EVERYTHING
According to Tvweb, the box office landscape for animated features has seen a major upheaval with the success of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The CGI sequel to 2023's smash hit, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, is rapidly challenging decades-old records set by Disney classics like The Lion King.
The Legacy of The Lion King
The Lion King, which debuted in 1994 and featured talent including James Earl Jones, holds the title for Disney's highest-grossing hand-drawn animated movie. Its initial theatrical run grossed $763.5 million. Through three major re-releases—an IMAX release in 2002, a 3-D release in 2011, and a 30th anniversary showing in 2024—its lifetime total reached $979,161,632.
- The Lion King currently sits in 62nd place on the list of highest-grossing movies ever made, according to Box Office Mojo.
- Its distant second is Aladdin, which has grossed a worldwide total of $504,050,219 since its 1992 release.
Mario's Rapid Ascent
The new Mario installment made an immediate impact upon its debut. It earned a staggering $372.6 million during its first weekend. As of the time of this report, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has accumulated a worldwide total of $992,679,925. The film, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, is built upon vibrant, high-end CGI and continues to draw massive audience interest.
Digital Availability and Future Projections
Beyond the theatrical run, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has proven successful on Video On Demand (VOD). It currently ranks as the number 1 movie in the Amazon store and the number 3 movie on Apple TV in the United States. However, while it is available for digital rental or purchase, it has yet to be made available to stream on Peacock. Subscribers are expected to see its arrival on the NBCUniversal-owned platform later this summer, potentially late July or August.
The sustained momentum of the franchise suggests that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is firmly on track to become 2026's first billion-dollar film. The continued success underscores the immense commercial power of established gaming intellectual property in modern cinema.