Star Wars: Ranking Every Major Death From Worst To Best

In Star Wars, a lot of people die. Like, a LOT. If you were to count the actual toll of the entire franchise - and no doubt somebody has actually done that - then the number would no doubt be millions, particularly if you include the countless planets that are obliterated by either the Empire or First Order throughout the saga.

Some, however, are more memorable than others. If you die via a lightsaber or the hand of a loved one, that will live long in the memory. Yet if you are merely the victim of a gunshot wound then you're likely going to sit significantly down in the pecking order. After all, a lightsaber is just a much cooler way to go.

Star Wars has seen its characters move on in many different ways and, in doing so, divided many fans. There are moments in the films that make for truly blockbuster viewing, but others can often leave audiences wanting more and expressing their disappointment at how things didn't go the way they either expected or wanted.

Whatever the method, Star Wars does not hold back when it comes to acts of violence and, sometimes, it’s hard to decide whether it was the right decision or the wrong one.

The Death: Padme Amidala is choked by Anakin Skywalker on Mustafar, only to die of ‘natural causes’ towards the end of Revenge of the Sith.

Ranking Explained: The one thing you don’t really expect in Star Wars is for a perfectly fit and healthy character to die of natural causes. But George Lucas threw a ridiculous spanner into the works with that theory by killing Padme off via that method - rather than the fact her husband had choked her mere moments earlier.

And, in hindsight, it is an even bigger mistake than it was at the time. Anakin’s turn to the dark side still baffles many with his sudden transformation taking people by surprise and, though saving Padme is his big drive, it still does not stop Skywalker from lashing out when she confronts him. Still, to this day, the transformation of Anakin to Darth Vader leaves audiences with many more questions than answers.

It would have made far more sense for Padme to die as a DIRECT consequence of Anakin’s actions. That could have paved the way for Hayden Christensen’s character to fully let loose and attack Obi-Wan with even more rage than he does in the movie. As it were, Anakin’s act on Padme is viewed as another sign of his petulance and Padme’s final moments lack the emotion Lucas intended.