BACKROOMS Stuns the Box Office, Knocks THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Down With Record-Breaking Debut
After nearly seven years without a Star Wars movie on the big screen, Lucasfilm finally brought the franchise back to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu. While the film got off to a respectable start over Memorial Day weekend, its second frame tells a much different story.
In a surprising turn, the horror film Backrooms has stormed into theaters and claimed the top spot at the box office, delivering a massive $81.4 million domestic opening weekend and setting a new opening weekend record for A24.
The horror phenomenon didn’t just exceed expectations, it completely changed the conversation surrounding the weekend's theatrical race.
According to reported estimates, The Mandalorian and Grogu earned $25 million domestically in its second weekend, representing a steep 69% drop from its debut. The film has now brought in $137.3 million domestically and $246.6 million worldwide.
Meanwhile, horror continued to dominate as Obsession held strong with $26.4 million in its third weekend, narrowly edging past the latest Star Wars adventure for second place.
What makes the result especially surprising is that heading into the weekend, many analysts expected a close battle between Backrooms and The Mandalorian and Grogu, with both films projected to land somewhere around the $40 million mark. Instead, Backrooms doubled those expectations while Lucasfilm's latest theatrical release experienced a dramatic falloff.
There were several reasons to believe The Mandalorian and Grogu could have enjoyed a healthy theatrical run. While critics delivered mixed reviews, audiences seemed far more enthusiastic.
Fan reactions were generally positive, and the film also benefited from a lack of direct blockbuster competition. With Masters of the Universe still a week away from release, the path appeared relatively clear.
The challenge may have come from how audiences viewed the movie itself. Many fans have described The Mandalorian and Grogu as an entertaining, lighthearted space adventure packed with charming Grogu moments.
At the same time, some viewers felt the story and character development were fairly thin, which I don’t agree with, but it made it less of an essential theatrical event and more of an enjoyable extension of the Disney+ series. That distinction can make a big difference when convincing casual moviegoers to buy a ticket.
Meanwhile, Backrooms and Obsession have benefited from outstanding critical reception, boasting Rotten Tomatoes scores of 89% and 96%, respectively. Both films have also generated excitement around fresh filmmaking talent and original creative ideas, helping them connect with audiences beyond the traditional horror crowd.
For A24, Backrooms dethroning a Star Wars movie is a remarkable achievement. For nearly five decades, Star Wars has stood among Hollywood’s most dominant franchises, making this upset feel like another sign that moviegoing habits continue to evolve.
Audiences are still showing up for theatrical experiences, but they’re becoming increasingly selective about what earns their time and money.
The good news for Lucasfilm is that The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn’t appear headed toward box office disaster territory thanks to its more manageable production budget. Still, there’s little doubt the studio was hoping for a stronger hold and a more sustained run.
With the franchise's 50th anniversary approaching, that reality puts even more attention on the next theatrical chapter, Star Wars: Starfighter. Lucasfilm will be hoping that film becomes the major event celebration that reignites the franchise’s box office dominance.
Source: Deadline