Solo: A Star Wars Story
Standalone Star Wars heist film about young Han Solo meeting Chewbacca and Lando
The brief
Solo feels like a competent but unnecessary heist movie that happens to be set in the Star Wars universe. Alden Ehrenreich gamely tries to channel Harrison Ford's swagger but never quite makes you forget you're watching an impression, while Donald Glover absolutely nails young Lando with effortless charm. The film moves at a decent clip through familiar criminal caper beats, but it's weighed down by origin story obligations that explain things nobody really needed explained. Perfect for Star Wars completists and anyone who thought what the saga really needed was a straightforward crime thriller with familiar faces.
The verdict
If you're a Star Wars fan who enjoys heist movies and doesn't mind origin stories that fill in backstory gaps, this is a solid adventure anchored by Donald Glover's perfect Lando. If you're looking for essential Star Wars storytelling or have no patience for Han Solo without Harrison Ford's irreplaceable charisma, you can safely skip this competent but ultimately unnecessary detour.
Watch with
- 👥 Star Wars fans wanting franchise completeness
- ⚠️ Casual viewers may find it forgettable
Heads up
- Sci-fi action violence throughout (moderate)
- Criminal activity and moral ambiguity (moderate)
- Brief suggestive content (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Ron Howard
- Cast
- Alden Ehrenreich, Joonas Suotamo, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandiwe Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Official synopsis
Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with The Killer (1989)
Both feature lone antiheroes navigating dangerous criminal underworlds with style.
Total runtime: 2h 15m + 1h 50m = 4h 5m
