New Star Wars Movie Off to Slowest Start Since Solo

"The Mandalorian and Grogu" has achieved a $82 million opening weekend, with an estimated $102 million by Monday. This performance, while strong in the current cinematic landscape, represents the lowest debut for a "Star Wars" film since Disney acquired the franchise. It falls below the opening of 2018's "Solo: A Star Wars Story," which earned $84 million over its initial weekend and $103 million through the holiday.

The new "Star Wars" movie carries a significantly lower budget of $165 million compared to previous installments, and has garnered positive audience scores. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film continues the story of Din Djarin and Grogu after the events of "The Mandalorian" season three. Its commercial success will be further evaluated by its performance in the second week of release.

This release follows a period where Lucasfilm focused on Disney+ series such as "The Book of Boba Fett," "Ahsoka," "Andor," and "Skeleton Crew," as the franchise navigated a gap in feature film releases. The next "Star Wars" film, "Star Wars: Starfighter," is slated for release in May 2027, potentially signaling a new direction for the saga.

Elsewhere at the box office, "Obsession" continued to perform exceptionally well, earning an estimated $28.2 million over the four-day weekend, bringing its total to $58.5 million. "Michael," the Michael Jackson biopic, demonstrated remarkable staying power, grossing $20 million over the weekend and an estimated $25.7 million through Monday, pushing its total earnings to $319 million domestically. "The Devil Wears Prada 2" and "The Sheep Detectives" also secured spots in the top five, with domestic totals reaching $197 million and $46.9 million, respectively.