This Week's Biggest Releases: Super Mario Galaxy Takes Off, Star Wars Goes Dark, and Beef Gets a Second Helping
The first week of April 2026 is stacked. Nintendo's animated juggernaut returns to theaters, Disney+ drops its most ambitious Star Wars series yet, and Netflix brings back one of the best shows of the decade. Here's everything you need on your radar.
Look, I'm not going to lie — this might be the best release week of 2026 so far. Between a massive animated blockbuster, a Star Wars series that's been in the works for years, and a Netflix comeback nobody saw coming, there's genuinely something for everyone hitting screens between March 31 and April 6. Let's break it down.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — In Theaters April 1
The big one. The Super Mario Bros. Movie absolutely crushed it in 2023, pulling in over $1.3 billion worldwide. Now the sequel is here, and it's going intergalactic.
Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, and Keegan-Michael Key are all back. But the real headline? Brie Larson as Rosalina, Benny Safdie joining the cast, Donald Glover stepping in, and — yes — Glen Powell as Fox McCloud. That's not a typo. Star Fox is in a Mario movie.
Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic are adapting the beloved Wii game, which means cosmic environments, gravity-bending platforming sequences, and Yoshi finally getting his moment. The film had its premiere in Kyoto on March 28 and drops stateside on April 1 in RealD 3D and IMAX.
Anticipation level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 — This is the family event of the spring. If you loved the first one, you already have tickets.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord — Disney+ April 6
Disney+ is swinging hard with this one. Star Wars has been exploring its expanded universe for years, but Maul – Shadow Lord might be the most daring move yet: a 10-episode animated series centered entirely on Darth Maul.
Set after The Clone Wars, the show follows Maul as he rebuilds his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. Sam Witwer returns to voice the iconic Sith, joined by Gideon Adlon as a disillusioned Jedi Padawan, Wagner Moura as a police detective, and Richard Ayoade as his droid partner "Two-Boots."
Two episodes drop on premiere day, then two per week through May 4 — Star Wars Day. That's not a coincidence. Disney knows exactly what they're doing.
Anticipation level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 — Maul is one of the franchise's most compelling characters. If this nails the tone, it could be the best Star Wars series since Andor.
XO, Kitty Season 3 — Netflix April 2
Kitty Song Covey is back for senior year at KISS (the Korean Independent School of Seoul, not the band). Anna Cathcart returns as the fan-favorite spinoff character from To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and this time Lana Condor herself shows up in multiple episodes as Lara Jean.
Expect romance, drama, secrets, scandals, and a Senior Sunset list that's going to make you nostalgic for a high school experience you never had. Season 2 delivered, and the showrunners are clearly going all-in for the finale.
Anticipation level: 🔥🔥🔥 — If you're already invested, this is appointment viewing. If you haven't started, Season 1 is an easy weekend binge.
The Stranger — In Theaters April 3
François Ozon adapting Albert Camus's L'Étranger? In black and white? With Benjamin Voisin as Meursault? Sign me up.
This one premiered at Venice last fall and has been generating serious buzz. Ozon plays it faithful to the novel — restrained compositions, minimal emotional guidance, letting the sun-drenched Mediterranean setting and Meursault's unsettling detachment do the heavy lifting. Also starring Rebecca Marder, Pierre Lottin, and Denis Lavant.
This won't be for everyone. But if you're the type who thinks cinema peaked with European art house, this is your week.
Anticipation level: 🔥🔥🔥 — A gorgeous, cerebral adaptation that rewards patience. Arthouse fans, mark your calendar.
They Will Kill You — Still in Theaters
If you missed this last weekend, Kirill Sokolov's action-horror-comedy is still rolling. Zazie Beetz plays an ex-convict who takes a housekeeping job in a mysterious NYC high-rise where people keep... disappearing. Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Myha'la round out the cast.
Reviews are mixed (66% on Rotten Tomatoes), but the "so crazy it works" consensus suggests this is the kind of movie you either love or hate. Perfect for a Friday night with low expectations and high tolerance for chaos.
Anticipation level: 🔥🔥 — Fun genre fare. Don't overthink it.
Fantasy Life — Expanding April 3
Matthew Shear's directorial debut has been called a "Baumbach-influenced throwback," and that's either going to sell you or scare you off. Amanda Peet stars alongside Judd Hirsch, Holland Taylor, and Zosia Mamet in a comedy about a paralegal who gets laid off, starts babysitting his psychiatrist's granddaughters, and falls for their mother.
It went limited on March 27 and expands wide this week. R-rated for language, sexual references, and brief drug use — so, you know, a real movie for adults.
Anticipation level: 🔥🔥🔥 — Smart indie comedy with a stacked cast. If you loved Frances Ha or Marriage Story, keep an eye on this one.
Looking Ahead
April's only getting bigger from here. Ready or Not 2 hits theaters on April 10 with Samara Weaving back for round two. Euphoria Season 3 finally debuts on HBO on April 13 after years of delays. And Beef Season 2 lands on Netflix April 16 with Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan taking over the anthology.
But that's next week's problem. For now, go see Mario. You know you want to.
What are you most excited for this week? Hit the comments or find me on the blog — I want to hear your picks.