The theaters lit up again this past weekend for The Mandalorian & Grogu. Pedro Pascal’s helmeted hero and that little green guy stole hearts once more, pulling in an estimated $25 million in its second frame at the domestic box office.
That marks a 69% slide from its Memorial Day opening of $81.7 million over three days — the lowest debut for any Disney-era Star Wars film. Yet families kept showing up. Kids waved tiny lightsabers in the aisles. Parents snapped photos as Grogu cooed on the giant screen. The force may not be as box-office dominant as it once was, but the connection between Mando and his foundling still packs a punch.
Second Weekend Breakdown
The Mandalorian & Grogu eased into third place behind two surprise horror hits. A24’s Backrooms and Focus Features’ Obsession dominated the charts, but Star Wars still added meaningful tickets.
Here’s how the numbers stack up so far:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Opening Weekend (3-day, May 22-25) | $81.7 million |
| Opening Weekend (4-day Memorial Day) | ~$98-102 million |
| Second Weekend (May 29-June 1) | $25 million |
| Domestic Total (10 days) | ~$137.4 million |
| Worldwide Total | ~$246.6 million |
| Production Budget | $165 million |
International markets chipped in another $53 million over the weekend, pushing the global haul past $246 million.
Why Audiences Keep Coming Back
Critics landed at around 62-65% on Rotten Tomatoes, calling the film a fun but familiar extension of the Disney+ series. Audiences, though? They delivered a scorching 88-89% score — the highest for any Disney Star Wars movie to date. CinemaScore handed it a solid A-.
You could feel the energy in the lobbies. One dad in Chicago told reporters his six-year-old refused to leave until the credits finished rolling because “Grogu needed to say bye.” Teens who grew up with the show on their phones finally saw the duo in IMAX and lost it during the action beats. That heartfelt father-son bond between Mando and Grogu hits different on the big screen. It’s low-stakes adventure done right, and families are eating it up.
Jon Favreau directed with the same care he brought to the series. Dave Filoni co-wrote. The result feels like the best episode of The Mandalorian stretched across two hours — complete with practical effects, that unmistakable John Williams-adjacent score, and Grogu’s ears flapping in the wind.
What the Drop Really Means
Yes, the 69% second-weekend slide stings. It’s steeper than many analysts expected and puts pressure on the film to leg out over the summer. Competition from buzzy indie horrors pulled younger crowds away, and the movie’s front-loaded fanbase meant a lot of die-hards showed up opening weekend.
Still, $137 million domestic in ten days is nothing to sneeze at in 2026. The film sits comfortably above break-even when you factor in strong overseas performance and the long tail that Star Wars movies usually enjoy. Plus, the audience score suggests word of mouth will keep casual viewers coming through June.
You walk out of the theater remembering why this galaxy hooked millions in the first place. Pascal nails the quiet toughness. Grogu remains the ultimate scene-stealer. And in a summer packed with options, families chose the one that felt like coming home.
The Mandalorian & Grogu box office story is far from over. With school out and summer vacations rolling, expect steady holds as more kids drag their parents to see the little green legend in action.
