Critics pan 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' as dullest Star Wars film yet

The Mandalorian and Grogu opened in theaters this weekend, and early reviews have been harsh.

The Independent called the film the dullest and most inconsequential Star Wars movie ever made. Its review said the picture contains just five minutes of Pedro Pascal and features a dispirited voice performance by Jeremy Allen White as Jabba the Hutt's son.

Other critics described the movie as a collection of episodic television stitched together for the big screen. The Independent asked how many more nails could be driven into the Star Wars coffin before resuscitation becomes impossible.

The film carries a 60 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics who often favor major studio releases. Variety offered a mixed assessment, calling it an efficient adventure that only pretends to be a real Star Wars movie.

Right-leaning critic Christian Toto said one late scene amounts to a DEI highlight reel. He questioned why the film was made at all, aside from supplying content for Disney+.

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives after years of declining box-office returns for the most recent Star Wars trilogy and mixed results for Disney's streaming series. Andor drew praise, but the Obi-Wan series and The Acolyte faced widespread criticism.

Outgoing Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has been faulted for lacking a clear plan for the franchise and for emphasizing representation over strong storytelling for legacy characters.