UMVA has learned that the latest Star Wars film, The Mandalorian and Grogu, has made history for all the wrong reasons, debuting with the lowest opening weekend box office in the franchise's history.
The film, which hit cinemas over the weekend, managed to pull in a mere $82 million in the US, a paltry sum compared to its $165 million budget. This disappointing turnout has left industry experts stunned, especially when compared to the 2018 Han Solo spin-off, which raked in $84 million despite having a budget twice as large.
Despite its underwhelming performance, The Mandalorian and Grogu did manage to top the charts over the weekend, and its lean budget might just help it break even. Internationally, the film earned $64 million, bringing its total global earnings to $145 million over the three-day weekend.
Directed by Jon Favreau, the film boasts an impressive 62% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences giving it an impressive 89%. The movie stars Pedro Pascal as the Mandalorian, Din Djarin, alongside his adorable green sidekick, affectionately nicknamed 'baby Yoda' by fans.
Interestingly, Pedro Pascal's involvement in the film has been largely limited to voice work, with the physical performance of the Mandalorian being handled by Brendan Wayne and stunt performer Lateef Crowder. This marks a departure from the actor's previous work on the popular series, where he was more heavily involved in the physical aspects of the role.
The Mandalorian and Grogu marks the first Star Wars film to hit cinemas since 2019, and its underwhelming performance has raised questions about the franchise's ability to draw in large audiences. Despite this, Disney remains committed to the Star Wars universe, with several live-action series in the works, including Andor, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Crew.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the film's poor performance has not deterred Disney from continuing to invest in the franchise, with several new projects reportedly in development. As the Star Wars universe continues to expand, fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in the saga.
