The lightsaber fights in the Star Wars franchise are some of the most exciting parts of each movie. Since 1977, Star Wars has drawn mainstream appeal for its fun take on space operas. The characters are memorable, and the story is an absolute thrill with countless twists and turns.
What Star Wars does best, though, is the action scenes. Every movie features countless moments that pit heroes against villains in epic chases and space battles. They add a great level of thrills to make the series one of the most enjoyable sci-fi adventure franchises of all time.
In this universe of lasers and outer space dogfights though, lightsabers stand out as the best part of every Star Wars movie. George Lucas’ take on samurai battles is incredibly unique. These colorful blades add to the cool factor of the films. However, the fights they’re used in add a level of detail that separates Star Wars from other sci-fi franchises.
These weapons and battles have become iconic to the franchise, with the sound of them being drawn being one of the most recognizable sound effects in movie history. Whenever audiences hear it, they know they’re in for a thrilling action scene.
Every Star Wars movie in the Skywalker Saga features at least one saber battle. However, some of the best lightsaber battles in each film stand above others.
9
A New Hope — Darth Vader Vs. Obi-Wan
The first lightsaber battle in Star Wars history was a major moment in the franchise. It introduced these kinds of fights to audiences in 1977, and it was an instant highlight for many fans.
However, the original movie had the misfortune of being outdone by bigger and better fights as the series went on. The battle between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan is pretty slow. It captures exactly how George Lucas wanted lightsaber battles to be, but it’s since become outdated.
It’s still a fun little duel between former friends, but it leaves so much more to be desired after years of future films one-upping the original to show the potential of lightsaber fights.
8
Attack Of The Clones — Anakin, Obi-Wan, And Yoda Vs. Count Dooku
While many fans look fondly at the massive Jedi battle on Geonosis, this final duel in Attack of the Clones is the best of the bunch for the film. This final fight with Count Dooku is fairly standard overall, but it’s a fun time nonetheless.
Seeing Obi-Wan and Anakin engage in a close-combat lightsaber battle side-by-side is incredibly fun to witness. Plus, Yoda gets his first lightsaber fight after originally being introduced in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back.
The fight is nothing extraordinary, but it’s not nearly as distracting as the Jedi assault scene. The latter features way too many lightsabers on-screen at once, making it way too difficult to focus on what’s important. This is what makes the final battle with Count Dooku the biggest standout of Attack of the Clones, even if it’s nothing exceptional.
7
The Rise Of Skywalker — Kylo Ren Vs. Rey
This climactic fight between Rey and Kylo Ren is undeniably the best part of the Sequel Trilogy’s divisive final installment. The battlefield is absolutely phenomenal. Setting it entirely on the wreckage of the second Death Star gives it some much-needed visual flair.
Plus, the roaring waves in the background give the fight some stakes as Rey and Kylo have to fight against their environment, as well as each other. While The Rise of Skywalker may be one of the franchise’s weaker efforts, the film absolutely delivered with this epic fight. It’s intense and exciting to witness, especially when it serves as the bridge to Kylo’s redemption.
6
The Empire Strikes Back — Darth Vader Vs. Luke Skywalker
Luke’s first confrontation with Darth Vader is one of the most memorable parts in Star Wars history. The lightsaber choreography is a major step up from the film that came before, making it an engaging battle from start to finish.
The shift in location mid-fight makes the scene interesting as well. Vader and Luke are constantly moving, the latter flinging things from the environment at Luke to give him an extra challenge. It’s a brilliant way to bring tension to the duel, maintaining a constant sense of intrigue throughout.
It all culminates in one of the most shocking losses in the franchise as well, since Luke loses his hand to Vader. Given how the film itself is built around showing the Empire making gains against the Rebellion, it’s the best way this fight could have ended as Luke realizes he wasn’t truly ready yet to take on Vader.
