The first ‘Star Wars’ film in seven years hits theaters on May 22.
(L-R) The Mandalorian and Grogu in Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu
Courtesy of Lucasfilm
Jon Favreau‘s The Mandalorian and Grogu held its first press screenings on Thursday night and the early reaction on social media seems rather muted.
While official critics reviews for Mandalorian and Grogu are embargoed till May 19, closer to the movie’s release date of May 22, Disney/Lucasfilm allowed press to release brief social media reaction after the screenings.
The film is the first feature length Star Wars movie since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, and is a big screen outing for the Disney+ hit show The Mandalorian. As such the story is set in the Star Wars universe but follows the timeline and story of series rather than any of the previous films.
Pedro Pascal stars as the titular bounty hunter and he’s accompanied by Grogu, the impossibly cute animatronic puppet that is an infant of the same species as Yoda. The film also stars Jeremy Allen White, Lateef Crowder and Sigourney Weaver.
The movie is about Din Djarin (Pascal) and his apprentice Grogu who are recruited for a mission by the New Republic in which they must rescue Rotta the Hutt (White) while avoiding Imperial remnants and deadly bounty hunters.
Favreau, who created the Disney+ series, directs the film from a script he co-wrote with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor.
See a selection of the social media reaction to The Mandalorian and Grogu.
The Mandalorian and Grogu: the marketing had me worried, but this movie is actually a lot of fun. Yes it does feel like a supersized high budget few episodes of the tv show – more of an adventure of the week than a huge galactic event story. If you like the show you’ll love this.…
— Peter Sciretta (@PeterSciretta) May 15, 2026
STAR WARS is back on the big screen and #TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a thrilling adventure full of big fights, gnarly creatures and plenty of adorable Grogu moments. It’s less about the lore and more a fun, freaky romp across the galaxy. I really dug that about it.
Also really dug… pic.twitter.com/XoQwKbRG9N
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) May 15, 2026
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU is thankfully a Star Wars adventure worthy of the big screen that offers plenty of galactic fun for the whole family. Favreau rightfully chooses to take this IP back to its Eastwood-esque space western roots as he effectively expands this world instead… pic.twitter.com/vteov4l8yS
— Tom Chatalbash (@TomChatalbash) May 15, 2026
#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a grin-inducing crowd-pleaser that puts Star Wars back on theatrical track. Director Jon Favreau is (again) a safe pair of hands that deliver a solid, thrilling and engaging romp. A solid popcorn movie that is the summer blockbuster you’re looking for. pic.twitter.com/ox2cVXexoJ
— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) May 15, 2026
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU: Ludwig Göransson never asleep at the wheel. His new themes and motifs are just as addicting as ever. If it wasn’t already obvious, he is invaluable to the whole Mando franchise.
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) May 15, 2026
#TheMandalorianAndGrogu: I am just defenseless against Grogu. (And the Anzellan droidsmiths.) Irresistibly cute and also a filmmaking feat I cannot get enough of.
Rotta the Hutt? Not as much. Live action Hutts are a challenge to pull off, a gladiator Hutt even more so, and it… pic.twitter.com/QLHcyRvK2u
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) May 15, 2026
My personal The Mandalorian and Grogu MVP? Ludwig Göransson. He’s got three Oscars now so this is probably obvious, but every production with him on the roster is SO lucky to have him. I still cannot get enough of the Mando theme and was energized over and over again as Göransson…
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) May 15, 2026
MANDALORIAN & GROGU: finally, they made a Star War for me to despise! Some cute moments can’t save it from feeling terminally dull & offensively inoffensive. Feels like marathoning the blandest episodes of the show that are also totally inessential. A waste of time & potential. pic.twitter.com/rKAp3M9eAU
— Bill Bria (@billbria) May 15, 2026
#TheMandalorianandGrogu is as expected. A longer, bigger episode of the show. It has one or two stand out scenes but it feels much more interested in developing the story to new locations with new creatures than the characters. Enjoyed some of it, left frustrated but the rest. pic.twitter.com/LRlf8x8CVU
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) May 15, 2026
I liked #MandalorianAndGrogu way more than I expected. The first half felt like what I thought it’d be, but I did not expect to love Rotta the Hutt as much as I did. And seeing Grogu be the hero was great. Star Wars on the big screen just feels right. pic.twitter.com/MeghNqpAK9
— Joseph Deckelmeier (@joedeckelmeier) May 15, 2026
#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is one of the weakest Star Wars movies.
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. pic.twitter.com/DoOpve0fPC
— Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) May 15, 2026
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU is…fine? An inoffensive, technically impressive spectacle that’s kinda a snooze fest. Very much structured like an abridged season of the tv show which unfortunately plays like watching the cutscenes of a Star Wars video game instead of playing one.… pic.twitter.com/ih8MGQ6mNR
— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) May 15, 2026
#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is an energizing, action-packed adventure that any Star Wars fan can enjoy. All of the fight scenes and high-speed chases will keep you hooked. Pedro Pascal still nails it as Din Djarin, but it’s Grogu (and ALL the puppets) will tug at your heartstrings. pic.twitter.com/JXDwye5vSl
— Christopher Gallardo (@chrisagwrites) May 15, 2026
THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU is a perfect expansion of what the show set up. Truly the best outing yet for Baby Yoda and his dad. And also the best 20 minutes of a side quest to ever exist. God I love Star Wars on the big screen!!!!! pic.twitter.com/nllkSNETUQ
— Rachel Leishman (@RachelLeishman) May 15, 2026
#TheMandalorianAndGrogu was a big-scale movie that tries to be an introduction to Star Wars and the series, but given that it was supposed to be a movie, it felt like a long Disney+ TV movie. Loved the low-stakes feel, but wished there was more story deserving of the big screen. pic.twitter.com/0V5cvijwvz
— jordie poblete (@jordiepoblete) May 15, 2026
I saw The Mandalorian and Grogu! Fans of the series — before the Darksaber lore and Imperial Remnant intrigue — will find it right up their alley. It’s a Lucasfilm toy box showcase.
Grab a hot dog, it’s a bit long and Martin Scorsese will make you hungry for a spamwich. pic.twitter.com/PE1CIlOIBN
— Erik Voss (@eavoss) May 15, 2026
#TheMandalorianandGrogu is a blast – proving that #StarWars doesn’t need lightsabers to be worthy of the big screen. Cool creature design & a sleek look make this promotion to the theatrical experience well-deserved, and it smartly leans towards entertaining action-adventure. pic.twitter.com/kta8vtt3O2
— Abe Friedtanzer (@movieswithabe) May 15, 2026
