After nearly seven years away from theaters, the galaxy far, far away is officially back in a big way.
According to Variety, The Mandalorian and Grogu is blasting off with an estimated $102 million domestic opening over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, making it one of the biggest openings of 2026 so far. Worldwide, the film is reportedly looking at around $165 million globally.
That’s a huge moment for Lucasfilm and Disney, especially after the franchise stepped away from theatrical releases following 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Directed by Jon Favreau, the film continues the story of Din Djarin and Grogu from the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian, while also serving as a major test to see if Disney+ era Star Wars storytelling could successfully transition to the big screen.

And based on these numbers? The answer appears to be yes.
While critics have been somewhat mixed on the film, audiences are responding much more positively. Reports show strong audience scores and solid word-of-mouth, with many praising the movie’s fun adventure tone, emotional moments, and Grogu’s continued dominance as the galaxy’s most marketable little Force user.
What’s especially impressive is the film’s reported production budget of around $165 million, which is significantly lower than recent Star Wars theatrical releases. That could make this one of Lucasfilm’s smartest financial plays in years.
The success of The Mandalorian and Grogu could also have major implications for the future of theatrical Star Wars projects, including the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling, which is currently planned for 2027.
One thing is clear: audiences were ready to return to the galaxy far, far away.
Did you already see The Mandalorian and Grogu this weekend? And where does it rank among Disney-era Star Wars films for you?
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