Blab Entertainment
The Mandalorian and Grogu Loses Ground to Indie Horror Films Obsession and Backrooms in Box-Office Race
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, released in the United States on May 22, 2026, has fallen behind two low‑budget horror titles in the domestic and worldwide box‑office standings. The film, produced by Lucasfilm and Fairview Entertainment and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, opened to roughly $100 million in its first weekend and has since accumulated a domestic total of $167.8 million and a worldwide total of $317.8 million.
The movie was budgeted at $165 million, the lowest for a Disney‑era Star Wars film. It was positioned as the biggest new release over Memorial Day weekend, but its performance has been uneven. According to Deadline, the film suffered a 70.1 % drop in its second weekend and has since slipped out of the top five in the domestic market. Its last weekend gross was $4.8 million, and the number of theaters has fallen from 4,300 at opening to 2,680 a week ago.
In contrast, the indie horror films Obsession and Backrooms have maintained stronger legs. Obsession, directed by Curry Barker and released by Focus Features, has crossed the $300 million mark worldwide. The film’s domestic run has been steady, with a $19 million take last weekend and a total of $167.8 million in the United States. Backrooms, a science‑fiction horror feature from A24, has surpassed The Mandalorian and Grogu domestically, earning $167.88 million in the United States and $279.8 million worldwide as of June 18. Deadline reports that Backrooms has overtaken the Star Wars film in the U.S. box office and is on track to clear it by a wider margin.
Both horror titles were released in the same summer window as The Mandalorian and Grogu. Backrooms opened with a domestic first‑weekend haul of $81.4 million before falling 67.7 % in its second weekend, yet it has continued to outpace the Star Wars film for the duration of its run. Obsession’s trajectory has been even more robust; the film has not fallen below fourth place on the daily domestic charts since its opening, a pattern uncommon for horror releases.
The contrast in performance highlights a broader trend in Hollywood. Low‑budget horror films are increasingly outpacing major studio tentpoles, a shift that has prompted industry analysts to reassess risk models for high‑budget productions. The Mandalorian and Grogu’s decline suggests that Disney may need to adjust its strategy for the Star Wars franchise, especially with Star Wars: Starfighter slated for release in May 2027.
The Mandalorian and Grogu remains the seventh‑highest‑grossing film of 2026, but it is also the lowest‑grossing live‑action Star Wars film to date. Its mixed critical reception—praised for its score but criticized for plot and action—may have contributed to its modest box‑office trajectory. The film’s performance will be closely watched as Disney evaluates the commercial viability of future Star Wars projects.
Looking ahead, the Star Wars franchise will continue to release new content. Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled for May 2027, and several other projects are in development. Meanwhile, the indie horror market is expected to maintain momentum, with Backrooms and Obsession setting new benchmarks for low‑budget films.
In sum, The Mandalorian and Grogu’s domestic and worldwide totals now trail those of Obsession and Backrooms. The Star Wars film’s steep second‑weekend decline and shrinking theater presence contrast sharply with the steady performance of the two horror titles. The outcome of this box‑office race will influence Disney’s future Star Wars strategy and the broader industry’s approach to high‑budget versus low‑budget productions.
The movie was budgeted at $165 million, the lowest for a Disney‑era Star Wars film. It was positioned as the biggest new release over Memorial Day weekend, but its performance has been uneven. According to Deadline, the film suffered a 70.1 % drop in its second weekend and has since slipped out of the top five in the domestic market. Its last weekend gross was $4.8 million, and the number of theaters has fallen from 4,300 at opening to 2,680 a week ago.
In contrast, the indie horror films Obsession and Backrooms have maintained stronger legs. Obsession, directed by Curry Barker and released by Focus Features, has crossed the $300 million mark worldwide. The film’s domestic run has been steady, with a $19 million take last weekend and a total of $167.8 million in the United States. Backrooms, a science‑fiction horror feature from A24, has surpassed The Mandalorian and Grogu domestically, earning $167.88 million in the United States and $279.8 million worldwide as of June 18. Deadline reports that Backrooms has overtaken the Star Wars film in the U.S. box office and is on track to clear it by a wider margin.
Both horror titles were released in the same summer window as The Mandalorian and Grogu. Backrooms opened with a domestic first‑weekend haul of $81.4 million before falling 67.7 % in its second weekend, yet it has continued to outpace the Star Wars film for the duration of its run. Obsession’s trajectory has been even more robust; the film has not fallen below fourth place on the daily domestic charts since its opening, a pattern uncommon for horror releases.
The contrast in performance highlights a broader trend in Hollywood. Low‑budget horror films are increasingly outpacing major studio tentpoles, a shift that has prompted industry analysts to reassess risk models for high‑budget productions. The Mandalorian and Grogu’s decline suggests that Disney may need to adjust its strategy for the Star Wars franchise, especially with Star Wars: Starfighter slated for release in May 2027.
The Mandalorian and Grogu remains the seventh‑highest‑grossing film of 2026, but it is also the lowest‑grossing live‑action Star Wars film to date. Its mixed critical reception—praised for its score but criticized for plot and action—may have contributed to its modest box‑office trajectory. The film’s performance will be closely watched as Disney evaluates the commercial viability of future Star Wars projects.
Looking ahead, the Star Wars franchise will continue to release new content. Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled for May 2027, and several other projects are in development. Meanwhile, the indie horror market is expected to maintain momentum, with Backrooms and Obsession setting new benchmarks for low‑budget films.
In sum, The Mandalorian and Grogu’s domestic and worldwide totals now trail those of Obsession and Backrooms. The Star Wars film’s steep second‑weekend decline and shrinking theater presence contrast sharply with the steady performance of the two horror titles. The outcome of this box‑office race will influence Disney’s future Star Wars strategy and the broader industry’s approach to high‑budget versus low‑budget productions.
