Is it a better movie? Yes. Without question. Super Mario Bros (1993) is a weird fun cult cyberpunk movie featuring Dennis Hopper, Bob Hoskins, and Mojo fucking Nixon. it’s in the same class of movie as Tank Girl and Dark City.

Is it a better Mario Movie? No, probably not. There is nothing in the 1993 movie that really feels like it’s from Mario. The 2023 movie’s design is dripping in the aesthetic that makes Mario feel like Mario. The problem with it is that it’s a safe, big budget, kids movie made in the modern era, so there is almost nothing that sets it apart.