Star Wars Universe

When Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2014, the company drew a line in the sand and nearly everything that came before the purchase was relegated to Star Wars Legends status. This meant that the absolutely brilliant trilogy by Timothy Zahn, Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command, was no longer considered canon pertaining to the six original films and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-clone-wars-episodes-to-watch/jacob-bryant">The Clone Wars</a>.&nbsp;That said, some fan-favorite stories and characters like Mara Jade, and her interactions with her future husband, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/heroic-luke-skywalker-moments-extended-universe/aaron-edwards">Luke Skywalker</a>, are lost as they no longer fit into Disney's desired narrative. One leading aspect of Zahn's work that made the jump into canon via <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-rebels-details/joedonley">Star Wars Rebels</a> was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/grand-admiral-thrawn-facts/jonathan-kantor">Grand Admiral Thrawn</a>, and he's shaping up to be the big bad of the live-action television series, Ahsoka, on Disney+.&nbsp;While Heir to the Empire may be in Legends territory, that doesn't make it any less popular among fans. This list details the story's timeline, so consider it a primer of sorts – that said, if you have the time, you should definitely read Zahn's work. It's iconic and some of the best Star Wars content that's ever been published, and that's saying something!

A Complete Timeline Of Events From The Original Thrawn Trilogy, 'Heir to the Empire'

General

The Complete Original Thrawn Trilogy Timeline

Jonathan H. Kantor

Pop Culture

The Star Wars prequels had their ups and downs, but no one can deny that those films had a stacked cast.

The 'Star Wars' Prequels Had A Stacked Cast: 32 Posts About Those Talented Actors

Colin  Morabito

Things you (probably) didn't know about the people, places, creatures, droids, organizations, and other things in the Star Wars universe.

Deep in the Galaxy

Entertainment

The <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-lightsabers-work/aaron-edwards" target="_blank">lightsaber</a> is one of the coolest fictional weapons of all time and nearly everyone who has seen a Star Wars movie has thought about what it would be like to own one. These are the most interesting lore details about the making of and history of the ancient Jedi weapon.

Fans Are Sharing Obscure 'Star Wars' Lore About Lightsabers

Damon Davis

Interviews

The Star Wars series is one the most profitable and well-known film franchises of all-time. Some argue that the original trilogy is still as popular today as it was when it became a worldwide phenomenon in 1977. The original cast has become one of the most beloved trios in movie history. Here are some of our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-cast-interview-moments/brian-roque">favorite interview moments</a> with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/more-mark-hamill-interview-moments/brian-roque">Mark Hamill</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/carrie-fisher-interview-moments/brian-roque">Carrie Fisher,</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/harrison-ford-interview-moments-2023/brian-roque">Harrison Ford</a>.

17 Luke, Leia, and Han Interview Moments That Prove They’re Still The Best ‘Star Wars' Trio

Brian Roque

From the legendary portrayal by Ewan McGregor to the character's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-obi-wan-kenobi-primer/jonathan-kantor">trials and tribulations</a>, Obi-Wan Kenobi has always been a fan favorite. He totally embodies the classic hero despite being incredibly human, making mistakes and facing impossible decisions.Through touching moments, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-obi-wan-kenobi-quotes/movie-and-tv-quotes">profound quotes</a>, and powerful reflections, fans are sharing heartbreaking details about Obi-Wan Kenobi that nearly drove us to the dark side.Take a look below and vote up the posts that tug at your heartstrings.

19 Heartbreaking Details About Obi-Wan Kenobi That Drove Us To The Dark Side

Raelyn Giansanti

Wholesome

Star Wars is one of the most iconic franchises in all of entertainment. From the incredibly successful trilogies to the dozens of television spinoffs, hundreds of actors have portrayed characters in the Star Wars universe. Here are some of our favorite behind-the-scenes photos that Star Wars actors took and posted while promoting their projects.

19 'Star Wars' Photos Taken By Cast Members That Prove They're Just As Big Of Fans As We Are

Timeline

Few of the hundreds of amazing characters introduced in the Prequel Trilogy and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/why-clone-wars-is-best-star-wars-since-empire/joedonley">associated television series</a> are as popular as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-ahsoka-tano/tamar-altebarmakian">Ahsoka Tano</a>. After her introduction in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie, when she was brought to life by Ashley Eckstein, she went on to become a fan-favorite character in The Clone Wars TV series and the franchise as a whole.This was followed by more exposure in Star Wars: Rebels, and Ahsoka even made the leap to live-action via the talents of Rosario Dawson in The Mandalorian, so it's fair to say she's a beloved character. While much of her early life remains a mystery outside of a general knowledge of Jedi training, much of Ahsoka's life has been covered. Her time training with Anakin Skywalker, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-mortis-force-wielders/jonathan-kantor">the events on Mortis</a>, her work as Fulcrum, and her time in the World Between Worlds are just a few important moments in her life.This article details the most important events in Ahsoka's life, beginning with her childhood and continuing through the events of the Original Trilogy and well into the series that followed, including <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ahsoka-disney-plus-series-trailer-posts/mviladegutt">Ahsoka</a>. Take a look below, and you'll get a good primer on Ahsoka Tano's life and her actions in the Star Wars galaxy.

