Disney CEO Admits 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' Underperformed at Box Office
Disney's CEO conceding the shortfall frames a Star Wars theatrical film as one line of a franchise business measured across toys, parks, and gaming, not by box office alone.
Reporting from 1 source: Cinema Today.
Walt Disney Company CEO Josh D'Amaro acknowledged that Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu underperformed at the box office. The film, the first theatrical Star Wars movie in seven years, took $345 million worldwide against an estimated $165 million production budget. D'Amaro said the film still generated value through retail sales, theme park attendance, and gaming. Disney now looks to Star Wars: Starfighter, set for May 28, 2027.
On an earnings call held August 5, D'Amaro said that even when franchise films like The Mandalorian & Grogu or the live-action Moana do not meet box office revenue expectations, investment in these core properties fuels other businesses. The shareholder letter echoed the point, noting both films were well received by audiences but fell short of expectations.
The film has driven growth in Star Wars retail sales, drawn guests to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and brought engagement in the gaming sector. CFO Hugh Johnston described the industry as a combination of multiple businesses. In Japan, Grogu's popularity carried the domestic box office past 3 billion yen.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Cinema Today 『マンダロリアン・アンド・グローグー』興行不振、ディズニーCEOが認める