The Star Wars franchise is seemingly limitless; there are movies, TV shows, video games, novels, comics, and several other forms of art that continue to deepen its narrative complexities. However, fans focus on the films more than anything else, making them the most important in terms of influence on pop culture.
The nine main Star Wars movies—Rogue One (2016) excluded—contain dozens of powerful scenes that affect their characters as much as the audience. However, it's possible to distill each movie into a singular moment that resolves past events while setting the stage for future story paths.
9 Episode I: The Phantom Menace — Yoda Allows Obi-Wan Kenobi To Train Anakin Skywalker
As the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Yoda doesn't share Qui-Gon Jinn's belief in young Anakin's destiny as the Chosen One, instead stating that the child is filled with too much fear to become an effective Jedi.
However, after Jinn's death, the Jedi Council formally instates Obi-Wan Kenobi as a Jedi Knight. The latter then notifies Yoda as to Jinn's desire to train Anakin, which is why the Grand Master grudgingly allows Skywalker to become Kenobi's Padawan. And the rest is history.
8 Episode II: Attack Of The Clones — The Jedi Vs. The Separatists
Dooku's attempts to sway Kenobi are futile, and the Jedi Master (along with Padmé and Anakin) are forced into a gladiatorial battle on Geonosis. Before the heroes are overwhelmed, Mace Windu pops in to help his friends, but even his presence doesn't seem to make much difference.
The tides of battle change when Yoda brings the Clones to fight off the Confederacy's Droid Army. The Jedi are the ultimate victors, but Count Dooku unfortunately makes his way back to Darth Sidious before Yoda can capture him.
7 Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith — Obi-Wan Leaves His Beloved Pupil To Die
Yoda's misgivings about Anakin are made real when he chooses to serve Palpatine, which means Obi-Wan has no choice but to defeat his beloved Padawan. The so-called Duel on Mustafar takes place in several locations and reaches its conclusion when the pair of combatants reach the lava river stage.
Obi-Wan reluctantly cuts off three of his opponent's limbs, following which Darth Vader spontaneously catches fire from being extremely close to the lava. Kenobi walks away distraught, totally unaware that it would take a lot more than that to kill Darth Vader.
6 Episode IV: A New Hope — The Obliteration Of Alderaan
Although Princess Leia Organa manages to smuggle the technical blueprints for the Death Star out with R2-D2's help, she doesn't expect Grand Moff Tarkin to destroy her home planet after she informs him of the rebel base's location (an incorrect one, but it changes nothing).
Tarkin merely claims that Dantooine isn't worthy of the Death Star's superlaser, and orders his soldiers to fire on Alderaan instead. The destruction of an entire planet creates an atmosphere of fear among those revolting against the Galactic Empire.
5 Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back — "No. I Am Your Father."
During one of the most iconic father-son fights in cinematic history, Darth Vader proves that he has the upper hand against Luke when he severs his son's hand. At this point, Vader informs him that Obi-Wan's explanation of Luke's parentage is misleading, and asserts that he used to be Anakin Skywalker.
Thankfully, Luke isn't influenced by promises of power, and would rather die than become a Sith like his father. This plot twist basically reconfigures the crux of the Star Wars narrative, because it forces Luke to reconsider everything he has spent so long fighting against.
4 Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi — Darth Vader Breaks Free Of Palpatine
When Luke proudly proclaims that he will always be a Jedi, Palpatine savagely flings a Force Lightning barrage at the younger man. Although Darth Vader is still deeply bound to his Sith master, his love for his son triumphs in the end.
Vader carries Sidious to the DS-2 Death Star's shaft and tosses him into the reactor core. The Emperor's physical body is destroyed, an event that restores peace to the war-torn galaxy. Palpatine returns to power later but in an entirely different saga.
3 Episode VII: The Force Awakens — Rey Seeks Out Her Jedi Master
Kylo Ren's first defeat at Rey's hands is a significant moment, but not nearly as much as what comes after. Rey comprehends the necessity of undergoing further Jedi training and therefore goes in search of Luke Skywalker after learning that he might be living on Ahch-To.
Rey borrows the Millennium Falcon and travels to the watery planet, scales a series of rock stairs, and finds a shrouded figure looking into the distance. It obviously turns out to be Luke, the last main character from the Original Trilogy to make an appearance in the sequels.
2 Episode VIII: The Last Jedi — Supreme Leader Snoke Dies Before The Third Arc
The First Order and its Mega-class Star Dreadnought completely overwhelm the Resistance, but the real showdown takes place aboard the Supremacy. Snoke faces Ren and Rey, completely confident that his pupil would behave as expected, which is why he is shocked to find himself skewered with a lightsaber.
Snoke's death comes as a huge plot twist, but more importantly, it leaves the First Order without a leader, a position that is ultimately filled by Kylo Ren himself. This event sets the stage for the last showdown in the sequel trilogy.
1 Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker — Kylo Ren Sacrifices Himself For Rey
Rey exerts the totality of her Jedi powers and manages to bring down Palpatine, her recently revealed grandfather; however, she is killed in the process. Utterly distraught, Kylo Ren cradles her body and voluntarily transfers his life energy to her, regardless of the inevitable consequences.
Ren's final act of sacrifice is heartbreaking, for both Rey and fans of Star Wars, but he has zero regrets when his spirit vanishes into the Force forever. The parallels between his death and that of Darth Vader evoke some much-needed nostalgia, too.
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