The Decline of Star Wars Under Disney
Since Disney acquired the Star Wars franchise, its once-cherished status seems to have been steadily diminishing. Is it dead? Well, it’s not in great shape, but I think it’s hanging on by a thread. It’s like a charity case now—just not the vibrant entity it once was.
The franchise had a devoted fan base, but that enthusiasm has waned since the new trilogy disrespected established lore and sidelined beloved characters. Former president of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, chose to focus on themes of female empowerment, often at the expense of coherent storytelling and character depth—essentially stating that “The Force is female.”
Moreover, Disney made some questionable decisions, like firing Gina Carano from The Mandalorian and seeing films like Solo flop. The poorly received Acolyte was also canceled after just a single season. Yes, there were some highlights, such as Rogue One and the Andor series, but even those didn’t manage to captivate fans as we’d expect. The Mandalorian had its moments too, though the viewer numbers didn’t quite match its production scale.
Interestingly, though, the current situation suggests that Star Wars might be gearing up for something bigger, despite the recent box office disappointments.
After a lengthy hiatus, Star Wars made a comeback over Memorial Day weekend with The Mandalorian and Grogu. The title alone indicates a troubling level of creative bankruptcy—who names a movie after its main character? It’s reminiscent of if Episode VI had been titled “Luke Skywalker and His Father” instead of “Return of the Jedi.” That would’ve been absurd.
Despite finishing at the top of the box office, when you adjust for inflation, it actually performed worse than the infamous Solo. In 2018, Solo grossed $84.4 million in its opening weekend—a figure that would translate to around $109-110 million today. Conversely, The Mandalorian and Grogu only managed about $82 million in its debut.
If you look at the figures for the four-day Memorial Day weekend, the gap widens further. While The Mandalorian and Grogu raked in roughly $102 million, an inflation-adjusted assessment would put Solo’s debut at about $136.6 million in today’s dollars.
What’s more concerning? An indie horror film titled Obsession recently outperformed The Mandalorian and Grogu at the box office. Made by a YouTuber/TikToker with an estimated budget of just $750,000, it somehow eclipsed a Star Wars film that cost over $300 million in production and marketing. If that isn’t a red flag, I don’t know what is. Word of mouth has clearly overpowered franchise power this time around.
As for early reviews? Well, they’re mostly negative—and honestly, does it even matter anymore?
The concerns about The Mandalorian and Grogu reflect broader issues within the franchise. The BBC commented that watching the film felt like “homework,” due to the lack of engaging stories or characters. A review from Inverse went so far as to declare that the film barely qualifies as a movie, likening it to a series of lackluster episodes stretched out to fit a cinematic format.
Star Wars can’t simply rely on nostalgia anymore. The over-reliance on cheap callbacks and familiar faces leaves audiences feeling shortchanged. In this movie, we see a baby Yoda, the return of Hutts, and even a battle reminiscent of moments from Episode V—yet the freshness is lacking. Baby Yoda was initially charming, but now it feels like Disney has run out of steam in creating meaningful new characters or developing the existing ones.
It’s disappointing. Modern Hollywood appears to have systematically dismantled beloved franchises with poorly executed ideas, shallow characters, and a disregard for original material. This isn’t just about Star Wars; look at other franchises like Star Trek or The Lord of the Rings, facing similar struggles under the weight of contemporary narratives.
What’s next for Disney and Star Wars? Are they considering a reboot of the original trilogy? The very thought makes me feel uneasy. I genuinely hope I’m wrong, but it seems like they’re boxed in, especially following the mixed reactions to the new Starfighter films. It feels like audiences might be drawn in for the star power, not necessarily because they still care about the Star Wars saga itself. It’s as if the franchise, once envisioned to endure for a century, is already teetering on the brink. Studios are racing to find ways to salvage what’s left.
