Disney's Summer Blockbuster Season Falls Short

The Walt Disney Company's summer blockbuster season did not go as planned. Despite releasing several high-profile films, including The Mandalorian and Grogu and Moana, the studio experienced disappointing box office returns.

The Mandalorian and Grogu opened in theaters on May 22 and grossed $98 million over the Memorial Day weekend, making it the worst opening for a live-action Star Wars film. The film ultimately grossed $345.1 million at the worldwide box office, the lowest figure for a Star Wars film.

Moana, another major release from Disney, performed even worse at the box office, grossing only $117.1 million domestically and $263.8 million globally against a $250-million budget. The combined worldwide box office totals of both films are less than that of 20th Century Studios' The Devil Wears Prada 2.

However, Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro highlighted the benefits of these underperforming films in other areas of the company's business. He noted that The Mandalorian and Grogu drove renewed interest among guests visiting Disneyland and Walt Disney World to see the Millennium Falcon - Smuggler's Run experience, while Moana is expected to be a strong title on Disney+, building on the success of the original animated film.