The first reviews for the highly anticipated blockbuster The Mandalorian and Grogu are in, and Star Wars fans might sadly be disappointed. The film, hitting cinemas on Friday, 22nd May, sees Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin teaming up with the adorable 'Baby Yoda' for their first big-screen adventure. After the huge success of the Disney+ Star Wars spin-off, the first cinematic outing for the franchise since 2019's divisive Rise of Skywalker has been eagerly awaited by millions of fans.
What the Critics Say
Unfortunately, the first reviews published today (Tuesday, 19th May) won't be inspiring much confidence in longtime fans of the iconic space saga. Deadline decried that the new film “makes the magic of A New Hope seem far, far away” in their middling review, suggesting that Star Wars fans might start running out of patience with the almost 50-year-old franchise. “The same fans are tired of being in the limbo between the original films and the prequels,” they added. “Is the younger audience going to stay with the franchise when they’re old enough to choose movies of their own? Next year, the original Star Wars turns 50 — and it’s showing its age.”
Den of Geek was even more scathing, claiming the film “might be the first summer tentpole blockbuster that feels like a small screen rerun”. “The Mandalorian and Grogu isn’t a bad film, per se, it’s just a disappointingly average one set in a universe that once inspired awe,” they surmised. “Despite a clearly bigger budget for the occasional space battle and AT-AT sequence, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu never looks bigger than an episode of a TV show. Or maybe a couple of them.” The review branded the film the “dullest” Star Wars film yet, though admitted the title of the worst of the franchise still goes to 2019's Episode IX.
The Telegraph called the film “hopeless” and maligned its “absurd plot [that] flops from one clumsily staged brawl to another”. Critic Jonathan Sim concluded that The Mandalorian and Grogu is “one of the weakest ‘Star Wars’ movies” in his report. “An emotionless, predictable experience that doesn’t push Din Djarin anywhere interesting. Dull, unexciting fight scenes; just CGI monsters. Action figures mashed together. A long, colorless made-for-TV movie.”
Not All Negative
Not all the write-ups for the film have been quite so scathing, however. Fandango's Erik Davis said on X: “It’s less about the lore and more a fun, freaky romp across the galaxy. I really dug that about it. Also really dug Ludwig Göransson’s score, especially the parts that felt like an homage to ‘80s synth-driven horror and action thrillers… It reminded me how fun ‘Star Wars’ can be when it stops worrying about canon homework and just cuts loose. Treat it like a pulpy Saturday matinee ride and you’ll have a blast.”
Others have called it “a ton of fun”, “the perfect summer movie”, “a grin-inducing crowd-pleaser”, and “a solid, thrilling and engaging romp”. With mostly middling reviews and just a handful of more positive reactions, however, this could be one Star Wars entry that doesn’t sell out the cinemas.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is in UK cinemas from Friday, 22nd May.
