The Star Wars franchise is in the midst of a major transitional era marked by a significant leadership shake-up and a pivot back to theatrical releases. The beloved space opera saga – which is now being guided by newly appointed Lucasfilm presidents Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan – made its long-awaited return to the big screen in May with the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu. The blockbuster movie broke a seven-year cinematic drought for the sci-fi juggernaut, sending Din Djarin and his diminutive sidekick on another galaxy-spanning adventure, following on from their escapades in the adjacent Disney+ streaming series.
Directed by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian and Grogu follows Pedro Pascal’s titular bounty hunter and his young, Force-sensitive apprentice on a mission to track down a mysterious and highly elusive Imperial warlord known as Commander Coine. To secure vital intelligence about their target, Mando and Grogu are forced into a high-stakes deal with the fraternal Hutt siblings, sending them on a rescue operation to retrieve Jabba’s son, Rotta the Hutt, who has been taken captive. Along the way, they must navigate dangerous alien underworlds and engage in a massive gladiatorial battle, hoping to escape with their lives intact.
“The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.”
After nearly a decade of relying on Disney+ streaming series, The Mandalorian and Grogu stood as the ultimate test of whether the Star Wars franchise can still draw massive crowds to movie theaters. However, the experiment yielded disappointing results, ultimately finishing its theatrical run as the lowest-grossing live-action film in Disney Star Wars history. It earned $344.8 million at the worldwide box office, which positions it below Solo: A Star Wars Story ($393 million) and a world apart from The Force Awakens ($2.07 billion). It also received a lukewarm reception from critics, including MovieWeb’s own Mark Keizer, who asserted that it didn’t move the needle enough to “save the galaxy” but it is, at least, “a thrilling step in the right direction.”
Despite its middling verdict from critics, The Mandalorian and Grogu managed to squeeze out a 60% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. General audiences gave it a high score of 87% on the Popcornmeter, with the majority of people defending it as a fun and entertaining space western. The positive response from moviegoers has rippled through to its home media sales, as the divisive Star Wars spin-off has claimed a surprise victory ahead of its official release. According to Blu-ray.com‘s bestseller list, the movie is currently dominating the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray sales chart, claiming the Top 4 spots with its various physical media offerings – including the colossal $200+ Beskar Collector’s Edition, which has secured the coveted No. 1 slot.
Lucasfilm is utilizing this release to lean heavily into premium physical formats, turning an underwhelming box office performance into a massive win for home media. The Beskar Collector’s Edition 4K UHD Blu-ray sits at No. 1, followed by the standard 4K UHD and Blu-ray releases at No. 2 and No. 3, with a 4K UHD and Blu-ray Steelbook at No. 4, cementing its status as one of the most highly anticipated physical media releases of the season – before it has even hit the market. The movie is currently up for pre-order ahead of its slated release on Aug. 25, 2026, just over a month after its digital release and three months after its theatrical debut.
- Release Date
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May 20, 2026
- Runtime
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132 minutes
