'The Mandalorian and Grogu' box office revealed – How did it do?

It's been a long time, but moviegoers are finally returning to a galaxy far, far away.

"The Mandalorian and Grogu," the first new "Star Wars" movie since 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker," grossed $82 million in its three-day opening weekend at the domestic box office, according to estimates from Comscore released on Sunday, May 24.

That would be the lowest-grossing opening weekend for a "Star Wars" movie released by Disney, though only by a hair. In 2018, the Han Solo prequel "Solo: A Star Wars Story" opened similarly with $84 million over three days and $103 million through Memorial Day.

With "Solo," those numbers were considered hugely disappointing, and the movie was ultimately a box office failure. But "The Mandalorian and Grogu" should have an easier path to profitability because its budget is reportedly much lower.

According toVarietyandThe Hollywood Reporter, "Mandalorian" cost $165 million to make. That would make it cheaper than other recent "Star Wars" movies, so it carries with it a different set of box office expectations and doesn't need to reach the enormous heights of the franchise's past films to be a success. "Solo," for comparison,reportedly had a budgetof $250 million or more, and its price tag was inflated due to significant reshoots after the original directors were fired during production.

Still, the "Mandalorian" launch is certainly a comedown from "Star Wars" at the peak of its box office powers. In 2015, "The Force Awakens" opened to a staggering $247 million domestically, and it is still the highest-grossing film of all time in the United States, not adjusted for inflation. Its sequels, 2017's "The Last Jedi" and 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker," opened with $220 million and $177 million, respectively, and the spinoff "Rogue One" also had a strong opening of $155 million in 2016.

Lucasfilm always planned for "Star Wars" to take a break from movie theaters after 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker." But that break turned out to be much longer than expected, as in the years since the divisive trilogy capper, the studio seemed to struggle to find the best way to relaunch "Star Wars" on the big screen. Several "Star Wars" movies were announced from 2019 onwards that were bound for theaters, including a fighter pilot movie called "Rogue Squadron" that was at one point scheduled for 2023.

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But none of these projects came to fruition, leading more and more years to pass with no new "Star Wars" film in sight. All the while, the series lived on the small screen with numerous Disney+ shows.

By 2024, Lucasfilm seemed to seek a safe, reliable bet for a "Star Wars" movie that wouldn't be difficult to get off the ground, so they turned to the most popular of their Disney+ shows: "The Mandalorian," which made "Baby Yoda" a pop culture phenomenon in 2019. "The Mandalorian and Grogu" continues the story of the show, withPedro Pascalreturning as bounty hunter Din Djarin, but with a plot intended to be approachable for newcomers who haven't watched the series.

Reviews for "The Mandalorian and Grogu" were mixed, and the movie's 62% critics' approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes is one of the lowest of the franchise.

But audiences seem to be liking "Mandalorian" well enough that it should have solid legs in theaters as the summer continues. Moviegoers polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of A-. That's the same average rating as "Solo" and an improvement on "The Rise of Skywalker," which received a B+. But it's a step down from "The Force Awakens" and "The Last Jedi," which each earned A grades. "Rogue One" also received an A.

As a largely standalone story without many unresolved threads, "The Mandalorian and Grogu" doesn't provide much indication of where "Star Wars" will go from here, and the fact that it's based on a TV show may have limited its audience or led some moviegoers to simply wait to watch it on Disney+.

But the bigger test of the franchise's health will come next summer with "Star Wars: Starfighter," an all-new adventure starringRyan Goslingthat will take the series' timeline beyond the ending of "The Rise of Skywalker" for the first time. The pressure is high for that movie to establish a new era for "Star Wars" movies and prove that the Force is still strong with the brand.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:How did 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' perform at the box office?

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May 24, 2026

'The Mandalorian and Grogu' box office revealed – How did it do?

It's been a long time, but moviegoers are finally returning to a galaxy far, far away. "The Mandalorian and Grogu," ...

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Alan Alda, 90, Says He and Wife Arlene Alda Talk About Death ‘All the Time’

Alan Alda and his wife, Arlene Alda, have openly discussed what they would do if the other person died

NEED TO KNOW

• The couple, married since 1957, bonded over humor and a shared moment involving rum cake at a party

• Despite his Parkinson's diagnosis, Alda remains active and credits curiosity and improvisation for his positive outlook

Alan Aldaisn't scared of talking about death, especially with his wife,Arlene Alda.

