Star Wars: 2012

Top 20 Star Wars Movies Characters

1.Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker

His tragic fall and ultimate redemption make him the most fascinating character in the entire saga. In fact, when one watches all six films, it becomes apparent that the series is more about Vader's redemption than Luke's ascension.

Vader's journey from asthmatic Sith Lord to smiling Force ghost was not one without some bloodshed. He could Force choke a high-ranking Imperial officer as easily as he could stand by and listen to the screams of Alderaan. Vader's heart was Hoth cold, something his son Luke soon discovered around the time daddy's lightsaber made Luke a lefty. As bad as Vader's Dark Side was, there proved to be some good in him, and the search for it took me all the way back to a young Anakin's "yippee!" beginnings.

Vader began life as an extremely promising young Jedi. Though many on the Council expressed reservations about his age and arrogance, Anakin quickly rose through the ranks and became the most powerful Jedi anyone had seen for centuries. Many believed Anakin would fulfill the Jedi prophecy and bring balance to the Force. He went on to win many great victories during the Clone Wars alongside his friend and master, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

We know how the story goes from there: Anakin's goes from pod racing to youngling slaying, thanks to his corrupt relationship with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. The Emperor preyed on Anakin's tortured soul and used that to forge Lord Vader. Together they would wipe out the Jedi Order and rule the galaxy.

Luckily, we mentioned redemption. Anakin fathered twins before his downfall, and his son Luke fought valiantly to redeem his father, to bring him back from the brink. The Emperor rewarded Luke's efforts with a blast of Force Lightning. This was the final straw for the man that had once called himself Anakin. He grabbed Palpatine, absorbing the lightning for himself, and tossed the despicable creature down a chasm - Score one for the good guys. Vader was mortally wounded, but he had redeemed himself after decades of dark slavery to Palpatine. What's more, he had brought balance back to the Force in a long, roundabout sort of way.

His look, his sound, his aura, his tragic but redemptive tale… He truly defines the saga, and we love him for it.

2.Han Solo

Pilot of the fastest ship in the galaxy? Check. King of turning tauntauns into sleeping bags? Check. The character every fan wants to be? Check and mate!

From shooting Greedo first to surviving the Carbonite freezing process, Han Solo has long been many fans' favorite Star Warscharacter. Lucas himself has said he was a bit surprised that everyone wanted to be Han and not Luke - which when you think about it isn't that surprising. Luke had the power, but Han was the one that every young boy in America wanted to grow up to be.

This scruffy-looking nerf herder is the ultimate scoundrel in the Star Wars universe. He has an unbeatable quick draw. He has a cocky swagger that makes all the ladies (and some of the men) swoon. And even though Han wants you to believe he's in it for the money, he's just bluffing. Underneath that rough exterior, Han has a real heart of gold. Just ask Chewie, his hetero life partner and co-pilot responsible for keeping Solo and the Falcon a few steps ahead of the Imperials. Han had everything he needed, at least until he met a princess and fell in love.

Han eventually did settle down and start a family. The honest life hasn't always agreed with him, but the nice thing about Star Wars is that there's always some new bad guy looming on the horizon. Lucky for us, Han Solo will always be there. We'd expect nothing less from the greatest hero in the Star Wars galaxy.

3.Obi Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the greatest fighters and diplomats the Order had to offer during the Clone Wars. His calm demeanor and natural empathy garnered him the nickname "The Negotiator". Even when fate took a cruel turn, Kenobi remained kind and benevolent to the end .

For a General and a diplomat, it's hard to pick just one instance where Obi-Wan's heroism shined through the most. We're going to go with his sacrifice on the Death Star.

From the moment he entered the space station, Obi-Wan knew he would never make it out alive. His every action from that point on centered around stalling Vader and allowing his new friends time to escape. Obi-Wan willingly let himself be cut down so that he could take on an even greater role in the fate of the galaxy, helping guide a young Luke along his way to Jedi mastery.

It wouldn't be until the Prequels where we learned that Obi-Wan's sacrifice had a tragic irony to it, as we would discover that the Sith who struck down Kenobi was once Ben's student. Before their Death Star duel, the two men faced off years ago, on a planet of boiling lava that would help turn a young Anakin Skywalker into the Sith Lord. Obi-Wan believed Anakin was the Chosen One, the Jedi who would bring balance to the Force - and he was right.

Hero of the Clone Wars and watchful guardian of Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi has more than earned his place on our list.