5
The Phantom Menace — Obi-Wan And Qui-Gon Vs. Darth Maul
When The Phantom Menace originally released in 1999, the common consensus was that it was a major let-down. However, one thing that everyone agreed on was the final lightsaber battle with Darth Maul being the best part of the film.
The fight itself is a phenomenal leap forward for the Star Wars franchise as it gives fans something they had never seen before: a Jedi and his Padawan fighting against a member of the Sith holding a double lightsaber. The new blade makes for an engaging battle as Maul is able to hold his own against his opponents.
Of course, what really makes this scene so great is the theme that plays during the fight. “Duel of the Fates” has become one of John Williams’ greatest Star Wars compositions, and its inclusion in this battle boosts its appeal through the roof. This makes the scene an overall bright spot in a pretty lackluster film.
4
Return Of The Jedi — Darth Vader Vs. Luke Skywalker
This final lightsaber battle in the Original Trilogy is more than just an epic fight between father and son. It also serves as a core narrative shift for Luke Skywalker’s character that challenges him more than ever.
What makes this scene work is how well it captures Luke’s thinking while fighting off his father. He’s being put to the test by the Emperor to kill him and switch over to the Dark Side. The way he swings his saber and unleashes his anger shows just how emotionally rich this lightsaber battle truly is.
Plus, when he looks down at his hand and throws his lightsaber aside, it’s an effective moment that shows he realizes if he continues the fight, he’ll turn into his father. It’s the perfect way to cap off the trilogy while giving fans a much-anticipated final fight.
3
The Last Jedi — Rey And Kylo Ren Vs. The Praetorian Guard
The Last Jedi has become a film Star Wars fans either love or hate. Rian Johnson’s direction for the film disappointed some fans while impressing others for pushing the franchise forward. However, what many can agree with about this film is that the fight in Snoke’s throne room is a phenomenal lightsaber fight.
The use of red throughout the scene makes for a striking visual as Rey and Kylo take on Snoke’s guards after Kylo kills the Supreme Leader. It’s only enhanced by their fluid teamwork that turns this fight into an epic ballet of Jedi maneuvers.
The best thing about this moment, though, is how it subverts many fans’ expectations. This scene could be seen as the moment Kylo is finally redeemed. However, he takes the wrong thing away from this moment, seeing Rey as a potential ally in the First Order in an Empire Strikes Back-like twist.
2
The Force Awakens — Rey And Finn Vs. Kylo Ren
The Force Awakens was a phenomenon when it originally released. It was admired by fans as the long-awaited return they’d been waiting for with its callbacks to the Original Trilogy. While the hype has since died down, this film is still often regarded as the best in the Sequel Trilogy, especially with its final lightsaber battle.
This fight on Starkiller Base is one of the best filmed sequences in Star Wars history. The cinematography behind the fight itself is gorgeous as the color of the blades blends with the snow falling around them. Plus, set entirely in the dark, it creates a visual style that is still impressive today.
The fight itself is just as exciting. It’s absolutely ruthless with how relentless Kylo Ren is against his combatants. The way he slashes Finn’s spine is visceral, and when Rey takes over, it’s a cheer-worthy moment.
1
Revenge Of The Sith — Anakin Vs. Obi-Wan
The battle that George Lucas was building up to completely lived up to the hype in the Prequel Trilogy’s final chapter. Revenge of the Sith feels like the story Lucas always wanted to tell. The fall of the Jedi scene alone is one of the darkest moments in the franchise that everyone continues to remember.
However, the final fight on Mustafar stands above all other lightsaber battles that came before and after it. The sheer emotion and tragedy on display in this fight holds up to this day. It’s heartbreaking to see these friends turn against each other.
The visuals of the lava in the background make this a phenomenal fight to witness, especially on the big-screen when it was originally released. Anakin’s fight with Obi-Wan is still the greatest Star Wars lightsaber fight after so many years, and it will likely continue to be the best because of how much heart was put into it by George Lucas himself.
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- Movie(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
