Super Mario Galaxy Movie Stumbles on Rotten Tomatoes, Trails Chris Pratt’s First Mario Hit

Alright, it looks like the plumbers are blasting off again—and critics are, well, not exactly thrilled about it. Universal just dropped The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and if you were hoping the sequel would leap over its predecessor, you might want to adjust your expectations. Let’s break down what’s going on with Mario’s trip to space and why people are calling this one a bit of a crash landing.

The Setup: Mario Goes to Space (But Not Everyone's On Board)

So, here’s the deal: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic—the same pair behind 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Chris Pratt is back voicing Mario. Jack Black, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, and Keegan-Michael Key are all here again too. This time, the big adventure takes the crew beyond the Mushroom Kingdom to, you guessed it, outer space. The main plot? Mario and Luigi join forces with their friends to save Princess Rosalina from Bowser Jr. It should be epic—or at least, bigger and more ambitious than usual.

Critics Aren't Impressed: The Highlights (Or Lowlights)

The reviews are in, and the theme is pretty clear: critics aren't embracing this as a next-level Mario outing. If you thought the first movie was a little thin, apparently get ready for more of the same—maybe even less.

• Story and Structure: Multiple critics are calling out the film’s empty plot and lack of character focus. Alissa Wilkinson at The New York Times says there’s 'a flat empty nothingness' to it—even more than the last movie. Ouch.
• Visuals: Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian doesn’t pull punches either, comparing the look to 'a visually dull screensaver' with the same 'cheesy, Euro-knockoff' animation style as before.
• Energy (or Lack of It): William Bibbiani at TheWrap gets creative, writing that the movie is so insubstantial that 'after a while you can't even hear the dialogue over the incessant sound of Aristotle's ghost punching himself.' That’s... vivid.
• Something Positive: Not every critic is bashing it. Jonathan Sim at ComingSoon.com says the film is 'bigger, brighter, and far more ambitious in scope,' prioritizing spectacle and entertainment over deep storytelling. If you’re here to see colorful, over-the-top Mario action and cameos, he says you might still have a good time.

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Going Down

Let’s talk numbers. Right now, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is sitting at a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes. Yes, that's even lower than 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which managed a 59% from critics—though, to be fair, neither is exactly Oscar bait. The sequel’s audience score hasn’t landed yet, so no official word on whether Mario fans will rescue it or let it fall into a lava pit. For comparison, Chris Pratt’s first Mario movie pulled a huge 95% audience score, so who knows—maybe nostalgia and bright colors will pull a repeat.

Worth Noting: Critics vs. Audiences (Again)

One thing is clear from the early reactions: there’s a good chance critics and fans will split on this one, just like last time. Star-studded voice cast or not, it seems critics want a little more substance with their fan service. But if you just want to watch Mario spin-jump his way through space and hear Jack Black chew the scenery, you might get what you came for.

The bottom line? The Super Mario Galaxy Movie sets its sights higher, but according to the critics—maybe it missed a few platforms on the way up.