Best Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu Movie Review 2025
The Return of Star Wars to Theaters
After nearly seven years without a new Star Wars movie in cinemas. The galaxy is finally preparing for an exciting return. The Mandalorian and Grogu movie represents something truly special in the Star Wars universe. For the first time, a story that built its fanbase on Disney+ is making the jump to the big screen. Bringing along the beloved characters that millions of viewers have grown attached to over three seasons of television.
This is not just another Star Wars film. This is the story of Din Djarin the masked bounty hunter. We’ve come to know as the Mandalorian and his precious ward Grogu. The little green character fans immediately nicknamed Baby Yoda when the series first premiered. Their journey from the small screen to theaters marks a pivotal moment for how Star Wars stories will be told going forward.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu |
| Release Date | May 22, 2026 |
| Director | Jon Favreau |
| Producers | Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Ian Bryce |
| Main Cast | Pedro Pascal (Din Djarin), Grogu (puppetry + VFX), Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy |
| Runtime | TBA (not released yet) |
| Performances | Not available (film unreleased) |
| Direction | Jon Favreau’s return to the Mandoverse; action-focused and character-driven |
| Rating | TBA (expected PG-13, but not announced) |
| Strengths | Strong fanbase, Grogu popularity, Favreau/Filoni team, high-budget production |
| Weaknesses | Pressure to make a TV-based story feel “cinematic”; high expectations |
| Budget | Approx. $166.4 million (official CA tax-credit filing) |
| Box Office Collection (Domestic) | TBA |
| Worldwide Collection | TBA |
| Actor Salaries | Not publicly disclosed |
| Director’s Percentage | Not publicly disclosed |
| Producer’s Percentage | Not publicly disclosed |
| Audience Reaction | Only trailer reactions available; very positive so far |
| Plot Summary | Din Djarin and Grogu are recruited by the New Republic to face threats from Imperial remnants. Their bond continues as they enter a larger galaxy-wide mission. |
| Cinematography | Returning Mandoverse cinematography style; DP credits TBA |
| Soundtrack / Music | Ludwig Göransson (confirmed) |
| Themes & Messages | Found family, loyalty, identity, hope, resistance against oppression |
| Cultural Significance | First Mandalorian theatrical film; major step in Star Wars’ new movie roadmap |
| Visual Style | Mix of practical effects, Grogu animatronics, advanced LED Volume (StageCraft) environments |
| Humor / Emotional Impact | Focus on Din–Grogu bond, light humor, emotional adventure tone |
| Production Design | Doug Chiang & Andrew L. Jones (returning Star Wars designers) |
| Production House | Lucasfilm Ltd. |
| Editing & Pacing | Edited by Rachel Goodlett Katz (known for Mandalorian TV pacing) |
| Action / Adventure Sequences | Featured heavily in teaser; starfighter chases, ground battles, New Republic missions |
| Message Delivery | Heroism, trust, protection, rebuilding after war |
| Symbolism | The Mandalorian creed, Grogu’s growth, rebuilding peace in the galaxy |
| Final Verdict (Pre-Release) | A high-budget, high-expectation Star Wars theatrical return with massive fan hype |
| Director’s Previous Work | The Mandalorian (series), Iron Man, The Jungle Book, The Lion King |
| Publicity & Marketing | Teaser trailer, Star Wars Celebration promotions, Disney announcements |
| Viewer Demographic | Families, Star Wars fans, action/adventure audiences, Grogu fans |
| Film Technique Innovations | Heavy LED Volume tech, hybrid practical/VFX creature work (Grogu animatronics) |
Jon Favreau both directs and produces The Mandalorian and Grogu movie. Favreau is no stranger to the Marvel universe or to big budget franchises. He’s proven his ability to helm massive projects that balance action, humor and heart. His previous work on The Mandalorian television series established the tone and visual style that fans have embraced over three seasons.
Dave Filoni serves as co writer and producer. Filoni has become essential to modern Star Wars storytelling, bringing deep knowledge of the franchise’s mythology while creating new, compelling narratives. Together, Favreau and Filoni represent some of the most trusted creative voices in Star Wars today.
Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, also produces the film. This level of executive oversight ensures the movie aligns with the larger Star Wars universe and the franchise’s long term vision. Ludwig Göransson returns to compose the score. Which is excellent news because his work on the television series created some of the most memorable musical moments in recent Star Wars content.
Pedro Pascal
Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin. The Mandalorian himself. Pascal has become the face of this franchise. Though viewers rarely see his actual face since his character wears a helmet throughout most scenes. His performance through voice and body language has made the Mandalorian one of Star Wars’ most beloved characters in decades.
Grogu
Grogu appears as both an animatronic creation and a character enhanced with visual effects. The filmmakers have stated that Grogu has grown up since the television series ended. Becoming capable of much more than viewers might expect. Baby Yoda (as fans affectionately call this character) is the emotional anchor of the story and producers promise audiences will see this little green character develop in exciting ways.
Sigourney
Sigourney Weaver makes her Star Wars debut as Colonel Ward a leader in the New Republic. Weaver is bringing her legendary presence to the franchise for the first time. Playing a character in a position of authority who has a history fighting the Empire. In interviews, Weaver mentioned that working with Grogu was a major draw for her involvement. She described the experience as wonderful and noted that viewers will see what Grogu is capable of doing.
Jeremy Allen
Jeremy Allen White joins the cast as Rotta the Hutt. The son of Jabba the Hutt from the original trilogy. Rotta appears as a gladiator in the film. Suggesting action-packed sequences involving combat and danger. White broke his silence about this casting in October 2025. Confirming his participation in the project.
Jonny Coyne
Jonny Coyne plays an Imperial Warlord a leader of a faction of remaining Galactic Empire forces scattered throughout the galaxy. His character represents the threat that drives the central conflict of the story.
The official plot unfolds after the fall of the Galactic Empire. Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. Clinging to power and refusing to accept their defeat. The fledgling New Republic is working to protect everything the Rebellion fought for but they’re stretched thin across multiple worlds.
The New Republic enlists Din Djarin and Grogu to help combat this Imperial threat. This marks a major shift in the Mandalorian’s character. He’s no longer a lone bounty hunter taking any job for credits. Instead, he’s become a hero aligned with the New Republic a force for good rather than simply a mercenary. This transformation was set up in the television series’ third season and the movie will expand on this new direction.
Din Djarin and Grogu travel to dangerous locations. Including missions to the Outer Rim where all the bad stuff happens according to Sigourney Weaver’s character. These missions involve confrontations with Imperial remnants, encounters with new alien species and challenges that test both the Mandalorian’s combat abilities and his commitment to his young ward.
Elements from earlier footage suggest the Mandalorian will assault AT AT walkers (the massive four legged Imperial vehicles) meet with familiar faces from the Star Wars universe and use specialized equipment to evade Imperial forces. Action sequences appear to be a major focus, promising audiences plenty of lightsaber free but still exciting combat.
| Element | TV Series | Movie |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Television episodes (6-10 per season) | Single theatrical film |
| Din’s Role | Bounty hunter for various clients | New Republic operative |
| Grogu’s Growth | Infant learning basic abilities | Young learner capable of much more |
| Production Scale | High for TV | Large theatrical blockbuster budget |
| Runtime Per Unit | 40-50 minutes per episode | ~2.5 hours (estimated) |
| Visual Format | 4K streaming quality | IMAX-enhanced cinematography |
| Story Arc | Multi-episode serialized narratives | Single contained story |
| Audience | Disney+ subscribers | Theatrical moviegoers worldwide |
The Mandalorian and Grogu represents a fundamental shift in how Star Wars will be produced and distributed going forward. This is the first time Lucasfilm took a hugely successful Disney+ series and converted it into a theatrical film rather than continuing with more television seasons.
This decision reflects changing viewer habits and studio strategies. The Mandalorian built an enormous fanbase on streaming. Proving that original Star Wars stories could captivate audiences outside the Skywalker Saga. Rather than stretch this story across another season of television, studio leadership chose to give fans a more immersive, cinematic experience on the big screen.
The film will be shot with IMAX in mind. Which means sequences were specifically designed to take advantage of the massive screen format. This isn’t just Star Wars content transferred to cinema it’s a production intentionally built for the theatrical experience.
