The Star Wars universe is vast and deep, but who is the baddest badass in a galaxy far, far away?
There are depths of the Star Wars universe that forty years after the first film’s release we still haven’t explored. There have been hundreds of books written, comic books drawn and stories told on television that have only just scratched the surface of the Star Wars universe — adventures that have given us some of the best characters we will ever meet in entertainment.
Not all of the characters we’ve met in Star Wars have left us with fond memories. But for the most part, even the bad characters have some sort of meaning to fans, even if that meaning is overwhelmingly negative.
When it comes to listing the best Star Wars character though, things get a little complicated and the cast get hard to sort out. But even as large as the ever expanding universe is for Star Wars, there’s a way to get to the bottom of who the best character of all-time is.
The only question is, will the Force be strong with them or are there posers among the list of best characters?
Next: 50. Yousa All Can Guess
50. Jar Jar Binks
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
There was a moment in The Phantom Menace where it looked like Jar Jar might become the victim of a Gungan hate crime on Tatooine. He didn’t get killed by Sebulba but he was choked out for a little bit — it was a highlight for us all.
Worst Moment
Jar Jar was given power, for some reason, over the decisions that Naboo makes in the senate. This ended up coming into play when Chancellor Palpatine wanted emergency powers and manipulated Jar Jar into voting for it. Jar Jar is the reason the Clone Wars started and plunged the galaxy into darkness.
Breakdown
The bottom of the barrel of any Star Wars list should always include one of the worst things to have ever happened to the franchise. Set aside your George Lucas hate and all of your animosity for both incarnations of Anakin Skywalker because nothing is as awful as Jar Jar Binks.
Jar Jar is the most indefensible thing that has ever happened to Star Wars and nothing will ever change that.
Stay nice and warm with this Star Wars blanket.
Even Hayden Christensen has redeeming qualities — as few or even singular as they may be — whereas Jar Jar is just a heap of garbage. He’s not even a real character, he’s all CGI, so it’s impossible for us to take out or rage on him as we just have to live and let live.
Next: 49. C-3PO
49. C-3PO
Major Appearances:
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: Empire Strikes Back
- Star wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Force Awakens
- Clone Wars
- Star Wars: Rebels
Best Moment
Love him or hate him, C-3PO was able to help the Rebels beat the Empire on Endor thanks to the Ewoks thinking he was a golden god. It wasn’t really a talent that he had more so than a coincidence, but you have to credit him with being in the right place at the right time.
Worst Moment
Remember that time Luke, Han, Leia and Chewie were stuck in the trash compactor? Do you also remember how C-3PO panicking almost got them killed? Yeah, that’s the very definition of a low point when you almost get your friends killed for being a spaz and that’s maybe the strongest trait that Threepio has.
Breakdown
While he’s a great character as far as holding place near and dear to our hearts, it’s incredibly hard to argue that C-3PO is anything other than strictly comic relief in the Star Wars films. There is not a single moment where anyone is in a bind and C-3PO uses his wits to save the day.
Anytime that the droid participates in saving the day it’s either as a lowly party or it’s completely accidental.
Eat up with this Star Wars waffle maker.
C-3PO was the one who almost crushed his friends alive in a trash compactor, he basically gave up after he and R2 were given to Jabba and basically every other time he was called upon he failed or was useless. He wasn’t even in most of Empire as he was either shut down for being annoying or blown to pieces for being stupid.
Next: 48. Zam Wesell
48. Zam Wesell
Major Appearances:
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Best Moment
Zam wasn’t on screen long in Attack of the Clones, but for as long as she was the bounty hunter managed to cause some panic. She set up the bomb that almost killed Padme then she almost killed Padme in her apartment if it hadn’t been thwarted by Obi-Wan and Anakin.
Worst Moment
As great as it was that she almost did her job right, she also almost ratted out Jango Fett — which is a no no when it comes to being respected in the criminal underworld. Bounty Hunters are self employed, but you can’t network when you are selling everyone out — or dead.
Breakdown
Bounty hunter are cool people in the world of Star Wars, and it’s hard to be one that doesn’t come off as awesome. Zam Wesell isn’t a bad bounty hunter, she just isn’t the most appealing that we’ve ever met. Of course, most people are only familiar with the few moments she was in Attack of the Clones, but she isn’t as bad as it may seem.
Zam was given a little more time to develop as a character in the video game Bounty Hunter, which centered on Jango Fett in the time leading up to Attack of the Clones. It wasn’t much but we got to at least see some of the character behind the armor. It wasn’t a whole lot of exposition, but it was more than what we saw of her in any of the movies and it actually helped humanize her by giving her some background.
You never knew you needed a Wampa rug until now.
That being said, she’s still not the most intriguing character in the galaxy and she failed to do the one thing that bounty hunters need to do: stay alive.
Next: 47. Greedo
47. Greedo
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
There was actually pretty cool episode of Clone Wars that featured Greedo trying to kidnap a trio of characters in which he actually came off pretty well. Aside from the whole kidnapping thing, Greedo was actually a functioning member of the galaxy, even if his plot was foiled by Ashoka in the end.
Worst Moment
Getting shot by the guy you’re supposed to be collecting a bounty on is pretty much the exact opposite of what you want to happen. Unfortunately for Greedo, not only was he killed by Han Solo, but his death is one of the most iconically debated moments in Star Wars history.
Breakdown
Did Greedo shoot first? That’s a question that some Star Wars fans still debate over even though we know that it was Han who shot first. But that whole incident is something that took a throwaway character and made him into one of the most iconic parts about Star Wars.
Greedo isn’t going to be confused for Luke Skywalker and he’s hardly a character who is high up on anyone’s list of great characters in the films. But he’s an essential part oft he mythos and is someone that even though he goes out like a punk, will be defended by Star Wars fans if needed.
This R2-D2 teapot is a must-have addition to your kitchen.
Stating the obvious though, Greedo can’t be ranked very high on the list for the mere fact that he was a bounty hunter who went out hard. You can’t go around talking trash and then backing it up by getting shot by a smuggler you’re supposed to be collecting a bounty on.
Next: 46. Bib Fortuna
46. Bib Fortuna
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Breakdown
I want to talk about Bib Fortuna here, but this is actually all about Jar Jar and how stupid he is. We all hate Jar Jar, and he’s literally so useless of a character that Jabba’s lackey is more powerful than Jar Jar. That goes for C-3PO too, who was actually bullied by this thing, not to mention the little rat thing that hung out in the palace.
