Nintendo’s animated sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, rocketed to a record-breaking opening day on Wednesday, hauling in $34 million domestically and claiming the title of the biggest opening day of any film released in 2026 so far. The blockbuster follow-up to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie also set a new record for the highest-grossing Wednesday opening in April, narrowly surpassing its predecessor’s $31.7 million debut, according to IGN and Eurogamer.
Yet the film’s commercial triumph stands in stark contrast to its critical reception. On Metacritic, the movie currently sits at a score of 37, placing it squarely in “Generally Unfavourable” territory. The Guardian issued a withering one-star review comparing the production to something generated by artificial intelligence, while Variety dismissed it as an “eager product-tie-in mess.” On Rotten Tomatoes, only 41 percent of critics gave the film a positive review, a notable drop from the original movie’s already modest 59 percent approval rating.
Audiences, however, appear to be telling an entirely different story. The film boasts a 91 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.7 user rating on Metacritic, with fans praising its abundance of Easter eggs, action sequences, and faithful homages to the beloved video game franchise. Many viewers have expressed delight at seeing iconic Nintendo characters brought to life on the big screen, even if the narrative depth left professional critics wanting more.
Reviews from major gaming outlets landed somewhere in between. IGN awarded the film a 6 out of 10, acknowledging that while the movie is packed with fan-service references, it lacks the emotional core that gave its predecessor some genuine heart. Eurogamer was harsher, giving it just two stars and noting that the film never gives any of its characters — whether Mario, Bowser, or newcomer Rosalina — enough room to leave a lasting impression.
The massive opening day performance all but guarantees that Nintendo and animation studio Illumination will continue expanding the franchise. Bowser voice actor Jack Black has already hinted that a third Mario film could arrive as early as 2029, which would slot neatly into Nintendo’s increasingly ambitious big-screen calendar. A live-action Legend of Zelda adaptation is reportedly planned for 2027, and a leaked Donkey Kong spinoff could fill the 2028 slot, keeping Nintendo in cinemas every year for the rest of the decade.
Perhaps most intriguingly for longtime fans, the Galaxy Movie has reportedly introduced narrative elements that allow Mario to cross paths with virtually any character in Nintendo’s vast roster. That detail has fueled growing speculation about an eventual Super Smash Bros. movie that could unite the company’s most iconic heroes and villains under one roof — a prospect that, given these box office numbers, seems less like a fantasy and more like an inevitability.