10 Best Star Wars Plot Twists

The Star Wars franchise has had its fair share of surprise twists over the years, some of which have become iconic as both moments in the franchise and moments in film as a whole. These moments not only took initial viewers by surprise, but they also completely changed the game when it came to the surrounding story and characters. Star Wars has pushed the envelope several times regarding the stories that can be told in this setting, and the moments in this list reflect that willingness to change.

Starting with moments in A New Hope like the complete destruction of the planet Alderaan, Star Wars has always had its shocking moments. However, some moments not only defined the genre that the series finds itself in, but also defined a generation. These are those moments, making them possibly some of the most important in the entire franchise.

10 The Emperor Returns In The Rise Of Skywalker

He Came Back After His Death In Return Of The Jedi

One of the most shocking reveals that came with the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was that not only was Emperor Palpatine alive, but also he had been puppeteering the First Order behind the scenes the entire time. Snoke had only been a pawn of Palpatine’s, created through the eerie Project Necromancer that was instated after the time of Palpatine’s death in Return of the Jedi. Now allowing Palpatine to escape what would have been certain death, he can haunt the galaxy in another uncontrolled bid for power and influence.

Although this release was teased in promotional materials, this reveal came as a shock to many and was even an unwelcome addition to the franchise by many audiences at the time. Common criticisms of this reveal include the fact that it seems to cheapen Darth Vader’s redemption at the end of Return of the Jedi. This almost made the moment feel as if it was all for nothing for some viewers, adding to a legacy that seemed to forget about Anakin Skywalker entirely.

9 Rey Is A Palpatine

Many Fans Thought That She Would Remain “Nobody”

When Kylo Ren told Rey that her parents were “nobody” during their climactic face-off in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, audiences didn’t think much of it afterward. This only made the surprise reveal in The Rise of Skywalker that she was actually a member of the Palpatine family even more surprising. Initially teased by her using powerful Force lightning to accidentally destroy a ship, it was later fully revealed that, despite the fact her parents were supposedly “nobody,” she was the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine.

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This came along with a lot of shocking decisions made in the film, including Rey’s decision to leave her past behind and become a Skywalker. Although it was not received well by many, the choice to have her carry the Skywalker name after the death of Luke Skywalker is one that holds some weight. This is likely not the last we will hear of her family’s past, as it will likely be brought up again in Rey’s upcoming New Jedi Order movie.

8 Luke Skywalker And Leia Organa Are Twins

This Came As A Shock After Their Kiss

Before the original trilogy was fully released, there was the possibility that a love triangle would be posed between Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker. This possibility would only be teased further with the kiss between Luke and Leia in The Empire Strikes Back, a scene that in hindsight is relatively uncomfortable. Unknown to audiences at the time, when the third and final movie of the trilogy would eventually release, it would come with the reveal that Luke and Leia are actually twin siblings.

A key piece of information, this would not be revealed until the two of them were on the forest moon of Endor together. Leia discusses remembering their mother while Luke listens, and the two of them have a nice moment together, now knowing that they are siblings. It wouldn’t be until much later with moments such as their brief time together in The Last Jedi where we would really get to see them together as siblings.

7 Ahsoka Tano Leaves The Jedi Order

After Being Framed, She Could No Longer Trust Them

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a show that comes with a long list of reveals and adds context to the prequel trilogy. Not only was it revealed that Anakin Skywalker had his own Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, but Ahsoka’s character was fleshed out and experienced growth over the course of several seasons, leading her from becoming one of the most hated characters in all of Star Wars to one of the most universally beloved. Because of this, her eventual self-imposed exile from the Jedi Order came as a shock to viewers.

Audiences knew that something would have to happen to Ahsoka in order for her to be out of the way during Order 66 in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, but exactly what happened to her remained a mystery for the longest time. I n season 5, episode 20 “The Wrong Jedi,” Ahsoka was framed for the crime of bombing the Jedi Temple, something she would eventually be exonerated for once Barriss Offee was captured and arrested. However, this incident completely fractured her trust in the Jedi Order, causing her to leave the people who had once raised her.

6 Kylo Ren Kills His Father

The Fact He Was The Son Of Han Solo And Leia Organa Surprised Viewers

Even though Star Wars: The Force Awakens for the most part kept to a formula reminiscent of the story told in A New Hope, it came with two very important reveals. The first reveal was that Kylo Ren was the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. The second reveal was that Kylo Ren, while in a fit of rage on Starkiller Base, would strike down Han Solo in front of Rey and Chewbacca.

Related Why Snoke Wanted Kylo Ren To Kill Han Solo (And Why It Didn’t Work)

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Han Solo was an incredibly well-loved and well-known character in the Star Wars franchise, having been in it since the very beginning with A New Hope. Seeing his death come so soon into the newest trilogy made it one of the trilogy’s most shocking reveals, using this moment as a catalyst for what would come later down the line. It was also not the last audiences would see of Han Solo, as he would later appear to Kylo Ren in The Rise of Skywalker.

