Universal Pictures has become the first studio in 2026 to cross $4 billion at the global box office, reaching the milestone on Sunday, August 2, driven by massive international ticket sales for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and animated hits like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Disney had previously crossed $3 billion worldwide at the end of June, but Universal became the first studio year-to-date to clear the $4 billion mark, according to Deadline reporting.
This accomplishment marks the fifth time in Universal’s history that it has reached this milestone, and the first time since 2023.
The Odyssey Nears $1 Billion With Imax Power
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey serves as a primary engine for the studio’s box office surge. Three weekends into its theatrical run, the film is rapidly approaching the one-billion-dollar threshold with a running global cume of $911M, as detailed by Deadline. The feature’s third global weekend pulled in $136.2M, bolstered heavily by $68M from Imax screens alone.
That large-format exhibitor haul represents the second-highest-grossing weekend ever for Imax. The film secured all Imax screens alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day $927M global grossing weekend, though Nolan’s picture has not yet launched in China, Japan, and Korea.
Global Blockbusters and Focus Features Milestones
Universal and its specialty label Focus Features account for five of the top ten highest-grossing films worldwide in 2026. Out of only three films that have crossed the coveted $1 billion mark globally this year, Universal releases claim two: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael.
Universal sources stated that the studio has led the global weekend box office for 10 weekends so far in 2026. Studio data lists Michael at No. 2, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at No. 3, The Odyssey at No. 4, Obsession at No. 9, and Minions & Monsters at No. 10 among the Top 10 highest-grossing films worldwide.
Furthermore, three of the Top Five highest-grossing films worldwide are distributed internationally by Universal: The Odyssey, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Michael. Screen Daily notes specific international and domestic breakdowns for these top drivers, showing The Odyssey standing at $911.4m worldwide with $395.5m in North America and $515.9m international, while The Super Mario Galaxy Movie sits on just over $1bn worldwide with $429.8m North America and $581.7m international, alongside Michael’s international box office surpassing $643m.
Rounding out the studio’s banner year, Obsession has officially broken records to become Focus Features’ highest-grossing movie ever worldwide, as well as Blumhouse Atomic Monster’s highest-grossing film, pulling in $475M.
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