The Mario universe has grown a lot in recent years, starting with The Super Mario Bros. Movie and expanding into the much bigger sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. While both films share the same core characters, they feel very different in scale, tone and storytelling approach, and honestly that’s what makes this comparison interesting.
Super Mario Basic Comparison Table
| Category | Super Mario Bros Movie (2023) | Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Directors | Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic | Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic |
| Writer | Matthew Fogel | Matthew Fogel |
| Genre | Adventure, Comedy | Sci-Fi, Adventure |
| Scale | Mushroom Kingdom | Outer Space / Galaxies |
| Budget | ~$100M | $110M |
| Box Office | $1B+ approx | $414M |
| Reviews | Positive | Mixed to Negative |
| Main New Character | Donkey Kong (expanded role) | Rosalina, Bowser Jr, Yoshi |
Story Comparison
The Super Mario Bros Movie tells a simple and fun story. Mario enters a new world, teams up with Peach, and fights Bowser to save Luigi. It feels clean and easy to follow, which worked really well for a family audience.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie goes much bigger with its story. This time, the plot moves into space where Princess Rosalina is kidnapped and Bowser Jr tries to use her power to create a universe-destroying weapon. Mario, Luigi and their friends travel across galaxies to stop him and save everything.
The idea is exciting, but the storytelling feels a bit messy in places and sometimes jumps too fast between events, which can make it slightly confusing.
Cast and Characters
Both films share a strong returning cast:
- Chris Pratt as Mario
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach
- Charlie Day as Luigi
- Jack Black as Bowser
The Galaxy movie adds some important new characters:
- Rosalina, who brings emotional depth
- Bowser Jr, who adds a new villain layer
- Yoshi, finally playing a major role
- Fox McCloud, which is a surprising crossover
These additions make the sequel feel bigger, but at times some characters don’t get enough development, which feels like a missed chance.
World and Visual Upgrade
The Mushroom Kingdom in the first movie is colorful and grounded within Mario’s traditional world.
The Galaxy movie completely changes the setting. Now we see:
- Multiple planets
- Space environments
- Gravity-defying worlds
- Lumas and cosmic energy
Visually, the film looks amazing, and honestly that part works really well. The animation feels more ambitious, even if the story struggles to keep up.
Tone and Emotion
The Super Mario Bros Movie is light, fun and focused on humor.
The Galaxy movie tries to add emotional layers, especially with:
- Peach and Rosalina’s sister connection
- Bowser and Bowser Jr’s relationship
These ideas are good, but they are not explored deeply enough, so the emotional impact feels incomplete sometimes.
Box Office vs Reviews
The interesting part is the contrast between success and reception.
- The Galaxy movie earned around $414 million worldwide
- It became one of the highest-grossing animated films of 2026
- But critics gave it mixed to negative reviews
Many reviews praised the visuals but criticized:
- Weak storytelling
- Overcrowded plot
- Lack of emotional payoff
Still, audiences enjoyed it more than critics, which happens a lot with big animated franchises.
Strengths of Each Film
Super Mario Bros Movie
Simple and clean story
Strong humor and pacing
Great introduction to Mario universe
Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Massive scale and ambition
Stunning visuals and animation
Expands the Mario universe
Weak Points
The Super Mario Bros Movie can feel too basic for some viewers.
The Galaxy movie feels overloaded, with too many ideas but not enough focus, which slightly hurts the experience.