Bib isn’t really a powerful character on his own, but he’s made powerful by the company that he keeps. That’s primarily Jabba, but that’s a connection that carries some weight of protection. No one is going to mess with Bib so long as he’s associated with Jabba, and being the lackey of one of the most powerful gangsters in the galaxy is not that bad of a gig when you think about it.
This Star Wars comics box set is sure to turn heads. You need to have it.
However, beyond his association with Jabba, there really isn’t much to Bib and there’s hardly anything scary about him. He seems like your typical tough character who leverages who he knows to stay alive as opposed to being actually tough.
Next: 45. Sand People
45. Sand People
Main Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Best Moment
It’s hard to pick a moment where the Tuskan Raiders weren’t tearing something up for the betterment of the galaxy, but they were instrumental in Luke Skywalker finding Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope so they indeed served a positive purpose in the saga.
Worst Moment
Anakin Skywalker was such a nice kid who said things like ‘wizard’ and had crushes on older women — until the Tuskan Raiders kidnapped his bother and tortured her to death. What happened after that was one of the darkest moments in the Star Wars saga as the Tuskan Raiders forced Anakin to go full Vader a full film early.
Breakdown
Every fan needs this Millennium Falcon model kit from ThinkGeek.
While not technically one character, the Tuskan Raiders are not to be trifled with lightly. They’ve kidnapped characters we cared about, have popped up at random times to create chaos and they’ve been a general disruption every time we see them. They’re not taking over the galaxy, but they’re a variable that must always be accounted for.
Next: 44. Wampa
44. Wampa
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Best Moment
Kidnapping Luke and tossing him in what doubled as a refrigerator and a home was pretty much the high point for the Wampa. It displayed the power that the creature has and like the Tuskan Raiders, the Wampa is a variable that can’t be ignored.
Worst Moment
Well, I mean it kind of sucked when the Tampa got its arm cut off. It wasn’t as bad as the Tuskan Raider massacre, but you lose points for losing limbs.
Breakdown
In a galaxy full of game changing characters, it’s hard to have as little screen time as the Wampa had yet leave such a massive impression. You can’t think of Empire and not think about the Wampa scene at the beginning of the film. It reminded us that while it was a battle between good and evil, there’s always extra danger that can be added to the mix at unexpected times.
Next: 43. Jawas
43. Jawas
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
There have been a number of comical moments involving the Jawas over the course of the Star Wars story being told, but perhaps their greatest moment was — well, all of them. For character so ambiguous to the story, the Jawas have popped up in just about every single Star Wars story in one way or another.
Worst Moment
They dumped C-3PO and R2-D2 to Owen Lars for basically nothing. This is the Star Wars equivalent of the Red Sox selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees to fund some play. The Jawas will be around forever but they’re going to be paying for selling their hottest commodities for a long time.
Breakdown
The Jawas are some of the most meaningless characters in the galaxy, yet they have the power to control events like few others. They were involved in telling Anakin where the Tuskan Raiders were holding his mother, they sold R2 and Threepio to Owen and their massacre at the hands of the stormtroopers led Luke back home and eventually onto the path to saving the galaxy.
Next: 42. Chirrut Imwe
42. Chirrut Imwe
Major Appearances
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Best Moment
“I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.” In an act of bravery, the blind warrior-monk walked out into open enemy fire in order to hit a switch that, once powered off, would allow the Rebellion forces trapped on Scarif to send the Death Star plans to the Rebel Fleet fighting a battle of its own above the planet.
Worst Moment
Did Chirrut really have a single bad moment in Rogue One? The correct answer is no, no he did not.
Breakdown
Along with his fellow former Guardian of the Whills — Baz Malbus — Chirrut Imwe was one of the characters from Rogue One that had not lost all hope that the Force would ever see balance once again, or that the Empire would or could be defeated.There were so many amazing moments from Chirrut in the film that it’s hard to pinpoint just one.
Next: 41. Kit Fisto
41. Kit Fisto
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
Kit Fisto was one of many Jedi to show up on Geonisis and rescue Anakain, Obi-Wan and Padme from their public execution in Attack of the Clones. But his finest moments were had as a more fleshed out character in the Clone Wars series that helped establish him as more than just a background Jedi character and more of a member of the Jedi society.
Worst Moment
While he was a decent bad ass in the Clone Wars series, Kit Fisto was one of many Jedi who went out like a punk in the films. He was supposed to help Mace Windu overthrow the Chancellor — who had been revealed as the Sith Lord they were all looking for but couldn’t find. Rather than be much of a help, he went out like a punk and in pretty quick order too, seemingly calling into question how much of a bad ass he really was in the end.
Breakdown
Fisto was mostly a background character who was there to fill out the council and make it look like there were a ton of Jedi. But over the years, his backstory has become more fleshed out for fans, and there has been an attachment to him that we’ve seen with other characters who get his sort of treatment. The bigger the universe, the more plentiful the characters will be, but Kit Fisto has managed to stick out nicely thanks to more of his story being told as the years go by.
Next: 40. Ki-Adi Mundi
40. Ki-Adi-Mundi
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
It’s hard to pick out a best moments or a guy we didn’t really see much of, but there is a bit of a bittersweet moment for Ki-Adi when it comes to when he was at his best. Back in Episode I, Ki-Adi was among those Jedi on the Council who believed that Anakin Skywalker shouldn’t be allowed to be trained as a Jedi. Considering Anakin brought about the purge that killed Ki-Adi, this bit of wisdom was spot on.
Worst Moment
Well, dying wasn’t really his crowning achievement or his shining moment. Ki-Adi wasn’t the only Jedi to have been completely blindsided by the Great Jedi Purge, but at the same time you can’t be too proud that one of the members of the Council was taken by complete and utter surprise by the whole situation. Ki-Adi might be powerful but he wasn’t as great as we might have thought.
Breakdown
Ki-Adi Mundi was one of the background characters who never really got enough screen time for us to be emotional invested in him. He was part of the Council decisions, but at the same time we never someone that we were invested in beyond the fact that he was part of the Jedi.
Next: 39. General Hux
39. General Hux
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
Hux delivered a powerful speech before the First Order attacked the home of the New Republic in Hosnian Prime. While it was laced with hatred, the speech was a powerful moment for actor Domnhall Gleeson and his character General Hux.
Worst Moment
Under his command, Finn was able to escape the First Order’s stormtrooper corps.
