Star Wars: The Best Moment From Every Movie, Ranked

The first great loss in the Star Wars saga comes in A New Hope, when weathered, exiled Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi helps Luke Skywalker infiltrate the Death Star, only to meet his maker at the hands of the malevolent Darth Vader.

Without the context of the two warriors' relationship, Obi-Wan's death is a crushing loss, one that sends waves of heartbreak through Luke and sets him on his path to become a Jedi Master in his own right.

But such is the scene's lasting brilliance: Obi-Wan, though outmatched by Vader, isn't defeated by him; what happens is he sacrifices himself, smiling before he falls because he's safe in the knowledge Luke will be able to defeat the Empire and save Vader's soul.

Watching the scene with context only makes it that much more poignant. Obi-Wan is at war with his oldest friend and Luke's father, Anakin Skywalker, and in his sacrifice he knows Luke is the key to saving the galaxy from the Sith. It's the end of one of the franchise's greatest characters, but what an end!