The Week of May 19 Belongs to One Movie — And You Already Know Which One

3 hours ago by Alex Reed 3 min read

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Star Wars is back in theaters for the first time since 2019, and The Mandalorian and Grogu is about to dominate every screen in sight. But there's more hitting this week than just a galaxy far, far away.

Let's not pretend there's any suspense here. The week of May 19, 2026 has one movie that matters more than everything else combined — and it's got a tiny green guy on the poster.

The Mandalorian and Grogu — May 22

Anticipation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is the reason you're reading this. Star Wars hasn't been in a movie theater since The Rise of Skywalker dropped in December 2019. That's nearly seven years. Let that sink in.

Jon Favreau is directing, Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin, and the casting additions are stacked: Jeremy Allen White plays Rotta the Hutt (yes, Jabba's son), and Sigourney Weaver shows up in a role Disney is still keeping under wraps. Instead of a fourth season of The Mandalorian, Lucasfilm went straight to the big screen — and honestly? Smart move. This story earned it.

Whether you're a ride-or-die Star Wars fan or someone who just wants to see Grogu do something adorable on an IMAX screen, this is your week. Every other release is fighting for scraps.

Also Opening May 22

I Love Boosters — A comedy about organized retail theft that's either going to be surprisingly sharp or completely forgettable. No in-between.

Tuner — A music-driven drama that's been flying under the radar. If you're looking for something intimate after the Star Wars spectacle, keep this one on your list.

Corporate Retreat — The title tells you everything. Office comedy meets survival thriller. Could be fun if the script lands.

Still in Theaters

Mortal Kombat II is heading into its third weekend after opening May 8, and it's been holding well. Karl Urban as Kano is exactly as unhinged as you'd hope. If you haven't caught it yet, this might be your last good window before Mandalorian swallows every available screen.

Streaming Spotlight

Spider-Noir lands on MGM+ on May 25 (Prime Video on May 27). Nicolas Cage voiced this version of Spider-Man in Into the Spider-Verse and now the character gets a full live-action series. It's darker, it's 1930s New York, and it's exactly the kind of weird swing that either becomes a cult hit or disappears into the algorithm.

The Verdict

This is a one-movie week and everyone knows it. The Mandalorian and Grogu is going to open massive — we're talking $150M+ opening weekend territory. Star Wars returning to theaters is an event, full stop.

But don't sleep on the margins. Mortal Kombat II is still worth catching, and Spider-Noir on streaming could be the dark horse of the month.

See you at the movies. This is the way.