Despite opening to overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has officially crossed $1 billion at the global box office. It is the first film of 2026 to reach the milestone, further cementing its status as one of the year’s biggest success stories.
Deadline reports that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reached the milestone during its tenth week in theaters. The outlet notes that the movie debuted at number one worldwide and held the top spot both globally and internationally for three consecutive weekends. At the domestic box office, it is also the highest-grossing release of 2026 so far, with $428.5 million in ticket sales.
Mario and Luigi in the desert kingdom from the Super Mario Galaxy Movie Trailer – YouTube, Nintendo of America
Notably, the film has also been available on premium video-on-demand platforms for the past two weeks, making its continued box office performance even more impressive.
Nintendo’s Winning Formula
Recent legacy franchises such as The Mandalorian and Grogu, along with attempted franchise launches like Masters of the Universe, have struggled at the box office. By contrast, Nintendo and Illumination continue to find remarkable success with the Super Mario films. Combined, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie have now generated more than $2 billion at the global box office.
Not only does that make the two films the highest-grossing video game adaptations of all time, whether live-action, animated, or hybrid, but it also marks another major milestone for the franchise. Deadline reports that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s latest box office achievement pushes the Super Mario films into the number nine spot among the highest-grossing animated franchises worldwide.
Critics and Audiences Remain Divided
Before the film’s release, professional critics gave it overwhelmingly negative reviews. Several Hollywood trade outlets suggested it would appeal only to a niche audience, with one describing it as “frenetic, disappointing, and threadbare.” YouTube personality Grace Randolph also criticized the film, arguing that it contained elements of the “toxic manosphere.”
Bowser Jr. in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – YouTube, Nintendo of America
Moviegoers turned out regardless. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie delivered the biggest global box office opening of 2026, earning more than $372 million worldwide.
Audience review scores reflected that enthusiasm. While the film currently holds a 42% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, verified audience ratings on the platform sit at 88%. On Criticless, a user-driven review site, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie currently holds a 74% “Rad” score.
Super Mario Galaxy review scores on Rotten Tomatoes – Rotten Tomatoes
Taken together, the film’s box office performance and audience ratings highlight the growing divide between professional critics and moviegoers. Nintendo and Illumination appear to have focused on delivering the experience fans wanted.
What’s Next for Nintendo?
Nintendo’s next major film project is a live-action Legend of Zelda adaptation with Sony. Given the company’s close involvement in the creative process behind its recent films, many fans expect the project to be another faithful adaptation of one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises.
Princess Rosalina after dispatching an enemy in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie – YouTube, Nintendo of America
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The company has increasingly taken a hands-on approach to bringing its properties to the big screen, prioritizing brand stewardship and fan expectations. So far, that strategy appears to be paying off. With two Super Mario films now generating more than $2 billion worldwide, Nintendo has established itself as a major player in Hollywood.
For now, the box office success of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie speaks for itself.
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