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Families hit the multiplexes Easter weekend bringing joy to exhibitors by spending $190M+ to see THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE.

The Universal/Nintendo/Illumination Entertainment PG animated comedy adventure opened Wed., 4/1 to $190.05M at 4,252 theatres with $130.94M for the three day weekend, per Comscore ($10,795). Hollywood handicappers started out expecting about $186M for five-days.

GALAXY also delivered $182.4M in international grosses for a worldwide cume of $372.5M. BUDGET BUZZ: $110M to produce, a good price tag for top tier animation.

In GALAXY, directed by Aaron Horvath & Michael Jelenic (co-directors of 2023’s THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE), Mario, Luigi and friends go into outer space to stop the evil Bowsers.

The franchise’s first episode opened 4/5/23 to $146.4M and did $1.36B worldwide on a budget of $100M. The new episode is tracking best for first choice with under-25 men (30 points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics hate it at 42%, but paying audiences are applauding at 89%.

Domestic ticket sales this weekend were $195.7M, according to Comscore Head of Marketplace Trends Paul Dergarabedian. That’s up 100% from the prior weekend and up 4% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2026 at  $2.05B, up 26.32% from $1.62B in 2025. The prior weekend had 2026 up 22.9% vs. 2025.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Amazon MGM Studios’ spring blockbuster PROJECT HAIL MARY was #2 in weekend three with $30.7M (-43%) at 3,907 theatres ($7,846), per Comscore. It’s done $217.2M domestic and $420.7M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $200M to produce.

Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller (THE LEGO MOVIE co-directors), MARY stars Ryan Gosling.

Between MARIO & MARY, it’s clear that moviegoing is alive and well because distributors are delivering pictures audiences want to enjoy in theatres with big screens, booming sound and fresh popcorn — not at home streaming between phone calls.

A24’s R rated rom-com THE DRAMA, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, opened #3 to a solid $14.4M, per Comscore, at 3,087 theatres ($4,658). Hollywood buzz-ards were expecting about $13M. It’s done $13.6M internationally and $28M worldwide.

Directed by Kristoffer Borgli (DREAM SCENARIO), it’s tracking best with under-25 women (eight points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 76% and audiences are good at 82%. BUDGET BUZZ: only about $28M to produce.

Disney/Pixar Animation’s PG comedy adventure HOPPERS was #4 in weekend four with $5.8M (-52%) at 3,290 theatres ($1,763), per Comscore. It’s done $149.6M domestic & $332.2M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $150M to produce.

Next weekend (4/10/26) 🐝🐝🐝🐝: It’s still going to be all about Universal/ Nintendo/Illumination Entertainment’s THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE in weekend two.