Wahoo! The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is here and is smashing records at the box office. There were so many Easter Eggs and characters, that at times it was hard to keep your head on straight if you’re a hardcore fan of the source material. Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad were joined by a whole new slew of colorful heroes and villains that brought this acclaimed Nintendo franchise to fresh, jaw-dropping and laugh-inducing heights. From the sprawling hills of the Mushroom Kingdom to the shady underbelly of The Gateway Galaxy, these are the 10 best Super Mario Galaxy Movie characters. Beware of spoilers ahead.
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10
Mr. Game & Watch
The Game & Watch series was one of Nintendo’s first forays into the video game medium. Most of this franchise’s selection were quick handheld games throughout the 1980s and 90s. A lot of those games included the brand’s mascot, Mr. Game & Watch. His black silhouette stick figure-like character isn’t as iconic as Mario or Link, but he’s just as important to Nintendo’s gaming history.
In the film, Luigi paints up a final attack to defeat Bowser and his evil son, but in a great bit of comedy, all he can conjure up is Mr. Game & Watch. However, this legend hits Dry Bowser with his signature hammer for the final blow. Mr. Game & Watch sends Bowser scattered into pieces, which more than deserves a spot on this list.
9
Mario
Mario’s the all-in-one every man. He’s the good guy with the purest of hearts. That doesn’t often make for an interesting story on its own. Most of his games don’t even have a story to begin with. However, to the films’ credit, they do a solid job of making Mario a more fleshed-out character. His side plot of trying to tell Peach how he feels romantically is very cute and in-line with the bubbly hero found in the games.
Mario also gets to tackle new suits from across the franchise, like the drill from Super Mario Galaxy 2, the red flight star from Super Mario Galaxy and the cape from Super Mario World. These diversify this plumber’s move set in some fun ways. His last stand in Bowser’s Castle’s fiery obstacle course with Peach is particularly epic as well and takes the game references as well as action scenes to the next level.
8
Bowser
Jack Black continues to be a national treasure as Bowser. This King of the Koopas goes on a very interesting journey in the Galaxy Movie too. On the one hand, he goes on a mini-adventure with Mario, Luigi and Yoshi that reluctantly makes him see the good in himself as well as the people he called his enemies. He’s a big softy at heart, which gives Black a lot of material to chew on.
This is furthered when he reunites with Bowser Jr. Their demented, but oddly sweet father-son relationship is one of the anchors of family in this intergalactic odyssey. Bowser and his son are half of this sequel’s surprisingly rich themes. Also, seeing Bowser become his Dry variant is a fiery treat when the fists start flying.
7
R.O.B.
Like, Mr. Game & Watch, it wouldn’t feel right to not include R.O.B. Not just because they’re one of the greatest treasures of the NES 80s era, but because he’s featured in one of the funniest moments of the film. After a thrilling chase in The Gateway Galaxy, Peach and Toad need to get to the flight deck to find a pilot. A classic sci-fi set-up. However, they have to go to the information desk first to find its location.
That’s where they met R.O.B. who delivers the funniest bit of physical humor in the whole film as he slowly directs them to the pipe in the far corner of the map. Peach’s frequent interruptions slows the process down even more. Both Anya Taylor-Joy and Ed Skudder’s voice performances make this one of the more memorable moments in the sequel. The latter’s retro robotic static, in particular, is a treat to behold. Especially when Mario and Luigi repeat the process a bit later in the story.
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6
Bowser Jr.
Bowser Jr. is the first major addition to Galaxy’s massive lineup of characters. While Bowser’s son is a major annoyance in games like Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, actor Benny Safdie grounds this adolescent turtle into something emotionally relatable. That would be a yearning for his father’s approval. His flashbacks with Bowser are endlessly adorable. Even when they’re plotting to take over the world together, you can’t help but say, “awwwwww”.
Also, his relationship with Kamak (Kevin Michael Richardson) is all things sweet and kooky. Then there are all the references tied to Bowser Jr. The magic paint brush from Sunshine is enough to stop hardcore fans in their tracks, but other things like his menacing Wonder variant will bring a horrific smile to anyone’s face. This isn’t the last time we’ll see Bowser Jr. or his boney father either. The post-credits scene sees them trying to escape prison, but the bleak blue Luma Bowser captured in the last film is there to greet them as their new crazed prison guard.
5
Luigi
Charlie Day’s Luigi remains a comedic highlight in these films. However, this time, he gets more time to play off his brother Mario as they’re together for the entirety of Galaxy’s runtime. Their brotherly love and humor that showcases Day and Chris Pratt’s chemistry is a pure joy to watch. Especially when Luigi is scared or gets a moment to shine through said fear, like the previously mentioned Mr. Game & Watch moment.
Luigi giving Mario dating advice is extremely wholesome. Even if he has an ulterior motive in finding out if Peach has a “friend” for him. Luigi’s “friend” Daisy will play a major role in the next film in the franchise as she appears in Galaxy’s final post-credit scene. Finally, outside of Luigi’s love life or heroic acts, Baby Luigi is just so cute.
4
Yoshi
Somehow, moviegoers live in a universe where Donald Glover plays Yoshi. You got to give it to the actor, he plays this lovable green dinosaur extremely well. Yoshi’s comedic, oftentimes cool and cute, timing steals almost every scene he’s in. Whether it’s Yoshi’s introduction montage that explains how he got from Brooklyn to the Mushroom Kingdom or his stare-down with the T-Rex from Super Mario Odyssey, Yoshi has so many memorable moments in the Galaxy Movie.
This sequel has officially made Yoshi a movie star with a chalk ton of Nintendo references to have you flutter jumping for joy over it. This includes Mario riding his back through a lunch star like on Super Mario Galaxy 2’s cover or Yoshi carrying Baby Mario and Luigi on his back like in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island . All things that’ll probably never get old. Yoshi’s voice and mannerisms in the game are iconic for a reason. Glover and Galaxy filmmakers already had a great base to make this character translate well to the silver screen. Luckily for gamers, they didn’t mess it up and expanded upon the character’s fun personality in creative ways.
3
Princess Rosalina & The Lumas
Nintendo fans had been waiting almost 20 years for Rosalina to make it to the big screen. First off, her opening action sequence against Bowser Jr’s Megaleg robot on her Comet Observatory is simply stunning. Yet, there was no better actress to bring her to life than Nintendo superfan Brie Larson. Like in the Galaxy games, she brings such a protective, nurturing weight to the role. You feel her love for the Lumas in every breath, and she’s a part of the Galaxy Movie’s most emotional moments.
Her story time and Comet Observatory musical themes that carry over from the games have something to do with that, but her genuine connection to the Lumas is more than felt on their own merit. The Lumas also share a spot on this list because they’re starbit-induced sugar highs and child-like wonder that’ll make your heart explode. Rosalina is the other half of the very emotional themes of family that was mentioned earlier when talking about Bowser and his son. Themes that Rosalina brilliantly puts an exclamation point on thanks to her shocking connection to Peach.
2
Fox McCloud
This is the most surprising entry on this list because no one expected Fox McCloud from Star Fox to be in this film. Not even Nintendo fans’ wildest wish list for the Galaxy Movie would dare to have Fox on there. Yet, Galaxy and voice actor Glen Powell have single-handily revived this arguably dying space shooter franchise. Powell perfectly captures this captain’s energetic enthusiasm and campy sci-fi vibe. His interactions with Mario, Peach and Todd are also just golden.
Whether it’s Fox telling his franchise backstory in this epic anime-inspired segment, Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) to “Do a Barrel Role” or him piloting the Comet Observatory as a bunch of cosplaying Star Fox Lumas surround him, Fox gives you the biggest smiles in the Galaxy movie. Hopefully, this is a great sign for things to come for the Star Fox franchise.
1
Princess Peach
Princess Peach remains the unsung MVP of the Super Mario franchise. Taylor-Joy continues to play this iconic gaming princess with such emotional grace, courage and a snarky sense of humor. However, the Galaxy Movie gives Peach something she never had. That would be a family. The big weighty reveal of the sequel is that Rosalina is Peach’s older sister. The former had to painfully separate themselves, so no evil could get their unstoppable combined power. The scenes between a young Peach and Rosalina are absolutely heartbreaking, but that only makes their reunion at the end of the film that much sweeter. These movies have done a great job building Super Mario’s established lore. No better example of that is with Peach and Rosalina. Two princesses that never really shared the screen together outside sports games like Mario Tennis.
Beyond that treat-jerking plot point, Peach is just a delightful role model to watch on screen. No matter if she’s bickering with a robot, taking on a swarm of Ninjis and Birdo by herself or expressing her admiration for Mario in her own unique way, no one does it like Peach. Her evolution over the last decade from damsel in distress to a warrior princess fighting side-by-side with the Mushroom Kingdom has been wonderfully front-and-center in these films. However, the Galaxy Movie thrives in the quieter moments. Her complex relationships with Mario and Rosalina are why we love this princess.
- 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
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Anya Taylor-Joy
Princess Peach
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