Super Mario Galaxy Movie Blasts Off with New Characters

The sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie expands the cinematic universe with Yoshi, Rosalina, and Fox McCloud.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 6:24pm

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The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a sequel to the 2023 hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie, follows Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach on a journey through the galaxy to save the mysterious Rosalina. The film introduces new characters from the Mario and Star Fox video game franchises, including Yoshi, Bowser Jr., and Fox McCloud, whose spacecraft malfunction brings him into the Super Mario universe. While the movie captures the whimsical action and visuals of the games, some fans have criticized it for not fully embracing the more emotional, contemplative themes of the Super Mario Galaxy game.

Why it matters

As the second installment in the Super Mario cinematic universe, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie represents an opportunity for the franchise to expand its storytelling and character base beyond the core cast of Mario, Luigi, and Bowser. The inclusion of characters like Rosalina, Yoshi, and Fox McCloud signals Illumination's ambition to build out a larger interconnected world that could lead to future sequels and spin-offs.

The details

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie follows the events of the first film, with Mario and Luigi joining forces with Princess Peach, Yoshi, and the newly introduced Rosalina to save the galaxy from the villainous Bowser and his son Bowser Jr. The film also features a cameo from Fox McCloud, the protagonist of the Star Fox video game series, whose spacecraft malfunction brings him into the Super Mario universe. While the movie captures the high-energy action and visual splendor of the games, some fans have criticized it for not fully exploring the more emotional, contemplative themes present in the Super Mario Galaxy game.

  • The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a sequel to the 2023 film The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
  • The film debuted in theaters on April 15, 2026.

The players

Mario

The iconic plumber protagonist of the Super Mario video game series, voiced by Chris Pratt in the film.

Yoshi

A friendly dinosaur character from the Mario games, voiced by Donald Glover in the movie.

Rosalina

A mysterious space-faring character who plays a central role in the film's story, voiced by Brie Larson.

Fox McCloud

The protagonist of the Star Fox video game series, who makes a cameo appearance in the film, voiced by Glen Powell.

Bowser Jr.

The villainous son of Bowser, who serves as an antagonist in the movie, voiced by Benny Safdie.

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What’s next

The post-credit scene teased a possible, but not confirmed, third film in the Super Mario cinematic universe with a cameo from Daisy.

The takeaway

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie represents an ambitious expansion of the Super Mario cinematic universe, introducing new characters and exploring the broader Mario galaxy. While the film captures the high-energy action and visuals of the games, some fans have expressed disappointment that it does not fully embrace the more contemplative themes of the original Super Mario Galaxy game.