REVIEW: Super Mario Galaxy: movie surpasses the original and features special appearances.
Table of Contents
Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie (released internationally as The Super Mario Galaxy MovieMario & Luigi: The First Epic Movie arrives in theaters on April 1st, 2026 (no joke!) with the mission of continuing the legacy of the first Mario & Luigi adventure released in 2023. The film still falters a bit in its script, but it remains a love letter to fans and gives us a preview of what's still to come in the cinematic universe of Mario & Luigi. NintendoCheck out our review.
Story (Plot & Easter Eggs))
As the name suggests, the new adventure of the brothers Mario e Luigi takes us to space. Using the mechanics of Super Mario Galaxy, originally released for the Nintendo WiiIt's possible to see the elements and characters from both games right at the beginning of the film.
As in Super Mario Bros. - The film (The Super Mario Bros. Movie, 2023), the easter eggs They are scattered throughout the film, and this is the type of animation you'll need to watch a few times to catch all the references. Once again, a strong influence of [something] is visible. Super Mario Maker with 2D stages being assembled in a variety of ways and with varying levels of difficulty.
The two games Super Mario Galaxy were used as a basis for two new ideas: explaining the origin of Peach and allow characters from other games to Nintendo appear in the universe where Mario Yes. Anyone who has played the games will recognize how the characters travel between planets, like the Lumas They appear, and also how everything was explained so that nothing is out of place.
New characters
I have a feeling that, little by little, the Nintendo is laying the groundwork for a future film of Super Smash Bros.That's because, in addition to those that have been confirmed Fox McCloud (who should win one) new game) to YoshiAll the characters that appear in the film, even if only for a few seconds, create space for a great union, in the best "Avengers: Endgame da Nintendo"It will happen sooner or later."
Rosaline She is presented as a maternal figure to Lumas, tiny beings that transform into planets, stars, and comets. The main villain ends up being Bowser Jr., who tries to save her father after he gets trapped in mushroom kingdom due to the events of first film (read our review here). Therefore, Mario, Luigi, Peach and the other characters enter the action soon after Rosaline to be kidnapped by the son of Bowser.
Already Yoshi It's one of the biggest (if not the biggest) additions to the cast of the new film. super mario. Even though he doesn't speak, his charismatic participation should win over new fans, as well as those who have played with him in recent years. Working well with Luigi e Mario, the Nintendo dinosaur character arrives to win everyone over with his clumsy, yet very lovable, demeanor.
Another character who's here to stay in theaters is Bowser Jr.He carries all the originality of his father, but with an even more wicked tone and, often, even worse than his father. BowserThis is the type of character that we know will still cause a lot of problems for the protagonists and the villain who puts them in a difficult position. Bowser back to his roots when he thinks about regretting some action against Mario, Peach e Luigi.
Meanwhile, Fox McCloud It delivers a lot of personality stemming from games in the saga. Star Fox In recent years, his appearance may go unnoticed at certain points in the film. He appears in about 30% of the movie (which has a total duration of 01 hour and 38 minutes) and manages to deliver charisma due to his laid-back demeanor, but he takes a backseat during important moments. He's a character that should be explored more in the future by the director. Nintendo em new games and movies.
BirdoThe character, which caught attention in the trailers, wasn't given much screen time here, but it also arrives as a great addition to the film universe. It not only can, but should be well utilized in the future.
And there are characters that appear in every game you can imagine: Super Mario 64, Super Mario Bros. (from the Super Nintendo), Super Mario Party Jamboree, Super Mario Kart 8, Super Mario Wonder, Super Mario Odyssey and more.
Soundtrack
Just like in the first film, the music and, especially, the sound effects from the games are a strong point of this movie. It's noticeable that... Nintendo He really worked closely on every detail, such as, for example, the sound of one of the characters in a stage in Super Mario 64.
Beyond these small details that make a difference for the new generation (who are discovering the games) — but also for those who grew up playing the games of the world's most famous plumbers — the action scenes feature great music that provides the dynamism and excitement needed to be something worthy of a cinematic animation.
Technical aspects
A brief comparison between the trailers for the first and second films shows that... Illumination Entertainment invested heavily to deliver more vibrant animations focused on bringing back the familiar graphic style of both games. Super Mario GalaxyIn addition to the super-animated scenes, new power-ups arrive to bring the characters to life even more, which is a significant success for the film.
A Nintendo He took advantage of the good dubbing of the first film. Mario to get it even better with the second one. In addition to Mario, Luigi e Peach delivering the same level of charisma as the games, Fox McCloud It becomes even more dynamic and retains the same personality we saw in the saga. starfoxThe dubbing continues to be a strong point of the animation. Super Mario Bros. at the movies.
road map
However, one of the biggest stumbles of Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie That's precisely the script. The idea of bringing in new characters certainly has a greater purpose than "just" making a second film, but it ends up that... Nintendo it starts to focus more on showing easter eggs and familiar phrases rather than truly valuing character development.
There's no way to expect much from the script of a film by Super MarioEven more so considering this is an adaptation of the games with pre-written scripts. However, those new to the saga (the film's main target audience is younger children) will need to research or play the games to learn more about the characters. For example, Luigi, whose individuality was somewhat diminished in the first film, gains a bit more prominence here, but is often overshadowed by Yoshi.
Additionally, the story of Rosaline It ends up taking a backseat and serving as support for the origin of Peach...leaving us wanting more when we consider its potential shown in the film itself. The script isn't bad, but it ends up focusing on too many action scenes and... easter eggs so that everything can be resolved hastily in the last half hour, leaving doubts even among the oldest residents.
And for those who want to know: Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie count with two post-credits scenesone that opens the door to a possible spin off And another for a sequel, with the introduction of a very well-known character. But you'll have to watch the movie to find out.
Conclusion
Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie arrives to open new paths for the cinematic universe of NintendoIntroducing new characters without losing the essence that made the first film the success we know. There are still minor script flaws that prevent it from being a perfect feature film, but it's a better offering than what we've seen before.
Those who grew up playing Super Mario and more games from Nintendo You'll enjoy the feature film without any problems. And this is also a great entry point for younger viewers: the film is light, beautiful, and has everything it takes to become a successful sequel.
The hope is that more productions like this will become the new normal for video game movies: managing to stay true to the original work while captivating new audiences without reinventing the wheel. This story is definitely worth checking out in cinemas across Brazil.
Where to watch
the new adventure of Super Mario in theaters It premieres on April 1st in theaters across Brazil, with tickets sold through... Ticket.com website.
Watch the trailer
What are your expectations for the new Super Mario movie? And if you've already seen it, what did you think? Tell us in the comments! Comment!
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Text review done by Jaime Ninice on 31/03/2026
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