"The Monkey" Sets Box Office Record: Second Highest Animated Film Opening

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'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' Shatters Box Office Records: Second-Highest-Grossing Animated Film Opening

Los Angeles, CA – April 10, 2023 – Universal Pictures and Illumination's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" has stormed the box office, achieving the second-highest-grossing opening weekend for an animated film in history. The film's phenomenal debut, exceeding even the most optimistic projections, signifies a significant victory for both the studio and the enduring popularity of the iconic Nintendo franchise.

The film raked in an estimated $146.4 million domestically during its opening weekend, according to studio estimates released Sunday. This figure surpasses the previous record holder for an animated film's opening weekend, "Finding Dory" (2016), which earned $135 million, while falling just shy of the overall animated record held by "Minions: The Rise of Gru" ($123.2 million in 2022). Globally, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" shattered even more records, achieving a stunning $377 million opening weekend, demonstrating its worldwide appeal.

This extraordinary success can be attributed to several factors. The film's vibrant animation style, faithful adaptation of the beloved video game characters, and star-studded voice cast, featuring Chris Pratt as Mario and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, attracted a massive audience spanning multiple generations. The nostalgia factor, tapping into the collective memories of millions who grew up with Mario games, undeniably played a crucial role in its box office triumph. Furthermore, a robust marketing campaign, leveraging the power of social media and the enduring appeal of the Nintendo brand, generated significant pre-release buzz.

The film's critical reception, while mixed, hasn't significantly hampered its box office performance. Critics have praised the film's visual spectacle and its adherence to the source material's core elements. However, some critiques have focused on certain aspects of the voice acting and the plot's simplicity. Despite this, the film's positive word-of-mouth, primarily driven by enthusiastic family audiences, has fueled its box office momentum.

Analysts predict that "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is poised for a long and successful theatrical run. Its strong opening weekend suggests considerable staying power, especially considering the limited competition in the coming weeks. The film's performance underscores the continued viability of animated features in the current cinematic landscape and the potential for video game adaptations to become major box office players. Universal Pictures is undoubtedly celebrating a monumental achievement, with the film’s success setting a new benchmark for animated film openings and potentially paving the way for future adaptations of beloved video game franchises. The studio's careful blend of nostalgia, visual appeal, and strategic marketing has resulted in a phenomenal box office victory. The question now isn’t whether "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" will be a success, but just how big its final gross will be.