"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" opened to $130.9 million domestically over its first five days and $372.5 million worldwide — the biggest animated opening of 2026 and the fourth-highest-grossing film of the year despite being in theaters for less than a week.[1]

The sequel to 2023's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" — which grossed $1.36 billion worldwide — has started strong but faces a steeper climb to match its predecessor's total.[2] The first film benefited from pent-up demand and the novelty of Nintendo's first major theatrical animated feature. The sequel has to prove that the franchise has legs beyond the initial rush.[1]

The film opened April 1 and immediately took the top spot at the domestic box office. Ryan Gosling's "Project Hail Mary" ranked second at $30.7 million in its third week, bringing its worldwide total to $420.8 million.[2]

Directors Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc and Fabien Polack return from the first film. Chris Meledandri and Shigeru Miyamoto produce. Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Pratt reprise their roles as Princess Peach and Mario.[1]

The rest of the top 10 for the April 3-5 weekend: "The Drama" with Zendaya and Robert Pattinson opened at $14.4 million in third. Disney and Pixar's "Hoppers" held fourth at $5.8 million in its fifth week, bringing its worldwide total to $512 million.[2]

The Mario franchise has proven that video game adaptations can be commercial juggernauts. The question for "Galaxy" is whether it can sustain momentum through the spring or whether it will follow the pattern of most sequels — a big opening, a steep drop, and a total that falls short of the original.

At $372.5 million in five days, it has time to answer the question.

-- CAMILLE BEAUMONT, Los Angeles