First Reactions to 'The Mandalorian And Grogu' are Mixed Ahead of May 2026 Release

The first screenings of Star Wars movie The Mandalorian And Grogu have arrived online, with those in attendance coming out with a mixed response.

The first Star Wars movie since The Rise Of Skywalker in 2019, it’s a theatrical version of The Mandalorian TV series, which sees the title character, also known as Din Djarin ( Pedro Pascal ) and his ward, Grogu, called into action on a dangerous mission. The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White appears as Rotta The Hutt, the son of Star Wars legend Jabba.

The film is released on May 22, and social media reactions have arrived from Thursday’s (May 14) press screenings.

Many reacted enthusiastically, with journalist Simon Thompson writing on X (formerly Twitter): “#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.”

Variety writer Courtney Howard posted: “#TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a ton of fun! A perfect Summer movie. Action-packed with a lot of humour and heart. Not episodic. A fully cinematic journey. Grogu steals the show. See it on the biggest screen possible.”

> #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

> #TheMandalorianAndGrogu is a ton of fun! A perfect Summer movie. Action-packed with a lot of humor & heart. Not episodic. A fully cinematic journey. Grogu steals the show. See it on the biggest screen possible. pic.twitter.com/f8TTAs5uB6 — Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) May 15, 2026

Collider ’s Perri Nemiroff confessed: “I am just defenseless against Grogu… Irresistibly cute and also a filmmaking feat I cannot get enough of. Rotta the Hutt? Not as much.”

Gizmondo ’s Germain Lussier called it “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.”

> #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

> #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

On the negative side, writer Jonathan Sim called the blockbuster “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, colourless made-for-TV movie.”

Griffin Schiller added: “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.”

> #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

In January, Star Wars shared the wholesome crochet-inspired Mandalorian short Knot A Toy.

The post ‘The Mandalorian And Grogu’ first reactions are mixed: “Action figures mashed together” appeared first on NME .

_Originally reported by [NME](https://www.nme.com/news/film/the-mandalorian-and-grogu-first-reactions-are-mixed-action-figures-mashed-together-3945613?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-mandalorian-and-grogu-first-reactions-are-mixed-action-figures-mashed-together)._