The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Review: Lots of Characters, No Stars

The sequel to the massive animated hit is another underwhelming collection of video game references.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:18pm

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The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is filled with famous actors voicing iconic Nintendo characters, but the performances are largely anonymous and the plot is a disjointed mess of video game references without any real narrative cohesion or character development. While the animation captures the signature Mario aesthetic, the film ultimately feels like a hollow exercise in fan service rather than a compelling cinematic experience.

Why it matters

As one of the most anticipated sequels in the lucrative Super Mario movie franchise, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie represents a major test for Illumination Entertainment to deliver a follow-up that can match or exceed the success of the first film. However, the review suggests the movie fails to build on the original in meaningful ways, potentially disappointing fans and calling into question the long-term viability of the series.

The details

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie features a star-studded voice cast including Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Donald Glover, but the reviewer argues their performances lack energy and personality, with the actors sounding anonymous and disengaged. The plot borrows elements from the 2007 video game Super Mario Galaxy, but the reviewer says it's a disjointed mess that introduces numerous storylines without paying them off. Despite the film's visual fidelity to the Mario aesthetic, the reviewer contends it ultimately feels like a hollow exercise in fan service rather than a compelling cinematic experience.

  • The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was released in theaters on April 1, 2026.

The players

Chris Pratt

An actor who voices the character of Mario, the iconic video game plumber, in the film. The reviewer argues Pratt brings zero genuinely funny or memorable moments to the role.

Brie Larson

An actress who voices the character of Rosalina, the new princess in distress, in the film. The reviewer notes the audience may not even realize it's Larson in the role.

Benny Safdie

An actor who voices the character of Bowser Jr., the son of the main villain Bowser, in the film. The reviewer says Safdie's voice is so heavily filtered that his performance is virtually unrecognizable.

Jack Black

An actor who voices the character of Bowser, the main villain, in the film. The reviewer notes Black is one of the few performers who seems engaged in his role.

Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic

The directors of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, who the reviewer credits for ensuring the characters and locations have a signature Mario aesthetic.

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What they’re saying

“Look, I get it. It's The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. It ain't Miyazaki. People are coming to see stuff they know from other stuff; in this case 40 years of Super Mario Bros. games by Nintendo. And if that's all you want out of this film — Nintendo Easter eggs and endless Mario Bros. power-ups and characters — you'll get your money's worth. But shouldn't a movie, even The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, be a little more than that?”

— Matt Singer, Reviewer

“At least Black still seems like he's engaged as Bowser; part of the reason the other performers are so anonymous is because they bring so little energy to their roles. Chris Pratt, who can be a witty voice actor, now has two credits as the most famous video game character in history on his resume with zero genuinely funny or memorable moments between them.”

— Matt Singer, Reviewer

What’s next

With the mixed critical reception to The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, it remains to be seen whether the film will be able to match the box office success of the first Super Mario movie. Illumination and Nintendo will likely be closely monitoring audience feedback and box office performance to determine if a third installment in the franchise is warranted.

The takeaway

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a disappointing sequel that fails to build on the strengths of the first film. While the animation captures the Mario aesthetic, the hollow plot and anonymous voice performances make it feel more like a hollow exercise in fan service than a compelling cinematic experience. The film's struggles could call into question the long-term viability of the Super Mario movie franchise.