‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Preview Numbers Disappoint, Behind Solo A Star Wars Story

It’s time to journey back to a galaxy far, far away as ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ hits cinemas for the first time in seven years. The film has garnered approximately $12 million in preview screenings so far, a figure that is being closely monitored as it marks the first major Star Wars theatrical release since 2019’s ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’

The 2019 film was a significant global success, surpassing $1 billion worldwide, yet it faced mixed reactions from both critics and fans. Following its release, Disney paused Star Wars movies for several years, redirecting the franchise’s focus to Disney+, where ‘The Mandalorian’ introduced audiences to Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and Grogu, affectionately known as Baby Yoda.

Now, these beloved characters are transitioning from streaming to the big screen in ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu.’ The film is currently projected to earn between $80 million and $100 million over the extended Memorial Day weekend. While this is a robust figure for many films, industry comparisons suggest it may fall short of expectations for a Star Wars release. Reports indicate it could open below ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story,’ which debuted with $103 million.

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ has earned $12 million in previews, coming in $2.1 million behind ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story.’ Solo is often regarded as one of the weaker performers in the franchise and is the only Star Wars film that lost money for Disney, with estimates reaching into the millions. Variety reported that the film would cost Disney “tens of millions of dollars” based on a projected final total gross of $400–450 million, while The Hollywood Reporter estimated losses between $50 and $80 million.

The new film is directed by Jon Favreau, known for ‘Iron Man’ and the ‘Lion King’ remake. The story unfolds after the fall of the Empire, featuring Mando and Grogu collaborating with Sigourney Weaver’s character on a mission involving Rotta the Hutt, the son of Jabba the Hutt, voiced by Jeremy Allen White.

Meanwhile, other films in theaters are also vying for audience attention. The horror film ‘Passenger’ earned about $1.1 million in previews, while another horror title, ‘Obsession,’ continues to perform well at the box office following a $17.2 million opening weekend.

With ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ now in theaters, all eyes are on whether Star Wars can fully reclaim its box office strength after years away from cinemas.

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