One of the most anticipated movies of 2026 is upon us as The Mandalorian and Grogu is starting to hit theaters. The film is meant to act as a follow-up piece to The Mandalorian TV series, which was such a hit on Disney+. It also marks the first feature movie released in the Star Wars franchise in seven years, with the most recent one being Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which was designed to conclude the Skywalker Saga.

On the surface and based on the trailers, The Mandalorian and Grogu seems to be significantly smaller in terms of its scale than previous Star Wars films. The one thing it shares in common with those other movies is that it’s firmly in the sci-fi western genre. In fact, it looks like The Mandalorian and Grogu will be more of a western than most Star Wars projects, which has been a staple of what made the TV show so popular.

The sci-fi western genre isn’t one that features a ton of iconic movies but there are some great ones that are worth checking out to prepare yourself for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Some have similar vibes, some share cast members, and some are part of other iconic franchises.

Mad Max 2 (1981)

In 1979, Mad Max became a surprise hit and set a record (for the time) as the most profitable film of all time. Two years later, the sequel arrived and most fans agree that it’s the superior installment. This is a different kind of sci-fi western from The Mandalorian and Grogu as it’s set on Earth, rather than in space or on a distant planet. The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic world and follows the titular character as he helps a community of settlers defend their home against a group of marauders.

Mad Max 2, also known as The Road Warrior, was met with widespread acclaim for everything from Mel Gibson’s performance to the action to the cinematography. It still holds up several decades later and has been followed up by some great sequels, allowing it to remain in the public eye. You can see some similarities in Max and Din Djarin, as both are not your typical heroes, yet they often stand up to help those in need.

John Carter (2012)

John Carter is a film that has a bad reputation. When it came out, it was quickly met with lackluster reviews and ultimately flopped at the box office in spectacular fashion. The movie cost around $300 million to make and only grossed back less than $285 million. The end result was one of the biggest box office bombs in cinematic history, losing the studio hundreds of millions of dollars. The film’s poor marketing campaign is often cited as the reason for its failure.

Despite those glaring issues, John Carter is actually a pretty fun sci-fi western. It follows the titular character, a former military captain who ends up on an alien planet and gets caught up in their epic conflict. A lot of the creatures seen in the film would be right at home in a Star Wars film and the space adventure is the kind of thing Star Wars would do well.

Back To The Future Part III (1990)

The entire setup of Back to the Future Part III was something of a surprise. The first two films are rooted in sci-fi comedy, yet the third goes into the western route. It also sees the characters travel further in time than ever, ending up way back in 1885. That sets the tone for some fun western adventures, including Marty McFly and Doc Brown dressed in full cowboy attire.

While most fans agree that Back to the Future Part III doesn’t quite live up to the first two installments, yet it remains a fun sci-fi western romp. Although the bond between Doc and Marty is different from what we see between Din and Grogu, both are still dynamic duos who thrive in this environment.

Westworld (1973)

Most modern audiences know Westworld as the critically acclaimed HBO series that ran for several years in the back half of the 2010s. Long before the TV show, Westworld was a film from the ’70s and is one of the most prominent and notable sci-fi westerns to ever grace the big screen.

The premise focuses on guests visiting an amusement park that features lifelike androids who start to malfunction. It’s one of those movies that has only been seen in a better light as time has gone on. While it might not share a ton in common with The Mandalorian and Grogu, it’s a must-see for fans of this subgenre.

Serenity (2005)

Whenever people discuss cult TV shows that were canceled too soon, the name Firefly always comes up. The Joss Whedon series is set in the year 2517 and focuses on the adventures of the ragtag crew of the spaceship known as Serenity. The show has such passionate fans that, despite only featuring one season, it’s still talked about today.

2005 saw the release of Serenity, a film that followed up on the show, which is already something it shares in common with The Mandalorian and Grogu. While the smuggling and such that the characters do isn’t like what Din and Grogu get into, the movie remains a blast of a space adventure.

Prospect (2018)

The Mandalorian and Grogu isn’t actually the first sci-fi western to star Pedro Pascal. The actor has become one of the top stars in Hollywood thanks to The Last of Us, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and, of course, The Mandalorian. Before those roles, he popped up in an intriguing sci-fi western known as Prospect.

Unlike The Mandalorian and Grogu, this film doesn’t see Pascal portray a father figure. In Prospect, the movie centers on a teen girl (Sophie Thatcher) and her father after they land on a poisonous forest moon as they look to mine for valuable gems. While there, they run into trouble from rival prospectors, one of whom is played by Pascal.

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Like John Carter, most people remember Cowboys & Aliens because of how it flopped at the box office. It grossed just over $170 million on a budget of around $160 million, causing major losses for the studio. However, it’s actually a fun movie that delivers everything you want from a sci-fi western.

Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are a charismatic duo, allowing every scene to be filled with energy. Based on a graphic novel of the same name, the story is set in a retro-futuristic 1870s and sees a group of humans band together to save the planet from an alien invasion.

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Of course, the best place to find a sci-fi western that’s similar to The Mandalorian and Grogu is to look in the Star Wars franchise. While most installments could fall into the subgenre, The Mandalorian and Solo: A Star Wars Story have much more in common than most.

Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is Han Solo’s origin tale, works as a caper with plenty of tropes and staples that the genre is known for. It feels like an adventure set in the west and featuring fun characters, which is what The Mandalorian and Grogu seems to be all about based on the trailers.