The Mandalorian and Grogu has claimed the top spot at the box office, but its opening weekend marks the lowest for a Star Wars film since Disney acquired the franchise. The film, starring Pedro Pascal as the helmeted bounty hunter alongside the beloved 'Baby Yoda', earned $102m in the US and Canada over the four-day Memorial Day weekend, contributing to a global total of $165m.
Despite being a continuation of Disney's popular streaming series, the film failed to match the opening of 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story, which took $103m domestically ($136.6m adjusted for inflation) and $171m globally ($226.8m adjusted). Solo, with a $275m budget, was considered a flop, whereas The Mandalorian and Grogu cost a more modest $165m, potentially allowing it to turn a profit.
Industry analyst David Gross noted that the film's performance is 'not on the level of the primary Star Wars films' but added that 'these are big numbers and this is how spin-offs perform.' The film is the first Star Wars theatrical release since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, following a pause by Disney to avoid oversaturation.
Disney expects the film to hold up in coming weeks due to positive audience scores, despite mixed critical reception. The studio hopes it will drive interest in merchandise, theme parks, and Disney+, where The Mandalorian remains the most-watched original series. Over 13m Grogu toys have been sold since the show's 2019 debut.
The next Star Wars film, Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling, is scheduled for May 2027.
