Nintendo's Next Potential $1 Billion Movie: The Legend Of Zelda In 2027

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Luigi, Yoshi, and Mario in front of Toad in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

Published Apr 21, 2026, 8:31 AM EDT

Ross is a writer for ScreenRant. He always stays up to date on the latest movies, whether it's blockbusters or independent dramas. When not watching movies, he can be found at the beach or traveling to amusement parks to ride the best rollercoasters. He is a fan of Marvel, DC, Star Wars, John Wick, Game of Thrones, and anything Disney.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is on its way to grossing $1 billion worldwide, and Nintendo's 2027 film also has the potential to earn the same box office accomplishment. Mario is a character with success in gaming and now in films. 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a massive hit at the worldwide box office, earning around $1.36 billion.

After Super Mario Galaxy, 2026 has a few other video game movies that could be successful. Mortal Kombat II and Street Fighter both look like wildly entertaining, action-packed films, with large rosters of characters from the games, and Zach Cregger's Resident Evil film could offer a fascinating take on the franchise.

For Nintendo, 2027 could be another massive year at the box office. Sony is releasing a film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo's fantasy series that first started in 1986. Zelda is one of Nintendo's most popular properties, outside of Mario, and has strong box office potential.

The Legend Of Zelda Is Set Up For Success In 2027

Link and Zelda in a field together in The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda debuted in Japan in 1986 on the Family Computer Disk System, before later being released on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Despite the title, the games follow Link, a hero of Hyrule whose quest is to save Princess Zelda from Ganon.

Since its debut, there have many acclaimed installments in the franchise, including Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess. The most recent games for the Nintendo Switch include Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The characters have also crossed over with Mario in Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart.

The live-action Zelda film is directed by The Maze Runner's Wes Ball, and stars Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link. While Zelda may not be quite as popular as Mario, it's still a massive video game franchise, and will generate plenty of interest from players.

If it's a great movie, then it could also capture the attention of a broader audience who are looking for a solid fantasy adventure. Zelda has a rich lore, and it will be exciting to see how the film explores its mythology.

Zelda Has Other Box Office Competition For Video Game Movies In 2027

Jack Black as Steve looking wistful in A Minecraft Movie

Zelda will likely be a hit, but it will have tough competition to become the highest-grossing video game movie of the year. Releasing on March 19, 2027, is Sonic the Hedgehog 4. While none of the Sonic films have made $1 billion, they've all done progressively better than the last, with the third film earning around $492.2 million worldwide.

The other major contender is A Minecraft Sequel, which premieres in theaters on July 23, 2027. 2025's A Minecraft Movie nearly made $1 billion, grossing around $960.4 million worldwide. The sequel could do even better, but Zelda certainly has a chance to beat it.

Zelda is a franchise that has strong global popularity. While the film may not put up the same numbers as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, it has a chance to become a major hit, and possibly join the $1 billion club.