Star Wars timeline, but he was also a charming, witty character who played opposite Luke's wide-eyed innocence perfectly.
Even after the original trilogy, however, Han continued to be a fan-favorite figure in Star Wars. In fact, while the sequels are unfortunately still considered some of Star Wars' worst movies, Harrison Ford's return as Han Solo (however short-lived) was almost universally celebrated. Throughout Han Solo's appearances in the Star Wars original and sequel trilogies, these 15 quotes are his very best.
15 "And I Thought They Smelled Bad On The Outside"
The Empire Strikes Back
Although Han began as a seemingly selfish scoundrel when he was introduced in A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back saw him transformed into a true Rebel fighter and a comionate friend, right from the beginning of the movie. When Luke didn't return to the Hoth base on time, Han wasted no time going out in the incredibly dangerous, freezing cold weather to find him. In fact, he even referred to Luke as his "friend" in that scene, a far cry from his aloof persona in A New Hope.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
- Release Date
- May 20, 1980
- Runtime
- 124 minutes
- Director
- Irvin Kershner
Cast
Luke Skywalker
Han Solo
WHERE TO WATCH
The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner. Released in 1980, it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda, while Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance face ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader.
- Writers
- Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Studio(s)
- Lucasfilm
- Distributor(s)
- 20th Century
- Budget
- $30.5 Million
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
However, Han never lost his sarcastic, cheeky attitude, even in the grimmest of moments. This was certainly true when Han cut open a Tauntaun to keep Luke warm. In one of Han's funniest moments and most memorable quotes, he joked (just to himself, as Luke was delirious at that point), "I thought they smelled bad on the outside."
14 "Yes, Your Highnessness?"
The Empire Strikes Back
One of the best parts of Han's character and the original Star Wars trilogy more broadly was the relationship between Han Solo and Princess Leia. While, yes, the two did share touching romantic moments, they were mainly shown getting into hilarious spats full of creative jabs. Many of Han's pertained to Leia's status as a princess, and his jokes about this became increasingly ridiculous over time.
- Created By
- George Lucas
- Cast
- Carrie Fisher, Ingvild Deila, Vivien Lyra Blair
- First Appearance
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
- Alliance
- Rebel Alliance, New Republic, Resistance
- Died
- Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise Of Skywalker
- Alias
- Boushh
The daughter of Anakin Skywalker and Pé Amidala, Leia inherited her mother's political skills and her father's Force power. She was raised on Alderaan as a member of the royal family, and followed in her father's footsteps by becoming a senator who secretly worked alongside the Rebel Alliance. Alderaan's destruction changed everything, and Leia became a leader in both the Rebel Alliance and its successor government, the New Republic. She served there for decades, eventually leaving to found the First Order when she sensed its darkness growing. Leia gave much for her ideals, but eventually gave her life to redeem her son Ben.
- Race
- Human
- Movies
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- TV Shows
- Obi-Wan Kenobi
- Franchise
- Star Wars
In addition to calling her "worshipfulness" at one point, Han went one step further and sarcastically said, "Yes, your highnessness?" While certainly antagonistic, Han and Leia's banter was one of the most charming aspects of their relationship, as it highlighted their distinctive personalities and why they worked so well together. In truth, the two bickered like an old married couple from the moment they met, providing some of the best original trilogy lines.
13 "AAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
A New Hope
"He certainly has courage" is all Leia herself can say in response to what is easily one of Han Solo's funniest, yet also truly bravest, moments in all of Star Wars. Clearly fed up with the game of cat-and-mouse they have been playing with stormtroopers all throughout the Death Star, Han decides to take a group of them head-on while instructing Luke and Leia to get back to the ship. He acts as a distraction of sorts by charging at the troopers, who lead him right back to a gathered group that's waiting for him.
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Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
- Release Date
- May 25, 1977
- Runtime
- 121 minutes
- Director
- George Lucas
Cast
-
Luke Skywalker
-
Han Solo
WHERE TO WATCH
Star Wars is a seminal science fiction film released in 1977 that follows the quest of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo to rescue Princess Leia from the oppressive Imperial forces. They are aided by the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, as they strive to restore peace to the galaxy.
