A new weekend means a new batch of movies fighting for attention, and this one has a little bit of everything.
There is a major franchise return, a horror movie hoping to grab the scary-movie crowd, and a strange new comedy from one of the more original filmmakers working today. It may not be the most crowded release weekend of the year, but it is definitely not boring.
The big headline is obvious: The Mandalorian and Grogu brings Star Wars back to theaters. But that is not the only movie arriving this weekend. Passenger is bringing horror to the multiplex, while Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters looks like the weekend’s most unusual wild card.
According to Cinema United’s release calendar, all three movies are scheduled for theatrical release on May 22, 2026.
So what is actually worth watching this weekend? Let’s break it down.
The Big One: The Mandalorian and Grogu
If there is one movie most people will be talking about this weekend, it is The Mandalorian and Grogu.
The film arrives in theaters on May 22 and marks a major return for Star Wars on the big screen. The franchise has spent the last several years mostly living on Disney+, so bringing Din Djarin and Grogu to theaters feels like both a test and a statement. This is not just another streaming chapter. It is a chance to see whether one of the most popular modern corners of Star Wars can carry a theatrical movie.
That move makes sense. The Mandalorian became one of the strongest recent Star Wars success stories because it gave fans something simple and effective: a mysterious bounty hunter, a lovable Force-sensitive child, western-inspired storytelling, and adventures that felt connected to the larger universe without always being buried under it.
That is also the challenge for the movie.
Can The Mandalorian and Grogu feel big enough for theaters while still keeping the simple charm that made the series work? If it becomes too stuffed with lore, cameos, and franchise setup, it could lose what people liked about the show in the first place. But if it keeps the focus on Din and Grogu while giving them a larger cinematic playground, this could be exactly what Star Wars needs right now.
Rotten Tomatoes’ preview notes that the movie opens on May 22 and ends a seven-year gap between theatrical Star Wars releases.
Weekend forecast: This is the clear attention-grabber of the weekend. Even casual fans who have drifted away from Star Wars may be curious enough to see how Mando and Grogu work on the big screen.
Best for: Star Wars fans, families, Disney+ viewers, and anyone looking for a franchise movie with adventure, nostalgia, and a familiar duo at the center.
The Horror Option: Passenger
For anyone not interested in heading back to a galaxy far, far away, Passenger is the weekend’s main horror alternative.
The movie comes from director André Øvredal and follows a young couple who witness a horrific accident before encountering a demonic stalker that follows them wherever they go. Rotten Tomatoes lists the film as an R-rated horror, mystery, and thriller release from Paramount Pictures.
That premise is simple, but simple can work very well in horror. A couple sees something they should not have seen, something follows them, and suddenly the road-trip setup becomes a nightmare. There is nothing wrong with a horror movie that knows how to get in, set the hook, and keep the pressure on.
The question is whether Passenger has enough personality to stand out. Horror fans have been spoiled in recent years with original concepts, franchise revivals, and smaller movies that overperform because they offer something specific. A demonic stalker story can absolutely work, but it needs atmosphere, tension, and a reason to feel different from every other “you can’t escape it” horror movie.
Still, this could be a solid counter-programming play. Not everyone wants a huge franchise movie, and horror often does well when it gives audiences a clear, easy-to-understand hook.
Weekend forecast: It probably will not compete with The Mandalorian and Grogu for overall attention, but it could find an audience with horror fans looking for something darker.
Best for: Horror fans, date-night scares, and anyone who wants a lean thriller instead of a massive franchise event.
The Wild Card: I Love Boosters
Then there is I Love Boosters, which may be the most interesting release of the weekend.
Directed by Boots Riley, the film follows a group of shoplifters who resell high-end clothing and eventually take on a ruthless fashion mogul. Reuters describes the movie as a science-fiction crime comedy set in a whimsical version of the San Francisco Bay Area, with a cast that includes Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, and Demi Moore.
That already sounds like the kind of movie that will not be for everyone, which may actually be part of the appeal.
Riley’s Sorry to Bother You was strange, political, funny, messy, bold, and impossible to confuse with anything else. If I Love Boosters has even some of that same energy, it could be the weekend’s best choice for viewers who want something different from the usual blockbuster formula.
The premise also feels timely. A movie about fashion, theft, exploitation, consumerism, and people trying to fight back against a system that keeps squeezing them has plenty to work with. This is not the safe pick of the weekend, but it may be the one with the sharpest point of view.
Will it be too weird for some audiences? Probably. But that might also be why it is worth paying attention to.
Weekend forecast: This feels like the movie most likely to generate strong reactions. It may not be the biggest release, but it could be the one people are still debating after the credits roll.
Best for: Fans of Sorry to Bother You, Keke Palmer, LaKeith Stanfield, offbeat comedies, and movies with something sharper on their mind.
Smaller Releases to Keep an Eye On
Beyond the three bigger names, there are also some smaller releases landing this weekend.
Movie Insider’s release listing notes that other movies are arriving on the same date, including Corporate Retreat. Smaller titles like that may not be the first thing casual audiences rush out to see, but they can still be worth watching if word of mouth starts to build.
This is especially true for horror, thrillers, and offbeat comedies. They do not always need to dominate opening weekend to find their audience. Sometimes they just need the right viewers to discover them and start talking.
Final Take
This weekend really comes down to what kind of movie mood you are in.
If you want the big event, The Mandalorian and Grogu is the obvious choice. It is the weekend’s biggest release and a major test for the future of Star Wars in theaters.
If you want horror, Passenger gives you a darker alternative with a clean, creepy premise.
If you want something stranger and more original, I Love Boosters is the movie to watch. It may not be the safest pick, but it might be the most interesting.
Most likely to dominate the weekend: The Mandalorian and Grogu
Best counter-programming: Passenger
Most interesting wild card: I Love Boosters
Biggest question: Can Star Wars make the jump back to theaters feel special again?
What are you interested in watching?
If you are staying home instead of heading to the theater, I also broke down the latest streaming landscape in The State of Streaming: March 2026 Update.