As expected, and with the embargo having now lifted, the reviews for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” are very concerning for Disney. So far, of the major outlets, I’m only seeing Variety (positive), and The Guardian (3/5) with partially positive takes.
Whoever at Disney thought it was a good idea to have the first Star Wars movie in seven years be this should get a demotion. What a terribly misguided decision.
Here’s what I’ve gathered so far: Vulture (negative), Den of Geek(2.5/5), THR (mixed), Slash Film (4/10), IndieWire(C+) Screen (positive), Awards Radar (2.5/5), Little White Lies (2/5), Deadline (negative), Inverse (negative), Collider (negative), Gizmodo (negative), IGN (5/10), Next Best Picture (4/10), The Independent (2/5), ComingSoon (5/10).
A few weeks back, I mentioned how the box office for this film might ride or die on reviews, well, so far, the tally is a 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a major red flag for movie audiences. Many will now wait for it to show up where it was actually supposed to premiere, on Disney Plus.
Regardless, in the film, Pedro Pascal returns as the titular bounty hunter Din Djarin. Sigourney Weaver joins him in a new role. Jabba the Hutt’s son, Rotta, is voiced by Jeremy Allen White. The trailer looked silly. Baby Yoda was there.
Star Wars is an IP Disney is eager to revive in theaters, especially after the mixed reception to the last trilogy. There are at least five other “Star Wars” projects currently in the works, from directors Shawn Levy, James Mangold, Simon Kinberg, and Taika Waititi.
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” is coming first — set to hit theaters May 22, 2026.