A Complete Timeline Of Ahsoka Tano From Birth, Through The Clone Wars, And To The Present

A Complete Timeline Of Ahsoka Tano

Lists about Star Wars places, things, and powers for humans in the know.

A Galaxy Far Away

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/small-details-final-star-wars/joedonley">Star Wars</a> has always been about big finishes. A New Hope ends with the destruction of the Death Star, Empire concludes with Han being taken away by Boba Fett, and each movie continues the trope. If you look at the many fights with lightsabers and some <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-grisly-moments/jonathan-kantor">grisly moments</a> in the franchise, there are some exceptional finishing moves done by various characters.While Vader and Obi-Wan's fight in A New Hope was somewhat anticlimactic, later additions to the franchise corrected this. After all, we now know that Obi-Wan is one of the best fighters in the franchise's history, and he's in good company with the likes of Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, and others. This list details <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-action-movie-finishing-movies/williamsbrianjake">the best finishing moves</a> in the franchise, so take a look, and be sure to upvote your favorites before you go!

The Most Impressive Finishing Moves In The 'Star Wars' Franchise

The Most Impressive Finishing Moves In Star Wars, Ranked

Sci-Fi

Star Wars has never shied away from depictions of the military and its commanders. After all, the galaxy had been fighting the Clone Wars before the events of A New Hope. The Rebel Alliance kept it going long after the battles between the Separatists and the Galactic Republic came to an end during the civil war.&nbsp;Sure, there's plenty of political intrigue carried out by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-political-figures-ranked/jonathan-kantor">powerful political leaders</a>, like Mon Mothma and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-tarkin-timeline/jonathan-kantor">Grand Moff Tarkin</a>, but the military is where the real story takes place… at least in the original trilogy. The battle between the Rebel Alliance and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-empire-facts/tyler-mitchell">Empire</a> pits some of fiction's most powerful military leaders against one another. Whether battles take place in the sea, land, air, or outer space, someone is commanding the action.&nbsp;This list looks at the 20 most powerful military figures in Star Wars by focusing on the high-level commanders. Military members from the Galactic Republic, Empire, First Order, and even the Jedi Order are represented, so take a look at them down below. When you find the military leader you think is the most powerful, be sure to give them an upvote to see which one rises to the top!

The 20 Most Powerful Military Figures In The 'Star Wars' Galaxy, Ranked

Fictional Character

The Most Powerful Military Figures In Star Wars

Harrison Ford

Star Wars wouldn't be the same with Harrison Ford as Han Solo. The fans can't get over just how perfect Ford was for that role.

14 Posts About Harrison Ford That Prove He Was Perfectly Cast As Han Solo In 'Star Wars'

Princess Leia Organa

Star Wars would not be the same without Carrie Fisher. The fans still can't get over how perfectly cast Carrie Fisher was as Leia Organa.

20 Posts About Carrie Fisher That Prove She Was Perfectly Cast As Leia Organa

The Mandalorian (Disney+)

We've had a lot of Star Wars TV series in the last few years. From high highs (Andor) to low lows (Obi-Wan), we've certainly seen the gamut of what a galaxy far, far away can be on television. And now that Season 3 of The Mandalorian has wrapped up, fans are chiming in with what they think of the latest installment. Give these folks a follow and be sure to vote up your favorites.

Fans Think 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 Had Too Much Boring Mandalore Lore, Not Enough Grogu

Mark Rennie

Darth Vader

For being soap opera set in space, Star Wars is one heck of a tragedy, especially if you carry the name “Skywalker.” Anakin Skywalker's journey from slave, to Jedi, to Dark Lord of the Sith is riddled with heartbreaking moments that are shown on screen. The real heartbreak occurs when you take a step back and look at his journey as a whole with the context of six films, an animated series, and the Darth Vader comics– and die hard fans are the first to connect the dots.This is a list of the most heartbreaking things fans noticed about Anakin Skywalker. Take a look down below and vote up the most heartbreaking things!

15 Heartbreaking Things 'Star Wars' Fans Noticed About Anakin Skywalker

Joe Donley

Mark Hamill

Star Wars would not be the same without Mark Hamill. The fans can't get enough of him both on and off-screen. Mark Hamill is irreplaceable as Luke Skywalker.

15 Posts About Mark Hamill That Prove He Was Perfectly Cast As Luke Skywalker In 'Star Wars'

Like any popular franchise, Star Wars is filled to the brim with outstanding characters who resonate with fans and keep them coming back for more. Unlike other franchises, Star Wars tends to throw a background character into a scene and not leave it at that. Most of the people seen on screen, whether they have lines or any action, have some sort of backstory. There's that, and of course, a toy or action figure related to them, and Star Wars has a plethora of fleshed-out background characters with unusual names, which gave rise to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://amp.knowyourmeme.com/memes/glup-shitto">"Glup Shitto” meme</a>.Some of those <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/minor-star-wars-character-facts/jonathan-kantor">characters have long been beloved by fans</a>, which is one of the reasons they have such rich backstories. Still, even if someone somewhere wrote 10,000 words on the biography of a character who was on screen for five seconds, that doesn't exactly leave fans truly sated. Sometimes, a character just needs their time to shine. Quinlan Vos is an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-characters-in-only-one-movie/joe-allen">example of this</a> — he was on-screen for &gt;10 seconds in The Phantom Menace, and he became a major player in The Clone Wars.This list highlights some of the most beloved underrated (and often seemingly unknown) Star Wars characters from the background the fans would love to see in a future film or television series. Some of these characters had more screen time than others, while others were the victims of deleted scenes. Whatever the reason, these obscure fan-favorite Star Wars characters deserve their time to shine! Take a look down below, and don't forget to vote up your favorite background character from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away!

16 Obscure Fan-Favorite 'Star Wars' Characters That Deserve Their Time To Shine

Obscure Star Wars Characters That Deserve Some Attention

Get to know the motives and methods of the galaxy's biggest villains & antagonists.

Star Wars: Sith and Other Scum

Villains

The timeline of the Sith throughout the official Star Wars canon spans thousands of years. It begins more than 6,000 years before&nbsp;A New Hope&nbsp;and seemingly ends with the ultimate demise of Sidious and the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-sith-fun-facts/jonathan-kantor" target="_blank">Sith Eternal</a> at the end of The&nbsp;Rise of Skywalker. There are all kinds of events that happen in the intervening millennia, from the creation of a corrupted shrine to multiple wars that see the Sith lose to their archenemies time and time again. Because, in the never-ending battle between the light and the dark side of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/star-wars-mortis-force-wielders/jonathan-kantor" target="_blank">Force</a>, it is the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/jedi-order-star-wars-timeline/tyler-mitchell" target="_blank">Jedi</a> who always manage to somehow come out on top. Darth Bane could&#39;ve come up with all kinds of various rules, and none of it would&#39;ve mattered... the Sith are destined&nbsp;to lose. When all the Jedi throughout history can flow through Rey, how do the Sith even stand a chance? Come - take a journey and explore the timeline of the Sith in&nbsp;Star Wars!

The Complete Timeline Of The Sith In The 'Star Wars' Universe

The Complete Timeline Of The Sith In The Star Wars Universe

T.W. Mitchell

Star Wars lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of star wars lists and rankings

Star Wars Universe lists on Ranker

Everything from A New Hope to The Rise of Skywalker, including trivia, behind the scenes photos, jokes, gifts, Grogu (Baby Yoda), and all the rankings you can handle.

Go See a Star War

Game Consoles

With so many stellar (and not-so-stellar) releases over the years, Star Wars games are almost a genre unto themselves. &nbsp;From&nbsp;racers to role-playing games and more, this list of Star Wars games features all the biggest hits and misses over the years.&nbsp;If you&#39;ve always dreamed of fighting against <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/all-star-wars-villains-list-of-all-star-wars-enemies/all-enemies-and-supervillains">Star Wars enemies</a>, you can with these games! Just refer to this <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-star-wars-movie?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">list of all Star Wars</a> games to get yourself started.&nbsp;

What are the best Star Wars video games? Take a look at this list of star wars video games and you&#39;ll find your answer. This list encompasses every gaming system, style and derivative form of Star Wars games. While many take place in the same realm (or movie), every Star&nbsp;Wars game&nbsp;is different. This is one of the most extensive list of Star Wars video games on the web, so use it as a guide to finding out what is your favorite game. Everything is included here, from the newest Star Wars game to the oldest.

