Mixed reviews did not dissuade the mass audience from buying tickets for ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’, which scored the biggest opening of the year for a Hollywood film. The Illumination and Nintendo co-production earned $130.9 million over the weekend and a staggering $190.1 million in its first five days in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday.
“Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is the top box office in the world
Universal Pictures released the sequel worldwide on Wednesday, taking advantage of children’s spring break in the week before the Easter holiday. With an estimated US$182.4 million in 80 foreign markets, the film is looking for an astronomical US$372.5 million debut – the latest hit for the PG rating. Mexico leads internationally with US$29.1 million from 5,136 screens, followed by the UK. and Ireland with USD 19.7 million. According to Saknilk, the film earned a net collection of ₹ 3.73 crore at the Indian box office, taking its total Indian gross to ₹ 4.45 crore.
“Super Mario Galaxy Movie” has the biggest debut since “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
The animated sequel, Illumination CEO Christopher Meledandri’s 16th film in 16 years, is the industry’s biggest release since “Avatar: Fire and Ash” opened on Christmas. Chinese film “Pegasus 3,” which was not a Motion Picture Association opener, has a slim lead for the 2026 global record, however. It’s also a drop from the first film, which had $204 million domestically over the same five-day period in 2023 ($147 million of which was from Friday, Saturday and Sunday). ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ was the second biggest film of 2023 with over $1.3 billion in box office receipts.
“Super Mario Galaxy Movie” scores highly among family audiences
Featuring voice actors Chris Pratt, Jack Black, Anya Taylor-Joy and Charlie Day, ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ had a strong following in the US and Canada, where it was screened in 4,252 theaters, including 421 IMAX and 1,345 premium large format screens. It earned USD 15 million from IMAX screens alone. It also cost about $110 million to make, including marketing and promotional costs. But it arrived amid a flurry of less-than-stellar reviews. Its Rotten Tomatoes score currently sits at a paltry 40%. Ticket buyers were more enthusiastic, however.The family audience gave the film five out of five stars according to PostTrak’s exit poll, while the general public gave it four stars and an A- in CinemsScore. The audience favored men (61%) in general, although in terms of the families present, there were slightly more mothers (52%) than fathers. ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ will be released in Japan this month.
It beats “Super Mario Galaxy Movie”.Hail Mary project ‘
As expected, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ ended the two-week reign of the Ryan Gosling-directed sci-fi hit ‘Project Hail Mary’, entering its second and third weekend in theaters, where it added $30.7 million, bringing its total to $217.2 million. Worldwide, it has earned USD 420.7 million to date.
‘The Drama’ has debuted with USD 14 million
In third place was A24’s provocative film “The Drama,” starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, which earned $14.4 million from 3,087 theaters. The film’s stars have been on a wildly glamorous press tour to promote the R-rated film about an engaged couple struggling with a disturbing revelation. The appearance has gathered quite a few cultural discourses. Although reviews have been more positive than not (82% on Rotten Tomatoes), it earned a less-than-expected B CinemaScore.
‘Hoppers’ and ‘Reminders of Him’ enter the Top 5
“Hoppers” and “Reminders of Him” completed the top five. And box office prospects look bright, about 30% over last year.
‘Dhurandhar: Revenge ‘ Holds the top 10 position
Bollywood film ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ which is in its third week has held its own at the US box office. The film earned $1.9 million in its third weekend, thus taking its total North American gross collection to $25.71 million, according to Venky box office. Meanwhile, the gross haul from international markets is currently USD 41.5 million. Starring director Aditya Dhar Ranveer Singh leadership has set a new record at the international box office, grossing a total of 392 million euros. The film became the first to collect 1,013.77 crores nett at the Indian box office, taking the total gross collection in India to 1,213.74 crores. The film is pushing a worldwide gross collection of ₹1,605.74 crore ($173.2 million).
Top 10 movies at the domestic box office
As final domestic figures are released on Monday, this list takes into account estimated Friday-Sunday ticket sales at theaters in the US and Canada, according to Comscore:1.’Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ – 130.9 million USD.2. “Hail Mary Project” – 30.7 million USD.3. ‘The Drama’ – US$14.4 million.4. “Hoppers” – 5.8 million USD.5. “His Souvenirs” – 2.2 million USD.6.’A Great Awakening’ – 2.1 million USD.7. ‘They Will Kill You’ – US$1.9 million.8. ‘Dhurandhar The Revenge’ – USD 1.9 million.9.’Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ – 1.8 million USD.10. ‘Scream 7’ – USD 915,000
