New Delhi, May 23 -- After seven years away from the big screen, the The Mandalorian and Grogu has delivered a respectable opening for Disney, marking the franchise's first theatrical release since 2019 while reigniting interest in the studio's sprawling galaxy far, far away.

Directed by Jon Favreau, the film earned $33 million on Friday from 4,300 cinemas across North America, positioning it comfortably at the top of the domestic box office heading into the Memorial Day holiday frame. Industry projections currently estimate the film will earn between $80 million and $100 million across the extended weekend period.

While the opening signals renewed audience enthusiasm for the franchise, the numbers also reflect a more measured response ...