The Most Epic Fantasy and Sci-Fi Website

10 Best Moments From Star Wars: The Last Jedi


It’s been two long years since The Force Awakens reignited the Star Wars franchise for a whole new generation of fans. Now, the eighth chapter in the epic saga, The Last Jedi, is finally here, and while it’s proving divisive among general audiences, many are already hailing it the greatest Star Wars film of all time.

Regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, there’s no denying that Episode VIII is packed with some truly memorable scenes. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, this is your one and only spoiler warning, because these are the 10 best moments from Star Wars: The Last Jedi:

  1. Luke’s Lightsaber Toss

    The entire plot of The Force Awakens was built around the search for Luke Skywalker, who we learned had gone into a self-imposed exile after he was betrayed by his nephew Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. That being said, many fans were left perplexed when the film ended with a shot of Rey finding the aging Jedi Master on Ahch-To, offering him his old lightsaber, and then… nothing.

    However, shortly after the start of The Last Jedi, we finally pick up where TFA left off, as we see Rey still extending her arm to offer Luke his long-lost weapon. Then, without saying a word, he grabs the lightsaber with his robotic hand and proceeds to toss it over his shoulder before walking away.

    What makes this moment great is how unexpected it is. We’ve all theorized about how Luke would react to Rey’s presence on Ahch-To, but throwing his father’s former lightsaber aside like it was nothing? That probably isn’t something many fans were banking on.

  2. Yoda’s Return

    In the buildup to The Last Jedi, speculation was running rampant as to whether or not we’d see a Force ghost in the film. And even if we did, who would it be? Obi-Wan Kenobi? Anakin Skywalker? Or could it be the wise old Master Yoda? Well, as they say, when in doubt, go with “C.”

    After Rey departs Ahch-To to confront Kylo Ren, an irate Luke decides to destroy the ancient Jedi texts housed within the Force tree. However, before he can do so, Yoda appears on the island and, surprisingly, uses the Force to strike the tree with a bolt of lightning, causing it to burst into flames. After trivializing the content of the ancient texts, Yoda then tells Luke that failure is the greatest teacher, which provides the distraught Jedi with some much-needed reassurance. 

  3. Finn Vs. Captain Phasma

    The tension between Finn and his former commanding officer Captain Phasma was prevalent throughout The Force Awakens, and the pair’s beef culminated with the latter being stuffed into a trash compactor. Nevertheless, that wasn’t the end of Phasma’s journey, as she returns in The Last Jedi and confronts the former FN-2187 aboard the Mega-class Star Destroyer Supremacy.

    The action, itself, is intense and dramatic, particularly when Finn shatters part of Phasma’s helmet with his stun baton. The glimpse of Phasma’s eye is a fitting callback to her disapproval of Finn for removing his own helmet in The Force Awakens, and while her ultimate demise may seem anticlimactic, it serves the greater purpose of helping Finn evolve as a character.  

  4. Rey’s Parents Revealed

    A prevalent trend in the Star Wars franchise is the overreliance on lineage as a defining trait. Kylo Ren is special because of his Solo/Skywalker bloodline, Luke is special because he’s the son of Anakin, and Anakin is special because of his immaculate conception. In The Last Jedi, though, director Rian Johnson casts this thematic element to the wayside.

    Ever since The Force Awakens, fans were wracking their brains over who Rey’s parents were. Was she a Skywalker? A Solo? A Kenobi? Well, as it turns out, she’s essentially a nobody, because as we learn from Kylo Ren, Rey is merely the daughter of two junkers who sold her into slavery for drinking money.

    Some fans find this revelation to be a letdown, and that’s understandable. However, what makes this moment so significant is that it sets the precedent that you don’t actually have to be the descendant of someone special to be special, yourself, which is a major – but appreciated –  shakeup to the Star Wars status quo.

  5. Vice Admiral Holdo’s Sacrifice

    Laura Dern’s Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo wastes little time ruffling feathers after assuming command of the Raddus cruiser, especially those of ace Resistance pilot Poe Dameron. Still, despite her abrasive nature, Holdo is ultimately responsible for what ends up being one of the most visually stunning moments of the entire film.

