Following the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo announced it would create more movies based on its property. Thus, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was born. Much like its predecessor, the movie adapts an amalgamation of Mario Game references and journeys, rather than remaining faithful to a specific game’s plot. Utilizing the cosmic setting elements from Super Mario Galaxy, while taking other character designs and elements from Mario Odyssey and Sunshine.
Acting as a sequel to the previous film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie splits up the main crew, following familiar characters Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), as well as new protagonists like Yoshi (Donald Glover), as they work to prevent Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) from rescuing and restoring the powers of his villainous father, Bowser (Jack Black), whom they incapacitated in the prior film. All while Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) embark on a journey, with the help of the Lumas, to save Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) from her captors and stop the evil Bowser Jr. from draining Princess Rosalina’s powers to fuel a universe-destroying weapon.
Releasing in the United States on April 1st, 2026, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie grossed $751 million worldwide against a $110 million budget, making it the highest-grossing movie of 2026. It’s no wonder so many people wanted to experience the film in theaters, as once again animated by Illumination Studios Paris, the movie offers stunning visuals. It demonstrates an enchanting use of vibrant colors and accurately captures the expressive characters, all while keeping the main action shots more than engaging. Although, despite its visual prowess, animation isn’t all it takes to create a good film.
While numerous critics praised the animation and technical skill, the reviews of the film skew from mixed to negative, with many noting the chaotic and, at times, convoluted plot. The majority of audiences felt the plot was rushed, with half-formed subplots and an abrupt ending. Critic William Babbini expressed, “[The film was] so lacking in substance and purpose that after a while you can’t even hear the dialogue over the incessant sound of Aristotle’s ghost punching himself.”
The film was indeed busy, but it’s not without its charms. Even with the tumultuous plot, it was packed with silly humor and emotional beats that are sure to resonate with audiences, making it a fun family-friendly movie for all to enjoy. It also appeals to fans of the original video game franchise, as it’s filled with nostalgic references and canonizes surprising new lore that may shape future Mario games.
While many may write off The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as a flashy, frenetic film with the purpose of economic gain, it’s clear that, despite its shortcomings, the film was made with love and can provide a fun and silly viewing experience for those looking to wind down or families looking for a fun theatrical experience.
