The Super Mario Galaxy Movie crosses $1bn worldwide, but its predecessor still retains the video game adaptation crown

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has crossed the $1 billion global box office milestone, becoming the first film of 2026 to reach this significant achievement. Released on April 1, 2026, the Illumination and Universal Pictures sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie reached the billion-dollar mark in its tenth weekend of theatrical release.

The film’s final numbers break down to $428.5–429 million from North America and $571.5 million from international markets. Despite being made available on digital platforms and video-on-demand services about a month prior to reaching the milestone, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has maintained a strong theatrical presence in select locations.

While this represents impressive commercial success and establishes it as the highest-grossing domestic film in North America for 2026 so far, it still trails its predecessor. The 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie holds the record for the highest-grossing video game adaptation ever, with $1.36 billion globally. Nonetheless, the success of both films means Nintendo, Universal Pictures, and Illumination now control the two highest-grossing video game adaptations of all time.

As of the report date, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the leading film of 2026, with the next closest competitor being the Michael Jackson biographical film Michael at $888 million globally. Other notable 2026 releases include Project Hail Mary ($680 million) and The Devil Wears Prada 2 ($664 million). The achievement positions the Super Mario franchise as a rare success story in video game adaptations, with its first two films generating exceptional box office returns.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie crosses $1bn worldwide, but its predecessor still retains the video game adaptation crown

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