Super Mario Galaxy film opens worldwide with strong box office projections
The Nintendo and Illumination sequel arrives in cinemas Wednesday with early reviews praising visuals but questioning narrative depth.
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Super Mario Galaxy: La película opened in cinemas Wednesday, April 1, following the massive success of its predecessor, Super Mario Bros.: La película, which earned over $1.3 billion globally three years ago.
The film reunites directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic with the original voice cast, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, and Jack Black as Bowser. New voice talent includes Donald Glover, Benny Safdie, and Brie Larson, among others. The film brings back Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach while introducing fan-favorite characters Yoshi, Bowser Jr., and Princess Rosalina.
Box office projections indicate the film will exceed $350 million globally during its theatrical run. The sequel is a co-production between Nintendo, Universal Pictures, and Illumination Studios, the company behind the Minions and Despicable Me franchises. Some cinema complexes are showing more than 50 daily screenings of the film.
Early critical reception has been mixed. Reviews praise the film's visual presentation and color palette, noting it maintains the entertaining, action-packed tone of the original with humor and family-friendly content. However, critics have questioned the narrative strength, with some describing it as repetitive of its predecessor while noting weak storytelling despite impressive visual execution. Some reviews cite excessive fan service as a concern.
The film includes post-credits scenes that hint at the future direction of the Mario cinematic universe. The sequel was released one day ahead of the typical Thursday premiere schedule, likely to capitalize on school dismissal times and extend the weekend audience reach.
The film's arrival comes as Universal Pictures and Illumination have confirmed that Fox McCloud, the anthropomorphic fox protagonist from the Star Fox video game franchise, appears in the movie. Actor Glen Powell provides the voice for the character. This appearance has generated speculation about a broader Nintendo cinematic universe expansion beyond the Mario franchise.
Prior to the film's release, Madrid hosted an immersive experience at La Vaguada shopping center from March 20-29, created by Freebox, which transported visitors into the film's universe. The activation was described as unique globally in its approach to connecting audiences with the film.