We rank the 50 most memorable Star Wars deaths ever
By Ryan Wrenn
12. Jabba the Hutt
When Did They Die: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Who Were They: Slug-like gangster who ruled the Outer Rim from his palace on Tatooine
How Did They Die: Choked to death by his former captor, Leia
Short of his pet monkey-rat, there is no character in all of Star Wars who seemed more primed to be killed than Jabba the Hutt. He spend almost all his screen time being a vile, disgusting and completely unredeemable slug. From the moment he appeared at the beginning of Return of the Jedi, savvy audiences should have known that he was bound to die.
The slow-burn build up to Jabba’s eventual demise manages to make it all the more sweet when it actually does come. We see him sacrifice Oola and eventually Luke and Jubnuk to the rancor. We see him trick Leia as she tries to rescue Han. We see him enslave and mistreat countless beings, both living and robot. We see him oddly objectify just about any and everything to suit his pleasures.
So it feels appropriate that one of the object’s of Jabba’s grossness would eventually be his assassin. Just as Jabba’s pleasure barge is being overrun and just before it is about to explode, Leia frees herself and humiliates the Hutt by strangling him with the very chains that once bound her. A wonderful end for an unwonderful scum.
Next: 11. C-3PO