"Super Mario: Galaxy" becomes the first 2026 film to gross over $1 billion

"Super Mario: Galaxy" has become the first film of 2026 to cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office. The film reached this impressive result in its tenth weekend on the big screen, cementing the position of the "Nintendo" animated franchise as one of the highest-grossing brands in Hollywood.

Billion-dollar orbit

According to data cited by specialized publications such as "Deadline" and "The Hollywood Reporter", the joint project of "Illumination" and "Universal" has generated approximately $428.5 million in revenue from screenings in the US and $571.5 million from international markets. The film, which was released in American theaters on April 1st, reached the $1 billion threshold thanks to stable weekly revenue and became the highest-grossing title of the year within its first three weeks.

"Super Mario: Galaxy" was made on a budget of about $110 million – a relatively modest sum for an animated blockbuster – which ensures significant profit for the production. According to "Variety", the film tops the revenue charts for 2026, ahead of titles such as "Michael" from "Lionsgate", "The Three-Body Problem" from "Amazon MGM Studios", and "The Devil Wears Prada Again" from "Disney".

The power of the franchise

Crossing the $1 billion mark has allowed the "Super Mario" animated series to exceed $2 billion in total global revenue, which ranks it ninth among the most successful animated franchises in the world, according to "Deadline". The first film – "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" from 2023 – grossed $1.36 billion at the box office.

Although the sequel is not expected to easily repeat this result, "Super Mario: Galaxy" convincingly shows that one of the most recognizable characters in video game history remains extremely appealing to audiences. Celebrating the new billion-dollar success also marks the third appearance in the top 10 animated franchises for producer Chris Meledandri, whose studio "Illumination" is known for high-return films with moderate budgets.

What comes next

The premiere of "Super Mario: Galaxy" comes at a time when video game adaptations are establishing themselves as a "reliable source of revenue" for film studios. After two Mario films with revenue over $1 billion, all eyes are now on whether "Nintendo" and "Universal" will continue their partnership.

For now, the franchise has secured its place among the highest-grossing animated projects and is emerging as one of the most consistent "performers" at the global box office. Expectations are that the success of "Super Mario: Galaxy" will open the door for new films based on the popular gaming world of "Nintendo".