Super Mario Galaxy Movie posted an $83.2M global weekend, $35M domestic and $48.2M across 82 overseas territories, lifting its cumulative worldwide gross to $747.4M ($355.2M domestic, $392.2M international). The result cements the film as a sustained theatrical performer well into its run. More consequential for the industry is the franchise milestone: across just two films, the Illumination, Nintendo, and Universal partnership has now surpassed $2 billion in combined global box office. The first film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), was already one of the highest-grossing animated releases ever, and the sequel's trajectory confirms the IP has durable theatrical demand rather than front-loaded opening-weekend appeal. For Universal and Illumination, the $2B franchise threshold reached in two installments compresses the timeline typically required to build animation tentpoles of this scale. Nintendo's licensing model gains further leverage as the box office data supports expanded media and consumer products negotiations. Watch whether the overseas-to-domestic split, currently tilted international at roughly 52%, holds or widens as the film expands further.
HDFC Bank's board has approved Rajiv Kumar, former Chief Election Commissioner and financial services secretary, as its Part-time Non-Executive Chairman from June 30, 2026. His chairmanship still requires RBI approval, but the move ends the bank's prolonged search for a permanent board leader.
Indian startups raised $1.1 billion across 16 deals in the week of June 21-26, 2026, up 2.5 times from the prior week, with CRED's $900 million Series H led by Meta accounting for most of the total. Square Yards became India's 131st unicorn after closing a $95 million round.
Jet fuel costs dropped sharply after a US-Iran interim peace deal, but airlines are expected to use the savings to rebuild margins rather than cut fares. Tight capacity, aircraft delivery delays, and weak budget carriers give major carriers unusual pricing power heading into the second half of 2026.
Meta is investing $900 million in CRED at a $4.5 billion valuation, the largest Indian startup round of 2026, as founder Kunal Shah moves to a global leadership role at WhatsApp. Miten Sampat takes over as interim CEO, and a major employee stock buyback is expected within weeks.
