The Mandalorian & Grogu First Reactions Can’t Agree if It’s “One of the Weakest Star Wars Movies” or “Super Fun”

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As a huge Star Wars fan, I was so excited to see it back in theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu! It’s been seven years since we had a big screen adventure. Honestly, things were a little rocky for a while there. Disney initially brought Star Wars back with a bang over ten years ago, but the reaction to The Last Jedi wasn’t great. Then Solo didn’t do well at all, and the Skywalker Saga ended with The Rise of Skywalker which left a lot of fans feeling pretty divided. That’s when Disney really started focusing on streaming shows.

With the return of Star Wars to theaters, one might wonder if much has changed. The answer is probably not really. Streaming had begun to lose its appeal, with inconsistent show quality, and the audience for Star Wars seems unchanged. Early reactions to The Mandalorian and Grogu are mixed – some call it a thrilling movie, others a disappointing TV episode. But that’s typical for Star Wars; it often evokes strong, divided opinions.

Chris Killian from ComicBook enjoyed the movie, calling it a really fun Star Wars experience. While not flawless, he believes fans will find plenty to love, describing it as a longer, bigger-budget episode that’s packed with exciting action sequences. He recommends seeing it in IMAX.

Fandango’s Erik Davis shared his positive reaction on X, saying the movie prioritizes fun and excitement over strict adherence to established lore. He particularly enjoyed Ludwig Göransson’s score, noting its influences from 1980s synth horror and action films. Davis felt the movie captured the joy of ‘Star Wars’ when it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and he recommends approaching it as a lighthearted, adventurous experience.

Simon Thompson praised the movie, calling it a fun and enjoyable crowd-pleaser that revitalizes the Star Wars experience in theaters. He highlighted director Jon Favreau’s reliable skills, noting he delivered a thrilling and captivating adventure – a classic summer blockbuster.

Puck News‘ Scott Mendelson posted, “Criticism and nitpicks aside, #TheMandalorianAndGrogu    is a solid line drive past second base, w/ lots of “Neat… haven’t seen that in a STAR WARS before” charm. And yes, I asked my son to come for demographic research purposes (bribed him w/ Toothsome Chocolate Emporium).” He also added that his 11-year-old son said: “I don’t even like STAR WARS, but that was a really good movie.”

Germain Lussier at io9 had a somewhat negative reaction to the episode, describing it as generally what viewers would expect—a longer, more expansive installment of the show. While it had a couple of strong moments, Lussier felt it prioritized introducing new settings and creatures over character development, leaving him both entertained and frustrated.

Perri Nemiroff from Collider had mixed feelings. She found Grogu (and the Anzellan droidsmiths) utterly adorable and praised him as a remarkable achievement in filmmaking. However, she wasn’t as impressed with Rotta the Hutt. She felt that live-action Hutts are difficult to create convincingly, and a gladiator Hutt even more so. Rotta’s dialogue sometimes felt too obvious, though he did become more endearing over time. She believes there could have been a more effective way to show his importance and purpose.

Okay, let me tell you, I really didn’t connect with The Mandalorian & Grogu. Jonathan Sim nailed it when he called it one of the weakest Star Wars entries. It felt surprisingly flat – predictable, and honestly, Din Djarin didn’t really go anywhere. The action sequences? Forgettable. It was all just CGI monsters and felt like a stretched-out TV episode masquerading as a movie. No spark, no excitement, just…colorless.

The Mandalorian & Grogu’s Reactions Shouldn’t Come As A Surprise

As a big fan, I’ve been following the reactions to The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it’s clear why people have such different opinions. It honestly feels less like a full-blown movie and more like a really long, extra-special episode of the show, which makes sense considering they originally planned a fourth season of The Mandalorian! Disney’s had trouble making the jump from streaming shows to big theatrical releases – we saw that with The Marvels and the Captain America series – so I figured this movie would be a bit of a tough transition, and it seems like I was right.

This naturally creates certain expectations for a Star Wars film. Do fans expect a huge, epic story? A major revelation that changes everything we know about the Star Wars universe? Or would a simpler, exciting, and family-friendly adventure be enough? Opinions definitely differ, but if you approach it as a fun experience rather than something groundbreaking, you’ll likely enjoy it more. Despite the varied reactions, the word people keep using to describe it is simply “fun.”

I’ve been following the Star Wars universe closely, and I think it’s important to remember that the road leading to this new movie hasn’t been entirely smooth. Season 3 of The Mandalorian didn’t resonate with everyone as much as the first two seasons did, and it followed The Book of Boba Fett, which also had a mixed reception. Then Ahsoka didn’t quite land with fans either. So, expectations weren’t sky-high, and honestly, some disagreement isn’t shocking – it is Star Wars, after all! But what’s really giving me hope is that the reaction isn’t nearly as negative as it was with The Rise of Skywalker. The general feeling seems much more positive, and that’s a really good sign.

Many didn’t expect The Mandalorian and Grogu to become such a major success for Star Wars, with next year’s Starfighter, featuring Ryan Gosling, initially seen as the film more likely to revitalize the franchise. However, if the show continues to be enjoyable, brings back the fun, and features plenty of adorable moments with Grogu, that’s a perfectly good outcome for now.

The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22nd, 2026.

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2026-05-15 15:13