Nintendo, Universal, and Illumination have every reason to celebrate, as The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s opening day has far exceeded expectations, smashing several box office records.
According to initial reports, the film achieved the best opening day of the year to date, grossing an impressive $34 million since its debut on April 1st. This figure comfortably surpassed the previous record of $33.1 million held by Project Hail Mary. Moreover, it established a new all-time record for a Wednesday opening in April.
As the film heads into a long Easter weekend, all signs point to a colossal commercial success. This stands in stark contrast to its critical reception, which has been rather lukewarm. While professional critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a modest 42%, audiences have shown significantly more appreciation, awarding it a stunning 91% score. Clearly, there’s a considerable divide between expert opinions and viewer enthusiasm for this animated feature.