Super Mario Finally Did What No 2026 Movie Could

Well this is a bit mad, but here we are: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has just smashed through the $1 billion barrier at the box office — and no other film in 2026 has managed to pull that off. We’re ten weekends into its run, and the Mario machine is still raking it in, both in the UK and everywhere else. Not bad for a plumber.

The $1 Billion Club Welcomes Its First Member This Year

Let’s break this down. Universal, Nintendo and Illumination have now watched their Mario sequel cartwheel its way past $1 billion worldwide, according to Deadline. That makes it the very first film this year to hit ten digits, and it only took ten weeks to do it.

Right now, Super Mario Galaxy Movie is sitting pretty at the top of the charts for 2026 — both in terms of global haul and what it’s made in the States. Domestically, it’s pulled in $428.5 million so far, making it just the second Illumination film to clear the $400 million hurdle on home turf. Meanwhile, overseas audiences have tossed in $571.5 million, which actually makes it the highest-earning MPA (that’s Motion Picture Association) title abroad for the year, as well.

Mario Franchise — Just Two Films, $2.3 Billion, and Counting

This is where things get a bit ridiculous (in a good way, if you’re counting coins). Between both Mario movies, the franchise has now tallied up more than $2 billion worldwide. That’s enough to pop it into the top 10 highest-grossing animated franchises ever — and, impressively, Mario managed that with only two films.

• Despicable Me: $5.64 billion (six films)
• Shrek: $3.98 billion (six films)
• Toy Story: $3.28 billion (five films)
• Super Mario: $2.3 billion (two films — that’s a mad efficiency rate)
• Madagascar: $2.26 billion (seven films)

So, Mario is currently sitting on the ninth rung, just ahead of the Madagascar lot, and with fewer films than anyone else in that club. Seriously, two films. It’s also now Chris Meledandri’s third separate franchise to sneak into this particular list, which has to be the definition of ‘safe pair of hands’ if you’re Universal or Illumination.

Video Game Movies: Mario Dominates Himself

If you’re wondering how it stacks up against other video game adaptations — well, Mario is basically beating his own record here. Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now the second-highest-grossing film based on a video game, full stop. The only thing ahead of it? The original Super Mario Bros. Movie from last year.

To put that one more way: if you’re measuring success in buckets of gold coins, Mario’s only real competition is Mario himself. Stateside, the new film is also now the second-biggest animated hit Universal has ever put out. Again, only bested by its own predecessor.

Not bad for a guy whose official job title is still basically ‘plumber with a hat’.