Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has delivered an impressive performance at the global box office, becoming the first film of 2026 to cross the $1 billion mark.
The animated sequel currently holds a 42% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 219 reviews, while audiences have given it an 88% Popcornmeter rating with 10,000+ verified ratings . The critics consensus reads: “Packed with colorful world-building that’s as frenetic as it is weightless, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s visuals are often out of this world but the threadbare story ultimately loses its Milky Way.”
Critics have been divided on the film. Christy Lemire from FilmWeek LAist stated that “It looked quite lovely and is really for little kids – even more than the first one.” Jesse Hassenger from the AV Club gave it a C, writing that the film “settles for moments of visual inspiration that replicate the little rushes of opening up new worlds in one of the games, while letting almost every character stagnate into bland affability.”
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Kyle Wolfe from Pop Culture Leftovers wrote: “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a visually dense, high-energy spectacle that ultimately mistakes constant stimulation for storytelling, building out a galaxy of ideas without giving any of them the gravity to truly land.” Hector A. Gonzalez from The Movie Buff gave it an F, saying, “It feels as if we are doomscrolling for ninety minutes straight.”
Audiences, however, have been more enthusiastic. One verified viewer wrote: “Very fun. Better than the first. Colorful and fluid animation that always looked great. A bit surface level story, but I enjoyed my time.”
According to Box Office Mojo, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has earned an estimated US$1,000,028,930 worldwide (US$428,527,930 in the U.S. and US$571,501,000 internationally). The film debuted on April 1, 2026, and reached this remarkable milestone during its tenth weekend in theatres.
The movie has also become the second-highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time, trailing only its predecessor, The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), which earned $1.36 billion worldwide.
The film is directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with producers Christopher Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto, and screenwriter Matthew Fogel. The star-studded voice cast includes Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, and Brie Larson as Rosalina.
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Produced by Universal Pictures, Nintendo, and Illumination Entertainment, the PG-rated animated adventure runs 1 hour 38 minutes and features Dolby Atmos sound .
Despite the critical divide between critics and audiences, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has proven that Nintendo’s theatrical powerhouse continues to resonate with families worldwide, cementing Mario’s place among animation’s most reliable theatrical brands.
