Star Wars: The Mandalorian Expected to Dominate Memorial Day Weekend Box Office
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 22 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Optimistic Box Office Projections: Early estimates suggest that Star Wars: The Mandalorian will debut with $80M to $90M over the four-day Memorial Day weekend, with some forecasts even predicting a low nine-figure opening, indicating strong market demand and audience anticipation.
- Global Market Performance: The film is projected to achieve a global box office of around $160M, with approximately half of that total expected from international markets, which highlights its international appeal and extensive distribution strategy.
- Signs of Industry Recovery: The U.S. box office saw a 23% increase in Q1 and an 11.1% rise halfway through Q2, reflecting a recovery trend in the film industry, particularly with the return of the Star Wars franchise.
- Strong Competitive Lineup: In addition to The Mandalorian, June will see the release of Scary Movie 6 and Toy Story 5, along with Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day, which will further drive box office growth and attract audiences.
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Analyst Views on AMC
Wall Street analysts forecast AMC stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 1.580
Low
1.30
Averages
2.02
High
3.00
Current: 1.580
Low
1.30
Averages
2.02
High
3.00
About AMC
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. is a movie exhibition company. The Company is principally involved in the theatrical exhibition business and owns, operates or has interests in theatres primarily located in the United States and Europe. The Company operates through two segments: U.S. markets and International markets. In the U.S. markets segment, it owns, leases or operates theatres in 41 states and the District of Columbia. The International markets segment has operations in or partial interest in theatres in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. Its brands include AMC, AMC CLASSIC and others. It also offers food and beverage alternatives beyond traditional concession items, including collectible concession vessels, made-to-order meals, customized coffee, healthy snacks, beer, wine, premium cocktails, and dine-in theatre options. It operates approximately 870 theatres and 9,700 screens across the globe.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Expanding Market Share: Gen Z accounted for nearly 40% of moviegoers in North America, with AMC's marketing VP Carrie Trotter noting that not only is their number increasing, but their viewing frequency is also rising year over year, potentially making them the most crucial audience in the future.
- Popularity of Loyalty Programs: Participation in movie loyalty programs among Gen Z has tripled since the pandemic, with AMC's A-List attracting a significant number of young viewers, indicating their willingness to spend more for social activities and movie experiences.
- Social Experience Priority: Gen Z prioritizes social experiences when choosing films, with Trotter stating that they prefer to enjoy movies with friends and family, suggesting that this social aspect drives box office growth beyond mere film content.
See More
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- Increased Ownership Percentage: This transaction raised Aron's direct ownership by 11.43%, reflecting his optimistic outlook on AMC's future, particularly as the company reported first-quarter sales of $1 billion, up from $862.5 million the previous year.
- Financial Recovery Indicators: AMC's first-quarter adjusted EBITDA reached $38.3 million, a significant improvement from a negative $57.7 million in 2025, marking the best performance since the pandemic, suggesting a revival in business and increased audience engagement.
- Market Timing Analysis: Although AMC's stock price has significantly declined from its 52-week high of $3.60 in 2025, Aron's purchase signals that he views this as a good investment opportunity, prompting investors to monitor the company's performance over the next few quarters to assess its growth potential.
See More
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- Positive Market Reaction: Aron's share purchase coincided with the release of AMC's Q1 earnings, suggesting his optimistic outlook, especially with record attendance during the holiday weekend, which further bolstered market confidence in AMC.
- Cautious Investment Advice: Although AMC's stock is down significantly from its 52-week high of $3.60 in 2025, Aron's purchase is seen as a buying opportunity; however, analysts advise potential investors to monitor the company's performance over the next few quarters to ensure the sustainability of its recovery.
See More
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- Broadcom's Strong Performance: Broadcom's stock has risen 22% this year, with a forecasted cash flow return on investment (CFROI) exceeding 80% by 2027, indicating its leadership in ASIC chips and the importance of AI workloads, suggesting robust future performance.
- Accenture Facing Challenges: Although Accenture's CFROI is projected to reach 43.7%, its stock has fallen 34% this year, reflecting market concerns over margin pressure and disintermediation risks from emerging AI models, leading to subdued investor sentiment.
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See More
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- Leidos Stock Outlook: Although Leidos' stock is underperforming, Cramer believes its contributions to security are noteworthy, recommending investors consider buying during this downturn for potential future gains.
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See More
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- Strong Box Office Performance: Earlier in May, The Devil Wears Prada 2 helped draw over 4.4 million guests globally, further validating AMC's recovery and reflecting sustained audience interest and repeat visits driven by new releases.
- Box Office Growth Trend: The U.S. box office saw a 23% increase in Q1 and an 11.1% rise halfway through Q2, showcasing a recovery momentum in the film market, particularly fueled by major studio titles and premium large-format offerings.
- Future Film Outlook: Analyst Eric World noted that the remaining film slate for Q2 is relatively attractive, with anticipated releases like Scary Movie 6 and Toy Story 5 expected to further drive audience engagement and enhance AMC's market performance.
See More
