10 Best Sword Fights In Movies
4. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars is one of the greatest movie franchises in history. Their undisputed best movie culminates in an epic sword fight (lightsabers count as swords, right?), so it was always going to feature. Kylo Ren vs. Rey in The Force Awakens is pretty good, but there’s no way it was going to oust Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader. There’s simply no beating the original.
It’s been parodied, spoofed and had homage paid to it so many times, you sometimes forget how great it is until you watch it again.
The eerie emptiness of the scene, with nothing but the sound of the lightsabers whooshing, is a masterclass in atmosphere. James Earl Jones’ voice brings the gravitas as always, and the way the battle shifts around the arena gives you a real sense of dread. You know Luke isn’t strong enough. But it’s his pluck and determination that keeps you glued to the screen.
Though some parts of Star Wars often face criticism for cheesiness (like a certain sword fight in a volcano...), here it’s note-perfect. The effects never feel dated, the drama never feels unearned and the stunts deliver thrills every time. An amazing sword fight from a legendary movie.