Movies

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie receives its first ratings, and it shows that it is for fans, for better or worse

The sequel earns praise for visuals and Easter eggs, but skepticism remains over its storytelling.

Update: Apr 1st, 2026 00:27 CEST

The moment has arrived for Nintendo and Illumination. With just a few hours to go before the premiere of ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’, the first reviews from critics have started to emerge from the warp pipes. After a first film that delighted audiences but disappointed critics, we’re about to find out how things will turn out this time around.

What are critics saying about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie?

At the time of writing, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ holds an early 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 69 reviews. Critics praise the film for its animation, fast pace, and Easter eggs.

In their reviews, some critics note that the film remains a treat for fans. Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter notes that “The sequel hits the sweet spot in terms of what its target audience wants.” Meanwhile, David González of The Cinematic Reel believes that “This isn’t a film that’s going to win over its skeptics.”

However, the film isn’t entirely convincing, because although it feels like a rapid-fire sequence of scenes, that pace ends up doing more harm than good. “If anything, the film only loses energy as it goes on, with the final confrontation proving particularly anemic and rushed, as if the film is hurrying along to avoid having to delve into its storylines with more than a surface skim,” writes IndieWire’s Wilson Chapman.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie receives its first ratings, and it shows that it is for fans, for better or worse

What are critics saying about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie?

How does it compare to previous Mario movies?

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