Is the Force with The Mandalorian and Grogu, or against it?
Early box office numbers suggest Jon Favreau’s big-screen take on his hit Disney+ series might be struggling. It could end up with the lowest opening for any Star Wars film since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.
However, there’s a bright side. Mandalorian and Grogu has an impressive 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the best of any Star Wars movie since Disney took over. It’s particularly resonating with younger audiences, leading Disney insiders to think it may become the most family-friendly film in the franchise’s modern era.
Opening day brought in $33 million from 4,300 theaters. That’s slightly behind Solo: A Star Wars Story, which raked in $35.4 million on its first day back in 2018. But the long Memorial Day weekend is still unfolding. Family viewership, often unpredictable, may shift the numbers over the weekend.
Kids, especially boys under 13, are loving the film. It’s garnered an A CinemaScore and 5 out of 5 stars on PostTrak. General audiences have given it an A- CinemaScore and a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Critics have been less enthusiastic, with the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score fluctuating around 62%.
This film is significant, as it’s the first Star Wars release in theaters in seven years. It continues the story from The Mandalorian, which launched Disney+ and introduced Grogu, a character who quickly became a symbol of joy—and a merchandising sensation worth over $1 billion.
Tracking suggested Mandalorian and Grogu might open with around $82 million over the four-day weekend, with some estimates predicting as high as $95 million. As of Saturday morning, insiders projected earnings between $92 million to $96 million for the holiday stretch.
While this is still behind Solo, which opened at $103 million, the cinematic landscape has changed. Disney notes that audiences may view Mandalorian differently because it started on the small screen and the characters are not directly tied to the main saga. If recent hits show anything, it’s that Mandalorian might have staying power.
Pedro Pascal returns as the Mandalorian, tasked with protecting Grogu. Sigourney Weaver voices Colonel Ward, and Jeremy Allen White lends his voice to Rotta the Hutt. Martin Scorsese even joins the fun as a quirky food stand chef.
This Memorial Day weekend also features a standout horror film, Obsession, directed by Curry Barker. It looks set to take the number two spot with nearly $19.9 million, marking a rare 16% growth from its opening weekend.
In these unpredictable times, audiences are embracing new stories and characters, making it an exciting moment for film lovers.
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