'Star Wars' Loses 75% of Fans, New Project Totally Shatters Fanbase

We all knew The Acolyte was divisive among Star Wars fans, but we didn’t know it was this bad.

Since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) hit theaters in 2019, Star Wars has very much been in its silver screen era. The past few years have been packed with Disney+ releases, with The Mandalorian – which, coincidentally, was the first Star Wars show to premiere on the streaming service – proving to be the most popular by a landslide.

Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu kneel by a ship in Season 1 of 'The Mandalorian' — Credit: Lucasfilm

Much like the TV shows released on the platform by Marvel Studios, some of these releases have split fans. Obi-Wan Kenobi saw Ewan McGregor reprise the role of the eponymous Jedi and reunite onscreen with Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) – something fans have been asking for for years – but was still slammed by some for a weak storyline and inconsistent characterization.

More recently, Ahsoka also generated mixed responses when it started streaming in 2023. The most common complaint was that the show was slow, proving that the Star Wars universe was starting to show signs of fatigue.

Ahsoka, with white and orange facial markings and striped head-tails, wields two glowing lightsabers—one red and one white. Held in a defensive stance against a dark background, the scene is intense and dramatic, capturing the essence of Star Wars magic from Lucasfilm. — Credit: Lucasfilm

ahsoka is THE show for people who love to be on their phone while they watch tv. visually bland. every scene drags. tons of filler shots of people staring at objects. important dialogue once every 5 minutes. the first show to feel like all it’s missing is subway surfers under it

ahsoka is THE show for people who love to be on their phone while they watch tv. visually bland. every scene drags. tons of filler shots of people staring at objects. important dialogue once every 5 minutes. the first show to feel like all it’s missing is subway surfers under it

— zach silberberg (@zachsilberberg) September 8, 2023

Negative though some responses to Ahsoka may have been, they’ve got nothing on The Acolyte. The latest Star Wars series to hit Disney+, the show is set in the High Republic Era – approximately 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) – and follows a former Padawan, Osha (Amandla Stenberg), as she reunites with her old Jedi Master, Sol (Lee Jung-jae), to investigate a series of crimes.

While critics have been generally positive about the show, fans have not. The Acolyte currently boasts an audience score of just 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to a Tomatometer score. Some complain that it’s illogical, and others argue that it messes with pre-established Star Wars lore – such as having Osha and her twin sister, Mae (also played by Stenberg), conceived via the Force because that’s reserved for Anakin Skywalker only, apparently.

Manny Jacinto and Amandla Stenberg in The Acolyte — Credit: Lucasfilm

With all this negative sentiment in mind, it should come as no surprise that viewership for the show hasn’t been great. However, we were still shocked by recent Nielsen numbers, which claim that The Acolyte received 75% fewer viewers than The Mandalorian.

According to Nielsen, the first two episodes of The Acolyte were watched for a combined 488 million minutes (an average of 244 million per episode). In comparison, Ahsoka‘s two-episode premiere was watched for a combined 829 million minutes (an average of 414.5 million per episode).

A group of four people in futuristic clothing walk through a gritty, urban street in 'The Acolyte.' Three of them wear matching yellow and black robes with stylish belts akin to Star Wars Disney+ characters, while one sports green and gray tactical gear. They appear focused and determined as they navigate the bustling environment. — Credit: Lucasfilm

Meanwhile, the one-episode premiere of The Mandalorian was watched for 823 million minutes – miles above the one-episode average pulled in by The Acolyte, whose stats are only slightly more than a quarter of that number.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. The Acolyte beat one Star Wars show in premiere viewership, with its inaugural three episodes watched for 624 million minutes. That’s an average of 208 million minutes per episode.

Amandla Stenberg stands outdoors, wearing a chainmail-like top with metal armor plating. They are looking upwards with a serious expression. The background features greenery with blurred palm leaves. The scene appears to be set in a forest or jungle environment. — Credit: Lucasfilm

Screen Rant also spoke to Reelgood, a third-party analytics firm that examines viewing trends across streaming services, and found that The Acolyte is the second most successful Star Wars TV series in terms of streaming and engagement. The only Star Wars show that ranks higher is Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Regardless, there’s no denying the actual viewing numbers. For now, it’s too soon to say how the response to The Acolyte will impact the show’s future. Before it premiered, there were rumors that Lucasfilm had already decided it was a one-off series. However, The Acolyte showrunner, Leslye Headland, has previously teased plans for a second season.

Have you watched The Acolyte? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the Star Wars series!