‘The Mandalorian And Grogu’ Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Record Didn’t Matter

The Mandalorian and Grogu earned a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but its box office failed due to weak critical reviews (62%), franchise fatigue, a crowded summer movie slate, and the difficulty of turning a streaming series into a satisfying theatrical experience. The film opened to $142 million domestically, well below expectations.

With a production budget of $250 million and marketing costs of $100 million, The Mandalorian and Grogu is projected to lose Disney as much as $100 million, according to industry analysts. The film's soft opening weekend and poor legs led to the sizable loss.

The Mandalorian and Grogu achieved a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest ever for a live-action Star Wars film. The previous record was held by 'The Force Awakens' with 89%.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is the worst-performing Star Wars film since 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' in 2018, which lost around $77 million. Both films suffered from franchise fatigue and poor critical reception relative to audience scores.

Disney is likely to rethink its approach to turning Disney+ series into theatrical releases. The Mandalorian and Grogu's failure may lead to fewer Star Wars films based on streaming shows, and a renewed focus on standalone stories or returning to the core saga.