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Super Mario Galaxy Hits $1B, Tops 2026 Box Office

6/10/2026

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Summary

Super Mario Galaxy Hits $1B

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reached $1 billion worldwide after its April 1, 2026 release.
It earned $428 million domestically and $571.5 million internationally on a $110 million budget.
The film became the highest-grossing movie of 2026 and the 16th-highest-grossing animated film worldwide.
Keegan-Michael Key confirmed a third film for 2029 and a Donkey Kong spin-off for 2028, with Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic attached.

Summary

Mario Secures Billion

The Mario sequel’s billion-dollar box office proves video-game IP can succeed at the cinema when handled carefully.
Universal-Illumination has delivered the two highest-grossing video-game movies ever, back-to-back.
After Mario’s success, the Legend of Zelda film moved its release date forward from a prior delay.
Analysts say the billion-dollar sequel signals to studios that gaming franchises are bankable.

History

Historical Context

In August 1995, Lawrence Kasanoff’s newly acquired rights led New Line Cinema to release Paul Anderson’s Mortal Kombat, which earned $122.2 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing video-game adaptation at the time. Its box-office triumph proved game franchises could draw mass audiences, a precedent later echoed by the 2021 reboot and the 2026 Mortal Kombat II sequel.

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Super Mario Galaxy Hits $1B

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reached $1 billion worldwide after its April 1, 2026 release.
It earned $428 million domestically and $571.5 million internationally on a $110 million budget.
The film became the highest-grossing movie of 2026 and the 16th-highest-grossing animated film worldwide.
Keegan-Michael Key confirmed a third film for 2029 and a Donkey Kong spin-off for 2028, with Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic attached.

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