    With the First Order now privy to the Resistance’s plan to use escape pods to retreat to Crait, Holdo – who remains onboard the Raddus to help steer the ship while everyone else escapes – realizes she needs to do something to minimize the casualties. Engaging the Raddus’ hyperdrive, Holdo redirects the cruiser so that it’s facing Supremacy head-on, and then launches into the massive Star Destroyer at hyperspeed, sacrificing herself, but taking a huge chunk of Supremacy (not to mention the First Order) with her.

    And while Holdo’s heroism is amazing in its own right, the cinematography is what truly elevates this scene. Watching everything unfold in silence before the explosive sound comes booming back in really helps set the tone for this incredibly powerful moment.

  6. The Supreme Leader Chokes

    In the same vein as the reveal of Rey’s parents, Rian Johnson took another huge risk in The Last Jedi by killing off the apparent big bad of the trilogy. And you know what? It was brilliant.

    In Supreme Leader Snoke’s throne room, as he’s trying to coerce his apprentice Kylo Ren into killing Rey, we see the former Ben Solo’s left hand moving ever so slightly. Meanwhile, we also see Rey’s lightsaber, which is sitting beside the Supreme Leader of the First Order, moving in unison with Kylo’s hand. At this point, it’s completely clear what’s going on, when that saber ignites and Snoke is cut clean in half, it’s a truly jaw-dropping moment.

  7. The Throne Room Battle

    Immediately following Supreme Leader Snoke’s death, we’re met with arguably the best fight sequence in the entire film, as Kylo Ren and Rey go toe-to-toe with all eight members of the Elite Praetorian Guard.

    The fight choreography is unparalleled, and the juxtaposition of crystal blue and fiery red lightsabers – this time being used against a common enemy – is like poetry in motion. However, Kylo Ren pushing one of the guards into a port and watching his armor shoot out like confetti and him using Rey’s lightsaber like a taser to burn a hole through the head of another are by far the highlights of this scene.

  8. Luke And Leia’s Reunion

    Sometimes, a simple dialogue exchange is all it takes to earn a spot on a list such as this, simply because of the sheer emotional weight of seeing the particular characters sharing the screen. A perfect example of this is when Luke arrives at the abandoned Rebel outpost on Crait and sees Leia for presumably the first time since he was betrayed by Kylo Ren.

    It’s a short scene, but to see Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher’s Luke and Leia together again for the first time since Return of the Jedi is such a profound, heartwarming moment. Unfortunately, due to Carrie Fisher’s tragic death last year, we’ll never see something like this again, but that’s all the more reason to appreciate it in The Last Jedi.

  9. The Battle Of Crait

    Heading into The Last Jedi, we’d seen bits and pieces of an epic confrontation between the Resistance and the First Order on the small, salt-coated mineral planet of Crait. This was a scene that many assumed would be something of a stand-in for the Battle of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, and while they share some similarities, the Battle of Crait packs far more emotional and character beats than its predecessor.

    Finn and Poe both get a chance to shine in the midst of the action, but saga newcomer Rose Tico is the one who brings the most heart to the scene. Her selfless decision to stop Finn’s suicide mission is incredibly touching and seemingly sets the stage for a budding romance in Episode IX. Even if Lucasfilm doesn’t go that route, though, it was still great to see a new character make such a big impact in one of the film’s key battle sequences.

  10. Luke’s Last Stand

    The aforementioned scene in which Luke is reunited with Leia culminates with the Princess-turned-General conceding that her son is truly lost. This, of course, sets up the long-awaited confrontation between master and student that fans had been waiting for.

    Stepping out of the Rebel outpost, Luke endures the full wrath of the First Order’s turbolaser fire, yet he remains completely unscathed. Then, when battling Kylo Ren, he takes what would otherwise be a fatal lightsaber swipe to the chest, but once again, he’s unharmed. It’s only when Kylo slowly pierces the tip of his lightsaber blade through Luke’s chest that we realize this isn’t Luke at all, but rather an astral projection of him being controlled by the real Luke, who we then see levitating in deep focus on Ahch-To.

    After channeling his inner Han Solo and telling Kylo, “See you around, kid,” Luke’s astral projection disappears and the real Luke, physically drained by the whole ordeal, dies on Ahch-To and becomes one with the Force. However, we can’t rule out the possibility of seeing him return as a Force ghost in Episode IX, because after all, this is Mark Hamill we’re talking about.

    What about you? What were your favorite moments from Star Wars: The Last Jedi? Let us know in the comments section!

For more articles like this, take a look at our Fandoms and Lists page.