Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ Opens to $100M 4-Day Domestic, $163M Globally
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opened to $81 million domestically over the three-day Memorial Day frame and $100 million through the four-day holiday at 4,300 North American theaters—landing in line with the franchise’s lowest-grossing live-action entry, Solo: A Star Wars Story. International markets contributed $63 million for a $163 million global debut. The Jon Favreau-directed feature, budgeted at $165 million, earned an “A-” CinemaScore with a 71% definite recommend on PostTrak. 68% of opening-weekend ticket buyers were Disney+ subscribers, underscoring the streaming-to-theatrical conversion challenge the $165 million production now faces in its second weekend without a major new release in the marketplace.
Sources: Variety
‘Obsession’ Posts Unprecedented 39% Second-Weekend Surge to $60.7M in 11 Days
Focus Features’ Obsession defied every genre norm by posting a 39% second-weekend increase—earning $23.9 million over the three-day frame and $30.3 million through Memorial Day—for an 11-day North American total of $60.7 million. The horror romance, produced for under $1 million and directed by YouTube breakout Curry Barker, was acquired by Focus Features at the Toronto Film Festival for $14 million. It holds a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A-” CinemaScore. Globally, the film has crossed $81.9 million cumulative as Universal handles international distribution across 37 markets, with Saudi Arabia recording the biggest horror opening of the year in that territory.
Sources: Deadline
‘Michael’ Nears $800M Globally as Lionsgate Confirms Sequel in Development
Michael, the Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael Jackson biopic starring Jaafar Jackson, earned $18.5 million domestically in its fifth weekend en route to a $26.9 million four-day total, pushing its North American cumulative to $321.1 million and its worldwide gross to $789.2 million—within striking distance of Bohemian Rhapsody’s $911 million record as the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time. Lionsgate Film Chief Adam Fogelson separately confirmed a sequel is actively in development, with 25–30% already shot, covering the “Dangerous” and “Invincible” eras and Neverland, positioning the franchise as a long-running theatrical event.
Sources: Deadline
Disney’s $100M Partner Campaign for ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ Spotlights Streaming-to-Screen Strategy
Disney backed the theatrical release of The Mandalorian and Grogu with a reported $100 million promotional partner campaign. Brand partners include Burger King (its first Star Wars collaboration in 20 years), Volkswagen, Coca-Cola, Hertz, Walmart, and Bath & Body Works. The campaign deployed a Super Bowl spot pairing Pedro Pascal and Grogu in a holiday sleigh to target families, while Empire Strikes Back imagery spoke to the franchise faithful. Grogu merchandise has generated 13 million toys sold during the first two years of the Disney+ series, making licensing a key revenue backstop regardless of the film’s theatrical performance.
Sources: Deadline
‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ Crosses $608M Globally on International Strength
The Devil Wears Prada 2, the 20th Century Studios sequel starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Emily Blunt, crossed $608 million worldwide in its fourth weekend—with $200 million domestic and $408 million international. The film added $12.7 million over the three-day domestic frame and $16.5 million through Memorial Day. International strength has been exceptional: the sequel ranks as the top non-local release year-to-date in Italy ($35.9 million) and is No. 2 year-to-date in Japan and South Korea, making it the fourth-highest-grossing MPA title globally in 2026 so far and No. 3 at the international box office.
Sources: Deadline
Box Office — Currently in Theatres
| # | Title | Release Date | Weekend | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Mandalorian & Grogu | May 22 | $81.0M | $100.0M |
| 2 | Obsession | May 15 | $23.9M | $60.7M |
| 3 | Michael | Apr 24 | $20.7M | $321.1M |
| 4 | The Devil Wears Prada 2 | May 1 | $12.7M | $200.3M |
| 5 | The Sheep Detectives | May 8 | $9.0M | $47.3M |
| 6 | Passenger | May 22 | $8.7M | $10.5M |
| 7 | Mortal Kombat II | May 8 | $6.1M | $74.3M |
| 8 | I Love Boosters | May 22 | $3.7M | $4.6M |
| 9 | The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Mar 29 | $3.2M | $424.5M |
| 10 | Project Hail Mary | Mar 17 | $2.7M | $340.3M |
| 11 | Is God Is | May 15 | $875K | $4.0M |
| 12 | Hokum | May 1 | $351K | $16.5M |
| 13 | Corporate Retreat | May 22 | $290K | $290K |
| 14 | Top Gun (1986 re-release) | Re-rel. | $135K | $186.9M |
| 15 | Tuner | May 22 | $102K | $102K |
| 16 | Hoppers | Mar 6 | $88K | $165.9M |
| 17 | Shrek (2001 re-release) | Re-rel. | $77K | $270.1M |
| 18 | Silent Friend | May 8 | $62K | $218K |
| 19 | Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway | May 15 | $56K | $1.1M |
| 20 | Saccharine | May 22 | $56K | $56K |
Source: Box Office Mojo · Weekend estimates
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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