Universal Film Sails Past $5 Billion at the Global Box Office, Becoming First Studio to Reach Milestone in 2026

Third $5 billion-plus year in Studio history fueled by global blockbusters including 'The Odyssey', 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie', 'Michael', 'Minions & Monsters' and 'Obsession'

September 25, 2026

Universal Film today announced the Studio has officially crossed the $5 billion mark at the global box office, becoming the first studio to reach the milestone in 2026 and marking the third time in the Studio’s history it has surpassed $5 billion in a single calendar year.

The milestone, reached with this week’s grosses, comes less than a decade after Universal previously surpassed $5 billion at the global box office in 2017, following its first achievement of the milestone in 2015. With $1.788 billion domestically and $3.218 billion internationally, Universal’s 2026 performance underscores the enduring power of the theatrical experience and the global reach of the Studio’s distinct slate of homegrown franchises, original stories from groundbreaking filmmakers and event films that reach audiences from all backgrounds.

Universal’s 2026 box office has been powered by an extraordinary run of theatrical hits. Only five films have surpassed $1 billion worldwide this year, with three of those films, The Odyssey, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael, distributed by Universal.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has been a defining global event, surpassing $1 billion internationally and hitting $1.7 billion worldwide, becoming Universal’s biggest film of all time and the #10 MPA film of all time globally and internationally. Additionally, Illumination’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael have each joined the billion-dollar club. Illumination’s Minions & Monsters and Focus Features’ Obsession have further expanded Universal’s global footprint, with Obsession becoming Focus Features’ highest-grossing film ever worldwide and the highest-grossing film for Blumhouse Atomic Monster.

Universal’s 2026 performance extends well beyond the $5 billion milestone:

Universal releases account for three of the only five films to surpass $1 billion worldwide in 2026: The Odyssey, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael.
Universal International-distributed titles account for three of the five highest-grossing MPA films worldwide this year: The Odyssey (#2), Michael (#4) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (#5).
Universal International and Focus Features films represent five of the 10 highest-grossing films worldwide in 2026: The Odyssey (#2), Michael (#4), The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (#5), Minions & Monsters (#8) and Obsession (#9).
Universal has topped the global weekend box office for 11 weekends so far this year.

The Studio’s 2026 achievement reflects the breadth of Universal’s theatrical ecosystem, with Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and Focus Features collectively delivering films that have resonated with audiences across generations and around the world.