New Star Wars Movie Expected to Deliver Huge Box Office Launch for Disney

The latest film in the legendary Star Wars franchise earned more than $165 million on its opening weekend. The release of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” marked Disney’s first attempt at a Star Wars movie in more than seven years. The film earned roughly $102 million domestically over the four-day Memorial Day weekend and pulled in an additional $63 million globally.

While that figure would certainly be impressive for most films, it’s the lowest opening-weekend box office for any Star Wars film under the Disney umbrella. Disney was open about its decision to pause the franchise following mixed reactions to some previous releases.

The company instead shifted significant attention toward streaming content on Disney+, where “The Mandalorian” became one of the platform’s most successful original series. The return to movie theaters may not have been what Disney was hoping for, but the figure is still impressive.

The Film Marks Star Wars’ Return to Theaters

The “Mandalorian and Grogu” is the first Star Wars movie released theatrically since “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” premiered in late 2019. “The Rise of Skywalker” wasn’t incredibly well-received by Star Wars fans, which resulted in the film being the last one that Disney released for seven years.

Directed by Jon Favreau, the film continues the story established in the Disney+ series "The Mandalorian and Grogu" follows bounty hunter Din Djarin, played by Pedro Pascal, alongside Grogu, the enormously popular character widely known by fans as “Baby Yoda.” On the heels of “The Rise of Skywalker’s” box office struggles, Disney shifted toward promoting Baby Yoda on its streaming platforms, resulting in the character becoming a pop culture icon.

Grogu Remains One of Disney’s Biggest Pop Culture Successes

While Disney undoubtedly expected more than $165 million on a holiday weekend, many considered the Star Wars worldwide opening a success, and they believe that success is largely based on how beloved Grogu is. Since debuting in 2019, the character has become one of Disney’s most valuable merchandising and branding successes in years. Grogu quickly evolved into a global pop culture phenomenon that extended far beyond traditional Star Wars audiences.

The latest Star Wars movie release was largely energized by the popularity of the character, according to entertainment insiders. Industry analyst Shawn Robbins of Box Office Theory said before release that Grogu’s broad popularity could help the movie attract audiences beyond hardcore Star Wars fans. “Baby Yoda brings the Force back to theaters,” Robbins wrote while discussing the film’s early tracking projections.

The Opening Was Strong, But Also Historically Soft for Star Wars

While $165 million worldwide would represent a major success for many films, expectations surrounding the new Star Wars movie in 2026 are high because of the franchise’s box office history. Generations of fans have long waited for new Star Wars films to reach theaters, resulting in some staggering figures. For example, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which hit theaters in 2015, brought in $529 million worldwide.

That comparison has led analysts to question whether years of streaming-focused Star Wars storytelling may have changed how audiences view the franchise. Business Insider noted that Disney’s emphasis on streaming may have weakened the urgency that once existed for film releases. Meanwhile, other film critics questioned whether there were enough differences between the streaming show and the movie to push people into buying tickets.

Audience Reactions Were Much Stronger Than Critics’ Reviews

One encouraging sign for Disney involves audience reception. Rotten Tomatoes, the website that allows fans and critics to post reviews of films, saw a significant discrepancy between the two camps. Fans gave the film an 89% while critics were much harsher, giving it a 62%. The movie also received strong audience exit polling, including an “A-” CinemaScore grade.

Even if it didn’t show up in record-setting numbers for an opening weekend, Disney has reasons to be optimistic about its latest Star Wars movie release. Historically, Star Wars films with strong fan engagement often generate substantial merchandising sales and repeat viewings even when critical reception remains mixed.

Disney Already Has More Star Wars Films Planned

Despite the mixed conversation surrounding the opening numbers, Disney continues investing heavily in the future of Star Wars theatrical storytelling. In fact, the entertainment giant already has plans to release “Star Wars: Starfighter” in 2027.

Ahead of that release, Disney must decide if Star Wars can reclaim its position as one of Hollywood’s most powerful franchises, or if the shift to streaming is a smarter play in the long term.

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