Nintendo Registers Donkey Kong Movie Rights

Nintendo has registered a new copyright for a Donkey Kong movie at the United States Copyright Office. This move signals a possible interest from the company in expanding the gorilla's presence in cinema, taking advantage of the tremendous success of Super Mario Bros. The Movie, which grossed over US$ 1.36 billion globally. The continued prominence of Donkey Kong, which already had a game announced for the Nintendo Switch and will be a central character in the new themed area at Universal Studios Japan, points to an ambitious multi-platform strategy from Nintendo.

The copyright registration for a Donkey Kong movie by Nintendo indicates an aggressive expansion of the franchise beyond video games, capitalizing on the success of Super Mario Bros. The Movie.

The copyright registration for a Donkey Kong movie is a strong indication of Nintendo's intention to solidify the brand in the cinematic universe. This step follows the success of Super Mario Bros. The Movie, which became the highest-grossing animated film of 2023 and the second highest of all time. Nintendo's strategy seems to be to bring its most iconic franchises to other media, reaching a broader audience.

The relevance of Donkey Kong has been reinforced on multiple fronts:

Nintendo Switch Game: A new game featuring the character has already been announced for the Nintendo Switch, although specific details and a release date have not been revealed yet. This suggests that the gorilla will have a prominent role in the coming years in video games.

Universal Studios Japan: The new themed area Donkey Kong Country is about to be inaugurated at Universal Studios Japan, promising an even deeper immersion for fans of the franchise. This physical expansion complements the digital and cinematic presence of the character.

Nintendo had already shown a renewed interest in Donkey Kong with the re-release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Nintendo Switch in January 2025, and with the inclusion of Donkey Kong Bananza in the Nintendo Switch Online, a game that only existed due to the insistence of producer Kenta Motokura.

The foray into film production is a natural evolution for Nintendo, which seeks to diversify its revenue sources and strengthen its intellectual properties. With the gaming market constantly changing and facing increasing challenges in developing new titles, as Nintendo itself has admitted, expanding into other media becomes a smart strategy.

Nintendo's ability to manage its franchises across different platforms, while maintaining the quality and identity of the characters, will be crucial to the success of these new ventures. The future of Donkey Kong looks promising in both video games and in cinema and theme parks, solidifying its position as one of the pillars of the Nintendo empire.