2026 has been a rollercoaster at the box office so far, but one film is about to hit a major milestone. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the sequel to 2023's animated blockbuster, is on track to become the first movie of the year to cross the $1 billion mark. After passing $900 million globally this past weekend, the film is expected to join the ten-figure club before the month ends.
The year started slowly for big-budget releases. January saw two sci-fi epics—Greenland 2: Migration starring Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin, and Mercy with Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson—both failing to ignite the box office. Then came March's Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir's novel (the same author behind The Martian). That film has grossed over $600 million and continues to perform well, but it's unlikely to reach the billion-dollar threshold.
Enter the Mario sequel. While Chris Pratt's Mercy underperformed, his voice role in the Mario franchise is a different story. The original Super Mario Bros. Movie earned over $1.3 billion in 2023, and its follow-up is following a similar trajectory. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has already zoomed past $900 million, and despite competition from The Devil Wears Prada 2, the two films target different audiences, so Mario's climb to $1 billion seems all but assured.
Looking ahead, 2026 has several potential billion-dollar contenders. Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday are expected to be massive, possibly even crossing $2 billion. Animated sequels like Shrek 5 and Toy Story 5 are also strong candidates, while epics like The Odyssey and Dune: Part Three could draw huge crowds. But for now, all eyes are on the plumber in red.
If you're in the mood for more intergalactic adventures, check out Galaxy Quest: The Star Trek-Meets-Three Amigos Comedy Now Free on Pluto. And for a deep dive into another billion-dollar surprise, read How Guy Ritchie's 'Aladdin' Became His Surprise Billion-Dollar Blockbuster.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is in theaters now. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on the year's biggest blockbusters.
