Director: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Brie Larson
Rating: PG | Genre(s): Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy | Run Time: 1hr 38min
GREAT FOR NOSTALGIA – OCCASSIONALLY CORNY
“Straight out of Illumination Studios, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) delivers vibrant animation and nostalgic game call-backs, but ultimately leans on familiar storytelling and formulaic structure, making it more of a visually enjoyable experience than a narratively bold one.”
Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and Yoshi (Donald Glover) must journey across various planets in the galaxy after Rosalina (Brie Larson) – Guardian of the Cosmos – got abducted by Bowser Jr (Benny Safdie).
The film’s plot is simple and fairly easy to comprehend through its usage of the classic damsel-in-distress trope – but with a twist. Pacing was slow during close up interactions between Peach and Mario, resulting in the scenes feeling more of a bore than emotionally charged. In terms of originality, Princess Peach taking initiative to be the primary rescuer was a fresh change from outdated stereotypes in film. Overall, the movie still retains formulaic storytelling.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie features iconic tracks from the original games (arranged by Brian Tyler) woven into adapted scenes to evoke a strong sense of nostalgia among viewers. Titles such as Overworld Theme (Ground Theme) remixed into an orchestral score, are utilized rather than pop music. This results in a more immersive and game faithful landscape.
Bowser Jr was underwhelming as a villain, despite getting a strong start. There was potential for him to be written into a much stronger antagonist. The drawback occurred when he was given an empathetic and cheesy backstory shifting the focusing to a cliché father-wound rather than putting more emphasis on him and Bowser’s naïve ambitions of power. Ultimately, Bowser Jr’s character suffers from poorly handled development.
Overall, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) brings a visually vibrant and musically rich adaptation of Nintendo’s beloved franchise, effectively capturing the charm and energy of the original games. While its animation, soundtrack, and world-building stand out as clear strengths, the film struggles with uneven pacing and a reliance on cliché storytelling structures that diminish its narrative impact. Some character arcs, particularly Bowser Jr.’s, feel underdeveloped, preventing the film from reaching its full emotional or thematic potential. Nevertheless, nostalgic references and strong visual design help keep the experience engaging for fans.
Final Verdict:
A colourful and reminiscent space adventure elevated by striking animation and iconic soundtracks but held back by formulaic storytelling and inconsistent character development. Enjoyable for fans, but not groundbreaking.
★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)
