A plain-language roundup of everything currently known about the next Super Mario Bros. movie and the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy movie from Illumination and Nintendo.
After The Super Mario Bros. Movie became one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, it was only a matter of time before Nintendo and Illumination started talking about what comes next. Two threads are currently generating the most search interest: a numbered sequel often referred to online as Super Mario Movie 2, and a separate project widely nicknamed the Super Mario Galaxy movie, inspired by the beloved Wii and Switch games. Here's a clear breakdown of what's confirmed, what's rumored, and how to stay ahead of the news.
Illumination and Nintendo have both publicly acknowledged that more animated Mario content is coming after the success of the first film. Shigeru Miyamoto has been directly involved as a producer on prior Mario media, and that pattern is expected to continue. As with the first movie, official confirmation of a title, cast, and release window typically arrives through a joint Nintendo Direct-style presentation or an Illumination press event rather than leaks, so the most reliable info always comes straight from Nintendo's and Illumination's official channels.
The original Super Mario Galaxy (2007) and its 2010 sequel are frequently ranked among the best 3D platformers ever made, thanks to their inventive planetoid-hopping gravity mechanics and orchestral soundtrack. A film adaptation gives animators a visual playground: spinning mini-planets, star-shaped power-ups, and the surreal Comet Observatory hub world all translate naturally to the big screen. That's a big part of why the Super Mario Galaxy movie has generated so much buzz purely from concept art speculation and fan-made trailers, even before an official teaser exists.
For the first film, the earliest teaser dropped several months before release and focused on tone and character casting rather than plot. Expect a similar rollout for any Super Mario Galaxy movie trailer: a short, music-driven teaser first, followed by a full trailer closer to release that reveals more of the story. Until Nintendo or Illumination posts a trailer on their verified YouTube channels, treat any "leaked trailer" videos online with heavy skepticism — they are almost always fan edits or AI-generated concept reels.
If you want to relive the games that inspired these movies, our Super Mario Galaxy game guide breaks down the gravity-flipping level design, and you can also jump straight into the free browser version of the original Super Mario Bros. game right here on this site while you wait for movie news to drop.
Illumination and Nintendo have confirmed a follow-up film inspired by the Super Mario Galaxy games is in development, but studios typically lock an exact release date closer to the marketing push. Check the official Nintendo and Illumination social channels for the first trailer drop, since that's usually when a firm date is announced.
Once a release date is locked, showtimes will appear on major ticketing platforms (Fandango, AMC, Cinemark, and local theater chains) a few weeks before opening weekend. Searching the film's exact title plus your city on a ticketing app is the fastest way to find a screening near you.
The first film (2023) drew mainly from the original Super Mario Bros. and Mario Kart. A galaxy-themed sequel would be expected to pull visual and gameplay inspiration from the Super Mario Galaxy series, similar to how the first film adapted classic Mushroom Kingdom locations.
Jump straight into the free browser version of the original Super Mario Bros game — no download required.
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