Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opened May 22, 2026, at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, becoming the first Star Wars theatrical release since J.J. Abrams' The Rise of Skywalker in December 2019. Directed by Jon Favreau — who co-wrote the film with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor — the film stars Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin, the bounty hunter turned adoptive father, alongside Jeremy Allen White and Sigourney Weaver in key supporting roles. Ludwig Göransson returns to compose the score, reprising his Emmy-winning work from the Disney+ series. The film carries a $165 million production budget, the cheapest of any Disney-era Star Wars theatrical release, and earned $98 million domestically over its opening weekend for a $167 million global debut. By the close of its theatrical run, the film had accumulated $181.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it a 64 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, with the consensus noting that it functions more like an extended premium television episode than a true cinematic event — an observation that is either a criticism or a compliment depending on how much you love the original series. Audiences were considerably warmer: the film earned an 88 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and CinemaScore results suggested strong legs with families. For Star Wars fans, this film represents the franchise's best opportunity to recapture the theatrical momentum it lost after The Rise of Skywalker. For casual audiences, it is a handsomely produced, emotionally satisfying adventure that requires minimal prior investment to enjoy — Grogu's expressive face does most of the heavy lifting.