The Mandalorian and Grogu Sets Unwanted Star Wars Box Office Record (But There’s Good News)

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Despite being the first new Star Wars film in seven years, The Mandalorian and Grogu hasn’t generated the level of excitement many anticipated. This has led to concerns about how well it would perform at the box office, especially after receiving mixed to positive reviews (currently 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is lower than most Star Wars films). Before its release, the film was expected to earn around $82 million over the Memorial Day weekend, less than Solo did in 2018. Early numbers now indicate The Mandalorian and Grogu will likely have a lower opening weekend than Solo, though there is some positive news to share.

Reports from Deadline suggest that The Mandalorian and Grogu is expected to earn between $96 and $97 million in the U.S. over the holiday weekend, and could potentially reach $100 million depending on Sunday’s numbers. Globally, the film is projected to earn around $167 million. While this is a better start than initially predicted, it marks the lowest box office opening for a Star Wars film since Disney acquired the franchise.

Movie Opening Weekend (Domestic)
The Force Awakens $247.9 million
The Last Jedi $220 million
The Rise of Skywalker $177.3 million
Rogue One $155 million
Solo $103 million (Memorial Day four-day)
The Mandalorian and Grogu $96-97 million (estimated Memorial Day four-day)

The Mandalorian and Grogu‘s Box Office Numbers Explained

Solo: A Star Wars Story is known for being the only Star Wars film to not make a profit, earning $392.9 million globally despite a production budget that swelled to around $300 million due to numerous problems during filming. In other words, Solo’s financial performance isn’t a good example for other Star Wars projects, at least when it comes to money. However, comparing it directly to The Mandalorian and Grogu isn’t quite fair. The biggest difference is the budget.

Unlike Solo, which ended up being a very costly movie to make, The Mandalorian and Grogu is the most budget-friendly Star Wars film Disney has produced so far. It cost around $165 million to create. If it performs well during the Memorial Day weekend, it’s expected to earn back its production costs in just those few days. That $165 million doesn’t include the money spent on marketing and getting the film into theaters, but it’s already on track to be profitable. Considering the potential revenue from toys and other merchandise – especially the popular Grogu character – The Mandalorian and Grogu is likely to be a major financial win.

Despite mixed reviews from critics, The Mandalorian and Grogu is performing well with audiences, suggesting it will stay in theaters for a good run. It has a strong 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and received an A- CinemaScore, which means positive word-of-mouth is likely to drive continued ticket sales. The film is also benefiting from strong demand for premium-format screenings – nearly half (48% according to Deadline) of all tickets sold were for these enhanced experiences, indicating fans are eager to see the Star Wars universe on the largest screens available.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is expected to perform well in its second weekend. Although a few new films are coming out, including the horror movie Backrooms, none have the broad appeal of a Star Wars movie. The next major genre film isn’t until Masters of the Universe in June, giving The Mandalorian and Grogu time to continue its success. While it likely won’t be a top-grossing Star Wars film, it’s a good start for the next wave of Star Wars movies, which is something Lucasfilm will be happy about, especially after a long break from theatrical releases.

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2026-05-24 19:43