Phil Roberts 
The Mandalorian and Grogu is an absolute blast. Although it may not be the spectacle we hoped for, it delivers buckets of Star Wars action, fun, iconography, and visual splendor.
After seven long years, Star Wars is finally making its epic return to the big screen this weekend with The Mandalorian and Grogu. With three seasons of epic television under his belt, Jon Favreau is taking on the challenge of restoring the franchise to its place at the top of the pop culture tree. With George Lucas’ protege and Lucasfilm President and Chief Creative Officer, Dave Filoni, on hand to help pen the script, the film has all the hallmarks of an instant classic.
Designed as a throwback to the classic Flash Gordon adventures that inspired Lucas, Favreau is banking on pure fun and adventure to reclaim Star Wars’ crown. After all, this is the first motion picture in the franchise with no ties to the nine-episode Skywalker Saga. So, can Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau pull it off and propel The Mandalorian and Grogu into the box office stratosphere? Or is Mando’s first big-screen adventure the first step on a long road back to success?
REVIEW
Fear not, Star Wars fans, because The Mandalorian and Grogu is an absolute blast. Although it may not be the spectacle we hoped for, it delivers buckets of Star Wars action, fun, iconography, and visual splendor. With its glorious world-building, epic action, throwbacks to the classics, and light-hearted family fun, it’s a welcome return to the big screen for Star Wars. This is the way…to have a blast at the movies!
From the outset, Jon Favreau’s formula that made The Mandalorian so successful translates instantly to the big screen, giving longtime fans a seamless transition with the characters they know and love. And trust me, they belong on the big screen. Watching Mando debut in IMAX is nothing short of a visual treat. On the press tour, Favreau said he wanted to give new fans the same sense of epic scale he experienced with A New Hope in 1977, and he pulls it off with aplomb. Star Wars has never looked this epic, which makes you wonder how George Lucas’ masterwork would be interpreted today if the Original Trilogy were released in IMAX.
THE IMAX TREATMENT
With a fast-and-furious opening sequence that brings us face-to-face with a trio of AT-ATs and a gunfight for the ages, Favreau sets the tone for his adventure. The Empire’s four-legged all-terrain transports have appeared many times over the years, but never have they felt this imposing. The IMAX treatment transforms these icons of the franchise into the metallic monsters they once were in The Empire Strikes Back, with all the threat and menace to boot. They look sensational and effortlessly remind us of the opening sequence of A New Hope and the iconic Star Destroyer flyover.
If this is Favreau’s attempt to replicate that feeling, he succeeded effortlessly. These colossal behemoths have never looked better, and their involvement delivers a breathless opening salvo that wows the audience with a jaw-dropping sequence. It serves as a transport to take the franchise to a whole new level, and it reminds us that Star Wars belongs on the big screen and belongs in IMAX.
THE NEW REPUBLIC
With the opening sequence facilitating our return to the galaxy far, far away, Favreau quickly gets down to business, fleshing out the crux of the story. Following the events of the most recent season of the TV series, Mando and Grogu are now freelancing bounties with The New Republic and working with the Adelphi Base crew under the command of Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver). Now, with the full support and resources of the New Republic, Mando is making a living hunting down the remnants of the Empire and bringing them to justice. But Ward’s next assignment will take him into the heart of the Hutt Empire, once ruled by the infamous crimelord Jabba the Hutt.
From here, Favreau gets down to business, establishing the characters that will carry the new chapter forward. Alongside the always reliable Sigourney Weaver, who suffers from a criminal lack of screentime, is Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios, the fan-favorite from Star Wars: Rebels, voiced again by the unswervable Steve Blum, who threatens to steal the show. On the other side, we reunite with the Hutts, a brother and sister duo who recently crossed paths with Boba Fett in The Book of Boba Fett series. They have requested the New Republic’s help to find Jabba the Hutt’s missing son, Rotta, who has been kidnapped. So Din Djarin and his little companion set off on a quest to track down Rotta and reunite him with his beloved family.
THE HUTT GAMBIT
Without going into spoilers, the adage that you can never trust a Hutt remains consistent, and soon Mando and Grogu locate Rotta and discover that everything isn’t exactly as it seems. From here, Mando, Grogu, and Rotta become the hunted and find themselves pitted against some of the galaxy’s most dangerous foes. From the gladiatorial arena on Shakari, where some of the franchise’s most iconic creatures make a sensational return, to the live-action debut of Clone Wars bounty hunter, Embo, some true icons of the saga make a triumphant return, injecting the film with the vintage DNA of the franchise.
You can only marvel at the prowess of Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau here. They have taken already-established characters and given them a new lease on life in this new era, and they thrive. From Rotta, voiced by Jeremy Allen White, who becomes a mainstay of the film, to the Hutts, Zeb, and Embo, these beloved characters are rejuvenated in this new era, making the film all the more compelling. Their involvement makes the film instantly familiar while taking the story in a fresh direction that will appease legions of adoring fans.
