Smuggler, hero, rogue with a heart of gold and a good-looking rebel who plays by his own rules, Han Solo has a lofty place in the Star Wars pantheon. Philosopher Joseph Campbell also admired the character and described the lovable “nerf-herder” as a hero during his interview with Bill Moyers at the Skywalker Ranch.
Han Solo might be the most popular character in the franchise, second only to the famous Jedi twins Luke and Leia, and has his own collection of memorable scenes and quotes. Some of the greatest lines in the whole franchise come from Han Solo’s smirking mouth, and fans like him because he’s a scoundrel.
7 “Hokey Religions And Ancient Weapons Are No Match For A Good Blaster At Your Side, Kid.”
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Han Solo’s cynical and gruff character was set in immediate contrast to the idealistic and cheerfully naive Luke Skywalker, and the chemistry was brilliant. Despite any personal conflicts or lack of funds, the smuggler and his co-pilot agreed to take the farm boy and the old man to Alderaan.
The journey is a bumpy one, and Han concludes almost immediately that their passengers aren’t just ordinary fugitives. During the journey, Luke confronts Han about his skepticism regarding the Force, and Han quips back with this now-famous line.
6 “That’s Not How The Force Works!”
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Han Solo returned to the big screen in The Force Awakens, a connection between the old series and the new one. Some of his dialogue choices showed how much the character had evolved from the early films, especially when it came to his feelings about the Force.
This line comes from a scene in which Finn tries to suggest the Force will help them solve their problems. It’s a flippant remark said in desperation, but it elicits this rather terse reply from Han, who’s been around long enough to know “that’s not how the Force works.”
5 “Then I’ll See You In Hell.”
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
One of the reasons that Star Wars fans love Han Solo is because he’s brave and loyal to the point of being reckless, and he refuses to compromise when it comes to the safety of his friends. In the last movie, he was indifferent to the fate of others, and this line shows how his priorities have changed.
At the beginning of the movie, Han realizes that Luke hasn’t come in from the frigid cold of Hoth and is determined to go and look for him. A fellow Rebel warns him that if he ventures out, his tauntaun will freeze before they even get to the first marker, and this is how Han replies. There are a lot of great lines in The Empire Strikes Back, and this snarl of defiance is one of the best.
4 “Chewie, We’re Home.”
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Han Solo’s return to the new movies comes with some profound emotions, and Han expresses that with this quote when he and Chewie see the Millennium Falcon again. It’s also how so many of the fans felt when they saw the familiar old freighter, and Han Solo was the one who gave their emotions a voice with this endearing line.
It’s never really explained where Han Solo is or what happened between him and Leia, although it is hinted it’s connected to their son Ben. This line is short, but at least it tells the audience that Han and Chewie have been away for a long time.
3 “Since When Do You Know How To Fly?”
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story is one of the few times the character has appeared on screen as another actor than Harrison Ford, and since this movie was intended as a prequel the casting choice made sense. There are some great quotes in this movie that recall Han’s later life and describe the adventures of his youth, and this is one of them.
This quote is part of a conversation between Han and Chewie, and this kind of banter was how they were getting to know each other. Chewie replies to this question, without a hint of irony, “190.” Wookies have a long life span, so this makes sense, and Han not only gets it but replies with a funny compliment, “You look great!”
2 “It’s Not Wise To Upset A Wookie.”
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Some people, and droids, need practical advice to survive interplanetary travel. On the other hand, Han and Chewie have a reputation as ruthless criminals to uphold, and the tough, violent Wookie is part of the image. Han delivers this line in response to Chewie losing a game of Dejarik to R2D3 and C3P0 scolding the Wookie on his angry reaction.
C3P0 replies that “nobody worries about upsetting a droid” and Han has a rejoiner about “wookies pull people’s arms out of their sockets when they lose.” Those familiar with the franchise know that Chewie never would have done such a thing even if he was easily capable of it, and it’s a bluff on the smuggler’s part.
1 “I Know.”
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Almost everyone knows the story behind this famous line that Han says at the end of The Empire Strikes Back, and those that don’t can read about it in J.W. Rinzler’s book, The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
The original intent by scriptwriter Lawrence Kasdan was that Han replies with a longer quote about how much he always loved her, and that he’d return to her somehow. Ford and Empire director Irvin Kershner both agreed that the line needed to be shorter and more quippy to fit with Han’s character, plus they wanted to make the character’s survival ambiguous. This is when Ford came up with the idea for a simple “I know.”
Leave a Reply