The Mandalorian and Grogu

The Mandalorian and Grogu is the 2026 film directed by Jon Favreau and starring Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White and, of course, Grogu himself.

The Mandalorian and Grogu had some of the poorest marketing I’ve seen from Disney in a very long time. From a Super Bowl campaign that never really landed, to trailers that didn’t seem to know how to sell the film until only a couple of weeks before release, it felt like Disney wasn’t entirely sure what they had on their hands. Even so, I was always going to see this one. It’s the first Star Wars movie to hit cinemas since The Rise of Skywalker back in 2019, making it the first big screen Star Wars adventure in almost seven years.

A Season of Television in Movie Clothing

One thing that struck me almost immediately is that this really feels like a television season that was turned into a movie. We know a fourth season of The Mandalorian was originally being developed before Lucasfilm shifted direction and made a film instead, and you can feel that throughout the story. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but there were several points where I found myself wondering exactly what the main plot was. The film jumps between multiple storylines, including the introduction of Rotta the Hutt, voiced by Jeremy Allen White, and while some of those threads are enjoyable, they don’t always come together as smoothly as they probably should.

Where the Big Screen Pays Off

What worked really well was the scale. This absolutely feels bigger than the Disney+ series. The opening sequence is fantastic and immediately reminds you why Star Wars belongs on the big screen. There are larger action scenes, bigger set pieces and a real cinematic feel throughout. I also loved seeing the practical effects and puppetry. Grogu continues to feel like a real character rather than a visual effect, and that classic Star Wars charm is all over this movie. The score from Ludwig Göransson is another major highlight, with some musical moments that are genuinely excellent and help give the film its own identity. It was also great seeing Sigourney Weaver step into the Star Wars universe as Colonel Ward. She’s one of those performers who instantly adds credibility to a project the moment she appears on screen.

My favourite section of the film involved Grogu spending an extended period having to fend for himself and look after Din Djarin for a change. It’s something we’ve never really seen before, and it allows Grogu to grow in ways that fans will genuinely appreciate.

The Letdown

Despite all the things I liked, I still walked away feeling a little disappointed. As a huge Star Wars fan, I wanted this to be something special. Instead, it felt like a decent season of television condensed into a movie. There are plenty of enjoyable moments, a few fun cameos and some strong action, but it never quite reaches the heights I was hoping for. If you’re a dedicated Star Wars fan, you’ll probably still have a good time. For everyone else, I’d suggest waiting until it arrives on streaming.