The Best Moment of Each Star Wars Movie

The Star Wars saga spans more than four decades and has been seen by millions of people. But let's be real: Not every film in the series is a winner. However, each movie probably has at least one moment worth checking out (even if you can't sit through the entire thing and have to skip to it). We put together a list of 11 such moments. Here you go:

11. Attack of the Clones

Anakin's First Kill:

Anakin Skywalker's slaughter of the inhabitants of the Tusken Raider village in which he finds his dying mother held captive provides loads of insight into his character. While its easy to sympathize with someone wanting to exact revenge on those responsible for the abduction and subsequent death of his parent, the fact that the young Jedi murders EVERYONE in the vicinity -- including children -- reveals that he wasn't seduced to the dark side by Palpatine -- Anakin was always a bad seed.









10. The Last Jedi

Snoke's Death:

Though it ignited one of several controversies surrounding the film (rightfully so), Supreme Leader Snoke's bisection at the hand(s) of his apprentice, Kylo Ren, proved to be the movie's sole highlight. The fact that the audience saw it coming and the victim never did makes it a visual -- if not narrative -- treat.









9. Solo

The Imperial Blockade:

This movie about a renown pilot is curiously bereft of scenes featuring him actually -- you know, being a pilot -- but Han Solo running into an Imperial blockade while at the controls of the Millennium Falcon is one of two scenes (the other being ----) that are worthy of Star Wars -- at least until the giant octopus shows up.









8. Revenge of the Sith

The Battle of Coruscant:

Most Star Wars movies force the viewer to wait for a glimpse of space combat. But the Battle of Coruscant is already underway when Revenge of the Sith begins. And aside from the robotic gremlins -- and the obvious CGI look of it all, the film's introductory scene sets a pretty high bar for everything that follows (and eclipses everything in the preceding movie: Attack of the Clones.)









7. The Phantom Menace

Darth Maul's Assault:

Every scene in The Phantom Menace in which Darth Maul appears is dope but his confrontation of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn is the best of the bunch.









6. The Rise of Skywalker

Kylo Ren's Confrontation with Palpatine 









5. The Force Awakens

The Millenium Falcon in Combat:

It would've been great if The Force Awakens were a pure sequel; but the fact that it's simultaneously a sequel and a remake makes Awakens a bit of a mess. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't have any decent scenes. As crazy as it sounds, Finn and Rey's escape from a couple of TIE-fighters in the Millennium Falcon using desperate shooting and panicked aerial acrobatics eclipses anything else we've seen the fabled ship do in Star Wars.









4. Star Wars

The Death Star Run:

Luke and Red Squadron's run through the trenches of the Death Star provided the best sci-fi action up to that point, sustained suspense and made everybody watching believe in the power of the Force.









3. Return of the Jedi

The Second Death Star Run:

The Battle of Endor features two components: a ground assault (which sucks) and the Rebel Alliance's attack on the Death Star, which was orbiting the jungle moon. Lando Calrissian, the Millennium Falcon's original owner, led the rebel fleet in combat against Imperial Star Destroyers bleeding TIE-fighters and then spearheaded a run on the second Death Star that resulted in the infamous battle station's destruction -- without using the Force.









2. Rogue One

Darth Vader vs. the Rebel Alliance:

Star Wars fans had yearned to see Darth Vader in real combat for years. Darth Maul had displayed his acrobatic martial arts prowess; Anakin Skywalker had effortlessly brought Darth Tyrannus to his knees. But Darth Vader, wearing his trademark black armor, had only been shown holding back in two lightsaber duels with his son.

Well, Star Wars' greatest prequel waited until the very end of the movie to fulfill the dreams of Star Wars fans everywhere.









1. The Empire Strikes Back

"No, I am your father."

The Empire Strikes Back bears the distinction of being the greatest chapter in the Star Wars saga. As such, almost every scene in the film is remarkable --but one manages to overshadow the rest. The plot twist heard around the world, the villainous Darth Vader's revelation that he was the hero's (Luke Skywalker) father elevated what began as a unique adventure story  to an operatic saga worthy of Shakespeare or Homer.




Originally Posted 10/25/19

Updated 6/21/20