Star Wars: 10 Best Starfights In The Movies, Ranked | ScreenRant
The lightsabers and blasters are always a joy, but it is called Star Wars for a reason. Without the many starships that exist in the universe, Star Wars would not be what it is today. Part of that has to do with how the ships are used in battle sequences across all the eras.
From the prequel era all the way to the sequel era, starfights have been been a staple of this long-running franchise. While some might seem standard for the series, others stand out for their dynamic action, cinematography, and various other aspects.
10 Into The Maelstrom - Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
This conflict from Solo: A Star Wars Story might not be the most epic of starfights, but it is different. It showed the always reliable Millennium Falcon battling Imperial fighters inside a matter cluster known as the Maelstrom. It's the first time Han Solo shows his skill as the ship's pilot and harkens back to when Han and Luke fought off TIE Fighters in A New Hope.
Despite all the debris and hazards, he is still able to outmaneuver the Empire. This is also when Han Solo and Chewbacca's friendship continues to blossom as both of them pilot the Falcon together for the first time. Combined with some familiar iconic John Williams music, the Maelstrom battle does not get enough recognition.
9 Taking Out A Dreadnought - The Last Jedi (2017)
The Last Jedi helps solidify that Poe Dameron is one of the best starpilots in the galaxy. The opening battle has Poe in his X-Wing taking on a First Order Dreadnought Cruiser. He might not have the firepower, but what he does have are his brains and his speed.
However, the battle is not all on Poe, and it becomes a proper skirmish with multiple fighters and bomber carriers working together to destroy a Dreadnought. It shows the resilience of the Resistance but also how deadly the First Order had become as so many good soldiers die, making a strong opening to The Last Jedi.
8 Jedi Fighter VS The Firespray - Attack Of The Clones (2002)
Jango Fett may not have the Force, but he was able to take on a Jedi using his modified Firespray-31. He is able to outwit, outmaneuver, and outrun Obi-Wan's Jedi starfighter. Seeing the two fighters chase each other through an asteroid field creates more tension while also homaging the Empire chasing the Millennium Falcon.
What most fans remember about this showdown, and for good reason, are the seismic charges that Jango Fett uses against Obi-Wan. The delayed booming explosion of the charges became such an iconic Star Wars sound effect that they even made a return in The Mandalorian and The Book Of Boba Fett.
7 TIE Fighter Attack - A New Hope (1977)
One ship against four TIE Fighters seems like such a small-scale fight. However, that's part of why A New Hope holds up so well. Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewbacca fending off a squadron of TIE Fighters is the first starfight of the series and it is executed just right through camera work, tension, and the music.
The Falcon takes damage, R2-D2 has to make repairs, and both Han and Luke each take out fighters paired to one of the most famous tracks from John Williams, making for a very memorable scene.
6 Battle Over Coruscant - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
Talk about an opening scene; Revenge Of The Sith opens up instantly with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker leading the offense against the Separatists. From showcasing how different Obi-Wan and Anakin operate in ships to seeing a full-scale fight between clones and droids, this was the ultimate starfight of the prequel era.
In a way, that means that any other starfight or ship-centric scene in the film lacks in comparison. However, if viewed as one of the biggest battles meant to show the ending of The Clone Wars, it feels like the beginning of the final chapter, and it's an impactful beginning.
5 The Final Battle On Exegol - The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)
When it comes to The Rise Of Skywalker, it was meant to be the conclusion of the biggest saga that spanned over forty years of history. As a result, the final starfight to end this massive story with delivered by having the largest selection of ships both old and new from across the galaxy banding together to fight the Final Order.
From X-Wings to the Millennium Falcon to The Ghost from Star Wars: Rebels to the Tantive IV to even a Lucrehulk Droid Control Ship, this battle royale has it all. It's the culmination of multiple generations of Star Wars characters and fans alike. Having Lando Calrissian and Wedge Antilles leading the charge was the icing on the cake.
4 The Battle Of Hoth - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The Empire Strikes Back went against the norm, and The Battle Of Hoth is a prime example of it. Typically, it's the heroes triumphing over evil because heroes can never lose. Not in this case, where the Empire attacks Hoth and actually wins the fight.
The Rebellion makes great effort through famous scenes such as Red Squadron and Rogue Squadron taking on the AT-AT walkers. However, the Rebellion losing helps in showcasing that the Empire is not just stock villains and that they as well as Darth Vader should be feared, thus giving more stakes to the Saga overall.
3 Battle Of Yavin - A New Hope (1977)
Easily the most important starfight that fans think of when it comes to Star Wars. Harking back to classic fighter pilot films, George Lucas created one of the Star Wars franchise's best climaxes with X-Wings taking the fight to the Empire on the Death Star. In fact, in canon, it is so impactful that all chronology of Star Wars is based around it with years represented as BBY or ABY.
The Trench Run has become so iconic that multiple other films and even other Star Wars movies have tried to replicate it. It's impossible to not cheer alongside Han Solo when he joins the fight or when Luke uses the Force to send the torpedos into the shaft, thus destroying the Death Star.
2 Battle Over Scarif - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Gareth Edwards successfully made Rogue One: A Star Wars Story look and feel like an actual war movie via a tense and epic battle that retains a darker and gritty feeling. It also introduces new ways of viewing the conflict thanks to the talented Greig Fraser, who mounts the cameras right onto the hulls of the starfighters.
Combined with resurrected familiar faces from A New Hope to help everything tie into that film and seeing a more beachhead setting for the dogfights on the planet, Rogue One's climax has everything that makes a good starfight and simply adds to it.
1 Attack On The Death Star II - Return Of The Jedi (1983)
While it might be the Rebellion attacking another Death Star, Return Of The Jedi still managed to keep things fresh. Now it has entire Rebel and Imperial fleets attacking each other with both sides trying to take out the cruisers to deal significant damage. There are multiple types of starfighters in both factions that lead to different dynamics.
The action is bigger than ever and it still keeps things fresh. Instead of a trench on the Death Star, the Millennium Falcon leads an assault to the core of the Death Star II which leads to an escape that is even deadlier than the entry. When combined with everything else going on, it simply makes for a grand finale for the original trilogy.