Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu drops 70% in week 2 box office

Disney’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu experienced a steep 70% drop at the box office in its second weekend, falling to third place and marking one of the franchise’s steepest declines ever recorded for a theatrical release.

The Second Weekend Collapse

The Disney film, which launched on May 22, 2026, began its second weekend strong in terms of competition but weak in hold. The Mandalorian and Grogu earned an estimated $25 million in its second frame, according to Box Office Mojo, representing a dramatic decline from its opening-weekend domestic total of $81.6 million. The drop sent the film tumbling to third place at the weekend box office, trailing the surprise horror hit The Backrooms, which opened with $81 million, and Obsession, which surged to second. This marked a significant shift in audience momentum for what was originally expected to anchor the summer blockbuster season.

A Franchise First for Star Wars

Multiple industry sources characterized the performance as a franchise-defining moment. The Mandalorian and Grogu’s 70% second-weekend decline was steeper than Solo: A Star Wars Story, which fell 58.7% in its second weekend in 2018, making it one of the sharpest drops a Star Wars theatrical film has experienced at the domestic box office. The tepid second weekend hold signals weak word-of-mouth despite the film’s opening appeal tied to the beloved Star Wars property. Industry analysts noted that the $165 million production budget appeared increasingly difficult to recoup given the trajectory.

The Road Ahead for Disney’s Box Office Fortunes

To date, The Mandalorian and Grogu has reached $246.9 million worldwide, positioning it as the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2026. While that figure reflects a solid global total, the sharp domestic decline and the film’s struggle to maintain audience interest in week two raise questions about its final domestic tally and overall profitability. The shift in box office dynamics—with a $1 million horror indie (The Backrooms) and a mid-budget thriller (Obsession) taking the top spots—underscored changing audience preferences heading into summer and presented an unusual challenge for a major franchise tentpole release.

Sources

• Fox News — 70% second-weekend drop and third-place finish
• Star Wars News Net — 70% box office decline confirmation
• Screen Rant — worst-ever Star Wars week-2 drop comparison to other franchises
• Box Office Mojo / Yahoo Entertainment — $25 million second-weekend gross and opening figures
• IMDb / SlashFilm — unwanted franchise record context
• Wikipedia — worldwide total and seventh-highest gross of 2026
• IGN — May 22, 2026 release date and opening-weekend context
• Variety — opening weekend totals and competitive landscape