The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Would’ve Been Better Without Mario

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Be warned, this contains spoilers for The Super Mario Bros. Movie! Despite the first film earning $1.3 billion, many feel Mario didn’t need to be in the sequel. Chris Pratt once again voices Mario in this animated follow-up from Illumination. The story centers on Mario’s quest to find Princess Peach, who has left the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Rosalina from Bowser Jr.

Considering the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Mario’s popularity, it’s natural to expect him to be central to the next film. And that’s true – he appears throughout the movie, gets a good amount of screen time, and several scenes focus on his adventures with Luigi and Yoshi.

It’s hard to ignore the fact that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie doesn’t really need Mario – he doesn’t play a significant role in how the story ends. The filmmakers, Illumination and Nintendo, might have been better off telling a different story altogether, one that focuses on the elements the movie actually cares about, without including Mario at all.

Mario Isn’t Necessary For The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Story

Ultimately, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is more about Princess Peach than Mario. While Mario is included because of his iconic status and the source game, the story doesn’t truly need him to move forward.

The movie’s plot feels unfocused because Mario spends so much time pursuing Peach, which makes the main adventure feel secondary. Important moments, like finding Yoshi, defending the Mushroom Kingdom, teaming up with Bowser, and even traveling through space, often feel like detours that don’t actually impact the central story or its outcome.

Mario’s main goal is to rescue Peach, but she’s on a bigger adventure – searching for Rosalina, the mother of the Lumas. Peach takes the lead, visiting the Gateway Galaxy Casino to discover where Bowser Jr. might be holding Rosalina. She also enlists Fox McCloud to get a ride to Bowser’s Planet. In the end, it’s actually Peach who rescues Rosalina, not Mario.

Honestly, Peach really carries the story in this movie. Her journey is what makes it engaging, while Mario’s side quests feel more like fun little nods to The Super Mario Galaxy – cool Easter eggs, sure, but they don’t actually matter to the plot. I kept thinking, you could’ve taken Mario out almost entirely and the story would have unfolded pretty much the same way.

A Mario-Less Movie Could’ve Allowed More Time For Peach’s Journey

With $1.3 billion at stake – the immense financial success Mario represents – it was always unlikely Nintendo and Illumination would make a Super Mario Galaxy Movie that didn’t heavily feature him. However, minimizing Mario’s role could have created more opportunities to develop Peach’s character and storyline.

If the movie didn’t include Mario’s storyline, it could have focused more on its strongest elements. We could have seen more of Princess Peach and Toad’s journey, and Fox McCloud could have had a larger, more developed role instead of just a brief appearance.

Without Mario’s extensive screen time, the movie could have delved deeper into the surprising revelation that Princess Peach and Rosalina are sisters. The scene where Peach discovers this through Rosalina’s storybook feels rushed, and the significance of this family connection isn’t fully explored afterward.

It’s odd that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie waits until the very end to reveal Peach and Rosalina are sisters. If Mario hadn’t been involved, the movie could have given Peach a chance to discuss this discovery, explore its meaning for her, and made her rescue of Rosalina at the end feel much more impactful.

Princess Peach is truly the heart of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, driving the story and its themes. While Mario is featured, Peach is effectively the main character. The filmmakers might have been better off focusing the entire film on her, which could have even led to a higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Peach Deserves A Spinoff Movie After The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Given Anya Taylor-Joy’s popular performance as Princess Peach in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Nintendo and Illumination should consider making a spin-off film focused on her character. Peach’s expanded backstory, family, and abilities now provide a strong foundation for a full-length movie of her own.

A movie starring Princess Peach could give Nintendo the opportunity to team her up with Rosalina for a new adventure in space. The recent Super Mario Galaxy Movie hinted at villains wanting their powers, and now that Peach and Rosalina are together again, they could be the ones to save the universe. Plus, a Peach-focused movie would allow Nintendo to minimize Mario’s role or explain why he isn’t involved.

Nintendo has likely signaled its interest in having Illumination create a film like this. The studio has a pattern of using highly successful, billion-dollar movies to boost excitement for video game characters they intend to feature in future projects.

As a movie fan, I’ve noticed a really interesting trend! Remember how Seth Rogen’s Donkey Kong was a breakout star in The Super Mario Bros. Movie? Well, two years later, they announced Donkey Kong Bananza! And it sounds like Illumination isn’t stopping there – they’re reportedly working on a whole Donkey Kong movie. It’s the same with Star Fox too. After Chris Pratt voiced Fox McCloud in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, rumors are flying that Nintendo is planning a new Star Fox game, and maybe even an animated series down the line. It’s like these cameos are testing the waters for bigger things!

Following the successful depiction of Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo announced Princess Peach: Showtime! This marked the first time Peach had been the central character in a game since 2005. While reviews for Showtime were somewhat mixed, the game still sold over 1.2 million copies in its first ten days, demonstrating strong demand for a new game starring Peach.

The Super Mario movies from Illumination have given Princess Peach a prominent role, and now it’s time for her to star in her own film. This would be a great way to grow Illumination’s Nintendo universe and allow Peach, Rosalina, and even Daisy to lead their own adventures. Then, the next movie after The Super Mario Galaxy Movie can return to focusing on Mario’s story.

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2026-04-03 18:52