AMC's Record-Breaking Easter: How THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE Shattered Revenue Expectations!

AMC Entertainment has set a remarkable benchmark in its storied 106-year history, achieving the highest combined global admissions and food and beverage revenue during the recent Easter holiday weekend. From April 1 through April 5, 2026, over 6.0 million guests flocked to AMC locations in the United States and ODEON Cinemas internationally, marking this period as AMC's best global attendance for a Wednesday through Sunday in 2026.

Much of this success can be attributed to the highly anticipated debut of THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE, which boasted a global opening of approximately $372 million. The film's family-friendly appeal resonated strongly, drawing in a diverse audience, particularly families and younger viewers. This turnout underscored a growing trend in the movie industry: films that cater to family demographics tend to perform exceptionally well at the box office.

In addition to the smash opening of THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE, AMC also benefited from a robust lineup of other new releases, including THE DRAMA, and continued success from holdover titles like PROJECT HAIL MARY and HOPPERS. This diverse array of films contributed to sustained momentum at the box office, further enhancing AMC's record-setting performance.

The merchandise program associated with THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE was also a standout success. Notably, collectibles such as the Yoshi popcorn bucket and the Luma LED popcorn bucket experienced high demand, making this program AMC's second-highest grossing merchandise initiative of all time, behind only the TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR concert film released in October 2023.

Adam Aron, Chairman and CEO of AMC Entertainment, expressed his gratitude, stating, “We want to congratulate our friends at Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, and all those connected to THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE for delivering a film that clearly delighted millions and millions of AMC and ODEON moviegoers. The SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE brought families, younger audiences, and longtime fans to our theatres in impressive numbers, in the highest grossing Easter holiday weekend ever for AMC and ODEON.”

Aron emphasized that this record-setting performance wasn’t solely driven by a single film. He remarked, “It’s also important to note that this record-setting 5-day Easter weekend performance for AMC and ODEON was not driven by a single title. PROJECT HAIL MARY, THE DRAMA, HOPPERS, and so many other titles remain popular on our screens. We have long said that theatrical exhibition is strongest when there is a compelling and diverse slate of films for guests to enjoy.”

This weekend's success illustrates the importance of variety in film offerings, as well as the powerful draw of franchise films that tap into nostalgia and family engagement. With approximately 855 theatres and 9,640 screens worldwide, AMC continues to innovate within the exhibition industry, focusing on enhancing customer experiences through improved seating options, food and beverage choices, and loyalty programs.

As the movie industry continues to rebound, this historic performance by AMC over the Easter weekend serves as a promising indicator of the strength of theatrical releases, especially those that cater to family audiences. The success of both the film and merchandise underscores an essential trend: when major releases resonate with viewers, the broader ecosystem of the cinema can thrive.