Bloody Hell, Shigeru: The Mario Galaxy Movie Review Gap is Wider than a Black Hole
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Shigeru Miyamoto is baffled by the disconnect between *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s* record-breaking box office success and its 'harsh' critical reception, admitting the team took a more 'relaxed' approach this time around.
I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well? Like, you wanted a light breeze to cool your tea and you accidentally summoned a category-five cyclone? That seems to be the vibe over at Nintendo HQ right now. Our favorite creative wizard, Shigeru Miyamoto, is currently staring at the review scores for *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* with the kind of confused expression I usually reserve for trying to understand gas fees on a congested Sunday night.
According to a fascinating report from Eurogamer’s Robert Purchese, Miyamoto-san has been doing the rounds with the Japanese publication *Famitsu*, and he’s surprisingly candid about the fact that the critics have been, well, a bit brutal. It’s a classic case of the 'critical disconnect,' a phenomenon we see a lot in this industry where the folks paid to analyze the art and the folks who actually buy the tickets are living in two entirely different dimensions.
Let’s look at the digital tea leaves, shall we? On one hand, we have a box office behemoth. *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* is currently the highest-earning film of 2026, raking in a staggering $755 million and counting. If money were the only metric for success, Nintendo would be popping the finest bubbly in the Mushroom Kingdom. But then you look at the critical reception, and it’s a bit of a car crash. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics have slapped it with a dismal 49 percent. For context, the 2023 *Super Mario Bros. Movie* managed a slightly more respectable 59 percent.
Miyamoto told *Famitsu*—in a translation handled by Eurogamer—that he actually didn't expect the hammer to fall this hard. He thought that because the first film was judged harshly, the second one might get a bit of a pass. Instead, the reviewers went in even harder. He even tossed a bit of wizardly shade at the critics, noting it was 'strange' that those who were supposed to be revitalizing the industry were acting rather 'passive' about the whole thing. It’s a cheeky observation, isn't it? He’s basically suggesting that the critics are missing the point of the fun.
But here’s where my gentle skepticism starts to tingle. Why is the movie being panned while the audience score sits at a glowing 89 percent? Christian Donlan’s review over at Eurogamer gave it two stars, citing plenty of imagination but 'little else beneath the spectacle.' And honestly, mate, that sounds familiar. We see this in Web3 gaming all the time—projects that look like a million bucks (or a million tokens) but lack the actual soul or 'gameplay loop' to keep you invested once the flashy lights dim.
Miyamoto actually shed some light on why this film might feel a bit 'loose' compared to its predecessor. Apparently, the first movie was a bit of a grind. He spent six years redoing plot outlines with writer Matthew Vogel because he was terrified that a direct adaptation of a game wouldn't work as a narrative. But for the *Galaxy* sequel? He admitted they took a 'more relaxed approach.'
Now, 'relaxed' in corporate speak can often be a euphemism for 'we found a formula that makes money, so we stopped sweating the small stuff.' It’s a dangerous path to walk. When you stop worrying about the 'why' and just focus on the spectacle, you end up with a beautiful, hollow shell. It’s like a high-end NFT project with incredible art but zero utility—it looks great on your profile, but what are you actually *doing* with it?
However, it’s not all doom and gloom in the cosmic void. There is one massive, feathery silver lining that has the community absolutely buzzing. The film features a cameo by Star Fox ace pilot Fox McCloud, voiced by none other than *Top Gun* star Glen Powell. Miyamoto mentioned that while Nintendo usually keeps their brands in separate boxes (unless they’re smashing each other’s faces in *Smash Bros*), he felt it was time to 'relax those constraints' for the silver screen.
This is where the 'curious wizard' in me starts connecting the dots. Why Glen Powell? Why now? The rumors are swirling faster than a Luma in a spin-cycle that a new *Star Fox* game is set to be revealed for the 'Switch 2' (or whatever the next-gen hardware ends up being called) by the end of April. Including Fox in the year’s biggest movie isn't just a fun easter egg; it's a strategic move to prime the audience for a franchise revival. It’s cross-media synergy done with a deft hand, and I reckon it’s a brilliant way to leverage their IP.
So, what’s the real story here? Is it a case of critics being 'passive' and out of touch, or has Nintendo gotten a bit too comfortable with their 'relaxed' approach to storytelling? I suspect it’s a bit of both. We’re seeing the birth of a genuine Nintendo Cinematic Universe, and like any early-stage tech or creative endeavor, there are going to be some growing pains.
At the end of the day, if the fans are happy and the theaters are full, Nintendo is going to keep printing money. But as a gamer who appreciates a bit of depth with my platforming, I hope Miyamoto takes some of that 'harsh' feedback to heart for the next one. We don't just want a spectacle; we want a story that makes us feel as much as the games do.
Fair dinkum, though—$755 million says they’ve already won the argument. But keep an eye on those Star Fox rumors, mates. If we get a Glen Powell-voiced Fox McCloud in a high-fidelity space dogfighter this year, I might just forgive them for a 'loose' movie plot.
Tags: Nintendo, Mario Galaxy Movie, Shigeru Miyamoto, Star Fox, Gaming Trends
Original article: Eurogamer