Box Office ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Earns $24.6 Million on Thursday

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is shaping up to have a King Koopa-size opening weekend after adding $24.6 million to its haul on Thursday.

The animated sequel has grossed $59.1 million domestically through its first two days in theaters. Illumination and Universal are backing “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” working closely with game developer Nintendo. The film cost $110 million to make, so it is poised to be massively profitable. Its predecessor, 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” was one of the biggest hits of the post-pandemic era, earning more than $1.3 billion.

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” has scored overseas, as well. The film picked up $33.9 million on Wednesday from 78 markets, playing particularly well in Mexico ($6.7 million), the U.K. and Ireland ($4.3 million), Germany ($3.8 million), Spain ($3 million) and France ($2.9 million).

Also opening this weekend, but catering to a much, much more mature crowd, A24’s “The Drama” picked up $1.7 million in previews. The dark comedy stars Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as a couple whose pending nuptials are derailed.

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” brings back Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key and Jack Black, who all starred in the first film, and rounds out the voice cast with Donald Glover, Glen Powell and Benny Safdie. Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic returned to direct the sequel.

The official projection from Universal is that “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” will earn $128.2 million over the weekend and $186 million over its first five days of release. However, exhibitors and independent tracking services believe it’ll net between $190 million to $200 million by Sunday. The film is expected to generate at least $175 million overseas, which would bring its global tally to somewhere around $360 million to $375 million.