Can also say that yet again - like last year, NO ONE would've predicted the no. 1 correctly if the predictions were done well in advance (provided this movie does remain the highest on Sept 15th). Am assuming GOTG3 at best follows what's becoming the predictable Marvel trajectory (ANTM3 notwithstanding) over the last 18 months ~$180-200m D7 & ~$330-375m D24. It'd beat Mario to D24 perhaps but unlikely for total BO over entire summer. TLMER is a wildcard but if MARIO hits $400m total that ought to be enough.
Not a surprise that those of us who grew up playing Mario games would want to see this if its made well. But its a surprise that they've managed to connect well with quite a sizeable number of today's youngsters. Again just like Maverick - something which was popular well before the end of the 20th century, connects with audiences well into the 21st (newer games have been popular but not like the original was). Maybe someday someone can do Pac-Man right? Admittedly there isn't much of a story or characters to go on.