The Mandalorian begins five years after which Star Wars film?

The Mandalorian begins five years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The series therefore opens around 9 ABY, or nine years after the Battle of Yavin, in the Star Wars timeline.

Return of the Jedi ends with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine, the fall of the second Death Star, and the celebration of the Rebel victory. The Mandalorian explores the less-settled period that follows, when the Empire has collapsed but Imperial remnants, warlords, bounty hunters, and criminal groups still operate across the galaxy.

The timing is sometimes confused with The Force Awakens, which takes place roughly three decades after Return of the Jedi. The Mandalorian is much earlier and overlaps the broader post-Imperial era later explored by related series such as The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka.