After the original Return of the Jedi. Jedi’s primary function is concluding the tragedy of Darth Vader in an emotionally engaging way, but Lucas finds time for plenty of rib-tickling comedic moments along the way.
Although the inclusion of Ewoks and a second Death Star polarized the Star Wars fan base, Return of the Jedi is undeniably one of the saga’s funniest movies – largely thanks to Han and Leia’s sarcastic one-liners.
“It’s A Trap!” - iral Ackbar
Easily the most quotable line in Return of the Jedi is iral Ackbar’s exasperated realization that the Emperor planned ahead of the Rebel strike: “It’s a trap!”
This line is so iconic that it made Ackbar a memorable Star Wars character in just three words. Fans were disappointed with Ackbar’s unceremonious death in The Last Jedi, but they only became endeared to him in the first place thanks to his quirky delivery of this throwaway line.
“That Bad, Huh?” - Han Solo
When Han and Luke reunite as Jabba’s prisoners on their way to be sacrificed to the Sarlacc Pit, Han asks how everybody’s doing and Luke says, “Same as always.” Han sarcastically quips, “That bad, huh?”
He makes a good point. Whether they’re being frozen in carbonite or losing a hand, the heroes of Star Wars don’t usually have the best luck.
“He’ll Have That Shield Down On Time, Or This’ll Be The Shortest Offensive Of All Time.” - Lando Calrissian
In the climactic space battle of Return of the Jedi, just before making the jump to lightspeed, Lando’s co-pilot Nien Nunb questions their chances of success. Lando tells him, “Don’t worry, my friend’s down there. He’ll have that shield down on time... or this’ll be the shortest offensive of all time.”
Lando’s belief in Han throughout this sequence is heartwarming. All the other Rebel brass continually underestimate Han, but Lando keeps assuring them that his buddy will pull through.
“And You Said It Was Pretty Here...” - C-3PO
The final act of Return of the Jedi takes Han, Leia, Luke, Chewie, R2-D2, and C-3PO all down to the woodland environments of the forest moon of Endor. As Han and Luke head off to find a missing Leia, Threepio quips that Artoo “said it was pretty here.”
On top of the hilarity of Threepio’s typically sardonic response to certain doom, this gag has the added absurdist implication that Artoo’s programming includes the ability to enjoy the scenery.
“The Emperor Is Not As Forgiving As I Am.” - Darth Vader
When Darth Vader arrives on the second Death Star to check in on the progress of the construction, he warns the Imperial bureaucrats in charge of the contractors that Emperor Palpatine is on his way and he’s “not as forgiving as I am.”
This line sets up the Star Wars trilogy’s big bad, the Emperor, to be even more ruthless and terrifying than Vader himself. But it also has an ironic bite as Vader considers himself to be “forgiving” and the past two movies have shown that he’s anything but.
“I Know.” - Leia Organa
One of the most iconic moments in The Empire Strikes Back arrives right before Han is frozen in carbonite. Leia tells Han, “I love you,” and Han jokingly replies, “I know.”
In Return of the Jedi, Leia flips Han’s classic Empire line back on him. After she saves him from a bunch of Stormtroopers by revealing a hidden blaster, he finally its, “I love you,” and Leia wryly throws his own quip back in his face: “I know.”
“Oh, I’m Afraid The Deflector Shield Will Be Quite Operational When Your Friends Arrive.” - Emperor Palpatine
Before iral Ackbar learns that the Imperial fleet has set a trap for the Rebels, Emperor Palpatine spells it out for Luke in his throne room. Luke warns Palpatine that the Rebels are on their way, but Palpatine warns Luke that the Empire is prepared for the attack.
Ian McDiarmid nails the biting sarcastic delivery of this line. Family Guy’s parody of Return of the Jedi points out Palpatine’s obnoxiousness in this moment as Luke says, “There’s no need to be a d*** about it!”
“Just A Little Higher!” - Lando Calrissian
During the battle on Jabba’s barge, the Sarlacc wraps one of its tentacles around Lando’s leg and tries to pull him down into its jaws. Han tries to shoot the tentacle off of Lando’s leg, but the visual impairment he got from his carbonite freezing makes Lando anxious about his aim.
In the Special Edition, Han assures him, “It’s all right, I can see a lot better!” But his misplaced blaster shots suggest otherwise. Lando, fearing for his life from two different angles, frantically tells Han, “A little higher! Just a little higher!”
“I Dunno, Fly Casual!” - Han Solo
When Han and Chewie are flying a stolen Imperial ship to Endor, Han tells his Wookiee sidekick, “Keep your distance, but don’t look like you’re trying to keep your distance.” Chewie roars to express his confusion and Han clarifies, “I dunno, fly casual!”
Everybody’s been in a position like this, unable to articulate an instruction in just the right way. Han’s vague request to “fly casual” understandably baffles his furry companion.
“When 900 Years Old You Reach, Look As Good You Will Not.” - Yoda
Yoda’s death scene might be the only hero’s death from the Star Wars saga that includes a laugh-out-loud moment. Unlike the Jedi who are struck down in battle or the Sith Lords who are sliced and diced in lightsaber combat, Yoda gets to die on his own , retreating into his deathbed and gracefully embracing the end of his life.
It’s touching that Yoda continues to crack jokes in his final moments. All Star Wars fans can take something away from Yoda’s beautifully low-key death scene.
