Yoshi Debut in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) | Film Review

‘The Super Mario Movie’ (2023) was a global success and I have no doubt this franchise has every potential to continue adding to the world and introducing a multitude of characters. This sequel has just as much imagination and enthusiasm as its predecessor but sadly it was missing the element of surprise. ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ is filled to the brim with endearing character moments, memorable song choices and an abundance of spectacular Nintendo style fight scenes. For those of us who are fans of the games this is a fun ode to the characters we know and love but it doesn’t quite go further than that. This is a simple love letter to Mario and Nintendo and for some that may be enough but for me it lacked any real memorability. I will say, Yoshi is a worthy addition to the cast and helped add elements of comedy to the plot, Yoshi was a crowd pleaser in my cinema screen and personality I wish we got to see more of him! 

Let’s start by saying, yes, Donald Glover deserves an Oscar for his performance as Yoshi! Just kidding but in all seriousness the voice cast of these films is super strong. Chris Pratt is a subtle yet effective Mario, Charlie Day has a perfect voice for Luigi, Jack Black strikes again as Bowser and Anya Taylor-Joy gives a soft touch to Princess Peach. Additionally, we get to witness Brie Larson as Rosalina, Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr who was a perfect surprise in this role and Donald Glover as Yoshi. Who despite his repetitive one word answers was easily one of the most likeable characters of the whole film. 

A star studded cast can help sell a film and these films have one of the greatest voice cast lineups. Additionally we get to see a snippet of Glen Powell in the role of Fox McCloud, a protagonist of Nintendo's Star Fox series. Fans went wild when this was announced before the films release and it was a fun way to introduce the character. I have no doubt this will open the doors to a spin off feature all about his separate adventures. The world of Nintendo is an endless source of material for Universal and I am excited to see what they do next, I just want more Yoshi and Bowser please and also I want to see Wario next!! 

Despite having a fun time in the cinema and having incredibly high hopes for this film as a Mario fan, something didn’t quite impress me as much as the first film did. Perhaps it was the chaotic and overstimulating storyline or the lack of Yoshi after the first 30 minutes. The opening scene of Mario and Luigi racing in the desert then discovering Yoshi was a brilliant set up for the film but after that it slowly went down hill for me, especially the last 40 minutes which completely lost my interest. 

Overall, The Super Mario movies do exactly what they promise, they give you a simple and entertaining watch with little substance beneath the spectacle. When considering this is a film made for children, I am not the perfect target audience and I know kids will absolutely adore these films, I would have! But as an adult, this sequel didn’t feel quite as memorable as the first film (Although I did love seeing a lot more of Luigi and the baby versions of the characters was amazing). I love the use of music, I love the retro, pixelated moments and I adore the addition of Yoshi but as a whole ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ is not something I will be returning to any time soon. Do I recommend it for families, without a shadow of a doubt, do I consider this a must watch film, not necessarily; unless you are a die hard fan of Nintendo.

Probe Points

★★★