Super Mario Galaxy Movie: Reviews, Digital Release, and Box Office Performance

The animated sequel Super Mario Galaxy: La película has established a dominant presence at the global box office since its release on April 1, 2026, though it has faced a more divided reception from critics than its predecessor.

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the film follows Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach as they travel to the far reaches of space and across the galaxy. The production reunites the creative team from the first Super Mario Bros. Movie, attempting to scale up the technical ambition of the franchise.

Box Office Performance

Despite critical mixed reviews, the film has proven to be a commercial powerhouse. According to reporting from El Planeta, the movie surpassed $747 million in global earnings by its third weekend in theaters, making it the highest-grossing film of 2026 up to that point.

The film’s trajectory showed strong initial momentum, with Infobae reporting that it earned over $440 million within its first two weeks of release. In the United States and Canada, the film reached a national cumulative total of $308.1 million by its second weekend, according to data from Excelsior.

The international market has similarly embraced the sequel. In Spain, the film maintained its top position at the box office during the weekend of April 17 to 19, 2026, reaching an accumulated total of nearly 16.5 million euros, as reported by Box Office.

Critical Reception

While the numbers remain high, critics have been less enthusiastic. A review from 20Minutos described the journey of Mario and Luigi to the stars as visually ambitious, but empty, suggesting the film fails to fully shine.

Other critical assessments have echoed this sentiment. Superdeporte characterized the second animated installment as very overwhelming and too repetitive. Similarly, GameReactor’s analysis suggested that the film does worse exactly what the first film did wrong, comparing the experience to a piece of downloadable content rather than a full cinematic evolution.

Digital Release and Home Viewing

As the theatrical window closes, the film is transitioning to home entertainment. Reports from VGC and CityTecno, citing the source When to Stream, indicate that Universal Pictures plans to release the film on Video on Demand (VOD) and digital platforms on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

The digital purchase price is reportedly set at $24.99. The film is expected to be available for purchase on several major platforms, including:

• Apple TV
• Prime Video
• YouTube Movies & TV
• Fandango at Home

While Universal Pictures has not officially confirmed the May 5 date, the timing aligns with the film’s current box office cycle. This digital launch is for purchasing the film, distinct from a later streaming debut on subscription services.

Looking further ahead, the franchise appears to be expanding. According to reports from GameReactor, Universal has already added a calendar of releases that suggests a third film in the series, Super Mario Bros.: La Película 3, could arrive in 2028.