After early industry projections suggested The Mandalorian and Grogu, Disney’s latest Lucasfilm Star Wars release, would narrowly cross the $100 million mark domestically over the Memorial Day holiday frame, updated box office totals now show the film officially came in below that milestone.
According to revised figures reported by Deadline, The Mandalorian and Grogu earned approximately:
- $81 million domestically over the traditional 3-day opening weekend
- $98 million across the full 4-day Memorial Day holiday
- roughly $167 million worldwide
That officially gives the film the lowest domestic opening weekend of any Disney-era Star Wars theatrical release.
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For comparison, Solo: A Star Wars Story opened to:
- $84.4 million domestically over 3 days
- $103 million over the 4-day Memorial Day frame
- approximately $148 million worldwide
Even without adjusting for inflation, Solo still outperformed The Mandalorian and Grogu domestically.
Once inflation and modern ticket-price increases are factored in, the comparison becomes even more difficult for Disney.
The Mandalorian and Grogu – Star Wars, YouTube
Adjusted into 2026 dollars, Solo’s opening would equal roughly:
- $110 million domestically over 3 days
- around $135 million over the 4-day holiday frame
- approximately $193 million to $195 million worldwide
What makes this even worse is that Thursday previews for The Mandalorian and Grogu started as early as 2 p.m. in many areas. That turns the supposed “4-day holiday weekend” reported by the Hollywood media into what’s essentially a 5-day holiday corridor.
It also means Solo likely sold significantly more actual tickets than The Mandalorian and Grogu worldwide, despite being viewed as a major disappointment for the franchise back in 2018.
Disney’s “Safe” Star Wars Movie Failed to Deliver
Unlike Solo, which was plagued by production issues, extensive reshoots, and a highly publicized director replacement, The Mandalorian and Grogu was supposed to be the safest possible theatrical return for modern Star Wars.
Opening shot from The Mandalorian and Grogu trailer – Star Wars, YouTube
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Din Djarin and Grogu became the faces of the franchise during the Disney+ era, Grogu merchandise exploded into a global phenomenon, and The Mandalorian itself was widely promoted as the project that “saved” Star Wars after backlash surrounding the sequel trilogy.
And yet, after years of buildup, the theatrical movie version couldn’t even reach $100 million domestically over a major 5-day holiday opening.
That reality is already fueling broader concerns about the overall health of the franchise.
Has Star Wars Lost Its Event Status?
For decades, Star Wars operated as one of the biggest event brands in entertainment. Even divisive entries routinely opened to enormous numbers because audiences still viewed the franchise as must-see cinema.
That no longer appears to be the case.
Many critics have argued Disney spent years conditioning audiences to consume Star Wars primarily through streaming rather than theatrical releases. Storylines moved onto Disney+, characters jumped between multiple series, and the line between blockbuster filmmaking and streaming “content” became increasingly blurred.
A screenshot from The Mandalorian and Grogu Super Bowl spot – Lucasfilm
The updated box office numbers may now reflect the consequences of that strategy.
According to reporting from Deadline, audience polling also suggested that 39% of viewers planned to simply watch the film again later on Disney+ rather than return to theaters, which will severely hurt repeat business and the movie’s overall legs.
That’s not the kind of behavior typically associated with a thriving theatrical franchise.
The Bigger Question Facing Lucasfilm
The concern now extends beyond this one movie.
Disney still has additional Star Wars films in development, including Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling. But after years of canceled projects, creative shakeups, and inconsistent box office momentum, confidence in the franchise appears weaker than at any point since Disney acquired Lucasfilm.
Financially, modern tentpole filmmaking also leaves very little margin for error.
While The Mandalorian and Grogu reportedly cost less than some previous Star Wars productions, analysts and commentators have still estimated the film may need $600 million globally to comfortably reach profitability once worldwide marketing and distribution expenses are included.
A piece of the Mandalorian and Grogu movie poster – Disney
Disney still has major advantages through merchandise sales, theme park integration, licensing, and Disney+ subscriptions.
But theatrically, the updated numbers are becoming increasingly difficult to spin positively.
Because Disney’s grand return to theaters for Star Wars didn’t just underperform expectations. It officially became the lowest domestic opening in Disney Star Wars history.
Are you surprised by The Mandalorian and Grogu box office? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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