Shigeru Miyamoto surprised by negative reviews of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Intelligence Summary
- See Shigeru Miyamoto’s reaction to the negative reviews of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and its box office performance.
Shigeru Miyamoto surprised by negative reviews of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has publicly expressed surprise at the negative reviews of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The film, which opened in Japan on April 24, 2026, has seen a notable split between audience reactions and critical response.
Reviews and reception
The film currently holds a 43% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have given it a strong 89%. That gap is striking, especially given its box office success. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has grossed more than $755 million worldwide and is the biggest film of 2026 so far.
Miyamoto's response
In an interview with Japanese magazine Famitsu, Miyamoto compared the current situation to The Super Mario Bros. Movie from 2023, which also drew a mix of positive and negative reviews. Miyamoto said he had expected the sequel to be judged less harshly than the first film, but was surprised by how much tougher the criticism turned out to be.
Timeline
2026-04-22: Miyamoto responds to the poor reviews of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, calling them "truly baffling."
2026-04-22: Miyamoto reacts to criticism of the film and says he is surprised by the negative ratings.
2026-04-23: Miyamoto says he did not expect the criticism to be so severe for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Comparison with earlier films
The earlier film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, had a Metacritic score of 46, while The Super Mario Galaxy Movie sits at a low 37. It remains to be seen how Nintendo's future film slate, including a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie in 2027, will perform.
Looking ahead
Despite the mixed reviews, the film remains a financial success. Plans are already in place for more movies, including a third Mario film in 2029 and a Donkey Kong spin-off. Miyamoto's comments on the creative process and the choices made in the films offer insight into how Nintendo approaches different media.
The discussion around the mix of characters, such as the inclusion of Fox McCloud, also raises questions about future crossover possibilities within Nintendo's universe. Miyamoto said some freedom may be allowed when it comes to film versions of their iconic characters.
In short, Miyamoto's surprise at the reviews reflects the challenges filmmakers and studios face in today's cinema, especially when adapting beloved franchises for the big screen.
