Universal Pictures, Illumination, and Nintendo’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the first film of 2026 to reach the milestone and cementing the Super Mario franchise as one of the most commercially dominant properties in theatrical animation. The sequel reached the threshold in its tenth weekend of release with $429.6 million domestically and $577.5 million internationally, reinforcing the financial logic of IP-driven tentpole filmmaking at a moment when the broader theatrical market remains uneven.
Key Takeaways
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie crossed $1 billion worldwide in its tenth weekend of release, becoming the first film of 2026 to reach the milestone, with $429.6 million domestically and $577.5 million internationally.
- The sequel pushes the Super Mario film franchise past $2 billion in combined global ticket sales across two films, making it the ninth highest grossing animated franchise of all time.
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the second highest grossing video game adaptation in history, trailing only its predecessor, 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned $1.36 billion.
- The film was produced on a reported $110 million budget, delivering a return that underscores the commercial strength of the Universal-Illumination-Nintendo partnership.
- Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael and Amazon MGM Studios’ Project Hail Mary trail in second and third place for 2026’s global box office rankings.
A Franchise That Now Ranks Among Animation’s All Time Earners
The $1 billion milestone does more than confirm a single hit. It positions the Super Mario franchise among the most valuable animated properties ever produced. NBCUniversal confirmed that the two-film franchise has now surpassed $2 billion in cumulative worldwide ticket sales, ranking it ninth among the highest grossing animated franchises globally. That places Super Mario ahead of the seven-film Madagascar series ($2.26 billion) after just two installments and slots it alongside Inside Out ($2.56 billion across two films) and Kung Fu Panda ($2.37 billion across four). Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri now has three franchises in the animated top 10, with Despicable Me leading the entire category at $5.64 billion across six releases.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie debuted at number one globally on its April 1 opening weekend with $372.5 million worldwide, including $130.9 million domestically across more than 4,000 screens. The film held the top position for three consecutive weekends both globally and internationally before settling into a steady theatrical run that carried it through the spring and into summer.
The Numbers Behind The Billion Dollar Run
Domestically, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is only the second Illumination title to surpass $400 million, behind its predecessor. It is also the second highest grossing video game adaptation ever at the North American box office and the second highest grossing animated release in Universal Pictures history. Internationally, the film ranks as the highest grossing Motion Picture Association title overseas for 2026. On a reported production budget of $110 million, the return-on-investment ratio is substantial even before accounting for ancillary revenue streams including home entertainment, licensing, merchandise, and theme park integration across Universal’s resort properties.
The voice cast features Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jack Black returning from the original, with newcomers including Donald Glover, Glen Powell, Brie Larson as Rosalina, and Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic returned from The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The sequel follows the Mario crew into outer space to rescue Princess Rosalina from Bowser and his son, expanding the franchise’s scope while retaining the comedic tone and visual spectacle that drove the first film to $1.36 billion.
Where The 2026 Box Office Stands
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie leads the 2026 global box office by a significant margin. Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael sits in second with approximately $888 million worldwide, with Universal handling international distribution for most overseas markets. Amazon MGM Studios and Sony’s Project Hail Mary holds third position at $679 million, followed by Disney’s The Devil Wears Prada 2 at approximately $666 million. The year-to-date domestic box office hit $2.05 billion by early April, running 26% ahead of the same period in 2025, with the Super Mario sequel serving as the primary driver of that gain.
The Nintendo franchise’s theatrical performance also has implications for Universal’s broader strategy. The company’s upcoming slate includes Steven Spielberg’s conspiracy thriller Disclosure Day, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and Illumination’s Minions and Monsters. Given the outsized returns of both Super Mario films, a third installment is widely expected around 2028, though none of the three partners have formally announced one. The commercial logic is difficult to argue with: two films, $2 billion in global receipts, a production cost structure well below the industry average for animated features of this scale.
What The Billion Dollar Milestone Signals For Hollywood
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s performance validates a specific thesis about the current theatrical market: established intellectual property with broad generational appeal, executed at a high production standard with controlled budgets, remains the most reliable path to blockbuster returns. The film did not match its predecessor’s $1.36 billion total, which is typical of franchise sequels, but it crossed the billion-dollar threshold comfortably and did so faster than most industry projections anticipated. For Universal and Illumination, the result extends a track record that now includes Despicable Me, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing, and Super Mario as billion-dollar-capable franchises, giving the studio one of the deepest animated benches in the industry.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s $1 billion run confirms that the most bankable asset in Hollywood is not any single star, director, or genre — it is a character that audiences already trust, delivered by a studio disciplined enough to keep the budget proportional to the ambition.
FAQs
How much has The Super Mario Galaxy Movie earned at the box office?
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has crossed $1 billion worldwide, with $429.6 million domestically and $577.5 million internationally. It reached the milestone in its tenth weekend of release and is the highest grossing film of 2026.
Is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie the highest grossing video game adaptation ever?
It is the second highest grossing video game adaptation of all time, trailing only its predecessor, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned $1.36 billion in 2023. The franchise holds the top two positions both globally and domestically.
How much did The Super Mario Galaxy Movie cost to make?
The film was produced on a reported budget of $110 million, making its $1 billion-plus return one of the highest return-on-investment ratios among major 2026 releases.
Who voices the characters in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie?
Chris Pratt voices Mario, with Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Jack Black as Bowser. New additions include Brie Larson as Rosalina, Donald Glover, Glen Powell, and Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr.
Where does the Super Mario franchise rank among animated franchises?
With over $2 billion in combined global ticket sales across two films, the Super Mario franchise ranks ninth among the highest grossing animated franchises worldwide, ahead of Madagascar and behind Inside Out and Kung Fu Panda.
What is the second highest grossing film of 2026?
Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael holds second place with approximately $888 million worldwide, followed by Amazon MGM Studios’ Project Hail Mary at $679 million and Disney’s The Devil Wears Prada 2 at approximately $666 million.
Will there be a third Super Mario movie?
No formal announcement has been made, but given $2 billion in combined franchise receipts and the strength of the Universal-Illumination-Nintendo partnership, a third installment is widely expected around 2028.
When did The Super Mario Galaxy Movie open in theaters?
The film opened on April 1, 2026, debuting at number one globally with $372.5 million worldwide in its opening weekend, including $130.9 million domestically across more than 4,000 screens.
