L to R: Yoshi (Donald Glover), Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) in Nintendo and Illumination’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. Nintendo and Illumination Logo text Mama mia! The Super Mario Galaxy Movie held its first press screenings on Monday and the early reaction on social media seems mixed at best. Alas.
While full critics reviews for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie are embargoed till Tuesday, Universal allowed press and others to post their limited reactions on social media on Monday.
The followup to the hugely popular 2023 franchise starter The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Galaxy tells the story of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach once again facing the evil Bowser (this time along with his son Bowser Jr.) in an adventure that spans the galaxy. Along the way they meet new characters including Princess Rosalina and Nintendo icon Yoshi.
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Galaxy once again features the core voice cast of Chris Pratt (Mario), Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach), Charlie Day (Luigi), Jack Black (Bowser), and Keegan-Michael Key (Toad). New voices for the sequel include Benny Safdie (Bowser Jr.), Issa Rae (Honey Queen), Brie Larson (Princess Rosalina), Glen Powell (Fox McCloud) and Donald Glover (Yoshi).
Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic return to direct Galaxy with the script written by Matthew Fogel, who also wrote the first film.
Despite the muted reaction from the press screenings, Universal and Nintendo will be confident Galaxy follows the path of the 2023 film, which was a global phenomenon, scoring $1.36 billion in box office revenue (from a modest $100 million production budget). Super Mario Bros. similarly didn’t vibe too much with critics and holds a 59 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes (with a whopping 95 percent score with audiences).
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hits on April 1. See a selection of social media reaction to the film below.
Okay, I'll say this. For a movie purely designed to jingle keys in front of an audience… it’s somehow pretty bad at that too. Why are we unnecessarily changing Mario lore? Why are there far more Odyssey references than Galaxy? Fox is here and yet doesn't build up to anything. https://t.co/L4btrrjaas
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) March 31, 2026
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE faithfully recreates the visuals of the iconic Nintendo games and thankfully doesn’t shoehorn tons of pop songs like the last movie. Unfortunately, it’s marred by unfocused plotting, disjointed pacing, and a lack of heart. Some fun surprises to enjoy… pic.twitter.com/aD9mCWOkIa
— The HoloFiles – Movie/TV News & Reviews (@theholofiles) March 30, 2026
#TheSuperMarioGalaxyMovie is a mixed bag. There are aspects that I found stronger than the first (which I loved!) but the promise of adapting Galaxy feels like an afterthought and it is shockingly low on vibes. The game has a stronger story? Review for @DiscussingFilm tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/oPyz91liVO
— tyler “llewyn” taing (@tylerllewtaing) March 31, 2026
#TheSuperMarioGalaxyMovie is a gloriously fun sequel filled with nostalgia galore! It's a beautifully colorful kinetic film that lit me up. There are moments in this film that reminded me what it was like playing my SNES, that alone made this experience priceless. pic.twitter.com/7c3sRjSreW
— Junior Felix (@JuniorFett) March 31, 2026
SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE: so much stuff happens in this movie but it’s all like whatever
— Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse) March 31, 2026
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE is even better than the first. Bigger action set pieces. It leans more on Brian Tyler's excellent musical score than needle drops. A gorgeously animated love letter to Mario fans. A very entertaining ride. #SuperMarioMovie @supermariomovie pic.twitter.com/wYKLOYvm2i
— Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) March 31, 2026
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE / #TheSuperMarioGalaxyMovie proves that cinema is still the place where we can all become children again. It reaffirms that this saga holds a deep soul through its ability to evoke cherished memories, offering a strong feeling of absolute escapism,… pic.twitter.com/nEpkWqBdpt
— Manuel São Bento (@manuelsbento) March 30, 2026
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE is surprisingly A LOT better than its predecessor, introducing exciting and revered characters with flair while delivering colorful, vibrant, and far more visually striking visuals and action set pieces that give this sequel a distinct, lively… pic.twitter.com/n6IoRsuJKi
— Tom Chatalbash (@TomChatalbash) March 31, 2026
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE is whimsical, vibrant, and fun in every way. The cast is pretty great, but Jack Black's Bowser and Donald Glover's Yoshi are ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS. The visuals really burst out, the story is sweet, and those references TRULY SHINE! #SuperMarioMovie pic.twitter.com/U3eobQdJig
— Christopher Gallardo (@chrisagwrites) March 30, 2026
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a blast of color and amazing imagery. It’s like those old Wii games coming off the screen and into the theater. People young and old will get a kick out of this movie. Glen Powell is perfect as Star Fox. #SuperMarioGalaxy #SuperMarioGalaxyMovie pic.twitter.com/MN2mlU8k8U
— Hunter Bolding (@HunterBVideo) March 31, 2026
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is packed to the brim with Easter Eggs (not just for Mario – for Nintendo as well!). It's pretty much pure chaos from start to finish in the best way possible. My girl Rosalina remains my favorite. Stay til the VERY end! #TheSuperMarioGalaxyMovie pic.twitter.com/KxpthESwKU
— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) March 31, 2026
#TheSuperMarioGalaxyMovie is a fun, fast-paced ride that teases intriguing lore and family dynamics, but pulls back before it can dig deeper. Bowser and Jr’s connection was a standout, but I was missing another Bowser song. The ending felt abrupt. I liked it, but didn’t love it. pic.twitter.com/kAOwO2zU3C
— Kristen Maldonado (@kaymaldo) March 31, 2026
Happy to report THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE is super fun! So many adorable characters and full of funny jokes. Princess Rosalina and her baby stars are my fav. Yoshi is the MVP .This sequel brings us more interesting planets. Dinosaurs and minions like robots are spotted in the… pic.twitter.com/tVycbFKcui
— Maggie_in_LA (@MaggieM_in_LA) March 31, 2026
#MarioGalaxyMovie Is the fun watch I’d hoped it’d be. Visually gorgeous animation with TONS of eye candy for Nintendo fans (some surprises too!) . So much does get packed into one story it feels chaotic & unfocused. I still had a good time flaws and all🍄 pic.twitter.com/6mDF0nco5U
— Cris Parker (@3CFilmss) March 31, 2026
#TheSuperMarioGalaxyMovie is the original powered by a superstar. A 100 minute sugar rush, with fan service galore, that starts at 90mph and barely stops for breath. Largely the same issues with the first movie remain, but fans will be delighted. Full review Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/O5wZdETlBA
— Andy Robinson (@Andy_VGC) March 29, 2026
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is an improvement over its predecessor in some ways and more of the same in others. Great animation. Fantastic score. Nice balance of additional characters (Star Fox is a highlight). TONS of Easter eggs. But still has issues with story and pacing. pic.twitter.com/wYCLLMYwqs
— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) March 31, 2026
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is an absolute blast! A dazzling animation spectacle and easily one of the most fun theater experiences of the year. The returning cast is just as great as the first time around, but Fox McCloud and Yoshi completely steal the show. Full review on… pic.twitter.com/ovvtiPigEh
— MOVIEDEATHS (@MOVIEDEATHBLOWS) March 31, 2026
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