The Star Wars original trilogy stands as one of the most iconic series of films ever, and it largely owes its legendary status to 10 of its best scenes. For almost 47 years, Star Wars movies have been incredibly successful, and the original trilogy has been particularly beloved, as evidenced by the fact that all three films still rank near the top of the list of Star Wars movies by box office. The original trilogy has captured imaginations ever since the original Star Wars was released, and it is the main reason why new Star Wars movies are still being made to this day.
Part of the reason the original trilogy has had such an enduring legacy is because it is brimming with utterly iconic scenes. Star Wars has always been a blend of genres and storytelling styles, and as such, there’s a huge variety of great moments in the original trilogy. From stunning action set pieces to heartbreaking emotional moments, there’s something in Star Wars for everyone. Still, only 10 can be considered the best of the best, and these scenes have earned such a prestigious title.
One of the best parts of Star Wars is the sense of adventure it can instill in audiences, and the franchise’s devotion to creating such exciting scenes started very early. In the original Star Wars, later retitled A New Hope, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca boarded the Death Star to rescue Princess Leia. From Han’s hilarious attempt to fool the Imperials to falling into nearly certain death in the trash compactor, their escape from the planet-destroying base had a bit of everything that makes Star Wars so beloved.
A notable part of what makes the escape from the Death Star work so well is how much each character’s personality shines through. Han’s wisecracks, Leia’s snarky remarks, Luke’s naïveté, and more are interwoven into every second of the sequence. It’s a fantastical scenario, but the characters feel so real that it’s extremely easy to buy into the premise of a moon-sized superweapon and all the suspense and thrills escaping from it entailed.
The Empire Strikes Back changed the Star Wars formula in many ways, making it much darker than A New Hope, and those changes can be plainly seen during the Battle of Hoth. In stark contrast to the Battle of Yavin, the Rebel Alliance was once again outnumbered, but this time, no one could miraculously save the day. Despite the efforts of Luke and other pilots, the Empire destroyed Echo Base and put the Rebels on the run. It set the tone for the entirety of The Empire Strikes Back, and was one of the best military engagements in the original trilogy.
The Battle of Hoth may have been a resounding defeat for the Rebels, but it also managed to incorporate moments of triumph. That can mostly be seen in the destruction of several AT-ATs, but it also shows, to a lesser extent, in the fact that the Rebels escaped from Hoth at all. It wasn’t the brightest ending, and there was more darkness to come in the movie, but that escape kept the hope for the rebellion alive. The Battle of Hoth went a long way in proving one of Star Wars‘ main themes: that hope can survive even in the darkest of times.
The Empire Strikes Back may have been darker than A New Hope, but that isn’t to say that the film that started it all didn’t have its fair share of mature moments. One of the most disturbing in the entire original trilogy was when Governor Tarkin and Darth Vader were trying to extract the Rebellion’s location from Leia by threatening to destroy her home planet of Alderaan. They destroyed the planet anyways, considerably raising the stakes of the movie. That scene showed that not only was the Death Star capable of massive destruction, the Imperials were more than eager to do it again.
The destruction of Alderaan accomplished quite a bit narratively, and it did so in exceptional fashion. In one scene, A New Hope established the cruelty and evilness of the Galactic Empire and set it, Vader, and Tarkin up as the perfect villains. It also revealed quite a bit about Leia, as even though the planet and people she loved were under direct threat, she still chose to protect the Rebellion. That was not an easy choice to make for her, as Alderaan’s destruction clearly affected her deeply, which also hinted at her empathy.
Return of the Jedi had big shoes to fill in the aftermath of The Empire Strikes Back‘s success, and its opening scenes went a long way in living up to that legacy. It saw Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian on a mission to rescue Han, who had been captured in Empire Strikes Back, from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt. While Luke’s Return of the Jedi plan was incredibly convoluted, it also led to some of the best action scenes in the movie. From Boba Fett’s apparent death by falling into the sarlacc pit to Luke’s lightsaber skills, the rescue of Han was a thrilling moment.
Part of what makes for a great Star Wars scene is how it advances the franchise’s story as a whole, and the Battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon accomplished that in stellar fashion. It was the first time a green lightsaber was ever shown instead of the traditional red and blue, which opened the door to every other lightsaber color in Star Wars canon. It also introduced several alien species, like the Nikto, and cemented Tatooine as one of the most important planets in the franchise.
