Review: 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' plays it safe and simple, and that's OK

Universal Pictures, 2026.

"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" doesn't exactly push boundaries, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do: Make a crap-ton of money and leave audiences entertained enough to show up for the next, inevitable chapter.

Grade: B

The gang's all back, in front of and behind the scenes. Directors Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic and Pierre Leduc maintain the slick, colorful aesthetic established in 2023's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," which crossed 1.3 billion (yes billion with a "b") at the global box office. The returning voice cast, including Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Charlie Day and Keegan-Michael Key, slip comfortably back into place, while newcomers Brie Larson, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover and Glen Powell expand the universe without disrupting it.

The story kicks off with Princess Rosalina (Larson) being captured by Bowser Jr. (Safdie), setting the stage for a galaxy-spanning rescue. Bowser (Black), now miniaturized and imprisoned by Mario (Pratt) and Luigi (Day), looms as an inevitable wildcard. Along the way, the brothers team up with Yoshi (Glover), adding another layer of nostalgia for longtime fans, while Peach (Taylor-Joy) and Toad (Key) remain steady supporting players.

As expected, the film is packed with rapid-fire Easter eggs and references pulled from decades of Mario history. Fans will eat it up. At the same time, the story stays simple enough to keep younger viewers and non-gamers engaged without confusion.

Where the film comes up short is in its lack of ambition. Nintendo continues to treat these characters as untouchable icons rather than evolving protagonists. No one really struggles. No one meaningfully changes. Bowser gets the closest thing to development, but even that feels surface-level. The result is a film that’s polished and entertaining, yet dramatically flat.

That said, there’s something oddly fitting about that approach. Like the games themselves, this is designed as pure escape. It’s colorful, fast-moving, and easy to consume. And while it may feel outdated compared to something like “The LEGO Movie” or the “Sonic the Hedgehog” films, it still delivers exactly what its audience expects.

If anything, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” improves slightly on its predecessor by expanding the Nintendo universe in ways that feel organic. With decades of source material still untapped, don’t expect this formula to change anytime soon. Nintendo isn’t chasing innovation here. They’re giving fans exactly what they want, and right now, that’s enough.

Grade: B

Genre: Animation, Family, Adventure.
Run Time: 1 hour 38 minutes.
Rated PG.

Starring (voices of): Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Brie Larson, Charlie Day, Donald Glover, Benny Safdie, Glen Powell.

Directed by Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc ("The Super Mario Bros. Movie," "Teen Titans GO! To the Movies").

"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" is in theaters everywhere on Wednesday, April 1st, 2026.