![\"Naomi](\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/themes\/pmc-deadline-2019\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n\tUPDATED, AFTER EXCLUSIVE: Lucasfilm\u2019s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu came in at $12M on the nose in Thursday previews.<\/p>\n
\n\tIn addition to 2018\u2019s Solo: A Star Wars Story, the pic is comping to such 4-day openers and their previews as Marvel Studios\u2019 Captain America: Brave New World ($12M previews, $100M opening last year) and 2023\u2019s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ($17.5M previews, $120.4M 4-day).<\/p>\n
\n\tAndr\u00e9 \u00d8vredal\u2019s Paramount horror pic Passenger starring Melissa Leo grossed $1.1M\u00a0from Thursday paid previews across roughly 2,125 locations.\u00a0The pic is expected to do $9M-$10M over 4 days. Critics are low on it at 46%, and audiences aren\u2019t wowed at 50%. The R-rated movie\u2019s blurb: A young couple witness a horrific accident that leaves the driver dead. They soon encounter a demonic stalker who\u2019s impossible to outrun and follows them wherever they go.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tNaomi Ackie, Keke Palmer and Poppy Liu, Taylour Paige in \u2018I Love Boosters\u2019 (2026)<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNeon<\/p>\n
\n\tNEON\u2019s Boots Riley movie, I Love Boosters, did $430K in total previews, $360K of that number from yesterday at 1,310 theaters. The pic is expected to do in the high single digits over 4-days. No RT audience score, but critics love the Keke Palmer, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, Naomi Ackie satirical comedy at 92% fresh. <\/p>\n
\n\tRELATED: The 60 Movies That Have Made More Than $1 Billion At The Global Box Office<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tThe week\u2019s top 5:<\/p>\n \n\t1) Michael (LG) 3,560 theaters, Wk $37.5M (-29%), Total $294.1M\/Wk 4<\/p>\n \n\t2) Obsession<\/a> (Focus) 2,615 theaters, Wk $30.3M\/Wk 1 \n\t3) The Devil Wears Prada 2 (20th) 3,830 theaters, Wk $25.6M (-54%), Total $183.5M\/Wk 3<\/p>\n \n\t4) Mortal Kombat II (NL) 3,534 theaters, Wk $17.7M (-64%), Total $66.6M\/Wk 2<\/p>\n \n\t5) The Sheep Detectives (AMZ) 3,554 theaters, Wk $14.1M (-31%), Total $34.5M\/Wk 2<\/p>\n \n\tRELATED: 45 Of The Most Anticipated Movies Of 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tEXCLUSIVE: Lucasfilm\/Disney\u2019s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is pulling in around $12 million in North American Thursday night previews. It could be slightly lighter when the sun comes up in L.A. Shows began Thursday at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n \n\tThat preview figure is slightly less than the Thursday cash made by 2018\u2019s origin story Solo: A Star Wars Story, which was $14.1M. That turned into an $84.4M three-day and $103M four-day Memorial Day opening, not considered a starry start at all for the George Lucas-born, Disney-owned franchise.<\/p>\n \n\tSince its acquisition of Lucasfilm, Disney has hit it out of the park with 2015\u2019s Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens, which at point charted the highest opening at the domestic box office ever with $247.9M before Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame came along in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In addition, Disney did spectacular with the 2016 Episode 4 prequel Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which opened to $155M stateside. Mandalorian and Grogu in pre-weekend tracking is hoping to clear $80M-$100M over the four days.<\/p>\n \n\tRELATED: \u2018Star Wars: The Mandalorian And Grogu\u2019: What The Critics Are Saying About Lucasfilm Tentpole<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tThe Jon Favreau-directed movie is playing at 4,300 theaters, including 425 Imax, with the full suite of PLF, 4DX, 3D and ScreenX. Presales were at $25M on Tuesday, ahead of Project Hail Mary (which opened to an $80.5M 3-day).<\/p>\n \n\tThe wait-and-see of it all with the PG-13 Mandalorian and Grogu is whether the movie expands to families on Saturday and Sunday. At every step of the way in the marketing campaign, Disney has been targeting them, emphasizing the cute-cute of Grogu, i.e., that saccharine Super Bowl commercial<\/a> where Pedro Pascal\u2019s tough dude and Baby Yoda are in a sleigh, dashing through the snow. At the same time, they\u2019ve tried to speak to the faithful with images of Empire Strikes Back\u2018s snowy AT-AT scenes and wrestler Rotta the Hutt.<\/p>\n \n\tOn the positive side, the Rotten Tomatoes audience score for Mandalorian and Grogu is higher than Solo: A Star Wars Story, 88%-63% (realize Thursday night fans are far more gentle in reactions than non-core Star Wars audiences will be). On the downside, critics are a bit more sour on Mandalorian and Grogu than Solo, 61% fresh to 69%.<\/p>\n
The Curry Barker-directed horror romance was No. 1 for a fourth straight day with $3.3M, ahead of Michael\u2018s $2.4M.<\/p>\n