Three years after the box-office success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, its sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now here to show what adventures await the beloved Nintendo characters.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)

As the sequel to the film adaptation of the beloved Super Mario franchise, this film sees brothers and best pals Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) go on their biggest adventure yet, as the galaxy calls for heroes against a new threat.

Joining them are Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), and the newest member of the party, Yoshi (Donald Glover). Also returning to voice a now-tiny Bowser is Jack Black, and longtime Nintendo fan Brie Larson debuts in the franchise as the protector of the Cosmos, Rosalina.

Our thoughts on The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a visually stunning tribute to Nintendo’s masterpiece, though it functions less like a cinematic narrative and more like a high-end digital museum of Nintendo history. So if you’re a lifelong Super Mario fan, it would be an undeniably great experience. But if you’re looking for narrative depth, you may want to turn elsewhere.

The action is frenetic and inarguably fun, but the plot can be quite predictable. (Well, for a movie largely targeting a young audience, that can work well.)

Viewers are shown a few tidbits of the franchise’s expansive lore and history. And for those who only casually play the video games (like me), some of these might fly over their heads (as they did mine).

Still, watching this film is like being transported inside the game itself. The game landscapes are light, playful, and visually stunning. And the film is a Mario fan’s dream, with beloved characters (Yoshi! Fox McCloud! Even a glimpse of Princess Daisy!) being introduced and setting things up for another movie.

However, the story doesn’t pause enough to get to know these characters better. Everyone’s familiar with Mario and Luigi, but when new characters jump onto the screen, some may be left wondering who they are. For example, fans may be familiar with Fox McCloud, but for casual viewers, things can get quite confusing. (It’s me. I’m the casual viewer. Maybe I’m the problem???)

Even the game-inspired worlds, while gorgeous, were not there to be explored or mastered. Displayed quickly, they’re shown more to trigger dopamine hits in anyone who grew up with the franchise.

Our verdict: See it or skip it?

I had a fun time in the theater, but will I see it again? Hmm. Maybe not.

If you have kids, go see it with them because they’ll surely enjoy it. The film carries enough charm for them to stay enthralled from start to finish.

But if you’re a group of adults simply looking for a new movie to see, you may find the routine predictability a bit exhausting.

On the other hand, if you’re long-time fans of the Super Mario franchise, you will find it to be a beautiful, expensive journey through a world you’ve already visited many times — just blown up for the big screen.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now screening in cinemas nationwide.

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Header photo from Universal Pictures