THE CRITICS ARE WRONG – AND THE BOX OFFICE PROVES IT! 🍄🍿

Is Hollywood officially out of touch? While professional critics are busy “slamming” the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, fans are literally BREAKING theater records worldwide! 🚀

The gap between the “experts” and the actual audience has never been this massive—we’re talking a total war between Rotten Tomatoes scores and opening night reality. Is this the end of the critic era as we know it? 😱👇

🔥 SEE THE INSANE NUMBERS HERE:

There is a massive “Black Hole” growing in Hollywood, and it’s located right between the professional critics’ circle and the general public.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the highly anticipated sequel to Nintendo and Illumination’s 2023 billion-dollar hit, officially touched down in theaters on April 1. By Friday morning, the verdict was split into two entirely different universes. On one side, critics have brandished their “Fire Flowers,” scorching the film for what they call a “paper-thin plot” and “overstuffed fan service.” On the other, the movie is on track for a record-shattering $350 million global opening weekend, proving that Mario might be “critic-proof.”

The Numbers Don’t Lie

According to data from Deadline and Variety, the film pulled in a staggering $34.5 million in the U.S. on its opening Wednesday alone. This marks the biggest opening day of 2026 so far, effectively ending the two-week reign of Ryan Gosling’s sci-fi epic Project Hail Mary.

But the real drama isn’t in the bank account—it’s on the scoreboard. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently sits at a dismal 43% Critic Score, with reviewers lamenting the “YouTube Shorts-style pacing” and a script that serves more as a checklist of Easter eggs than a cohesive narrative. However, the Audience Score is a glowing 91%, backed by a solid A- CinemaScore.

“Pretentious” Critics vs. Loyal Fans

The discourse on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit has reached a boiling point. On the r/movies “Official Discussion” thread, one top-rated comment with over 2,000 upvotes reads: “I don’t understand why critics expect ‘The Godfather’ from a movie about a plumber flying through space. It’s colorful, the music is peak, and my kids were screaming with joy. That’s a 10/10 in my book.”

Conversely, some cinephiles are siding with the critics, expressing disappointment that the sequel didn’t evolve. “I agree with the ‘Slam,'” posted one user on r/nintendo. “Visuals are stunning, but the plot is literally non-existent. We can have fun IP movies that also have good writing—look at ‘Spider-Verse’ or ‘The LEGO Movie.’ Mario deserves better than just ’empty calories.'”

New Stars, Old Grievances

The sequel introduced fan-favorites like Rosalina (voiced by Brie Larson) and Fox McCloud (voiced by Glen Powell). While Powell’s performance as the Star Fox pilot has been universally praised as a standout, the “celebrity voice cast” remains a point of contention. Chris Pratt’s return as Mario continues to polarize, with some fans on Reddit claiming he still “just sounds like Chris Pratt,” while others argue his performance has significantly improved since the first outing.

The addition of Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) and the adorable yet nihilistic Lumas has successfully captured the “meme-culture” audience, with “Luma quotes” already trending on TikTok.

A “Review-Proof” Future?

The success of Super Mario Galaxy sends a loud message to Hollywood studios: Intellectual Property (IP) remains king. Despite the “Rotten” critical reception, the film is expected to cruise past the $1 billion mark globally by the end of its run.

Industry analysts suggest that the “Critic vs. Fan” divide is becoming the new normal for blockbuster animation. As one industry insider told MovieWeb: “Critics are looking for a meal; audiences are looking for a party. Right now, Nintendo is throwing the biggest party in the world, and nobody cares if the critics weren’t invited.”

With Japan’s release scheduled for April 24, just in time for Golden Week, the “Galaxy” is only going to get bigger. Whether the critics like it or not, Mario isn’t just playing the game—he’s owning the console.