2026's Biggest Sci-Fi Disappointment Finds New Hope on Streaming

2026 has been a strong year for sci-fi, with the likes of Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott releasing new entries in the genre. The highlight so far has been the Phil Lord and Christopher Miller-directed Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, which adapts the 2021 novel by Andy Weir. Project Hail Mary was a hit with critics, including Collider's Ross Bonaime, who dubbed it "the first great film of 2026" in his 9/10 review, and is an early favorite to win Oscars in early 2027.

Project Hail Mary wasn't just a hit with critics; it was also a commercial success, earning $682 million worldwide during its extended box office run. But not every sci-fi film of the year has reached these heights. In fact, one of the most surprising flops of the summer came from the genre's biggest franchise, one that Lord and Miller themselves have previously been involved with. The film in question is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which saw Pedro Pascal's bounty hunter move from the small screen to the big screen alongside the hugely popular Grogu.

The latest Star Wars movie seemed destined to fly high at the box office, but instead fell far, far short of expectations. Against a budget of $165 million, The Mandalorian and Grogu earned just $345 million worldwide, barely clearing the $330 million mark, which doesn't account for major marketing costs. This is far short of what many had expected and is the lowest-grossing live-action Star Wars movie ever made. It has since bounced back on streaming, and currently ranks as the most-watched movie on Disney+ in the world, outperforming the likes of The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Avengers: Endgame.

What Did Critics Say About 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'?

Directed by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian and Grogu had to continue the success of the three-season Disney+ series that had laid the foundations for this big-screen jump. However, it fell short both commercially and critically, earning mixed reviews. This included Collider's Aidan Kelley, who called it "not the Star Wars movie we need right now," adding, "The Mandalorian and Grogu are neither great nor awful, and that's what makes it one of the galaxy far, far away's most frustrating."