Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto has expressed surprise at the critical response to the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, noting that reviews for the film have been harsher than he expected despite its strong global performance.
Speaking in an interview with Famitsu, Miyamoto reflected on the situation as the film arrives in Japan following a successful international rollout. He acknowledged that criticism of the previous movie had some merit, but admitted he anticipated a different outcome this time. “The situation is indeed very similar. Honestly, I felt the critics had a point with the first movie. However, I thought it would be different this time, but the reviews were even harsher than before. It’s quite mysterious to me that while we are working hard to enter from another genre to revitalize the film industry, the people who are supposed to be boosting the industry are so hesitant,” he said.
Miyamoto also pointed to the pressure surrounding the Japanese release, particularly given the film’s strong overseas numbers in recent weeks. He explained that the Japanese version received special attention during development, saying, “Regarding my state of mind, as I mentioned at yesterday’s premium screening, there is pressure because the overseas numbers from the last three weeks are so high. Moreover, the Japanese version is a bit special. Usually, an English version is made and localized for each country, but for the first film, we developed the English and Japanese scripts simultaneously. For this film, rather than just localizing the finished English version, we rewrote it into Japanese specifically.”
He added that the stakes feel personal, noting, “So, as the person in charge of the Japanese side, I feel the pressure that if it isn’t a hit in Japan, I’ll have to apologize to Chris [Meledandri]. However, seeing the reactions of the audience who have watched it, I feel it is being well-received by Mario fans. I also believe we’ve made something that people who haven’t seen the first one can enjoy as a standalone movie.”
Released in early April 2026, the Super Mario Galaxy Movie has quickly become a major commercial success, earning around $758 million globally within its first few weeks. The film currently holds a 43% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics pointing to a thin narrative and an overcrowded cast, while audience reception has remained notably more positive.
