Universal has confirmed that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will arrive on Peacock on July 30, following a hugely successful theatrical run that made it one of the biggest films of 2026. The animated blockbuster gives audiences another opportunity to experience Nintendo's latest big screen adventure from home.
Box Office Success and Milestones
The film has enjoyed remarkable commercial success since its cinema release, becoming the highest grossing film of the year so far. Earlier this month, it crossed the $1bn mark at the worldwide box office, reinforcing the enduring popularity of Nintendo's iconic gaming characters and the continued strength of animated family entertainment. As of June 22, 2026, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has grossed $430 million in the United States and Canada, and $578 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.008 billion against a $110 million budget.
The film set the record for the biggest global opening at the box office in 2026, the only animated film franchise with two films opening to over $350 million globally, the fifth-biggest global opening for an animated film of all time, the second-biggest global opening for an Illumination film, the second-biggest opening for a film based on a video game, and the fourth-biggest Easter three-day opening of all time. In the United States and Canada, it made $34 million on its first day, outperforming its predecessor's $31.7 million, and earned a total of $122.1 million worldwide over its first two days. With a three-day opening of $131.7 million, the film became the fourth-biggest Easter three-day opening of all time, behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($146.4 million), Furious 7 ($147.8 million), and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($166 million).
Directing Team and Voice Cast
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reunites directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic with Pierre Leduc joining the directing team. Horvath and Jelenic previously helmed The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which became one of the biggest global box office successes of 2023 and established the franchise as one of Universal and Illumination's most valuable animated properties. Returning voice cast members include Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser and Keegan Michael Key as Toad. The sequel also expands its universe with several notable additions: Donald Glover voices Yoshi, Brie Larson joins as Rosalina, Glen Powell lends his voice to Fox McCloud and Benny Safdie portrays Bowser Junior.
Creative Direction and New Settings
The latest adventure takes Mario and his allies beyond the Mushroom Kingdom and into a series of cosmic settings inspired by Nintendo's acclaimed Super Mario Galaxy video games. The new locations allowed the filmmakers to introduce larger scale action sequences while exploring a fresh side of the franchise that had not previously appeared on screen. In a recent interview, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto explained that choosing the Super Mario Galaxy setting naturally became the foundation for the sequel because it opened new storytelling opportunities while showcasing another dimension of Mario's world. Illumination founder Chris Meledandri added that the vast space themed environments provided an exciting cinematic experience designed specifically for the big screen.
Future Prospects and Release Details
Although Universal and Nintendo have not officially announced a third instalment, the sequel's end credits scene introduces Daisy, a popular character from the video game series. Her appearance has fuelled speculation that another adventure could already be in development, although no formal confirmation has been made. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie premiered at Minami-za in Kyoto on March 28, 2026, and was theatrically released in the United States on April 1 by Universal Pictures. While the critical response was mixed to negative, it was a commercial success, grossing $1.008 billion worldwide against a $110 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2026 and the second-highest-grossing video game film of all time, only behind its predecessor.
