Early reviews for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” are split, but a clear strain runs through the criticism: many reviewers say the film feels like a longer TV episode rather than a fresh entry for the franchise—leaving fans stuck between eras again. The movie, dir
The Mandalorian and Grogu opens with the kind of promise Star Wars fans recognize instantly: Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice, Grogu, are pulled into a mission that sounds like it should matter.
The New Republic enlists them to rescue Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White) in exchange for information on a target. Sigourney Weaver also stars. The film, directed by Jon Favreau, is released globally May 22, produced by Lucasfilm, and written by Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Noah Kloor.
But as the first wave of reviews arrived, many critics didn’t land on the same feeling—at least not in the way the audience might hope.
On Rotten Tomatoes, The Mandalorian and Grogu sits at 62% based on 50 reviews. The pattern shows up repeatedly in the language used by reviewers: even when the movie is enjoyable, it doesn’t quite break out of what came before.
Deadline’s Damon Wise described it as “pretty entertaining when it’s at its simplest. ” yet he also echoed the broader frustration now circulating around the franchise—lost momentum. and a longing to “get back to base.” He wrote: “At the end of the day. TM&G is what it is. and the fanbase will show up for it. much like they did last time. But for how much longer?. The same fans are tired of being in
the limbo between the original films and the prequels. and they want to see more of the minor characters than the usual suspects (when you break it down. TM&G is basically The Wonder Years version of Bobba Fett. Jabba the Hutt and Yoda). But 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.”.
IGN put the criticism more bluntly: “This is not the way…It feels inevitable that, in the years to come, the popular criticism of The Mandalorian and Grogu will be that it just feels like either a truncated season of the TV show or a too-long episode.”
Den Of Geek landed on a similar note. calling the movie “disappointingly average” and saying it’s set in a universe that once inspired awe. Their line stings because it reframes what’s supposed to be an event: “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu might be the first summer tentpole blockbuster that feels like a small screen rerun.”.
Gizmodo was even clearer about what it thinks the film tried to do—and where it fell short. It described the goal as making “a Star Wars movie someone could watch cold. ” without needing to see the TV show first. The outlet praised the thought. traced it to George Lucas dropping fans into Episode IV of a larger story. then pointed to what it says Favreau didn’t follow through on: “What Favreau neglected to do. though. is what Lucas later did with the prequel trilogy. He neglected to make a Star Wars movie for people who had watched the show. For people who have followed the franchise.”.
The Verge argued that the premise itself was already compromised: “The Mandalorian and Grogu should have been a season of TV….The new Star Wars movie isn’t strong enough to get the franchise back on track.”
Even reviews that were at least partially positive often carried the same theme of consequence—and scale. Empire gave the film 3/5 stars. saying: “Oddly. it feels like the least consequential Mandalorian chapter yet. with previous episodes from the TV incarnation — or even segments of the much-maligned Book Of Boba Fett — having more impact on the narrative.” Empire added: “It’s thinner than skimmed blue milk…”.
The Guardian also gave 3/5 stars, calling it a “decent outing,” with a simpler summary: “The badass bounty hunter and his little green friend take on the Empire and Jabba the Hutt’s family in this solid enough addition to the ever-expanding universe.”
Indie, meanwhile, described it as TV-shaped even in movie form: “This supersized episode Is Star Wars at Its most generic: inessential and inoffensive, frequently adorable and fun for the whole family, Jon Favreau’s film feels like three good-enough TV episodes smushed together.”
Not all reactions were mild. The Telegraph called it a flop, adding: “Even cute Baby Yoda can’t save Pedro Pascal’s hopeless Star Wars spin-off…The Mandalorian and Grogu’s absurd plot flops from one clumsily staged brawl to another – at least the puppetry and stop-motion are alright.”
The Independent went further, writing: “Stick a fork in Star Wars. It’s done…With just five minutes of Pedro Pascal and a completely dispirited voice performance from Jeremy Allen White as Jabba the Hutt’s son, this is the dullest and most inconsequential Star Wars ever made.”
Yet there was still room for fans who wanted to believe. Polygon said the movie “probably shouldn’t exist,” but the reviewer added: “The Mandalorian and Grogu isn’t a Star Wars movie but it’s still a damn good time.”
Taken together, the reviews paint the same uncomfortable picture: for a film that arrives as a global theatrical release, many critics say it behaves like an extended detour from the TV series—charming at moments, but struggling to feel like a decisive step forward.
The core facts remain the same—Din Djarin and Grogu’s New Republic mission to rescue Rotta the Hutt. the roles of Pedro Pascal. Grogu. Jeremy Allen White. Sigourney Weaver. and Jon Favreau’s direction and writing team. But now the question that keeps surfacing in criticism is equally plain: how long can a franchise built for big-screen breakthroughs keep landing as if it’s still waiting for the next episode?.
The Mandalorian and Grogu Din Djarin Grogu Pedro Pascal Jeremy Allen White Jon Favreau Dave Filoni Noah Kloor Rotten Tomatoes reviews Star Wars movie May 22