The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Just Became Hollywood's First $1 Billion Movie of 2026

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Just Became Hollywood's First $1 Billion Movie of 2026

Move over, box office records—The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has officially crossed the $1 billion mark, making it the first film of 2026 to hit that massive milestone. Universal Pictures and Nintendo's latest animated collaboration has proven that Mario's magic is far from over.

How Mario Conquered the Galaxy (and the Box Office)

After the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023, expectations were sky-high for this sequel. Director Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic returned to helm the project, with Chris Pratt reprising his role as Mario alongside Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, and Jack Black once again stealing scenes as Bowser.

The film introduces Rosalina (voiced by Ariana DeBose) and Fox McCloud from the Star Fox franchise, expanding the Nintendo universe in ways that fans have dreamed about for decades. The cosmic adventure takes Mario through multiple galaxies, each with stunning animation and references to the beloved Super Mario Galaxy video games.

What This Means for Video Game Movies

This success follows the momentum from other video game adaptations like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Minecraft, and A Minecraft Movie. The box office performance proves that video game movies are no longer a risky gamble—they're a proven formula when done right.

With Matchbox The Movie from Sam Hargrave and John Cena also generating buzz, and Apple TV+ planning more toy-based franchises, 2026 is the year that animated and video game films truly dominated Hollywood. Nintendo's winning streak continues, and fans are already speculating about what comes next.