As part of the Alan Alda, Joy Behar, and Roger Rosenblatt in Conversation: More Rules for Aging event at 92NY in New York City on Thursday, May 21, theM*A*S*Hstar got candid about how they discuss death “all the time.”

"One time, we pickedCarl Reinerup to take him someplace to dinner and as we were driving, Carl's wife had just died and we told him how Arlene and I talk all the time about what we'd do [about] who died first," Alda, 90, said.

"If I died first, what would her life be like? If she died first, what would I do? And just around then, I drove over to the divider of Sunset Boulevard. A little bit of sidewalk," he added. "Just bounced away. And Carl said, 'You know the way you drive, you don't have to worry.' "

Alda also spoke about how he feels about his current age.

"I was just thinking of the day, the actual day that I was 90 this year," he said. "We went out to dinner and the waiter came by at the end of the meal with a cupcake with a candle in it and led the restaurant in singing, saying, 'Happy birthday, older gentleman.' Then I blew out the candle and they said, 'You did it yourself. I didn't help you.' They kind of let you know."

Alda married Arlene when he was 21 in 1957 after a chance meeting at a party, which involved both of them eating rum cake that fell on the floor.

"We did eat the rum cake off the floor and were inseparable after that. But I was captivated by her even earlier in the meal when I heard her at the end of the table laughing at my jokes. She had me at Ha,"he wrote on X.

"He was a kindred spirit who was also funny, so there was this great chemistry," she toldThe New York Timesin 2015. "It sure was fun and delightful to be with him that night. Boys from Manhattan didn't date girls from the Bronx. That was a given. It was too long of a trip. He took me home to the Bronx. Unheard of."

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The couple have been inseparable since. They now have three daughters — Eve, Elizabeth and Beatrice — and many grandchildren.

Alda famously landed his big break as Hawkeye Pierce inM*A*S*H, which ran from 1972 to 1983. He won six Golden Globes and three Emmys for the role, as well as one Emmy for writing and another for directing.

In 1975, Alda spoke to PEOPLE about how he wove his family life into the sitcomWe'll Get By.

"It's an attempt to show a family living the way people really do live — and not as they do on television," he said at the time. "Once I was watching a tape of the show at home in which there was an argument between mother and daughter. I turned around and my wife and one of my daughters were having exactly the same argument."

He went on to receive an Oscar nomination for playing Senator Brewster in 2004'sThe Aviatorand won another Emmy for a role onThe West Wing.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Although Alda was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2015, he didn't share his condition publicly until 2018. "My life hasn't changed much," he said. "I just applied my curiosity to it. I'm constantly reading and trying to figure out the best approaches."

A few years later in 2019, Alda told PEOPLE about his dynamic with Arlene.

"We still experience a kind of puppy love," he said. "I really have never made plans for the future. My life is more of an improvisation. I just try to make the best of what's in front of me."

Read the original article onPeople

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May 24, 2026

Alan Alda, 90, Says He and Wife Arlene Alda Talk About Death ‘All the Time’

Alan Alda and his wife, Arlene Alda, have openly discussed what they would do if the other person died NEED TO KNOW ...

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Jon Favreau teases what's next for the Mandalorian and Grogu: ‘I have a lot of notes and ideas’

Jon Favreau teases what's next for Mando and Grogu after their standalone Star Wars film.

Key Points

• The director and co-writer tells Entertainment Weekly he's been thinking about "what's the next step for both of them," calling their future a "wide open canvas."

• "I have a lot of notes and ideas as to where I think things might go within this small microcosm within Star Wars," he says.

This article contains spoilers forTheMandalorian and Grogu.

They survived a Dejarik battle. They took down three AT-ATs. And one of them nearly died from dragonsnake poison! So what, exactly, is next for Mando (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu after their adventurous film debut?Jon Favreaualready has some ideas.

TheMandalorian and Grogudirector and co-writer tellsEntertainment Weeklythat the galaxy's the limit when it comes to the future of the fiery bounty hunter and his Force-wielding young apprentice.

"I think about it creatively, and so for me it's like a garden or a greenhouse with all the different storylines and characters," Favreau explains. "I see opportunity in all of them, because these storylines have taken on a life of their own, and I love the progression of these characters, and I like to think forward as to what's the next step for both of them."

He describes Mando and Grogu's future as a "wide open canvas," but teases that he knows Lucasfilm president and chief creative officerDave Filonihas also been "thinking deeply and about the larger story, about how all the characters [like Ahsoka and Thrawn] all fit together, and understanding the timeframe and how it leads into the next era ofStar Wars," too.

