The Mandalorian and Grogu, the latest Star Wars film continuing the story of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, has failed to ignite the box office, recording the lowest opening weekend for any Star Wars film since Disney took over the franchise.
Box Office Performance
The film, starring Pedro Pascal as the helmeted bounty hunter and his tiny companion known as "Baby Yoda," took $102 million at the domestic box office (North America and Canada) over the US's four-day Memorial Day weekend, contributing to a global total of $165 million. Despite being a continuation of Disney's popular streaming series, it could not match the opening of 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story, which also debuted on Memorial Day weekend.
Solo earned $103 million domestically in 2018, equivalent to $136.6 million in 2026 when adjusted for inflation, and $171 million globally ($226.8 million adjusted). The Mandalorian and Grogu's $165 million global haul falls short even before inflation adjustments.
Context and Comparisons
Solo was considered Disney's first Star Wars flop, grossing $392.9 million worldwide against a $275 million budget. The Mandalorian and Grogu, with a more modest $165 million budget, may still turn a profit, but its opening weekend pales next to other Disney Star Wars films like 2016's Rogue One.
Industry analyst David Gross noted to Agence France-Presse that the film's performance is "not on the level of the primary Star Wars films," but added, "these are big numbers and this is how spin-offs perform. The movie is a piece of the story, and it's earning a piece of the business."
Star Wars Fatigue?
The underwhelming opening may signal continuing Star Wars fatigue. The Mandalorian and Grogu is the first Star Wars film released in cinemas since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, after Disney paused new movies due to oversaturation. Hollywood trades report that Disney expects the film to hold up in coming weeks thanks to positive audience scores, despite muted critic response.
The Hollywood Reporter indicated Disney hopes the film will drive viewers to other products, including merchandise, theme parks, and Disney+. The Mandalorian is the most-watched original series on Disney+, and over 13 million Grogu toys have been sold since the show debuted in 2019.
Franchise History
Star Wars debuted in 1977 and remains one of the highest-grossing film franchises, with over $10 billion in global ticket sales. Disney acquired the franchise from George Lucas in 2012 and has focused on streaming series, with The Mandalorian and Andor earning acclaim. However, shows like The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and The Acolyte have underperformed.
The next Star Wars film, Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling, is scheduled for release in May 2027.
