The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Continues a 33-Year Nintendo Trend

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Nintendo has consistently faced challenges when trying to create successful movies based on its video games. The 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. film, despite a $48 million budget and the popularity of the game, received very negative reviews, earning only a 27% score on Rotten Tomatoes. While the 2023 animated Super Mario Bros. Movie was a significant improvement with better animation and a famous cast, critics were still split, giving it a 59% approval rating. Now, with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie released, it seems this pattern of mixed critical reception continues.

After 86 reviews, The Super Mario Bros. Movie currently has a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which means it’s considered a “Rotten” film by critics. However, despite the negative reviews, experts predict the movie will earn over $160 million domestically on its opening weekend, showing that audiences aren’t letting the criticism stop them from seeing it. The first Super Mario movie also received mixed reviews but still became a huge financial success, earning $1.3 billion worldwide. Importantly, 95% of general audiences liked the first movie on Rotten Tomatoes, and the new film could see similar approval from viewers.

What Are Critics Actually Saying About The Super Mario Galaxy Movie?

Okay, so I’ve seen The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and the reaction is…divided, to say the least. It feels a lot like what people said about the first movie, honestly. The biggest complaint? It’s just too much. Too many references for die-hard Nintendo fans, a constant barrage of visuals, and non-stop action. But all that spectacle comes at a cost – the characters don’t really feel like they’re going through anything, and the story feels…thin. They introduce Rosalina, voiced by Brie Larson, as a key player, but she doesn’t get nearly enough to do. And there’s this interesting rivalry brewing between Toad and Yoshi that just…disappears when things get chaotic. One critic at IndieWire put it perfectly: it feels like someone just took a bunch of action figures and smashed them together. It’s loud, messy, and the comedy and action feel disconnected. In fact, one reviewer at Variety went as far as to say the first Mario movie was one of the best animated films in years, while this one is…well, one of the worst. It’s a tough assessment, but I can see where they’re coming from.

Despite the criticisms, many reviewers have positive things to say. Spencer Perry from ComicBook.com points out the movie is visually engaging and even better than the first one. Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter agrees, stating the sequel perfectly caters to its intended audience. Similarly, critic Dan Murrell believes the film is solid, thanks to its strong design, faithfulness to the source material, and the energetic performances of the voice actors.

Despite differing opinions, everyone agrees the film spends a lot of time including hidden references and nods to not just previous Mario games, but other Nintendo series like Star Fox and Pikmin. While this appeals to dedicated fans who recognize everything, it can confuse or exclude viewers who just want to enjoy the movie as a standalone story. This was a key issue with the first film from 2023, and it seems to be even more pronounced in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now playing in theaters. 

Excited about The Super Mario Bros. Movie? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-01 15:40