4.Luke Skywalker

If ever any character in the history of cinema took the Hero's Journey it would be Luke Skywalker. Starting off as a whiney farm boy on the desert planet of Tatoonie, he would be thrust upon a quest to learn the ways of the almighty Force and help his mentors and friends take down the evil Empire.

With such a humble beginning, a journey of discovery, and a heroic ending in the films, it would be tough to not give a Top-5 spot to Luke. But his story doesn't end with the movies, as Luke would go on to marry Mara Jade, have a child ,Ben Skywalker, and become the Grand Master of the New Jedi Order which protected the New Republic. While we have no idea how exactly Luke died, we do get to see him in Force-ghost form, talking to his descendant Cade Skywalker in the comic series Star Wars: Legacy.

In life and in death, Luke Skywalker continues to be one of the best film characters ever created.

5.Padme Amidala

Even though she didn't survive Episode III, Padme Amidala's influence is strongly felt in later chapters. This former queen and senator of Naboo is well respected as a political figure long after her death. And though few people are aware of it, her greatest contribution to the galaxy was her twin children, Luke and Leia.

When asked about her mother, Leia vaguely described her as, "Very beautiful. Kind, but sad." These are all apt descriptions, and yet, in the prime of her life Amidala was so much more. She also had a feisty, ambitious side that helped her when she became Naboo's youngest queen ever. This inner strength, along with her beauty, is what drew the affections of Anakin Skywalker.

Against all her better judgment, Amidala fell in love with Anakin and the two secretly wed after the beginning of the Clone Wars. While Anakin traveled the galaxy and fought in endless battles, Amidala remained on Coruscant and campaigned for peace.

Eventually, Amidala became pregnant. The young couple was exhilarated and terrified at the prospect of children. Unfortunately, neither was able to experience a life of familial bliss. Anakin fell to darkness and mortally wounded his wife out of misplaced anger. Just before her death, Amidala gave birth to twins. Anakin spent decades believing he had killed his entire family in one blow, and it wasn't until the very end that he learned otherwise.

6.Leia Skywalker/Leia Organa

It's hard to think of Star Wars without picturing that white dress, crimson lipstick and side-buns hairdo. Princess Leia is easily the most recognizable female character in the Star Wars franchise.

There's a lot to be said about the Rebellion's leading lady, even beyond her unforgettable iconography in A New Hope. Lest we forget that sexy gold bikini in Return of the Jedi or that creepy, brother-sister kiss in The Empire Strikes Back. Leia's seen it all in her line of work, and out of the few chicks that have graced the galaxy far, far away, her contributions have easily had the most impact.

7.Chewbacca

You're crazy if you thought everyone's favorite Wookiee wouldn't crack the Top 10.

This walking carpet giant is the textbook definition of a hero, with the right balance of power, honor and a streak of loyalty a parsec wide. All this, and a snazzy bowcaster to back it up.

Chewbacca was born into a noble family, on the planet Kashyyk. Despite various feuds between families and other skirmishes, he grew up under a happy childhood and quickly became a renowned warrior. When the Wookiees were forced to unite in defense against the Separatist armies, Chewbacca was only too happy to defend his family honor on the front lines.

8.C-3PO

Only the greatest Star Wars heroes can make it this far in the countdown. Of course, C-3PO would never consider himself great or a hero. He's merely a humble protocol droid programmed to be fluent in over 3 million forms of communication. It's been mostly through a combination of luck and knowing the right people that this humble droid has played an instrumental role in so many of the galaxy's greatest conflicts.

C-3PO enjoys the distinction of being one of the few characters to appear in all six movies, to say nothing of his many Expanded Universe appearances. His life of service actually dates back further than Episode I, even. C-3PO was originally constructed in the Cybot Galactica plant some 80 years prior. However, it was his first master Anakin Skywalker who rebuilt C-3PO and molded him into the droid we all know and love.

Since then, C-3PO has faithfully served the Skywalker lineage through endless galactic turmoil. First he was the official protocol droid for Anakin's wife Padme. Then, after his mind was wiped to protect Padme's twin children, he fell into the service of Luke Skywalker. For decades afterward he continued to assist Luke, Leia, and their family and allies. Perhaps he was prone to complaining - a lot - but he always proved dependable in the end.

9.R2-D2

Perhaps no character is as synonymous with Star Wars as the plucky droid, R2-D2.

For starters, he's been in all 6 movies, not to mention three of the four animated series. R2 also appeared in nearly every game, book, and comic to take place after Episode I. R2-D2 is everywhere, and we wouldn't want it any other way.

