The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in theaters today, May 22, 2026. Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin, the bounty hunter-turned-New Republic agent. Jon Favreau directed and co-wrote the film alongside Dave Filoni. Currently, it runs 132 minutes and is playing in IMAX.
The movie has an unusual origin. Specifically, the 2023 writers’ strike delayed Season 4 of the television series. Subsequently, Favreau used those completed scripts as the foundation for a standalone story. The film is designed to work without prior knowledge of the show. Still, longtime fans will have more context for certain characters.
What Critics Are Saying About the Film
Early reviews are mixed. Indeed, critics describe The Mandalorian and Grogu as an entertaining summer film that falls short of theatrical ambition. The core criticism is consistent: the story is structured like episodic television. It also delivers mission-based segments rather than a single cinematic arc. Consequently, watching in IMAX amplifies how small the production feels by blockbuster standards.
Comparisons to other Star Wars films are being made. While the film ranks above Solo, it does not reach the ambition of Andor or Rogue One. Specifically, the $165 million production earned $12 million in opening day previews, lower than Solo’s early benchmark. Still, the film is being called a solid watch for fans of the series.
Cast and Characters
Sigourney Weaver joins the Star Wars universe as Ward, a new character. Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt, Jabba’s son. Meanwhile, Martin Scorsese provides a voice role as Hugo. Additionally, Steve Blum reprises his role as Garazeb Zeb Orrelios from Star Wars Rebels. Indeed, the ensemble gives the film more weight than a standard episode of the show.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is in theaters now. It is also screening in IMAX and premium formats. Currently, Disney has not confirmed a streaming release date. For newcomers, the film works as a standalone adventure. However, some character relationships go unexplained without series context.
