This is the way: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' blazes theatrical path for Star Wars spinoffs | Movie Releases & Trends – Weekend of May 22, 2026

Memorial Day weekend is often a strong one at the box office, and this year didn't disappoint. The three-day tally is the 2nd highest of the year to date, falling second only to Easter weekend. 

Year to date the box office sits at $3.4B, an increase of 13% from this time last year, and continues to track towards the highest year since the pandemic changed the cinema landscape. 

What were the top performers this holiday weekend?

It’s no surprise that Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu topped the box office this weekend in both revenue and admissions. It marks a strong theatrical debut for a spinoff story. While it may not reach the massive heights of the core Star Wars saga films, it remains an important extension of the franchise universe — and audiences clearly showed up for it.

Critics’ reviews have been solid and generally in line with recent Star Wars entries, but the more important signal is audience reception. The film earned an A- CinemaScore, outperforming The Rise of Skywalker, which received a B+. Much of the online conversation has centered around comparisons to The Mandalorian Disney+ series, with fans responding positively to seeing the beloved characters and world translated to the big screen.

The film performed in line with expectations at the box office, but the opportunity extends far beyond ticket sales. Disney is likely to see strong downstream impact through merchandise, collectibles, licensing, and theme park integration — areas where the Star Wars brand continues to be one of the most powerful entertainment properties in the world. Not surprisingly, the movie skewed a bit more male (66%) with nearly a quarter of the audience under the age of 18. 

Hitchhiker's guide to profits: Passenger proves audiences still crave communal scares on the big screen

Another new release this weekend was Passenger, a supernatural horror thriller about a young van-life couple who witness a horrific accident and make the mistake of picking up a mysterious hitchhiker. Produced for under $10M, the film’s nearly $9M debut across 2,500+ theaters is another reminder of how reliable the horror genre continues to be theatrically.  

Horror remains one of the most cost-effective genres in Hollywood because audiences still view the theater as the best environment for jump scares, suspense, and communal reactions. Watching with a crowd amplifies the experience in a way that streaming at home simply cannot replicate.

Boots Riley's retail rebellion: I Love Boosters sparks polarized reactions with anti-capitalist chaos

The final new title to break into the top 10 this weekend is I Love Boosters. The sci-fi comedy from Boots Riley — about a crew of bold shoplifters targeting a ruthless fashion CEO — has generated some of the most polarized reactions of any recent release.  

Critics have praised it as a bold, maximalist, anti-capitalist satire with ambitious visual storytelling, while general audiences are far more divided, with many finding its unhinged narrative structure and chaotic third act difficult to follow.

“The vibe is surreal, and occasionally goofy-on-purpose,” says a member of our team. “If Greta Gerwig’s 'Barbie' was a gentle critique of consumerism, 'I Love Boosters' uses its own manic, cartoonish satire to convince audiences that it might be worth burning the whole system down.”    

Highly unconventional films can sometimes build a passionate cult following, particularly among younger and more online moviegoing audiences who are drawn to provocative, conversation-starting content, but this one may have issues overcoming such highly mixed messages.

Old titles, new tricks: Horror's staying power and Jackson nostalgia keep audiences coming back

Returning titles also held up well. Obsession, in its second weekend, grew +39% over its opening frame — an impressive feat and yet another example of horror’s strong word-of-mouth potential when audiences connect with the concept.

Michael, coming in at #3 with another $20M weekend, continues to prove itself as far more than just a solid performer. The film has become a true event title, showing strong staying power and broad audience appeal. Its ability to maintain momentum against major new competition speaks to both the enduring popularity of Michael Jackson and the film’s cross-generational draw. 

And one cannot talk about returning titles without mentioning that Project Hail Mary is still delivering an audience strong enough to keep it in the top 10, in its 10th week, a remarkable run for any movie.  

The next few weeks are shaping up to be an interesting stretch at the box office because the slate has a little bit of everything — franchise blockbusters, horror, family films, prestige dramas, and nostalgia-driven releases.  

After Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu kicked off the summer corridor, the industry now shifts into a much more competitive marketplace. June alone has Masters of the Universe and Toy Story 5, which could be one of the biggest films of the summer. There's also more Horror with Backrooms — A24's adaptation of the viral internet horror phenomenon. 

The key trend right now is that theaters are finally getting a more balanced release calendar again. Instead of relying on one massive blockbuster each month, the market now has a healthy mix of horror, family animation, prestige films, franchise IP, and nostalgia-driven content. That diversity is helping sustain weekly attendance and keeping the box office momentum strong heading into the heart of summer.

How The People Platform's audience measurements can help drive insights

• How many tickets will be sold this coming weekend? Find out on our next Cinema Ranker for a box office forecast and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest cinema industry insights.

• To learn more about The People Platform and explore our audience measurement solutions designed to support box office forecasting and cinema audience insights, click here.

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