Mandalorian and Grogu Opens to $165 Million, Defying Claims Its Weak Reviews Signal Star Wars Crisis
Updated
Updated · The Independent · May 26
Mandalorian and Grogu Opens to $165 Million, Defying Claims Its Weak Reviews Signal Star Wars Crisis
3 articles · Updated · The Independent · May 26
$165 million in global opening-weekend sales made “The Mandalorian and Grogu” the lowest live-action Star Wars debut, yet the article argues that does not make it a failure.
Disney’s apparent goal was narrower than reviving the franchise: the film was made on a relatively modest budget and keeps Grogu—one of Star Wars’ strongest merchandising assets—at the center of public attention.
The piece also says the movie’s smaller scale could help Star Wars after the overblown “Rise of Skywalker,” while praising Ludwig Göransson’s score as proof the series can still work beyond George Lucas and John Williams.
That leaves the bigger franchise test to 2027’s Ryan Gosling-led “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which would face far more pressure if Disney wants to prove Star Wars can still deliver a major theatrical hit.
After its box office failure, can Ryan Gosling's 'Starfighter' save the cinematic future of Star Wars?
Why did audiences love 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' while critics called it the dullest Star Wars film ever?
Is Grogu's merchandise power more important to Disney than making a critically acclaimed Star Wars film?