The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrives in US theaters on April 1, 2026 — and if early buzz from its Kyoto premiere on March 28 is any indication, it may outperform the original. The first Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing animated films ever. Now Nintendo and Illumination are swinging for the stars — literally.
Here's everything you need to know before you buy your tickets.
Release Date & Where to Watch
- US Theatrical Release: April 1, 2026
- Japan Theatrical Release: April 24, 2026
- Other regions: Staggered throughout April 2026
- Streaming: No confirmed date yet; expect a 45-60 day theatrical window before digital release
The film premiered in Kyoto on March 28, 2026, with the lead cast in attendance. Early audience reactions describe it as "bigger, funnier, and more emotional" than the first movie.
Full Cast — Who's Returning and Who's New
Most of the original voice cast is back, with several high-profile additions that expand the Mario universe significantly.
- Chris Pratt as Mario (returning)
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach (returning)
- Charlie Day as Luigi (returning)
- Jack Black as Bowser (returning)
- Keegan-Michael Key as Toad (returning)
- Brie Larson as Princess Rosalina (new)
- Donald Glover as Yoshi (new)
- Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. (new)
- Issa Rae as the Honey Queen (new)
- Luis Guzmán as Wart (new)
- Glen Powell as Fox McCloud (new, cameo/tease)
The biggest new addition is Brie Larson as Princess Rosalina, who was heavily featured in the November 2025 trailer. Rosalina — the space-traveling guardian of the Lumas — is central to the plot and is already drawing comparisons to Princess Peach's role in the first film.
Donald Glover as Yoshi has been the most talked-about casting since the final trailer dropped on March 9. This is Yoshi's first appearance in the film series, and early reactions suggest Glover brings unexpected warmth and humor to the role.
Glen Powell as Fox McCloud is the biggest surprise reveal — hinting that this cinematic universe may be expanding beyond Mario into broader Nintendo IP.
Plot: What Happens in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie?
The story takes Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad into outer space after a distress signal leads them to the Comet Observatory, home of Princess Rosalina and her Lumas. The adventure draws heavily from the Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 video games.
The central conflict: Bowser Jr., humiliated by his father's repeated failures, has gone rogue — building his own armada to conquer the galaxy and prove himself worthy of the Bowser name. This gives the film a different emotional core than the original, which was essentially a Mario origin story.
Wart (voiced by Luis Guzmán) appears as a secondary villain — a deep-cut reference that has Nintendo fans buzzing. Wart hasn't had a major appearance since the original Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988).
Trailers: What We've Seen So Far
All three trailers are available on Nintendo's official YouTube channel. The final trailer crossed 40 million views in its first week.
How Does It Compare to the First Movie?
The 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie was criticized in some corners for being too fast-paced and light on story — though audiences didn't seem to care, making it a box office juggernaut. The sequel appears to have addressed those concerns.
- Bigger scope — space setting opens up massive visual opportunities
- Deeper cast with more character development expected
- Rosalina is a beloved character with built-in Nintendo fanbase
- Bowser Jr. as villain gives the film a fresh emotional angle
- Yoshi's debut gives younger audiences a fan-favorite character
- Chris Pratt's Mario voice remains controversial among die-hard fans
- Space setting may alienate younger kids who preferred the Mushroom Kingdom
- High expectations from the 2023 film are difficult to exceed
- No word yet on a Waluigi appearance (a perennial fan demand)
Early critical buzz from the Kyoto premiere is stronger than what the first film received at its equivalent preview stage. One outlet described it as "Pixar-level emotional beats wrapped in Nintendo's signature bombast."
Box Office Expectations
Analysts are projecting an opening weekend of $95–120 million in North America — potentially topping the original's $204M domestic total with a longer tail given the expanded cast and space spectacle. Globally, the film is tracking for a $400M+ opening weekend.
The Nintendo Cinematic Universe Is Expanding
The Fox McCloud cameo in the final trailer has set fan forums ablaze. Star Fox has been rumored as the next Nintendo franchise in development at Illumination, and Powell's appearance — while brief — is widely interpreted as a setup for a standalone film.
Nintendo has said very little publicly, but the pattern is clear: each Mario film plants a seed for the next. The 2023 movie teased Donkey Kong's world; the sequel appears to be teasing something bigger.
Should You See It in IMAX or Standard?
Given the space visuals and the film's emphasis on cosmic scale, IMAX is strongly recommended if available near you. The Kyoto premiere used a massive screen presentation and reviews specifically mention sequences that benefit from the extra real estate. Dolby Cinema is a worthy second choice.
The Bottom Line
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrives with massive expectations and, if early reactions are accurate, the substance to back them up. It opens April 1 in the US — which also happens to be April Fool's Day, a date Nintendo chose deliberately, presumably because they're fully aware how many people will Google whether the movie is a joke.
It's not. It's very real, it opens in two days, and it may be the animated event of 2026.
