Disney's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" made just $12 million in Thursday preview ticket sales on May 21, the lowest figure ever recorded for the franchise, surpassing the previous low of $14.1 million set by "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in 2018 [1, 2].
The film opened on May 22 in approximately 4,300 North American theaters and is projected to generate around $80 million domestically for the three-day weekend. The extended four-day Memorial Day weekend could bring in $90 to $95 million domestically, falling short of "Solo," which earned $84.4 million over three days and $103 million across four days in 2018 [1, 2].
Globally, "The Mandalorian and Grogu" brought in about $163 million during the four-day Memorial Day weekend, marking the smallest worldwide opening weekend for any Star Wars title [3].
The film continues the story from the popular Disney+ streaming series "The Mandalorian". It follows Pedro Pascal's Mandalorian and Grogu in their efforts to apprehend an Imperial warlord and rescue Rotta the Hutt. The cast includes Sigourney Weaver and Martin Scorsese in supporting roles [2, 4]. Director Jon Favreau, who created the Disney+ series, helmed the movie [1, 2, 3].
The theatrical release notably reflects Disney's shift since 2019 toward focusing the Star Wars franchise on streaming and TV shows, where multiple live-action series have launched on Disney+ [1, 3]. While the initial seasons of "The Mandalorian" were well received, its third season faced significant fan backlash and poorer reviews [4].
Industry observers note that the film's feel as an extension of a TV series rather than a standalone blockbuster may have dampened box office enthusiasm [3]. This contrasts with Disney's 2019 theatrical release "The Rise of Skywalker," which grossed over $1 billion worldwide despite mixed reviews [1, 3].
"The Mandalorian and Grogu" will continue to be monitored as domestic box office receipts finalize over the full Memorial Day weekend.