Breakdown
At various points throughout The Force Awakens, Hux and Kylo Ren compete for the approval of Supreme Leader Snoke. Much like Empire officers before him, Hux seems to think Kylo Ren’s dedication to the Force is a weakness, as beliefs in a hokey religion don’t win wars, in his mind. By the end of the film, Hux’s Starkiller base is destroyed, but he is able to warn Snoke and escape with Kylo Ren before it explodes.
Next: 38. Captain Rex
38. Captain Rex
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
- Star Wars Rebels
Best Moment
Like many warriors of the Clone Wars, it’s hard to pin an exact moment that was the best moment for Rex. But it’s hard to argue against the fact that he didn’t become a mindless clone trooper for the Empire after Order 66 was given. Rex pops up in Rebels and we’re happy to see him, because he’s one of the good clones. There has to be a lot of inspiration for the character of Finn in who Captain Rex was throughout his run in the Star Wars story.
Worst Moment
While he wasn’t one of the bad clone troopers, Rex also didn’t rock the boat the way he maybe could have to save some of the Jedi. He knew there was bad things on the horizon for his generals, but that didn’t totally stop him from tuning things out and just fighting the war. He can’t the blamed for this, as it’s what he was bred to do — and he’s also not a Jedi who missed this, so there’s that.
Breakdown
Fans who only watched the movies won’t be familiar with Rex, but that’s not a reason to refuse to read up on him. Rex is one of the many non-film characters who help complete the vast blanket of characters in the Star Wars universe, and he’s someone who helped shape the story that we know and love.
Next: 37. Poe Dameron
Image from The Force Awakens teaser trailer.
37. Poe Dameron
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
Poe flew his X-Wing into the core of Starkiller base on a strafing run that led to its destruction.
Worst Moment
Poe allowed his concentration on getting to the surface of Jakku to be distracted when he argued with Finn on why he was returning to the planet. As a result, his stolen TIE Fighter crashed.
Breakdown
Poe Dameron was originally not supposed to survive his crash landing on Jakku, however, after speaking with actor Oscar Isaac, The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams decided to create a whole new story-arc for the character. Poe is a hero through and through, and if not for his bravery at Starkiller base, the Resistance would not have triumphed.
Next: 36. Rey
36. Rey
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
Rey defeated Kylo Ren in a lightsaber and Force duel at the end of The Force Awakens.
Worst Moment
Rey, desiring to be reunited with a family she doesn’t remember, almost returned to Jakku and the oppressive labor imposed by Unkar Plutt.
Breakdown
With no training in the ways of the Force or with a lightsaber, Rey was able to defeat a trained acolyte of the Dark Side, in Kylo Ren. Rey’s inexplicable mastery in piloting the Millennium Falcon, as well as her ability to repair the ship in flight, certainly lends credence to the theory she is, in fact, a Skywalker. That remains to be seen, for now.
Next: 35. Prince Xizor
35. Prince Xizor
Major Appearances
- Star Wars: Shadow of the Empire
Best Moment
Xizor’s best moment was when he decided to overthrow Vader. Most people up to this point wanted to overthrow Vader for the betterment of the galaxy — but not this Prince. He wanted the role Vader had all to himself, which was new motivation we hadn’t really heard before and instantly intrigued us. Just that idea itself showed how smart and daring Xizor was, and it helped us all fall little involve with how much a devil he was.
Worst Moment
A lot of what was wrong with Xizor wasn’t that he was a flawed character, it was that he was just doing what everyone else in the galaxy did expect at higher levels of treason. He didn’t betray the Empire for selfish reasons, rather he was looking our for himself in trying to get rid of Vader. But when you try to get rid of the baddest badass in the galaxy, you’d better have a more concrete plan than Xizor did as he’ll forever stand as a lesson to those trying to overthrow a Sith apprentice.
Breakdown
Movie viewers won’t know who Xizor is off the top of their heads, but he was an important part of what is now considered to be a Legend story. The Shadow of the Empire linked Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and Xizor’s role was probably that of many in the galaxy — to try and help the Empire and find a way to stay alive. His way was to kill Vader and take his place, which rich toff the bat sounds like wicked motivation to be as bad as possible.
Next: 34. Darth Bane
34. Darth Bane
Major Appearances
- Star Wars: Darth Bane
- Darth Bane: Rule of Two
Best Moment
How do you personally create the way of the modern Sith Lord and not have that be your best moment. That’s what Darth Bane seemed to be born for, as he grew up int he Sith Academy but quickly dismantled it all to start a new Sith Order — the one we are familiar with today. It was Bane who created the Sith, the rule of two and so many other things that served as the foundation for Darth Sidious, Darth Maul and Darth Vader to exist.
Worst Moment
When you take yourself out of Bane’s warped view on the world, you see pretty easily what his worst moment was. The guy created the Sith religion as it was known in the prequels and beyond — not the best thing for the races of the galaxy. Bane was both the best and worst thing to happen to the Sith ways, as he helped lift the Sith out of the ashes but also set in motion a system that would eventually undo itself so many thousands of years later.
Breakdown
Darth Bane may only be a book character, but he was one of the most fascinating creations in the Star Wars universe. The way he came up in the Sith Academy and recreated the ways of the Sith is one of the best stories told in the Star Wars canon — even if it’s officially now a Legends tale only.
Next: 33. Bail Organa
33. Bail Organa
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
It’s not hard to nail what Bail’s best moment was. He took on the role that nobody in the Senate or on Coruscant wanted to do — be a true ally to the Jedi and to the ways of good. He adopted Leia, helped place Luke on Tatooine with Obi-Wan and saved Yoda during the Great Jedi Purge. Bail wasn’t a major character in the films, but he was one of the most important characters we ever met.
Worst Moment
He didn’t have a whole bunch of bad moments, as being more vocal in his opposition of the Chancellor would have exposed him to harm. But had Bail started to rally the senate against Palpatine, we might have had a different out come to the prequel stories. Maybe this guilt is what helped Bail gather together the Rebellion as he felt possibly partially responsible for all that had happened.
Breakdown
Bail Organa isn’t a character that we instantly think of when someone brings up Star Wars, but it’s hard to deny the effect he had throughout the saga. He was the reason Leia grew up to be the woman she became in the original trilogy, he was a major driving force behind the creation of the Rebellion and more over he was an ally to the Jedi. How can you not like Bail?
Next: 32. Rahm Kota
32. Rahm Kota
Major Appearances
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Best Moment
No matter his flaws, Rahm Kota was instrumental in the birth of the Rebellion. That can’t go unnoticed in his life achievements, as it brought about another important figure for fans to familiarize themselves with from an era we don’t really know that much about. The gaps have been mostly filled in since the films were released, but Rahm’s involvement in the creation of the rebellion stands as his crowning achievement — far and away.
Worst Moment
It’s not just the bad guys who get done in by hubris. Rahm fought Starkiller for the first time ever and thought he was the superior warrior — something he was not so right about. Sure, he was distracted by the glimpse of the future he saw, but he wasn’t really being a true Jedi in his battle, and that hubris partially led to his being blinded.
Breakdown
We might seeing more of Rahm in Rouge One, but if his only involvement in the Star Wars story is what we learned in The Force Unleashed games, then that’s not a bad way to be remembered. He helped create the Rebellion, was an important guiding light in Starkiller’s character arc and confirmed to fans that more Jedi survived the purge than just Obi-Wan and Yoda .Rahm’s whole existence helped raise questions about what happened to other Jedi, which stoked the imagination of fans everywhere.
Next: 31. Bossk
31. Bossk
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Clone Wars
- Star Wars: Rebels
Best Moment
When it comes to best moments for Bossk, you have to consider his association with Boba Fett. The two were teamed up together very early on in their lives and bounty hunting careers, pulling off heists together and saving each on more than one occasion. It wasn’t a perfect relationship, but Bossk and Fett were a team that many of the events in the galaxy might not have happened if they weren’t together.
Worst Moment
Of course, all good things come to an end. There was a falling out between Bossk and Fett at some point — a story that is now Legend and may not be official — and the end of their relationship was the end of an era. You can’t blame bounty hunters for not getting along, but Bossk breaking off from Boba was like the band breaking up and the bassist trying to have a solo career all to his own.
Breakdown
Bossk is another one of those background characters who benefited greatly from the stories that were told later on about them. He’s one of the first Original Trilogy characters to have benefited from the recent canon, as Bossk was involved in the Rebels storyline and the character of Ezra. He won’t be the last character to benefit, but he was someone that both older and newer audiences couldn’t help but love to see.
Next: 30. Finn
30. Finn
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
Finn bravely led Han Solo and Chewbacca to Starkiller Base where, thanks to the former First Order stormtrooper, they were able to drop the shields, allowing the Resistance X-Wings in, to destroy the planet.
Worst Moment
While he didn’t fire his weapon, Finn was part of a detachment of stormtroopers that slaughtered an entire village.
Breakdown
Finn overcame his training as a First Order stormtrooper in order to change his life, when he saw how the innocent were hurt. He almost decided to flee to the Outer Rim, yet when he found out his new friend Rey was kidnapped by Kylo Ren, Finn bravely led the Resistance to Starkiller base. He also defended Rey in a fight with Kylo Ren, taking a terrible wound to his spine in the process.
Next: 29. Admiral Ackbar
29. Admiral Ackbar
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
While he may have committed one of the worst strategic moves in galactic history while attacking the Death Star II, you can’t deny that Ackbar was at the helm the the Rebels won the war. It was a messy plan that wasn’t executed with a ton of grace, but Ackbar led the assault on the Death Star II that helped win the war for the rebellion, which is basically the only job he had to do.
Worst Moment
While he may have committed one of the worst strategic moves in galactic history while attacking the Death Star II, you can’t deny that Ackbar was at the helm the the Rebels won the war. It was a messy plan that wasn’t executed with a ton of grace, but Ackbar led the assault on the Death Star II that helped win the war for the rebellion, which is basically the only job he had to do.
Breakdown
Akbar is one of those Star Wars character who didn’t have a ton of screen time but is someone that fans just can’t get enough of. That’s really what helps his credibility here, as fans have latched onto Ackbar in a big way, thanks in large part to ‘It’s a Trap!’, but there’s no denying his popularity among fans.
Next: 28. Cad Bane
28. Cad Bane
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
Bane is one of probably a very small group of people to have been able to break into the Jedi Temple and steal a holocron. It wasn’t an easy task, but he was able to pull off one of the hardest heists possible — and give Star Wars fans one of the weirdest but coolest experiences they’ll ever have while absorbing the grander story of the universe.
Worst Moment
It’s never good for a bunny hunter to do hard time — but Bane did exactly this. We don’t know when, but at some point during the Clone Wars, Bane was captured by the Republic and forced to pay for his crimes committed. He eventually broke out of prison, thus reaffirming his badass status, but once you’ve been caught that’s on your bounty hunter street cred record forever.
Breakdown
It’s never good for a bunny hunter to do hard time — but Bane did exactly this. We don’t know when, but at some point during the Clone Wars, Bane was captured by the Republic and forced to pay for his crimes committed. He eventually broke out of prison, thus reaffirming his badass status, but once you’ve been caught that’s on your bounty hunter street cred record forever.
Next: 27. IG-88
27. IG-88
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Best Moment
His best moment wasn’t a moment at all — it was a sort of emotion. IG-88 was a droid, and later a software on the Death Star II, but he never took things too personally in the line of duty. He feuded most infamously with Boba Fett, but never once let this interfere with his bounty hunting business. That takes a special kind of emotion, to bury emotion itself, but leave it to a machine to be able to pull it off.
Worst Moment
IG-88’s worst moment was a series of bad moments — his continuous destruction. IG-88 was destroyed on a number of occasions, only to somehow reactivate and live on. He was a software conscious uploaded onto the Death Star II, and when it was destroyed, so too was IG-88. But not even this was the last time we heard from him, as it’s almost a weird Karma-like game being played where IG-88 just can’t die but always suffers death.
Breakdown
While officially a film character since he showed up in Empire Strikes Back, IG-88 is mostly a book and Legends character who fans fell in love with thanks to the Expanded Universe. It’s hard to be a background character in one of the movies and get the kind of run that IG-88 has had in terms of popularity and background, but then again there are few character in the galaxy like him.
Next: 26. Asaij Ventress
26. Asaij Ventress
Major Appearances
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
Her control over the Clone Wars — albeit under the leadership of Dooku and Sidious — was a thorn in the side of the Republic on more than one occasion. You can’t really pinpoint one best moment that she had, as Ventress was all over the place controlling the flow of the war on both the outer rim and closer to home. She was a field general like few others, and was one of the reasons the Separatists stayed in the war as long as they did.
Worst Moment
Ventless’s worst moment isn’t really her fault — it’s on George Lucas. The fact that we never got to see her in the movies is a travesty, as she’s beyond badass status and fits perfectly into the mold of someone fans would have had Darth Maul levels of obsession with. She doesn’t appear as it is, and fans still love her. Rather than having Dooku be the apprentice to Sidious, Ventress would have been so much better.
