It has almost been 50 years since George Lucas first took us to a galaxy far far away. In that time, the Star Wars universe has introduced several characters who have wormed their way into the fandom’s hearts. Your favorite may be a furry Wookie or a sarcastic droid. Every era has its hotshot pilot or villain (or three) with a British accent. With Star Wars showing no signs of slowing down, it’s clear that more unforgettable characters will soon debut in the sci-fi franchise. But for now, let’s focus on the ones we already know and love.
These are the 50 Greatest Star Wars Characters of All Time.
30. Revan / Darth Revan
For all his coolness, Revan is a mess. Introduced in the now-classic video game, Knights of the Old Republic (2003), this character has done it all. His labyrinthian back story reads like it was written by that one kid in high school who just has to tell you about his D&D character.
On a hit parade of badassery, Revan is a powerful Jedi who breaks with the dogmatic Order to lead the Republic in a war against the Mandalorians, winning a grudging respect from the warrior people. From there he heads off on a quest to solve a mystery regarding some dark influence on the war, only to be captured by the hidden Emperor of the Sith and turned to the Dark Side. Eventually, he breaks free of this slavery with his companion Malak, and together these two Dark Lords of the Sith wage a war against the Jedi. By the end of the war, he’s captured and has his mind wiped. Next, as an amnesiac soldier, he fights alongside the Republic against Malak, and eventually trains once again as a Jedi. He regains most of his lost memories after a final confrontation with his old partner, and begins a new life.
Look, there’s more, and it’s just insane. From winning the Mask of Mandalore, to mastering Light and Dark powers, Revan is the Gariest of Sues. At this point, he’s almost a parody of a kickass protagonist. And don’t even get me started on that Gray Jedi boloney.
–Jeff Cram
29. Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac)
One of J.J. Abrams’ most important contributions to the Star Wars sequels was rewriting the script to change Poe Dameron’s fate. Initially a character who died early in the first film, Poe instead became one of the franchise’s most popular characters, defined by his fearless attitude, cocky charm, and loyalty to the cause of the Resistance. He’s often compared to Han Solo, and rightly so. Both men exude roguish swagger, extreme confidence, and tend to be wiseasses at the most inopportune times. But Poe’s complexity made him so much more than a Han Solo 2.0. The character carved out his own identity thanks to his emotional depth and ability to lead and inspire those around him. It certainly helps that Oscar Isaac was the man bringing the character to life. With effortless charisma, Isaac created one of the more relatable characters in the galaxy, and like Harrison Ford, he’s not so bad on the eyes either.
–Romona Comet
28. Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus (Christopher Lee)
Christopher Lee was the perfect casting for Count Dooku. He’s an absolute icon in the acting world and he truly brought the same gravitas to the role in a similar way that Alec Guinness did with Obi-Wan Kenobi years earlier. I also love that his character is a very complicated one. He’s not just your typical bad guy, he’s a former Jedi who was the master to Qui-Gon Jinn who turned to the dark side. It’s a great arc that I wish they explored more.
–K. Alvarez
27. Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing)
Arguably one of the main villains of the entire saga, Grand Moff Tarkin is a cunning and daunting figurehead for the Empire. First appearing in Episode IV: A New Hope and played by the remarkable Peter Cushing, he was intended to be the main villain of the original trilogy alongside Darth Vader. While Vader might be more memorable, Grand Moff Tarkin is truly sinister. It is he who goes toe-to-toe with Princess Leia, ordering the destruction of her home planet before her very eyes. While his further characterisation in the TV shows and other movies gave us more insight into his thoughts and motivations, he remains a power-hungry fiend. According to a book released to promote the first film, he aspires to be Emperor, and anyone who’s seen his character in action can totally see that happening. He’s a bastard, but definitely someone you love to hate.
–Valerie Morreale
26. Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff)
It took me a REALLY long time to get around to watching the Clone Wars animated show. I just didn’t like the look of it compared to Genndy Tartakovsky’s veresion from 2003. But when the sixth season was announced that it was going to Netflix combined with the fact that I really enjoyed Rebels after finally giving that a chance. I knew I had to do the same with Clone Wars. And boy am I glad I did. I actually looked up how to watch it chronologically instead of by airdate. It helped keep the stories more linear for me. That all being said, by the time I got to season four and Bo-Katan was introduced I was all in on the show. Katee Sackhoff was absolutely great in the Battlestar Galactica revival, so I was excited to have in the Star Wars world, even if it was just animated. She was a great addition to the show and I loved that her character even looked like her. It made it all the better when she was brought into the live action world in The Mandalorian.