- Writers
- George Lucas
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Studio(s)
- Lucasfilm
- Distributor(s)
- 20th Century
- Budget
- $11 Million
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
This is a hilarious display of the way Han improvises, and the confidence he has in doing so. There was no way in which this plan would have ended successfully; it was one (two, counting Chewbacca) against an essentially endless supply of soldiers. That, however, doesn't matter to Han in the moment. This scream of his as he makes the charge has become incredibly iconic, even if it's not as substantial as some of his other quotes.
12 "Laugh It Up, Fuzzball."
The Empire Strikes Back
Han's sarcasm certainly wasn't reserved only for Leia, though. Rather, his friendship with Chewbacca served as yet another source of Han Solo's best snarky lines. One line in particular, following on the heels of Leia delivering her iconic insult about Han being a "scruffy-looking nerf herder," was directed at Chewie because he laughed at Leia's jab.
- Created By
- George Lucas
- Cast
- Peter Mayhew, Joonas Suotamo
- First Appearance
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
- Alliance
- Rebel Alliance, Resistance
- Alias
- Chewie
- RELATIONSHIPS
- Attichitcuk (Father), Mallatobuck (Wife), Lumpawaroo (Son)
200 years old by the time of the Star Wars original trilogy, the mighty Chewbacca is best known for swearing a life debt to Han Solo. Chewie accompanied Han through countless adventures, choosing to battle against the Empire for the freedom of his homeworld Kashyyyk. He remained with Han and the Solo family even after the Empire's fall, becoming a crucial ally of the Resistance to the First Order. The sequels seemed to end with Chewie remaining co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon - but now to Rey.
- Race
- Wookiee
- Movies
- Solo: A Star Wars Story
- Franchise
- Star Wars
Rather than a comeback for Leia, Han turned on Chewie and said, "Laugh it up, fuzzball." Chewbacca and Han Solo are truly one of Star Wars' best duos, so it's clear that, despite Han's harsh words for Chewie at that moment, the two had a lot of love for each other. While it's difficult to know what Chewbacca was saying to Han throughout Star Wars, it also seems pretty clear that he gave it back to Han in equal measure.
11 "You're Gonna Die Here, You Know. Convenient."
Return of the Jedi
Bedside manner really isn't one of Han Solo's specialties, as talented as he really is. This is mostly because he's not the type to hide from the truth, especially when it concerns the people who he's closest with. That's on full display here, when Luke tells Han that he was raised on Tatooine as they approach the sarlacc pit for their execution. In true Han Solo fashion, he simply echoes Luke's own words by reminding him, "You're gonna die here, you know. Convenient."
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Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
- Release Date
- May 25, 1983
- Runtime
- 132 minutes
- Director
- Richard Marquand
Cast
-
Luke Skywalker
-
Han Solo
WHERE TO WATCH
Return of the Jedi concludes George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy with Luke Skywalker and his allies seeking to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and facing a renewed threat as the Emperor attempts to obliterate the Rebellion through a second Death Star, broadening the epic battle between good and evil.
- Writers
- George Lucas
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Studio(s)
- Lucasfilm
- Distributor(s)
- 20th Century
- Budget
- $32.5-42.7 Million
What's most hilarious about this line is Han's seeming complete acceptance of the fact they truly won't get out of this situation. After being frozen in carbonite for a year, Han is just about ready to give up on all hope, and his more negative viewpoint perfectly balances out Luke's own optimism and wisdom gained from his training as a Jedi Knight. It's only natural that Han would use humor as a coping mechanism in this moment, and it's made for one absolutely iconic and beloved Star Wars moment.
10 "Look, Your Worshipfulness, Let's Get One Thing Straight. I Take Orders From Just One Person: Me."
A New Hope
Han and Leia's relationship from the get-go is defined by their inability to be ordered around by the other. As someone who is used to working, quite literally, solo, it stands to reason that he wouldn't take to responding to Leia's orders with much enthusiasm - particularly given the immediacy and confidence with which Leia delivers them. Little does he know, however, just how much experience she has fighting the Empire at this point, not that it would make him want to listen to her, anyway.
