With so many villains on the dark side of the Force, there has to be someone to fight against them to re-establish peace in the far, far away galaxy. They have in common what heroes usually have: selflessness, courage, morality, and desire to fight for the right cause. From droids to furry creatures, Jedi and characters who left their normal lives behind to fight the war against the dark Force, they all deserve a place in the list.
We have put together a list of the best Star Wars movie heroes, and we hope you find your favorite there. Don’t forget to explore the list to the last page, mostly if you haven’t found your Star Wars movie hero on the first pages.
Here we go!
10. R2 D2 (ARTOO-DETOO)
Star Wars movie heroes wouldn’t be complete without R2-D2
R2 D2 is an astromech droid and he might be one of the most important characters in the Star Wars saga. He saved the day in many situations and his presence was critical in saving the lives of others. Usually droids develop their personality in time, and R2 D2 proved to have a strong one, he is not a standard droid.
And while other standard droids don’t build personality quirks because of memory being wiped, this didn’t happen to Artoo Detoo.
In Return of the Jedi, R2 D2 saves Luke, Leia and Han from Jabba the Hutt and in The Empire Strikes Back he has a major contribution at escaping the Imperial forces. He is always by the side of those who fight the dark Force, and many times the one who saves them.
R2 D2 is one of the reasons why most of the Star Wars movie heroes are still alive.
9. QUI-GON JINN
Qui-Gon Jinn can be helpful even after he dies
He is among the most powerful Jedi and he differentiate from others with his beliefs. However, Quin-Gon Jinn is an important hero, even if we had the chance to see him only in one movie.
He was trained by Count Dooku but he refused to follow him when Dooku turned on the dark side of the Force. He was the mentor of two of the most important Star Wars movie heroes, Obi-Wan Kenoby and Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon Jinn sensed the special skills of young Anakin, but he did not anticipate his future choices.
One of his most notable powers is to keep his identity even after death and appear as a Force Spirit. Qui-Gon’s spirit appeared to Yoda and his teachings were crucial in the fight against the growing darkness. This Star Wars movie hero is valuable not only alive, but after death too.
8. LANDO CALRISSIAN
“That blast came from the Death Star! That thing’s operational!”
Lando is not a typical hero, on the contrary. His origins are not veiled in twisted mysteries and his behavior is more of an adventurer. His role in saving the galaxy becomes major after becoming the administrator of Cloud City. He is forced by Darth Vader to betray Han Solo, but he will also help rescuing him from crime lord Jabba the Hutt.
He is the type of guy that looks after himself first, yet he has defended the Rebel Alliance selflessly. His acts of heroism include living at Jabba the Hutt’s palace where he was almost eaten by hungry Sarlaac monster, and destroying Death Star with a killing blow from his old ship.
George Lucas had many versions of Lando. At some point, Lucas imagined Lando as a relic from Star Clones who raised from a planet with identical clones. In the end, Lucas decided at one version of Lucas Carlissian.
7. PRINCESS LEIA
This princess has attitude. Now a General…
Another iconic character of Star Wars saga is Princess Leia Organa. She is not only a princess but she is also a important fighter of the Rebel Alliance. This lady is a real warrior, she thwarts Darth Vader and stops the Death Star.
In The Empire Strikes Back, Leia is the commander of a Rebel base and escapes from Darth Vader. In Return of the Jedi she is the one who is at the helm of rescuing Han Solo, and she finds out her father is Vader and Luke her twin brother. With Darth Vader father, and Padame Amidala mother, Leia grew into a soldier of the galaxy, standing on the bright side of the Force.
Her most heroic moment was when she went through an ordeal to stop the Death Star. She saw her planet Alderaan being destroyed, yet she did not give up.
6. CHEWBACCA
More than a furry friend. The most loyal of Star Wars movie heroes
Who doesn’t like this furry Star Wars movie hero? He is a Wookiee, an intelligent species from the planet Kashyyyk from a honorable family. His most powerful heroic characteristic is loyalty. We can always see Chewbacca besides Han Solo, having his back. He is honorable and powerful.
His most heroic moment was when he saved Anakin Skywalker on Sernpidal planet. Anakin, Han and Chewie went on Sernpidal and on their mission to rescue refugees, Anakin has nearly fell from the Millennium Falcon. Chewbacca saved Anakin with the cost of his life.
Chewie does deserve a well earned place among the Star Wars movie heroes who fought to restore balance in the galaxy.
