As TechRadar’s AV tester, I’m always on the lookout for new 4K Blu-rays to test the best TVs and best soundbars with. While I have a pretty healthy catalog, with some top-notch discs, as a 4K Blu-ray fan, it’s exciting to check out new discs to keep testing fresh.
Last month, I tested the Speed Racer 4K Blu-ray and it was a powerhouse. Not only did it deliver staggeringly vibrant colors, but it also had a superb Dolby Atmos soundtrack that demonstrated power and precision, particularly during race sequences. It was one of my top discs of the June 2026 Blu-ray Bounty, and it’s easily one of the most impressive I’ve tested.
This month, a new disc has caught my eye: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The second entry in the new Mario Bros set of films, first started in 2023 with The Super Mario Bros., I’m anticipating that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will have bright, crisp visuals and, hopefully, a great Dolby Atmos soundtrack.
While this was one of my most anticipated discs of July 2026, a first impressions Reddit thread on r/4K Blu-ray from user u/nacthenud got me even more hyped. Not only did they rate the movie’s HDR performance, but also mentioned it in the same breath as Speed Racer. So, I decided to check out how the disc fared on our reference LG G6 OLED TV, one of the best OLED TVs I’ve tested this year.
Phenomenal colors
From the moment The Super Mario Galaxy Movie starts, it’s clear just how stunning the 4K disc’s color reproduction is. As Princess Rosalina reads a bedtime story to the Lumas, the small creatures dazzle on screen. Every color, including yellow, green, red and so on, look natural and punchy in equal measure. Thanks to the high HDR highlight brightness, coupled with Dolby Vision support, the Lumas really popped on the LG G6’s screen. If your TV has high brightness with good highlights, you’ll be rewarded in this scene alone.
Soon after, as Rosalina battles Bowser Jr. in his giant robot, the sparkle from her magic, which comes out in vibrant blues, pinks and purples, shimmers on screen. This is also true later as the yellow Luma turns into a star, with the glittery stardust jumping on screen. Again, it’s another showcase of how impactful HDR highlights can look.
Later, as we see Mario and Luigi meet Yoshi for the first time, the 4K presentation gets to show the authenticity of its colors. Yes, Mario’s red jumpsuit and the green of Luigi’s overalls and Yoshi’s skin are striking, but the colors look realistic too. While I expected the colors in this movie to explode on screen as I’d seen in animated flicks like Elemental, these particular colors reminded me more of the lifelike colors I’d seen in The Wild Robot, exhibiting the wonderful depth and realism I liked in the latter.
In complete opposition to that, the neon signs of the games in the casino Peach and Toad arrive at really burst with color. This is where the G6’s highlights and peak brightness were really tested, and it did a great job. If you have a TV with high peak brightness, then again you’ll be rewarded. The same is true with the gold detail on the furnishings around Peach’s castle, as they sparkle as well.
Peach and Rosalina’s dresses are highlights in themselves, really delivering that candy-colored pop alongside the shimmer they both seem to produce. While they’re colors aren’t as natural as the Mario Bros and Yoshi, they’re accurate for the movie and really deliver a nice impact.
Dolby Atmos power
While I anticipated this disc to be a showcase for color, I didn’t expect it to be such a perfect audio powerhouse. Bass is frequently hefty, pushing the limits of the subwoofer of the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar I was using. As Bowser Jr’s robot stomps towards Rosalina, the rumble from the Q990C’s subwoofer rattled the room and reverberated through the floor. Later, as Fox ignites the engines of the Arwing, this produces some meaty bass, akin to the igniting of the Batmobile’s engine from The Batman, my go-to audio testing scene.
The Dolby Atmos soundtrack here is also very precise. As Luigi launches fire in a panic in a cave, the flames’ trajectory was accurately mapped to the front channels, travelling from right to left across the soundbar. In another scene, as Peach and Toad first fly into space, the sound of the twinkling flight path of the trail behind them is not only mapped accurately, but clearly audible among the rousing, horn-led score, showing the soundtrack’s excellent balance.
Surround and height channels are also fully utilized. During the climactic space battle, as Fox pilots the Arwing towards Bowser Jr’s ship, the Arwing travels around the whole ship. This was mapped with real precision first to the front channels, then the rear right, to the rear left and back again, creating a fully immersive feel. It reminded me of the time-bending music sequence in Sinners, which also moved around each channel.
Throughout, there are numerous scenes where characters fly through space, using the star to move from galaxy to galaxy. These are a great demonstration for Atmos, with overhead flight paths actually coming from overhead. The same was true with Fox’s Arwing. As it avoided Bowser’s minions in the space battle, anytime the Arwing moved to the top of the screen, Atmos rendered accurate overhead flight.
Another reference disc
After watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, it’s definitely entering my testing rotation. Not only does it deliver on color and sound, but animation is crisp throughout, with clean-looking animation. Contrast is also powerful, with the dark blues of space contrasting well with the stars, Lumas and even the bright outfits of the main characters.
There are also plenty of bright scenes that will show off a TV’s HDR highlights and brightness, plus there’s some lovely shadow detail. Any scenes with strong light, such as Mario and Luigi with their flames in the cave, or at sunset as Peach gets frustrated, there’s strong shadows cast that look realistic.
This really is a superb 4K disc, and if you’re looking for a bold, colorful and dynamic movie to show off your home theater system, this is one to consider.
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james.davidson@futurenet.com (James Davidson)
