Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Trending
  • Fallout season 2 ending explained
  • New Games for 2026
  • Big in 2026
  • The Forge codes
  1. Games
  2. Action

Let's all go to the lobby with these great Nintendo movie ideas

Features
By GamesRadar Staff published 7 September 2015

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Silence your cell phones now

Silence your cell phones now

Apparently the sting of the Super Mario Bros movie has finally worn off, because Nintendo is talking about making movies based on its properties for the first time in a long while. There haven't been any specifics and Nintendo doesn't have anything in the works, but the mere suggestion of a new all-Nintendo movie (and not just a wince-inducing cameo in an Adam Sandler film), has thrown open the theater doors to fans' enthusiastic desires.

Everyone has an idea of what Nintendo property could make the best movie - Zelda! Metroid! Chibi-Robo! - and we at GamesRadar+ are no exception. But, rather than argue back and forth amongst ourselves (and express our disagreement by flinging any Nintendo figurines within arm's reach), we thought it more constructive to jot down our arguments for each and present them for the world to weigh and consider. These are the Nintendo movies we dearly want to see, and you know we'll pay extra for the 3D glasses.

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Connor is fantasizing about a Fire Emblem film

Connor is fantasizing about a Fire Emblem film

The Lord of the Rings trilogy made fantasy cool again, and then Game of Thrones exchanged all the fey interludes with elves and tree folk for traumatizing turns of treachery. But there's still plenty of room for something in the middle: a fantasy world filled with good friends, grand adventures, and intricate politics alike. And that's Fire Emblem: The Motion Picture.

As much about relationships as it is about saving the world, Fire Emblem is perfect cinematic fodder for action fiends and drama lovers alike. With a little bit of narrative surgery to bring characters from across the extended (and somewhat unclear) Fire Emblem timeline together, we could watch their triumphs and tragedies play out across generations. After all, Fire Emblem was setting up weddings and perma-death funerals before George R.R. Martin even started on A Song of Ice and Fire.

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Anthony wants to take a stroll through Startropics

Anthony wants to take a stroll through Startropics

In an age when Goonies continues to find new treasure-finding fans through Netflix and Nintendos back catalog of B-list games looks sweeter and sweeter, a StarTropics movie just feels right.

Its got everything! Adventure, a personal submarine, gender-swapping castle invasions, tropical beauty, and eyeball-vomiting alien overlords. The NES action RPG about a young man using a yo-yo to save his uncle from island deities/space monsters is full of enough weird characters and hijinks to fill myriad cultishly adored summer flicks.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Ashley thinks a Pikmin picture would be perfect

Ashley thinks a Pikmin picture would be perfect

Pikmin may seem too gameplay-focused to shine on the silver screen, since you spend most of its run directing a navely helpful sprite army and swallowing back a lump of guilt when you accidentally drown half of them. But a Pikmin movie could still be appealing (and all kinds of adorable) if it shifted focus from strategy and instead fixated on the game's colorful world and its always inquisitive flower-headed leads.

The best part is that we already know Pikmin can work in a strictly cinematic format: Miyamoto's stupidly cute Pikmin shorts show that a little change in perspective from tactics to antics can turn Pik-adventures into good viewing. Admittedly these shorts lend themselves more to a TV series than a feature-length film, but with such a blank story-canvas, there's a world of Pik-possibilities here.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Maxwell should direct an Earthbound movie

Maxwell should direct an Earthbound movie

I can see it in my mind's eye: Earthbound, with all its dry wit and nostalgic undertones, realized as a Wes Anderson-style comedy-cum-drama in the vein of Moonrise Kingdom. We open on Ness, our young hero, who leaps from his bed at the sound of a meteor crash. He runs to the door clutching a baseball bat, stopping to tell his mother - played by Tilda Swinton - that he is "going on an adventure." The camera swings around to the mother, looking unimpressed, who states "Okay, but first change out of those pajamas." Cue upbeat music.

