Disney desperately needs to pull 'Star Wars' out of irrelevance: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' has gotten off to a bad start

'The Mandalorian and Grogu' has opened to mixed reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes around 60% and critics calling it enjoyable but not fully necessary as a theatrical comeback.

The result adds pressure to Disney’s broader 'Star Wars' strategy, which has been weakened by too much Disney+ content and diminishing franchise impact.

Disney is now trying to revive 'Star Wars' with fewer, bigger releases meant to feel like events again, but this soft start complicates that plan.

The film’s reception matters because Disney needs 'Star Wars' to regain both cultural relevance and reliable box-office power after several recent disappointments.