The Definitive Ranking of All the Villains in the Star Wars Saga Films
By Buckie Wells
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Still (Credit: Lucasfilm, Disney)
As Rogue One prepares to introduce a new villain and bring back a favorite, we ranked all the bad guys we’ve met along the way in the Star Wars saga films.
It goes without saying that the Star Wars movies are as famous for their villains as they are their central protagonists. Especially since one of the primary storylines of the saga is Anakin Skywalker’s turn to the Dark Side. He had so much potential at first, with his optimistic yet defiant outlook on life and exceptionally high midi-chlorian count, then suddenly became one of the most iconic villains in the entire galaxy. I really blame the sand, to be quite honest.
Of course, Anakin Skywalker didn’t become that way on his own. There were Siths before him and one in particular who pulled all the strings from Episode I: The Phantom Menace all the way through Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Eventually, Return of the Jedi saw the end of Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious’ reign, but Star Wars: The Force Awakens introduced a new antagonist in his place. Well, a few, actually.
As we all know, there are always two Siths lurking about in the Star Wars universe, a Master and an Apprentice. Instead of introducing a new concept in Rogue One, we’ll simply be revisiting an old one. Though he may not command the most screentime, Darth Vader’s presence reminds us that “the ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”
So, in light of all this, let’s revisit all the saga films and rank the most powerful villains introduced in Star Wars. While some are more ferocious than others, we must all admit that our heroes overcame a substantial amount of obstacles to bring balance to the Force.
Alright, here we go…