Audience Says: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Is ‘A Dream Come True for Nintendo Fans’

Back in 2023, 30 years after Hollywood first attempted to bring the beloved Super Mario Bros. video game to the big screen (and, most would say, failed), Nintendo partnered with Universal Pictures and Illumination to bring us the animated The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Though the film divided critics, audiences were wholly on board, leading to a Verified Hot Popcornmeter score of 95% and a whopping $1.36 billion global box office haul.

Fast forward to 2026, and the inevitable sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, has also mostly fallen flat with critics but inspired an outpouring of support from fans eager to jump back into the world of Mario and his plucky friends. The film debuted over the weekend to the biggest opening of 2026 ($130.9 million), and while the Popcornmeter hasn’t been quite as strong as its predecessor’s, it’s still holding steady as Verified Hot.

Here’s what the fans have been saying in the Verified Audience Reviews for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

These reviews have been edited for clarity.

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If enjoying this movie is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Visually, it is stunning. It ain’t Shakespeare, and that’s good. I didn’t show up for soliloquies and lights breaking through yonder windows. I showed up to have a good time with my 13-year-old, which is exactly what happened. You can have a steak with a bourbon, and you can eat a hotdog with a crummy beer at a baseball game. Both are a good time, and this movie is the latter of those things. I’m not giving 5 stars because not all the jokes landed (even with my teenager, who loved the movie), and because there was a loose thread with King Wart that needed tying up, and they didn’t do that. Keep making them, and I’ll keep showing up to have a good time.
— Andrew P, 4.5 Stars

The nostalgia hits hard, leaving you smiling and laughing at almost every moment. And finally, we get a surprise character that was left out of the trailers, providing shocking and fun humor while also hinting at the amount of world-building these Mario movies can extend to in the future. Outside of the nostalgia factor, the story itself is still fun and exciting.
— Michael S, 5 Stars

So many incredible moments that called back to my favorite moments of playing Mario from when I was a kid, all the way to my adulthood. There’s been a lot of hate for this movie not being deep enough but walking into this second showing and seeing all the excited kids it reminded me this movie was made for them. If I was a kid and I saw this when I was little I would’ve thought it was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.
— Jonah C, 5 Stars

I can’t even describe what my inner child was feeling while watching this movie. I’m 33 years old… I’ve been playing Mario games for as long as I can remember, and they’ve been part of my life since childhood. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie feels like a celebration of 40 years of Mario history. Every detail, every character, every reference, it’s all there, and it’s an absolute blast. Bowser Jr. and Princess Peach steal the show. Every action scene and every sequence feels like a dream come true for Nintendo fans, and it absolutely delivers. Pure magic!!
— Alejandro P, 5 Stars

From start to finish, this film is engaging, bursting with charm, colour, and that signature sense of cosmic wonder. As a long-time fan, I was especially happy to see Princess Peach given more time and story… She truly shines. Rosalina is another standout. Brie Larson brings a gentle warmth to the role, making her feel both magical and emotionally grounded. On the villain side, Bowser Jr. is pretty cool, but to the surprise of absolutely no one, Jack Black once again rocks as Bowser.
— Jason W, 4.5 Stars

Flying across the stars and tons of fun surprise cameos. I feel like I need to watch it again to catch all the Easter eggs. The music was beautifully done with tons of call-backs to previous games in the series. This film was the best way to celebrate Mario’s 40th anniversary.
— Nitz, 5 Stars

My three boys and I loved it. Being a ’90s kid, I yelled out in joy when I saw two certain characters in that movie. It was epic! I’d watch it again.
— Mr. D, 5 Stars

It was great, my kids really enjoyed it, and it had cute nods to the video games. Overall, it was a perfect kids movie, and I know my kids will make us watch it over and over again when it is available at home. It is not too long and not scary. The kids laughed a lot!
— Amanda W, 5 Stars

It left a real smile on my face. Could have used a bit more Rosalina.
— Miu, 4 Stars

Loved the animation, the stunning sets and scenery. It was fun, the music was amazing, and the greatest joy was hearing my daughter laugh throughout and say she didn’t want it to end! Well done, Illumination, once again!
— Jaclyn, 5 Stars

A great movie for the whole family. The beginning of the movie really held my interest with the introduction of Rosalina. My son loved how the different Mario games were incorporated into the film. There wasn’t a moment of boredom, and the 3D made it even more enjoyable.
— Kristen, 5 Stars

Family fun and some fun Easter eggs! (No holiday pun intended)
— Spagoshi, 5 Stars

I’m a big fan of Super Mario games and loved the first movie. While it was good, I felt that this story was missing something, like a new song from Bowser maybe. I liked meeting Bowser’s son, but I thought Bowser could have been funnier, and I did like all the visual cues and cinematography. Overall, I still really enjoyed the movie. It has some funny moments, awesome game play scenes, and very cute recognizable characters. I think kids & adults will enjoy the movie and become fans if they’re not already.
— JS, 5 Stars

Maybe not as good as the first, but it checks all the boxes for a great Mario Bros movie. Really enjoy how they elevate Peach and Luigi as strong characters instead of leaving it all to Mario.
— Michael C, 4.5 Stars

When a film is fun, it’s fun, and that’s what this is. I can’t deny how much I enjoy existing in the Nintendo world and seeing all of the Easter eggs, cameos and references. When you combine that with top of the line animation, it makes for a good time. From a critical standpoint, this narrative is a bit messy and all over the place, lacking focus… Nonetheless, the pacing was pretty steady and I was never bored. The greatest strength of this film are the characters. Growing up with the games, it’s very satisfying to finally see them developed and expanded upon in their own film.
— Ian W, 3.5 Stars

As a general audience member, the movie feels very rushed and races to get to the end. As a Mario fan… it’s called a “Galaxy” movie but only 10% of the source material was used. The Baby Bros. were unnecessary and felt more like an ad for the new Yoshi game. Bowser and Bowser Jr. carried this movie, in all honesty. I mean, it’s a fun movie, but it should have been called “The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2.”
— Galaxycap, 2 Stars

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The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently in theaters.

Thumbnail image by ©Universal Pictures

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