50 most shocking moments in Star Wars history

General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISDOE IX
General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISDOE IX
13 of 51
Star Wars
BERLIN, GERMANY – DECEMBER 20: A man dressed as the Star Wars character Darth Vader arrives for a church service centered around the 1983 film ‘Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi’ at the Zionskirche (Zion Church) on December 20, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. The latest Star Wars film, ‘Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens,’ was released in the country two days earlier, and local priests used the opportunity to tie Biblical parallels concerning good and evil to the movie, while using the original film’s score by John Williams as organ accompaniment, along with video clips. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)

39. Darth Vader versus the Rebels (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

This is the sole Rogue One moment on this list, but it’s a good one. I felt a good chunk of that movie was fairly predictable, but Darth Vader’s cameo in the movie is just too brutal to leave off of this list. At this point, all the Rebels need to do is get the Death Star plans to Princess Leia. We already know they succeed at doing so, but the moments before they do are intense.

The Rebels are on their way to the ship where Leia is with the information when Darth Vader shows up in a dark hallway. He lights up his saber and you know this isn’t going to go well for anyone standing in his way. Vader doesn’t even need to say anything because his actions speak loud enough for everyone there.

Without hesitation, Vader makes his way through the group of Rebels standing in his way. One passes off the drive just in time for someone to get it on the ship and have the ship take off seconds before Vader gets to it. He slashes people, Force chokes them and just unleashes pure destruction on them. He also does so as calmly as possible. He’s controlling his anger and isn’t in as much of a rush as he probably should be, which makes him miss getting to the ship by a few seconds.