10 Smartest Decisions In Sci-Fi Movie History

2. Han Shoots First - Star Wars: A New Hope

One of the most famous moments from the original Star Wars gives fans the definitive introduction to the character of Han Solo (Harrison Ford), confirming his utter ruthlessness and saying more than reams of expository dialogue ever could.

As Han prepares to leave the Mos Eisley Cantina, he's confronted by bounty hunter Greedo (Paul Blake), who threatens Han at the behest of his boss, Jabba the Hutt, to whom Han owes money.

But after a brief and tense exchange, Han calmly pulls his blaster and shoots Greedo dead without a second thought. It's a perfect distillation of Han as a character, cementing his quick-thinking under the most intense of circumstances.

But of course, in later years George Lucas felt the scene made Han look too callous, and for the 1997 Special Edition he changed it to have Greedo fire a blaster at Han first, which he dodges before returning fire.

The change really just makes Greedo look like a moron, while the original scene kept Greedo's own integrity in tact while illustrating Han's strategic smarts.