Story perspectives

Mandalorian Flops $167M, Critics Praise Puppetry, Fans Crave Originality

5/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Disney's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" earned $167 million over Memorial Day weekend, the lowest opening and below the 2018 "Solo" $168 million total.
Critics said the film felt like an extended TV episode.
They praised the second half’s pacing, puppetry and stop-motion animation, Disney’s best since its 1980s Jim Henson collaborations.
Fans want more original big-screen stories, prompting Shawn Levy’s "Starfighter" starring Ryan Gosling, set years after "The Rise of Skywalker".

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Story summary

Disney's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" earned $167 million over Memorial Day weekend, the lowest opening and below the 2018 "Solo" $168 million total.
Critics said the film felt like an extended TV episode.
They praised the second half’s pacing, puppetry and stop-motion animation, Disney’s best since its 1980s Jim Henson collaborations.
Fans want more original big-screen stories, prompting Shawn Levy’s "Starfighter" starring Ryan Gosling, set years after "The Rise of Skywalker".