As we all know, R2-D2 distinguished himself early by serving the Royal Family of Naboo. His ingenuity and no-nonsense attitude, both unheard of in an astromech droid, caught the attention of Queen Amidala. Soon after, he became one of her personal droids. R2 was a faithful companion through many adventures, always ready with a well-placed hacking tool or electric shock.

R2 also formed an unlikely friendship with the fussy protocol droid C-3PO. The two remained together even after Amidala's death, scooting around the galaxy and getting into all sorts of trouble. When fate returned them to the service of the Skywalker clan, R2 proved his valor once more.

10.Master Yoda

When we hear the phrase "Jedi Master," Yoda's name is always the one that springs to mind. And whenever we hear his trademarked backwards speech, we get all warm and fuzzy for this very spritely, very old Jedi.

No other Jedi so completely encapsulates what it means to be a Master. His skills were unrivaled among the Order. Despite his short stature, he could swing a lightsaber like no one's business. Above all, he was every bit the wise, kooky old professor we wish we had in school.

900 years old, Yoda was at his death. That's a damn long time to serve as a Jedi, and much of Yoda's life remains shrouded in mystery. We don't even know the name of his species. We do know that he quickly ascended the ranks of the Jedi, and attained the rank of Master, centuries before the movies. Yoda's prime responsibility as a teacher was to the youngest students, which is why Obi-Wan once referred to Yoda as "The Jedi Master who instructed me."

In later years, Yoda became a rallying figure during the Clone Wars, feared enough that even men like Count Dooku fled before him. Yoda's skill in his battles with both Dooku and Darth Sidious was awe-inspiring, and yet that didn't stop the Jedi Order from falling. Those conflicts sent Yoda into hiding, to the swamp planet of Dagobah. Years after his self-imposed exile, Yoda would find himself in service of the Force again, this time helping Luke Skywalker do the whole saving the galaxy thing.

11.Boba Fett

How cool is Boba Fett? So cool that he can actually be introduced in the infamous, nearly unwatchable Star Wars Holiday Special and still remain a fan favorite.

The cult of Boba Fett is fueled by the mystery around the character. And yes, Attack of the Clones and other stories have since given the bounty hunter an origin, which you no doubt have your own opinion on. But we prefer to think of Boba in the early days - when all we knew was that this was a guy with one of the greatest outfits we'd ever seen (The helmet! All of those gadgets!), that he was someone who knew how to get the job done, and that he could give Darth Vader a little attitude - "He's no use to me dead" - and come away unscathed.

Not as easily definable as the good Rebels or the evil Empire, the introduction of Boba Fett and his bounty hunter ways added a touch of grey to Star Wars, as we wondered who was under that helmet and what motivated him.

At the same time, I was simply basking in the awesome at a guy who could calmly respond with a few rifle shots at Luke Skywalker following him, who could effortlessly track down Han Solo and who had a bad ass jet pack strapped to his back - even if that same device would ultimately cause his downfall.

12.Emperor Palpatine

In terms of sheer, unadulterated villainy, no figure in the Star Warsmythos is greater or more terrible than Emperor Palpatine. He plunged the galaxy into war and reigned over an Empire that lasted for decades. Many Sith have lusted for power, but most have a reach that far exceeds their grasp. Not so with Palpatine. When he can't grasp something, he just electrocutes it into submission.

Using his keen and unnatural foresight, Palpatine spent years consolidating power and quietly gaining control of the Republic. His status as a mighty Sith lord went unnoticed by even the most powerful of the Jedi. In a few short years, he rose from Senator of his home planet of Naboo to Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. Palpatine then sparked a war between Naboo and the Trade Federation, with both sides secretly under his control. His constituents played right into his hands, eagerly granting him more power so that he might end the war of his own making.

Palpatine adapted this strategy when he sparked the horrifically violent Clone Wars. He used this conflict as a means of disgracing and eliminating the Jedi. The countless millions who fought and died in this war never knew what they were truly fighting for. In the final fiery days of the Clone Wars, Palpatine revealed himself as Darth Sidious, swiftly cut the head off the Jedi Order, and closed his icy fingers around the galaxy.

With Darth Vader by his side to hunt down and kill the remaining Jedi, Palpatine established a new Galactic Empire with himself as Emperor. Trillions of beings despaired at the knowledge that they had allowed the galaxy's greatest tyrant to simply walk into power. It took 20 years for Vader to come to his senses and throw his evil master down a pit. In that time, Palpatine more than established himself as the greatest evil the galaxy had ever known. There's a reason the Sith annals still hail him as "Palpatine the Great".