5 The Execution Of Order 66 In Revenge Of The Sith

The Film Showed Off The Gruesome Event That Ended The Jedi

Everyone who had seen the original trilogy knew that there had to be a reason that the Jedi had completely disappeared from the galaxy by the time of A New Hope. However, in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the Jedi Order was alive and well, even thriving. Something had to happen in order for the Jedi to fall from grace, leading to the severe decline of their numbers as seen in the original trilogy, but exactly what happened was not revealed until Revenge of the Sith.

This reveal would not disappoint, as the execution of Order 66 wiped out most of the Jedi in a single instance. Betrayed by the clone soldiers they had once called their allies, the Jedi in the field were shot down, and the Jedi at the temple were slaughtered by Anakin Skywalker himself. Marking his final turn to become Darth Vader, Order 66 showed just how evil of a Sith Anakin would become.

4 Darth Vader Kills The Emperor

His Redemption At The End Of The Film Was One Of Its Best Moments

Despite the many evil deeds Anakin committed during his time as Darth Vader, Revenge of the Sith showed that redemption, even for a man like him, was not impossible. After reuniting with his son, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader makes the final decision to kill Emperor Palpatine, ultimately saving the galaxy from his influence for the time being. He then took off his own helmet and looked at his son with his own eyes for the very first time before passing away himself.

The way things were expected, Darth Vader and the Emperor were to be killed by Luke Skywalker and the others, eventually saving the day for the entire galaxy. Instead, George Lucas and the rest of the team at Lucasfilm decided to include this touching moment, showing that at the end of the day, anyone can make the decision to do the right thing. Both shocking and sweet in equal measure, this moment brings the story of Anakin Skywalker full circle.

3 Darth Maul Survived The Phantom Menace

The Clone Wars Brought Him Back And Added To His Story

After Darth Maul’s supposed death in The Phantom Menace, no one expected him to come back. After all, Obi-Wan Kenobi had cut him in half after the Sith had killed his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, and the chances of surviving from injuries so severe are essentially zero. However, through sheer force of will and pure hatred for Obi-Wan, Darth Maul managed to survive, going on to become one of the most important and best written characters in the entirety of The Clone Wars and later Star Wars Rebels.

Now sporting a pair of mechanical legs that made him almost oppressively tall, Darth Maul went on to train his brother Savage as his apprentice in the dark side of the Force. He even conquered the planet of Mandalore, leading to one of the most important arcs in The Clone Wars. He became an incredible villain, but not an unsympathetic one, eventually dying at the hands of Obi-Wan several years after being reintroduced.

2 Everyone Dies At The End Of Rogue One

The End Of Rogue One Is A Brutal But Poetic Watch

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is possibly one of the greatest spin-off projects in all of Star Wars, not only filling in a plot hole left by A New Hope, but also introducing a cast of unique and memorable characters in the process. It was also the only film to not really focus on the Jedi at the time, with the only person capable of using the Force being Darth Vader, who is seen in all his terrifying severity several times throughout the movie. The film is not afraid to break from the traditional formula, especially with its emotional ending.

Related Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Cast, Character & Cameo Guide

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At the end of Rogue One, once the plans for the Death Star have been transferred back to the Rebel Alliance, the Death Star fires on Scarif. All the characters that fans grew to know over the course of the film perish in the blast, with Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor watching the sun as the end finally comes for them. The ending is an incredibly sad one, yet still somehow beautiful and hopeful, illustrating the massive threat that the Empire was to its fullest potential.

1 Darth Vader Is Luke Skywalker’s Father

This Reveal Was The Original Star Wars Plot Twist

The Empire Strikes Back is widely considered to be one of the greatest movies in the entire Star Wars franchise, if not the greatest. This is for a variety of reasons, but none as important as the original big twist. At the film’s apex in Cloud City, with Luke Skywalker facing what seems to be certain death, Darth Vader reveals that he is actually Luke’s father.

Although there would be big reveals that come later, none would be as important as this. The fact that Darth Vader was Anakin Skywalker all along would go on to shape so many things within the Star Wars franchise, creating a legacy synonymous with the Skywalker name. At the end of the day, there is no Star Wars reveal that will ever beat learning that the villain was Luke’s, and later Leia’s, father all along.

MOVIES MENTIONED

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Release Date June 18, 1980
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

Release Date May 25, 1983
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Release Date May 19, 2005
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

Release Date December 17, 2015
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Release Date December 13, 2016
Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker

Release Date December 20, 2019

TV SHOWS MENTIONED

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Release Date October 3, 2008