"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" has delivered a stellar performance at the global box office, securing a colossal $370.7 million in its opening weekend across 80 markets. This impressive figure positions it as the most successful Hollywood film launch of 2026 to date, surpassing all other releases and setting numerous new benchmarks in the animation and video game adaptation categories.
Universal's latest animated feature, "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," has re-energized the cinematic landscape, particularly during the Easter holiday period. Projections indicate a domestic opening of $188.6 million, including a robust $129.4 million over the three-day weekend. This makes it one of the top Easter weekend debuts in history, even before accounting for inflation. Internationally, the film amassed an estimated $182 million, bringing its total global earnings close to the original "Super Mario Bros. Movie"'s initial success. This outstanding performance is a testament to the enduring appeal of the Mario franchise and the strategic collaboration between Universal, Illumination, and Nintendo.
The film's achievements extend beyond mere box office numbers. "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" has claimed the title for the year's largest three-day opening, previously held by "Project Hail Mary." It also boasts the biggest worldwide opening for an animated movie ever, and ranks as the fourth-highest among all Hollywood titles, alongside other animated giants like "Zootopia 2" and "Moana 2." Furthermore, it now holds the distinction of having two of the largest global openings for a video game adaptation, following its predecessor, and represents Universal's fifth-biggest global opening of all time.
On the domestic front, the movie has secured the third-highest-grossing weekend for a video game adaptation, trailing only "A Minecraft Movie" and the original "Super Mario Bros. Movie." It is one of the few animated franchises, alongside "Shrek," "Toy Story," and "Minions," to have two titles open to over $100 million in a three-day span. Its five-day domestic launch is also the largest since Disney's "Moana 2." Despite mixed reviews from critics, "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" received an A- CinemaScore from audiences, mirroring the success of the 2023 film, which went on to earn $1.36 billion globally, establishing a formidable new franchise for Universal, Illumination, and Nintendo.
The movie, a joint effort between Universal-owned Illumination and Nintendo, brings beloved characters Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach back to the big screen. They once again face off against the villainous Bowser, now accompanied by his son, Bowser Jr., in an epic adventure that spans the galaxy and introduces new characters such as Princess Rosalina and the iconic Yoshi. Meanwhile, Amazon MGM's "Project Hail Mary" continues its strong run, defying expectations despite losing its IMAX and premium-large formats to the "Super Mario Galaxy Movie." The Ryan Gosling-led sleeper hit is projected to earn $32.6 million in its third weekend, pushing its domestic total past $200 million to an impressive $219.1 million by Sunday, marking a significant victory for Amazon MGM. In contrast, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson's "The Drama," a film distinctly not aimed at family audiences, is expected to secure a third-place finish with over $13 million from 3,097 locations, slightly under initial predictions for the A24 release, which maintained a closely guarded storyline and garnered decent scores but a B CinemaScore.
This spectacular box office performance underlines the immense anticipation and broad appeal of "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie." Its success not only rejuvenates the animation genre but also solidifies the lucrative partnership between Nintendo and Illumination, promising a vibrant future for the beloved characters on the big screen.
