Mario’s blasting off into space. Nintendo and Illumination just dropped the teaser for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” and fans finally have a date: April 3, 2026. It’s the sequel to the record-smashing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” and it promises cosmic adventures, familiar faces and maybe even a few surprises from the stars above.
As you gear up for opening night, the right credit card can help you save on tickets, snacks and future entertainment—making the premiere fun and budget-friendly.
How Credit Cards Can Make Your Movie Night Better
Big releases like these—whether you’re heading to the theater, attending a premiere or picking up merch and swag—can get expensive. Here are a few credit cards that help you earn more on your spending toward enjoying the Mario magic.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If you’re into travel and entertainment perks, the $95-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns solid rewards on travel purchases through Chase, along with bonus points for dining and streaming.
Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. You can turn movie ticket expenses, preorders or streaming rentals into Ultimate Rewards® points that go toward travel, dining or future entertainment.
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card is a simple and powerful option: You earn 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, and earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. That means tickets, treats, snacks and merch all earn cash back.
Aside from its earnings, the card charges no annual fee. Cardholders also receive $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points—perfect to use for your next few movie outings.
Citi Strata Premier® Card
The Citi Strata Premier® Card is a strong daily driver, earning rewards across everyday spending categories and also on travel purchases. With this card you get 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, 3 points per dollar on restaurants, supermarkets, gas & EV stations, air travel and other hotel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
It does charge a $95 annual fee, but its yearly offering of $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more booked through Citi’s travel portal can offset this.
If you plan on driving to a large cinema or collecting Mario merch, those perks can add up. It’s also offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
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Bottom Line
The teaser trailer is out, and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is set for launch on April 3, 2026.
Whether you’re going all out on opening weekend or just streaming and picking up merch, the right rewards credit card lets you earn cash back as quickly as Mario collects coins.
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