The Mandalorian and Grogu review: Star Wars at its most underwhelming

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Although it’s been almost seven years since a Star Wars movie was in theaters, the franchise hasn’t felt absent. Unlike the long gaps between previous trilogies—16 years between the original and prequel films, and 10 years between the prequel and sequel films—Star Wars fans have had plenty of new content with the many TV shows released since The Rise of Skywalker, which proved to be a controversial film.

The popular TV show The Mandalorian and Grogu has now been released in theaters, marking a new phase for Star Wars films. However, it hasn’t generated the same level of excitement as The Force Awakens did in 2015, and current predictions suggest its opening weekend box office numbers will be similar to those of Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Honestly, I was hoping The Mandalorian and Grogu movie would be a huge deal, but I don’t think it’s going to really make a splash in theaters. It’s probably not terrible, but it just feels…forgettable. And somehow, that’s more disappointing than if it had been actively bad. It might be the least important Star Wars film ever, and that’s a tough pill to swallow.

Very little has been revealed about the story of the new The Mandalorian and Grogu series before it comes out. That might make you expect a huge surprise, something Lucasfilm has been carefully hiding. However, that’s not actually what’s happening.

Following the events of The Mandalorian season three, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) is working with the New Republic to find and capture former Imperial soldiers throughout the galaxy, aided by Grogu. He’s tasked by Ward (Sigourney Weaver, who has a limited role) with locating Commander Coin, a key figure the New Republic is searching for, but whose real identity remains unknown.

Luckily, the Hutt Twins offer information, but only if Din Djarin first saves their nephew, Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White), who also happens to be Jabba the Hutt’s son. The biggest surprise is how muscular Rotta is, and things don’t go quite as planned during the rescue mission.

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Recognizing that Marvel movies haven’t been as strong lately, The Mandalorian and Grogu was made to be a self-contained story that any Star Wars fan can enjoy. You don’t need to have watched other Star Wars content to understand it, and while it includes some familiar characters, knowing their backstory isn’t necessary.

Look, the idea behind this movie isn’t bad, but it really needed to be a genuinely exciting, self-contained story. Honestly, it failed on that front. And it didn’t even work for those of us who love The Mandalorian and were hoping it would add something new to the overall story. It just feels…stuck. Like a random side quest in the middle of a season, because at the end of it all, everything’s pretty much back where it began. It didn’t really go anywhere.

The movie feels like it’s divided into three distinct parts, rather than following a traditional three-act story structure. You can clearly identify where each of these ‘parts’ begins and ends, but these transitions often disrupt the film’s momentum. This makes The Mandalorian and Grogu feel longer than its actual running time of 132 minutes.

Each episode usually wraps up with a large action scene, often involving Din Djarin battling alien creatures. However, aside from a strong opening sequence that initially promises more, these scenes tend to become confusing and chaotic, making it difficult to follow the action.

Interestingly, one of the strongest scenes in the movie doesn’t actually include Din Djarin. It’s a charming adventure where Grogu, with the help of his Anzellan companions, gets to help his caretaker for a change. While any scene with Grogu is enjoyable, this one feels fresh and isn’t simply based on how adorable he is – though it is still very cute!

We can easily predict the reaction to any criticism of The Mandalorian and Grogu. The standard response will be that the show is ‘for the fans,’ and anyone who dislikes it is simply a demanding critic. While we’re not always thrilled with everything we see, it’s significant that even among a screening room full of Star Wars fans, the show’s most dramatic moments didn’t generate much excitement.

A separate Star Wars movie or show isn’t a bad idea – it’s summer, and people are looking for fun. However, The Mandalorian and Grogu simply isn’t very engaging or exciting.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is released in cinemas on 22 May.

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2026-05-19 16:20