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New Star Wars Movie Proves Just How Fun Giving Up Can Be

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

When I entered the theater to watch The Mandalorian and Grogu, I kept thinking about Luke Skywalker going into that Dark Side cave on Dagobah. Yoda warned him that he would only find in there what he brought with him; Luke went in expecting a fight, causing his dreamlike battle with Darth Vader.

Unlike young Skywalker, I put down my “weapons” (namely, my cynicism about the franchise), clearing my mind as I took my seat. Star Wars was back on the big screen for the first time since 2019, and I was determined to give the film a fair shot. What could possibly go wrong?

To my surprise, the movie was both better and worse than I imagined. It delivers some truly stellar visuals, ranging from breathtaking CGI to world-class miniature work. The film is also filled with very solid action, offering fans almost every type of battle they could want.

But for better or for worse, The Mandalorian and Grogu abandons any pretense of being a traditional movie with an overarching narrative. Instead, this is basically a video game playthrough where we watch the title characters bounce from one quest to another, causing mayhem wherever they go. Is it fun to watch? Absolutely. Unfortunately, this movie is pure fan service, and its lack of any real substance signifies Star Wars’ final transformation into a mindless action franchise.

What What (With The Hutts)

The premise of The Mandalorian and Grogu is that our titular duo is doing dirty work for the New Republic, hunting various Imperial warlords down throughout the galaxy. They get a new mission: to go rescue Jabba the Hutt’s son, Rotta, from a criminal syndicate.

The Mandalorian isn’t exactly happy about the mission, but he’s happy with the payment that he receives upfront: a shiny new Razorcrest. After a not-so-meet-cute, Mando and Rotta the Hutt must reluctantly team up against a galaxy trying to hunt them both down. By the time it’s all over, the Mandalorian will have to choose whether to do right by the employer using him as a weapon or the bounty that keeps trying to get him killed.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is remarkably accessible to general audiences. You don’t have to be up to date on The Mandalorian in order to follow the plot.

However, that proves to be something of a double-edged sword (or double-sided lightsaber). Making the film so accessible (right down to giving Pedro Pascal’s Mando a replica of his iconic ship from Season 1) is a great way to get mainstream butts in the theater seats, and the movie does an excellent job of making Star Wars seem like a fun action romp. But if you are a superfan of The Mandalorian, you’ll be disappointed that this movie feels like a completely disconnected side story.  

Lights, Camera, And Nothing But Action

How much you enjoy The Mandalorian & Grogu will depend almost entirely on what you are expecting from this franchise. If you mostly want action and adventure from Star Wars, this movie delivers in spades with some of the coolest battle scenes we’ve ever seen in a galaxy far, far away.

There’s a fun mix of special effects and practical effects, including a stop-motion battle from Mad God director Phil Tippett that I was thinking about long after the credits rolled. There’s also some killer space battle stuff, and for many nerds, the sight of Sigourney Weaver piloting an X-Wing is, by itself, worth the price of admission.

Aside from its beautiful visuals and engrossing action, The Mandalorian & Grogu has some other major strengths. It felt like stunt casting from the beginning, and the sight of a Hutt speaking English is undeniably weird, but Jeremy Allen White does a terrific job voicing Rotta. His easy rapport with Din Djarin is one of the best parts of the film, giving us a few human moments (so to speak) so we can catch our breath between action scenes.

Plus, the music from composer Ludwig Göransson is wonderful, mixing operatic sci-fi with a few buzzy, lo-fi beats that had me bouncing in my seat. Throw in plenty of cute Grogu moments, and you have a real crowd-pleaser of a film.

Star Wars Is Now A Mindless Action Franchise

Beyond these strengths, though, the primary issue with The Mandalorian & Grogu is that there’s no there there. Beyond Rotta, nobody really gets any kind of characterization. The story itself has no greater connection to the Star Wars universe beyond a few character cameos (always fun seeing Zeb from Rebels), and there’s nothing here that really builds on the plot of The Mandalorian.

Now, that might be a good thing if you hate how that show eventually descended into weird Mando melodrama. But this is a movie based on a TV show that has almost nothing to do with the TV show and settles for being a very expensive set of jangling keys.  

To get a better idea of both the strengths and weaknesses of The Mandalorian & Grogu, imagine introducing a friend to the original Star Wars trilogy by just fast-forwarding from one action scene to the next. Chances are, your friend will be absolutely thrilled by these cool characters and unforgettable battles. But he won’t really know who these characters are or understand the greater story that connects these films.

As you’ve probably gathered, this is The Mandalorian & Grogu in a nutshell: it’s almost all action and no story. That makes it simultaneously one of the most thrilling movies in the franchise and, arguably, the laziest Star Wars movie ever made.

