Why The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Is Majorly Dividing Audiences And Critics

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Released on April 1, 2026, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is breaking box office records, but audience reactions are more mixed than the impressive $34.5 million it earned on its opening day might indicate. This film is a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which came out in 2023.

The new movie continues the story from the last one, showing Mario and Luigi fully embracing their roles as heroes. They team up with Princess Peach to keep the mischievous Bowser in check. This time, the cast includes some new faces like Princess Rosalina, Bowser Jr., and Yoshi.

The latest film expands the world established in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, taking the characters on adventures and introducing them to new dangers throughout the galaxy. While the story is filled with a huge number of Nintendo characters and hidden references for fans, that hasn’t necessarily meant everyone loved it. Currently, both audiences and critics have very different opinions about whether the movie is actually good.

Audiences & Critics Are Divided On The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

There’s a big difference between what critics and general audiences think of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Critics currently give it a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences give it a much higher 90%. These scores are based on over 160 reviews from critics and more than 2,500 from viewers. While the numbers might shift a bit during its opening weekend, a major change seems unlikely.

It’s worth noting that these scores are quite similar to those of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s previous film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie. That movie currently has a 59% rating from critics and a 95% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s clear that both Mario movies are being much better received by general audiences than by critics, and there are understandable reasons why.

Why Critics Negatively Reviewed The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

As expected, critics haven’t been shy about pointing out the flaws in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. A frequent complaint centers around the plot, which many reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes have called confusing and illogical. Kyle Smith of The Wall Street Journal went even further, stating the movie was “notably weaker than ‘The Super Mario Bros,’ which was just barely watchable.”

In a review for The Sun (UK), Dulcie Pearce described the new Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel as lacking a strong storyline, comparing it to a series of fast-paced, but ultimately superficial, chases.

Some critics enjoyed the movie, particularly because it heavily relies on nostalgia and is entertaining if you approach it that way. This highlights a key difference: critics and audiences often have different perspectives.

Why The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Is A Hit With Audiences

Despite criticism that The Super Mario Bros. Movie doesn’t have a strong storyline, most viewers really enjoyed it. While some people didn’t like it, the film has a 90% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which says a lot. Many viewers specifically mentioned how fun the movie was, and a big part of that was the nostalgia it brought back.

What really captivated audiences about The Super Mario Bros. Movie was its appeal to longtime Nintendo fans. Many viewers specifically praised the appearances of beloved characters like Yoshi and Fox McCloud, who were new additions to the film’s story.

Many viewers also said the movie is perfect for children, highlighting a key difference between what critics and general audiences appreciate about it.

I’ve noticed something interesting about movies lately. What I really enjoy – like big action, goofy humor, and just seeing characters I already love – doesn’t always seem to be what critics focus on when they give a movie a good score. We’ve definitely seen this with films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where fans and critics really disagreed. It makes you realize what a movie really is – it’s about what connects with the audience, not just technical skill.

What The Audience & Critic Divide Means For The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Ultimately, the big gap between what critics and audiences thought of The Super Mario Bros. Movie comes down to its purpose. It’s not trying to win awards, and that’s okay. Just like the games it’s based on, the movie is simply meant to be enjoyable.

It’s true that the way Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Rosalina beat Bowser and Bowser Jr. doesn’t always make perfect sense – critics have pointed that out – but that wasn’t really the point of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The film clearly aimed to please Nintendo fans and tap into feelings of nostalgia, and it did that very well.

Similarly, if The Super Mario Bros. Movie was made with children in mind – and it definitely appears that way – then it was successful in that regard as well. It looks like this difference in audience appeal might continue throughout the series. Although a sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie hasn’t been officially announced yet, another movie is almost certainly planned.

Even though critics haven’t loved these movies, they’re still making a lot of money. It doesn’t make sense to stop now, especially with so many more stories and characters to explore. It’s likely that in a few years, the series will be in the same position: getting mixed reviews, with critics and audiences disagreeing.

Despite what some critics say, the movie’s success actually proves it’s doing exactly what it set out to do: entertain audiences with a fun, nostalgic experience rooted in the world of Nintendo. The film is clearly a hit with viewers and is making a lot of money, which means any negative reviews likely won’t matter in the long run. It seems very likely this will be a franchise that continues to grow for years to come.

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2026-04-04 20:30