The Super Mario Bros. Movie: $1.34 Billion
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” has broken numerous records, achieving a global box office of $1.34 billion just 26 days after its release. The film garnered the highest opening weekend revenue ($377 million) for an animated feature. It is also the third film to reach $1 billion since the pandemic began, alongside “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” and “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
Oppenheimer: $951.4 Million
Directed by Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” chronicles the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who led the Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II. As a key figure in the Manhattan Project, he is often referred to as one of the fathers of the atomic bomb. The film has received widespread acclaim and impressive box office returns, establishing a strong presence in the North American market, fulfilling the expectations of cinema enthusiasts.
“Oppenheimer” made a significant impact even before its release, receiving glowing reviews from critics. Paul Schrade, an Oscar-winning director, declared it the best and most important film of this era.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: $845.4 Million
The plot of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” continues the events from the “Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” (2022), where the Guardians have settled into their new life on Knowhere. The film introduces a new character, Cosmo (voiced by Maria Bakalova). Meanwhile, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), the son of Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), unexpectedly attacks Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper).
Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) must join forces with Gamora (Zoe Saldana) to navigate their complex relationships and confront the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), while also learning more about Rocket’s tragic past.
Fast X: $707.6 Million
Fast X features an ensemble cast of Hollywood stars including Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Jason Momoa, Brie Larson, John Cena, Jason Statham, and Charlize Theron, continuing the story from the ninth installment. Jason Momoa’s role has garnered significant attention, contributing to the film’s entertaining yet action-packed narrative. However, it received a mixed response, scoring only 54% on Rotten Tomatoes and earning a “C” rating from CinemaScore, similar to the ninth film.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: $684.9 Million
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” follows the adventures of Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy as they embark on a new journey. The two heroes confront a formidable foe known as Spot while navigating their complex relationship.
The film has been met with widespread acclaim from audiences, achieving an “A” grade on CinemaScore and receiving a remarkable 95% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, showcasing its critical success.
The Little Mermaid: $568.8 Million
Following the successes of “Maleficent” (2015), “Beauty and the Beast” (2017), and “Mulan” (2020), “The Little Mermaid” (2023) is the next Disney princess film to achieve significant success at the box office. This live-action adaptation is based on the classic animated film produced by Walt Disney in 1989. “The Little Mermaid” generated buzz even before its release, primarily due to the casting of its lead actress.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One: $567.5 Million
After a five-year wait since the release of “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” “Dead Reckoning Part One” has made its debut. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, this latest installment features a star-studded cast including Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Henry Czerny, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, and Simon Pegg.
The film received an impressive 96% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 94% audience score. Last year, Cruise starred in “Top Gun: Maverick,” which also garnered significant box office success, becoming the second highest-grossing film in the U.S. during the post-COVID era.
Elemental: $479.8 Million
Released on June 16, 2023, “Elemental” faced stiff competition from the superhero film “The Flash” from the DC Universe. This led to a disappointing opening weekend gross of $29.6 million in North America, making it the second lowest-grossing animated film for Pixar, after “Toy Story” ($29.1 million). However, “Elemental” later experienced a resurgence, increasing its box office revenue over time due to its compelling storyline about the romance between the fire elemental Ember and the water elemental Wade.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: $476.3 Million
“Ant-Man 3” received mostly negative feedback from critics, achieving a “rotten” score of 48% based on 289 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The BBC referred to the film as the lowest-rated Marvel movie to date. Critics have pointed out issues with the film’s pacing and character development, though Jonathan Majors’ performance as Kang has been praised for its intensity, setting the stage for his future appearances in the MCU.