To be clear, The Mandalorian & Grogu isn’t a bad Star Wars movie: frankly, I’d happily watch this again over The Rise of Skywalker, and it’s better than much of the Prequel Trilogy. But when the sequels and prequels stumbled, it was usually because they were taking big, creative swings that didn’t always connect.

By comparison, The Mandalorian & Grogu plays it safe, sidestepping story problems by having almost no story at all. It’s not just Star Wars porn; it’s a compilation of franchise money shots. The result is a film not unlike your favorite X-rated videos: a very shameful, undeniably guilty pleasure that you’ll return to whenever you get bored enough.

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Entertainment

The best Memorial Day tech deals you can shop this weekend — save on headphones, laptops, and more

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Replacing a busted laptop or losing your favorite earbuds is painful enough without having to pay full retail price to replace them. Memorial Day is historically a great weekend to score discounts on big-ticket electronics (and mattresses!), but finding a real deal among all the manufactured holiday markdowns can be confusing, and a little insulting. (Looking at you, inflated list prices!)

SEE ALSO:

The best deals this week, according to Mashable’s team of shopping experts

To help you find the biggest discounts, I sifted through the sales to round up the best tech deals happening this weekend. I prioritized Mashable’s favorite tech — so you get genuinely good, vetted gear, not just whatever inventory retailers are trying to clear out of their warehouses.

Best Memorial Day headphone deal

$169
at Amazon

$199
Save $30

 

Why we like it

Read our full review of the Nothing Headphone (a).

Mashable’s Lead Shopping Reporter is fresh off reviewing Nothing’s new mid-range headphones, which she rated a 4.3/5. She thinks they’re better than the flagship Nothing Headphone (1) because they offer the same app experience, comparable noise cancellation, and a comfier fit at a lower price. Moreover, they last for up to 135 hours on a single charge (!) without ANC, and their retro design is fun. Amazon has them on sale for a record-low price ahead of Memorial Day, saving you 15%.

More Memorial Day headphone deals

Earbud deals

Best Memorial Day speaker deal


Sony SRS-XB100 Wireless Bluetooth Portable Lightweight Super-Compact Travel Speaker, Durable IP67 Waterproof & Dustproof Shower Speaker, 16 Hour Battery, Versatile Strap, & Hands-free Calling, Black

$43
at Amazon

$64.99
Save $21.99

 

Why we like it

Read our full guide to the best Bluetooth speakers.

If you’re looking for a portable speaker that you can just grab and throw in your bag, I couldn’t recommend the Sony SRS-XB100 enough. I’ve had this exact one for years and it goes everywhere with me — I take it to the beach, hang it in the outside shower at my parents’ OBX house, and set it up when I’m hanging with friends on the balcony. It has serious sound for how small it is, and right now you can get it for $43 (down from $64.99). That’s a total steal for a speaker this good.

Want to pay even less? You can get a “renewed” Sony SRS-XB100 for $39.99.

More Memorial Day speaker deals

Best Memorial Day laptop deal


Apple MacBook Air M5 13.6" Laptop (16GB/512GB, Sky Blue)

$899.99
at Amazon

$1,099
Save $199.01

 

Why we like it

Read our full review of the M5 Apple MacBook Air.

The MacBook Neo is only $10 off on Amazon right now, but the brand-new 13-inch MacBook Air is $100 off there — you can get the base model for just $949. This is the lowest price we’ve seen it go for since April 6. In our review, Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Werth said the new MacBook Air “takes everything good about the MacBook Air and adds the faster M5 chip.”

More Memorial Day laptop deals

Best Memorial Day TV deal


50" Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K HDR10+ Smart TV (2025 Model)

$309.99
at Amazon

$399.99
Save $90

 

Why we like it

Right now, you can get last year’s Amazon Ember 50-inch 4-Series with Fire TV for $309.99. (If you’re a new Xbox GamePass customer, you’ll also get a month of the subscription service for free.) That’s a 23% discount and not too shabby of a deal for a 2025 TV.

More Memorial Day TV deals

Best Memorial Day smartwatch deal

$69
at Amazon

$99
Save $30

 

Why we like it

Read our full review of the CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro.

The Mashable Choice Award-winning CMF Watch 3 Pro features great health, fitness, and sleep tracking tools, and it lasts forever — it’s rated at up to 13 days per charge with average use. It’s not as sleek as other wearables, but it’s an impeccable value at its $99 MSRP: “Please, no one tell Nothing they should be charging a lot more for this watch,” writes Mashable Contributor and reviewer Lauren Allain. Right now, it’s yours for 30% off.