"So I think that there's a lot of higher-order strategic decisions that Dave is making that this will fit into," Favreau says, "but from my perspective, I have a lot of notes and ideas as to where I think things might go within this small microcosm withinStar Wars."

The Mandalorianfans will remember that Favreau previously revealed thathe'd penned a fourth seasonof the Emmy-winning Disney+ series that would've helped set upthe events ofAhsokaseason 2. It was ultimately put on hold in favor of bringing Mando and Grogu to the big screen in a much more accessible storyline that could be appreciated by both new and oldStar Warsfans alike.

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The film follows Mando and Grogu as they're sent on a quest to locate Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White) and return him to his notorious crime family. But when the pair decides to let Rotta go instead, Mando is captured by the bounty hunter Embo as punishment for double-crossing the slimy galactic gangsters, prompting Grogu (and a bunch of ridiculously cute Anzellans) to set out on an adventure to rescue him.

In the end, the pair and Rotta manage to escape Nal Hutta with a little help from an X-wing-flying Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver). The trio returns to their New Republic base, where Mando and Grogu are offered a more permanent position within their ranks if they so choose.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

While the film's self-contained storyline doesn't dig into other events unfolding in the galaxy like a fourth season may have, it does feature a few familiar faces like Zeb (Steve Blum) ofStar Wars Rebelsfame. However, it stays away from other key players like Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson), Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi), and Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen).

"When we were discussing doing a fourth season of [The Mandalorian], which was put on hold, and then the idea of doing a theatrical presentation… It changed the way we approached how interconnected things should be," Favreau explains. "A fourth season of a show would have assumed that you saw three seasons previously and, frankly, everything else on Disney+. That's the nature of a serialized long-form TV story."

It's currently unclear if Favreau's original fourth season ofThe Mandalorianwill ever see the light of day now thatLucasfilm has announcedAhsokaseason 2 will premiere early next year. Regardless, it seems something big is brewing within the greaterStar Warsuniverse — and Mando and Grogu may need to buckle up for the adventure ahead.

The Mandalorian and Groguis in theaters now.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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May 24, 2026

Jon Favreau teases what's next for the Mandalorian and Grogu: ‘I have a lot of notes and ideas’

Jon Favreau teases what's next for Mando and Grogu after their standalone Star Wars film. Key Points The dire...

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Idris Elba Says He’s Never Truly Been ‘in the Race’ to Play James Bond Despite Years-Long Rumors (Exclusive)

Idris Elba exclusively told PEOPLE he was never actually “in the race” to play James Bond despite years of fan speculation

NEED TO KNOW

• The actor previously admitted he was honored by the Bond rumors, but he said the conversation became “disgusting and off-putting” once it became centered on race

• Elba also opened up about starring in Masters of the Universe, revealing he’s a longtime fan of the franchise 

Idris Elbaclaims he has never been in seriouscontention to play James Bonddespite years of speculation from the Hollywood rumor mill.

Elba, 53, caught up with PEOPLE exclusively at the premiere of his new movie,Masters of the Universe,in Los Angeles on Monday, May 18. During the conversation, PEOPLE asked the actor how he felt about his name being “thrown out” as a potential star of theupcoming 007 reboot.

“My name's not getting thrown out, no way,” Elba replied. “They're going younger. And I wish them all the luck of the world. I can't wait — it's going to be amazing.”

“I'm honestly not in the race ever. I wasn't in the race in the first place,” he added.

TheLutherstar previously opened up about the topic in 2023 while appearing on theSmartlesspodcast, hosted byWill Arnett,Jason Bateman, andSean Hayes.

At the time, Elba admitted he was "super complimented" over the rumors that he could stepinto Bond's shoes, but he also said he was put off by the experience when the conversation became about race.

“We’re all actors and we understand that that role is one of those sort of coveted types. It’s like being namedSexiest Man [Alive]," he said, referring to the PEOPLE title, which he wasawarded in 2018.

"But being asked to be James Bond was like, 'Okay, you've sort of reached the pinnacle,' " Elba continued.

"Essentially, it was a huge compliment that every corner of the world — except for some corners, which we will not talk about — were really happy aboutthe idea that I could be considered," he added. "Those that weren't happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense, and I got the brunt of it."

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Bond was last played byDaniel Craigin 2021'sNo Time To Die.Others whohave played 007includeSean Connery, David Niven,George Lazenby,Roger Moore,Timothy DaltonandPierce Brosnan.

