Mandalorian and Grogu posts weakest Disney Star Wars opening but stronger margins

"The Mandalorian and Grogu” opened to about US$102 million domestic and US$165 million worldwide over the Memorial Day frame, matching its reported US$165 million production budget but delivering the lowest opening of any Star Wars film released under Disney, even below “Solo”.

Audience reception is strong, with around 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and an A‑minus cinema score, while critics are more mixed, suggesting the brand still connects with fans even if the box office headline looks soft.

With production costs roughly US$110 million below “Solo”, over US$1 billion in annual Star Wars merchandise sales and an estimated 13 million Grogu plush toys already sold, analysts say Disney appears more focused on margins and franchise‑wide economics than chasing record‑breaking openings for every film.