Critics' Reviews Don't Deter: 'Super Mario Bros.: Galactic Adventure' Achieves Best Opening of the Year

The highly anticipated sequel to Nintendo's animated hit, "Super Mario Bros.: Galactic Adventure," has defied mixed critical reviews to deliver a stellar box office performance, marking the best opening day of 2026.

Despite a cooler reception from critics, the new Nintendo adaptation is confidently raking in significant revenue. The animated film debuted in U.S. theaters with an impressive $34.5 million on its first day, setting a new record for the highest single-day gross of 2026, even without factoring in preview screenings. For comparison, "Project 'End of the World'" starring Ryan Gosling gathered $33 million including previews, while the original "Super Mario Bros. The Movie" from 2023 opened with $31 million.

The film's global launch also proved exceptionally strong. Outside of the U.S., it added another $33.9 million, bringing its total worldwide earnings for the first 24 hours to a remarkable $68.4 million.

According to reports, Universal Pictures is anticipating a domestic total of $186 million over its initial five-day theatrical run in the U.S. Some cinema owners are even more optimistic, projecting figures closer to $200 million. On the international front, the film is forecast to pull in an additional $175 million during its debut weekend. If these projections hold, "Super Mario Bros.: Galactic Adventure" is poised to become the highest-grossing release of the year to date.

Notably, critics have reviewed this sequel less favorably than its predecessor. While the original boasted scores of 46 on Metacritic and 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, the follow-up currently sits around 35 points and 42% respectively. However, audience reaction remains overwhelmingly positive, with approximately 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.8 rating on Metacritic, compared to 95% and 8.1 for the first installment.

"Super Mario Bros.: Galactic Adventure" is set to premiere in Russian cinemas on April 9th.