Trouble in the Galaxy? ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ Sees Sharp Second-Weekend Drop

Disney and Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” is seeing a much weaker second weekend at the box office than expected.

According to box office figures reported by Variety, the film earned $6.5 million on Friday in North America during its second weekend in theaters. That marks a 70% drop from its opening day performance.

Early projections suggested the movie could bring in around $40 million over the weekend. However, newer estimates from rival studios now point to a much lower result, with the film expected to earn about $25 million by Sunday.

If those estimates hold, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” will reach roughly $136 million at the domestic box office after two weekends in release.

The sharp decline comes as new competition arrives in theaters. One of the biggest surprises is “Backrooms,” the horror film based on Kane Parsons’ viral YouTube series. The movie earned $38 million on Friday alone and is expected to make between $85 million and $90 million during its opening weekend, according to Variety.

While “The Mandalorian and Grogu” remains one of the top movies in theaters, its second-weekend performance is falling short of earlier expectations. The latest numbers suggest that the film is facing a tougher box office run than many analysts predicted following its debut.

The film serves as a continuation of the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian,” which ran from 2019 to 2023. Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin, better known as the Mandalorian, with Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder once again providing on-set performances for the character. The cast also includes Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne, Martin Scorsese, and Sigourney Weaver.

Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, the story follows Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu as they take on a mission for the New Republic. In exchange for valuable information about an important target, the pair are tasked with rescuing Rotta the Hutt, played by Jeremy Allen White.

Plans for a fourth season of “The Mandalorian” were originally in development, but production delays caused by the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes led Lucasfilm to rethink its strategy. Instead of moving forward with another season, the studio decided to develop a feature film. The project was officially announced in January 2024.

Filming took place in California between August and December 2024, with additional cast announcements made throughout production. Composer Ludwig Göransson, who worked on the television series, returned to create the film’s score.

Released in May, the film received mixed reviews from critics.

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