Additionally, this movie bridges the television world and the larger cinematic Star Wars universe. It sets up future projects while telling a contained story that works independently. Viewers who watched The Mandalorian will recognize the characters and appreciate the continuations but newcomers to the franchise should find the film accessible and enjoyable.
Grogu has been the emotional heart of The Mandalorian since the first episode. The character’s evolution throughout the series has captivated audiences worldwide. In the movie, producers promise fans will see Grogu at a new stage of development older and significantly more capable than viewers saw in the final television season.
This development raises fascinating questions about the character’s future. Grogu can use the Force (or whatever powers this character possesses) in ways that will surprise and delight audiences. The filmmakers are banking on the character’s popularity to draw viewers and early materials suggest Grogu will have more prominent action sequences in the film than in typical television episodes.
One particularly interesting element is that Grogu has been described as a little badass. Suggesting combat abilities and heroic moments rather than just comedic or adorable scenes. This character growth feels earned based on the three television seasons that preceded it.
The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn’t restart Star Wars conflict between good and evil. Instead, it explores the messier reality of what happens after a major war ends. The Galactic Empire fell but Imperial remnants scattered throughout the galaxy haven’t accepted defeat.
This narrative setup connects to other Star Wars projects revealed for the coming years. The appearance of Grand Admiral Thrawn in the recent Ahsoka series indicates a larger Imperial resurgence across multiple Star Wars properties. The Mandalorian and Grogu will likely show the ground-level effects of this threat. How frontier worlds and outer rim communities struggle when Imperial warlords refuse to surrender.
The New Republic emerges as a key institution in this film. Rather than showing a unified, stable government the story presents an organization that’s stretched thin trying to protect vast territories. They need allies like Din Djarin precisely because they can’t fight this threat alone.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is explicitly framed as the beginning of a new slate of Star Wars theatrical films. During Disney earnings calls, company leadership confirmed that additional Star Wars movies review will follow, with projects in development from various filmmakers.
This represents a major strategic shift from the years of focus on streaming content. After the mixed reception of the sequel trilogy films that concluded the Skywalker Saga, Lucasfilm recalibrated its approach. The company recognized that standalone stories based on established characters (like the Mandalorian) could be just as valuable as saga films or prequels.
Following The Mandalorian and Grogu additional Star Wars movies are confirmed to be in development. This includes Rey focused projects Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter film scheduled for May 28, 2027 and Dave Filoni’s anticipated Star Wars film. The next few years will determine whether theatrical Star Wars makes a successful comeback.
The Mandalorian and Grogu was produced entirely in California. Marking the first Star Wars theatrical film to shoot exclusively within the state. This production generated over $166 million in qualified expenditures and received $21.755 million in tax credits from California’s filming incentive program one of the largest allocations in the program’s history.
This decision to keep production entirely in California created thousands of jobs and generated substantial economic activity within the state. Ironically, Star Wars which depicts a galaxy far, far away was created right here on Earth in one of America’s production hubs.
The choice to shoot entirely in California also simplified logistics and allowed the production team to maintain better security around the project. Early footage from these California based sets looked stunning, suggesting the filmmakers found excellent locations to double for alien worlds.
The official teaser trailer premiered on September 22, 2025. Giving audiences their first look at the film. The trailer arrived roughly eight months before the theatrical release. An unusual timing that suggests Disney has confidence in the project and wants to build anticipation slowly.
The teaser emphasizes mood and character rather than plot specifics. Viewers see Din Djarin in various action sequences, Grogu participating in adventures and hints at the exotic alien worlds the story will explore. Sigourney Weaver appears in official New Republic military garb, confirming her position within the institutional power structure.
Industry observers noted that the trailer feels lighthearted and family friendly. Suggesting the filmmakers are marketing this as an adventure story accessible to audiences of various ages rather than an intense military drama. The action packed sequences hint at excitement while the presence of Grogu promises moments of humor and warmth.
One interesting element many commentators noticed very few human faces are clearly visible in the trailer. Instead, the footage emphasizes creatures, droids, masked characters and Grogu. This aesthetic choice reinforces that Star Wars is a universe of diverse beings rather than a human centric story.
The Mandalorian and Grogu represents a significant financial bet for Disney. The production budget is substantial and marketing expenses will be considerable. However, the established fanbase from the television series provides a strong foundation for box office performance.
