Disappointing reviews for the Super Mario Galaxy Film

The Super Mario Galaxy Film will soon hit theaters, with its premiere scheduled for about three weeks after April 22, 2026. Despite the movie already having earned millions at the box office, its critical reception has been mixed to poor. It appears to be a repeat of the criticism the first film from 2023 also received.

Reactions from Shigeru Miyamoto

Shigeru Miyamoto, one of Nintendo’s most recognizable figures and a co-producer on the film, was surprised by the negative reviews. In an interview with Famitsu, he said he had expected the Galaxy film’s reviews to be better than those for the first movie. He noted that while he understood some of the criticism aimed at the original film, he still hopes the Galaxy film will be received more positively. According to him, negative reviews in the past helped fuel the buzz that allowed the first film to earn more than $1 billion.

Critical reception and audience response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the Super Mario Galaxy Film currently holds a 43% approval rating based on 206 reviews. That marks a significant drop from the 59% score the first film received. While critics have described the movie as lacking depth and being little more than a pile of references to Mario history, audience reaction has been much more positive. The film has an 89% audience score, with children in particular excited to see their favorite characters on the big screen.

Box office performance

Even so, the Super Mario Galaxy Film’s box office performance is notable. The movie has already brought in millions of dollars, outperforming expectations despite the critical response. It is clear that while reviewers remain skeptical, audiences are enjoying the film’s charm.

Timeline

April 22, 2026: Shigeru Miyamoto expresses surprise at the negative reviews for the Galaxy film.
Early 2026: The Super Mario Galaxy Film generates millions of dollars in box office revenue.
2023: The first Super Mario movie receives a 59% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In short, the Super Mario Galaxy Film is proving to have a mixed reception, with commercial success not matching its critical scores. Miyamoto’s expectations for the movie were clearly higher, but it seems that a lineup of fan-favorite characters does not always translate into the critical praise one might hope for. It remains a positive sign that children are enjoying the film, which could strengthen the case for future projects.