VINTAGE STAR WARS?
Trust me, the gladiator scene alone will have fans of the Original Trilogy gleaming, and that is success enough for Lucasfilm. Winning over diehard fans as well as new audiences is key to the film’s success, and on the surface, it works well. By drawing on characters from The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett, the saga’s DNA is woven into the story, making for sensational viewing.
If that isn’t enough, the design team has incorporated repurposed droids from the Prequels and Rogue One, as well as the Anzellans from the Sequels, to ensure the film boasts elements from every facet of the franchise. Even some of the iconic moments from Return of the Jedi are refreshed in a contemporary yet familiar way, keeping the narrative exciting yet safe. It’s a hard balance to pull off, but never doubt the teaming of Favreau and Filoni. Here, they have harnessed the essence of the saga and crafted a truly unique film that will delight fans of all ages.
NO FILM IS PERFECT
Sadly, as good as the film is, it is frequently held back by the scope of its aspirations. Despite the film making the most of the IMAX screen and the stunning worlds we get to explore throughout, the plot never feels like enough for a Star Wars feature. From the saga’s debut in 1977, Star Wars movies have always felt like event cinema, and sadly, The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn’t carry the same aura. Despite its impressive budget and epic production value, it never really feels anything more than a longer, better-budgeted episode from the series, which was always going to be its biggest hurdle.
Like Solo: A Star Wars Story before it, the film never feels big enough for a movie treatment. Don’t get me wrong. The film is fun, engaging, visually appealing, and action-packed, but its low stakes and modest storyline make it a trivial adventure. Fans hoping for a story with galaxy-wide ramifications like the Skywalker Saga should look away now. This isn’t the film for you. But if you enjoyed Solo despite its small-scale storyline, you’ll be eating well this weekend.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The last thing I’d like to touch on in this review is the soundtrack and the cinematography. The design team at Lucasfilm and Industrial Light and Magic deserves praise for this adventure. It’s one of the most gloriously rendered Star Wars movies to date. From its snow-covered peaks to the bristling streets of the Gotham-like Shakari, every planet is beautifully conceptualized. Adelphi Base is brought to life in greater scale and detail than ever before, and our brief trip back to Nevarro rewards us with a better look at the locales from the series. But perhaps the most rewarding destination in the film is Nal Hutta.
The Hutt Homeworld has been brought to life in animation before, but never with this level of detail. It is truly stunning. David Klein has crafted one of the most visually stunning entries in the saga to date, thanks to his jaw-dropping cinematography. The lush jungles are incredibly immersive while taking the audience on a picturesque journey through a forgotten land. The swamp sequences are glorious, giving us something fresh to chew over as Grogu comes into his own in a poignant scene that tugs at the heartstrings.
SOUNDTRACK
And finally, we cannot end the review without discussing Ludwig Göransson’s sweeping score. I never get tired of singing this composer’s praises. After his wonderful soundtracks for Black Panther, Tenet, and most recently Sinners, Göransson never misses a beat. But surprisingly, I was disappointed with his score for The Mandalorian and Grogu. There’s a first time for everything!
Despite using the series’s most iconic themes, the new music crafted for the big-screen adventure doesn’t seem to resonate with the film and, bizarrely, never feels like a Star Wars score. Although Göransson’s new music injects a freshness into the narrative, many of the themes feel misplaced and leave me underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to hear those familiar themes, and it wouldn’t be Mando without them. But this new score doesn’t do enough to elevate the film. The punchy techno beats are an odd choice and do nothing for the story, which is a massive letdown for me. Göransson is a fantastic composer, but here he has delivered a rare blot on his filmography.
VERDICT
Overall, The Mandalorian and Grogu is a truly epic spectacle that, sadly, doesn’t reach the bar set by the Skywalker Saga. With its glorious cinematography, epic scope, and sharp screenplay, the film is a wonderful return to form for the galaxy far, far away. With its wonderful legacy characters and the star power of the criminally underused Sigourney Weaver, the film is a triumphant return. But fans should temper their expectations.
The duo of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni has delivered a sensationally flawed film that delivers everything a Star Wars story requires to succeed, just without the grandiose storyline. Pedro Pascal leads the film well, though his screen time is less than Weaver’s. But Embo and Rotta the Hutt threaten to steal the show with their brilliant live-action debuts. The film ultimately delivers a wonderfully fun, light-hearted family adventure that will delight fans of all ages.
Is it the film that catapults Star Wars back to the top of the pop culture tree? Probably not. But in an age where the popularity of the franchise is on the wane, Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau have crafted a perfectly worthy side adventure for Mando and his adorable companion. This is the way…to have a blast at the movies!
Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opens exclusively in cinemas on 22nd May, 2026.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