–K. Alvarez
25. Wedge Antilles (Denis Lawson)
Despite not being one of the title characters, Wedge is a fixture in many entries in the Star Wars franchise. First appearing in Episode IV: A New Hope, Wedge was part of the attack on the first Death Star and one of the few to survive it. His character is fleshed out further in the other films of the original trilogy, revealing that, along with Luke Skywalker, he helped found the Rogue Squadron. He’s part of the attack on the second Death Star in Episode VI, and even lives on to be part of the battle between the Sith and the Resistance in Episode IX. This isn’t even mentioning his further inclusions in Star Wars Rebels, the comics, and the Star Wars: Aftermath book trilogy. IGN even called Wedge “the most important ancillary character in the Star Wars universe.” Despite his character not being all that noteworthy on its own, he’s a good pilot and a loyal friend. Long live Wedge!
–Valerie Morreale
24. Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson)
Initially, Mace Windu wasn’t what folks hoped he’d be. When Samuel L. Jackson’s casting was announced for the role, people expected a brash, impulsive berserker who’d tear his enemies to pieces at the smallest offense. Instead, they got a quiet, controlled performance from an actor known for the exact opposite. Over the years, I think Mace Windu has grown on people. A staunch traditionalist, his fears about the growing influence of the Dark Side in the prequels are well-founded, and in another timeline, he may have succeeded in his attempts to arrest Darth Sidious. Despite Windu’s death in Episode III, his character has been further fleshed out in Clone Wars and the comics, revealing a more patient but still intense side. Overall, he’s still one of the good ones (and to be clear, he was right about everything).
–Valerie Morreale
23. Jabba the Hutt (Various)
What a weird guy. Jabba the Hutt is the iconic slug-like villain first depicted in Return of the Jedi. He’s vile, money-hungry, and kind of a pervert. George Lucas originally envisioned Jabba as a fuzzy Wookie-like creature, but he evolved into the slimy, rolly alien we know today. Though he’s portrayed with CGI in the later films, he was originally a $500,000 puppet developed by Lucasfilm that required three people to operate. He’s most well-known for his actions at the beginning of Return of the Jedi, where he purchases and displays Han Solo, who is still trapped in carbonite. When Leia attempts to free him, Jabba captures her and forces her to wear the sexy metal bikini we all know and love. So if nothing else, we have him to thank for that.
–Valerie Morreale
22. Din Grogu (David Acord)
Oh Grogu, you adorable little marketing cash cow! All joking aside, when we all laid eyes on “Baby Yoda” at the end of the first episode of 2019’s The Mandalorian, a thrill of wonder passed through us. The diminutive stature, the green skin, the huge ears…I haven’t seen something like this since…well, Yoda! I need to know more!
Grogu is, of course, a young member of Yoda’s race (still no name for the species, that I know of), and is a mere toddler at only 50 years old. When we first meet him, he’s clearly got some issues. Memories seem to be hidden from him, and he’s not exactly verbal yet. Taken under Mando’s wing, he essentially imprints on the human bounty hunter. Through the show’s three seasons, we learn that he was a padawan at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, and narrowly survived Order 66. He’s got some fledgling Force skills that seem to hint at greater power, but again, his trauma seems to be a block. His adopted father, Din, takes it upon himself to try and find Grogu a home among “his kind” – the Jedi.
Eventually he is given an opportunity to train in the ways of the Force under none other than Luke Skywalker. While the child is gifted, Luke can sense that his connection to the Mandalorian outweighs any desire to become a Jedi Knight. So, he gives the youngling a choice, and Grogu returns to his new family.
Inducted formally into Din’s clan, Grogu becomes a Mandalorian with the full name of Din Grogu.
But who are they trying to fool? We’re still gonna call him Baby Yoda.
–Jeff Cram
21. Ghost Crew (Sabine Wren, Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios, Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger & C1-10P / Chopper)
If you’ve ever played a Star Wars tabletop RPG, the crew of the Ghost may seem familiar to you. A mismatched crew with differing backgrounds, they grow to become a family under the shadow of fighting for freedom in a galaxy gone mad.
You’ve got Hera Syndulla, a Twi-lek pilot and mother figure. Co-leading this band, (who eventually become the rebel cell ‘Spectres’), is Kanan Jarrus, a former padawan who survived Order 66 and is hiding his Jedi powers. For muscle, we have Garazeb Orellios, but you can call him Zeb. He’s a hulking Lasan, based on Ralph McQuarrie’s original concept art for Chewbacca. Taking on the demolitions and graffiti art chores is our Mandalorian malcontent, Sabine Wren. Our token droid is a slightly psychotic astromech named Chopper. Finally, we have the young orphan Ezra Bridger, whose connection to the Force becomes pivotal later on.
The Ghost herself is a modified Corellian VCX 100 light freighter. She’s got a sharp design, and a detachable shuttle called the Phantom. Like her crew, she serves throughout the war, and can be seen in Rogue One, The Rise of Skywalker, and in the Disney+ show, Ahsoka.
–Jeff Cram
40-31 | 20-11
Who are some of your favorite Star Warscharacters? Where do you think they’ll rank on the list?