50 most shocking moments in Star Wars history

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – AUGUST 27: General view of the Millennium Falcon at the Black Spire Outpost at the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Walt Disney World Resort Opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on August 27, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images) /

34. Hosnian Prime destroyed (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)

Whether it’s the Empire or the First Order, they aren’t afraid to use utter destruction to prove a point. While this is a shocking moment, it’s one we’ve seen before at this point so it doesn’t have quite the same impact. Leia had already watched the destruction of her home planet, Alderaan, which was one of the most shocking moments in the original trilogy.

Since it’s something we’ve seen before, the destruction of Hosnian Prime doesn’t come as quite as big of a surprise. The First Order is just a new type of Empire and the Rebellion is now the Resistance. Aside from the new characters, we see a lot of familiar faces and tactics from the original trilogy. I don’t want to diminish the destruction of an entire planet, but it’s just not as shocking once it’s been done before.

Hosnian Prime holds no personal significance to the main characters in the movie. It was targeted because it was hosting the Senate since Mon Mothma had a rotation of worlds hosting the Senate as part of the New Republic. However, in addition to Hosnian Prime being destroyed, the First Order destroyed the other four planets in the system. It’s still noteworthy and shocking enough to make this list.

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