Top 10 Star Wars Moments

Kicking off our list is the cinematic opening that changed everything we knew or expected about Sci-Fi. Following a sweeping opening text crawl, we were treated to the stationary awe-inspiring visual of a rebel Blockade-runner being chased by a massive star destroyer. Only moments later, it led to the equally iconic moment when the storm troopers invaded the ship, and the mysterious Vader made his dramatic entrance, which left everyone breathless. Sci-fi would never be the same.

While Episode I is considered the weakest of the saga, it does have a few redeeming scenes that are among the best in the franchise, like the Pod Race. However, it was the three-way battle between the Jedi and the devilish Darth maul that got pulses pounding the fastest. The first full fight of the new trilogy, it cranked up the saber choreography to never before imagined levels, while its “Duel of the fates” theme music sealed in the epic.

With Palpatine playing both sides of war, it was a matter of time before we saw how he would tie up loose ends. One good thing about clone troopers is they don’t question orders. This harrowing moment signaled the beginning of the Jedi purge and the dark reign of the Empire. Thankfully, it also showed us how Yoda survived…

In the ultimate confrontation between teacher and student, Obi-Wan faced Anakin for the evil he’s committed. A lava filled confrontation between equals, it was amount that drove home how far Anakin had fallen. It also gave us a glimpse at the emotional side of Obi-Wan, and gave us the final piece of the puzzle in how Vader became more machine than man.

One surefire way to show that the bad guys mean business is to blow up a planet! This unprecedented sci-fi movie moment followed Princess Leia’s interrogation, as Grand Moff Tarkin decided to show her what the Death Star and the special effects department was capable of. Aside from the horrific grandeur of the explosion, it’s Obi Wan’s reaction light-years away that is perhaps most important, as it conveyed the nature of the force to a then unfamiliar audience.

As Empire was the darker installment of the original trilogy, it’s appropriate that the first act of the film end on a epic and devastating note! Pushing the conceptual sci-fi even farther than the previous film, nobody can forget the awesome power of the imperial walkers, and the feelings of hopelessness from brave snow speeders pilots buzzing around them.

Tons of movies end with a ticking clock, so a desperate last stand at the end of a film isn’t notable in and of itself. But a frantic WW2 style dogfight in space. Okay now you’ve got our attention. Simply put, there’s nothing here that isn’t iconic, from the fat guy blowing up to Luke using the force, right down to the last second save by Han, it’s pure movie magic.

While the light saber battle may not actually be the best choreographed of the series, it’s undoubtedly the most emotional. You can feel the anger in each strike as Luke looses control and dabbles juuuust a bit too close to the dark side. Thankfully, he gets a handful of symbolism to snap him out of it at the last moment.

With this being the darker sequel, someone had to die to really drive home how hopeless the situation was for the rebels, and how ruthless the Empire could be. With Harrison Ford feeling his character had been played out, he volunteered Han for death. Fortunately, the character ultimately survived, but it was harrowing and emotional watching him get tortured and made into a piece of modern art. I dunno about you, but the first time I watched it, I was left screaming “but what about Han??” when the credits rolled.

Taking the top spot on our list is the movie twist that disarmed Luke, and caught audiences gasping in complete disbelief. A twist so unexpected and game changing, many people actually though it just a ploy to convert Luke to the Dark side for three long years until “Return of the Jedi” finished the saga. One thing’s for sure, in today’s world of hashtags and video blogs, this secret would have probably dropped long before the movie.

Agree with our list? What do you consider the most memorable Star Wars Moment? For more entertaining top 10s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.