The Mandalorian and Grogu: First 25 minutes of the film have been shown – here's how fans review the opening

The upcoming theatrical release of "The Mandalorian and Grogu" is eagerly anticipated. People are already wondering what the critics will say about the new "Star Wars" film starring Pedro Pascal. While reviews for "The Mandalorian and Grogu" are still pending, we're already seeing initial reactions to the film's opening. Some fans and influencers were shown the first 25 minutes of the space adventure, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. They're sharing their thoughts on the footage on social media.

Of course, it's important to keep in mind that a judgment based on the first 25 minutes of a film doesn't necessarily say anything about the quality of the entire film. Still, it's interesting to hear how the beginning of "The Mandalorian and Grogu" is being received.

The Mandalorian and Grogu: How the first 25 minutes are being received

Overall, the reactions were quite positive. Among other things, the action is highlighted. Some also feel reminded of the original trilogy, as Joaquín Teodoro points out:

"I really liked what I saw. It has vibes of the original trilogy, the action looks great (especially in IMAX), the plot sounds interesting, and there's a mystery at its core that caught my attention. I'm really excited!"

As some have pointed out, much of what was shown in the first 25 minutes of the film was also used in the previously released trailers and clips for "The Mandalorian and Grogu." So, in addition to the mystery Teodoro mentioned, we might be in for other surprises that aren't hinted at in the promotional material released so far. William Devereux hopes so too:

"Din Djarin is arguably the coolest he's ever been, and Grogu is as adorable as always. While the movie's stakes aren't the highest, a lot of what the trailers show is from early in the film. So hopefully we'll get some fun surprises."

From the small screen to the big screen

Surprises are to be expected. After all, director Jon Favreau is said to have convinced Disney back when he was working on the series "The Mandalorian" not to reveal Grogu too early in the marketing campaign. It paid off: the character's surprise introduction definitely contributed to the hype surrounding the series. Speaking of which: Comparisons to the series are, of course, inevitable when it comes to the movie spin-off. And so, some viewers of the first 25 minutes emphasize that the film evokes the feel of the series. James Grebey, for example, writes:

"So, in many ways, these 25 minutes feel like an exciting premiere of a big streaming TV series, one that provides some big setpieces and tees up an exciting season of adventures."

The original series "The Mandalorian" ran for three seasons on Disney+, with the seasons premiering between 2019 and 2023. The series' plot is set several years after the end of the film "Return of the Jedi." The focus is on the titular Mandalorian, Din Djarin. The bounty hunter is played by Pedro Pascal – though the face of the "Last of Us" star remains hidden under a helmet for most of the time. At the beginning of the series, Din Djarin is tasked with finding and delivering Grogu. Instead, however, he takes the child under his wing and flees with him. The film continues the duo's adventures. Following the fall of the Galactic Empire, the freedoms of the New Republic must be defended. Apparently, Din Djarin and Grogu play an important role in this – the two are hired by the New Republic.

In addition to Pedro Pascal, the cast also includes Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White. The "Alien" actress plays the former rebel Ward, who now works for the New Republic. "The Bear" star White takes on the role of Rotta the Hutt, son of the notorious crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Jon Favreau is the creator of the series and directs the film, which he co-wrote with Dave Filoni and Noah Kloor.

The Mandalorian and Grogu: Crucial for the future of Star Wars

"The Mandalorian & Grogu" is of great significance for the future of the "Star Wars" franchise. It has now been nearly seven years since a new "Star Wars" film, "The Rise of Skywalker," was released in theaters. The performance of Jon Favreau's cinematic adventure is likely to be seen as an important indicator of the potential for future "Star Wars" films. Especially since the pressure on the upcoming spin-off "Star Wars: Starfighter" starring Ryan Gosling would be all the greater if "The Mandalorian and Grogu" were to flop at the box office. If "Starfighter" were to disappoint as well, there would be cause for concern about the cinematic future of "Star Wars."

At the U.S. box office, a gross of around $80 million is currently projected for the four-day Memorial Day opening weekend. By comparison, "Solo: A Star Wars Story" opened in 2018 with $104 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend – and turned out to be a flop, ultimately falling far short of expectations with worldwide gross earnings of $392 million. It will be interesting to see if "The Mandalorian and Grogu" performs better. We'll know more soon: The new "Star Wars" movie hits theaters on May 22, 2026.