Star Wars films typically perform well at the global box office. With international markets particularly enthusiastic about the franchise. The fact that this film features a beloved character who spent three seasons building a devoted following on streaming suggests strong opening weekend potential.
The movie doesn’t need to match the box office records of the Skywalker Saga’s highest grossing entries to be considered successful. Industry analysts suggest that a film with this budget and marketing spend breaking $700-900 million worldwide would be considered a solid success, potentially paving the way for more Star Wars theatrical films.
| Film | Year | Reception | Box Office | Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Force Awakens | 2015 | Praised | $2.07 billion | Reinvigorated franchise |
| The Last Jedi | 2017 | Divisive | $1.33 billion | Polarized fanbase |
| The Rise of Skywalker | 2019 | Mixed | $1.07 billion | Concluded Skywalker Saga |
| The Mandalorian & Grogu | 2026 | TBD | TBD | New TV-to-film model |
Disney’s investment in The Mandalorian and Grogu reflects the company’s broader strategy shift. Rather than produce Star Wars content for streaming and theatrical separately. The company is now evaluating each project’s best distribution method.
The television series proved that audiences would commit time to Star Wars stories week after week on a streaming platform. Now the company wants to discover whether those same viewers will travel to theaters to experience the characters next chapter on a bigger screen.
This film’s success or failure will significantly influence Disney’s approach to future Star Wars projects. A strong theatrical performance would justify continued investment in big screen Star Wars. While disappointing results might push the company back toward streaming focus.
For filmmakers like Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. This project represents validation that their vision for Star Wars has mainstream appeal. A successful film opens doors for more creative control and bigger budgets on future projects.
If you haven’t watched The Mandalorian television series now is an excellent time to catch up. All three seasons are available on Disney+ and watching them provides valuable context for understanding the film’s beginning and the character development that led to this story.
Consider rewatching your favorite episodes or seasons to refresh your memory. The Mandalorian was designed for rewatching many episodes contain subtle details and character moments that reveal themselves on repeated viewings.
Additionally, watch the brief teaser trailer that was released in September 2025. Reading fan discussions and expert analysis about what the footage reveals can increase your excitement and prepare you for the theatrical experience.
Finally, mark your calendar for May 22, 2026. Plan to see this film in theaters on opening weekend or shortly thereafter. Star Wars theatrical releases represent cultural events that benefit from the communal experience of watching with other fans in a cinema.
The Mandalorian and Grogu represents something genuinely significant for modern Star Wars storytelling. For years, fans debated whether Star Wars television could be as compelling as theatrical films. This project proves that quality storytelling transcends format.
What makes this film exciting isn’t just nostalgia or brand recognition. It’s the genuine affection that audiences have developed for these characters over three seasons of television. Din Djarin and Grogu became real to millions of viewers. People cared about their journey, worried about their safety and celebrated their victories.
Translating that emotional investment to the big screen is the real challenge and the real opportunity. If the filmmakers succeed in honoring the character development and emotional beats from the television series while creating a cinematic experience that justifies the theatrical format. This film will be remembered as a turning point.
Star Wars has always been about bringing audiences together to experience extraordinary adventures. The Mandalorian and Grogu has the potential to do exactly that. Giving longtime fans and newcomers alike a reason to gather in theaters and watch a story unfold in the grandest format possible.
The galaxy awaits on May 22, 2026.
FAQS The Mandalorian and Grogu
May 22, 2026
Jon Favreau
Pedro Pascal (Din Djarin) and Grogu also starring Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White and Jonny Coyne
Jon Favreau, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni and Ian Bryce
Ludwig Göransson
Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi
Yes — with Ludwig Göransson composing a new score for the film
Sigourney Weaver (credited in a key role)
No public information indicates it will be a musical with songs, it is a standard scored film
Between the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, the film explores loyalty, duty, parental / found family bonds (Din Djarin & Grogu) and rebuilding peace in the galaxy.
It replaced a planned Season 4 of the series after 2023 industry strikes and a franchise re evaluation by Lucasfilm, the movie was prioritized instead
Lucasfilm (a part of The Walt Disney Company) owns it
The first official trailer has already been released (September 2025)
No — it is not a musical
It is scheduled for theatrical release
