Lucasfilm's latest cinematic offering, "The Mandalorian and Grogu," has made a strong debut, securing $12 million in Thursday preview screenings. This film marks the return of the beloved Star Wars franchise to theaters after a seven-year hiatus, picking up the narrative from the acclaimed Disney+ series. The movie's early box office success is further bolstered by an impressive 88 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting widespread critical and public enthusiasm.

Theatrical Resurgence for "The Mandalorian and Grogu"

On May 22, 2026, Lucasfilm's "The Mandalorian and Grogu" launched its preview screenings across selected theaters in the United States, commencing at 2 p.m. local time. The film swiftly amassed $12 million, underscoring its significant anticipation. This feature-length continuation of the popular "The Mandalorian" series, which originally introduced the globally adored character Grogu during the pandemic era, signifies the first "Star Wars" movie to grace cinema screens in seven years. Industry forecasts suggest a robust opening weekend, with domestic box office projections ranging from $82 million to a high of $100 million over four days. While the preview figures are the lowest for a Disney-acquired Star Wars title since 2012, this is attributed to its strong appeal among younger audiences and older film enthusiasts. Notably, its preview gross aligns with other 2026 box office successes like "Michael," "Avatar: Fire and Ash," and "Project Hail Mary," each earning approximately $12 million. Globally, Disney anticipates the film will achieve at least $160 million. The story sees Pedro Pascal reprise his role as Din Djarin, the Mandalorian bounty hunter, tasked by Colonel Ward of the New Republic, voiced by Sigourney Weaver, to rescue Rotta the Hutt, voiced by Jeremy Allen White. The film also features Martin Scorsese lending his voice to a memorable, four-armed culinary expert. Jon Favreau directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Noah Kloor and Dave Filoni, the latter recently promoted to president and chief creative officer of Lucasfilm.

The successful preview performance of "The Mandalorian and Grogu" highlights the enduring appeal of the "Star Wars" universe and the strategic brilliance of extending popular streaming content to the big screen. This trend offers a compelling model for future franchise development, blending episodic storytelling with cinematic grandeur to maximize audience engagement and financial returns. The strong audience reception also suggests that fans are eager for fresh narratives within established universes, provided they maintain the creative integrity and emotional resonance that made the original series so captivating.