In a galaxy not so far away, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is making waves at the domestic box office, exceeding expectations and collecting a bounty richer than initially anticipated. As the 12th live-action Star Wars movie, and the third adventure outside the Skywalker saga following the successful spin-offs “Rogue One” and “Solo,” this film marks a significant return to the big screen for the franchise after a six-year hiatus post “The Rise of Skywalker.”

As of Sunday morning, projections indicated that “The Mandalorian and Grogu” would clinch the No. 1 spot at the box office with an impressive three-day total of $82 million and a projected four-day total of $102 million over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Although initially predicted to fall short of “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” the film has already surpassed expectations while continuing to lag behind the adjusted figures for Solo’s domestic debut. Nevertheless, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” could not contend with Solo’s formidable $111.7 million adjusted three-day domestic debut.

For Star Wars fans and box office enthusiasts, this development is noteworthy. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” has carved a niche as one of the lowest unadjusted debuts in the live-action Star Wars franchise since “The Phantom Menace” in 1999, and adjusted figures place it as the lowest since “Return of the Jedi” in 1983. Despite these comparative shortcomings, the film is not without its merits and advantages.

Firstly, the new film boasts a considerably lower budget than its predecessor. While “Solo” cost a steep $300 million to produce, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” was crafted with a more modest $165 million—making it the most economically constructed Star Wars movie since 2015. Insiders report that the film needs to rake in between $500 and $600 million to break even, presenting a formidable, yet surmountable, challenge.

The key to success could be in its critical reception. The film has received largely positive reviews, with a 63% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics—nearly in line with “Solo’s” 69%—but an impressive audience score of 88%, significantly outperforming “Solo’s” 63%. Its CinemaScore of A- suggests strong viewer approval and the potential for positive word-of-mouth buzz, a factor that “Solo” struggled to achieve.

While facing competition from anticipated blockbusters like “Toy Story 5” and Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day,” “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is poised to hold its ground in the cinema galaxy. Despite the potential obstacles, the film is positioned well enough to potentially avoid the dreaded box office bust and could be the promising first chapter in the cinematic resurgence of Star Wars.

Memorial Day weekend was notably dynamic at the domestic box office, with several captivating shifts in the top 5. Apart from “The Mandalorian and Grogu” unveiling at No. 1, the film “Obsession” has carved out a record-setting rise in its sophomore week, climbing to No. 2 with an impressive 30% increase in earnings. Meanwhile, the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” settled into the third position, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” slid to No. 4, and “The Sheep Detectives” remained rooted at No. 5 with its minimal drop.

Bolstered by “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” along with stellar holdover figures, the box office flourished with a total intake of $221 million for the holiday weekend. Though not quite reaching 2025’s $328 million, it’s a respectable result, closely matching 2022’s earnings led by “Top Gun: Maverick.”

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