🛸 "Mario" tops the box office in the Celestial Empire
The plumber’s cosmic adventures have arrived in China. Universal’s animated feature "The Super Mario Movie: Galactic Edition" secured the top spot in the local box office for the April 3–5 weekend, grossing $8.3 million in its debut.
China’s Weekend Top 5:
- “It’s OK”: This drama from China Film made a powerful leap from fifth to second place. The story of a young woman whose life is turned upside down by her mother’s sudden arrival before a major surgery earned $6.1 million (totaling $9.9 million).
- “Project Hail Mary”: Columbia’s sci-fi epic moved to third place, adding $5.7 million to its tally. The film’s total Chinese earnings have now reached $27.5 million.
- “Now I Met Her”: Debuting in fourth place, this melodrama follows a young man who discovers his mother’s secret life through her diary. The film brought in $4.1 million.
- “Game Start”: Rounding out the top five is a psychological thriller featuring a role-reversal between a genius and a wealthy heir, styled after The Prince and the Pauper. The film launched with $3.6 million.
Despite these high-profile releases, the overall Chinese market is showing a downturn. Total weekend earnings reached $39.5 million, while cumulative revenue since the start of 2026 ($1.76 billion) remains 50.7% lower than the figures from the same period last year.
Source: Variety