More Memorial Day smartwatch deals

Best Memorial Day smart home deal

$14.99
at Amazon

$39.99
Save $25

Enter code SELCT4K at checkout.

Why we like it

Amazon’s budget 4K streaming stick has been going on sale regularly since its launch last fall, but it’s never been this cheap before. (Be sure to enter the coupon code SELECT4K at checkout.) At 63% off, it’s very difficult to see it getting any cheaper come Prime Day.

More Memorial Day streaming stick deals

Home security deals

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Entertainment

Finally start learning Spanish, Italian, and French with this exclusive Babbel deal

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Babbel through this exclusive StackSocial offer for $159 with promo code LEARN before the deal ends June 2.

$159

$646.20
Save $487.20

 

Maybe it’s for travel, maybe it’s for work, or maybe you’re just tired of staring blankly at subtitles — whatever the motivation, this Babbel deal makes it easier to finally commit to learning a new language. StackSocial is currently offering lifetime access to every Babbel language course for a one-time payment of $159 (reg. $299) with code LEARN, giving you permanent access without monthly subscription fees hanging over your head.

Unlike no-name apps that promise fluency without substance, Babbel takes a human approach and was developed by over 100 expert linguists and backed by researchers from Yale University. It’s designed to help you actually speak a new language with confidence — whether you’re prepping for a trip abroad, connecting with family, or hoping to boost your career.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

You’ll get access to 14 languages and 10,000+ hours of high-quality content. Lessons are short and made to fit into even packed schedules — just 10 to 15 minutes — and available on desktop or mobile, with progress synced across devices. You can even download lessons to practice offline, whether that’s on a flight or in a Wi-Fi dead zone on the subway.

How Babbel can help you become fluent:

  • Real conversations: Lessons focus on practical topics like dining, shopping, transportation, and more.

  • Speech recognition: Built-in tools help you perfect pronunciation and avoid awkward slip-ups.

  • Personalized learning: Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, you’ll find lessons that match your level.

  • Expert design: A proven method that emphasizes conversational skills over rote memorization.

And with lifetime access, you’re free to hone in on one language or explore all 14 — on your schedule, forever.

Pick up a lifetime Babbel Language Learning access for $159 (reg. $299) with this limited-time exclusive offer from StackSocial using code LEARN for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Entertainment

60+ of the best Memorial Day deals: We found TVs, mattresses, headphones, and more on sale

Table of Contents

The best Memorial Day 2026 deals at a glance:

ninja slushi

Toshiba 65-inch C350 LED 4K Fire TV

black bose headphones

Best home deal


Ruggable

save up to 25% sitewide

Coral Ruggable rug with blue floral design

The unofficial start to summer is almost here, but you don’t have to wait until Memorial Day itself on May 25 to find those Memorial Day deals.

There are already deals live at Amazon, where you’ll find savings of up to 40%. There are also plenty of savings from other online shopping destinations, with deals on products such as mattresses, TVs, furniture, and outdoor patio items. Plenty of brands are getting in on early MDW action — you can grab the Dyson Airwrap i.d. for $150 off and the Bose QuietComfort headphones for $120 off.

We’ll be updating all the best Memorial Day deals throughout the weekend, so be sure to keep checking back on this page for the biggest and best savings.

Best Memorial Day Amazon deals


ninja slushi

$259
at Amazon

$349.99
Save $90.99

 

Why we like it

What says start of the summer better than slushies on demand? When Mashable’s Leah Stodart reviewed the Ninja Slushi, she pointed out the merits of the Slushi over a regular blender: no ice is required, and it keeps drinks frozen while in its cooling cylinder. From cola slushies to frosé, this might just be the ultimate summer drink machine. It has some downsides (sugar-free beverages are a no-go), but if you’re a frozen drink enthusiast, this deal is worth a closer look.

More Amazon deals

Best Memorial Day TV deals

$264.99
at Best Buy

$529.99
Save $265

 

Why we like it

Best Buy and Amazon have been racing to match prices on this Fire TV. Best Buy was initially $75 cheaper than Amazon, so Amazon dropped its sale price to keep pace. But that’s only a piece of the picture demonstrating just how good this deal is. Our resident TV expert, Leah Stodart, pointed out that this $264.99 price point is so good that it’s less than the sale price of the 43-inch version of Amazon’s most basic Ember 4K Fire TV. In other words, if you’re looking to score a solid deal on a smart TV this Memorial Day, this could be the one for you.

