The big-screen battle for premium theaters just took a sharp turn. Amazon MGM Studios’ Masters of the Universe is kicking Disney’s The Mandalorian and Grogu out of IMAX theaters earlier than planned.
IMAX confirmed on May 30, 2026 that Masters of the Universe will land on its premium large-format screens starting June 5, 2026. This move cuts short the Star Wars film’s originally scheduled three-week exclusive run.
The official announcement came through IMAX‘s social media. “The chase for Power begins. Tickets are on sale now for Masters of the Universe, in IMAX June 5,” the post read.
Star Wars Film Suffered a Massive Box Office Drop
The decision to swap films didn‘t come out of nowhere. The Mandalorian and Grogu opened on May 22, 2026, earning over $81 million during the Memorial Day weekend. But its second weekend numbers told a different story.
The Star Wars movie dropped roughly 70% , pulling in just $25 million domestically. That marks the worst second-weekend drop in Star Wars history.
The film slipped to third place, losing to two lower-budget horror movies. Backrooms from A24 and Obsession from Focus Features both outperformed the Star Wars title during its second weekend.
Both competing films came from YouTube creators and cost only a fraction of what Disney spent on The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Disney Faces Major Financial Pressure
The numbers paint a tough picture for Disney. Industry sources say the studio needs between $500 million and $600 million globally for the Star Wars film to break even.
After two weekends, the movie’s global total sits at roughly $246 million. That puts the break-even target far out of reach at this point.
The Mandalorian and Grogu carried a production budget heavily estimated at $165 million. Some analysts now question if it can cross $300 million worldwide.
If the film stalls below that level, Disney could face a net loss exceeding $100 million.
He-Man Gets a Last-Minute IMAX Upgrade
Masters of the Universe wasn‘t originally scheduled for IMAX screens. The late addition came together on May 29 when Amazon MGM Studios secured the premium format.
Director Travis Knight (known for Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee) leads this new live-action reboot. The film stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, with Jared Leto playing the villain Skeletor.
The cast also includes Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, Kristen Wiig, and Alison Brie. The movie carries a production budget between $170 million and $200 million.
Masters of the Universe runs 2 hours and 20 minutes and carries a PG-13 rating.
Special Early Screenings Before Wide Release
Fans can catch Masters of the Universe before its official June 5 wide release. Select theaters across the United States will hold a special sneak peek on Wednesday night, June 3.
AMC Wednesday night screenings will play on Dolby screens where available. The movie will then hit regular theaters, Dolby, and now IMAX on Friday, June 5.
For global audiences, the film releases on June 4, 2026 in markets like Hong Kong. UK, Canada, Australia, and India follow the June 5 release date alongside the US.
IMAX Released an Exclusive Poster for the New Movie
Alongside the announcement, IMAX shared a new poster for Masters of the Universe. The artwork shows Nicholas Galitzine‘s He-Man riding a Sky Sled, with Skeletor‘s Roton vehicles chasing close behind.
The poster drop came as IMAX officially confirmed it would hand over its large-format screens worldwide to the He-Man reboot starting June 5.
Star Wars Film Faces More Competition Worldwide
The IMAX switch isn‘t the only problem for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Several international markets are replacing the Star Wars film with the Michael Jackson biopic Michael, which has been returning to premium screens due to popular demand.
This unusual reversal of standard theater practice adds another layer of trouble for Disney‘s franchise comeback attempt. The film was built as a theatrical extension of the successful Disney+ series, but the box office numbers now point in a different direction.
Industry analysts note that the Star Wars brand has been weakened by years of Disney+ series with uneven quality. What was meant to be a triumphant return to theaters is instead becoming a test case for how quickly audiences can cool on a franchise launch.
Also Read:
What This Means for Movie Fans
For anyone wanting to see The Mandalorian and Grogu on IMAX screens across the US, now is the time to go. IMAX locations are still playing the Star Wars film for now, but those screenings will end once Masters of the Universe takes over on June 5.
He-Man fans can grab tickets now for the IMAX experience starting next week. The movie follows Prince Adam returning to Eternia after being separated for 15 years, discovering his home shattered under Skeletor‘s rule.
Check out more entertainment news and box office updates on VvipTimes.
