Despite grossing $750 million at the global box office, Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie received a rather lukewarm reception from the gaming press. The film earned an average score of 43% on Rotten Tomatoes.
These reviews surprised Shigeru Miyamoto, the franchise’s creator. In a recent interview, he reflected on the media’s extremely harsh criticism of the film.
“Regarding the reviews of the first movie, I remember thinking they were right on some points. But I told myself this time would be different… only to find out that they were even harsher than before, which I found rather strange (laughs).
We come from a different medium and did our best to invigorate the film industry. And yet, it’s precisely those who are supposed to defend the film industry who are so negative; it’s truly disconcerting.”
Miyamoto also stated that he wants to make Peach’s origin story in the feature film part of the official canon. We won’t spoil anything, but the Japanese director now wants these origins to be incorporated into future video games in the franchise.
It’s interesting to hear about Shigeru Miyamoto’s reaction to the reviews. Despite the box office success, it’s clear that critical reception can be quite varied. It’s always fascinating how different perspectives can shape the narrative around a film.
It’s definitely surprising how critical reviews can differ from box office success. It shows that audience enjoyment doesn’t always align with critics’ opinions. Miyamoto’s legacy in gaming might make him particularly sensitive to feedback, especially for a franchise as beloved as Mario.