Even Ryan Gosling’s latest blockbuster couldn’t overcome the popularity of Mario, and the latest film in the franchise has become the biggest opening day box office collection in 2026, raking in a whopping $34 million on its first day according to Deadline. That’s quite a feat, and a massive amount of cash for the follow-up to Illumination’s take on the character, which managed a more modest $31.7 million when it hit the silver screen in 2023.
However, things could slow down for it over the weekend, with forecasts predicting $186 million over a five-day window as opposed to Super Mario Bros pulling in $204.6 million over the same period. Nevertheless, the film has managed to be a hit among audiences despite the rather lackluster critical reception (the 35 Metascore speaks for itself), a situation similar to the first film’s reviews.
VGC has some praise for the film’s take on the popular characters, suggesting that it’s going to be a hit when the dust settles. That’s a fair conclusion, given the character’s popularity and the first film earning $1.361 billion at the box office. For our part, we think it’s a fun one, and it’s an entertainer despite that rather glaring spoiler from the BBFC putting a slight damper on our enjoyment.
It’s out in theatres now, although you might want to get a move on grabbing tickets if you plan on watching this weekend.
