“The Mandalorian and Grogu” appears to have found a new audience after making the jump from theaters to Disney+.
The “Star Wars” movie, starring Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin alongside Grogu, currently sits at the top of Disney+’s worldwide movie rankings. This development comes just days after it made its streaming debut.
Disney previously acknowledged that the movie failed to meet the company’s expectations during its theatrical run. This new milestone marks a notable turnaround for the film and suggests the film may be connecting better with streaming audiences.
‘The Mandalorian And Grogu’ Rises To No. 1 On Disney+
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” is currently the most popular movie on Disney+ worldwide, according to FlixPatrol’s September 7 rankings. It occupies the top position ahead of other major titles such as “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” “Yellow Mirror,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame.”
This achievement comes just five days after “The Mandalorian and Grogu” arrived on Disney+ on September 2. Disney announced the streaming release in August, as part of a wider push for “The Mandalorian” franchise.
Alongside the film, Disney launched the “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu Official Podcast.” It also released a new LEGO animated special based on all three seasons of “The Mandalorian.”
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” marked the first time Din Djarin and Grogu’s story moved from Disney+ to a feature-length theatrical release. It was directed by Jon Favreau, who also co-wrote it with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor.
Pascal returned as Din Djarin, while Sigourney Weaver joined the franchise as Colonel Ward. Jeremy Allen White and Martin Scorsese also lent their voices to characters in the movie.
The film follows Din and Grogu after the fall of the Empire as they assist the New Republic while Imperial warlords remain scattered across the galaxy.
Disney Previously Admitted The Movie Fell Short At The Box Office
The film’s streaming performance creates a noticeable contrast with its theatrical run earlier this year. It opened in theaters in May, marking “Star Wars'” return to the big screen following a lengthy absence.
According to Box Office Mojo, the film opened with approximately $81.7 million domestically. It ultimately earned about $177.7 million in North America. Since then, its worldwide total reached an estimated $345.4 million.
Those figures notwithstanding, Disney later acknowledged that the movie had not performed as well as it hoped. During Disney’s August earnings call, CEO Josh D’Amaro spoke about franchise movies that failed to meet box-office expectations. He specifically mentioned “The Mandalorian and Grogu” in that discussion.
However, D’Amaro also mentioned that theatrical performance was only one way Disney measured the value of its major franchises. He noted that the movie helped generate retail growth for “Star Wars” and increased interest in Disney’s updated Millennium Falcon attraction. It also produced engagement in gaming.
Disney CFO Hugh Johnston held a similar stance.
The Movie Isn’t The Only ‘Mandalorian’ Release Topping Disney+
There is another solid indication that Disney’s September 2 “Mandalorian” push has captured viewers’ attention. “The Mandalorian and Grogu Official Podcast” currently occupies the No. 1 position on FlixPatrol’s worldwide Disney+ television rankings for September 7.
The two-episode behind-the-scenes series was filmed on the movie’s Adelphi Base Bar set. It features several people involved with the production, including Favreau and Lucasfilm President and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni. Pascal, Weaver, and Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson also feature.
Fans can find the podcast in video form on Disney+ and YouTube. Audio versions were also released across podcast platforms.
Disney’s new LEGO “Star Wars: The Mandalorian” special is also making an appearance on the movie chart, ranking at No. 6.
