There is no video game franchise on earth quite like Mario. Since Nintendo’s beloved mustachioed plumber first stomped a Goomba in 1985, the Super Mario series has sold over 800 million games worldwide, spawned theme park lands, merchandise empires, and, most recently, one of the most stunning cinematic comebacks in animation history. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which hit theaters on April 1, 2026, is the highly anticipated sequel to 2023’s record-shattering The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and it has already made history at the global box office – even as critics scramble to decide whether it is a triumph or a disappointment.
Produced by Illumination – the animation studio behind the Despicable Me franchise – and developed in close partnership with Nintendo, the Galaxy movie takes Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and their colorful crew on a brand new adventure: straight into outer space. The film draws from the beloved 2007 Nintendo Wii game Super Mario Galaxy and its 2010 sequel, introducing fan-favorite characters like Rosalina and Yoshi to the big screen for the very first time. If you are wondering where to watch the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, how much money it has made, what critics and audiences think, and how it compares to its predecessor, this is the complete guide you need.
The Mario Franchise: A Legacy Bigger Than Cinema
The Super Mario franchise is the creation of legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, who developed the original Donkey Kong arcade game in 1981 before introducing Mario to the world. The full Mario universe, built over more than four decades at Nintendo, encompasses platformers, racing games, sports titles, role-playing games, and now a full cinematic universe. Miyamoto served as a producer on both the 2023 film and the 2026 sequel, ensuring that the adaptations stayed true to the spirit of the games.
The road to a successful Mario movie was long and rocky. A disastrous 1993 live-action adaptation starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo was such a critical and commercial failure that Nintendo spent nearly three decades refusing to license its intellectual properties for film. That changed when Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri – himself a lifelong Nintendo fan – forged a partnership with the company. Meledandri had long believed that the colorful, kinetic world of Mario was tailor-made for modern animation, and the success of both films has spectacularly validated that belief.
What Is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie About?
Set after the events of the 2023 film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie finds the Mushroom Kingdom at peace. Mario and Luigi have settled into their new home, supporting Princess Peach and working to reform a miniaturized, imprisoned Bowser. But peace never lasts. When Princess Peach’s birthday party sparks a galactic adventure, the brothers are sent hurtling into space to stop Bowser Jr., who is determined to liberate his father from captivity and use a universe-destroying cannon to restore the Koopa family’s legacy.
Along the way, the brothers meet Princess Rosalina – the ethereal ruler of the Comet Observatory and adoptive mother of the star-shaped Lumas — as well as everyone’s favorite green dinosaur, Yoshi. A surprise cameo from Star Fox protagonist Fox McCloud, voiced by Glen Powell, has sent fans into a frenzy, teasing the kind of Nintendo Cinematic Universe crossover possibilities that Marvel once pioneered in live-action. A post-credits scene strongly hints at both a Star Fox movie and a Super Smash Bros. film down the line.
Full Voice Cast: Who Stars in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie?
One of the defining features of the Super Mario movie franchise has been its celebrity-packed voice cast. While some casting choices raised eyebrows when first announced – Chris Pratt as Mario, in particular – the ensemble has proven to be a crowd-pleasing machine. Here is the complete cast for the 2026 sequel.
| Character | Voice Actor | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mario | Chris Pratt | Returning |
| Princess Peach | Anya Taylor-Joy | Returning |
| Luigi | Charlie Day | Returning |
| Bowser | Jack Black | Returning |
| Toad | Keegan-Michael Key | Returning |
| Kamek | Kevin Michael Richardson | Returning |
| Princess Rosalina | Brie Larson | NEW |
| Bowser Jr. | Benny Safdie | NEW |
| Yoshi | Donald Glover | NEW |
| Fox McCloud (Star Fox) | Glen Powell | NEW (Cameo) |
The new additions are particularly exciting. Brie Larson brings warmth and otherworldly gravitas to Rosalina – a character with one of the most emotionally resonant backstories in the entire Mario game universe. Larson has spoken publicly about being a genuine fan of the original Super Mario Galaxy game since 2020, making the casting feel authentically earned. Donald Glover voices Yoshi – a role he famously pitched himself for – and his natural charisma translates beautifully even in an almost entirely non-verbal performance. Indie filmmaker Benny Safdie takes on Bowser Jr. with surprising comedic energy, while Glen Powell’s Fox McCloud cameo is already being discussed as the soft launch of a broader Nintendo Cinematic Universe.
Directors, Writers & The Creative Team Behind the Film
Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic return to direct the sequel, having helmed the 2023 original to massive commercial success. The duo previously collaborated on the animated television series Teen Titans Go!, and their fast-paced, gag-heavy, nostalgia-drenched style is the defining visual and tonal signature of both Mario films. The screenplay was once again written by Matthew Fogel, who has been the franchise’s consistent narrative voice across both entries.
