Easter Box Office: ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Boosts Revenue with $190M U.S. Opening and $372M Worldwide

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has made a significant impact at the box office, opening to an estimated $372.5 million globally. This marks the largest debut since James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash was released during the Christmas season of 2025. The film stands out as the top opening of 2026 among Hollywood productions.

Strong Domestic Performance

The sequel achieved an estimated $190.1 million in domestic earnings over the five-day Easter weekend, which includes a three-day gross of $130.9 million. Internationally, Galaxy launched with approximately $182.4 million from 80 markets.

The first Mario Bros. Movie, released during the Easter corridor in 2023, had a five-day domestic debut of $204 million, with a three-day weekend total of $147 million. This performance is among the best for holiday releases, and Galaxy has also positioned itself prominently in this category.

Record-Breaking Milestones

Super Mario Galaxy has set several records, including the largest three-day opening of the year, both domestically and internationally. This record was briefly held by the sleeper hit Project Hail Mary.

Globally, the film secured the fifth-largest opening ever for an animated feature and the fourth-largest for a Hollywood studio release, following Zootopia 2, Moana 2, and the original Super Mario. It is notable for being the only animated franchise based on a video game to have two titles surpassing $350 million in opening revenue. Additionally, it ranks as Universal’s fifth-largest opening ever.

Domestic Achievements

Domestically, Super Mario Galaxy recorded the third-highest grossing weekend for a video game adaptation, trailing only A Minecraft Movie and the original Super Mario. It is also the only animated franchise, alongside Shrek, Toy Story, and Minions, to have two titles open above $100 million over a three-day weekend. Furthermore, it delivered the largest five-day domestic launch since Disney’s Moana 2.

Jim Orr, Universal’s domestic distribution president, stated that the opening weekend for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reflects a strong result for the franchise and a positive outcome for the marketplace. He noted that audience reaction scores indicate a promising and extended run at the domestic box office.

Audience Reception

Despite mixed reviews from critics, Super Mario Galaxy received an A- CinemaScore from audiences. The 2023 installment of the franchise had previously garnered an A and became a box office sensation, ultimately grossing $1.36 billion globally and establishing a new franchise.

Illumination, which has a partnership with Universal, collaborated with Nintendo to adapt the beloved video game for the big screen. The sequel continues the adventures of Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach as they confront Bowser and his son, Bowser Jr., while introducing new characters like Princess Rosalina and Yoshi.

Competitors in the Box Office

Amazon MGM’s Project Hail Mary, now in its third weekend, continues to perform well despite losing IMAX and premium formats to Super Mario Galaxy. The film, featuring Ryan Gosling, celebrated two milestones over the Easter weekend, surpassing both the $400 million mark globally and the $200 million mark domestically.

In the domestic rankings, Project Hail Mary came in second, experiencing a 43% drop in its third weekend, earning $30.6 million from 3,902 cinemas and bringing its North American total to $217.2 million.

In third place, The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, earned an estimated $14.1 million from 3,097 locations. Although it received a B CinemaScore, it boasts an 81% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Pixar and Disney’s Hoppers remained in the top five during its fifth weekend, finishing with a domestic total of $149.6 million and $182.6 million overseas, resulting in a global tally of $323.2 million. Animation has dominated the top-10 chart, with Sony Pictures Animation’s GOAT also surpassing the $100 million mark domestically, achieving a global total of $185.2 million.

As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.

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Published on 2026-04-05 18:49:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk