Steady crowds of new and longtime fans filled theaters at Marquee Cinemas in Huntington during the opening weekend of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” that began April 1.
The turnout was driven in part by longtime fans returning to the franchise, many of them fans of the first film, who were eager to see how the new story translated to the big screen.
“We have to see the second one because the trailers looked so good,” said Catherine Zagliffa, Marshall student from Barboursville studying art and design.
The story follows plumber brothers Mario and Luigi as they are swept into a galaxy-spanning adventure, teaming up with familiar allies to face Bowser and his forces. Returning favorites Princess Peach and Toad appear alongside new additions Rosalina and Yoshi. The cast features a lineup of well-known voices with performances by Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jack Black, among others.
Long-time fans will be able to spot brief cameos by classic Nintendo characters, including R.O.B. the Robot and Mr. Game & Watch, as well as appearances from other Nintendo franchises like Star Fox, expanding the story beyond the Mario universe. The film also features visual and thematic homages to classic science fiction films, with elements that may feel familiar to audiences accustomed to stories set in galaxies far, far away.
For many moviegoers, the film’s connection to childhood gaming drew them to theaters.
“Nostalgia played a big role,” Zagliffa said. She attended the film with Dakota Gauthier, West Virginia University student visiting for Easter weekend.
“It was kind of spur of the moment,” Gauthier said. “We saw that it was out, so we might as well.”
Once inside, Gauthier said the film stood out for how closely it connected to the source material.
“The entire film was just lore to the games,” Gauthier said.
That appeal extends to newer fans as viewers with varying familiarity with the franchise can still find ways to connect with the film.
“The lore is there,” Zagliffa said. “There are things that’ll go over kids’ heads, but they’ll still enjoy all of the fun things the characters go through.”
At the theater level, staff members said the film delivered one of the strongest turnouts they have seen this year.
“It’s been pretty busy, honestly, busier than the past couple of weeks,” Marquee Cinemas worker Alexis Spurlock said.
Caleb Maynard, who also works at the theater, said the film stood out compared to other recent releases.
“This has been our busiest movie thus far this year,” Maynard said.
Spurlock said the film’s broad appeal brought in a wide range of moviegoers.
“A lot of people come in – I’m not expecting them to buy Mario tickets – and they want to watch Mario,” she said.
The film’s reach extended across generations, drawing families, college students and longtime fans of the franchise.
“It’s fun for everybody,” Spurlock said.
The increased turnout also translated into higher concession sales, particularly among younger audiences.
“We sold quite a lot of kids’ trays,” Spurlock said, referring to bundled snacks designed for children.
Despite theaters not consistently selling out, staff members said the steady turnout suggests the film will remain popular in the coming weeks.
“I think it’s going to be busy until we lose it,” Spurlock said.
For many viewers, the film’s success comes from its ability to connect generations through a shared history with Nintendo.
“It’s definitely nostalgia,” Zagliffa said, “but I also think a lot of kids would love it.”
David Lozano can be contacted at [email protected].
