Mario fans felt betrayed by the new Super Mario Galaxy movie, which failed to win over critics. The movie was officially released on April 1, 2026, across Europe and the United States.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, following the huge success of 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” currently holds a low 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The fans were still lining up to see the movie, and many young fans enjoyed it, as the animations looked stunning. But for adult fans and professional movie reviewers, it was more about the Easter eggs than a good overall story.
Why The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Fails to Win Over Critics
Most critics, including Peter Bradshaw, Kevin Maher, and Owen Glieberman, agreed that the movie’s animations and the loss of the galaxy look incredible, especially the gravity-defying scenes. However, they also said the story was half-baked, and the movie’s pace was too fast, which made them feel disconnected from the characters and the movie, as they used to in the previous Mario movies.
The story of the movie began with Bowser Jr. (Main Antagonist) kidnapping the cosmic Princess Rosalina so he can use her powers to fuel a universe-destroying cannon. His other goal is to free his father, Bowser, who remains shrunken and imprisoned following the events of the first film.
Mario, Luigi, and their new companion Yoshi must journey across the galaxy to the Comet Observatory to stop the Koopas. The movie features a plot twist involving Princess Peach and Rosalina, which makes it a bit more interesting in the end.
Many fans who came to watch the movie with their kids or young siblings loved the movie, which is why the audience score was around 89%, and move also noted as a success in the box office, as it generated $186 million domestically and over $750.7 million worldwide by April 21, 2026, which makes it the highest-grossing film of 2026.
Overall, the movie’s animation and everything are amazing, and if you are just a normal fan, you are surely going to love it. But if you are a hardcore Mario fan and expected it to surpass their previous movie in terms of story, then Super Mario Galaxy Movie can disappoint you.