Happy Star Wars Day! Here are some of most iconic moments from the films

Virgin Radio

4 May 2023, 08:40

Credit: Rex

Today is Star Wars Day! May the fourth be with you!

Yes, the simple play on words and its similarity to “May the Force be with you” means that every year on this date Star Wars fans celebrate their favourite sci-fi franchise. So, what better time to revisit some of the most iconic moments from the films in the series?

From the original trilogy, to the three prequels, the trio of sequels and the two spin-offs films, there have been plenty of memorable scenes.

Here - in no particular order - are just a few of the many classic moments from the Star Wars universe:

These aren't the droids you're looking for - A New Hope

Mos Eisley Spaceport might be "a wretched hive of scum and villainy" but it sure serves up a whole bunch of classic moments. The cantina bar with its dodgy clientele and super cool band, Han and Greedo (who shot first?) and, before all that, Obi-Wan Kenobi bamboozling some stormtroopers with just a few words and a casual wave of his hand.

Cool as a cucumber.

Don’t pretend you didn’t try to use the ol’ Jedi mind trick when you were a kid, because we don’t believe you.

I Know – The Empire Strikes Back

Two simple words that come from Han Solo as he’s about to get frozen in carbonite and shipped off to adorn Jabba The Hutt’s wall.

Han’s fate is just one of many ends left open in the very dark, not-at-all happy ending of the first sequel movie.

With it not being known if Captain Solo would survive, Princess Leia and Han have a bit of a smooch, before she tells the space pilot that she loves him. He replies, “I know”.

Your powers are weak, old man – A New Hope

When Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan go to the Death Star to rescue Leia, old Ben and Darth Vader end up face to mask, many years after they were best buddies.

This coming-together meant that fans saw the first lightsaber battle of the series.

We also saw the first major character meet their maker, although they would return as a Force ghost.

You were my brother, Anakin - Revenge of The Sith

The prequel movies are certainly divisive, but Revenge of the Sith at least gives fans the full backstory to Obi-Wan and Darth Vader’s serious beef.

As Anakin loses some limbs and finally succumbs to the Dark Side, he shouts “I hate you!”. Obi Wan responds “You were my brother Anakin. I loved you.”

Emotional stuff.

Han Solo confronts Kylo Ren - The Force Awakens

Several of the original gang are in the rebooted Star Wars series, with Harrison Ford’s Han Solo turning up in the first of the new films, whereby he reveals himself to antagonist Kylo Ren.

Kylo, real name Ben Solo, is the child of Han and Leia.

Finn, Rey, Chewbacca and BB-8 watch helpless as the meeting between the father and his son ends in death.

Vader against the Rebels - Rogue One

Set just before the events in A New Hope, this cracking spin-off movie follows a group of rebels who band together to steal plans of the Death Star.

The movie ends pretty much where Episode IV begins, and we see a rage-fuelled Darth Vader tearing through a corridor of a Rebel command ship, killing many troops without a second thought in an attempt to regain the plans.

Scary.

The Battle of Hoth – The Empire Strikes Back

The snowy opening to the second Star Wars film is one of the most aesthetically pleasing segments of the series.

Luke hanging upside down and using The Force to summon his lightsaber, the snowspeeders and AT-ATs, some pretty ace flying… cracking stuff.

And of course, Han’s line when cutting open a Tauntaun: “I Thought They Smelled Bad On The Outside.”

Throne room fight - The Last Jedi

With their weird relationship coming to a head, Rey and Kylo take part in one of the most stunning scenes of the sequel trilogy.

In the throne room, Kylo makes the surprise decision to kill his master, Snoke. This gets the Elite Praetorian Guards a bit miffed, so they attack the pair, who team up to fight them off.

You want this, don't you? - Return of the Jedi

“The hate is swelling in you now. Take your Jedi weapon. Use it. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger. With each passing moment you make yourself more my servant.”

Safe to say The Emperor is really trying to get under Luke’s skin as the original trilogy of Star Wars films comes to a conclusion.

The whole thing leads to a stunning lightsaber battle between Luke and Vader, and the latter chucking his evil boss into a reactor.

Help you, I can - The Empire Strikes Back

Having got the heck away from Hoth, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of the mysterious Yoda, who he hopes will instruct him in the ways of the Force.

The landing doesn’t go so well, R2 almost ends up as as swamp monster’s dinner, and then this weird little green guy turns up being really annoying.

But not all is as it seems.

I am your father – The Empire Strikes Back

We’ve saved the best until last. Not only is this the biggest moment in the entire series, but one of the most iconic lines in cinema history.

Fans seeing the film for the first time back in 1980 were in SHOCK when they learned that Darth Vader didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker – he is Anakin, meaning he’s Luke’s bloomin’ dad!

Turns out Lukey boy didn’t take the news too well. You wouldn't though, would you? Especially if your old man had just chopped off your hand. Thanks dad!