Presented in theaters starting April 1, 2026, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is already making waves at the box office.
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According to reports, with $372.5 million in five days, the film posted the year’s best opening at the box office.
The sequel to the franchise has thus surpassed Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, which tallied $140.9 million at the box office over its opening weekend.
The feature also crossed the $400 million mark in worldwide box office after six days in theaters. It is expected to reach $750 million by the upcoming weekend.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that the world’s most famous plumber enjoyed two extra presentation days, as the film opened on a Wednesday rather than the usual Friday start.
Less Prolific than the Original, But…
The opening weekend for Super Mario Galaxy remains below that of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), which raked in $146 million in its first weekend (about $203.1 million CAD) before reaching $204 million (about $283.8 million CAD) in just five days.
On the international stage, the first film also performed better, pulling in $375 million worldwide (about $521.6 million CAD) over the same period.
That said, the new production still stands out by delivering the fourth-largest worldwide opening ever for an animated feature, behind Zootopia 2, Moana 2, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Mixed Reactions
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie displays mixed results on Rotten Tomatoes, highlighting a sizable gap between professional critics and general audiences. Among critics, the film posts a score around 40–44%, landing in the Rotten category and reflecting a generally lukewarm to negative reception.
Several recurring criticisms include a weak storyline, a lack of depth, and a sense of visual overload without a cohesive narrative throughline.
By contrast, audience reception is noticeably more positive. Viewers give it roughly 90% approval, signaling strong enthusiasm for the colorful universe, video game callbacks, and the film’s kinetic pace.
This contrast echoes what was seen with the first Super Mario Bros. film, which also split critics and fans, albeit to a lesser extent.
With the arrival of new iconic characters such as Yoshi, Rosalina, Fox, and Bowser Jr., notably, the Mario universe is significantly enriched and its narrative horizons broadened.
These additions are not merely about novelty: they open the door to a multitude of storytelling possibilities, ranging from individual quests to even more ambitious ensemble adventures. Each newly introduced character brings their own universe, stakes, and dynamics, allowing for parallel plots or spin-offs centered on particular heroes.
This expansion marks a turning point for the franchise, which seems poised to build a truly interconnected cinematic universe, capable of renewing itself while preserving the playful and colorful essence that has driven its success.
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