The Star Wars franchise has one of the largest groups of cast members throughout the history of Hollywood. Naturally, when a franchise is more than half a century old, it will surely have a plethora of characters at its disposal. While some we loved, some we absolutely loathed and hoped would die a quick, miserable death. Presenting fifteen awesome performances by Star Wars actors ranked from worst to best.
15. Jake Lloyd – Young Anakin Skywalker
There is something about this kid. Maybe the cute, bubbly eyes or the puppy dog face, I don’t know. He is too perfect for this role and that is the problem. Young Anakin is a tragic young child with a horrible past.
Do not squander that fact of his life by using a boy who looks perfect. Imperfection was the only thing consistent about Anakin. He was the greatest only because he embraced his flaws. Jake Lloyd had none.
14. Benicio Del Toro – DJ
Say what you might but Del Toro’s role was one of the weakest links in The Last Jedi. Too less character depth and too little development was probably the root cause. Some fans might say he was good.
But we are not talking about the acting part. We are talking about convincing the audience. Del Toro failed in that regard.
13. Ahmed Best – Jar Jar Binks
Never in the history of moviemaking has a character been as hated as Star War’s Jar Jar Binks. This guy is the zenith of galactic level annoyance.
When Ahmed Best was given this role, he was more than happy to get it. Best is a gifted actor but after the Jar Jar Binks debacle, he has only been seen in voiceovers and Television shows.
12. Hayden Christensen – Anakin Skywalker
The Prequel trilogy was plagued with bad casting choices (more on that in a minute). Nothing except Ewan MacGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi made any sense.
The Prequel Trilogy’s greatest mistake was casting Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker – the guy that literally the face of Star Wars. Christensen was neither convincing nor fit for this epic role.
11. Domhnall Gleeson – General Hux
Not completely this guy’s fault though. General Hux is one of Star Wars’ Expanded universe’s most dreaded and feared First Order General.
But the movie portrays Hux as a chew toy for everyone and a Crybaby most of the time. Gleeson is a good actor but Hux needs to have some certain gravity to his role which Gleeson failed to reciprocate.
10. Natalie Portman – Queen Amidala
Like I said, the Prequel Trilogy was fraught with bad casting choices. A testament to that is that a shitload of its core cast members made it to the list. Amidala was supposed to be the Prequel Trilogy’s saving grace.
Natalie Portman was the next big thing of Hollywood at that time. But her performance was half-hearted and showed no depth and did not move the audience even a little bit.
9. Brian Blessed – Boss Nass
The Gungan leader is the result of writers thinking CGI can save a character, no matter how soulless the design or backstory is. This guy holds the fate of an entire planet in his hands. The movie could have shown he was serious for at least once.
Looking more like an overzealous Toad in a Chinese War General robe than a military leader, Brian Blessed’s Boss Nass has been compared to internet memes to another eccentric asshole of a leader – Donald Trump. So at least some good came out of it!!!
8. Anthony Daniels – Threepio
As far as robots go, no one would dare forget Daniels’ C-3PO performance. The guy nailed it with his robotic Gestures and awesome one-liners. His comic timing was also one of the finest in the entire Star Wars saga.
He was one android everyone wanted to see more of.
7. Carrie Fisher – Leia Organa
Not many would disagree with including Carrie Fisher in this list. She gave her life to this role and she will forever be remembered for it. Princess Leia Organa used to be meek and weak, now the princess has grown into a strong and wise General.
The director did a good job of not letting the character die in The Last Jedi.
6. Alec Guinness – Obi-Wan
Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the torch bearer characters of the Star Wars saga. Before Ewan MacGregor immortalized the role, Alec Guinness was already well known as the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Not many are privy to this information but Alec Guinness was even nominated for an Oscar for this role. He still remains the only actor with an Oscar nomination for a Star Wars role.
5. Daisy Ridley – Rey
Now isn’t she a sight for sore eyes. With Luke Skywalker becoming one with the force and leaving the material plane, Rey is now the new face of Star Wars. She is literally the Last Jedi. Daisy Ridley nailed this character with utmost style and panache.
She gave the character the conviction, charisma, and relatability that made her into a legend within a span of just a few years.
4. Donnie Yen – Chirrut Imwe
I am One with the Force, The Force is One with me. This was the battle cry of Chirrut Imwe, the blind but not o blind warrior from his now-destroyed homeworld. Chirrut was a warrior priest and believed in the sanctity of the Light Side of the Force when no one else did.
Donnie Yen was actually the guy everyone was rooting for in Rogue One, not Jyn Erso and probably because Donnie was so fit for the role of Chirrut. A casting choice has done right!!
3. Mark Hamill – Luke Skywalker
They say there are only two things that get better with age – Wine and Mark Hamill. This guy is literally worshipped by the Star Wars fan base. He is the Jedi that brought light back to the Galaxy. Every bad guy from Darth Vader to Supreme Leader Snoke wants to get rid of him as he is the harbinger of hope.
Hamill was introduced again in ‘The Force Awakens’ when Rey decided to go on a voyage with Chew to find Luke who is now a recluse. In ‘The Last Jedi’, Rey located Luke who was withdrawn from the outside world, Hamill’s acting was riveting from beginning to the end. The sadness in his voice and the remorse of immense failure that he carried on his shoulders was tear-jerking.
2. Adam Driver – Kylo Ren
Darth Vader was cool. But even he had certain flaws. Like the guy was pure evil until his son suddenly gives him a pep talk and he turns on the very thing that he had been fighting for decades. Kylo Ren is none of that crap. He did not hesitate one bit while using the force against Supreme Leader Snoke who was using him as a bait to draw out Luke.
Adam Driver plays a character whose reasons are genuine and his backstory, in many ways, more tragic than Vader’s.
1. Han Solo
Not anyone comes close to Han Solo in general sassiness and kicking ass. An interplanetary smuggler by profession, Han Solo meets Leia and Luke in his ensuing adventure to save the Galaxy far, far away from the Imperial Empire.
It’s Harrison-Fucking-Ford babe!! Who could have done it better than him! Han Solo shall live forever! Disney and Lucas Films is now working on Han Solo ‘solo’ film based on the many adventures of his younger self.
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