Star Wars Returns to Cinemas With Mixed Results
The Mandalorian and Grogu pulled Star Wars fans back to theaters after a seven-year break. The film claimed the No. 1 spot during the Memorial Day weekend. It earned an estimated $100 million across the four-day domestic frame, according to Comscore.
However, the opening raised concerns. In 2017, Solo: A Star Wars Story collected $103 million during the same holiday weekend. At the time, that result marked the weakest debut for a Star Wars title under Disney. Now, The Mandalorian and Grogu holds that record.
Lower Budget Offers Hope for Profitability
Still, the outlook remains far from bleak. Disney reportedly spent about $165 million to produce the film. That figure sits lower than the budgets of earlier Star Wars releases.
In addition, international audiences added strong support. The movie earned another $63 million globally. As a result, its worldwide total climbed to $163 million. Therefore, the film now edges close to recovering its production cost.
Audience Response Remains Strong
While critics gave mixed reactions, viewers responded positively. The film scored 62% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. Meanwhile, audiences pushed its Popcornmeter score to 89%.
That strong reception may help sustain ticket sales in coming weeks.
Cast and Storyline Keep Fans Engaged
Pedro Pascal leads the film as Din Djarin, the armored bounty hunter. This time, he joins Grogu on a mission to capture an Imperial warlord. They also seek to rescue Rotta the Hutt, the missing son of Jabba the Hutt.
Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce produced the movie. Moreover, the cast includes Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White.
Obsession Gains Momentum in Second Weekend
Elsewhere, supernatural thriller Obsession posted a stronger second weekend. After earning $16 million during its debut, the film pulled in $30 million domestically over the holiday stretch.
As a result, its local total rose to $60 million. Globally, it has now earned $73.9 million.
The Curry Barker-directed project continues to gain traction among horror fans.
Michael Pushes Closer to Major Milestone
Meanwhile, Antoine Fuqua’s biopic Michael maintained strong momentum. Despite entering its fifth week in theaters, the film earned $26.9 million domestically during the holiday period.
That pushed its domestic tally to $32 million. More importantly, its global earnings climbed to $782.4 million.
Because of its strong performance, Michael now ranks as the second highest-grossing music biopic ever. Only Bohemian Rhapsody, which earned $902.6 million, remains ahead.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Continues Strong Run
At fourth place, The Devil Wears Prada 2 remained steady. The comedy sequel earned $16.5 million in domestic markets.
Consequently, its U.S. total reached $200 million. Worldwide, the movie has generated $604 million.
The reunion of Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci continues to attract longtime fans.
The Sheep Detectives Emerges as Surprise Hit
Rounding out the top five, The Sheep Detectives continued its surprising rise. The heartfelt mystery added $12.8 million over the weekend.
That lifted its domestic earnings to $47 million. Globally, it has now made $82.2 million.
The film follows a therapist whose patient disappears inside a strange alternate dimension. As the mystery deepens, she enters a maze of endless yellow-lit rooms to uncover the truth.
Growing Hype Builds Around Creator’s Vision
Director Kane Parsons first introduced the eerie concept through his web series The Backrooms: Found Footage. The project drew inspiration from a viral 2019 creepypasta image that showed endless empty office-like rooms.
Since then, excitement around the film has continued to grow. Therefore, many fans now await its post-Memorial Day release with strong anticipation.
