The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a 2026 animated adventure comedy film based on the 2007 video game Super Mario Galaxy and its 2010 sequel, as well as Nintendo's broader Mario franchise.
Director: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Kevin Michael Richardson, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Issa Rae, Luis Guzmán, Brie Larson
Release Date: April 1, 2026
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Rated PG for action, mild violence and rude humor
Runtime: 1h 39m
Review:
The Super Mario Galaxy movie is a colorful collection of frenetic action set pieces thrown onscreen in rapid succession which feels like mainlining fructose until you collapse. Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic return behind the camera and you can’t fault them for going full bore by making everything bigger, brighter and louder from the start and rarely pulling back on the brakes. Their film is a visual feast of candy-colored worlds that are populated by a seemingly endless assortment of characters which should keep the younger kiddos entertained for large portions of the film’s runtime. There is a literal cornucopia Easter Eggs scattered throughout for fans of video game franchise along with a few inspired 8-bit meta moments that really stand out. The action is well constructed and fun, especially early on, but the seemingly endless set pieces start to wear as the threadbare story gives the characters and audience very little to work with. The plot almost feels like an afterthought with its main purpose being to move the characters from one world to another in steady succession. The two main plots involve a long-lost sister and father/son story which would have been more engaging if the film had given its characters a moment to breathe which waste the talent assembled. Anya Taylor-Joy seems to be trying the most to get something out her character moments during film although you are left wishing her character had a bit more time with Brie Larson’s Princess Rosalina before everything wraps up. Chris Pratt is fine throughout, but he still seems off as the voice of Mario for some reason as opposed to Charlie Day who fits Luigi’s neurotic energy perfectly. Jack Black does his usual shtick as a sort of reformed Bowser with Benny Safdie taking on the role of Bowser Jr. who’s trying to rescue his dad. When their characters are onscreen together, they do have a fun, father son banter which the film never truly takes advantage of. Donald Glover voices franchise favorite, Yoshi, but if you didn’t know it was him it wouldn’t register at all since there’s not much to the character when it all said and done outside of some cutesy moments. It sidelines, Keegan Michael Key’s Toad which leaves him with very little to do in his limited screentime. Ultimately, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will probably keep diehard fans and smaller kids entertained for everyone else it’s little more than a fizzy, sugary drink that doesn’t linger too long on the palette.
C-
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