The score was composed by returning maestro Brian Tyler, performed by a 70-piece orchestra and packed with arrangements drawn from both Super Mario Galaxy games as well as other Mario titles – a musical love letter to decades of Nintendo history. The film was animated by Illumination Studios Paris in France, with production beginning in March 2024 and animation wrapping in November 2025. It was released theatrically in standard, RealD 3D, and IMAX formats, with the latter proving especially popular given the film’s stunning cosmic visuals.
Super Mario Galaxy Movie Box Office Collection: Record Numbers in 2026
Despite receiving a lukewarm critical reception, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opened to extraordinary numbers at the global box office – a pattern that perfectly mirrors what happened with its predecessor in 2023. The film recorded the biggest opening day of 2026 domestically, and its global debut weekend has already established it as one of the year’s defining commercial events.
| Box Office Metric | Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) | Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Day (Domestic) | $34.5 million | ~$31.7 million |
| Opening Day (Global) | $68.4 million | $66.4 million |
| 5-Day Domestic Opening (Est.) | ~$188–200 million | $204.6 million |
| Global Debut Weekend | $370+ million | $375 million |
| Production Budget | $110 million | ~$100 million |
| Biggest Opening of the Year? | Yes (2026 YTD) | Yes (2023) |
| Final Worldwide Gross | TBD (in theaters) | $1.36 billion |
The film had a particularly strong showing across Europe and Latin America, echoing the geographic performance of the 2023 film. Italy posted strong opening numbers, and early China figures put the Galaxy Movie at the top of its market as well. Given its $110 million production budget, the film is already well on its way to profitability when marketing costs are factored in. Industry analysts note that its global debut weekend of $370M+ is remarkably close to the original’s $375M launch – a testament to the enduring power of the Mario brand at the worldwide box office.
Super Mario Galaxy Movie Reviews: Critics vs. Audiences
Here is where the story gets genuinely fascinating – and where The Super Mario Galaxy Movie follows its predecessor’s footsteps almost beat for beat. The film has opened to a deeply divided reception, with professional critics and general audiences sitting on completely opposite ends of the spectrum on Rotten Tomatoes.
The critical score sits at 43% based on over 115 reviews, making it even lower than the 2023 original’s 59% score. Critics have largely taken issue with the film’s paper-thin narrative, breakneck pacing, and heavy reliance on spectacle over substance. The critical consensus reads: “Packed with colorful world-building that’s as frenetic as it is weightless, the visuals are often out of this world but the threadbare story ultimately loses its Milky Way.”
Audiences, however, have responded with overwhelming enthusiasm. The film holds a 91% audience score with a Verified Hot badge – a 48-point gap between critics and fans that is one of the largest of 2026. Families, Nintendo fans, and casual moviegoers have celebrated the film’s visual imagination, wall-to-wall Easter eggs, and the joyful addition of Rosalina and Yoshi to the franchise. This critics-vs-audiences divide is not new to the franchise – the 2023 original had the exact same dynamic, with a 59% critics score against a 95% audience score, before going on to gross $1.36 billion worldwide.
| Score Type | Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) | Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score | 43% | 59% |
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | 91% (Verified Hot) | 95% (Verified Hot) |
| Critics vs. Audience Gap | 48 points | 36 points |
Among more fan-adjacent outlets, the reception was warmer. InSession Film declared that “the sequel levels up,” Screen Rant called it “a sugar rush of a sequel with plenty of fun,” and The Cinematic Reel noted that if the first film got you on the train, the sequel isn’t losing any passengers. More critical voices compared it to noisy, unrelenting sensory overload — one reviewer went as far as saying there was “almost nothing in Galaxy that even rises to the level of an attempted gag.” The divide perfectly encapsulates the film’s nature: a spectacular theme park ride that prioritizes experience over storytelling.
How Does It Compare to The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)?
The original The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released on April 5, 2023, was nothing short of a cinematic earthquake. It grossed $1.36 billion worldwide, became the first video game adaptation to ever gross over $1 billion, the highest-grossing animated film of 2023, and the second-highest-grossing film of the year overall behind only Barbie. It overtook Frozen to become the second-biggest animated film in history and earned a Guinness World Record for the highest worldwide opening weekend for a video game adaptation at the time.
| Category | Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) | Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Directors | Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic | Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic |
| Writer | Matthew Fogel | Matthew Fogel |
| Rotten Tomatoes Critics | 59% | 43% |
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience | 95% | 91% |
| Global Box Office (Final) | $1.36 billion | TBD (in theaters) |
| New Major Characters | Peach, Bowser, Toad, Donkey Kong | Rosalina, Yoshi, Bowser Jr., Fox McCloud |
| Post-Credits Hint | Yoshi teased | Star Fox / Smash Bros. teased |
| Streaming Home (USA) | Peacock → Netflix | Peacock → Netflix (projected) |
The 2023 film had an enormous advantage: it was the first major Mario film in three decades and carried the full weight of nostalgic goodwill built up across generations. The sequel faces the classic second-film challenge — it cannot replicate the fresh surprise of the original, and must instead deliver something genuinely new while maintaining the franchise’s fun DNA. On those terms, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie delivers dazzling spectacle but struggles with the narrative depth that would make it truly memorable cinema beyond its opening weekend.