We'd see new age retro hippies chase our heroes through the streets with rulers. The villainous Happy Happy cult would try and cover them in blue paint because, frankly, "Blue is the happiest color." Jeff would shoot bottle rockets at an angry tree. These gags would be punctuated by a coming of age story about four friends who leave everything familiar behind and learn to rely on themselves - and each other - in the adult world.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Lorenzo has ideas about Legend of Zelda

Lorenzo has ideas about Legend of Zelda

If Nintendo wants to make a Zelda movie, there's one big problem: You know it's going to feel weird when the characters from the Zelda universe start speaking out loud on the silver screen. The Zelda series has always kept its characters from speaking in game, so it would feel out of place to hear the characters string more than a few words together. The last time Link said anything more than a grunt or a yell we got this nonsense. If we end up getting a Legend of Zelda movie, Nintendo will need to find a way to zip Link's lips.

The story should be everything you'd expect: A young boy goes off on an adventure to discover magical artifacts and rescue a kingdom in peril. But how do you keep him quiet? Maybe make him travel alone. When you're alone in the wilderness, there's no need for words. Or, just make it a silent film. That way it will keep with the characters being unable to vocalize their thoughts, and everything they say will be shown in a text box. Now that would be staying true to the games.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Sam knows that StarFox has star power

Sam knows that StarFox has star power

I know what you're thinking, but hear me out: A StarFox film could be more than Star Wars But With Furries. An animated film (yes, animated - you don't want another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 incident do you?) would be a perfect way to explore the roots of the team and show Fox's ascension from rookie to pro.

See, Fox and crew have always existed as perfect archetypes: Fox the infallible hero, Falco the sassy sidekick, Peppy the wise mentor, and Slippy the bumbling rookie. It would be a fun twist to see these characters as something more complicated than a series of tropes and cliches, and a movie is the perfect opportunity to do just that. A film adaptation would also let us learn more about the galaxy that the StarFox team is fighting to protect. This way, those who want to just hop in an Arwing and go blasting can do that, while those interested in the lore can pop in the movie.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Susan wants Metroid to take it to the edge

Susan wants Metroid to take it to the edge

It doesnt get much more ready-for-the-silver-screen than the tale of Samus Aran, space pirates, and Mother Brain. An intergalactic bounty hunter who comes packed with all sorts of weapons and gadgets is tailor-made for some cinematic adventures, and it would be easy enough to throw some new alien enemies into the mix to keep things lively. The action sequences practically write themselves, and could either adopt a grim and gritty aesthetic or keep a more family-friendly aspect - the Metroid franchise is very flexible that way.

The Metroid games were never overly bogged down by story, which leaves plenty of room for storytelling (though well just skip Other M entirely, ok? Cool.) while staying true to what makes Metroid great. The second sequel could even fall back on that most Metroidy of story elements - stripping Samus of all her gear and forcing her to find it all again. Im thinking we cast Emily Blunt as our leading lady - she more than proved shes got the action heroine chops in Edge of Tomorrow. Why has no-one done this yet? This movie would be fantastic.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
David R's playing with fire with a new Super Mario Bros idea

David R's playing with fire with a new Super Mario Bros idea

Super Mario Bros. seems like a no-brainer for the film treatment, right? Well, it would be, had we not gotten the Blade Runner-inspired nightmare back in the early 90's. But put that celluloid travesty out of mind, because a Super Mario Bros. film could be truly fantastic if they do one important thing: make it an animated film.

