The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026): film details

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is included in our 2026 film coverage. Directed by Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, this English-language film runs for 98 minutes.

The film file

Our research-based take

The Salty Score: 3/5. A bright ride with a thin story.

The colourful worlds and constant game references sound like a fun afternoon for fans. Critical coverage is less convinced by the storytelling, which seems to rush from one recognisable sight to the next. Our score is for the sheer playful spectacle, with a warning: if you want character development to keep pace with the visual fireworks, you may be left waiting at the next warp pipe.

There is a real distinction between a movie that uses a game world creatively and one that merely points at it. Fans may enjoy spotting locations, characters and visual references as quickly as the filmmakers can put them on screen. That can be a perfectly valid kind of fun, especially for children who already know the games. The weaker critical response, however, suggests that the film rarely lets any one idea develop into a memorable dramatic scene. Energy is not the same thing as momentum. We would recommend it to viewers looking for a colourful, uncomplicated family outing and to Mario fans who prize fidelity to the games. Someone hoping for a stronger stand-alone animated story may prefer to wait for home viewing. The middle score reflects that divide: a pleasant enough ride that leaves its most interesting storytelling possibilities in another galaxy.

This is our editorial judgment from published information and critical coverage, not a first-hand screening review. Read the source coverage. We may revise the score after viewing the film.

Sources & poster

Film information and release details. The theatrical poster belongs to its respective rights holders and is shown to identify the film.