The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has already begun breaking box office records following its explosive launch into theaters yesterday, despite middling reviews.
Nintendo’s blockbuster sequel earned $34 million in the U.S. on Wednesday, Deadline reported, making for the best opening day of any film released in 2026 so far. (Project Hail Mary opened to $33.1 million, so it was close, though the Ryan Gosling film had been helped by opening on a Friday.)
After launching on a Wednesday, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie now holds the record for the best opening on a Wednesday in April ever — beating its predecessor, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which collected $31.7 million in gold coins back in 2023.
Forecasts show Nintendo’s follow-up bringing in slightly less over the course of the film’s first week, but only slightly, and with a healthy-looking global box office total also expected.
Nintendo will also likely be cheered by the fact that the movie has opened to a positive response from cinemagoers — demonstrated by its current 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. That figure is far higher than the movie’s overall critical consensus, with just 41% of reviewers judged as having recommended the film. Critics were similarly mixed on the first movie, which holds a slightly better 59% approval rating, as well as a better 95% audience score.
IGN’s own appraisal was also mixed. “It’s OK, it really is,” we wrote in our The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review, rating the film with a 6/10 score. “While it loses points for not engaging in a strong emotional core like its predecessor, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie racks up some extra lives by stuffing Easter eggs into the runtime to the point of bursting. It’s fun seeing all that stuff on screen, but without some kind of relatable story thriving underneath those references, it’s not as effective as it could be.”
The Super Mario Bros. Movie ultimately went on to earn more than $1.3 billion, a feat both Nintendo and Minions animation company Illumination will surely hope this follow-up can replicate. And already, there’s talk of further sequels — not least from Bowser voice actor Jack Black, who has suggested that a third Mario movie will debut in 2029.
If accurate, this would mean Nintendo will likely have a big movie in theaters every year for the remainder of the decade, with 2027 already reserved for its live-action The Legend of Zelda film. Then there’s that leaked Donkey Kong spinoff, which would make sense to arrive in 2028 following a two-year break for Nintendo’s big screen animated adventures — and as a lead-up to the third Super Mario Movie.
Where are Mario’s big screen adventures headed next? After teaming up with Star Fox hero Fox McCloud, we reported earlier this week that the Galaxy Movie has now established an in-universe excuse for Mario to mix with pretty much any Nintendo character — opening the door to a full Super Smash Bros. Movie in future.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
