Review: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' Is a Must-See in IMAX
Even for those who will love it, the biggest criticism most people will have of The Mandalorian and Groguis that this Star Wars feature film should have been a few episodes of the popular Disney+ TV series, not a theatrical experience. Like the popular joke that an in-person meeting could have been an email, if I were to describe to you the exact plot details of the new film, you would likely conclude that you could simply wait and watch the movie on streaming. And yet, despite the thinness of the plot of Mando and Grogu, not seeing it in the theater (preferably in IMAX) would also be a mistake. While the storyline of this film will remind fans of some of the more action-packed episodes of the TV show, perhaps a different paradigm is needed here: Maybe Mando should have never been a TV show in the first place?
Interestingly, it's almost impossible to spoil The Mandalorian and Grogubecause whatever you think this movie might be, it is exactly what it is. This is a celebration of these two Star Wars characters, a father-son duo who found their way into everyone's hearts back in 2019. Today, we see Baby Yoda everywhere: on car decals, on t-shirts, and of course, countless toys. However, the ethos of The Mandalorian and Grogu isn't exactly a big Disney, family-friendly romp, but instead, a grimier, down-the-muck old-school epic in the mold of the 1930s and 40s Flash Gordon movie serials that inspired George Lucas to make Star Wars in the first place. If a time-traveling version of Lucas from 1973 was given the special effects capabilities of the modern-day Industrial Light and Magic, he might have made a thrill ride exactly like The Mandalorian and Grogu. Director Jon Favreau seems determined to tell a story that mostly focuses on one central question: And then what if Mando had to fight even more monsters?
And, it's on this level that the Mando movie works; it's an unapologetic adventure film, in which the stakes aren't really about anyone's spiritual journey of self-discovery, but simply about achieving the mission at hand. In this way, Mando himself is almost like Jack Reacher; we're not really interested in any emotional or personal struggle he has, we're just waiting to see how he gets himself out of this one. And as a one-man arsenal, Mando easily has the biggest kill score of any on-screen Star Wars character at this point. (Not counting Luke Skywalker, of course, who killed untold hundreds on the Death Star in the original movie.) Mando mentions that violence is a last resort, but the movie contains plenty of last resorts.
Speaking of Luke Skywalker, don't expect to see any lightsabers or a parade of cameos in this movie. Even callbacks to the TV series The Mandalorian are surprisingly minimal. More than any previous Star Wars movie, there's certainly a casual-viewing mode to this storytelling. There's almost no explanation needed as to why the remnants of the Empire are the way they are, nor is the audience required to think too hard about why Mando is such a gee-shucks hired gun with a heart of gold. And, because the action is big and relentless, there's never any time to reflect on anything until the movie is over.
From thundering Imperial Walkers to speeder chases, to lots of fights with lots of monsters, there are very few sequences in The Mandalorian and Grogu that aren't stuffed with pulpy action from a bygone era. This idea gets forgotten today, but when Star Wars was released in 1977, its approach to a swashbuckling adventure narrative was a throwback even then. So, now, something like Mando and Grogu feels closer to an '80s Star Wars knock-off movie, like Ice Pirates or Krull. (Or, in the more creature-heavy moments, you'll be taken back to the creepy puppet action of The Dark Crystal).
And so, that's likely the best way to enjoy this movie on the big screen: pretend it's a Star Wars knock-off. The beloved reputation of the TV series is almost a burden for this film, as are all the other Star Wars films. But, if you squint and try not to put so much pressure on this movie to be a million things at once and tick off a billion boxes, you might find yourself smiling and cheering. The Mandalorian and Grogu doesn't prove anything about the future or past of Star Wars. But, it does make you wonder if maybe sticking these guys on the small screen was a bad move in the first place. No matter what you think of this film, no real Star Wars fan can say that it didn't deserve to be a movie, if only because it looks and sounds amazing on the biggest screen possible.
The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM.