Universal and Illumination’s animated sequel, "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," launched with a massive USD 372.5 million worldwide in its first five days, securing the biggest opening of 2026 for a Hollywood film. The family-friendly adventure dominated the global box office from April 1 to April 5, drawing large audiences despite receiving mixed critical reviews. Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh’s Indian espionage thriller, "Dhurandhar: The Revenge," continued its strong performance, maintaining a coveted spot in the top 10 as it entered its third week.
Super Mario Galaxy Sets New Records
"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" collected USD 190.1 million in North America over its initial five-day run. This included a powerful USD 130.9 million during the traditional three-day weekend. The film's domestic debut alone outpaced its closest competitor, "Project Hail Mary," which had an USD 80.5 million opening. Internationally, the movie added USD 182.4 million from 78 markets, contributing significantly to its global haul.
This impressive debut makes "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" the biggest domestic opening of 2026 so far. It also stands as the second biggest Easter five-day opening weekend ever in North America. Only its predecessor, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" from 2023, achieved a larger five-day domestic debut with USD 204 million. "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" now ranks as the third-largest full opening weekend for an animated film and the fifth-largest global opening weekend for an animated movie in history.[telegraphindia+4]
Industry experts point to the enduring appeal of the Mario franchise. "This opening shows the immense power of beloved franchises and the appeal of high-quality animation for all ages," said Maria Rodriguez, a senior box office analyst at Global Cinema Insights. "Families are clearly eager for communal cinema experiences, and Mario delivers on that promise." The film, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, expands on the universe established in the first movie, which went on to gross USD 1.3 billion globally.[telegraphindia+3]
Key international markets contributed heavily to the film's success. Mexico led the overseas charge with USD 29.1 million, followed by the United Kingdom and Ireland, which brought in USD 19.7 million. The strong international performance underscores the global recognition of the Nintendo characters and the accessible nature of animated features.[telegraphindia+2]
Dhurandhar: The Revenge Continues Historic Run
On the Indian box office front, Ranveer Singh's "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" continued to defy expectations in its third week. The Aditya Dhar-directed espionage thriller has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Hindi film to cross the Rs 1,000 crore net mark domestically. As of April 6, 2026, its India net collection stood at an astounding Rs 1,014.97 crore. This makes it only the second Indian film overall to reach this benchmark in domestic net collections, following "Pushpa 2: The Rule."
The film's worldwide gross has now surged to Rs 1,605.74 crore, which translates to approximately USD 173.2 million. This impressive figure solidifies its position as the third-highest-grossing Indian film globally. "Dhurandhar: The Revenge has truly captured the nation's imagination, setting new benchmarks for Indian cinema globally," stated Ramesh Kumar, a film trade expert. "Its longevity and consistent performance are remarkable."[timesofindia+2]
Released on March 19, 2026, the film has shown exceptional staying power. It earned an estimated USD 1.9 million in its third weekend at the North American box office, bringing its total gross in that region to USD 25.71 million. Its total international markets (overseas gross) have contributed an estimated USD 41.5 million to its global earnings. The film's success has remained unaffected even with the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, which typically impacts cinema attendance.[timesofindia+2]
"Dhurandhar: The Revenge" quickly surpassed the lifetime collection of its 2025 predecessor, "Dhurandhar," in just 11 days. The first film had grossed Rs 840.20 crore over a three-month period. This rapid ascent highlights the sequel's immense popularity and strong audience reception. The movie features a star-studded cast including Ranveer Singh, Sara Arjun, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Yami Gautam, Rakesh Bedi, and Danish Pandor.[timesofindia+3]
A Strong Global Cinema Market
The concurrent success of "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" paints a picture of a robust and diverse global cinema market. Hollywood blockbusters continue to draw massive international audiences, while Indian cinema demonstrates its growing power and reach beyond domestic borders. Both films cater to different demographics and genres, yet both have found significant commercial success.
"The strong performances of both Hollywood and Bollywood films indicate a vibrant global cinema market recovering robustly," commented David Chen, an independent film industry consultant. "Audiences are showing a clear appetite for compelling stories, whether they come from animated adventures or high-stakes thrillers." This dual success provides an optimistic outlook for the film industry worldwide.