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This line also sets up the excellent character arc that Han experiences throughout the original trilogy. While he will always be the lovable scoundrel who carves his own path and does his own thing, he also learns to become much more of a team player, which eventually earns him the role of general in the Rebel Alliance. Of course, that's a long way away from this moment, where Han is simply reminding Leia that he's only in this for his own survival.
9 "Jeez, I'm Out Of It For A Little While, Everyone Gets Delusions Of Grandeur."
Return of the Jedi
Han Solo being forced into carbonite in The Empire Strikes Back was one of the character's saddest moments and one of the most stressful plot points in the whole franchise. It wasn't clear whether Han would survive the carbonite, both because he may never be released from it and because, even if he was, it wasn't clear at the time what the ramifications of being in carbonite might be. However, when Han was rescued from the carbonite in Return of the Jedi, he quickly reverted to his old ways, joking about the state of things.
After learning that Luke had become a Jedi, Han remarked, "I'm out of it for a little while, everyone gets delusions of grandeur." This was a great, efficient way for Return of the Jedi to confirm that Han was still his old self while maintaining some levity and humor about the otherwise bleak situation. It was also a poignant reminder of how radically Luke's character had developed from A New Hope to early in Return of the Jedi, going from a wide-eyed farm boy from Tatooine to a powerful Jedi.
8 "It's True. The Force, The Jedi - All Of It. It's All True."
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
When audiences first met Han Solo back in 1977, he made his stance on the Force and the Jedi very firm: he didn't buy into it whatsoever. As someone who had to carve their own path in the galaxy with no true , it's easy to see why Han preferred to rely on himself and the cruel, harsh reality of the tangible world rather than the mystical Force that bounds the galaxy together. Clearly, however, his experiences with Luke and Leia throughout the original Star Wars trilogy opened his eyes - and the payoff of that is seen here.
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Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
- Release Date
- December 18, 2015
- Runtime
- 136 minutes
- Director
- J.J. Abrams
Cast
Rey
Kylo Ren / Ben Solo
WHERE TO WATCH
Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place 30 years after the fall of the Galactic Empire. It follows Han Solo and new allies, including Finn and Rey, as they confront the rising threat of Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers while seeking the elusive Luke Skywalker.
- Writers
- J.J. Abrams
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Studio(s)
- Lucasfilm Ltd., Bad Robot
- Distributor(s)
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Budget
- $447 million
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
Now faced with the next generation who has also been left to question the Jedi and the Force, with Luke's Jedi Academy and his next Jedi Order having been burned to the ground before it could ever truly begin, Han is the one providing reassurance of the truth. This is a meaningful moment that shows the development of Han's character, especially with how serious he is as he delivers these lines. Every step that Rey and Finn take from here on out is because of Han's own faith and guidance that he openly shares, beginning with this moment.
7 "Never Tell Me The Odds."
The Empire Strikes Back
One of Han Solo's most quoted lines in larger popular culture came during The Empire Strikes Back when he, Leia, Chewie, and C-3PO were attempting to safely navigate their way out of an asteroid field in the Millennium Falcon. After C-3PO offered up the exact (alarming) statistic regarding their unlikely survival, Han told him, "Never tell me the odds." This line became extremely popular, and, even with Star Wars' now extensive history, it remains one of the most quoted lines from the franchise.
This quote is also representative of yet another aspect of Han's character. While, yes, he was a sarcastic, at times somewhat selfish character, especially early on in the original trilogy, he was also a suave, brave, and incredibly impressive pilot—that's how he charmed Princess Leia, after all. This line perfectly encapsulates that devil-may-care attitude and his legitimate skill as a pilot who frequently defied the odds.
6 "Hey, Kid."
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Han Solo was still very suave and charming when he appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. In fact, arguably, his character had the best return of the franchise's original three heroes, even with his death in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, he also had more emotional, tender moments, which brought a new dimension to his character.
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Although his time as a father on screen was short-lived (because Kylo Ren killed him), when Han Solo returned as a memory in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, his love for his son was even clearer than it had been in The Force Awakens. Using the nickname he had once used for Luke—which made it even sweeter—Han Solo said, "Hey, kid." While this was just a memory, it was still a brilliant moment and one of Han Solo's best quotes.
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