Released in cinemas on April 1, 2026, Super Mario Galaxy The Movie does not just extend the success of the 2023 Mario film. Between XXL fights, cameos galore and winks to the fans, the feature film at times resembles a giant demo of Super Smash Bros..
More than a simple sequel, this Galaxy has fun testing the limits of the Nintendo crossover on the big screen: choreographies directly inspired by Ultimate, ultra offensive Peach, arrival of Fox McCloud and massive tease around Daisy. Enough to seriously raise the question of a real Super Smash Bros. film.
Does Super Mario Galaxy The Movie really set the stage for the Super Smash Bros movie?
The first movie Super Mario Bros. movie grossed more than $1.36 billion, or around €1.25 billion, at the global box office. This success convinced Nintendo, Illumination And Universal Pictures to transform Mario into a pillar of a possible “Nintendo Cinematic Universe”.
With Super Mario Galaxythe tone has changed. As GameRant points out, the action scenes are far more numerous than necessary for a simple Mario film, with clashes staged like Smash duels, right down to Peach’s movements which are clearly reminiscent of her moveset in the series.
What concrete clues lead fans to believe in the Super Smash Bros movie?
First strong signal: Fox McCloud. The hero of Star Foxvoiced by Glen Powell, is not satisfied with a wink. His interaction with Mario is central in several sequences, to the point that certain face-to-face encounters directly evoke the intro poses of a game of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Another telling detail for players: the shower of cameos linked to the Smash roster. ROB, Mr. Game and Watch, the Pikmin and Captain Olimar appear briefly. For a neophyte, these are curiosities. To a Smash fan, this seems like a checklist patiently ticked off before a big crossover.
Finally, the second post-credits scene reveals Princess Daisy, with a darker design faithful to her previous appearances. Mario Party 4. For GameRant’s review, this moment clearly gives the impression that “we are definitely getting a Smash movie now”. Here again, the important thing is the methodical expansion of the roster.
Super Smash Bros film: what are its real chances of making it to the cinema?
Officially, Shigeru Miyamoto cools the ardor. Interviewed by GamesRadar, he warns: “Unlike Super Smash Bros.I don’t think you’ll see a situation where all the Nintendo characters come together.” According to him, the current cameos mainly serve as “spice” rather than building an MCU-style plan.
Another major obstacle to a total Super Smash Bros film: the rights. Mario remains at Nintendo, Illumination and Universal Pictures, but the live-action film The Legend of Zelda is co-produced with Sony Pictures for 2027, while Sonic is owned by Paramount and Minecraft at Warner Bros.
In this context, the most credible scenario looks like a first 100% Nintendo Super Smash Bros film, bringing together Mario, Peach, Fox, perhaps Link and Samus, after a third Mario film and a few spin-offs. Super Mario Galaxy is an ideal warm-up, without Nintendo having to admit it publicly.