“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” has officially exceeded the $1 billion milestone worldwide. It becomes the first movie of 2026 to achieve that feat. The animated adaptation of the popular video game franchise was produced by Universal and Illumination in partnership with Nintendo.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” was made on a budget of $110 million, a comparatively modest figure for a major animated feature, positioning it to generate substantial profits. Its predecessor, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” was a massive box office success, concluding its theatrical run with nearly $1.4 billion in worldwide ticket revenue.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” sees the return of Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jack Black, all of whom reprised their roles from the original film. The voice cast is further expanded with the additions of Donald Glover, Glen Powell, and Benny Safdie. Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic also returned to helm the sequel.
Universal’s upcoming release lineup features Steven Spielberg’s conspiracy thriller “Disclosure Day,” Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” and “Minions & Monsters,” another project produced by Illumination. The animation studio has established itself as one of Hollywood’s most reliable hitmakers, delivering successful franchises and films such as “Despicable Me,” “Sing,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “The Lorax,” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Considering the exceptional box office performance of both “Super Mario” films, Universal, Nintendo, and Illumination will likely be eager to bring Mario and Luigi back for another adventure.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” currently stands as the highest-grossing film of the year, with Lionsgate’s “Michael,” Amazon MGM Studios’ “Project Hail Mary,” and Disney’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2” following closely behind.
