Super Mario Galaxy: The Film – A Stellar Adventure

Release Information United States, Japan: 2026 Original Title: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Directors: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic Screenwriter: Matthew Fogel Voice Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day Distributor: Universal Pictures Runtime: 1h38 Genre: Animation Theatrical Release Date: April 1, 2026 Blu-ray/DVD/4K Release Date: August 12, 2026

In Super Mario Galaxy: The Film, Mario and Luigi are called back into action shortly after settling in the Mushroom Kingdom. They embark on a mission that delves into the shadows of Princess Peach's past, leading them and their new constellation of friends on an intergalactic journey across new worlds where unexpected alliances are formed.

The Film Review

Rating: 3.5/5

Following the successful transformation of the Mushroom Kingdom into a cinematic amusement park with Super Mario Bros. – The Film, directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic faced the challenge of creating a sequel that would not merely repeat the original. Super Mario Galaxy: The Film takes a bold leap into the cosmos, enhancing the established formula from 2023 by expanding its scope and pace. The film introduces familiar characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Bowser, while also welcoming new faces like Yoshi, Harmony, and Bowser Jr., all set against the backdrop of an entire galaxy.

The narrative crafted by Matthew Fogel remains intentionally simple, almost resembling a series of levels, which aligns with the essence of the gaming experience. Rather than aiming to revolutionize animated cinema, the film seeks to capture the thrill of discovering what lies beyond the next star. Sometimes, that single star is enough to propel a plumber forward.

A significant achievement of Super Mario Galaxy: The Film is its ability to adapt not only the beloved characters created by Shigeru Miyamoto but also the very logic of video games. The film’s tiny planets, gravity-defying movements, and varied environments allow Horvath and Jelenic to design a dynamic space that feels like a vast, ever-changing playground. The camera swoops and dives, mirroring Mario's movements in a manner reminiscent of gameplay. The vibrant animation, characteristic of Illumination, bursts with colors that could awaken anyone nearby, while the film also takes moments to breathe, particularly around the character of Harmony.

Beneath the interstellar adventure lies a subtle exploration of themes such as family, legacy, and the struggle to find one’s place in a world where roles seem predetermined. Bowser Jr.'s quest to connect with his father adds a surprisingly coherent emotional drive to the story, in line with the familial themes established in the first film. Ultimately, each character is searching for someone to bond with amidst the chaos.

This generosity in storytelling is both a strength and a slight weakness of Super Mario Galaxy: The Film. In its 98 minutes, the film aims to showcase a multitude of characters, worlds, powers, creatures, and Easter eggs with the exuberance of a child discovering a “select all” button. Some sequences would have benefited from additional time, as the plot primarily serves as a launchpad for visual spectacle. However, the film’s earnest approach to wonder makes it difficult to resist its charm. Brian Tyler's score cleverly incorporates musical themes from the games, while the animation frequently reaches impressive heights in depth, light, and movement. Returning voice talents, including Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black, seamlessly reprise their roles, with Brie Larson bringing a touch of melancholic softness to Harmony and Benny Safdie giving Bowser Jr. a fittingly energetic edge. While Super Mario Galaxy: The Film does not completely reinvent the formula, it expands it into a cosmic rollercoaster filled with ideas, Nintendo references, and vibrant colors, prioritizing the next world to explore over the profound mysteries of the human soul. After all, even Nietzsche didn’t have Yoshi.

The Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD Release

Rating: 4/5

The release of Super Mario Galaxy: The Film on Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD from Universal Pictures was highly anticipated, given that the stunning visual universe crafted by Illumination seems designed to showcase high-definition technology to its fullest. The result is impressive: presented in HDR10 and Dolby Vision, the Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD offers superb definition, allowing viewers to appreciate both character textures and the incredible detail of the various worlds traversed by Mario and his companions. The colors, in particular, elevate the visual experience, with vibrant primaries, intense light sources, and cosmic environments benefiting greatly from HDR, while deep blacks maintain their richness without losing detail.

Some densely packed scenes occasionally reveal the digital nature of the visuals, but it would take a keen eye to be bothered by this. On the audio front, Universal Pictures also provides a treat for French consumers, offering both the original and dubbed versions in Dolby Atmos. Both mixes deliver a playful spatial experience: vertical movements, object trajectories, gravitational shifts, explosions, ships, and creatures engage all speakers, while the bass delivers the necessary impact during action sequences. Dialogue remains clear, and Brian Tyler's music enjoys remarkable depth. Both versions provide an acoustically generous and immersive experience, perfectly matching the film’s galactic ambitions.

The Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD release also features a wealth of extras, with nearly an hour dedicated to the making of the film. The making-of segment (15 minutes) serves as the centerpiece, featuring insights from Shigeru Miyamoto, Chris Pratt, Brie Larson, Anya Taylor-Joy, and various team members discussing the film's development and its roots in the games, highlighting the care taken to honor the Nintendo legacy. Additional features include a section on characters (22 minutes), which further explores Mario and Luigi, Peach and Harmony, Bowser and Bowser Jr., and Toad and Yoshi, with actors, animators, character designers, and directors detailing each character's adaptation for the screen. The featurette “Exploring the Galaxy” (10 minutes) looks at the various worlds and environments, providing fascinating details about their visual design. “Galactic Themes” (5 minutes) discusses the ideas woven throughout the narrative, while “Cosmic Songs” (4 minutes) features Brian Tyler discussing the reuse and transformation of iconic melodies from the franchise. “Powers” (2 minutes) offers a fun inventory of the different power-ups, and “Galaxy Secrets” (3 minutes) examines the numerous Easter eggs hidden in the film. Given the sheer number of hidden references, the latter segment feels surprisingly brief; an audio commentary from Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic would have been an ideal addition. Overall, the Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD edition is visually stunning and richly editorial, sure to keep fans of the Mushroom Kingdom and avid explorers entertained for a long time.