When The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026, marking the first new Star Wars movie in six and a half years, and then Grand Theft Auto VI follows just four days later on May 26, 2026, ending a 12-and-a-half-year wait for a new GTA game, the question arises: which will be the bigger event? And which might feel like more of the same?

On paper, both releases promise to be monumental pop culture events of 2026, akin to the Barbenheimer phenomenon. A new Star Wars movie? A new GTA title? It's like Grand Theft Watto! Yet, while GTA 6 is already generating immense buzz, The Mandalorian and Grogu isn't as guaranteed a hit.

This situation reminds me of a childhood memory: I once told my Noni I'd eat pizza every day if I could. She warned me that I'd eventually get tired of it. And she was right. Daily pizza sounds fantastic at first, but it quickly becomes overwhelming and unhealthy, both for the eater and the pizza sellers. Eventually, you just want a break from it.

That's where Star Wars stands today: it's like pizza every day, endlessly repetitive. In contrast, the anticipation for a new GTA game has been building for years, adding to the franchise's allure. This is a lesson that Lucasfilm and Disney might want to heed.