The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Since 1983, Mario and Luigi have captured the hearts of gamers the world over, one of Nintendo’s most recognisable properties. It came as no surprise that 2023’s Super Mario Bros movie was a huge success, the second-highest-grossing film of the year, grossing over $1.3 billion. While it received a more muted critical response, there is still plenty of anticipation for the sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, based loosely on the 2007 game of the same name and its 2010 sequel. Bowser Junior (Benny Safdie) is out for revenge after the capture of his father, Bowser (Jack Black), in the previous film. He captures Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), forcing Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day) and Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) to come to the rescue.

Fans of the first instalment will find more to enjoy, with plenty of references to the Mario games and other Nintendo properties. Some moments feel like watching a big-screen cut scene or quest from one of the games, which will please some and might frustrate others who want the films to have more of their own identity rather than feeling like a repackaged greatest hits.

It’s important to remember that both the games and movies are intended as family escapism, with a younger audience as the core target demographic. This feature hits the key beats: it’s bright, breezy and filled with action and adventure. It is a tad overlong, and the central plot feels a bit like a copy-and-paste of the 2023 outing, with the third act wrapped up quite quickly. Despite this, the visuals continue to impress, and it does a good job honouring the Nintendo games, teasing plenty of potential sequels and spin-offs.

Though it’s not perfect, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie builds on the original movie and will impress Mario’s legion of gaming fans and those who enjoyed the first film. It introduces several new characters, broadening the ensemble, is a visual treat, even if the plot can feel repetitive at times, and offers light-hearted escapism and enjoyable family viewing. It looks set to be a surefire smash hit, and there will likely be plenty more adventures for Chris Pratt’s Mario and Charlie Day’s Luigi in the years to come.

Christopher Connor

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is released nationwide on 1^st April 2026.

Watch the trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie here: