We rank the 50 Biggest WTF Moments in Star Wars History
By Josh Hill
22. Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru Get Roasted
Film: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
The Moment: After finding Obi-Wan and conversing with him about how he can’t leave Tatooine to help him save the galaxy, Luke returns to his home to find Uncle Ben and Aunt Beru murdered. Not only were they murdered but they were burned alive, with only their charred skeleton corpses left behind for Luke to discover.
Why It’s Memorable: Luke needed a reason to leave Tatooine, and this was it. Not only was it the reason for him to leave the planet and start his journey towards his destiny, but it was one of the most violent moments in the Star Wars saga. There was no holding back on this one, as Lucas punches us in the emotional gut by showing us the charred bodies of Uncle Ben and Aunt Beru.
Once Lucas realized how much money his merchandise was worth in this franchise, he toned things way the hell down — so much so that teddy bears beat the empire and Jar Jar happened. But this was a moment where Lucas embraced the raw reality of filmmaking and story telling in the golden era of the 70s and wasn’t afraid to paint a brutal picture even in a galaxy far, far away.
Next: 21. Anakin massacres Tusken Raider Camp