Disney’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu” ignited to $100 million at the domestic box office over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
That’s ever-so-slightly behind Sunday’s estimates of $102 million for the four-day frame, which includes $81 million over the traditional weekend. The “Star Wars” spinoff, a continuation of the popular Disney+ streaming series, also collected a softer $63 million from international markets for a global debut of $163 million over the four-day period. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is significant as the first “Star Wars” movie in seven years — since 2019’s saga-concluding billion-dollar tentpole “The Rise of Skywalker.” As the “Star Wars” parent company Lucasfilm failed for years to launch a new theatrical film, the company turned its attention to the small screen with Disney+ shows like “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Ahsoka” as well as “Andor” and “Skeleton Crew.”
So, is “Star Wars” still a cinematic property? Box office analysts believe it’s too soon to tell. They suggest the film’s second weekend in theaters will better indicate whether “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is only appealing to fans of the series, or if it’ll break out among families. For now, ticket sales are roughly even with Lucasfilm’s last spinoff attempt, “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which arrived over Memorial Day in 2018 and ended in disaster. That movie opened to $103 million through the four-day holiday (including $84 million over the traditional weekend) and $168 million globally, not adjusted for inflation. With lackluster reviews and tepid word-of-mouth, “Solo” left the big screen with just $392 million globally and became the first “Star Wars” movie ever to lose money in its theatrical run. Part of the issue was “Solo” carried a gargantuan $300 million budget.
