In Russia
🍄 Mario Conquers Space
The iconic Italian plumber has made a triumphant return to the big screen. The sequel Super Mario Galaxy Movie from Universal Pictures, Illumination, and Nintendo launched on Wednesday with $34 million domestically, setting a new opening-day record for 2026.
Weekend highlights:
- Domestic box office. Analysts project $186 million over the first five days, though theater owners don’t rule out hitting $200 million.
- Global debut. An international opening of around $175 million is expected, which would make it the biggest worldwide premiere of the year.
- Audience reception. Despite mixed reviews from critics, audience scores remain exceptionally high, reinforcing the franchise’s “untouchable” status.
In the new installment, Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach embark on an intergalactic journey to once again battle Bowser and his son Bowser Jr..
The star-studded voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black, with new additions Brie Larson (Princess Rosalina) and Donald Glover (Yoshi).
It seems Universal Pictures has found a “gold mine” capable of repeating the success of the first film, which grossed $1.36 billion.
