The Super Mario Bros. Movie smashes $1 billion box office

Get set for 26 sequels

In a moment that seemed inevitable from the day one, Illumination’s colorful flick The Super Mario Bros Movie has surpassed $1 billion USD in global box office takings.

The Nintendo-infused adventure is officially the first film to do so this surpassing, surpassing the likes of Marvel’s Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, Warner Bros.’ John Wick: Chapter 4, and FOX’ Avatar: The Way of Water. It also becomes one of only a handful of films to take 10 figures since the COVID-19 pandemic, joining pictures such as Top Gun: Maverick, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Jurassic World Dominion.

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the movie sees Mario (Chris Pratt) whisked away to the Mushroom Kingdom, where he joins newfound pals Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) on a quest to rescue his missing brother Luigi (Charlie Day) while also freeing the kingdom and its people from the tyranny of the evil Bowser (Jack Black).

While critics have been fairly negative toward the film’s writing, breathless pacing, and use of licesend music, clearly this was a movie that was always set for success, and has brought families and Nintendo fans flocking to the theaters in droves. Given The Super Mario Bros Movie‘s success in comparison to the previously “Cannot Miss” superhero genre, we can likely expect a rush on video game projects from the Hollywood bigwigs. If Marvel’s incoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 doesn’t make similar bank, then it’s almost guaranteed that the suits will hitch themselves to the new bandwagon.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is now showing at theaters worldwide.

‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Officially Smashes $1 Billion Globally [Variety]

Chris Moyse

Senior Editor – Chris has been playing video games since the 1980s and writing about them since the 1880s. Graduated from Galaxy High with honors. Twitter: @ChrisxMoyse