Audience Anticipation Survey Shows No One is Interested in ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’

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As a movie critic, I’m finding the buzz around The Mandalorian and Grogu a little…underwhelming. It’s been almost seven years since we’ve had a Star Wars film in theaters, so you’d think audiences would be clamoring for it. But recent surveys are telling me something different – interest seems surprisingly low. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, honestly.

For years, a new Star Wars movie would have easily been a major cultural moment, even with lots of other films competing for attention. But that’s not a sure thing anymore. The last three Star Wars films each made less money than the one before, and the recent TV shows haven’t consistently drawn large audiences. Even the popularity of characters like “Baby Yoda” might not be enough to guarantee success at the box office based on the Star Wars name alone.

Survey Results Reveal Viewer Interest Gaps

Fandango, a popular online movie ticket seller, recently released its yearly report on moviegoing habits before the start of CinemaCon. The report highlights the top 10 most anticipated movies, listed from highest to lowest in expected popularity.

  • Toy Story 5 (Disney)
  • Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Sony)
  • The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Disney/20th Century Studios)
  • The Odyssey (Universal)
  • Scary Movie (2026) (Paramount)
  • Moana (2026) (Disney)
  • Minions & Monsters (Universal)
  • Mortal Kombat II (Warner)
  • Supergirl (Warner)
  • Insidious: The Bleeding World (Sony/Blumhouse)

There’s been a lot of discussion about the low ratings for Supergirl, which has already faced some criticism. However, it’s even more surprising that The Mandalorian and Grogu weren’t included at all. The findings come from a survey of over 7,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 70, with more than 5,000 identifying as frequent moviegoers – meaning they’d seen at least one film in theaters in the last year.

Although the survey was small, the results hint that people might not rush to see The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters. Knowing the movie will probably be available on Disney+ later this year could also be playing a role. This lack of excitement for a Star Wars film could suggest a wider loss of interest in the franchise.

The Mandalorian’s Theatrical Challenge

The story of The Mandalorian and Grogu continues on Disney+, but the show saw declining viewership towards the end of its third season. Some viewers expressed dissatisfaction with the direction the story was taking. However, director Jon Favreau has confirmed that this new installment isn’t simply leftover ideas intended for a possible fourth season of The Mandalorian.

While the Star Wars franchise has faced challenges recently, this new survey indicates that The Mandalorian and Grogu might also be losing some popularity. Recent promotional efforts may have actually made things worse, with the Super Bowl trailer – which focused on humor instead of impressive visuals – being seen as a significant mistake.

Disney released a trailer for the movie on February 17th, giving fans their first real glimpse of the story. As of today, it has around 11 million views on YouTube. For comparison, the Super Bowl trailer, which has been available for a little over a week, has already garnered approximately 25 million views.

A Familiar Brand, an Uncertain Response

Just because one survey showed lukewarm interest and the trailer didn’t get as many views as hoped doesn’t mean The Mandalorian and Grogu will flop at the box office. Positive reviews and people telling their friends about it could still make it a surprisingly successful summer movie.

But the fact that those terms are even being applied to a Star Wars property is, in itself, notable.

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2026-04-11 15:57