Star Wars: Best Characters, Ranked

Summary

Mon Mothma’s importance in the rebellion goes beyond her limited appearances in the original trilogy.
Poe Dameron is a popular character known for being a natural pilot.
Rey Skywalker’s narrative parallels Luke’s, but her resourcefulness and independence set her apart.

The Star Wars franchise has evolved into its own media universe that includes every type of media, from anime to video games, and it contains hundreds of unique characters. Many of them are more famous than others, with a few being among the most popular characters in entertainment history.

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Since the first movie hit theaters in 1977, the franchise has introduced a variety of stories from a galaxy far, far away. What makes a character great is a matter of opinion, but there are more than a few in the Star Wars universe that might be the greatest of all time.

7

Mon Mothma

The Mother Of The Rebellion

Introduced In: Star Wars: Episode 4 – A New Hope

Mon Mothma’s backstory begins in the Senate, where she served as a representative of her home planet Chandrila and was one of the most important political leaders on Coruscant. She was part of an early group of breakaway politicians, including Organa, Onaconda Farr, and eventually Amidala of Naboo.

Considering how important Mon Mothma is to the rebellion, she surprisingly only appeared briefly in the original trilogy. Her appearance in the original Star Wars portrayed her as an important rebel leader but only scratched the surface. Modern Star Wars has corrected this oversight by giving her major roles in video games, comic books, and television shows, with Andor being among the most notable examples.

6

Poe Dameron

A Heroic Pilot For A New Generation

Introduced In: Star Wars: Episode 7 – The Force Awakens

Every Star Wars movie needs a hotshot pilot, and Poe Dameron is the one for The Force Awakens. Dameron was naturally gifted as a pilot, was mentored by the equally famous Wedge Antilles, and used his talents to smuggle spice before encountering the Rebellion and deciding to use his powers for good.

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Poe’s character is one of the most popular and compelling of the Disney era, and he has appeared in virtually all Star Wars media since the new trilogy was released. His status as a pilot makes him a natural for flight simulators, and his roguish traits, developed as he worked for both sides, make him a more exciting character.

5

Han Solo

A Rebel Without A Cause (Until He Found One)

Introduced In: Star Wars: Episode 4 – A New Hope

Han Solo is the grumpy smuggler who claimed that “hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side” and was embraced by fans as one of the most endearing heroes in the franchise despite his problematic backstory. Modern interpretations of the character have been controversial and not always well-liked, but that never made a dent in Han’s popularity.

Han Solo was always a popular character, which is an interesting twist considering how close he came to getting killed off and lost forever in Star Wars: Episode 5 – The Empire Strikes Back. Stories of Han Solo outside the franchise have only increased his popularity, from his by-chance casting of Harrison Ford to the immortal “I know” line in response to Leia’s declaration of love before he was frozen in carbonite.

4

Rey Skywalker

A Jedi For A New Generation

Introduced In: Star Wars: Episode 7 – The Force Awakens

Rey was just minding her own business, salvaging downed starships for metal and parts, when a little droid fell out of the sky with an important message. Rey’s story is similar to Luke’s in the sense that she had to endure an isolated and gritty upbringing, but what sets her apart is her solitude and resourcefulness on an unforgiving planet while having virtually no support from friends or family.

Rey eventually seeks out Luke Skywalker, who acts as her teacher and mentor as much as his jaded and conical attitude will allow. She pushes the Force and its related powers to new heights throughout her adventures fighting for the Rebellion and appearing in several video games, books, and other media that also feature the fall of the first order.

3

Yoda

The Wisdom Of The Future

Introduced In: Star Wars: Episode 5 – The Empire Strikes Back

“War does not make one great” was one of the many brilliant lines that introduced audiences to Yoda, the Jedi Grand Master who was waiting for Luke on the swamp planet of Dagobah. Frank Oz, of Jim Henson’s Muppets‘ fame, and the talent behind iconic figures like Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear, made this portrayal resonate in movie history.

Yoda isn’t just a great character because of his wisdom and philosophy; it’s also due to his long and exciting history that goes back more than 900 years. He appears in the prequel trilogy as one of the leaders of the Jedi Order, but it’s understood that he was already ancient by then and had been fighting against the Dark Side of the Force long before most of his colleagues and peers were even born.

2

Leia Organa

A Truly Iconic Princess

Introduced In: Star Wars: Episode 4 – A New Hope

Those buns were inspired by real-life “soldaderas,” the name given for the Mexican women who served in their country’s fight for independence (in Geroge Lucas’ own words, a “kind of Southwestern Pancho Villa woman revolutionary look”). Add her minimalist wardrobe that was the epitome of 1970s fashion, and everything about Leia was subversive from the start, which is why she’s one of the best characters in the Star Wars franchise.

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Leia’s first duty was always to the Rebellion, even as she trained to be a Jedi herself, and although her adventures haven’t been the subject of a lot of movies, she does appear in various comic books and video games using her powers. Carrie Fisher was always the face of the princess, and she is perhaps the only person who could have filled such an iconic role.

1

Luke Skywalker

A Rebel Hero

Introduced In: Star Wars: Episode 4 – A New Hope

Luke Skywalker is just one of the best characters in any franchise ever, never mind being the best one in Star Wars. He’s got a clear and obvious arc that’s easy to follow, and he’s always surrounded by both good and bad mentors who present him with tough choices regarding his future. Han Solo even offers him a job as a smuggler at one point, and he would have been good at it, but he answered the call of the hero instead.

There are very few stories in the Star Wars universe that don’t include Luke, and the ones that don’t often find ways to reference him somehow, depending on the timeline, which indicates how important he is. His depictions in the Disney movies might be controversial, given his personality and motivations in the previous movies, but when it comes to building complex characters, that might be a strength instead of a weakness.