The bizarre world of the Mushroom Kingdom, with its Goombas and Koopa Troopas and Fire Flowers, doesn't really translate all that well to the real world - so don't even bother. Imagine a Super Mario flick handled by Pixar or Dreamworks, with lush, beautifully animated CGI breathing life into the series' vibrant environments. Super Mario 3D World already looked like a moving picture, so just do that, but in movie form. And don't over-think the script; just let Mario and friends go on adventures and do battle against Bowser and his cronies. Simple.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
CATEGORIES
Wii-u Nintendo Platforms
PRODUCTS
The Legend of Zelda (Wii U) Starfox (Wii U) Earthbound Metroid Prime Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn New Super Mario Bros 2 Pikmin Starfox 64
GamesRadar Staff
Social Links Navigation

GamesRadar+ was first founded in 1999, and since then has been dedicated to delivering video game-related news, reviews, previews, features, and more. Since late 2014, the website has been the online home of Total Film, SFX, Edge, and PLAY magazines, with comics site Newsarama joining the fold in 2020. Our aim as the global GamesRadar Staff team is to take you closer to the games, movies, TV shows, and comics that you love. We want to upgrade your downtime, and help you make the most of your time, money, and skills. We always aim to entertain, inform, and inspire through our mix of content - which includes news, reviews, features, tips, buying guides, and videos.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
GamesRadar+
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Latest in Action
GTA 6
Google's Project Genie is "not even in the same ballpark" as a real game engine according to Take-Two
 
 
Prince of Persia
Original Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner reacts to Ubisoft's "brutal" cancellation of Sands of Time remake
 
 
Guards stand unaware at night in Nioh 3 as a ninja jumps at them with a kusari-gami
Nioh 3 Metacritic score sees it beat Nioh 2, but it's still losing to the original samurai Soulslike
 
 
Assassin's Creed games in order: All of the current Assassin's Creed protagonists on a misty white background.
21-year design senior on Assassin's Creed leaves Ubisoft for "a smaller studio with other veterans"
 
 
GTA 6
GTA 6 owner says "generative AI has zero part in what Rockstar Games is building"
 
 
GTA 6
As everyone continues to fear $80 GTA 6, Take-Two CEO wants to "deliver way more value than what we charge"
 
 
Latest in Features
Big in 2026
Control Resonant may be an action-RPG, but Remedy isn't veering into hellishly-challenging territory: "There are no parries, there is no back-and-forth with a single enemy"
 
 
Gale clutches his glowing chest, clearly in pain and discomfort
My favorite Baldur's Gate 3 companion got more love in the latest MTG Secret Lair, but I can't stomach buying it
 
 
Big in 2026
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam wants to be a tougher, smarter FPS where kills hardly matter: "We sit in a specific space where we're not COD or Battlefield, but also not military simulation"
 
 
Beast of Reincarnation screenshot which shows the protagonist engaged in close-quarters combat with three enemies
Beast of Reincarnation's battles are about "the joyful dilemma of choice", building on Pokemon battle planning expertise
 
 
Nioh 3 samurai deflects an arrow
I was going to play the Nioh 3 demo for 30 minutes – I played 5 hours, and this Soulslike is blowing me away at 120 FPS
 
 
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout New Vegas was a 2010 GOTY for me, and a sequel would be perfect timing for where the TV show is heading
 
 
  1. The Two Towers Trick-Taking Game box lying on a wooden surface
    1
    This Lord of the Rings card game is a puzzle-solving masterclass
  2. 2
    Nioh 3 review: "Brutal samurai and ninja clashes across wide maps avoid retreading Elden Ring – this Soulslike is all demon killer, no filler"
  3. 3
    Highguard review: "A fresh but muddled FPS genre mashup that needs refinement if it's to have any staying power"
  4. 4
    This hidden role board game makes me feel like a puppet master, so Traitors fans should listen up
  5. 5
    Cairn review: "This climber has a grip on me – even when it loses its footing with awkward systems, the challenge remains surmountable"
  1. Return to Silent Hill protagonist James Sunderland
    1
    Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
  3. 3
    Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
  4. 4
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  5. 5
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  1. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
    1
    Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
  2. 2
    Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
  3. 3
    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a surprisingly heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
  4. 4
    Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
  5. 5
    Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...