The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has reportedly crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, a milestone that underscores the commercial power of Nintendo’s IP in partnership with Illumination.
According to box-office tallies, the film has grossed $428.5 million in the United States and $571.5 million internationally, bringing its total to just over $1 billion.
This performance places the Super Mario Galaxy Movie among the year’s top-grossing releases and reinforces Illumination founder Chris Meledandri’s track record in animation.
Background and context
Illumination — the studio behind global hits such as Despicable Me — collaborated with Nintendo to adapt the Super Mario franchise for the big screen.
Nintendo’s Mario franchise has a long console history, with titles such as Super Mario Galaxy originally launching on Wii and helping define Nintendo’s hardware eras.
The cinematic success of Super Mario properties now complements decades of software performance on platforms including Nintendo Switch, and continues to be a high-profile example of how game IP can expand into major theatrical revenue.
Rewriting notable statements
Industry reports have framed the news as a clear win for both companies: box-office data indicate that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the first film of 2026 to pass the $1 billion threshold, and the film’s U.S. and international splits account for the reported aggregate.
Analysts also note that the combined Super Mario films now rank among the top animated franchises by global revenue.
Box-office ranking and franchise context
Reported franchise totals place the Super Mario films at roughly $2.30 billion across two theatrical releases, earning them a spot inside the top 10 animated franchises by box-office revenue.
The wider animated-franchise landscape, as reported, includes:
- Despicable Me: $5.64B (6 films)
- Shrek: $3.98B (6 films)
- Toy Story: $3.28B (5 films)
- Ice Age: $3.22B (5 films)
- Zootopia: $2.89B (2 films)
- Frozen: $2.73B (2 films)
- Inside Out: $2.56B (2 films)
- Kung Fu Panda: $2.37B (4 films)
- Super Mario films: $2.30B (2 films)
- Madagascar: $2.26B (7 films)
This achievement also marks a personal milestone for Chris Meledandri, whose leadership at Illumination has contributed multiple franchises to the animated top 10.
For Nintendo, the box-office success strengthens the company’s cross-media strategy and visibility, alongside ongoing software releases and platform initiatives such as promotions on Nintendo Switch and announcements historically delivered through Nintendo Direct and eShop showcases.
Verified figures in this report are drawn from box-office tallies and franchise revenue listings.
Further updates and granular breakdowns are available from official box-office reporting services and studio statements as they are published.
According to box-office tallies, the film has grossed $428.5 million in the United States and $571.5 million internationally, bringing its total to just over $1 billion.
This performance places the Super Mario Galaxy Movie among the year’s top-grossing releases and reinforces Illumination founder Chris Meledandri’s track record in animation.
Background and context
Illumination — the studio behind global hits such as Despicable Me — collaborated with Nintendo to adapt the Super Mario franchise for the big screen.
Nintendo’s Mario franchise has a long console history, with titles such as Super Mario Galaxy originally launching on Wii and helping define Nintendo’s hardware eras.
The cinematic success of Super Mario properties now complements decades of software performance on platforms including Nintendo Switch, and continues to be a high-profile example of how game IP can expand into major theatrical revenue.
Rewriting notable statements
Industry reports have framed the news as a clear win for both companies: box-office data indicate that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the first film of 2026 to pass the $1 billion threshold, and the film’s U.S. and international splits account for the reported aggregate.
Analysts also note that the combined Super Mario films now rank among the top animated franchises by global revenue.
Box-office ranking and franchise context
Reported franchise totals place the Super Mario films at roughly $2.30 billion across two theatrical releases, earning them a spot inside the top 10 animated franchises by box-office revenue.
The wider animated-franchise landscape, as reported, includes:
- Despicable Me: $5.64B (6 films)
- Shrek: $3.98B (6 films)
- Toy Story: $3.28B (5 films)
- Ice Age: $3.22B (5 films)
- Zootopia: $2.89B (2 films)
- Frozen: $2.73B (2 films)
- Inside Out: $2.56B (2 films)
- Kung Fu Panda: $2.37B (4 films)
- Super Mario films: $2.30B (2 films)
- Madagascar: $2.26B (7 films)
This achievement also marks a personal milestone for Chris Meledandri, whose leadership at Illumination has contributed multiple franchises to the animated top 10.
For Nintendo, the box-office success strengthens the company’s cross-media strategy and visibility, alongside ongoing software releases and platform initiatives such as promotions on Nintendo Switch and announcements historically delivered through Nintendo Direct and eShop showcases.
Verified figures in this report are drawn from box-office tallies and franchise revenue listings.
Further updates and granular breakdowns are available from official box-office reporting services and studio statements as they are published.