Movie · 2026 · Family, Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy, Animation · 1h 38m · PG · English
Curator score: 1.3/10 (741.9K ratings)
The galaxy awaits.
Overview
Having thwarted Bowser's previous plot to marry Princess Peach, Mario and Luigi now face a fresh threat in Bowser Jr., who is determined to liberate his father from captivity and restore the family legacy. Alongside companions new and old, the brothers travel across the stars to stop the young heir's crusade.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.3/10
IMDb: 6.3/10
Letterboxd: 2.89/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 42%
Metacritic: 37
TMDB: 8.2/10
Director
Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Production
Illumination, Universal Pictures, Nintendo
Cast
Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Donald Glover, Benny Safdie, Brie Larson, Keegan-Michael Key, Glen Powell, Luis Guzmán, Issa Rae, Kevin Michael Richardson, Juliet Jelenic, Ed Skudder, Roxana Ortega, Virginia Dare Jelenic, Eric Bauza, Carlos Alazraqui, Hope Levy, Monia Ayachi
Curator Review
Verdict
A bright, fast-moving family adventure with polished animation, lots of fan-service, and enough starry spectacle to keep younger viewers engaged. But the response suggests it leans heavily on references and key-jingling over emotional depth, so it may feel thin if you want a stronger story or more inventive comedy.
Best for
kids and families looking for a colorful theatrical event
fans of the game universe who enjoy easter eggs and character cameos
viewers who prioritize visual spectacle over narrative complexity
Skip if
you want a story-first animated film with real emotional weight
you are tired of franchise fan-service and reference-heavy writing
you disliked the first film’s tone or Illumination-style comedy
Overview
This is the kind of sequel built to be experienced as a barrage of bright colors, familiar icons, and crowd-pleasing moments. The animation is clearly a selling point, and the interplanetary setting gives the movie a bigger, more playful canvas than a standard kingdom-bound adventure. For younger audiences and devoted fans, that alone may be enough.
Worth noting
The tradeoff is that the film appears to rely heavily on spectacle and recognition rather than surprise. The humor is broad, the plotting is simple, and the emotional beats seem secondary to the parade of callbacks and visual gags. That can still be entertaining, but it also makes the movie feel a little mechanical.
Bottom line
If you want a glossy family blockbuster with plenty of energy, it should do the job. If you’re hoping for a sharper script, richer character work, or a more original animated adventure, this one may leave you admiring the packaging more than the substance.
Top Letterboxd reviews
eddyburback · 14954 likes
an iphone alarm went off and that jolt of adrenaline was the only time i really felt anything during the movie
James (Schaffrillas) · 10960 likes
If you like Rosalina I'd probably sit this one out
𝐉 (3★) · 9791 likes
"What happened to the castle?"
- “It died”🥀🕊️
Kevflix And Chill (3★) · 7369 likes
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Degrees of Kevin Bacon: 11. Chris Pratt and Kevin Bacon in Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Joe A (2★) · 7356 likes
Why bother with storytelling when jingling the proverbial shiny keys in front of audience’s faces for 100 minutes guarantees a billion dollars? Will go hard for Cocomelon fans.
For a more emotionally resonant animated adventure with classic appeal.
Topics
animated adventure, family comedy, space fantasy, franchise sequel, fan service, colorful spectacle, brotherhood, video game adaptation, crowd-pleaser, lighthearted