Star Wars Fans Reject Disney Sequels And The Acolyte On May The 4th

Star Wars Fans Reject Disney Sequels And The Acolyte On May The 4th

Nielsen’s Star Wars streaming data backs up what the numbers already showed and what we previously told you: The Acolyte was not some major Disney+ success story.

The new data, released for Star Wars Day, also paints a rough picture for Disney’s newer Star Wars movies. Not one sequel trilogy title made Nielsen’s Top 10 most-streamed Star Wars titles list for May 4, 2025.

That means noThe Force Awakens. No The Last Jedi. No The Rise of Skywalker.

For a franchise Disney spent billions to relaunch, that says everything.

Andor tops the Star Wars streaming list

According to Nielsen’s Disney+ data via THR, Andor ranked as the most-streamed Star Wars title for May 4, 2025.

Andor landing at No. 1 is a sign that Star Wars fans are not rejecting everything new. What it reveals is that fans show up when they feel the material is worth their time.

Andor has strong reviews and strong word-of-mouth. It’s considered two seasons of quality entertainment.

Star Wars: ‘The Acolyte’ Streaming Success Spin Falls Apart Under The Data

The Acolyte is nowhere to be found

Regarding The Acolyte, recall how various sites tried to spin things based on questionable data that the series was seeing renewed success. Well, The Acolyte did not make the list.

We previously covered how that “success” argument fell apart when you looked past FlixPatrol-style “rankings” and checked the harder data.

Now Nielsen’s Star Wars Day breakdown makes the point even harder to ignore (Disney+ automatically has Nielsen activated in user accounts).

If The Acolyte had a real lasting audience, this was exactly the kind of list where it should have shown up.

Star Wars fans were streaming the franchise for May the Fourth. Nielsen tracked the actual minutes viewed. The Acolyte still missed the Top 10. Says it all.

Disney Dumps Rey and Kylo Ren for Darth Vader and Luke in Star Wars Land Overhaul

Fans still watch the original and prequel trilogies

After Andor, the rest of Nielsen’s Top 10 is heavy on the classic films.

The list includes A New Hope, The Phantom Menace, The Empire Strikes Back, Revenge of the Sith, Attack of the Clones, Return of the Jedi, and Rogue One.

The bigger problem for Disney is what did not make the list.

The Force Awakens is still one of the biggest domestic box office movies ever. It opened the Disney Star Wars era with massive hype and nearly hit $1 billion in North America.

Yet on Nielsen’s Star Wars streaming list, it is absent. So are The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.

That is brutal for Disney’s sequel trilogy. These were supposed to be the new defining Star Wars movies for a new generation. Instead, on Star Wars Day, fans streamed the originals, the prequels, Rogue One, Andor, Tales of the Underworld, and The Clone Wars.

The sequel trilogy was left out.

Rogue One remains Disney’s strongest movie entry

Rogue One did make Nielsen’s list at No. 8, which again shows fans are not automatically rejecting Disney-made Star Wars movies, just certain Disney-made Star Wars movies.

The film has built a strong reputation over time thanks to its direct connection to A New Hope, its clear war-movie angle, and one of the strongest Darth Vader scenes in the franchise.

Worth noting: Rogue One and its now-famous Darth Vader scene were also reshaped by Tony Gilroy, the same filmmaker who later created Andor and, in circles, is credited as saving the film. Both his projects are on the list.

The Mandalorian & Grogu is also set to get Star Wars back to theaters in two weeks, which, interestingly enough, also didn’t make the list (likely because of the fallout regarding Season 3).

Nielsen’s data shows the Star Wars franchise still has value, but fans are selective – they want quality content – and Disney now has to prove it can get audiences excited for new Star Wars on the big screen again.

Top 10 Most Streamed Star Wars Titles: May 4, 2026:

  1. Andor
  2. Star Wars: A New Hope
  3. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
  4. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
  5. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
  6. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
  7. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
  8. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  9. Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld
  10. Star Wars: The Clone Wars

About Matt McGloin

Matt McGloin is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Cosmic Book News, the independent entertainment news site he founded in 2008. He covers movies, comics, TV, video games and pop culture and has reported major industry scoops over the years, including revealing the Avengers: Endgame title ahead of its official announcement. Through Cosmic Book News, he helped Marvel Comics promote Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova through exclusive previews, artwork, and interviews, with the site also quoted in solicitations and on comic covers. He also reported on Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again retooling before it was later confirmed by the trades.

Recommended

‘Highway To Heaven’ Getting ‘Contemporary Reimagining’ Reboot Treatment At Disney
‘Highway To Heaven’ Getting ‘Contemporary Reimagining’ Reboot Treatment At Disney
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Toy Prop Reveal Adds To Finale Backlash
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Toy Prop Reveal Adds To Finale Backlash
The Mandalorian & Grogu First Reactions Praise ‘Epic’ Big-Screen Star Wars Return
The Mandalorian & Grogu First Reactions Praise ‘Epic’ Big-Screen Star Wars Return
White House Posts Trump As The Mandalorian With Grogu For Star Wars Day
White House Posts Trump As The Mandalorian With Grogu For Star Wars Day
May the 4th Brings New Mandalorian and Grogu Spots
May the 4th Brings New Mandalorian and Grogu Spots
Imax Fires Back At Disney’s Infinity Vision Ahead Of Avengers: Doomsday
Imax Fires Back At Disney’s Infinity Vision Ahead Of Avengers: Doomsday