Disney's 'Mandalorian and Grogu' Posts $12 Million Lowest-Ever Star Wars Previews
Updated
Updated · CNBC · May 22
Disney's 'Mandalorian and Grogu' Posts $12 Million Lowest-Ever Star Wars Previews
14 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 22
$12 million in Thursday previews gave "The Mandalorian and Grogu" the weakest preshow start of any "Star Wars" film, below "Solo" at $14.1 million.
Box office forecasts still call for about $80 million over three days and roughly $95 million over the Memorial Day weekend, with some estimates reaching $115 million thanks to limited competition and premium screens.
The release is Disney's first theatrical "Star Wars" film since 2019 and a test of whether the franchise can regain cinema momentum after shifting focus to Disney+ series led by "The Mandalorian."
A roughly $165 million production budget—well below the $250 million-plus of recent "Star Wars" films—lowers the profitability bar, while Grogu-linked merchandise and theme-park tie-ins give Disney revenue beyond ticket sales.
Is transitioning a TV show to cinemas a brilliant move or a costly gamble for Lucasfilm's future?
With a $530M break-even point, can Grogu's appeal prevent another Star Wars box office flop like 'Solo'?