LOS ANGELES— Universal Pictures, Illumination and Nintendo's The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has become the first film released in 2026 to surpass $1 billion at the global box office, marking another commercial milestone for the video game adaptation franchise, according to the studios.
The animated sequel crossed the threshold during its 10th weekend in theaters after opening worldwide on April 1, with worldwide ticket sales exceeding $1 billion. Studio figures showed the film earning about $430 million in the United States and Canada and more than $570 million in international markets, making it the highest-grossing Hollywood release of the year to date.
Universal, Illumination and Nintendo said the performance also pushed the Super Mario animated film franchise beyond $2 billion in cumulative worldwide box office receipts, underscoring the continued strength of Nintendo's best-known entertainment property on the big screen.
The sequel followed the commercial success of 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which became the first film based on a video game to exceed $1 billion globally. Although the new installment is not expected to match its predecessor's final worldwide total of roughly $1.36 billion, industry analysts said its sustained theatrical run has demonstrated strong audience demand for family-oriented animated releases.
According to Universal, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie debuted at No. 1 globally and remained the top film worldwide and internationally for three consecutive weekends after release. The studio also said it is the highest-grossing Motion Picture Association title overseas and the top domestic release of 2026.
The film reunites many of the principal voice actors from the original, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad. Inspired by Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy games, the story expands the franchise into a space-themed adventure while introducing new settings and characters.
The billion-dollar milestone places the sequel among a small group of films to reach the benchmark and reinforces the commercial appeal of established family and video game franchises in the global theatrical market. Industry tracking also ranks the film as the second-highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time, behind only its predecessor.
The movie remains in theatrical release in several markets while expanding to home entertainment platforms, with additional revenue expected from digital, physical media and streaming distribution in the coming weeks.
