The fans have spoken loud and clear, and it turns out they could not care less what the critics have to say about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The animated sequel hit theaters just a couple of days ago, and Rotten Tomatoes has already updated its Popcornmeter with over 2,500 verified audience ratings. Right now, the movie is sitting at a very impressive 90 percent.
Critics, on the other hand, have been pretty harsh, complaining about a lack of meaningful story or emotional weight. Apparently, they wanted something heavier, more serious, or at least more layered in its narrative.
But audiences are having none of that. Fans are buzzing about all the nostalgia, the clever Easter eggs tucked away for longtime players, and the pure, joyful wonder that fills every frame. It feels like a big, colorful celebration of everything that made the original Super Mario Galaxy games so special, brought to life with energy and heart.
And honestly, it doesn't seem like the average moviegoer cares if there's much of a meaningful story. They simply want to escape for a bit and go on a fun, grand adventure, which it sounds like is exactly what The Super Mario Galaxy Movie delivers.
The audience summary on Rotten Tomatoes captures it perfectly: "Mamma Mia! Nintendo nostalgia hits again in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, delivering Easter eggs, joyful wonder, and a spirited cast that make this an instant replay."
We saw a similar disparity between critics and audiences with the original Super Mario Bros. Movie. The 2023 film faired a bit better with critics, but still only averaged a 59% on the Tomatometer, while scoring a 95% with fans on the Popcornmeter. Similarly, critics complained about the film's thin plot.
Critic and fan reviews aside, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie looks to be another smash hit for Universal. According to Deadline, the current box office total since Wednesday is $122.1 million with $59.1 million domestic and $63 million earned overseas. Both of these totals are about on par with The Super Mario Bros. Movie which means if the film stays on track we're looking at a $180-$190 million-plus opening weekend.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie went on to earn $1.36 billion worldwide, and its sequel is expected to follow a similar path. Even critics who didn’t like the film admitted it’s almost guaranteed to be a massive box office hit.
Do you plan on seeing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in theaters?