The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie 🌟 (2026)

After the resounding success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), everyone’s favorite tunnel-plumbing adventurers are back—and this time, they aren’t alone.

Mario and Luigi team up with Yoshi, the latest addition to Peach’s kingdom, to take on an overeager Bowser Jr., who’s on a mission to free his dad by kidnapping a princess of his own: Rosalina, the all-powerful Mother of the Stars. And yet… somehow, it all feels like less.

This isn’t really a movie, it’s an open-world Mario walkthrough dressed up as one.

It’s like Wreck-It Ralph, where you get to see a lot of the side characters moving through the world when the game is off. Sure, it sounds incredible. The score and sound design are basically a love letter to the games, and the animation is so vibrant, so overloaded with Mario DNA, that it practically dares you not to feel nostalgic. And yeah—it works. You’ll feel it. But beneath all that? There’s not much going on.

Where the first film had real emotional beats and a story with momentum, this one feels paper-thin, more interested in showing you the world than giving the characters anything meaningful to do in it. I kept waiting to care. I didn’t. And why show your hand with Star Fox, too? That would’ve been such a cool reveal in theaters. Outside of the occasional “Hey, I recognize that!” moment, it comes off as a two-hour Mario sizzle reel that micro doses you with a Mushroom Kingdom high that left me personally unmoved.

And honestly? If they’re going to keep cramming in characters and moments with zero buildup, they might as well go all in, give me a full-on Super Smash Bros. tournament. I don’t even need a story just say, “Hey, I heard there’s this wild fight club,” and boom they’re in it, surrounded by a full roster of characters (bring on Wario!) ready to throw hands, swing weapons, and cause chaos.

No need for subtle teases or half-steps. Just commit. Because if this is the trade-off more spectacle, less substance—then go big… or go back to Peach’s Kingdom. 

Enjoy!

5.6/10 🍿 🎥

Runtime: 1hr38mins

Where: In Theatres
Note: 2 Post-Credit Scenes ✅

The Richmond Reviewer The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Review - April 2nd, 2026.