Super Mario Galaxy Movie Breaks 2026 Opening Day Record

The animated sequel earned $34.5 million on its first day, the biggest debut of the year so far.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:05pm

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Universal and Illumination's animated film 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' had a massive $34.5 million opening day, the highest debut of 2026 so far and surpassing the first day gross of its predecessor, 2023's 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'. The sequel is now projected to earn $186 million in its first five days of release, with strong international numbers expected to push its global total to $350-375 million.

Why it matters

The 'Super Mario' movie franchise has proven to be a major box office draw, with the first film becoming one of the highest-grossing releases of 2023. The strong opening for the sequel demonstrates the continued popularity of the characters and the ability of the studios to capitalize on the brand's built-in fanbase.

The details

The $34.5 million opening day for 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' tops the previous 2026 high of $33.1 million set by Amazon MGM's 'Project Hail Mary'. It also exceeds the $31 million first day of the previous 'Super Mario' film. The sequel is expected to earn $186 million in its first five days, though some projections have it reaching $190-200 million by the traditional Sunday weekend. Internationally, the film is anticipated to generate at least $175 million, resulting in a global total of $350-375 million.

  • The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opened in theaters on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.
  • The previous Super Mario Bros. Movie opened in theaters in 2023.

The players

Universal

The major Hollywood studio that is co-producing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Illumination

The animation production company behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Chris Pratt

The actor voicing the character of Mario in the film.

Anya Taylor-Joy

The actress voicing the character of Princess Peach in the film.

Jack Black

The actor voicing the character of Bowser in the film.

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What they’re saying

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is off to a super start at the domestic box office, igniting to $34.5 million on opening day.”

— Rebecca Rubin, Author

What’s next

The film is expected to continue its strong box office performance over the coming weeks, with projections indicating it could match or exceed the $375 million global total of the first Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The takeaway

The massive opening day for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie demonstrates the enduring popularity of the Super Mario franchise and the ability of the studios to capitalize on the built-in fanbase. The film's success will likely pave the way for future sequels and spinoffs in the lucrative video game-to-movie pipeline.