'The Mandalorian and Grogu' wins over 'Star Wars' fans – 'A lot of fun'

Seven long years after the divisive sequel trilogy-closer "The Rise of Skywalker," there's finally a new "Star Wars" movie to nerd out about.

"The Mandalorian and Grogu," starring Pedro Pascal as the titular Mando Din Djarin, packed the red carpet in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 14, with cheering fans for the film's world premiere, a week ahead of the May 22 release. The stars worked the crowd, greeting the faithful and leaning in for photos with young cosplayers.

A big-eyed Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, toddled the carpet at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, waving, smiling and being passed around adoringly among the movie’s talent. Grogu posed for pics with Pascal, Sigourney Weaver (making her "Star Wars" debut as fighter and pilot Colonel Ward), director and co-writer Jon Favreau and Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni.

The hungry "Star Wars" fandom welcomed the movie with mostly enthusiasm in their first reactions.

"It's definitely fun!" USA TODAY film critic Brian Truitt wrote on Bluesky and "clears the bar of being better" than "Rise of Skywalker." "Nits to pick, for sure, but seeing AT-ATs trudging through the snow on a big screen is still glorious. Also: Grogu in the Best Space Son convo."

“A 'Star Wars' adventure worthy of the big screen that offers plenty of galactic fun for the whole family. Favreau rightfully chooses to take this IP back to its Eastwood-esque space Western roots as he effectively expands this world instead of constricting it," Tom Chatalbash, chief film critic for FilmSpeak, tweeted and praised Jeremy Allen White's Rotta the Hutt as "a huge standout."

"It's not out of this galaxy good, the story needing far more meat on the bone and the growth of our main duo lacking, but as someone who went in with relatively low expectations, I had quite a bit of fun."

Erik Davis of Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes spoke more glowingly, calling it "a thrilling adventure full of big fights, gnarly creatures and plenty of adorable Grogu moments" on X. "It's less about the lore and more a fun, freaky romp across the galaxy. … It reminded me how fun #StarWars can be when it stops worrying about canon homework and just cuts loose."

Peter Sciretta, /Film founder, acknowledged on X: "The marketing had me worried, but this movie is actually a lot of fun. Yes, it does feel like a supersized high budget few episodes of the tv show − more of an adventure of the week than a huge galactic event story. If you like the show, you’ll love this."

"Never has this corner of the galaxy felt as real or as fun or dangerous," Lyvie Scott, writer at Inverse, shared on social media. "Is star wars Back? idk, but the clan of two have finally, completely won me over."

The movie didn't work for everyone, though. Jonathan Sim, a freelance entertainment journalist who writes for ComingSoon, called it "one of the weakest" "Star Wars" movies.

"An emotionless, predictable experience that doesn't push Din Djarin anywhere interesting," he wrote on X. "Dull, unexciting fight scenes; just CGI monsters. Action figures mashed together. A long, colorless made-for-TV movie."

Critics' full reviews, including USA TODAY's, will be out Tuesday, May 19.