13.Lando Calrissian

Bar none, the coolest character in the Star Wars galaxy is Lando Calrissian. With a swagger that most of the other SW characters lack, Lando was able to balance being a military General and savvy entrepreneur at the same time.

From the first moment we meet the man with the sky-blue cape on Cloud City, we see that he has a way with the ladies and a Billy Dee sense of humor. Although we were made to believe that he was a sellout, Lando more than made up for turning Han Solo over to the Empire by breaking him out of Jabba's Palace, and then helping the Republic to destroy the second Death Star. That isn't a bad resume for a man who has a sketchy history with gambling, smuggling and con artistry. But it's these vices which make Lando so affable and such a go-to character in pop culture.

Lando, ya old pirate, you truly belong here on this list at Number 13.

14.Qui Gon Jinn

Qui-Gon Jinn appeared for only one movie, and yet he stands out as one of the most memorable original characters from the prequels. In a club of stuffy, do-gooder Jedi, Qui-Gon was one of the few who dared venture outside the narrow path and view the galaxy in something other than strict black and white terms.

Qui-Gon's formative years were simple enough. Like many Force sensitive children, he was taken from his home at an early age and trained as a Jedi. It wasn't until he was paired with Master Dooku that his world view began to change. Dooku, of course, eventually broke from the Order and became Darth Tyrannus. While Qui-Gon refused to follow in his master's footsteps, he did recognize the necessity of second-guessing the Order.

This rebellious streak continued to the end of his life. Qui-Gon often defied the Council's wishes, much to the chagrin of his student, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Qui-Gon's last act of defiance was beginning the training of young Anakin Skywalker. His fellow Jedi Masters sensed great darkness in Anakin, but Qui-Gon was convinced the boy would destroy the Sith. In a roundabout way he was correct. The spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn can rest easy knowing that much.

15.Darth Maul

Of all the countless characters to walk in and out of the Star Warsseries, none look or act more badass than Darth Maul.

Say what you will about Episode I, but the deadly ballet of Darth Maul makes the movie worth watching even now. Maul was born on the planet Iridonia and taken from his family by Darth Sidious at a young age. Sidious trained him in the Sith arts at a time when the Jedi assumed the Sith had all been wiped out. After years of torture, hardship, and a particularly painful bout of ritualistic Sith tattooing, Darth Maul was born.

Maul proved instrumental in Sidious' early schemes. He relentlessly pursued Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi across the galaxy, until the duo was forced to battle him in the depths of Naboo. Maul killed the former and nearly did the same to Obi-Wan, but the Padawan Jedi was able to overcome his fear and slice his foe cleanly in half.

As is the way of the Sith, Sidious quickly replaced Maul with a new apprentice. However, never again would there be a warrior as fearsome and awe-inspiring as Darth Maul. It's little wonder so many Expanded Universe writers have attempted to resurrect the villain.

16.Count Dooku

Most great villains don't even consider themselves to be evil. They only do the terrible things they do to further what they see as the greater good. Take Count Dooku, for example. This wealthy nobleman was once among the greatest of the Jedi. However, he lost faith in the Jedi Order and departed, joining the ranks of the Lost Jedi.

But what is a wealthy, charismatic and very powerful man like Dooku supposed to do after handing in his two-week's notice? Find a new job, of course. Dooku quickly caught the attention of Darth Sidious, who was seeking a new Sith apprentice after the death of Darth Maul. Dooku willingly gave himself over to the Dark Side and became Darth Tyrannus. Using his wealth and influence, Dooku began swaying various star systems to his cause, forming a Confederation that threatened to destabilize the troubled Republic.

For years, the two Sith manipulated the galaxy into fighting the Clone Wars. Dooku became one of the most famous men in the galaxy, hated and loved in equal measure. Even the Jedi found it difficult to thwart him. The first time they clashed, Dooku defeated young Anakin Skywalker and even fended off the all-powerful Yoda.

The second time, however, Anakin proved more than a match for the again Sith Lord. Dooku fell, finally comprehending his small role in his master's grand plan. Sidious was only too happy to take on a new pupil.

17.General Grievous

Is there a Star Wars villain who fits the moniker of "scourge of the galaxy" better than General Grievous? This cruel melding of machine and flesh was perhaps the single most feared being in the galaxy during the later months of the Clone Wars. Clone Troopers fled at the mere sight of him. The Jedi feared his supernatural skills with a lightsaber. Even Grievous' allies among the Separatists preferred to stay at a safe distance (usually measured in light years).

