THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE has fueled the box office over the last two weekends, delivering the #1 and #3 highest-grossing three-day totals of the year. This is only the latest example of a PG-rated film becoming a smash hit with moviegoers. Puck’s box office commentator Scott Mendelson has an worthwhile look at the emerging success of “family films” and the lessons Hollywood can take from them.
And the success of “family films” is not limited to the high-profile blockbusters like the two Universal’s two SUPER MARIO movies, Disney’s ZOOTOPIA 2 sequel and Warner Bros.’ A MINECRAFT MOVIE. A number of family films below that top tier have also seen success, such as Disney and Pixar’s HOPPERS, Sony’s GOAT, and the Universal and DreamWorks’ THE BAD GUYS franchise. The appeal of these films demonstrates a willingness for audiences to head out to theatres for this family fare.
One might also include this year’s original sci-fi story PROJECT HAIL MARY from Amazon MGM Studios as another example, since its story had wide appeal to families despite its PG-13 rating. It seems that Hollywood has taken note, since major studios are releasing 26 PG-rated films in 2026 compared to 18 in 2024.
