GTA 6 vs. Star Wars: The Ultimate Media Showdown Winner

Which pop culture event will make a bigger splash in 2026: the long-awaited return of Star Wars to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22, or the monumental release of Grand Theft Auto VI just four days later on May 26? On one hand, you have the first new Star Wars film in over six years; on the other, the first new GTA installment in more than a decade. Which one will truly feel like a groundbreaking event, and which might end up feeling like more of the same?

By all accounts, these dual releases are poised to be the Barbenheimer of 2026—two massive entertainment landmarks arriving almost simultaneously. A brand-new Star Wars movie! A new Grand Theft Auto!! It’s the kind of pairing that sparks imaginations and meme-worthy excitement. And while there’s no doubt GTA 6 will be enormous—it already is—the appeal of another Star Wars story feels far less certain.

It takes me back to being a kid and telling my grandmother, "Noni," that I could eat pizza every single day. And I meant it! She wisely replied that I’d eventually grow tired of it. At the time, the idea of endless pizza sounded like a dream. But here's the thing: Noni was absolutely right. Eating pizza daily gets old fast—it’s not great for you, and in the long run, it’s not even good for the pizza place, because eventually, you won’t want to see another slice for a very long time.

That’s exactly where Star Wars finds itself today: serving the same slice, over and over. Meanwhile, the anticipation for a new Grand Theft Auto has been building for years. In many ways, that sustained excitement is part of what makes the franchise so special. It’s a lesson Lucasfilm and Disney would be smart to learn from.