When The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was teased in September 2025, I was beyond excited. As someone who loves the Super Mario Galaxy games, I couldn’t wait.
After enjoying The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I had high hopes that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie would be just as good.
However, I was slightly apprehensive when it came time to actually watch the film. In the lead-up to the movie’s release, extended trailers came out showing more characters and scenes that made me think, ‘Oh dear, I hope this doesn’t suck.’
Well, I watched the movie and I must say I was disappointed. The film started off strong, with foundations for a good story, but was quickly de-railed.
*spoilers start now*
What’s the plot?
Unlike Super Mario Bros., Mario is the protagonist of the Super Mario Galaxy games. After Princess Peach is kidnapped by the evil Bowser, Mario sets off collecting powerstars and fighting foes, all to defeat Bowser and rescue Peach.
However, in this case, Mario wasn’t even the star of his own movie. Instead, the red plumber’s screen time was overshadowed by Princess Peach, and his array of co-stars, some of which felt very random, like Fox McCloud. I’m sure moviegoers were excited to see Fox, but I think he served as a reference, rather than a plot device.
Speaking of plot, it was all over the place. So much was happening and yet nothing was happening.
For context, Rosalina – powerful mother of the stars – is kidnapped by Bowser Jr. and rendered useless for the remainder of the film. What a waste, by the way!
Rather than Mario and her stars (the lumas) going on a quest to rescue Rosalina, they seek help from Peach. She and Toad go on a wild goose chase around the galaxy. The main plotline is turned into a side quest for Princess Peach to rescue and reconnect with her long lost sister…
Yes, Rosalina and Peach are now sisters. Guys, I’m getting Mufasa flashbacks.
Meanwhile in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and Luigi, and gang, feel like spare parts. They eventually get involved in Bowser Jr.’s plans and help defeat the evil koopas, but in the end, it’s sisterhood that breaks the curse, and thaws Ana’s frozen heart.
I mean, it’s Peach who frees Rosalina, and the cosmos is saved.
What should’ve happened.
If it was me in the writer’s seat, this is what I would’ve done:
The evil Bowser Jr. is stealing stars from planets in the galaxy. He wants to rescue his father, Bowser. Meanwhile, everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom is enjoying Princess Peach’s birthday celebrations.
BOOM. Bowser Jr. attacks the Mushroom Kingdom, kidnapping Peach and rescuing the imprisoned Bowser. Mario and the gang must rescue Peach and save the galaxy.
Enter Rosalina – who is wary of Bowser Jr. She helps Mario and the gang. Aboard the Comet Observatory, they venture in search of say, 2 or 3 Powerstars, in order to have enough energy to travel to Bowser’s lair at the far end of the galaxy. One of Rosalina’s lumas helps Mario by giving him cosmic powers. Along the way, we meet some characters from the Super Mario Galaxy games.
The gang help defeat Bowser Jr, as Mario defeats Bowser. The galaxy is saved and Peach is rescued.
Bowser: King of the Wimps
Oh and another thing – we need to talk about Bowser’s character arc.
Bowser is the Mario-loathing, galaxy-conquering antagonist, and he’s been beefing with Mario since 1985.
So when you portray that evil king as having a sudden change of heart, and questioning his own dastardly ways, we have a problem.
Having been defeated in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Bowser is imprisoned and sentenced to live the rest of his days in a tiny body. But when Mario makes him big again, instead of admitting it’s all been a ruse and escaping, Bowser doubles down and insists that he is a changed koopa.
Well, that is before being reunited with his evil son and returning to his evil ways, as quick as you can say ‘flying blue shell’.
I didn’t buy the emotional pathos for a second. Instead, Bowser should’ve convinced Mario to make him big Bowser again, tricked him and reunited with Bowser Jr.
This could’ve been a great movie
I think there is the temptation with films with a massive fanbase, like Super Mario Bros., to want to include everything. This made for an insanely fast paced film. By shoehorning in characters that felt completely out of place, and taking us to different universes that didn’t add anything to the plot, it made for a weak story. It didn’t do justice to the Super Mario Galaxy games.
Most importantly, if the writers had’ve stuck to one singular quest which rang true to the source material, then this could’ve been a great follow up film.
rebekah writes stuff. 