This list includes Star Wars games for PlayStation 3 (PS3 Star Wars games), PS1 Star Wars games, and just about every other gaming system you can think of (including Star Wars computer games). Vote up all your favorite releases, and vote down the games that <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/stormtrooper-fan-theories/grayson-titan" target="_blank">missed the mark</a>.

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

Every Star Wars Video Game Ranked

Computer Game

The 50+ Best Star Wars Video Games Of All Time, Ranked

Video Game Info

Lists for and about those superfans who can name every member of the Cantina band, do a passable Shyriiwook howl, and dress up with lightsabers and Cinnabon hair to imagine what life would be like a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Geeking Out: Star Wars

Gifts

Star Wars gifts can be found all over the internet and in real life, thanks to the buying power of nerds and the acceptance of the geeky pop culture phenomenon by the people who love them. If you need to get that special nerd a gift, there are myriad unique Star Wars gift ideas floating around the internet including all the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-star-wars-movie?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Star Wars</a> gifts, listed right here on this list of cool Star Wars presents.

What are the best nerdy presents for Star Wars fans? Whether it&#39;s your Star Wars loving friend&#39;s birthday or you need to peruse Star Wars gifts for a boyfriend of girlfriend, there are countless geeky gifts to bestow upon your Star Wars-loving buddy.

If any of these gift-giving needs match&nbsp;your present buying guidelines, the&nbsp;best Star Wars gifts will direct you to a present any fan would love to receive!

24 Star Wars Gifts Your Nerd Will Love

Star Wars Gifts & Ideas for Fans

Reilcan Jones

Best Characters

From Darth Vader to Jar Jar Binks, the best Star Wars characters include Jedi, Siths, humans,&nbsp;Wookiees, drones, aliens, and everything in between. This&nbsp;ranked list features&nbsp;the&nbsp;people and creatures who make up the complete Star Wars universe, ranked by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sw-character-ages/jim-rowley">Star Wars fans</a>&nbsp;everywhere.&nbsp;Original Star Wars characters from the first movie, Episode IV -&nbsp;New Hope, like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, are high up on the Star Wars character rankings, but fan favorites from later Star Wars media, like the main character from The&nbsp;Mandalorian and the "Sequel Trilogy"&nbsp;villain Kylo Ren, are bound to break the top 10. Appearing across Star Wars movies, shows, books, and video games, the most popular Star Wars characters also include Obi-Wan Kenobi, Revan, Rey,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Grogu (Baby Yoda).Who are the coolest (and hottest?)&nbsp;Star Wars characters? Han Solo is definitely up there, with Lando&nbsp;Calrissian and&nbsp;Ahsoka Tano. Other famous female and male characters from the Star Wars franchise include Darth Maul, Padmé Amidala, and Chewbecca.&nbsp;Vote up the greatest Star Wars characters of all time, and may the Force be with you. But if you feel&nbsp;the "hate flowing through you," vote down the worst ones, and check out who ends up being the most hated Star Wars characters ever. If you just need a reference list to see every character and all their name, this should also come in handy.&nbsp;

General Grievous

The Best (And Worst) 'Star Wars' Characters Ever

The 100+ Greatest 'Star Wars' Characters Ever, Ranked

Ranker Community

Here is a&nbsp;list of the best Star Wars movies, ranked by fans and critics. Since the premiere of the first&nbsp;Star Wars&nbsp;movie (A New Hope) in 1977, the saga of the Jedi, the Sith, and the Skywalker family have been favorites of movie-goers. Along with the original film, its sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and The Return of the Jedi (1983) are considered some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-movies-of-all-time">best movies of all time</a>. The stories follow Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, and their friends and droids as they battle the evil Sith lords Darth Vader and Darth Sidious - and make some admittedly <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/dumbest-sw-movie-decisions/jessica-bedewi" target="_blank">dumb decisions</a> along the way.

Sixteen after the release of the initial films, a trilogy of Star Wars prequels were created, beginning with Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 1999. Attack of the Clones was released in 2002, and Revenge of the Sith (2005) was the final film. This set of films followed Anakin Skywalker, Luke&#39;s father, from his youth to his becoming Darth Vader as well as his relationships with wife Padme Amidala, mentor Obi Wan Kenobi, and eventually Emperor Palpatine.

In 2015, a new Star Wars trilogy began with The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams and starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Adam Driver.&nbsp;Star Wars anthology movies, like Rogue One and Solo, are also ranked here. Vote for your favorites to move them to the top of the list. May the Force be with you.

After you&#39;ve voted, check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-star-wars-shows/ranker-entertainment" target="_blank">best Star Wars TV shows</a> - some of which are no longer even part of the Legends timeline.