8 of the best original Star Wars characters ranked from weakest to strongest
The original Star Wars trilogy – A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi – is beyond a series of movies. It's a cultural phenomenon that blasted its way into our hearts faster than the Millennium Falcon making the Kessel Run.
Released between 1977 and 1983, these movies didn't just break the mold, they blew it up with a Death Star laser. Imagine, before these movies, space was mostly about shiny spaceships and weird aliens. Star Wars brought us epic lightsaber duels, the coolest (and scariest) villain who breathes like that one asthmatic uncle, and a story about good vs. evil that's as old as time but in a fresh setting.
The impact of these films was gigantic They forever changed how movies were made and marketed. taking special effects to a whole new level – I'm talking about groundbreaking stuff, like creating whole new worlds that felt lived-in and real, not just some shiny sci-fi fantasy. And the music – oh, the music! The legendary John Williams gave us a score that's like the best space opera symphony you've ever heard. It's honestly impossible to hear those opening notes and not get chills.
But it wasn't just about the flashy stuff. Believe it or not, there was a time when the Star Wars fandom wasn't nearly as toxic as it is now and it actually brought people together. It created a community of fans who'd camp out for movie premieres dressed as their favorite characters like the proper nerds we are, no less, who collected every action figure, and debated who shot first. It inspired people to dream, to create, and to believe in the power of storytelling. From inspiring countless other movies and shows to making us all want our own lightsaber, Star Wars isn't just a set of films; it's a slice of our cultural DNA.
Now, I invite you to sit back and enjoy which characters from the original trilogy as the best ones, and rank them amongst each other. There was no guide to this - it's my own personal opinion as someone who has enjoyed Star Wars since the ripe age of 5 (thanks, dad). Opinions are personal (and hey, it's ok to be wrong).
Without further ado, let's look at 8 iconic Star Wars characters and how they fall on my list.