“The Mandalorian and Grogu” opened with an estimated $81 million and pulled in $100 million across the 4-day Memorial Day holiday, buoyed by an audience shift toward families—plus strong CinemaScore and solid engagement on premium screens.
When “The Mandalorian and Grogu” landed in theaters for the first “Star Wars” movie in seven years, the pressure was clear: would it generate enough noise to justify the wait?
By the time the weekend settled. the answer looked like math—an estimated $81 million opening weekend and $100 million over the 4-day Memorial Day holiday. The opening wasn’t expected to be a disaster either. It’s not the lowest opening for a “Star Wars” movie ever (not factoring in inflation). and it lands roughly in line with “Solo: A Star Wars Story. ” which opened to $84 million in 2018—one of the Han Solo prequel entries that often gets labeled forgettable.
Early numbers had briefly raised alarms. Some of the four-day tracking—measured over four days. not three—had suggested an $80 million opening. a figure that would have spelled trouble. Instead. Disney had a reason to breathe easier: an A- CinemaScore. the same grade “Solo” received; 89 percent Popcorn Meter on Rotten Tomatoes; and 52 percent of viewers choosing IMAX or other PLF screens. including a strong showing in 3D.
That matters because IMAX delivered a three-week commitment for “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which should keep the film on premium screens and at their associated surcharges long enough to build its legs.
The film’s performance is also helped by what it is—and what it isn’t. It’s a spinoff of a streaming show. not a main installment in a new “Star Wars” saga or the launch of a fresh franchise. It’s also positioned as standalone entertainment that doesn’t require backstory. a setup that can pull lapsed viewers back toward Disney+.
Even the budget comparison tilts in its favor. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is budgeted at roughly $166 million, compared with “Solo” at $270 million. Internationally, it has made $63 million, putting it on a clear path to recouping its cost.
The headline story in the numbers, though, is the kind of moviegoer who showed up—especially by the weekend. On opening night Thursday, just 11 percent of the audience was under-18, or included that family crowd. That figure rose to 25 percent over the weekend. The under-18 audience rated the film an “A.”.
Disney’s payoff isn’t just ticket sales; it’s the behavior those audiences tend to fuel. The real engine is expected to be people buying Baby Yoda dolls and toys—and parents bringing kids to Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland or Disney World. The Smuggler’s Run ride in Anaheim has also recently been retooled to cross-promote the movie.
All of it arrives as theaters don’t seem ready to slow down. Fanboys may shift attention to “Masters of the Universe” in the coming days. Gen-Z might lean into “Scary Movie” or “Obsession,” both still going strong. Sci-fi fans have “Disclosure Day” on the horizon. And families have “The Breadwinner,” starring Nate Bargatze. None of these titles is necessarily true competition for four-quadrant audiences in the same way—especially until Disney’s own “Toy Story 5” arrives in mid-June.
The tone of the reviews suggests the film’s appeal is intentional. The extended sequence “sans-Mando,” featuring only Grogu and some other cutesy, miniature creatures, fits the larger idea that the gentler, more adorable touch is by design.
There’s also a broader franchise shift behind the scenes. With former Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy now out of the picture. the spotlight has moved toward Dave Filoni and co-president Lynwen Brennan. That creates room for a “New Hope” of sorts: the hope that “Starfighter. ” starring Ryan Gosling. might align with what a more ravenous fan base wants from the franchise.
But for now, the box office is telling a simpler story. Whatever defined success for “Star Wars” movies in the past, the performance of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is showing what works in the present. In theaters, families led the way—and that, right now, is what the numbers reward.
The Mandalorian and Grogu box office Star Wars Grogu Disney CinemaScore Rotten Tomatoes Popcorn Meter IMAX Galaxy's Edge Smuggler's Run Baby Yoda dolls Toy Story 5 Masters of the Universe Scary Movie Obsession Disclosure Day The Breadwinner Nate Bargatze Dave Filoni Lynwen Brennan Ryan Gosling Starfighter