Breakdown
Here’s another non-film character who fans can’t seem to get enough of. It takes a special kind of character to exist outside of the films but still be considered up there with those who appear in the saga — and Ventress is among those special characters. She was Dooku’s hand in the Clone Wars — something that mildly violated the Sith ways, but without this bending of the rules we wouldn’t have one of the coolest characters to have never actually appeared in the films.
Next: 25. Count Dooku
25. Count Dooku
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Bounty Hunter
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
When it comes to best moments for Dooku, you have to look at a video game — Bounty Hunter. Dooku played a minimal role in it, but the story that is told confirms that it’s Dooku who finds and contracts Jango Fett to be the basis for the Clone Army — and eventually Stormtroopers.
Think of all the fun you’ll have with this lightsaber laser pointer.
While Dooku didn’t actually show up in the original trilogy, it turns out his fingers prints are partially all over the place.
Worst Moment
Dooku’s worst moment was the moment right before his death — when he froze before he could tell Anakin what was what about Chancellor Palpatine. Dock realized that he was being killed off for Anakin to replace him, and given his connection to Qui-Gon and the light side of the force, there was something in him that wanted to spill the beans. What a time to get stage fright.
Breakdown
We didn’t really know much about Dooku when he randomly showed up in the prequel films, but that didn’t stop him from becoming an established villain. Outside of Dock’s role in the creation of the Empire, actor Christopher Lee brought an odd coolness factor to his character, not unlike the same way that his friend Peter Cushing did to the role of Tarkin so many years before.
Next: 24. Tarkin
24. Grand Moff Tarkin
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Tarkin (Book)
Best Moment
His greatest moment wasn’t real a moment as much as it was a form of control. As we learned throughout the Star Wars story, Darth Vader is a king badass, but Tarkin had him on a leash like no one else other than the Emperor did. Vader strangled admirals and killed children, but Tarkin had him whipped as whipped can be. That’s OG respect, right there.
Worst Moment
Tarkin wasn’t the only victim of hubris in the Star Wars universe, but he certainly didn’t learn from any of the past instances of this playing a role in the deaths of some powerful people. Tarkin wasn’t drunk on power, but he also believed too blindly in the Death Star as a tool to control the galaxy. You don’t leave an exhaust port the size of a proton torpedo exposed and consider yourself competent.
Breakdown
Like a lot of Star Wars villains, Tarkin was a one-off who didn’t make it through the movie he was in.
Stay nice and warm with this Star Wars hoodie.
But beyond the cool factor he had in A New Hope, Peter Cushing and his connection to the Hammer horror films of the 50s and 60s helped bring credibility to his role and added longevity to it long after he was killed off and long after he died in real life.
Next: 23. Admiral Thrawn
23. Admiral Thrawn
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
Thrawn’s best moment has to be his resurrection of the Empire. He was one of the Emperor’s greatest commanders, and with his boss out of the way, and the fire still burning in his soul to run e the galaxy, Thrawn made a natural enemy for the New Republic and to the universe as a whole. He single handily kept the hear to fate Empire pumping, and his role in the Legends stories likely serves as inspiration for the New Order in The Force Awakens.
Worst Moment
You can only be an evil commander for so long before you just can’t hack it anymore. That was the fatal flaw for the original Empire and Thrawn’s resurrected empire was no different. While he wrecked havoc on the galaxy, his mission was never complete and he was foiled much in the same way that his predecessor was.
Breakdown
While he’s now officially not part of the Lucas canon, Admiral Thrawn will forever hold a special place i the hearts of Star Wars fans. Whatever happens in The Force Awakens is largely due to Thrawn — a character who refused to let the Empire die and continued on fighting a fight that we all thought was already over.
This R2-D2 speaker will get the party started.
He’s the foundation for that story being told, and he’ll always be an original to fans.
Next: 22. Jango Fett
22. Jango Fett
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Best Moment
Bounty hunters don’t really have great moments, they have a series of moments that vary from good to bad based on the job. But if you had to pinpoint a best moment for Jango, it has to be when he taught Boba the trick his son later used in Episode V to track Han Solo.
Worst Moment
Getting his head cut off by Mace Windu was without a doubt the lowest point absolutely possible. Jango was an important part of the Star Wars arc, as he’s the basis for the stormtroopers, but that didn’t really help him when he needed to defend himself against a Jedi.
Stay classy with this Boba Fett button-up shirt.
He wasn’t the nicest of characters, but he was a family man and seeing him get his head cut off wasn’t something we totally enjoyed.
Breakdown
Jango was a character we couldn’t wait to meet in the prequels, but were mildly underwhelmed by. He wasn’t around very long but he left his impression on the entire series by being the subject that the stormtroopers were based off of. This was retconned a little thanks to what we know about Finn in The Force Awakens, but Jango will always be a part of the franchise’s core history if for nothing other than his infamous son.
Next: 21. Ahsoka
21. Ahsoka
Major Appearances
- Clone Wars
- Star Wars: Rebels
Best Moment
Ahsoka wasn’t the wisest of all the Jedi but she had the spunk that made her something special. She learned quick, was determined and willing to go above and beyond in her duty. That’s why her general involvement in the Clone Wars was her best moment, as she helped turn the tide on more than one occasion. She was a special Jedi and the wisdom she learned in the Clone Wars from her various battles and escapes later helped her when she ran into the Rebels trying to fight the Empire.
Worst Moment
It’s hard to call caring too much as a worst moment, but that’s something that Ahsoka was guilty of. While she was loyal to the Jedi, she blindly followed Anakin and didn’t see the flaws or the darkness brewing within him. To her credit, neither did any of the most powerful Jedi on the council, but the fact that she was so close to Anakin and so wise in the force, but didn’t see his darkness coming, is not her finest hour.
Breakdown
She wasn’t a film character, but Ahsoka is still a fan favorite from her time on Clone Wars and then Rebels. There is something to love about a character who is powerful, smart and willing to learn for the greater good.
Show the world you’re a Star Wars fan with this t-shirt.
In many ways, she’s the Jedi Anakin was supposed to be but never was.
Next: 20. Padme
20. Padme Amidala
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
There were a handful of strong moments that Padme had over the course of her life, not the least of which was when she revealed herself as — well, herself. In Episode I, Padme was meant to be a handmaiden for the Queen, — but it turns out she was the Queen. Not only that, she led the assault on the palace to take back her capital and free her people.
Worst Moment
One of the most so great moments for Padme was when she tried to go and convince Anakin to not turn to the Dark Side. This was admirable and she did it for the right reasons — love — but it wasn’t something that went her way at all. Not only did she fail to convince him to leave with her but it ended up being a fatal move for her.
Breakdown
Padme, like her daughter Leia, was one of the strongest characters in the entire Star Wars saga. Not only that, but she was a strong female character who was someone that fans could look up to and appreciate as the hero she was. Not only was she strong but she was the mother of Leia and Luke — giving us the great and final hope for the galaxy after it was plunged into darkness.
Next: 19. General Grievous
19. General Grievous
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
His best moment was probably the capture of Chancellor Palpatine. At this point. Grievous and the Separatists didn’t know that Sidious and Palpatine were the same guy, so there was actual skill needed to swoop into the capital and kidnap the chancellor. It was kind of downhill from there for Grievous, but kidnapping the chancellor was actually pretty cunning — even if he was playing with a loaded deck.
Worst Moment
Grievous went out like a punk – -something Lucas loved to do with badass villains who look cool, act bad and fans latch onto. He didn’t even get killed by a lightsaber, it was a blaster that did Grievous in. For a guy who wielded four lightsabers, getting killed by a blaster is a punk way to go.
Breakdown
General Grievous was one of those prequel villains that really seemed more of a Bond villain than a Star Wars villain. He was only in one movie, played the bad guy role and was killed before things were over. He was more of a pawn than a villain, but that doesn’t change the fact that he was a badass we all liked to see a part of Star Wars.
Next: 18. Kylo Ren
18. Kylo Ren
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
His duel with Rey at the end of the film.
Worst Moment
He lost that duel to Rey at the end of the film. Oh, and he killed his father, Han Solo.
Breakdown
As the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, Kylo Ren — formerly known as Ben Solo — has decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Darth Vader. Throughout the film, Kylo Ren attempts to find out why Rey is so special, all the while looking for a map to find Luke Skywalker.
Next: 17. Mace Windu
17. Mace Windu
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
Perhaps the best moment that Mace Windu had was when he helped rescue Anakin, Padme and Obi-Wan on Geonosis. Sure, he decapitated Jango Fett in rather un-Jedi style, but he was instrumental in helping to lead the Republic Army, even if he was opposed to the idea in the first place. That’s the type of leader he was, making things happen to save lives rather than delegate and risk them.
Worst Moment
As wise as Mace was, he was just as foolish. He left his life in the hands of Anakin, even though he didn’t trust him for a second. The moment they met in Episode I, Mace was not on board with Anakin becoming a Jedi and he never trusted him from that point on — right up to the moment of his death. In that moment, he trusted Anakin — a guy he had never trusted before — and it cost him his life.
Breakdown
Mace Windu was more than just a wise Jedi, he was also one of the most cunning warriors in the galaxy. There was a reason he was on the high council with Yoda and concerned the second most powerful Jedi out there. It didn’t save him from death, but Windu was important to the Jedi and is someone who left his impression — for better or for worse.
Next: 16. Jabba the Hutt
16. Jabba The Hutt
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode V: Return of the Jedi
Best Moment
How can you pick the best moment of a slug who is nothing more than a gangster. But in the twisted view of Jabba, his best moment was when he finally got his hands on Han Solo frozen in carbonite to display on his wall. Jabba had long been after a way to get his hands on Han, and literally hanging him on his wall as decoration was a high point in his life.
Worst Moment
Dying usually shoots to the top of the list of your not so great moments, and Jabba went out like a true gangster. Just like Lucca Brassi in The Godfather, Jabba was strangled to death. He was powerful in his life but in death he was nothing more than just another dead punk.
Breakdown
The Star Wars galaxy is a vast universe, and one of the under explored realms of that galaxy is the gangster underground. The Hutts rule the criminal underworld and the best known Hutt to Star Wars fans is Jabba. He was slimy, he was gross and he was powerful — all things that clashed with the universe that had been created by seemed to fit right in as an adversary — and sometimes ally — to those trying to do good.
Next: 15. Qui-Gon Jinn
Credit: Lucasfilm
15. Qui-Gon Jinn
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
For a guy who wasn’t around very long, it’s hard to say that Qui-Gon had a lot of great moments. He also gave the galaxy Anakin, the guy who would eventually destroy everything. But there were plenty of good things that Qui-Gon did, not the least of which was leaving an impression on Obi-Wan that we saw stick with him throughout the rest of the films.
Worst Moment
Dying was pretty awful, especially since it probably could have been avoided. Qui-Gon was yet another powerful Jedi who fell victim to not being an effective enough warrior as wisdom only takes you so far. Wisdom might have brought Qui-Gon to help mold the mind of Obi-Wan but it sure as hell doesn’t stop a lightsaber from stabbing you.
Breakdown
We didn’t get to see much of Qui-Gon in the prequel films — mainly because he was just in one movie. But what we did see of him we really liked, whether that was Liam Neeson coming out in the role or if it was just how wise and nurturing the character was. He wasn’t around for a long time, but we did get to connect with Qui-Gon enough to be excited to see him return in the final season of Clone Wars.
Next: 14. Captain Phasma
14. Captain Phasma
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
Hard to determine, as her role in TFA was very limited.
Worst Moment
Allowing herself to be dumped down a trash chute by Finn and Han Solo and Chewbaca, meaning Starkiller Base’s shileds would be dropped.
Breakdown
Captain Phasma went from someone we had only heard about in the story rumors about The Force Awakens to a fan favorite up there with the likes of Boba Fett and Darth Maul. Everyone is assuming that the new awesome bad guy role is going to go to Kylo Ren — but it’s already been bestowed on Captain Phasma.
We still don’t know that much about Phasma — except that she’s not a bad guy at all. The fact that we have a strong female villain in the Star Wars universe is important in more than one way, and it’s something that will no doubt carry on in the future Star Wars films and beyond, as fans now have a new favorite villain to cling to.
Next: 13. R2-D2
13. R2-D2
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
There are more achievements for R2-D2 than we can count, but at the top of the list has to be finding a way to reactivate the Millennium Falcon’s hyperdrive system in Episode V. Had he not done this, then Luke might have fallen into the hands of Vader and the outcome of the story might have bene very different than what we saw.
Worst Moment
While R2 could usually do no wrong, he had a bit of an attitude problem. C-3PO wasn’t the easiest guy to get along with, but R2 might have given him a little too much sass over the course of their relationship. There was also a moment in A New Hope when R2 gets little too confident and ends up strolling off on his own and getting captured by the Jawas. Not his best moment.
Breakdown
Everyone says that the Star Wars saga is the story of the Skywalker family, but there is one common thread that connects all the films in a pretty cool way. R2-D2 appears in every single film and is useful in every single film in some way. He saves our gang of heroes in every single movie, and for that reason — in addition to being adorable — has won over the hearts of Star Wars fans everywhere.
Next: 12. Chewbacca
12. Chewbacca
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
Chewbacca didn’t really venture off on his own much over the course of his time in Star Wars, but he did manage to have more than a few different moments of greatness. One of his best moments was when he banded together with the Ewoks on Endor and helped hijack one of the AT-ST walkers. Chewbacca knows how to get things done, and taking over one of these walkers was a crowning achievement of awesomeness.
Worst Moment
Not all of Chewbacca’s moments were good. One of the low points of his life in the rebellion was when he decided to get everyone captured by the Ewoks by — well, being a Wookie. This ended up being a not so bad thing, but getting tricked into eating a piece of meat almost ended up getting all the good guys in the galaxy cooked for dinner.
Breakdown
For a character that never actually says anything, Chewbacca is a fan favorite in ways that only R2-D2 can really know. Chewie has a lot going for him, as he’s big, cuddly and all around awesome. He’s the sidekick of the coolest guy in the galaxy, he is the only other character who gets to fly the Millennium Falcon and he has a crossbow — what more do you need?
Next: 11. Leia
11. Princess Leia
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
Without a doubt, Leia’s best moment in the saga was when she turned into a total badass in The Empire Strikes Back following the freezing of Han Solo. She took matters into her own hands and this was the first time that she truly came into her own as a powerful character. She was intellectually strong before that but this was the first time we saw her truly be physically strong on her own.
Worst Moment
Leia may have been powerful and awesome but she wasn’t perfect. One of her missteps was getting captured by Jabba — even if it was part of the plan. Her gold bikini is one of the most iconic images of the original trilogy, and her capture ended up helping her kill Jabba, but there were other ways. Leia doesn’t get caught, but she did here and it wasn’t fun.
Breakdown
We all grew up with the powerful heroes that Luke and Han represented, but Leia was a strong female character in a world that seemed to be run by males. She was more than just a character in the group of friends and was more than just Luke’s sister and Han’s partner. She was as strong role model for people to look up to both in the galaxy and in the real world. She’s one of the most important characters in the Star Wars saga for more than one reason.
Next: 10. Lando
10. Lando Calrissian
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Best Moment
Lando’s best moment has to without a doubt be when he destroyed the Death Star II and helped cripple the Empire. While Darth Vader technically killed the Emperor, it was Lando who helped destroy the space station and officially tripped the Empire’s power. All this from a guy who a film earlier we loathed for selling Han out — how the mighty rise to the occasion.
Worst Moment
You can’t be a smuggler and not have sunk to some serious lows. Landon’s low point had to be when he sold out his old friend Han Solo to the Empire. He was looking out for his own, which is what smugglers do, but selling out his friend was something that we didn’t think he could come back from, especially when it was someone as adored as Han.
Breakdown
There were badasses in the Star Wars galaxy, and then there was Lando Calrissian, the cool side of a cold pillow. He was silky, he was smooth and he was the missing link that completed the circle of friends in the original trilogy. You can’t think about Han, Cloud City or the Rebels without thinking about Lando. He was a smuggler and a swindler, but he was also a hero who helped tumble the Empire.
Next: 9. Anakin Skywalker
9. Anakin Skywalker
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
For a guy who was the hero of the galaxy during the Clone Wars, it’s not hard to pick moments where Anakin was a true hero. His brightest moment might have been in Episode I — the version of the character we all loathe. He was just a little kid and he won podrace that probably should have killed him. This version of Anakin might have been annoying but it was also the purest version of him we saw.
Worst Moment
Getting burned alive is a pretty deep low to sink to, but it wasn’t rock bottom for Anakin. He was actually on his way up at that point, but he had already become Darth Vader. Anakin’s worst moment is when he killed Mace Windu, the final act of also killing Anakin Skywalker and everything he once was and promised to be. He became Darth Vader in that moment, and killed both Mace and himself in that moment.
Breakdown
Anakin was someone who was supposed to save the galaxy but ended up plunging it into darkness. But while most of the bad things Anakin did were committed when he had already become Vader, there was good within him that represents all the promise that he once looked to hold.
Next: 8. Yoda
8. Yoda
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode IV: Return of the Jedi
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
Yoda training Luke was a pretty awesome thing but his best moment might have been when he defended Obi-Wan and Anakin by fighting Count Dooku in Episode II. Before this, Yoda was just a hobbled old Jedi who sat around and said things backwards — but this was Yoda busting out lightsaber skills we had never seen before — and it was the coolest.
Worst Moment
Out of all of the Jedi who failed to see Anakin’s descent into darkness, Yoda missing this is extra disappointing. He’s supposed to be the wisest of all the Jedi, yet even he didn’t see what was right under his nose? In a lot of ways, this potions the legacy of Yoda, who we had built up in our minds to be this all-powerful figure who was more mortal than we thought.
Breakdown
How can you not like Yoda, the cutest Jedi in the galaxy. He’s part muppet, part monk, total badass and he’s only about two feet tall. That’s a whole lot of awesome packed into a little dude, and we saw ranges of that throughout the franchise. Whether it was his lightsaber battle with Dooku in Episode II or his wise training of Luke in Episode V, Yoda was one of the strongest things about the entire series.
Next: 7. The Emperor
7. The Emperor
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode IV: Return of the Jedi
Best Moment
What’s the best thing that a bad guy did? If you’re looking at this in the warped perspective of Palpatine, then the best thing he did was corrupt Anakin Skywalker and turn him into Darth Vader. It was a long con and a slow burn, but the Emperor took his time to make sure things were good and screwed up for Anakin in order to have his apprentice to run the galaxy with.
Worst Moment
When you’re the all-seeing evil Sith Lord of the galaxy, then you should probably have the foresight to see your apprentice betraying you. That’s the fatal flaw that did Palpatine in, as he was able to see event son the future up to the point where he wasn’t a part of said future. You’d think he would have seen that coming — he didn’t.
Breakdown
Darth Vader may have been the force of evil in the galaxy for the Empire, but Emperor Palpatine was the overlord of it all. He was the mastermind that not only ruled the galaxy in the original trilogy, but he was very calculated in making it happen in the prequels. He’s the epitome of evil with absolutely no redeeming qualities — which is the best kind of bad guy to have.
Next: 6. Luke Skywalker
6. Luke Skywalker
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
When you save the galaxy from the most evil things about it, that usually shoots to the top of the list of the best things you’ve ever done. Luke saving Darth Vader and reawakening Anakin Skywalker within in was the best thing he did in his story arc. It was the moment that brought about the downfall of the Empire and brought peace — probably temporary — to the galaxy.
Worst Moment
There was a moment in The Empire Strikes Back when Luke could have stayed on Dagobah and continued his training with Yoda. He refused to do so, and it led to Han getting frozen, Luke losing his hand and the Empire getting a lead on the Rebels. It was the poorest decision he made — aside from unknowningly kissing his sister — and warped the character arcs of more than a few of his friends.
Breakdown
Luke is a hero of the galaxy and the great hope that so many leaned on to find balance in the universe. That’s a lot of psychological pressure, which is why he goes off the deep end in The Force Awakens — or so we think — but he was someone that we all identified with. One day he was just a farm boy and the next he was the savior of the universe.
Next: 5. Darth Maul
5. Darth Maul
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
It’s hard to find a good thing that a bad guy did, but then again Darth Maul was about as evil as it gets. He was the perfect silent assassin, as he rarely spoke but carried a pretty big stick. His best moment was probably when killed Qui-Gon, for a number of different reasons. For starters, it was probably personally satisfying for him, but on the flip side it helped further mature a then-young Obi-Wan. It was the loss that Obi-Wan needed to suffer in order to truly develop his skills.
Worst Moment
When you get cut in half, it’s pretty hard to find something that was worse than that. Maul let hubris get the best of him after he killed Qui-Gon and pressed Obi-Wan up against the ropes. But whenever you get cocky, you usually make a mistake that leads to your downfall. In Maul’s case, it led to his getting cut in half.
Breakdown
Just like how Boba Fett went out like a punk, Darth Maul was a drastically underused villain who was around for basically half a movie and that’s it. We barely saw him, thought he was cool when we did and then that was it. One of the great regrets — of the many — we have bayou the prequels is that the coolest thing about them was sliced in half at the end of the first movie.
Next: 4. Obi-Wan Kenobi
4. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Clone Wars
Best Moment
Obi-Wan’s best moment might seem like his worst. Giving himself up to Darth Vader and allowing him to kill him was the smartest move he could have made. Not only was he of no more use to Luke, Han and the gang, but he was truly more powerful in death than he ever was in life. He was able to guide Luke in ways he couldn’t with Anakin — which might have been a reason for the different outcomes.
Worst Moment
We’ve learned throughout the Star Wars saga that not everyone is perfect — something that Obi-Wan proved in a pretty massive way. All he had to do was make sure Anakin didn’t go insane and destroy the galaxy, which is exactly what happened. His worst moment was not killing Anakin on the shores of Mustafar, which would have stopped the galaxy from plunging to the depths of darkness that it did.
Breakdown
Obi-Wan grew from being a young padawan to a wise old man, a character arc that is largely overshadowed by the arc Anakin follows. But while the story is about the Skywalkers, Obi-Wan truly serves his uncle role right, as he guides not one but two different Skywalkers on their paths to being Jedi. He wasn’t perfect, but he’s the backbone of the Star Wars saga and often times it’s moral conscious.
Next: 3. Boba Fett
3. Boba Fett
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Best Moment
Boba Fett has had so many classic moments over the course of Star Wars history that it’s hard to narrow it all down to just one. He’s been clever and brilliant at numerous different turns, but his most cunning trick might have been following the Millennium Falcon to Could City. We found out in the prequels that Boba learned this trick from Jango, and Boba following Han and the gang to Cloud City changed the course of the story in Empire.
Worst Moment
How can you not say that Boba going out like an absolute punk isn’t his worst moment. He was one of the baddest bad asses in the galaxy, and he just rolled into the belly of a Sarlaac. It was lame, it was stupid and it’s a moment that Star Wars fans have spent the last thirty-odd years trying to retcon and forget about.
Breakdown
Boba Fett isn’t the main villain in Star Wars, but he’s managed to slide his way right up there with the likes of Darth Vader as one of the coolest villains in the galaxy. He’s a mercenary, which is what makes him different from Vader as Boba’s only code is what he can do for himself. That’s what makes him so cold blooded and ruthless.
Next: 2. Darth Vader
2. Darth Vader
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode IV: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars: Rebels
Best Moment
If you think that Darth Vader’s best moment was killing the Emperor, you’re wrong. That’s the moment he became Anakin Skywalker again and killed Vader within in. So technically, Vader’s best moment was the moment right before that — when he committed schizophrenic suicide — ala Tyler Durden — and killed himself. George Lucas went uber philosophical with the original trilogy, and what’s more philosophical than killing your inner evil self to give way for rebirth?
Worst Moment
Vader wasn’t a really good guy, and he killed a lot of people a lot of times. But perhaps his worst moment was in Episode III, when a newly born Vader slaughtered younglings at the Jedi Temple. I mean, he killed kids — small kids who weren’t much older than 10, if that. You don’t get more savage than that.
Breakdown
Darth Vader is a badass — there’s no other way to put it. He is big, he’s bad, has a cool voice and is one of the most iconic things about the Star Wars saga. Not to mention, he’s basically the center of the first six movies, as they’re pretty much the story of Anakin’s rise, fall and then redemption. Vader plays a huge role in that, but beyond the story he’s just undeniably cool on all levels of pop culture.
Next: 1. Han Solo
1. Han Solo
Major Appearances
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Best Moment
It’s so hard to choose just one moment for Han Solo that was his best, but you have to make the argument for the moment when he returned — out of the blue — to rescue Luke in the trenches of the Death Star. It’s one of the best payoffs in movie history, as you think Han has abandon the group, but not only does he return and go all-in, but he proves his worth in the process.
Worst Moment
No one is perfect, especially a smuggler, and Han has had his fair share of not so bright moments. One of his lesser moments was when he was frozen in carbonite. It wasn’t really his fault that he was frozen, and had he fought back, many would have died. But still, he was frozen by the Empire — not something he’s going to scrapbook anytime soon.
Breakdown
Han Solo is by far the coolest part of the Star Wars galaxy. There are those who like Luke, some prefer Vader but Han is universally loved. He’s inspired so many characters in sci-fi from Nathan Fillon’s character on Firefly to the way Chris Pratt played Star Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. Han Solo is someone even non-Star Wars fans love, and he’ll forever be an ambassador for the film franchise.