Hollywood has finally landed its first $1 billion box office hit of 2026, and the honor goes to “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” The animated sequel crossed the coveted milestone over the weekend, giving the industry its first nine-figure-turned-ten-figure success story of the year.

A Milestone Reached in Early June

Last year was something of an anomaly when it came to billion-dollar films. “Ne Zha 2” made history by blowing past the $2 billion mark by March, but that haul came almost entirely from China and reflected a highly unusual set of circumstances. A Hollywood film didn’t reach the milestone until later in the summer. This year, by contrast, the moment has arrived in early June.

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” inched past $1 billion globally over the weekend, combining $438.5 million domestically with $571.5 million internationally. Its theatrical run has been winding down in recent weeks, so the film is unlikely to reach any other major milestones from here. Even so, against a reported $110 million budget, the result has surely delighted Universal Pictures, Illumination, and Nintendo.

A Worthy Successor

The sequel follows in the footsteps of 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which became one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time with $1.36 billion worldwide. While the new entry won’t quite match those heights, it’s hard to view the Nintendo-Universal partnership as anything but a resounding success. A third Mario film seems all but inevitable at this point.

For perspective, here’s how recent billion-dollar hits stack up:

• The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) — surpassed $1 billion in early June
• Lilo & Stitch remake (2025) — reached $1 billion in July, finishing at $1.03 billion
• Zootopia 2 (2025) — $1.86 billion
• Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) — $1.48 billion

Notably, all three of last year’s billion-dollar earners fell under the Disney umbrella, underscoring how the milestone is typically reserved for a handful of major studios.

Mario Becomes a Multi-Billion-Dollar Franchise

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the film’s success has effectively secured the franchise’s future. This is very likely just the beginning of a much larger slate to come.

What that future looks like remains open to debate. A “Donkey Kong” spin-off is one possibility, though it could just as easily be something entirely different. Whatever direction it takes, expanding the Mario universe now looks like a safe bet from a business standpoint.

A Bright Outlook for the Box Office

The Mario sequel is just one reason for optimism about the theatrical marketplace right now. On paper, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years ever at the box office, with the industry on pace to clear well over $9 billion domestically before year’s end.

That momentum has come from both expected and surprising sources. While anticipated hits have done their part, unexpected successes have contributed just as much. Among the year’s standouts:

• Project Hail Mary — one of 2026’s biggest films at $680 million worldwide
• Backrooms and Obsession — two horror titles that have each crossed $200 million with room to grow
• The Devil Wears Prada 2 — potentially on track to pass $700 million

What’s Next for the Billion-Dollar Club

The natural question is which film will be the year’s next to reach $1 billion. Several contenders loom large. Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” and the live-action “Moana” adaptation are both possibilities, while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “Toy Story 5” look like strong bets. And “Avengers: Doomsday” is poised to close out the year on a high note.

If the projections hold, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” should be just one of several films to cross the billion-dollar threshold before 2027 arrives. For now, the movie is playing in theaters and is also available on VOD.