'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Just Became 2026's First Billion-Dollar Blockbuster — And It's Not Slowing Down

Super Mario Galaxy Just Hit a Milestone No Other 2026 Movie Has Reached

Illumination and Nintendo have done it again. "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" has officially become the first film of 2026 to cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office — and it did it with style.

Released on April 1, 2026, the animated sequel has pulled in $438.5 million domestically and a staggering $571.5 million internationally. That puts its worldwide total past $1 billion, with a production budget of just $110 million — making it one of the most profitable animated films in recent memory.

Top-earning markets include Mexico ($47.8 million), the United Kingdom and Ireland ($37.4 million), Germany ($29 million), and France ($23.9 million). Not bad for a plumber in overalls.

How Mario Stacked Up Against the Competition

The road to $1 billion wasn't lonely. Ryan Gosling's space epic "Project Hail Mary" (directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller for Amazon MGM) put up a serious fight, crossing $510 million globally. A24's provocative comedy "The Drama" starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya also turned heads with $65 million on a $28 million budget.

But Mario had the family audience locked. With summer blockbusters like "Spider-Man: Brand New Day", Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" (starring Matt Damon), and "Toy Story 5" now entering the arena, the race for 2026's box office crown is just heating up.

What This Means for Nintendo's Movie Future

The original 2023 "Super Mario Bros. Movie" ended its run at $1.36 billion — and the sequel is on pace to match or even surpass that. Nintendo and Illumination clearly have a formula that works: vibrant animation, nostalgic charm, and a script that entertains both kids and adults.

With Universal doubling down on Nintendo IP, don't be surprised if we see a Zelda or Metroid adaptation sooner rather than later.