But even Grievous wasn't always a poster child for diabolical evil. Once he was a simple freedom fighter named Qymaen jal Shaleel, from the planet Kalee. He won great renown for his part in driving the rival Hulk species off the planet entirely. This even captured the attention of Count Dooku and the Separatist army. Jal Shaleel showed great reluctance to aid their cause, however. Dooku simply chose to sabotage his ship and blame the attack on the Jedi.

With his broken body rebuilt into an advanced cybernetic killing machine, the newly christened General Grievous was only too happy to wage a new war.

Grievous became the primary military commander of the Separatist armies during the Clone Wars. He won many great victories against the Republic. Thanks to his lightning-quick reflexes, training in various deadly martial arts, and ability to wield as many as six (!) lightsabers at once, more than a few Jedi warriors fell at his hand.

However, as the Clone Wars finally began to wind down, Grievous no longer served any use to his masters. When he was killed by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, it can be safely said that Grievous was missed by no one; a sad end to a once proud warrior.

18.Mace Windu

Whenever you add Samuel L. Jackson to any movie set in space, the aforementioned film instantly becomes three times cooler. And that's exactly what happened when SLJ enlisted for Jedi duty and became Mace Windu.

Wielding one of the only purple lightsabers in the known universe, Mace Windu is one of the toughest badass motherf***ers in the galaxy. When you absolutely positively got to kill every battle droid in an alien gladiator arena - accept no substitutes.

But where Mace truly shines and proves his superiority is in Tartakovsky's Clone Wars series. This animated series had the famous scene in which the Jedi Master took down an entire battalion of super battle droids and destroyed a Separatist seismic tank in a matter of minutes.

At one point he even goes at them with his bare hands. This is not to mention his vast contributions to the Jedi Order, including (but not limited to) his lethal shatter-point technique and the development of his own unique lightsaber-fu. These are just a few of the many instances where Mace demonstrates his substantial supremacy over his Council peers.

And at the end of the day, you can always count on ol' Mace to kick ass and take names. See Episode II "This party's over" line.

19.Jango Fett

No one, George Lucas included, could have predicted the cult fandom that would grow around Boba Fett in the years following the end of the original Star Wars trilogy. But by the time Lucas madeAttack of the Clones, he obviously was well aware of the love that surrounded Boba, hence the inclusion of both the bounty hunter to be and his father in the story. And where we only got hints of Boba Fett being a badass in the original trilogy, with Jango, we got to actually see how this family earned its rep.

Despite not having any Force-abilities, Jango is a guy who can take on Obi-Wan Kenobi himself in a fight and escape unscathed, thanks to his skills with the multitude of impressive weapons on his awesome Mandalorian armor, including a jetpack that comes equipped with a rocket launcher. Later, during the Battle of Geonosis, Fett's effortless dispatching of a Jedi threatening Count Dooku, with the silent skills of a wild west quick draw, reminded us just how cool this guy was - even if he wasn't destined to survive the day.

In the end, we respect Fett because, in an odd way, we believe the guy when he tells Obi-Wan, "I'm just a simple man, trying to make my way in the universe." Though obviously "simple" is a stretch for such a talented bounty hunter, Jango still seems like a matter of fact, calm and cool character, who uses his skill set to get the job done, with as little fuss as possible.

20.Wicket W.Warwick

Perhaps the greatest travesty in the history of galactic warfare is the Battle of Endor. In this battle, an entire legion of the Emperor's best troops were slaughtered by a band of teddy bears wielding sticks and rocks.

This doesn't speak to the Empire's military might, but it does tell you something about the courage of the Ewoks and, specifically, the one who chose to help the rebels. We're talking, of course, about Wicket W. Warrick.

Wicket has a long, long backstory seen in the Ewoks movies and animated series. All you really need to know is that Wicket showed an unusual level of curiosity and tenacity at a young age. This curiosity got him into all sorts of trouble, and yet he always proved capable of saving the day.

This continued all the way to the Battle of Endor. Wicket discovered Princess Leia being attacked by a band of Scout Troopers. He did what any good three-foot-tall Teddy Ruxpin warrior would do - he stabbed the hapless troopers and rescued the fair princess. Wicket helped convince his tribal elders that the Rebels needed their help, and together the twin forces laid waste to the Imperial troops. It's no stretch to say that, without Wicket, the Battle of Endor would have turned out much differently.

FIN

P.S.=Thanks IGN! :D