Memorial Day Weekend Box Office: Star Wars Takes Off with $163M, Michael Nears $800M, and China's $2M Indie Rakes In $151M

Memorial Day Weekend Box Office: Star Wars Dominates, But the Real Story Is Bigger Than One Movie

If you thought the summer 2026 box office was already cooking, the Memorial Day weekend just cranked the heat up to eleven. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu blasted off with a massive $163 million worldwide opening over the four-day holiday frame, proving that the galaxy far, far away is still a cultural force. But dig a little deeper, and the full top 10 tells an even wilder story — one that includes a Michael Jackson biopic closing in on $800 million, a $1 million horror movie making over $80 million, and a $2 million Chinese indie out-earning half of Hollywood.

Here's your complete breakdown of what dominated the Memorial Day 2026 box office, why each movie matters, and what it means for the rest of summer.

1. The Mandalorian and Grogu — $163M Worldwide (Week 1)

Jon Favreau's big-screen expansion of the Disney+ hit did exactly what Disney needed it to do. The film, starring Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin alongside Sigourney Weaver in a new role, opened to $100 million domestically and $63 million across 52 international markets. It topped the box office everywhere from the UK ($7.1M) to Japan ($4.9M) to Mexico ($3.9M).

Notably, the film opened 45% ahead of Project Hail Mary and 36% ahead of Solo: A Star Wars Story in Latin America — suggesting the Star Wars brand has significant untapped growth in those markets. The four-day total landed slightly below Sunday's initial $102M estimate, but that's still one of the biggest holiday openings in recent memory.

2. Michael — $55.1M Weekend, $789.2M Worldwide (Week 5)

Antoine Fuqua's Michael Jackson biopic starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop and Miles Teller continues its unstoppable run. At $789.2 million worldwide after just five weeks, the film is now Universal's second-biggest film of all time in Brazil, surpassing all three Fast & Furious sequels. The UK alone has contributed $60M over five weekends.

With Japan still to come in June, Michael has a genuine shot at crossing Bohemian Rhapsody's $911 million global benchmark. If it gets there, it'll be one of the biggest music biopics ever made.

3. Dear You — $39.5M Weekend, $151.5M Worldwide (Week 4)

Here's where things get really interesting. Dear You, directed by Hongchun Yan, was made for a reported $2 million — and has already earned over $151 million. This heartwarming Chinese drama about family connections and the Chaoshan culture has become a cultural phenomenon, even spurring tourism in its setting region. With an unknown cast and a tiny budget, it's outperforming most mid-budget Hollywood releases this year.

The Rest of the Top 5

• The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Disney) — $37.7M weekend, $608M worldwide cume in week 4. The Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Emily Blunt reunion is still going strong and is now the top non-local release of 2026 in Italy and Brazil.
• Obsession (Focus Features/Blumhouse) — $39.2M weekend, $81.9M worldwide cume in week 2. The $1 million horror romance starring Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston has now earned over 75 times its production cost.

What This Means for Summer 2026

The Memorial Day 2026 box office signals a few things. First, franchise power is still real — Star Wars, MJ, and Devil Wears Prada prove that established brands drive massive openings. Second, international markets (especially China, Latin America, and Southeast Asia) are becoming increasingly decisive for a film's financial success. And third, the gap between micro-budget hits like Obsession and Dear You versus bloated tentpoles is getting harder to ignore.

As for what's next? Keep your eyes on how Michael performs in Japan, whether Obsession can sustain its word-of-mouth momentum, and if any newcomer can challenge The Mandalorian and Grogu for the top spot in June. Summer is just getting started.