Top 10 Moments in Star Wars
Star Wars fans all over the world are gearing up for the upcoming release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The new trailer and a handful of TV spots have caused a whirlwind of theories as to what’s going to happen in the movie. Will Kylo Ren get a redemption arc? Will Rey go full on dark side? Will we see a force ghost reunion between Anakin, Luke, and Yoda? Hopefully, fans can come together and enjoy the final chapter in the Star Wars saga.
All this excitement got us thinking about our favorite moments in Star Wars, so we decided to rank them. Keep in mind, this list only includes live-action feature films. We’ll have to table the discussion on The Mandalorian, The Clone Wars, Rebels, etc. So, with that said, let’s look at our top 10 moments in Star Wars.
#10 Shake it off
The Last Jedi is arguably the most polarizing film in the Star Wars universe. Love it or hate it, old man Luke found a way onto our favorite moments list. Obviously at the time we didn’t know Luke was using the force to project himself from Ahch-To all the way over to Crait. But there was a sense of hope when Luke stepped on the screen. We thought for a moment, that everything was going to okay. Luke is here to save the day. Even Kylo Ren is a little scared and said, “I want every gun that we have to fire at that man.” After the dust settles from all the blaster fire, we see Luke alive and well. That moment when he sweeps the dust off his shoulder is gold, baby. Solid gold.
#9 Stay on Target
A New Hope was a movie that set itself apart from others in 1977. One of the coolest moments was the trench run featured at the film’s climax. Seeing the entire rebel fleet go for broke taking on the evil galactic Empire was a real high point for fans. How in the world were the rebels going to stop the Death Star from destroying another planet? Especially, when Lord Vader was picking them off one at a time. My goodness that scene was intense.
#8 Yoda vs. Dooku
It’s probably safe to say that several folks were let down with the fight between Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Count Dooku. There were a lot of close-ups and quite frankly it wasn’t all that exciting. Sure, our heroes got beat up pretty badly and Anakin lost an arm, but the fight was missing a certain “wow” factor. That is until Yoda enters the hanger and unleashes the fury on the noble count. How cool was that when Yoda opened his robe and force grabbed his lightsaber to duel Dooku? Yoda’s fencing technique was a whirlwind of destruction and an absolute delight to watch.
#7 A Warm Welcome
Shortly after Han, Leia, and Chewy arrive at Bespin, Lando Calrissian betrays his longtime “friend” to the Empire. Now, we can’t feel too sorry for Lando, but at least he was trying to protect his people from the Empire's reach. The best part of this scene is when the doors open revealing Darth Vader at the head of the table. Chewy lets out a ferocious roar and Solo is quick on the draw. So quick, he gets off four blaster shots pointed right at the dark lord. Of course, Vader is able to block them, but you have to be impressed by Han’s ability to shoot first and ask questions later.
#6 Battle on Hoth
Darth Vader might be upset with Admiral Ozzel for botching the invasion on Hoth, but we can’t complain. Watching the AT-ATs plow through the rebellion defenses is a real treat to say the least. Having the snow speeders trip them up with tow cables is even better. Ultimately Imperial troops enter the base and sure enough Darth Vader is leading the charge. Witnessing the dark lord walk through the frozen corridors is enough to send chills down your spine.
#5 I love You / I Know
One of the more poignant moments in Star Wars is when Han and Leia finally have their moment in The Empire Strikes Back. Facing certain death, Leia finally admits that she loves our favorite scoundrel. To which he replies, “I know.” Solo forever cements himself as the Fonz in a galaxy far, far away…
#4 Free us or Die
Right from the get go, Return of the Jedi cranks up Luke Skywalker’s coolness factor to 11. It all starts when he force-chokes a Gamorrean guard as he enters Jabba’s palace. Followed up by an intense skirmish with a rancor. Cut to the gang awaiting their execution from the Sarlacc pit where Luke gives Jabba a final warning to release him and his friends. Luke then signals R2-D2 to eject his lightsaber and we see the green glow for the first time. Holy smokes!
#3 Darth Maul vs. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Phantom Menace is certainly not without its faults, but there is no denying the fight between Maul, Qui-Gon and Kenobi is off the charts. Darth Maul’s double-bladed lightsaber was spoiled in the trailers, but seeing it in action was a thing of beauty. Throw in the Duel of Fates music and it doesn’t get much better than that. We’re not sure anyone was prepared to see the demise of Darth Maul so quickly. However, those few short minutes we had with the Sith apprentice has left quite an impact over the last 20 years.
#2 Anakin vs. Kenobi
We all knew Revenge of the Sith wasn’t going to have a happy ending. Afterall, we are witnessing the end of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader. This could only end one way and the battle between Kenobi and Anakin did not disappoint. We see Anakin, misguided and fueled by hatred. Along with Kenobi, saddened and confused, come to blows on the molten planet of Mustafar. The amount of training, practice, and dedication between the two actors in perfecting this action scene is truly admirable and a love letter to fans.
#1 Lord Vader’s Hallway of Death
Darth Vader single-handedly cuts down the last line of defense of his enemies while they scream in horror… ‘Nuff said.
That’s our list. What are your favorite moments that didn’t make the cut? Let us know in the comments below. Be sure to check out our IX Days of Star Wars Sale for amazing deals on figures and model kits.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news, announcements and giveaways!