Adventure
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Review: ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ is an Eye-Popping, Crowd-Pleasing and Easter-Egg-Laden Love Letter to Nintendo’s Most Beloved Gaming Franchise
March 31, 2026Ben MK
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Whether or not you play video games, everyone knows the Super Mario Bros. And in 2023, it was that kind of widespread awareness that helped propel The Super Mario Bros. Movie to record-setting heights at the box office, making it not only one of the most commercially successful video game adaptations in recent memory, but also the fourth highest-grossing animated movie of all time. Now, three years later, the team at Illumination are back for round two, as Brooklyn-born plumbers Mario and Luigi embark on a brand new adventure beyond the Mushroom Kingdom. But does The Super Mario Galaxy Movie have what it takes to live up to its predecessor, or perhaps even surpass it? It's been some time since brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) helped thwart the power-hungry plans of the evil Bowser (Jack Black) and his attempt to force Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) to marry him so he could take over the Mushroom Kingdom. But even though the shrunken-down Bowser no longer poses any threat to the peaceful Toads who call that kingdom home, that doesn't mean that danger isn't lurking on the horizon — for Bowser's equally megalomaniacal son, Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), has taken it upon himself to continue his father's legacy. Armed with his magic paintbrush and determined to restore his father to the throne as the King of the Koopas, Bowser Jr. has come up with a dastardly scheme of his own, kidnapping Peach's older sister, Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), so that he can use her cosmic powers to create a heavily-weaponized planet in his and his dad's name. What Bowser Jr. doesn’t anticipate, however, is how far Mario, Luigi and Peach will go to rescue her long-lost sister, and the unexpected help they'll get along the way from a certain egg-laying green dinosaur named Yoshi (Donald Glover) and a vulpine space rogue named Fox McCloud (Glen Powell). Together with Peach's fearless right-hand man, Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), this rag-tag group of intrepid heroes will journey from the rolling green hills of the Mushroom Kingdom to the far-out reaches of the Gateway Galaxy, where they'll encounter all manner of colorful characters, some more friendly than others. Time, though, isn't on their side; for if they don't get to Rosalina before Bowser Jr. completely drains her of all her powers, then not only will there not be a princess left to rescue, but Planet Bowser will also become more overwhelmingly powerful than they ever imagined. It's a challenge that, of course, Mario and Luigi are quick to rise to, having already gone up against Bowser's armies once before. This time around, it's not just the population of one unsuspecting kingdom that rests in their capable, white-gloved hands, but that of countless other kingdoms as well. And with Bowser Jr. eager to prove himself to be even more unhinged than his father, that's a risk that neither Mario, Luigi nor Peach are willing to take, especially with the fate of an entire galaxy hanging in the balance. Written by Matthew Fogel and directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the result is unequivocally bigger in scope and undeniably more ambitious than its predecessor, with every inch of the screen constantly filled with Easter eggs and nods to other major Nintendo gaming franchises, from old-school classics like R.O.B. the robot and Mr. Game & Watch to fan-favorite characters like Pikmin and, of course, the whole Starfox crew. Yet, despite throwing virtually everything but the kitchen sink at audiences, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie still struggles with overcoming the very same challenges faced by the first film, which is to feel less like it's trying to check all the boxes it can and more like it's telling a cohesive and worthwhile story. Make no mistake, Nintendo fans won't be disappointed by seeing their most beloved characters brought to life in such blockbuster fashion. When it comes to the movie itself, on the other hand, this sequel often lets spectacle get the better of it, sacrificing genuine character development in favor of eye-popping set pieces and crowd-pleasing cameos. Suffice to say, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is nonetheless a must-see for fans of the original and fans of animated films in general, thanks to its engaging visuals and its commitment to being a love letter to one of the most endearing gaming franchises of all time. Just don't expect to remember much of what transpired during the movie when you leave the theater — because there's truly a galaxy's worth of fan service to be experienced here, so much so that it might take several viewings to actually absorb everything. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie releases April 1st, 2026 from Universal Pictures. The film has an MPAA rating of PG for action, mild violence and rude humor. Its runtime is 1 hr. 38 min. |
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