Elba's name entered the mix long before Craig's final bow as Bond, when Sony Pictures executive Amy Pascal revealed in a leaked 2014 email that shefelt "Idris should be the next Bond."

Bond aside, Elba is currently busy promoting his latest project,Masters of the Universe, a fantasy-action franchise centered around the hero He-Man.

While speaking to PEOPLE at the L.A. premiere, Elba — who plays Duncan, one of He-Man’s closest allies, in the film — revealed that he has been a lifelong fan of the franchise.

“Masters of the Universewas my thing,” he said. “It was something that I watched a lot as a kid.”

“To get to play Duncan and change him —  make him to look like me — was a real treat. I got to be a bit comedic and big, so I went for it,” Elba added.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I've done quite a few action films over the last three years,” he continued. “Some a little bit more cerebral action, likeHijack, but this has been a lot of fighting. I have to stay in shape so I can run and punch.”

Read the original article onPeople

byCosmopolite

in

May 23, 2026

Idris Elba Says He’s Never Truly Been ‘in the Race’ to Play James Bond Despite Years-Long Rumors (Exclusive)

Idris Elba exclusively told PEOPLE he was never actually “in the race” to play James Bond despite years of fan speculation NEED T...

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Jon Favreau explains why“ Mandalorian and Grogu” doesn't have the classic “Star Wars ”opening“ ”crawl

Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau explain why The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn't open with the traditional Star Wars crawl.

Key Points

• Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy previously told Entertainment Weekly that all future Star Wars films would use the iconic yellow text.

• Instead, Filoni and Favreau say they're saving the crawl specifically for Skywalker films.

Notice something missing fromThe Mandalorian and Grogu?

No, we're not talking aboutAhsoka or Admiral Thrawn.The big-screen adaptation of the popular Disney+ show doesn't feature another familiar component of theStar Warsuniverse — the iconic opening crawl.

The apparent omission comes despiteLucasfilmpresident Kathleen KennedytellingEntertainment Weeklyin 2023that those blocks of bright yellow text would continue sliding across the screen in all of the franchise's future films.

Instead,The Mandalorian and Grogu, now in theaters, delivers some opening context in a light blue font that remains stationary against a starry backdrop.

DirectorJon Favreauand his co-writer, Lucasfilm presidentDave Filoni, join EW'sDebunkedvideo series to explain.

"We've only seen the crawl in the Skywalker saga films," Favreau says, referring to the prequel, original, and sequel trilogies. "Solodid not have a crawl.Rogue Onedid not have a crawl."

Filoni notes that all the spinoff films and Disney+ series feature "a blurb that explains some context" thatStar Warsfans should know before they dive headfirst into a galaxy far, far away.

"Ahsokahas a version of a crawl, but we put it in red, and it's strictly vertical. It doesn't go back," he adds. "So we find different ways to do it."

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For Filoni, these blurbs are a way to capture "the serial vibe" of the franchise. "But the classicStar Warscrawl is something that we try to reserve only for saga-type films," he says.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Favreau, meanwhile, vividly remembers seeing the very firstStar Warscrawl in theaters as a child.

"Such an iconic opening. So that's why we don't use the crawl for everything inStar Wars," he remarks. "There's so muchStar Warsnow, so Dave has explained, we save it for the saga."

And, sorry to the Skywalkers, but this is Mando (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu's time to shine. The bounty-hunting father-son duo makes the hyperjump from their Emmy-winning seriesThe Mandalorianto the big screen as they head out on a dangerous new adventure. Joining Mando and Grogu on their journey is Sigourney Weaver, who also participated in theDebunkedseries to address a theory that her character, Colonel Ward, might secretly be an Imperial spy.

"Is it possible? Well, it's an interesting question. You know, politics is difficult and creating a New Republic is difficult," she says. "This is a difficult job that she has, and I think she's been in the service a long time, so I guess it's possible, but unlikely that this woman who came up during the rebellion and is an X-wing fighter pilot would spend one second entertaining the idea of spying for the evil empire."

She adds, "I decide! Today! Now! No!"

The Mandalorian and Groguis in theaters now. Watch Pascal, Filoni, Weaver, and Favreau react to even more movie theories in the video above.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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May 23, 2026

Jon Favreau explains why“ Mandalorian and Grogu” doesn't have the classic “Star Wars ”opening“ ”crawl

Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau explain why The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn't open with the traditional Star Wars crawl. Key Po...

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