The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)

3/10

Starring the voices of

Chris Pratt

Anya Taylor-Joy

Charlie Day

Jack Black

Keegan-Michael Key

 

Directed by: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic

 

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is soulless and boring, even though it is well animated. For a movie which already had a good layup from the massive take in of the first movie, this to me was a big letdown. This movie was done by Illumination Studios and based on all the work they have been doing, I am starting to think all these sequels are beginning to burn out their creativity, because this movie is all about nostalgic references with an all-star voice cast, which I have to say were epic.

Now remember how the first movie had the Peaches moment, where Bowser was singing that wonderful song with the beautiful Jack Black showing off his vocal range? Well, this movie does not have anything like that, there is no magic moment, no key thing that made me go, “Hey! This happened.”

All I have is a wonderful voice cast, which represented each character in a way I would think they would sound in my head, and animation filled with stuffed references like the producers had a checkmark on all the game references they needed to get done.

So, as you know, the movie is an adaptation of the Super Mario game, specifically Super Mario Galaxy, and it features two princesses, Peach and Rosalina, alongside Mario, Luigi, Toad, Yoshi, Bowser and Bowser Jr.

Here is what the movie is actually about. We get a glimpse of the past in this story of Rosalina and Peach as sisters, when Rosalina sent Peach to the Mushroom Kingdom to keep her safe.

Now the movie itself starts with Bowser Jr. kidnapping Rosalina, and one of the Lumas she cares for escapes and reaches Peach to tell her what happened. Peach leaves to rescue her sister and puts Mario and Luigi in charge of the Kingdom. Bowser Jr. then attacks the Mushroom Kingdom trying to free his father Bowser, who at this point is a miniaturised prisoner in Peach's castle and genuinely trying to reform himself.

Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and Bowser end up on their own trail across space trying to find Peach. Bowser was so reformed that even when he got his size and power back, he stayed with Mario. When Bowser Jr. eventually rescues his father, he is able to pull Bowser back to the dark side by reminding him of who he is.

The story that ties them all together is thin and jumps from what is supposed to be a redemption father and son arc for Bowser, to a save the princess, save the universe arc for Peach. Then there is the connection between Princess Peach and Princess Rosalina as sisters and, let me not forget, a small taste of romance brewing between Mario and Peach.

There are too many things happening in this movie and nothing sticks, it all plays around a reference stuffed animation that, if not for the coffee, I would have dozed off.

So yes, the animation is good, colourful and memorable, the voice casting is amazing and I specifically enjoyed hearing Jack Black again, and worth noting, Brie Larson as Rosalina and Donald Glover as Yoshi were both excellent, but that is about it for this movie as it was just lacking anything that could have made it matter.

So I think you have a better chance of enjoying yourself playing the game again than going to see this movie.