Major spoilers for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ahead!
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie surprised me. Of course, I expected to somewhat enjoy it—after all, I grew up alongside Mario, and I cherish the adventures I had with the gang throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. But as I grow older, there is one truth that stares at me: not every piece of Super Mario content is intended for me. My enjoyment as a grown-up is often secondary to younger target audiences. That’s how I felt about the first movie. It was perfect for a younger audience that was on the brink of falling in love with Mario and his friends, just like I was when I was their age. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, however, took me on an adventure I didn’t know I needed: one where, for just 90 minutes, I was a kid again. The nostalgic soundtrack of my childhood filled my ears. The strategic deployment of cameos and game staples felt spectacular. And the only thing that could have made it more perfect was if I had watched the movie with my dad.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was exactly what it needed to be. Super Mario was the peak of escapism for little me. To no one’s surprise, a geeky girl in the middle of nowhere often sought refuge in pixelated screens and the stories of friendship and belonging that came with them. This movie taps into that same energy with a confidence that the first film didn’t quite have. It knows the audience is here for spectacle, references, and the rush of recognition when something familiar flashes across the screen. And that’s where things started to feel different, as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie felt like a test run for something unexpected.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Feels Like a Smash Bros. Audition Tape
I’m just going to say it: this movie has way more action than it strictly needed. I don’t necessarily mean that as a compliment, even if I enjoyed the action. The set pieces were bigger, the stakes felt higher, and the choreography of the fights felt pulled straight out of something like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Even Princess Peach got in on the action. I swore I saw her pulling off movements that looked suspiciously close to her Smash moveset, and once that clicked for me, I could not unsee it. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was building toward a larger language that Smash fans understand instinctively.
Star Fox Showing Up Was the “Oh, We’re Doing This” Moment
Anyone who’s been even casually following the marketing knew that Fox McCloud was showing up. However, actually seeing him integrated into the film still felt surreal. Voiced by Glen Powell, Fox could have easily felt like a gimmick or a distraction. Instead, he slid into the movie with surprising ease. His presence doesn’t overstay its welcome, and while his dynamics with Mario and the rest of the cast could’ve used more time to breathe, it worked enough to make one thing very clear: the door is open. And once that door is open, things start looking a little suspicious.
The Cameos Started Feeling Like a Roll Call
At one point, I stopped trying to guess if another character would show up and started wondering who it would be. Seeing characters like R.O.B. and Mr. Game & Watch pop up wasn’t just fan service; it was a deliberate nod to a shared universe. For anyone who hasn’t played Smash, these might have just read as quirky, blink-and-you-miss-it additions. But for the people in the audience who have? Every appearance landed. At my local theater, every reveal had the audience roaring. In the modern day, it’s the kind of audience response that you don’t get unless you’re tapping into something bigger than the movie itself.
The Post Credits Scene…
As a seasoned post-credits-scene watcher, I knew not to get up until the very last second. A couple of things went through my mind when I saw the reveal I was hoping to see:
- “Princess Daisy is joining the cast!”
- “She’s so beautiful! They kept her darker skin tone from before Mario Party 4!
- “Luigi will finally get his partner!”
- “Oh, we are definitely getting a Smash movie now!”
As a girl who wanted to grow up to be Princess Daisy (don’t ask me how that’s going), seeing her join the cast is pretty exciting. Her appearance was the kind of tease you’d expect from a franchise that knows it has momentum and is confident in its performance. However, this also reinforces the pattern: expand the roster, build the dynamics, and keep adding pieces to the board. Is it sequel bait? Yep.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Post-Credit Scenes, Explained
Nintendo fans will want to stick around for the post-credits scenes for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Masterhand, We’ve Got a Problem With the Smash Bros. Movie
There’s an elephant in the room that’s impossible to ignore. What about the rights to all the characters you will have to pull for a Smash movie? Here’s the lay of the land right now:
- Mario lives under Universal and Illumination.
- The live-action Legend of Zelda movie is in the works with Sony.
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There’s also the non-Nintendo characters, who present a double-whammy of issues. But in terms of strict movie rights:
- Sonic is over at Paramount.
- Minecraft’s Steve is with Warner Bros.
On paper, a fully realized Super Smash Bros. movie that pulls from all of these worlds sounds like a licensing nightmare. Which means if this does happen, it’s probably going to start smaller. Nintendo-focused characters might be the smarter move, anyway, to build the foundation.
I Didn’t Expect The Mario Galaxy Movie to Work, Which Is Why I Think The Smash Bros. Movie Might
I didn’t walk into this movie expecting to love it as much as I did. I knew I would get some enjoyment just because it was a Mario product, but I didn’t expect to become a big advocate for people to see this movie. This movie proves that Nintendo adaptations are understanding the assignments: the plots can be basic, the pizzazz can rest in the visuals, and no wheels need to be reinvented. They just need to feel like love letters, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is undeniably a love letter.
So, yeah, I don’t know exactly how a Super Smash Bros. movie would work. Without any context, it sounds overstuffed, capitalistic, and possibly ridiculous. But I also didn’t think this movie would hit the way it did. If this is what the warm-up looks like, then it certainly feels realistic for a Super Smash Bros. Movie to happen next. I just hope I get to see that one with my dad.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
- Release Date
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April 1, 2026
- Runtime
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98 Minutes
- Director
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Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, Fabien Polack
- Writers
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Matthew Fogel
- Producers
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Chris Meledandri, Shigeru Miyamoto
- Prequel(s)
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The Super Mario Bros. Movie
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Anya Taylor-Joy
Princess Peach
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