The Super Mario Galaxy Movie delivered a blockbuster start Thursday, adding $24.6 million to its running total and positioning the animated sequel for a dominant opening weekend. Backed by Illumination and Universal in partnership with Nintendo, the film has already amassed $59.1 million domestically through its first two days in theaters and is tracking toward one of the biggest openings of the year.
The sequel also launched strongly overseas Wednesday, collecting $33.9 million from 78 territories. Key markets included Mexico ($6.7 million), the U.K. and Ireland ($4.3 million), Germany ($3.8 million), Spain ($3 million) and France ($2.9 million). With international demand running high, industry forecasters expect robust global receipts out of the gate.
Universal’s official projection calls for a $128.2 million domestic opening weekend and $186 million across the first five days. Independent trackers and exhibitors are even more bullish, estimating the film could finish the weekend between $190 million and $200 million in North America. Studios and analysts are also eyeing at least $175 million from overseas play, which would put the film’s global opening in the neighborhood of $360 million to $375 million.
With a production budget of $110 million, the sequel is already squarely in profitable territory relative to typical marketing and distribution returns for an animated tentpole. Its predecessor, 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, remains a touchstone: that film grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide and set a high bar for Nintendo-brand adaptations to deliver family audiences and merchandising windfalls.
The voice cast reunites franchise stalwarts Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key and Jack Black, and the sequel expands the roster with Donald Glover, Glen Powell and Benny Safdie. Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic return to direct. Universal and Illumination have leaned into the Nintendo collaboration in marketing and global release strategy, which appears to be paying off in multiple territories.
Also opening this weekend in a much different lane, A24’s The Drama — a dark comedy starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya — pulled in $1.7 million in preview screenings. The film is being positioned for adult audiences and will test whether awards-season interest and star power can generate sustained box office beyond a strong opening weekend.
Early returns suggest The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will be one of the summer’s biggest commercial hits, but final weekend tallies will confirm how much momentum it can maintain beyond opening-day curiosity and family attendance patterns across North America and international markets.