The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has emerged as one of 2026’s biggest cinematic hits, prompting Nintendo luminary Shigeru Miyamoto to publicly thank fans and encourage renewed interest in Mario’s video game history.
In a short video posted on Nintendo Today’s mobile app, Miyamoto tied the film’s success to broader 40th anniversary celebrations for the Mario franchise and pointed players toward Nintendo’s digital platforms, including the eShop and Nintendo Switch Online, to revisit classic titles.
Box office milestone and studio response
According to studio reporting, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie led 2026 box office returns and contributed to a combined global box office total for Mario films topping $2 billion.
Nintendo’s high-profile involvement and the film’s references to decades of Mario games have been noted across industry coverage.
Miyamoto’s message arrived amid that commercial success and ongoing anniversary programming.
Miyamoto’s message, rewritten for clarity
In his recorded message on the Nintendo Today app, Miyamoto thanked audiences for supporting the film and emphasized the project’s connections to Mario’s four-decade game history.
He said the movie consciously included material drawn from 40 years of Mario games and that he hoped viewers would be reminded of fond memories and feel inspired to play those games again.
He also invited fans to look forward to additional Mario content from Nintendo.
On the film’s reception
Miyamoto previously commented on critical response to the movie, calling aspects of the reaction “truly baffling.” In journalistic terms, he expressed surprise at certain critical takes while acknowledging the wide audience enthusiasm reflected in box office performance.
Where to revisit Mario games
For players who want to relive Mario’s catalogue, Nintendo’s eShop on Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch Online subscription offer extensive libraries of Mario-themed titles, including legacy platformers and modern entries.
The movie itself includes callbacks to both classic and contemporary Mario games, plus appearances by characters from other Nintendo franchises.
What this means for Nintendo
The combination of cinematic success and cross-promotional focus on Nintendo’s digital storefronts underscores the company’s multi-platform strategy—leveraging film, franchise milestones, and the Nintendo Switch ecosystem to engage longtime fans and new audiences alike as Mario’s 40th anniversary continues.
In a short video posted on Nintendo Today’s mobile app, Miyamoto tied the film’s success to broader 40th anniversary celebrations for the Mario franchise and pointed players toward Nintendo’s digital platforms, including the eShop and Nintendo Switch Online, to revisit classic titles.
Box office milestone and studio response
According to studio reporting, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie led 2026 box office returns and contributed to a combined global box office total for Mario films topping $2 billion.
Nintendo’s high-profile involvement and the film’s references to decades of Mario games have been noted across industry coverage.
Miyamoto’s message arrived amid that commercial success and ongoing anniversary programming.
Miyamoto’s message, rewritten for clarity
In his recorded message on the Nintendo Today app, Miyamoto thanked audiences for supporting the film and emphasized the project’s connections to Mario’s four-decade game history.
He said the movie consciously included material drawn from 40 years of Mario games and that he hoped viewers would be reminded of fond memories and feel inspired to play those games again.
He also invited fans to look forward to additional Mario content from Nintendo.
On the film’s reception
Miyamoto previously commented on critical response to the movie, calling aspects of the reaction “truly baffling.” In journalistic terms, he expressed surprise at certain critical takes while acknowledging the wide audience enthusiasm reflected in box office performance.
Where to revisit Mario games
For players who want to relive Mario’s catalogue, Nintendo’s eShop on Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch Online subscription offer extensive libraries of Mario-themed titles, including legacy platformers and modern entries.
The movie itself includes callbacks to both classic and contemporary Mario games, plus appearances by characters from other Nintendo franchises.
What this means for Nintendo
The combination of cinematic success and cross-promotional focus on Nintendo’s digital storefronts underscores the company’s multi-platform strategy—leveraging film, franchise milestones, and the Nintendo Switch ecosystem to engage longtime fans and new audiences alike as Mario’s 40th anniversary continues.