Disney and Lucasfilm’s long-awaited return to theaters with Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is off to a softer-than-expected start at the box office, pulling in just $12 million in Thursday night previews according to Deadline.
While that number might look respectable for many franchises, the reaction surrounding it has been very different because this is Star Wars — a brand that once dominated theatrical openings and regularly generated genuine cultural-event hype.
Instead, The Mandalorian and Grogu is now debuting far below the franchise’s biggest theatrical launches and even behind some of Disney’s weaker Star Wars performances.
Even Solo: A Star Wars Story Opened Higher
Perhaps the most alarming comparison for Lucasfilm is Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Deadline noted that The Mandalorian and Grogu actually opened below Solo’s Thursday preview figure of $14.1 million.
That film ultimately opened to $103 million over the four-day Memorial Day holiday frame and was still widely viewed as a commercial disappointment. It became infamous as the first theatrical Star Wars film under Disney to lose money.
Now, Disney’s first theatrical Star Wars movie in seven years is tracking behind it in previews.
Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian in Solo – Disney+
READ: The Mandalorian and Grogu Box Office Projections Downgraded After Abysmal Overseas Opening
Deadline reports that current expectations for The Mandalorian and Grogu are somewhere in the $80 million to $100 million range over the four-day Memorial Day weekend.
If those projections hold, it would place the film at the bottom of Disney-era Star Wars theatrical launches.
A Massive Drop From Peak Star Wars
The comparisons become even more striking when stacked against the franchise’s peak years.
Disney’s sequel trilogy and standalone films once delivered enormous opening numbers:
- The Force Awakens earned a staggering $57 million in Thursday previews before opening to a record-breaking $247.9 million domestically.
- The Last Jedi pulled in roughly $45 million in previews.
- The Rise of Skywalker earned around $40 million in previews.
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story brought in approximately $29 million in Thursday night showings.
Rey from Star Wars – Disney+
Compared to those numbers, The Mandalorian and Grogu’s $12 million start represents a dramatic decline in theatrical enthusiasm for the franchise.
For a brand that once felt untouchable at the box office, the drop is difficult to ignore.
Disney+ May Have Changed Audience Behavior
One of the biggest questions surrounding the film is whether audiences simply view The Mandalorian as streaming content now rather than must-see theatrical entertainment.
For years, Din Djarin and Grogu existed primarily on Disney+, where fans became accustomed to watching their adventures at home. Turning that streaming series into a theatrical event may have proven more difficult than Disney expected.
A screenshot from The Mandalorian and Grogu Super Bowl spot – Lucasfilm
READ: Valliant Renegade Report Reveals Mandalorian and Grogu Cost May Be Much Higher Than Reported
Deadline specifically pointed out that Disney heavily marketed Grogu’s “cute” appeal to families while simultaneously leaning into nostalgia aimed at longtime fans through imagery reminiscent of The Empire Strikes Back.
But many fans online have questioned whether the film truly feels like cinematic Star Wars or simply an expensive Disney+ episode released in IMAX.
That perception may now be showing up in the box office numbers.
Critics Aren’t Giving Lucasfilm Much Help
The critical response also hasn’t provided much momentum.
The film currently sits at 63% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, lower than Solo’s 69% critic score. Audience reactions have been more positive early on, but Thursday preview crowds are traditionally made up of the franchise’s most dedicated fans.
That means the real test for the film may come over the rest of the Memorial Day weekend as casual audiences decide whether this latest Star Wars release is worth a trip to theaters.
For now, Disney’s attempt to reestablish Star Wars as a major theatrical event appears to be opening much smaller than many expected.
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