The Mandalorian and Grogu has become the lowest-opening live-action Star Wars film, presenting Dave Filoni with his first significant challenge as the newly appointed Lucasfilm president and chief creative officer. The film opened to $163 million worldwide and $81 million domestically over Memorial Day weekend 2026, marking a concerning start for the franchise’s theatrical return.
Filoni assumed leadership of Lucasfilm in January 2026, replacing longtime president Kathleen Kennedy. The Mandalorian and Grogu represents the 12th live-action Star Wars feature and the first theatrical release since the start of the pandemic, following 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.
Box Office Performance Reveals Troubling Trends
The numbers tell a stark story for Disney’s Star Wars theatrical strategy. After its Memorial Day weekend opening, The Mandalorian and Grogu experienced a steep 70 percent drop in its second weekend, collecting just $25 million. By the third weekend, the film had fallen out of the top five entirely, earning only $10 million.
The film holds the distinction of being the only Disney Star Wars movie to lose the number one box office slot after just one weekend. It is also the only Disney Star Wars movie to spend just two weekends in the domestic top five.
Perhaps more concerning for the franchise’s long-term health is the audience demographic data. Only 27 percent of The Mandalorian and Grogu’s audience was under 25 years old. In contrast, the competing film Backrooms drew 86 percent of its opening weekend audience from viewers under 35, with 44 percent younger than 21.
What We Know So Far
The Mandalorian and Grogu was directed by Jon Favreau and written by Favreau, Filoni, and Noah Kloor. The film is noted as the cheapest Star Wars film since Disney purchased Lucasfilm, though the exact production budget has not been disclosed.
It is important to note that the film was greenlit under Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership before Filoni became president. Jeremy Allen White provided the voice for Rotta the Hutt in the production.
Filoni’s relationship with the franchise spans nearly two decades. In 2008, he directed the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars feature. Across three seasons of The Mandalorian television series, Filoni directed three episodes and wrote four episodes. The Clone Wars TV series finale aired on May 4, 2020, and as recently as May 4, 2025, the show ranked as the 10th most-streamed title according to Nielsen.
When The Mandalorian Season 1 premiered, it generated nearly 100 times greater demand than the average television series, demonstrating the property’s strength on streaming platforms.
Industry Perspectives on Star Wars Direction
Dan Zehr, host of the Coffee With Kenobi podcast and an author who has written books for Lucasfilm, offered his assessment of the franchise’s current position.
“The current state of ‘Star Wars’ is complicated. On the one hand, we are getting a lot of content in different media (film, streaming, animation, etc.). However, the results have been mixed,” Zehr said.
The contrast between theatrical and streaming performance raises questions about where Star Wars content resonates most strongly with audiences. The Andor series, created by showrunner Tony Gilroy, earned 22 Emmy nominations with five wins, demonstrating critical acclaim for more mature Star Wars storytelling on Disney Plus.
Tom Bissell, a screenwriter for Andor Season 2, quoted showrunner Tony Gilroy on the approach to franchise storytelling: “A lot of times, when you’re working on IP storytelling, your impulse is to open the toy box and start playing with all the toys. You should try to resist that, and what you should do is leave more toys in the toy box than were there when you got there — resisting the impulse to be a child and instead think more like a storyteller who’s adding to the world rather than taking from it.”
What Happens Next
Several Star Wars projects remain in development for future release. Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy, is scheduled for next year. Among announced Star Wars film projects, a trilogy of films from Simon Kinberg appears closest to materializing. Kinberg previously served as a co-creator of the Star Wars Rebels animated series.
The status of a previously announced Filoni-directed MandoVerse feature remains unclear, as do specific plot details for Star Wars: Starfighter and Simon Kinberg’s potential trilogy.
The Streaming Versus Theatrical Question
Filoni built his reputation through animated series and streaming content rather than theatrical features. His work on The Clone Wars and contributions to The Mandalorian television series established him as a trusted steward of George Lucas’s creative vision among dedicated fans.
The analysis now centers on whether Filoni’s storytelling approach, which often involves reviving obscure Star Wars characters from animation and expanded universe material, can sustain the franchise in theaters. The failure to attract younger audiences to The Mandalorian and Grogu presents a particular challenge for maintaining the franchise’s cultural relevance.
The theatrical Star Wars market has been dormant since 2019, giving audiences years to adjust to consuming the franchise primarily through Disney Plus. Whether moviegoers will return to theaters for future Star Wars films remains an open question that Filoni must address as he shapes the franchise’s direction.
Important Details
The timeline of Filoni’s ascension is critical context. He became Lucasfilm president and CCO in January 2026, meaning The Mandalorian and Grogu was already in production when he took the leadership role. Any films that fully reflect his creative vision as studio head would not reach theaters for several years.
The gap between the last theatrical Star Wars release in 2019 and The Mandalorian and Grogu in May 2026 represents the longest absence of Star Wars films from theaters since Disney acquired Lucasfilm. This absence may have contributed to changing audience habits and expectations around the franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Dave Filoni become Lucasfilm president?
Dave Filoni became Lucasfilm president and chief creative officer in January 2026, replacing Kathleen Kennedy in the role.
How much did The Mandalorian and Grogu make at the box office?
The film opened to $163 million worldwide and $81 million domestically over Memorial Day weekend 2026. It dropped 70 percent in its second weekend to $25 million and fell to $10 million in its third weekend.
What Star Wars movies are coming next?
Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy, is scheduled for next year. A trilogy from Simon Kinberg is also among the projects closest to materializing.
Who directed The Mandalorian and Grogu?
Jon Favreau directed the film. The screenplay was written by Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Noah Kloor.
The coming months will reveal how Filoni responds to these theatrical challenges as he works to define his vision for the Star Wars franchise. The performance of upcoming projects, particularly Star Wars: Starfighter, may provide clearer signals about whether the franchise can rebuild its theatrical audience while maintaining its streaming success.
