After the success of the first Mario movie in 2023, Nintendo and Illumination have now released “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” continuing the film series in the Mario universe.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is an animated adventure-comedy film based on the 2007 game “Super Mario Galaxy” and its 2010 sequel. The movie was released in theaters on April 1, 2026.
This second film follows the storyline of the first. It picks up from the first one’s ending in terms of what characters have stayed in the Mushroom Kingdom.
After seeing the first movie, I had a feeling a sequel would be released, but I was uncertain what to expect. I think going from Super Mario Bros to Super Mario Galaxy was a big jump, but that didn’t stop me from being excited to see the movie.
The main cast who reprise their roles from the first movie include Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi and Jack Black as Bowser.
One of the things I was most excited about was seeing characters who weren’t present in the first movie. I was very satisfied with the characters in the first movie, but I knew there were plenty missing and some had potential to appear in this second installment. When I saw three specific characters make their appearance on the big screen, I was filled with joy.
I was also very excited to see the galaxy elements and how much of the games they would be implemented into the movie. Even though the movie didn’t feel completely centered on the galaxy games, there were many great aspects that were true to the games.
There were a few galaxies that were from the games. The ability to hop into a warp star and travel across galaxies was demonstrated, and many characters from the galaxy games were showcased as the story progressed.
Apart from the galaxy elements, a different element that shocked me the most was the backstories. There were multiple characters with backstory scenes and arcs showcased in the movie. Some of those moments brought tears to my eyes. I thought those parts were very well done.
As someone who enjoyed the first movie quite a lot, I can say I enjoyed this second movie as well. It’s hard to say which I liked better because they were so different. They were, however, quite similar in some regards.
The second movie had a ton of Easter eggs, as the first movie did. It also moved at a fast pace, similar to the first installment, and made sure to include moments of action and emotion to enhance the storytelling.
The Mario universe and characters have become part of my life. I got my first Mario game over 15 years ago, so hearing about the first Mario movie made my childhood feel complete, knowing I would get the opportunity to see the game series I grew up with on the big screen.
I thought that “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” was very good and enjoyable, but I wouldn’t say it was perfect by any means. The storytelling, pacing and galaxy lore could’ve all been better, but whether you’re a fan of Mario or not, I believe it is still worth the watch.
Considering the scenes shown during the post-credits, it appears that Nintendo and Illumination will make a third Mario movie, which could be released in 2032. The specifics of this third installment are still unknown, but as a fan, I would love a third movie.