The dawn of April brought with it the highly anticipated debut of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and the results have been nothing short of astronomical. While cinematic critics have offered a spectrum of opinions—ranging from skeptical to our own positive assessment—the general public has voted with their wallets. According to reports from Deadline, the latest collaboration between Nintendo and Illumination has not only claimed the title of 2026’s biggest premiere but has also secured a spot among the most successful animated openings in history.
By the morning of Sunday, April 5, the film had amassed a staggering $372.5 million globally. While this figure falls slightly short of the record-breaking $387.8 million earned by its predecessor during the same timeframe, the sequel’s performance remains a monumental achievement. Currently, it trails only a handful of animated giants, including Zootopia 2, Ne Zha 2, Moana 2, and the original Mario film. This ensures its status as the second-highest opening for an Illumination production and the undisputed king of the 2024 box office so far.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie catapults the iconic plumber brothers into a sprawling interstellar odyssey. While heavily inspired by the beloved Wii-era games, the narrative is peppered with deep-cut cameos from throughout the franchise’s history, featuring appearances by Rosalina, Bowser Jr., Yoshi, and even the rarely-seen Wart. For those following the star-studded production, don’t miss the news regarding Glen Powell’s surprising inclusion as a fan-favorite character from the broader Nintendo universe.
Source: Deadline
