- Primary Subject: The critical reception and initial review scores for The Mandalorian and Grogu
- Key Update: Days before its theatrical release, The Mandalorian and Grogu critics' reviews are finally out.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 19, 2026
- Quick Answer: Initial reviews for The Mandalorian and Grogu are mixed, with critics praising its visuals and practical effects but arguing the plot feels like a high-budget TV episode.
Days before its official theatrical release, the critics' reviews for The Mandalorian and Grogu have finally come out, and it's already getting a mixed reception.
Fans have been looking forward to the release of the new Star Wars movie, which will mark the franchise's big-screen return after seven years. With this long-awaited theatrical comeback, there is a lot of hope that it will live up to the expectations and deliver a galactic adventure that is worthy of seeing on the big screen.
What Do Critics Think of The Mandalorian and Grogu?
The official critics' review embargo on The Mandalorian and Grogu has been lifted today. Fans can finally know what they think of the new Star Wars theatrical movie.
As of this writing, it has a Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 64%, based on the 72 reviews they gathered so far. In other words, the latest Star Wars installment is getting mixed reviews.
While it is higher than The Rise of Skywalker (which sits at 51%), it is far from the heights of the best Star Wars movies, and this is an indication that there is no unanimous praise for the franchise's big-screen return.
Critics generally agree that the film is visually stunning, technically polished, and packed with plenty of charming, creature-heavy moments featuring Grogu. However, they also noted that it struggled to fully justify its leap from the small screen to the cinema.
Positive reviews praised it as a fun, accessible, and fast-paced space adventure that successfully captures the classic Star Wars aesthetic through an impressive use of practical effects.
However, a significant portion of detractors argued that the movie played it far too safe, describing it as a predictable and emotionally flat narrative that functioned more like a supercharged, high-budget multi-part television episode than a distinct cinematic event.
Ultimately, the consensus painted it as an inoffensive, crowd-pleasing romp that will likely satisfy dedicated fans of the Disney+ series but failed to push the franchise into any bold or genuinely fresh territory.
It would be interesting to see how the audience would respond to the film once it is released theatrically later this week and whether they will align with the critical reception.
What to Expect in The Mandalorian and Grogu
In The Mandalorian and Grogu, the evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.
The cast includes Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne, Martin Scorsese, and Steve Blum. The Clone Wars character Embo is expected to make an appearance.
It is slated for release exclusively in North American theaters and on IMAX on May 22. As we've noted, it is the first Star Wars theatrical release since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
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