Source: Fortune.com
Summary
“Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” earned $82 million in ticket sales from 4,300 theaters in the U.S. and Canada. By the end of Monday’s Memorial Day holiday, it’s expected to have earned $102 million domestically and $165 million globally. The movie exceeded opening weekend expectations but is on the low end of Disney-era Star Wars releases. The production budget for the movie was significantly lower than previous Star Wars films, at $165 million.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. Disney’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” underperformed compared to previous Star Wars films. The movie’s production budget was lower, but the box office results are still modest. The film’s success will depend on word-of-mouth and its eventual release on Disney+. The Star Wars brand is in transition under new leadership, and the question remains whether audience interest has cooled.
The movie’s A- CinemaScore and positive audience reaction are promising signs. However, the overall Memorial Day weekend box office was down 36% from last year’s record-breaking weekend. The industry is watching to see if next year’s “Star Wars: Starfighter” will provide a definitive answer to the franchise’s box office prospects.
Author: Evan Null
