The Mushroom Kingdom has officially reclaimed the center of the cinematic universe. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opening has delivered a massive $372.5 million worldwide in its first five days, proving that the appetite for Nintendo’s flagship plumber is far from sated.
The sequel, a collaboration between Nintendo, Illumination, and Universal Pictures, debuted at the top of the North American charts. In its first five days in the region, the film earned an estimated $190,053,455, with the traditional Friday-to-Sunday window accounting for $130,940,000 of that total.
Internationally, the film’s reach was equally expansive. Across 80 territories, the movie played on 54,000 screens at 23,500 locations, bringing in an estimated $182.4 million. This global surge makes it the highest-earning worldwide and North American opening for any film released in 2026 so far.
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A New Benchmark for Animated Franchises
Even as the figures are dominant, they likewise serve as a mirror to the record-breaking success of the 2023 predecessor. The original The Super Mario Bros. Movie set a staggering bar, opening to $377,628,865 worldwide in its first five days—a feat that remains the highest-earning worldwide opening for an animated film, surpassing Frozen II.
Despite falling slightly short of that all-time peak, the new installment secures its own place in history. It now ranks as the fifth highest worldwide opening for an animated film ever. More importantly, the Super Mario series has develop into the only animated franchise to see two separate films open with more than $350 million worldwide.
The film also joins an elite group of animated properties—including Shrek, Toy Story, and Minions—that have achieved two North American three-day openings exceeding $100 million. This consistency underscores the brand’s transition from a gaming powerhouse to a reliable cinematic juggernaut.
| Film | Worldwide Earnings | North American Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) | $377.6 Million | $204.6 Million |
| The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) | $372.5 Million | $190.1 Million |
Expanding the Star-Studded Cast
Much of the momentum can be attributed to a strategic expansion of the voice cast, blending returning favorites with high-profile newcomers. Brie Larson joins the ensemble as Rosalina, while Donald Glover lends his voice to Yoshi. The casting of Glen Powell as Fox McCloud from the Starfox series provides a nod to longtime Nintendo fans that has generated significant chatter across social media.
The production also brought in Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr., Issa Rae as Honey Queen, and Luis Guzmán as Wart. These additions complement the returning core cast, featuring Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, and Jack Black as Bowser.
Behind the scenes, the creative synergy remains intact. The film was produced by Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri and Nintendo Representative Director Shigeru Miyamoto. Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic returned alongside screenwriter Matthew Fogel, with Brian Tyler once again composing the soundtrack.
Celebrating 40 Years of the Mushroom Kingdom
The release is timed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. franchise. While the narrative is primarily based on the Super Mario Galaxy games—which first debuted on the Wii in November 2007 and saw a sequel in May 2010—Meledandri has noted that the film includes surprises drawn from every era of Mario’s history.
This cinematic push coincides with a broader effort to revitalize the Galaxy series for modern audiences. A collection of Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 launched on the Nintendo Switch on October 2, featuring enhanced resolution, a redesigned user interface, and an Assist Mode for improved health and fall recovery.
For Universal Pictures, the film represents a major victory, marking the fifth highest worldwide opening in the studio’s history and the second highest for Illumination.
The global rollout continues through the month, with the film having already opened in the United States and the United Kingdom on April 1. The next major milestone for the production will be its highly anticipated debut in Japan on April 24.
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