The first wave of reviews for Super Mario Galaxy has arrived on the film’s opening day, and early reactions suggest Nintendo and Illumination may have another hit on their hands. Critics are praising the sequel’s animation, larger scope, and deep roster of Nintendo references, even as some note that the movie is aimed squarely at longtime fans rather than newcomers.
Several reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes described Super Mario Galaxy as a bigger and more ambitious follow-up to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The sequel expands the world beyond the Mushroom Kingdom, sending Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad across a series of planets inspired by the Super Mario Galaxy games.
Rosalina and Bowser Jr. make their film debuts, while Fox McCloud of Star Fox also appears in a crossover role that many critics said points toward a larger Nintendo cinematic universe.
For many reviewers, the film’s biggest strength is its visual style. Critics repeatedly singled out the movie’s animation, with several calling it one of Illumination’s most impressive-looking projects to date.
David Gonzalez of The Cinematic Reel wrote that “this may be one of the studio’s best-looking efforts yet,” while M.N. Miller of InSession Film described the visuals as “truly jaw-dropping.”
Much of that praise centers on the film’s elaborate recreation of iconic locations from the games, including the Star Observatory, Beach Bowl Galaxy, and the casino-inspired worlds briefly teased in earlier trailers.
The new reviews also confirm that Fox McCloud is more than a quick cameo. Glen Powell voices the Star Fox pilot, whose appearance was first hinted at in the trailer released earlier this month.
Critics said the crossover plays directly into the film’s growing collection of Nintendo Easter eggs, which already included references to Pikmin, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros. Katie Smith-Wong of Movie Marker said Powell “seems to be revisiting his Top Gun: Maverick role” through Fox’s confident personality.
At the same time, critics say Super Mario Galaxy does little to win over viewers who were not already invested in the franchise. Several reviews describe the film as fast-paced to the point of being overwhelming, with one set piece quickly giving way to the next.
Others argued that the story remains thin despite the larger cast and expanded world.
