Running Time: 98 minutes
This feature from Universal Pictures opens exclusively at theaters and on IMAX screens on April 1st, 2026.
I was just a small child in 1981 when the arcade game Donkey Kong became something of a cultural phenomenon (along with Pac-Man), inspiring a Saturday morning cartoon series and, if memory serves, even a breakfast cereal. As popular as it was back then, I never would have imagined that it would span an even more successful spin-off game in 1985 called Super Mario Brothers for the Nintendo Entertainment System, a whole new line of follow-ups, and a media empire.
Most recently, an animated feature film arrived in 2023 based on these characters, grossing well over a billion dollars at the box office. So, it should be no shock that a sequel has now arrived. But like many film franchises, it’s easy to rush out a follow-up without taking the proper care to ensure a quality product. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn’t as likely to enrapture audiences like the previous installment did.
The narrative introduces audiences to Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson), a figure living on another planet who bears a striking resemblance to Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), leader of the Mushroom Kingdom. Villainous Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) arrives on Rosalina’s world and kidnaps the noblewoman. He is plotting to use her magical powers to help him create his own sphere, where he will eventually take control of the galaxy. When Princess Peach hears the terrible news about the princess, she heads out into space, leaving the Mushroom Kingdom in the hands of Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), who are also watching over the imprisoned Bowser (Jack Black). When Bowser Jr. unexpectedly arrives to free his father, the pair are also transported into the galaxy. Along with their dinosaur pal Yoshi (Donald Glover), the plumbers attempt to find Princess Peach and stop the villains.
While the previous feature had its issues, it did a decent job of setting up the world of Mario and Luigi, as well as the Mushroom Kingdom, and the imminent danger the protagonists were in. The story of this follow-up has many problems and often leaves the uninitiated scratching their heads. For one, it assumes that viewers already know by heart all of the unusual characters from this media franchise. Even the opening scene is confusing for anyone unfamiliar with Princess Rosalina (including myself, who initially assumed it was Princess Peach).
Much of the film involves the protagonists visiting different planets. These environments are well-animated but not particularly creative (one world just looks like a casino). Admittedly, some of those on these strange worlds may be familiar to gamers or little kids, but they otherwise don’t have much to do with the main plot. And speaking of the story, when the central villain Bowser Jr. relays some of his nefarious plans, it’s vague. So much so that while the characters are moving across the galaxy in a panic, nothing about the adventure feels urgent or exciting for the viewer. The specific threat, referred to as a “boomstick”, doesn’t come to the forefront until the final act.
Obviously, this is a kid’s movie, so the jokes are geared to the young and won’t impress adults. The popular Yoshi dinosaur is a new addition to this film series, but most gags involve the creature eating figures and then expelling them while laying eggs. It isn’t particularly funny to watch, but at least the character manages to make an impression.
Additionally, the voice recording on this film is surprisingly lackluster. A few of the higher-energy performances, including that of Jack Black and Glen Powell (as Fox McCloud aka Star Fax) manage to eke out a chuckle or two, but there’s a general listlessness and flatness to the line delivery of several characters. It deflates the vitality of several scenes and mutes any comedic potential of these bits.
While the visuals are impressive at times, there’s little about the story in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie that captures the imagination, thrills or even brings a smile to one’s face. This follow-up feels surprisingly muted, with a muddled story that makes one wonder if this project may have been rushed together too quickly. Whatever may have occurred, this is a leaky sequel that is unlikely to wow older family members and may leave them wishing they were at the arcade playing Donkey Kong instead.
