The trajectory of video game movies has changed a lot over the years, and the Mario franchise is probably one of the best examples of that shift. What used to be risky, weird adaptations has now turned into something much safer and more faithful to the source material. After the success of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” in 2023, it made sense that Nintendo would continue expanding this universe. Naturally, when “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” was announced, I was excited. Growing up, “Super Mario Galaxy” was easily my favorite Mario game. I remember booting up my Wii almost every day, exploring different planets, flying through space with Mario and Yoshi and experiencing what felt like a huge leap forward in 3D Mario games. So when this movie was announced, I expected something that captured that same sense of scale, wonder and creativity.
To be fair, the film is good. It’s visually impressive, colorful and clearly made with a lot of care for the Mario universe. But at the same time, I don’t think it fully earns the title of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” It feels more like a continuation of the first movie rather than a true adaptation of the Galaxy concept. If anything, calling it “The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2” might have set more accurate expectations.
The biggest issue for me is the story, or lack of one. The film moves very quickly from one moment to the next without really giving anything time to develop. The basic premise revolves around Bowser Jr. trying to rescue Bowser and capture Rosalina as part of a plan to take over the universe. While that sounds like a solid setup, the movie doesn’t really explore it in a meaningful way. Instead, it jumps between different scenes and action sequences without much connection or buildup. There’s never really a strong sense of stakes or progression, which is surprising considering how expansive and emotional the original game felt.
One of the most disappointing aspects is how underused certain characters are, especially Rosalina. She’s a huge part of what made the original game so memorable, both in terms of story and atmosphere. In the movie, she’s present, and we do get introduced to her and the Lumas, but it never feels like she plays as important of a role as she should. The same can be said for the idea of “the galaxy” itself. You would expect a movie with that title to really dive into space exploration, different planets and the sense of adventure that defined the game. Instead, we only get brief glimpses of that, and most of the movie feels smaller in scale than it should.
Another thing that stood out to me was how heavily the movie relies on references. Almost every scene seems to include some kind of callback to previous Mario games. Whether it’s Bowser Jr.’s computer screens resembling classic side-scrollers or small visual gags that longtime fans will recognize, the movie is packed with fan service. At first, it’s fun to spot these references, but after a while, it starts to feel like that’s the main focus. Instead of building a strong, engaging story, the film leans too much on nostalgia to carry it.
That’s not to say everything falls flat. The animation is genuinely great, and the world still feels vibrant and alive. There are definitely moments where the movie captures that classic Mario charm, especially in its humor and character interactions. It’s also clear that the creators understand what fans like about the franchise. But understanding the source material and fully adapting it are two different things, and this movie doesn’t completely bridge that gap.
The pacing hurts the overall experience. The movie moves so fast that it barely gives you time to process what’s happening. Important character moments are either rushed or glossed over entirely. There are hints at deeper ideas, like Peach’s backstory or Bowser’s character development, but they never go anywhere meaningful. It ends up feeling like a series of loosely connected moments rather than a fully realized story.
In the end, I’d say the film is enjoyable, especially for fans of the franchise, but it doesn’t quite live up to its potential. It looks great, it’s entertaining in the moment and it delivers plenty of recognizable elements from the games. But it also feels like a missed opportunity. Instead of fully embracing what made the game special, it plays things safe and sticks closely to the formula established by the first movie.
If you go into it expecting a fun, visually appealing Mario adventure, you’ll probably have a good time. But if you’re hoping for something that truly captures the magic and scale of the original game, it might leave you wanting more.
