Record-Breaking Opening for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”
Los Angeles has witnessed a remarkable weekend at the box office, as “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” made history with an impressive $130 million opening in North America. This achievement not only topped all films but also shattered the record for the best opening weekend of 2026, according to industry estimates.
The film, a sequel to the 2023 hit “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. It is an animated adaptation of the beloved video game series and features a star-studded voice cast, including Jack Black, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key, Donald Glover, and Brie Larson.
Strong Performance from Other Films
While “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” dominated the charts, other films also saw significant success. “Project Hail Mary,” which previously set the high mark for this year’s opening weekend with $80 million, came in second with $30.6 million in its third weekend, as reported by Comscore.
“The Drama,” starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, opened with $14.3 million, securing the third position. Pixar’s “Hoppers” followed closely behind with $5.8 million during its fifth week, while “Reminders of Him” earned $2.2 million in its fourth week.
The top 10 releases also included “A Great Awakening” ($2.1 million), “They Will Kill You” ($1.9 million), “Dhurandhar: The Revenge” ($1.85 million), “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” ($1.8 million), and “Scream 7” ($915,000).
Global Success and Mixed Reviews
Despite mixed reviews, the “Super Mario Galaxy Movie” managed to attract a large audience. The film, released globally on Wednesday, took advantage of kids’ spring break and the Easter holiday period. With an estimated $182.4 million from 80 overseas markets, the film is projected to reach an astronomical $372.5 million debut.
Mexico led the international market with $29.1 million from 5,136 screens, followed by the U.K. and Ireland with $19.7 million. This makes it the biggest debut since “Avatar: Fire and Ash” launched over Christmas. However, the Chinese film “Pegasus 3,” which was not a Motion Picture Association release, holds a slight edge for the global record in 2026.
This sequel is also the 16th movie from Illumination CEO Christopher Meledandri in 16 years, marking a significant milestone for the studio.
Domestic Impact and Audience Reception
In the U.S. and Canada, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” had a massive footprint, playing in 4,252 theaters, including 421 IMAX and 1,345 premium large format screens. The film generated $15 million from the IMAX screens alone, highlighting its broad appeal.
AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron praised the film, stating, “It’s exactly the kind of broad, crowd-pleasing release that brings people into theatres.”
Although the film cost around $110 million to produce, not including marketing and promotion expenses, it received less-than-stellar reviews. Its Rotten Tomatoes score currently stands at 40%. However, ticket buyers were more enthusiastic, with family audiences giving it five out of five stars according to PostTrak exit polls.
General audiences gave it four stars and an A- on CinemsScore. The audience skewed male (61%), although when it came to families attending, there were slightly more moms (52%) than dads.
