Since its debut in early June, Disney’s latest addition to the Star Wars universe, *The Acolyte*, has been met with a torrent of criticism, earning it a place among the most poorly received entries in the franchise’s storied history. The series, which continues to alienate fans with each episode, has particularly drawn ire for its apparent embrace of woke ideology—a trend that many conservatives argue has plagued Disney’s recent productions.
*The Acolyte* has quickly become a poster child for Disney’s controversial approach to storytelling. Despite a critical rating that remains high, the show’s audience approval has plummeted to a dismal 17% on Rotten Tomatoes. This sharp divergence between critic and audience scores reflects growing frustration among viewers who feel the series epitomizes the franchise’s recent decline under Disney’s stewardship.
Conservatives have been vocal in their condemnation, citing the show’s apparent fixation on progressive themes that many believe detract from the essence of Star Wars. *The Acolyte* features outspoken figures like showrunner Leslye Headland and actress Amandla Stenberg, whose public statements and political views have done little to endear the show to traditional fans.
As noted by Trending Views, “Disney continues to ruin titles with wokeness, something that most viewers don’t care about, especially when they’re watching a show rooted in science fiction.” This criticism extends beyond *The Acolyte*, as Disney’s broader push for progressive narratives has been a consistent point of contention. The report further accused Disney of having an agenda to infuse its entertainment with woke ideology, claiming, “There must be some sort of agenda at Disney, otherwise they wouldn’t continue to ruin things with wokeness.”
The controversy over Disney’s direction has even seeped into other areas, such as the company’s theme parks. Recently, a Disney theme park came under fire for hiring a man in a dress to work in a store selling dresses for little girls. The incident sparked outrage among parents and children alike, further fueling criticism of Disney’s perceived departure from traditional values.
As for *The Acolyte*, its audience score has sunk significantly from an initial 33% shortly after its release. This decline reflects growing dissatisfaction with what many see as an overemphasis on contemporary political issues at the expense of the franchise’s beloved lore. The show now stands as one of the lowest-rated Star Wars productions, trailing even behind the infamous 1978 Holiday Special.
To provide some context, here’s a snapshot of how *The Acolyte* compares to other Star Wars content based on audience ratings:
– **The Empire Strikes Back** – 97% audience, 95% critics
– **A New Hope** – 96% audience, 93% critics
– **Return of the Jedi** – 94% audience, 82% critics
– **The Clone Wars (Show)** – 91% audience, 93% critics
– **Rogue One** – 87% audience, 84% critics
– **The Rise of Skywalker** – 86% audience, 51% critics
– **Andor** – 86% audience, 96% critics
– **The Mandalorian** – 78% audience, 90% critics
– **Ahsoka** – 69% audience, 86% critics
– **Solo** – 63% audience, 69% critics
– **The Phantom Menace** – 59% audience, 52% critics
– **Attack of the Clones** – 56% audience, 65% critics
– **The Book of Boba Fett** – 53% audience, 66% critics
– **The Last Jedi** – 41% audience, 91% critics
– **The Clone Wars (movie)** – 40% audience, 19% critics
– **The Acolyte** – 33% audience, 93% critics
– **The Holiday Special** – 20% audience, 25% critics
The stark contrast between audience and critic scores highlights a growing disconnect between what viewers want and what Disney is delivering. For many Star Wars fans, the struggle with *The Acolyte* is a symptom of a larger issue with how Disney is handling its cherished franchise.
For a scathing take on Disney’s woke direction, check out Megyn Kelly’s commentary below.
