Mario is returning to the big screen. Following the huge success of the Super Mario Bros. movie , which grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide in 2023, animation studio Illumination and Nintendo are releasing a sequel, Super Mario Galaxy the Movie , in April 2026. Nintendo dropped the announcement trailer during a livestream presentation on Friday.
The writer doesn’t give away much about the film, which takes its name from the 2007 platformer Mario Dozes Off Before the title credits roll, that’s about it. But the trailer still suggests that Nintendo will continue to push out movies aimed at turning Mario into a megafranchise.
It’s no coincidence that the trailer and accompanying announcement come just one day before the 40th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. video game. In the four decades since that game’s release, Mario and Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and other assorted characters — have become cultural icons.
In 1993, Super Mario Bros. became one of the earliest video game film adaptations. It was panned by critics and fans, but in the years since, games ranging from Mortal Kombat to Tomb Raider have been turned into movies. Now, as superhero fatigue sets in and ’90s nostalgia peaks, the Super Mario Galaxy movie, which will include nods to the entire Mario series, is poised to continue Mario’s dominance.
Considered the most successful video game adaptation ever made, the Super Mario Bros. movie is the second highest-grossing film of 2023, second only to Barbie in the Land of the Rising Sun. The original cast, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, and Jack Black as Bowser, will return for the sequel.
Alongside the news, Nintendo also announced Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel for October 2nd.
