas at that time, rather than a plan to gather every Nintendo character in one movie. They are not a permanent ruling-out of a future Smash adaptation. GameSpot’s report characterized the movie as not being in the works; the older leaker-attributed pitch story remains unconfirmed, rather than conclusively disproved for all time.
Why a Smash movie could be complicated
Super Smash Bros. brings together characters from many game series, and not every character is solely owned by Nintendo. The 2023 coverage raised co-ownership involving characters such as Kirby and Pikachu, as well as licensing and coordination among studios as potential hurdles. ComicBook.com also pointed to a separate Zelda film with Sony in the production picture.
These are complications identified by contemporary reporting, not a definitive account of the rights for any proposed film. They help explain why a crossover would require coordination, but they do not show that negotiations happened or that rights issues stopped a project.
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| Claim | What is established |
|---|---|
| Illumination was pitching a shared Nintendo universe ending in a Smash movie | A December 2023 report attributed this to Daniel Richtman; no cited source establishes that Nintendo accepted the pitch. |
| Nintendo and Illumination are making Mario films | Official Nintendo announcements in 2018 and 2024 confirm Mario-film partnerships. |
| A Super Smash Bros. movie is in production | No cited source confirms production; GameSpot reported in April 2026 that no such movie was in the works. |
For now, the accurate description is a 2023 rumor about a reported pitch, not an announced or confirmed film. The Mario partnership is real, but it does not turn that rumor into a project.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- International Version. ESRB rated. This game is tied to the USA region and any DLC content is available on the USA regional Nintendo eShop. Works on all systems worldwide. (Middle East / Southeast Asia -- Official Nintendo Product).
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
Rank #4
- -Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- -This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