Super Mario Galaxy Movie 2026: Where to Watch and Streaming Release Date
As of April 2026, the only place to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is in cinemas. The film is playing worldwide in standard, RealD 3D, and IMAX formats. IMAX is the strongly recommended format given the film’s stunning cosmic environments and swirling galaxy visuals. You can find showtimes and buy tickets at thesupermariogalaxymovie.com, Fandango, AMC, Regal, and all major ticketing platforms.
For those who prefer to watch from home, here is the full projected streaming and home release timeline based on Universal and Illumination’s historical release patterns.
| Platform | Estimated Date | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinemas (Theatrical) | April 1, 2026 | Worldwide | Standard, 3D, and IMAX formats available now |
| Digital VOD (Rent/Buy) | ~May 12–19, 2026 | USA & Global | Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Vudu |
| Peacock (Streaming) | ~July 30 – Aug 7, 2026 | USA | First streaming home; 120-day theatrical window expected |
| NOW TV / Sky Cinema | ~Christmas 2026 | UK | Following pattern of 2023 original’s UK streaming debut |
| Netflix | ~Early 2027 (USA) / Early 2028 (UK) | USA & International | After Peacock window ends; streams for ~10 months |
| Peacock (2nd Window) | ~Late 2027 / 2028 | USA | Returns to Peacock for final 4-month window after Netflix |
It is worth noting that all streaming dates above are projected estimates based on Universal and Illumination’s historical release patterns — specifically how they handled The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023. Official streaming dates have not yet been confirmed by Nintendo or Universal. The longer the Galaxy Movie performs strongly at the box office, the longer the studio is likely to keep it in theaters before releasing it digitally or to streaming. If you want to watch it at home as soon as possible, the digital VOD window in mid-May 2026 is your earliest realistic option.
In the meantime, The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) is currently available to stream on Peacock in the United States and is the perfect watch to prepare for — and get even more out of – the Galaxy sequel.
Is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Worth Watching?
The answer depends almost entirely on who you are as a viewer. If you are a Nintendo fan, a parent taking young children to the cinema, or someone who enjoyed the 2023 original and wants more of the same colorful chaos – then The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is an easy and enthusiastic recommendation. It is vibrant, full of Nintendo Easter eggs, and Brie Larson’s Rosalina is a genuinely touching addition to the franchise. The cosmic visual design, inspired by one of the most artistically imaginative games Nintendo ever produced, is frequently breathtaking on a large screen, and the IMAX presentation is among the most visually immersive animated experiences of recent years.
If you are the type of viewer who demands coherent storytelling, meaningful character arcs, or a film that lingers in the mind after the credits roll — critics suggest you may find the experience frustrating. The breakneck pacing has been cranked up even further than the 2023 original, and several reviewers noted that the story feels more like a sequence of game levels strung together than a fully realized narrative. The film ends so abruptly that some critics described it as simply stopping rather than concluding.
Ultimately, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie knows exactly what it is – and it executes that vision with extraordinary technical skill and undeniable crowd-pleasing energy. It may not be great cinema in the classical sense, but it is a great theatrical event. For families and fans, that is more than enough.
Quick Facts: Everything You Need to Know About the Super Mario Galaxy Movie
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When was the Super Mario Galaxy Movie released? | April 1, 2026 (USA theatrical release) |
| Where can I watch the Super Mario Galaxy Movie now? | In cinemas only as of April 2026 |
| When is the Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming to Peacock? | Estimated late July / early August 2026 |
| When is it coming to Netflix? | Estimated early 2027 (USA); early 2028 (UK) |
| Who directed it? | Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic |
| Who voices Mario in the Galaxy Movie? | Chris Pratt |
| Who voices Rosalina? | Brie Larson (new to the franchise) |
| Who voices Yoshi? | Donald Glover (new to the franchise) |
| Is it a sequel? | Yes – sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) |
| What game is it based on? | Super Mario Galaxy (2007) and its 2010 sequel |
| What is the age rating? | PG |
| How long is the Super Mario Galaxy Movie? | 1 hour 38 minutes |
| What is the Rotten Tomatoes critics score? | 43% |
| What is the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes? | 91% Verified Hot |
| How much did the Super Mario Galaxy Movie make at the box office? | $370M+ globally in its opening weekend (biggest of 2026 YTD) |
| Is there a post-credits scene? | Yes – hints at Star Fox and Smash Bros. movies |
| Who created the Mario franchise? | Shigeru Miyamoto at Nintendo |
| Who produced the film? | Illumination (Chris Meledandri) and Nintendo (Shigeru Miyamoto) |
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