As we continue to await the arrival of The Force Awakens, take a look through the countdown of the top 10 best Star Wars characters of all time.
10. Chewbacca
Han Solo’s furry sidekick doesn’t really speak in the Star Wars films (at all), but that doesn’t mean we can’t love him.
Despite being a huge figure, a towering wookiee known to rip people’s arms right out of their sockets, Chewie has a heart of gold, and during the adventures of the original trilogy, he tries his best to keep all of his friends safe, and with his iconic roar, he’s just one of the nicest, and coolest characters in the whole of Star Wars.
9. Boba Fett
Of course, great characters don’t have to be loveable, and that’s exactly where the notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett comes in.
Although his name is only mentioned once in the original trilogy, and he has about four lines, there’s just something about this third-tier character that’s unmistakably fascinating. From the moment Darth Vader reminds him: ‘no disintegrations’, to his deep and shady voice, Boba Fett is one of the most mysterious characters in the entire saga, and one who you can’t help but wonder about whenever he pops up on screen.
8. C-3PO
Much like Chewbacca, C-3PO isn’t a human character, and yet he’s still one of the greatest of all time.
He’s a protocol droid, a robot designed to assist his masters whenever, however and wherever, but he gets swept along the epic space journey that unfolds in the original trilogy. Unfortunately, he’s not really given much to do in the prequels, but in Episodes IV, V and VI, it’s hilarious to see him awkwardly bumble through some of the most significant events in the history of the galaxy. And also, you can’t beat his love-hate relationship with fellow droid R2-D2; C-3PO is one of the most well-developed characters, and one of the most fun.
7. Princess Leia Organa
It’s no secret that until The Force Awakens, Star Wars hasn’t been the greatest advocate of strong female characters.
However, the one who does stand out is Princess Leia of the original trilogy. Despite having the appearance of the damsel in distress, Leia pulls out all the stops to become one of the coolest, most badass action heroes of all time. She’s not just good with a blaster, mind you, she’s strong-willed and not afraid to get in a fight with her male counterparts, making her always hugely exciting to watch on screen.
6. Yoda
Now, Yoda almost embodies all that Star Wars is in one little green puppet: wise, experienced and very skilled in the ways of the Force.
From his first appearance in Episode V, he’s a jolly little old man who’s always fun to watch, but what’s most striking about him is his extreme power when it comes to being a Jedi. No-one else in the galaxy is as wise as Master Yoda. It’s true that in the prequels, Yoda comes off as just a bit of a grumpy old man, and lacks the loveability factor of the original trilogy, but still, you can’t get much more iconic than Yoda.
5. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s story is covered by almost all of the Star Wars films. From his humble beginnings as a padawan in Episode I, to his rise to be a wise old Jedi master who trains Luke Skywalker in the ways of the force in Episode IV.
He starts off as a slightly impatient individual, but his character arc shows a great development to being one of the wisest and most grounded Jedi who ever lived, playing a significant role on the Jedi Council in the Old Republic, and then helping to spark the Rebellion against the Empire.
4. Luke Skywalker
The main character of the original trilogy, Luke Skywalker’s life is the classic hero story.
From extremely humble beginnings in a small house in the middle of the desert on Tatooine, Luke finds himself swept up to become the most important force in all of the Rebellion. From his actions as an X-Wing pilot during the Battle of Yavin, to his assumption of the role of Jedi Master, the development of Luke Skywalker is fascinating, and no matter what he has thrown at him, he always returns and, despite teetering on the edge of falling to the Dark Side, does everything to bring down the Empire with the ways of the Jedi.
3. R2-D2
R2-D2 is a little blue astro-droid, about 4 feet tall, and he only talks in little beeps and whistles, so why on earth is he such a good character?
Well, he’s one of only two characters to play a major role in every single film, and he’s just one of the most likeable figures in all of Star Wars. On the one hand, he’s a hilarious, wise-cracking little robot who likes to get on C-3PO’s nerves, but he also remains extremely loyal to all his friends, playing a hugely significant role in all the events of every adventure, and it’s genuinely arguable that, without R2-D2’s actions, none of Star Wars could have ever happened.
2. Han Solo
Despite the fact that Luke is the main character of the original trilogy, Han Solo stands out as the one everyone is drawn to.
As soon as we meet the young smuggler, we learn that he’s not a great guy, having been caught up in nasty dealings, and now with a bounty on his head. He doesn’t care about the success of the Rebellion, he just wants a big payday. However, as the trilogy progresses, whilst he remains a witty and hot-headed personality, Han changes to become one of the greatest heroes who ever lived, being thrown right to the forefront of the Rebellion.
1. Darth Vader
In some film sagas, however, it’s the villains that shine above the heroes, and that’s where Darth Vader, arguably one of the most iconic movie characters of all time, comes in.
In the original trilogy, Vader is the most evil figure in the galaxy, wreaking havoc in the galaxy as he attempts to brutally oppress the Rebels. His black armour, coupled with his booming voice, makes him an extremely intimidating figure for all who cross him, and that makes him absolutely thrilling to watch all the time.
In the prequels, we learn Vader’s back story, of how he came to be the great Sith Lord, and how he was trained in the ways of the Jedi before falling to the Dark Side. He’s an absolutely fascinating villain, with such an iconic story, making him by far the best Star Wars character of all time.
