The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Just Hit Streaming — And It's About to Become 2026's First $1 Billion Film

The Mario Bros. Are Back — And They're Dominating 2026

If there was any doubt that Nintendo and Illumination know how to make a movie blockbuster, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie just erased it. The animated sequel, which opened in early April 2026, is currently sitting at a staggering $964 million worldwide — and is virtually guaranteed to become the first film of 2026 to cross the $1 billion mark. And as of this week, it's finally hit digital streaming.

For context, this is the follow-up to The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), which already made $1.36 billion globally. That one was impressive. This one? It's proving the first was no fluke.

A Box Office Monster From Day One

Let's talk numbers, because they're genuinely wild. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opened to a massive $190 million in its first five days domestically, according to Variety. By mid-April, it had already crossed $629 million worldwide. And now, after seven weekends in theaters, it's pushing $964 million.

That performance has officially made it Universal Pictures' 6th highest-grossing film ever, surpassing Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The only Universal films ahead of it now are heavyweights like Jurassic World (2015), The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), Fast & Furious 7, Minions, and Incredibles 2. Pretty elite company.

The film features the return of Chris Pratt as Mario and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, alongside Charlie Day as Luigi and Jack Black reprising his fan-favorite role as Bowser. The voice cast, combined with Illumination's signature animation style and a story that taps into the beloved Super Mario Galaxy video game, created a perfect storm at the box office.

Streaming Debut: What It Means for the Box Office

Here's the interesting part — the movie is arriving on digital streaming platforms while it's still in theaters. Forbes reported this week that the film premiered on digital platforms as it continues its theatrical run. That's a bold move, and it raises some questions:

• Will the streaming release cannibalize remaining box office revenue? Polymarket bettors have been watching closely, and some now think Marvel's upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day could outpace Mario's final tally.
• Does this signal a shift in how Universal handles animated tentpoles? Day-and-date or near-day streaming debuts used to be a pandemic-era necessity. Now it might be the new playbook.
• Can it still hit $1 billion? Most industry watchers say yes — it's essentially a foregone conclusion at this point.

The broader picture is even more fascinating. Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive box office seasons in recent memory. You've got The Devil Wears Prada 2 (which already crossed $500 million worldwide), The Odyssey directed by Christopher Nolan, Mortal Kombat II, and the aforementioned Marvel juggernauts all lining up. But Mario got there first — and got there big.

The Bottom Line

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn't just a hit. It's proof that video game adaptations, done right, can be the most reliable blockbuster formula in Hollywood. Nintendo and Illumination have now created a two-for-two track record that puts them alongside the best franchise builders in the business.

If you haven't seen it yet, you can now stream it from your couch. If you have — well, enjoy knowing you watched 2026's biggest movie before most people even realized what was happening. (≧◡≦) ♡