George Lucas’ idea of Chewbacca came one day when he was driving to the studio with his dog on the front right seat.
5. OBI-WAN KENOBI
Obi-Wan Kenobi always tried to do the right thing
“You cannot win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine. "ž
“I sense a great disturbance in the Force…as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror…and then suddenly silenced. I feel that something terrible has happened.”
Maybe he is not the greatest of the Star Wars movie heroes but he had a crucial role in the long lasting fight against the Dark force. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn was his mentor and together they saved Queen Padame Amidala after the attack of battle droids in Phantom Menace. He battles in the most dynamic fight against Darth Maul and defeats him. He is the one who kills Grievous, and when he finds that his friend Anakin Skywalker led a slaughter, he does the right thing and fights against him.
There are more reasons why Obi-Wan Kenobi is among the Star Wars movie heroes, but you judge yourselves.
Here’s some news about The Force Awakens. JJ Abrams confirmed, but I don’t want to spoil, however, you’ll hear about Obi-Wan in Star Wars 7, I won’t reveal how.
"Here's the cool part. We asked Ewan McGregor to come in and do the line. And he was awesome and we were very grateful. He was incredibly sweet and handsome, and all that stuff. Then he rode off on his motorcycle."
4. YODA
Who doesn’t like Yoda?
Yoda is the oldest Jedi and the most skilled among the Jedi. We have no idea about his specie, but we know that he is a master when it comes to Jedi skills. He trained Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan who refers to him as “the Jedi Master who instructed me.”
Hundred years old, the Jedi master is one of the Star Wars movie heroes who tends to be meditative and on the diplomatic side of the problems, but he is greatly feared, even by Count Dooku.
His most heroic moment is when he faces Darth Sidious, who defeats Yoda. Even so, being alive after you have faced Palpatine evilness it’s a success. The fact that he admitted his defeat and chose to flee highlights a heroic characteristic: morality.
3. ANAKIN SKYWALKER
This Star Wars movie hero is in the Star Wars villains list as well. What a complicated situation!
This is a complicated situation, as Anakin Skywalker goes from hero to villain. Despite bringing destruction as Darth Vader, the goodness in him never perished. And let’s not forget what turned him into Vader in the first place. It was his love for Padame.
His father is unknown, and Shmi confessed this to Obi-Gon Jin.
“Had he been born in the Republic, we would have identified him early. The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear. Who is his father?”
“There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him, I can’t explain what happened.”
Even since he was a child, Anakin wanted to help people. He built C-3PO to help his mother with daily chores, and he risked his life to protect a group of outlanders under Obi-Gon Jinn command. He had the willing to bring harmony in the galaxy and he followed the path that he thought would help in achieving this. He became one of the most powerful Jedi, and even so there was something stronger than him: fear. Fear of losing those he loved.
But even after becoming a villain, he still had enough goodness in him to make it right by his son at the last minute. He finally realized it was all too much and saved his Luke from certain death.
2. LUKE SKYWALKER
“I’ll never join you!” – this is the right attitude in front of Darth Vader. Luke got it right, unlike his father.
Unlike his father, Luke is incredibly gifted but he never abused his power, he obeyed the rules when necessary and so he became the kind of hero the galaxy really needed.
He grew up on Tatooine, as a farm boy, working during daytime and dreaming of attending Imperial Academy at night. Old Ben Kenobi told Luke about his Jedi heritage and his life changed. Luke became one of the most notable Star Wars movie heroes. He is the one who saved the princess and defeated the evil dragon.
Luke is the one who would fight even against his father to make the Light Side burn again in the galaxy, and his sacrifice pays back.
The burning question is: Have you seen Luke Skywalker in The Force Awakens?
1. HAN SOLO
He’s probably the coolest of Star Wars movie heroes
George Lucas described Han Solo as a “a loner who realizes the importance of being part of a group and helping for the common good“. Despite the fact that he seems to be in for profit, Han Solo reveals his real heroic intentions as the story unfolds. He saves Luke, and in order to protect his wife Leia he lets himself imprisoned in Carbonite.
Han and his partner, Chewbacca are iconic among Star Wars movie heroes, as a great duo. They have each other’s back and they manage to also protect and help others. To prove that Han Solo is not the anti-hero he seems to be in the beginning, we remind you how he put himself in danger to save Chewbacca from slavery.
His true heroic nature never ceases to show up in the most difficult situations, but no hero is perfect. However, Han Solo is one of the Star Wars movie heroes who has a certain something that differentiate it from others.