A major part of Star Wars is the concept of the Force, and no scene in the original trilogy gave greater insight into its mystery than Luke’s training with Yoda. As they ran through the swamps of Dagobah, Yoda delivered some of his best quotes to Luke and taught him about the nature of the Force and what it means to be a Jedi. As is the case with most of The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda’s training was also a perfectly blended scene. Yoda revealed enough about the Force to satisfy fans, but he also left more than enough questions unanswered to keep its intrigue.
Yoda is one of the most iconic characters in all fiction, and his scenes on Dagobah are largely responsible for his incredible popularity. It showed so many sides of his character, from his initially goofy and eccentric personality to the more somber and wise persona he usually had. That scene also proved that strength in the Force doesn’t require physical strength, and that “size matters not,” which went a long way in endearing Yoda to audiences.
A New Hope knew how to make a good first impression, and its opening scene immediately established that it would be a thrilling ride through space. After watching the Imperials board the Tantive IV, Leia’s ship, and seeing an all out battle between the Rebels and stormtroopers, Darth Vader made his iconic entrance. With his black suit gleaming against the white halls of the ship, Vader immediately stood out, both visually and as a character. It was an explosive start to the franchise, and it introduced one of the most important and infamous characters in Star Wars.
Vader’s first steps onto the Tantive IV were so impressive it made the list of the most unforgettable character introductions ever, and went a long way in making him such a central figure in Star Wars. George Lucas didn’t have a plan for most of the original trilogy as he was making it, and A New Hope sometimes suggested that while Vader was dangerous, he was also just part of a larger threat. The way he boarded the Tantive IV made him one of the most fearsome and infamous villains of all time, though, which likely gave him a greater role in the franchise than Lucas originally intended.
The Empire Strikes Back‘s darker tone permeated every part of the movie, from the beginning in the Battle of Hoth right up to its finale on Cloud City. After Lando Calrissian’s betrayal, Darth Vader froze Han Solo in carbonite, leaving his fate completely uncertain. The freezing scene is a sign of how much The Empire Strikes Back was willing to take risks and subvert expectations, and it also showed tremendous faith in the franchise’s future. This scene highlighted everything that set Empire Strikes Back apart from A New Hope while cementing it as one of the best movies of all time.
The freezing scene didn’t only work because of its dark tone, though. It also finally fulfilled one of Star Wars‘ best romances, as it saw Leia and Han profess their love for one another. It was a beautiful moment that again highlighted The Empire Strikes Back‘s greatest strength: it’s ability to blend light and dark moments together. It also featured some of the best special effects in the original trilogy, as the fog in the carbon-freezing chamber complemented the scene perfectly, while Han’s frozen body still stands as one of the most impressive practical props in the movie industry.
The climactic moment of A New Hope, when Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star, was also its best scene. A New Hope did a tremendous job of setting up just how difficult Luke’s task was, both in its description of the trench and the exhaust port, as well as in showing how many pilots tried and failed before him. The suspense of the moment was almost perfectly built, as Vader and the other Imperial forces were quickly beating the Rebel fleet. That made the triumphant moments where Han returned in the Millennium Falcon and Luke landed his shot to save the day even more satisfying.
A New Hope is, at its most basic level, the hero’s journey. That’s a commonly used story archetype, and if it was done incorrectly, Star Wars may have faded into obscurity before it ever got the chance to become such a successful franchise. In many ways, the entire saga depended on the Death Star trench run just as much as the movie’s characters did. Luckily, it was the perfect end to A New Hope, and it helped Star Wars become the media juggernaut it now is.
Return of the Jedi is sometimes considered the weakest movie in the original trilogy, but its ending was a perfect way to tie the films together. Everything about it, from Ian McDiarmid’s portrayal of Emperor Palpatine to Luke’s final lightsaber duel with Darth Vader, was firing on all cylinders. It’s a beautifully shot scene that’s filled with symbolism and emotion, and Luke’s draw to the dark side serves as one of the franchise’s most effective bits of subtle storytelling. The throne room scene lived up to all the expectations the original trilogy had created, and it tied everything together immaculately.
While it may have served as the finale of the original trilogy, the throne room scene also opened up so many opportunities that subsequent Star Wars stories would explore. It established so much about the draw of the dark side of the Force, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, and Luke himself that it gave the prequel and sequel trilogies more than enough inspiration to work with. Just as the rest of the original trilogy might not have happened without A New Hope‘s ending, the rest of the franchise might have never been made without Return of the Jedi‘s ending.