Star Wars just crashed back into cinemas and the reactions are split. After seven years without a new Star Wars theatrical release, The Mandalorian and Grogu is finally here, but it opened with only about $12 million in Thursday previews, the lowest preview total in the franchise’s history. Still, analysts are expecting a strong Memorial Day boost, with forecasts around $80 million for the three-day weekend and up to $95 million when the holiday four-day is included.
The big question is whether that’s enough. Disney spent roughly $250 million in total on production, marketing, and global rollout for this film. With stakes that high, even a decent opening might not feel like a win unless the movie holds strong in its second week. The Force is back on the big screen, but will newer audiences care as much as the old fans?