Solid Debut for ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’

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May 28, 2026
Entertainment

After nearly seven years since the last significant release, a new ‘Star Wars’ film returned with positive, though not record-breaking, results at the box office this weekend. ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ earned $82 million from 4,300 theaters across the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates on Sunday. By the end of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, projections suggest domestic earnings could reach $102 million, with global totals around $165 million.

The movie, a continuation from the Disney+ series ‘The Mandalorian’, exceeded its initial opening weekend expectations. However, it achieved numbers on the lower side of Disney-era ‘Star Wars’ releases, drawing comparisons to ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’, which made $103 million during its similar holiday frame in 2018. Notably, ‘Solo’ faced negative perceptions, while ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ shows signs of different outcomes.

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ had a significantly lower production budget, reported at $165 million, compared to ‘Solo’s’ $300 million budget, excluding marketing costs. This reduced budget makes reaching profitability more feasible, especially in light of favorable audience scores. Jeremy Allen White provides the voice for Rotta the Hutt, a character in the film.

Critics have shown mixed to negative responses to the movie, with a 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nonetheless, audiences have been more receptive, with an A- CinemaScore. The film especially resonated with boys under 13, who gave it an A CinemaScore and a perfect PostTrak score. Parents were equally enthusiastic with a five out of five rating.

The Jon Favreau-directed movie stars Pedro Pascal as the bounty hunter, complemented by his green companion on a mission to rescue Jabba’s son, Rotta the Hutt, voiced by Jeremy Allen White. Evaluations of ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ may also consider its unique journey from a streaming series to a theater release, with the film eventually adding value as content on Disney+.

The ‘Star Wars’ brand is undergoing changes under new leadership, Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan, with longtime Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announcing her departure earlier this year. This transition raises the question of whether large-screen interest in ‘Star Wars’ has lessened, looking towards next year’s release, ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ with Ryan Gosling, to provide more clarity.

Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Comscore, emphasized that ticket buyers have the final say. He expressed optimism, stating, ‘Given the audience reaction and the scores from parents and kids, this is here for the long haul.’

A strong word-of-mouth effect similarly benefited the horror film ‘Obsession’, which displayed an extraordinary 30% increase in its second weekend box office performance, reaching $22.4 million from 2,655 theaters.

The studio that acquired ‘Obsession’ for $15 million predicted a holiday total of $28.2 million, raising its overall earnings to $58.5 million, landing it in second place. Meanwhile, the ‘Michael’ biopic clinched third place with $20 million over the weekend, adding to its $782.4 million total earnings.

The new horror film ‘Passenger’, featuring Melissa Leo, grossed $8.7 million from 2,534 locations, with expectations of $10.5 million over four days. Reviews have been unfavorable, receiving a 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and a B- CinemaScore.

‘I Love Boosters’, starring Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, earned $3.7 million in its debut, adding to the diverse mix of films this weekend. Nevertheless, the total four-day box office this year reaches approximately $211 million, a 36% reduction from last year’s earnings, far from the 2024 Memorial Day weekend low.

Top 10 movies by domestic box office over the weekend, courtesy of Comscore: