Photo Credit: [Solo: A Star Wars Story] Lucasfilm
With Solo: A Star Wars Story just around the corner, we count down top movie moments of Han Solo.
Han Solo: smuggler, scoundrel, outlaw, pilot, general, war hero, friend, father.
These are only a few descriptions of one of the most iconic movie heroes of all time. Sure, Leia Organa is a princess on a mission, and Luke Skywalker is an idealistic kid on a hero’s journey, but Han Solo is the cool one.
He’s the one that everyone wants to be. The one that you think is a selfish jerk, only to turn out to have a heart of gold. Due in part to Harrison Ford’s masterful portrayal of the Corellian-born smuggler, Han Solo has had many memorable moments that have helped catapult him to the top of many Star Wars fans’ ‘favorite characters lists.’
Solo: A Star Wars Story is hitting theaters in less than 12 parsecs. Han Solo, who’s up to this point only been played by the one and only Ford, will be portrayed by a different actor for the first time. The world will get its first look at Alden Ehrenreich donning the iconic DL-44 blaster on May 25.
We’re sure that Ehrenreich’s version of the Captain of the Millennium Falcon will have some new memorable moments for us all to get excited about in Solo. The film’s trailers have been action-packed and initial critic reactions to the world premiere screening have been positive. For now, though, we’ve got plenty of Han moments from A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and The Force Awakens.
Let’s get hyped for Solo by counting down Han’s top moments.
Photo Credit: [Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back] Lucasfilm
5. Navigating the Asteroid Field, The Empire Strikes Back
"Never tell me the odds"
We begin our list with a feat of daring, high-speed, space flight in The Empire Strikes Back. After barely escaping the Empire’s clutches on Hoth, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and company find themselves up against Imperial Star Destroyers. Their only escape? A nearby asteroid field. The chances of successfully navigating that asteroid field? Never tell me the odds (but if you must know, they’re 3,720 to 1).
It’s a good thing Han is one of the best (or at least the most daring) pilots in the galaxy. He laughs in the face of adversity and beckons the Millennium Falcon into the heart of the asteroid field. Even while the smaller, more nimble Tie Fighters get pummeled by space rocks, Han flicks the Falcon around asteroids as if it were an extension of himself. He successfully evades the Empire, saving his own skin, but also those of Leia, Chewie, and C-3PO.
Han’s willingness to challenge the asteroid field showcases his character well. He’s a daring showoff, for sure, who loves a good obstacle course.
However, he flies into the field to help his friends avoid capture by the Empire. By this time, Han has been cemented as a full-fledged and committed member of the Rebel Alliance, and the Rebellion definitely isn’t letting go of a pilot of his skill level.
Honorable Mention: “Boring conversation anyway” – A New Hope
Photo Credit: [Star Wars: A New Hope] Lucasfilm
4. Shooting First, A New Hope
We first meet Han Solo in a hive of scum and villainy: the Cantina in Mos Eisley Space Port. It’s there that a wide-eyed Luke Skywalker, led by his mentor Ben Kenobi, hire Han to provide them safe passage to the Alderaan system. All we know is that this dude is the captain of a freighter and a self-proclaimed heck of a pilot.
It doesn’t take long for us to see that Han’s talk isn’t cheap. After Luke and Ben depart for Docking Bay 94, Han is greeted by the bounty hunter Greedo. Apparently, Han owes Jabba the Hutt, the local gangster, a large sum of money. Greedo’s here to collect either the money or Solo’s head, sure that either one will win him favor with Jabba.
Realizing there’s no way out, Han shoots Greedo from point-blank range, ending the Rodian’s bounty hunting career. Whether he shot first or second, the fact that he blasted Greedo shows that Han is willing to do anything to survive. He doesn’t seem like the type that would stick his neck out for others without at least a little incentive.
Luckily, Han Solo becomes more of a hero than he likely ever thought he would be. But during that fateful encounter with Greedo in the Mos Eisley Cantina, he’s still just a scoundrel.
Honorable Mention: Chasing a group of stormtroopers down a Death Star hallway – A New Hope
Photo Credit: [Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back] Lucasfilm
3. “I know,” The Empire Strikes Back
"He’s no good to me dead"
The Empire Strikes Back is, without a doubt, the darkest of the Star Wars films. The fate of Han Solo in the middle installment of the original trilogy is both frightening and uncertain. After being captured by Vader and the Empire on Bespin, Han has been ransomed off to the bounty hunter Boba Fett, who’s planning to return him to Jabba the Hutt for a hefty payday.
Vader has no interest in smugglers and is most interested in detaining Princess Leia. And so, Han is to be frozen in carbonite for easy transport to Jabba’s Palace on Tatooine.
Throughout the entirety of The Empire Strikes Back, Han and Leia’s relationship develops from a blossoming ‘will-they-won’t-they’ into a full-fledged romance. From their first argument in the Echo Base hallway on Hoth, to their first ‘C-3PO interrupted kiss’ on the Millennium Falcon, it becomes evident that Han and Leia are meant to be together.
Unfortunately, Han’s buddy Lando betrays him, turns him over to the Empire, and the rest is history.
But before Han is frozen in carbonite – a process that he may not survive – Leia spills the blue milk. She proclaims her love for Solo, in front of Vader and all. Han’s response to Leia’s admittance of loving him? “I know.”
Maybe the most Han Solo-esque line ever, “I know” shows Han’s rugged confidence, fly boy cockiness, and soft affection all at once. Leia definitely knew that he loved her back.
Honorable Mention: Barely flinching after watching Vader absorb a blaster bolt from his DL-44 – The Empire Strikes Back
Photo Credit: [Star Wars: The Force Awakens] Lucasfilm
2. Father and Son, The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens gives fans a more mature, more grandfather-like Han Solo. The movie is Rey’s journey, but that doesn’t mean that older characters like Han are forgotten or ignored.
Han plays an enormous role in The Force Awakens as he mentors Rey during the early stages of her journey joining the Resistance. It’s also revealed that Kylo Ren, the new trilogy’s main antagonist, is the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa.
We spend much of The Force Awakens wondering why Kylo Ren turned to the Dark Side. How could the son of two of the Rebellion’s most essential heroes turn to evil?
His decision to turn remains shrouded in mystery, but Han and Leia’s love for their seemingly lost son does not. When the Resistance’s mission to survive brings Han to Starkiller Base, he comes face to face with his son, Ben Solo.
Han has a heart-to-heart with Ben concerning Supreme Leader Snoke’s influence over the younger Solo. Han essentially begs Ben to come back to the light, insisting that Snoke has corrupted his mind. It’s a touching moment, in which Han Solo makes himself completely vulnerable in order to try to save his son.
He feels as though he may be able to convince him to abandon the Dark Side of the Force. Unfortunately, Kylo Ren doesn’t see a way back and stabs his own father through the heart.
Thus, Han Solo, the man, comes to an end. But the sacrifice that Han makes in trying to salvage his son’s soul is not forgotten. Even Kylo Ren remains confused after killing his father, likely puzzled by the fact that he might have still cared about his parents somewhere deep down.
We’ll have to wait until Episode IX to see if Han’s sacrifice was worth it.
Honorable Mention: Landing the Millennium Falcon on Starkiller Base with a hyperspace trick – The Force Awakens
Photo Credit: [Star Wars: A New Hope] Lucasfilm
1. “You’re all clear kid!”, A New Hope
Han Solo is a man who does things for rewards. At least that’s what they used to say about him. Throughout A New Hope, Han seemingly only cares about himself. He agrees to rescue Princess Leia because he’s promised a payday worth more than he can imagine – and he can imagine quite a bit
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After delivering Luke, Leia, and R2-D2 to the Rebel base on Yavin, Han bounces. He’s off to pay his debt to Jabba and live to smuggle another day.
The Rebel fleet launches a desperate attack against the Death Star, and all seems lost. That is, until Han Solo arrives at the battle at the last moment to save Luke Skywalker from Darth Vader’s Tie Fighter.
After misdirecting Vader’s Tie and instructing Luke to blow up the Death Star, Han leads the surviving Rebel ships back to the base on Yavin.
Despite it being a mission he earlier called suicide, Han returns to help the Rebellion, and to help his friends. It’s the first truly selfless act that Han Solo performs, and it sets a precedent for many more to come.
Honorable Mention: “Chewie, we’re home” – The Force Awakens
Next: Solo soundtrack titles leak, revealing significant details
Which moments do you think belong on our list of Han Solo’s best? Tell us in the comments section. Don’t forget to catch new Han Solo moments when Solo: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on May 25.