The Mandalorian & Grogu officially launched its box office run with $12 million in Thursday night previews, giving Lucasfilm its first major theatrical test since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The film opened screenings on Thursday afternoon, May 21, across 4,300 North American theaters, including IMAX, 4DX, ScreenX, and other premium large-format screens.
According to Deadline, the early number puts The Mandalorian & Grogu in line with several recent Disney tentpoles. Industry comparisons currently place it near Captain America: Brave New World, which opened with $12 million in previews before reaching a $100 million four-day debut, while still trailing the $14.1 million preview start posted by Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Current projections estimate the film could land somewhere between $80 million and $100 million over the Memorial Day weekend stretch.
Directed by Jon Favreau, the movie brings Pedro Pascal back as Din Djarin alongside Grogu in the franchise’s first feature-length continuation of a Disney+ Star Wars series.
The story follows the pair as they work with the New Republic against surviving Imperial warlords in the aftermath of the Empire’s collapse. Earlier trailers highlighted large-scale battles, Grogu’s growing Force abilities, and a dangerous mission involving Rotta the Hutt, voiced by Jeremy Allen White.
Recent reviews and spoiler-heavy reactions also revealed a key storyline involving a deal between the New Republic and the Hutt family. In the film, Sigourney Weaver plays Colonel Ward, who recruits Din Djarin and Grogu to rescue Rotta from an Imperial faction led by a warlord played by Jonny Coyne. In return, the Hutts agree to provide intelligence on Imperial operations scattered across the galaxy.
Disney’s marketing campaign leaned heavily into Grogu’s popularity while also nodding to longtime Star Wars fans with imagery pulled from the original trilogy’s war-heavy aesthetic.
The rollout included multiple teaser trailers, a CinemaCon debut for the film’s final trailer, and a recently released Ultimate Collector Series LEGO N-1 Starfighter timed to Star Wars Day.
Audience reactions appear stronger than critics’ reviews so far. Early Rotten Tomatoes audience scores reportedly sit well above Solo: A Star Wars Story, suggesting the franchise’s core fanbase is responding positively to Din Djarin and Grogu’s move from streaming to theaters.