More TV deals

43-inch to 50-inch TVs

55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

70-inch TVs and up

Best Memorial Day mattress deals

  • Avocado: Get up to 20% off organic mattresses, bed toppers, and bedding.

  • Amerisleep: Get up to $1,000 off all mattresses and 40% off bundles

  • Bear: Get 35% off sitewide, plus $275 worth of free accessories

  • Casper: Get up to 30% off select mattresses and 35% off bundles

  • Purple: Get up to $900 off a mattress and a base

  • Helix: Get 25% off sitewide with code MEMDAY25

  • Leesa: Get 30% off select mattresses

  • Mattress Firm: Get up to 60% off select mattresses with queens starting at $189.99

  • Nectar: Get up to 50% off select mattresses and 66% off bundles

  • Saatva: Save up to $650 on mattresses, including the Saatva Classic and Memory Foam Hybrid mattresses

  • Serta: Save up to $600 on select mattress and adjustable base sets

  • Sleep Number: Save up to $1,200 on ClimateCool and ComfortNext mattresses, BOGO free Ultimate Shape Pillows, and BOGO 50% off sheets

  • Tempur-Pedic: Save 40% on the Tempur-Cloud Mattress or up to $500 on adjustable mattress sets, plus free gifts

Best Memorial Day home deals

  • Brooklinen: Refresh your bedding for summer with 25% off sitewide

  • Buffy: Save up to 25% sitewide

  • Caraway Home: Save up to 30% on cookware and bakeware

  • Cozy Earth: Save 20% sitewide or 25% when you buy three or more items

  • Crate & Barrel: Save up to 60% on rugs, 35% on kitchen brands, and 30% on furniture

  • Cuisinart: Save 15% on $99.95+, 20% on $149.95+, and 25% on $249.95+

  • Home Depot: Save up to 40% on select appliances, 20% on select patio furniture, and up to $175 off on select tools now through May 27

  • Joybird: Take up to 45% off on bestselling furniture and up to 35% off sitewide through May 25

  • Kohl’s: Save up to 50% sitewide on clothes, kitchen appliances, bedding, patio furniture, and more

  • Lovesac: Save 40% sitewide through May 31

  • Lowe’s: Save on appliances, grills, patio furniture, gardening supplies, and more through June 3

  • Mellow Sleep: Get $20 off $100, $50 off $200, or $100 off $300

  • Nest New York: Save 25% sitewide with code 25OFF

  • Parachute: Save 25% sitewide plus 30% on bundles

  • Ruggable: Save up to 25% sitewide

  • Rugs Direct: Save up to 80% sitewide on brands like Safavieh, Chris Loves Julia, Loloi, Rifle Paper Co., and Rugs USA

  • SharkNinja: Save up to 30% on Ninja kitchen appliances and Shark vacuums, hair tools, and fans

  • Target: Target’s Hello Summer Sale brings deals on summer favorites, including up to 20% off kids’ outdoor toys and up to 45% off patio furniture and garden essentials

  • Wayfair: Save up to 70% sitewide

Best Memorial Day tech deals

  • Best Buy: Save on TVs, Apple products, laptops, monitors, Sony cameras, Bluetooth speakers, and more

  • BJ’s Wholesale Club: Get up to 50% off TVs and electronics, 25% off mattresses, and 15% off home and kitchen

  • HP: Save up to 72% on OmniBook laptops, Omen gaming PCs, All-in-One desktops, and more

  • Lenovo: Save up to 30% on ThinkPad, Yoga, ThinkBook, IdeaPad, and Legion laptops

  • LG: Save up to 44% on TVs, 40% on monitors, and up to 58% on appliances

  • Tile: Save up to 40% on trackers

  • TP-Link: Save up to $220 on select products, including the Tapo C460 (4-Pack) + H500, plus get an additional 10% off sitewide with code USA10

Best Memorial Day beauty deals

  • Dyson: Save up to $150 on the Dyson Airwrap i.d., Airstrait, and Supersonic Nural

  • FabFitFun: Save 40% on your first box, plus get a free Vacation bonus box ($250 value) with an annual membership signup

  • L’ange: Save up to 44% on select tools with code MEMORIAL, plus an extra 15% off your entire order with code EXTRA15

Best Memorial Day outdoor deals

  • Bote: Save 15% sitewide

  • Columbia: Save up to 40% on “almost everything”

  • Dick’s Sporting Goods: Save up to 50% on bikes, kayaks, tents, grills, and golf gear, save up to to 40% on Nike and adidas

  • Huffy: Save 25% on select bikes

  • HOVERAir: Save up to 47%

  • Rumpl: Save 25% sitewide

  • Solo Stove: Save 15% on select fire pits and pizza ovens

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