Every Star Wars Lightsaber Battle, Ranked
It's not a "Star Wars" movie without a lightsaber duel. Most of the time, it's one-on-one combat. But sometimes, you get two Jedis vs. Darth Maul and the end result is brainsplode. From "A New Hope" to "Last Jedi," Here are the best lightsaber duels from that galaxy far, far away.
13. Obi-Wan vs. Darth Vader In ‘Star Wars’ (1977)
It’s not the most action-packed or visually exciting conflict in the film series, but it raises the emotional stakes for Luke when he witnesses the Sith who would be his father strike down his father figure. But silver linings playbook -- Obi-Wan comes back as a Force ghost. Watch here.
12. Obi-Wan vs. General Grievous In ‘Revenge of the Sith’ (2005)
Grievous could have been a great villain. Instead he was a wheezing waste of pixels. Though we give kudos to this villain, who lacks the Force but has an abundance of Jedi lightsabers and spinning arms with which to use them. Watch here.
11. Mace Windu vs. Senator Palpatine In ‘Revenge of the Sith’ (2005)
RIP, Mace. You died at the hands of a very scream-y, very annoying, prune-faced wielder of Force lighting. May they have purple lightsabers in Jedi heaven. Watch here.
10. Obi-Wan and Anakin vs. Count Dooku, Round 2 In ‘Revenge of the Sith’ (2005)
In the Star Wars universe, it’s not “eye for an eye" -- It’s “hand for a head,” as Anakin celebrates his second battle with Dooku by decapitating the villain. Uh, that escalated quickly, Anni. Watch here.
9. Yoda vs. Palpatine In ‘Revenge of the Sith’ (2005)
Finally, the Senate Chamber has a purpose other than boring audiences to death. Yoda Force-throws a few hover-seats at the Sith's biggest bad, in between exchanges of Force lighting. Long story less long: S gets R. Watch here.
8. Obi-Wan and Anakin vs. Count Dooku In ‘Attack of the Clones’ (2003)
Before Yoda shows up to beat down Count Retirement Home, Kenobi and Skywalker take on the old bastard. Dooku wins, and Anakin goes home -- minus a hand. The very atmospheric battle has a beat where, in the dark, their sabers cast eerie glows on their faces as the duel reaches fever pitch. Watch here.
7. Yoda vs. Count Dooku In ‘Attack of the Clones’ (2003)
We still giggle at watching Yoda do this as he attacks the once-respected Jedi-turned-Sith D-bag. But we get nerdy goosebumps every time Yoda summons his lightsaber from his belt before unleashing his flip-happy assault. Watch here.
6. Obi-Wan vs. Anakin In ‘Revenge of the Sith’ (2005)
Steven Spielberg had a hand in shaping this epic confrontation that, like the rest of the prequels, suffers from an over-reliance on CG everything. But score-bonus for pitting our two Jedis against each other on Planet Boiling Lava. Watch here.
5. Vader vs. Luke In ‘Return of the Jedi’ (1983)
Luke and his dad get some quality bonding here, complete with matching sliced-off hands. It all climaxes with a cool lightsaber thrashing in the dark -- followed by Emperor Palpatine’s annoying ass getting tossed down a power core. Watch here.
4. Rey vs. Kylo Ren In 'The Force Awakens' (2015)
A lightsaber battle in the snow?! Uh... yes, please! We didn't know how badly we wanted this in our eye holes until we saw the fist-pumping moment when Rey used the Force to summon Luke's old lightsaber out of the snow and across a 50 yard gulf of the white stuff where one of the greatest showdowns ever was about to take place.
3. Rey and Kylo Ren's Throne Room Fight in 'The Last Jedi' (2017)
Holy sh**, this battle... It's got everything: Snoke's guards rocking some very "Dead Ringers"-red attire, amazing cinematography, even better fight choreography, and a lightsaber to and through the face. Must watch.
2. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul In ‘The Phantom Menace’ (1999)
Twin-bladed lightsaber? Check. “Duel of the Fates?” Check. Sith lords reduced to severed torsos? Check AND mate. Watch here.
1. Vader vs. Luke In ‘Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
It’s a drawn-out fight between father and son, culminating in the holy sh** reveal that Luke and Vader are, you know, father and son. What is lacks in elaborate fight choreography, it more than makes up for with that emotional gut punch. Watch here.
