Nintendo’s biggest mascot is having the kind of run that makes other gaming franchises jealous. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has grossed roughly $832 million worldwide as of April 26, 2026, against a $110 million production budget, making it 2026’s top-grossing film and top-grossing animated film. The sequel opened in U.S. theaters on April 1, 2026, and rolled out in Japan on April 24, 2026.
Breaking Down the Box Office
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie pulled in $191 million across its opening five days in the U.S. and crossed $629 million globally by its second weekend. By its third weekend it had passed China’s Pegasus 3 to claim 2026’s top-grossing spot worldwide. Combined with the original Super Mario Bros. Movie, the two Illumination and Nintendo films have now generated roughly $2 billion in theatrical revenue. For context, that’s a haul most AAA studios could only dream of.
A Cast That Reads Like a Nintendo Direct
Most of the original voice cast is back: Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, and Keegan-Michael Key as Toad. The new additions are where things get interesting for fans. Brie Larson voices Princess Rosalina, the character introduced in 2007’s Super Mario Galaxy. Donald Glover finally gives Yoshi a voice, with Issa Rae and Luis Guzmán also joining. The biggest surprise was held until March 27, 2026, when Glen Powell was revealed as Fox McCloud, marking Star Fox’s first appearance in the Mario movie universe.
What’s Next After Mario
The film was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and animated by Illumination Studios Paris, with Brian Tyler returning to compose the score using arrangements from the two Super Mario Galaxy games. With this kind of money on the table, Nintendo’s next big film bet — a live-action Zelda movie planned for 2027 — has the box-office wind firmly at its back. Whether that magic transfers to Hyrule is another question, but Nintendo’s movie partners now have all the room they need to find out.
