I’m Shook The Critics And Audience Scores For The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Are In Totally Different Star System

We haven't even reached the first weekend of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie being in theaters, and it's already setting the internet on fire. Amidst all the talk of Star Fox and other cameos in the movie, and the possibility of Nintendo doing a shared universe film, we now have to talk about the intergalactic gap between Rotten Tomatoes' Critic and Audience scores.

It's not uncommon for critics and audiences to have opposing viewpoints on major IP blockbuster releases, but the difference in opinion on this 2026 movie schedule entry is staggering. So, here's what we know about the situation, and why audiences are loving The Super Mario Galaxy Movie despite its reviews not being so great.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's Critic Score Vs. Audience Score Is Wildly Different

Per Rotten Tomatoes, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Nintendo and Illumination's sequel to its billion-dollar box office film has a 42% critic rating and a 91% audience score as of writing. That's a pretty stunning difference for a movie that received middling-to-low reviews from critics who commonly panned it for its breakneck pace and overreliance on cameos.

It may not appeal to the average critic, but it seems people are overwhelmingly impressed with seeing Pikmin and all the other unexpected characters that show up in the film. Here are some of the verified audience reviews I came across:

• Whether you are a child or adult the movie captures all the classic characters in a larger than life fantasy world that is sure to give a sense of pure joy and nostalgia while incorporating modern points of the Nintendo universe. - Johnny C
• Fun film! Clearly made for Mario/Nintendo fans. - PD
• If you’re a Mario fan just go see it, you’ll love it! - Joseph
• This sequel was the perfect love letter to not just Mario fans, but to all Nintendo fans. - Jadan S
• My Grandson loved it. Quality of film was great. If you are a Mario fan, this one's for you! - Debbie

These aren't as comprehensive of reviews as what you'd see from critics, but they're also coming from an audience that likely isn't scrutinizing it as much either. It's comforting to hear as a Nintendo fan who also often sides with critics, and it makes me think I need to turn my brain off for this one.

What Critics Have Said About The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

By and large, the most common complaint I've read about The Super Mario Galaxy Movie from critics is that it prefers style over substance by an overwhelming margin. I think Empire's Helen O' Hara summarized the gist of complaints I've seen, with the following:

I heard a friend say it may be the first movie for a generation of kids raised on YouTube Shorts, which also may speak to the quick moments of fan service and never hanging on any one moment for too long. I gotta hand it to Illumination for that strategy, because they seem to have nailed the stuff kids today are most entranced by.

That said, the failure of the short-lived streaming service Quibi is proof that older audiences are not like the younger crowd when it comes to how they consume content. I'm curious to see what The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's success could mean for the future of kids' movies, and how other upcoming 2026 movies and beyond will be influenced by it.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is in theaters, and readers should definitely see it for themselves before passing judgment. I'm such a Nintendo fan, no review was going to stop me from seeing it, so I'm hoping I feel more like the casual audience who goes to the theater to watch this video game adaptation.