‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Blasts Off With 2026’s Biggest Opening Day

Nintendo and Illumination’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is off to a predictably record-setting start, reinforcing its place near the top of the box office pecking order.

Following the gaming franchise’s course into a cosmic setting, the Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath-directed sequel made $34.5 million on its first day in the U.S., the biggest opening day of 2026 to date, and a record for an April Wednesday debut. Industry tracking now points to a massive global start, with projections exceeding $350 million across the extended opening frame and a domestic five-day total that could approach $180 million or higher. The most optimistic predictions push towards $200 million.

That scale underscores how thoroughly Mario has transitioned from legacy IP to a box-office juggernaut. Illumination’s adaptations have proved review-proof, as the sequel’s critical reception has been far from kind. The film’s Tomatometer score, an aggregate rating from critics, sits at a rotten 41%, while its Popcornmeter, the audience’s score, is a “verified hot” 91%.

Where the first film proved the viability of Nintendo’s theatrical ambitions, Galaxy suggests a fully functioning franchise superpower, cameos and easter eggs included. With early turnout already pacing at a historic clip, the film further establishes Illumination and Nintendo’s Mario cinematic universe as one of the defining global animation brands of the coming years.