Super Mario Galaxy Movie Ditches Jarring Pop Songs

The sequel avoids the first film's misstep of using unrelated licensed music.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:56pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the sequel to the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie, has learned from the mistakes of its predecessor by largely avoiding the use of jarring pop song needle drops and instead focusing on an original cinematic score that better captures the tone and nostalgia of the Mario franchise.

Why it matters

The use of unrelated pop songs in the first Super Mario Bros. Movie was widely criticized by both fans and general audiences, as it took them out of the immersive Mushroom Kingdom world. The new sequel's decision to prioritize an original score more closely aligned with the Mario games is a welcome change that should provide a more authentic and enjoyable viewing experience for fans.

The details

While the first movie featured several instances of licensed pop songs like A-ha's "Take on Me" and AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" being used in key scenes, the new Super Mario Galaxy Movie largely avoids this, with only a couple of minor exceptions. The score, composed by Brian Tyler, draws heavily from the iconic Mario musical themes created by Koji Kondo over the decades, creating a more cohesive and immersive cinematic experience.

  • The Super Mario Bros. Movie was released in 2023.
  • The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now in theaters.

The players

Brian Tyler

The composer who created the cinematic score for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, drawing from the iconic Mario musical themes.

Koji Kondo

The longtime composer for the Mario video game series, whose musical themes and compositions are the foundation for the cinematic score in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When Mario and Princess Peach enter the land where Donkey Kong resides in the first movie, the synthy falsetto of A-ha's "Take on Me" plays instead of a jungly tune; a seemingly arbitrary music choice whose only connection to the events on screen seems to be "The Donkey Kong arcade game also came out in the '80s.”

— James Grebey, Author

“Viewers who didn't like the first movie complained about how jarring and out of place they were, and even fans of the movie admitted that the needle drops were a misstep.”

— James Grebey, Author

What’s next

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now in theaters, providing fans with a more authentic and immersive Mario experience compared to the first film.

The takeaway

The decision to focus on an original cinematic score that closely aligns with the iconic Mario musical themes, rather than relying on unrelated pop song needle drops, should provide a more enjoyable and faithful adaptation of the beloved video game franchise for both longtime fans and general audiences.