‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Crosses $1B in 2026

Universal and Illumination’s latest animated feature, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’, has become the first film of 2026 to surpass the $1 billion mark at the global box office. The milestone was reached in its fourth weekend of release, driven by strong international sales, particularly in China and Europe.

The sequel follows Mario and Luigi as they journey through space to rescue Princess Peach from the villainous Bowser, who has harnessed the power of a cosmic artifact. Critics have praised the film’s stunning visuals, inventive gameplay-inspired sequences, and a star-studded voice cast including Chris Pratt and Anya Taylor-Joy.

Key factors behind its success include:

  • A holiday release window that maximized family attendance.
  • Positive word-of-mouth and a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
  • Aggressive merchandising and marketing tie-ins with Nintendo’s Switch 2 console.

For context, the first ‘Mario’ animated film earned $1.36 billion globally in 2023, making it the highest-grossing video game adaptation ever. The sequel is now on pace to potentially match or exceed that total, with analysts projecting a final box office run of $1.1–$1.3 billion. The film is currently playing in theaters worldwide.

Source: Holly Wood Reporter – ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Becomes First Movie to Cross $1B in 2026