For the first time in nearly seven years, "Star Wars" fans finally had a reason to go to the movies.
And plenty of 'em showed up for "
The Mandalorian and Grogu," which collected $82 million in its opening weekend and an estimated $102 million through Monday. Those ticket sales are aligned with expectations, though box office analysts are mixed on the results. On one hand, it's significant for any film to debut above $100 million in post-pandemic times. On the other, "Star Wars" is one of Hollywood's preeminent film properties, so there's an expectation of a certain level of box office. And this start is the worst for "Star Wars" since Disney bought the franchise in 2012.
Prior to this weekend, that unfortunate distinction belonged to 2018's spinoff "Solo: A Star Wars Story," which opened to $84 million over the weekend and $103 million through the Memorial Day holiday, not adjusted for inflation. "Solo," however, was plagued by other issues, including lackluster reviews and tepid word-of-mouth — none of which helped in terms of box office longevity. It became the first "Star Wars" movie ever to lose money in its theatrical run, tapping out with $392 million globally against a massive budget of nearly $300 million.
"The Mandalorian and Grogu" carries a leaner $165 million price tag and, perhaps more importantly, has the benefit of positive audience scores. A truer test of commercial viability will be the film's second weekend in theaters. That'll indicate whether "The Mandalorian and Grogu" is just appealing to fans of the franchise, or if the movie can become a breakout among family crowds. Opening weekend ticket buyers were 63% male while 75% were above the age of 25. Jon Favreau directed the film, which earned an "A-" grade on CinemaScore exit polls. For comparison, 2019's "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" earned a "B+" grade. The story takes place after the third season of the Disney+ series "The Mandalorian" and revolves around Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and his adorable green sidekick as they navigate a galaxy that's recovering from the fall of the evil Empire.
At the international box office, "The Mandalorian and Grogu" earned $64 million for a global start of $145 million over the three days and $165 million over the four-day frame.