The Star Wars movie universe is one of the most beautifully crafted fictional worlds in cinematic history. Brimming with lore, tragedy, love, and redemption, the films take us to a galaxy far, far away and send us on a journey with truly iconic characters. From the balanced, disciplined Jedi to the emotionally-driven Sith Lords, there’s no shortage of breathtaking combat sequences in the films. Of course, to talk about Star Wars battles without mentioning Obi-Wan Kenobi is a crime!
We first met Obi-Wan in A New Hope, where Alec Guinness brought him to life with passion, despite his resentment towards the series. Since then, Ewan McGregor has played the role and displayed the untold prowess of Obi-Wan in his younger years. The newer films gave us a deeper look into his life and connections to his fellow Jedi, and the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+ promises to show us even more about his life. With any luck, we’ll get to enjoy McGregor’s unprecedented lightsaber skills and acrobatics in the show! Until then, here are Obi-Wan Kenobi's best fight scenes in the Star Wars franchise so far, ranked.
8 Invading the Ship with Qui-Gon
One of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's very first appearances together was in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace — the pair were sent on an excursion to discuss trade blockades with Viceroy Nute Gunray, but they found themselves trapped in a room full of toxic gas shortly after arriving. The Viceroy was following strict orders from Darth Sidious to kill them, and he sent a squad of droids and droideka to destroy their bodies after the gas attack. Quick on their feet, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were able to stay alive and emerge from the fog in a glorious display, slicing through the Viceroy's forces with ease. It was a fantastic way to open up the series, and it gave audiences an insight into how the Master and Padawan worked together.
7 Count Dooku vs. the Jedi Trio
A balanced example of Obi-Wan's ability to depend on his fellow Jedi, he and Anakin take on Count Dooku near the end of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. He spends part of the battle challenging the converted Sith Lord alone, but is ultimately bested. Seeing his partner take a painful hit finally gives Anakin the sense he needs to hold his own, though the young Padawan eventually loses his arm to Dooku. Yoda himself decides to intervene and manages to scare his opponent off, saving the other two from a falling pillar in the process. The Jedi didn't win this battle, but this painful loss makes their later victories all the more satisfying.
6 The Battle of Geonosis
Fans of the Star Wars Battlefront games can appreciate the scale of this epic showdown! While captives of Count Dooku, in Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan, Padme and Anakin get back-up in the form of an entire Jedi battalion. What ensues is a massive firefight against the droids as the Geonosis arena turns into a war zone; robots, giant alien monsters and bounty hunters are all part of the fun. Of course, Obi-Wan is right in the thick of it all, and we get to see him take down droids and slay a spidery beast in one sitting. What's more, he stops to pay his respects to the fallen Jedi around him before the fight is over.
5 Taking Down Count Dooku with Anakin
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith gave Anakin and Obi-Wan some well-deserved comeuppance against Count Dooku. Right off the rip, the two Jedi infiltrate his hiding place for a rematch. Immediately, we see drastic improvements in their abilities: they're coordinating their moves, they're much stronger, and it seems Anakin has finally started listening to his master. Obi-Wan is bested by Dooku yet again, but this time he's unconscious while Anakin gets his very first taste of the Dark Side. It begs the question: would things have been different if Obi-Wan were conscious? Could he have talked Anakin out of murdering Count Dooku?
4 Battling Jango Fett
After a wild hunt for the bounty hunter behind the assassination attempts against Senator Amidala, Obi-Wan goes toe to toe with Jango Fett on the watery wasteland of Kamino. Just as the Mandalorian warrior and his son attempt to flee the planet, Obi-Wan rushes in to take him down. This fight is especially interesting because Obi-Wan faces a very unfamiliar enemy; Mandalorian warriors don't fight like Jedi or Sith. We see Jango unleash crazy tools like gauntlet blades and a grappling hook, and his Jedi opponent has to improvise by using those tools to his advantage. Both fighters are dragged across the rain-soaked environment, and it gives us a look at how even the most skilled Jedi still have a lot to learn.
3 Facing General Grievous
Before he faced off with his own Padawan, Obi-Wan's solo exploits lead him to the sinister General Grievous for the final time. The two certainly had pre-existing hatred toward each other, and their fight is one of the most epic in the entire series. Grievous (infamous for murdering Jedi and stealing their weapons) comes out with four lightsabers, and Obi-Wan retorts by slicing off his robotic hands one at a time. It's a true testament to his tactical ability, especially when he can finally bring in the clone troopers to deal with the rest of the droids. On top of all this, the battle is packed with some of Obi-Wan's best one-liners. No matter how you feel about the prequels, "Hello there!" is among the most quotable phrases in the Star Wars franchise.
2 Defeating Darth Maul
Though Obi-Wan spent most of his screen time in The Phantom Menace answering to Qui-Gon, his duel with Darth Maul officially set him apart as a force to be reckoned with in the Star Wars universe. After witnessing his master be slain by the Sith Lord, the Padawan spiraled into a furious rage, jumping on the opportunity to take on Darth Maul himself. Two unique things stand out about this battle: the forced pause before combat and Obi-Wan's bursts of sheer brutality.
While Qui-Gon is fighting, Obi-Wan is trapped behind a red energy shield, which keeps him locked out of the battle. As his master is murdered, he's helplessly trapped; we can see that he's just itching to get to Darth Maul, but instead, he's forced to wait. In the meantime, the two remaining combatants stalk about their space and stare vicious daggers into each other. It's a striking way to build tension, especially with Qui-Gon's body lingering like a specter in the background.
When he finally can get to Maul, Obi-Wan fights with a previously unseen level of emotion. He's passionate and angry and heartbroken, which shows in his movements. At one point, he catches Maul off guard with a brick-breaking move that nearly incapacitates him. One might theorize that Obi-Wan is tapping into the Dark Side during this fight, and rightfully so!
1 Dueling Anakin
After years of training, bonding and going on missions together, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi were like brothers. Despite their disagreements and vastly different personalities, the two cared for each other immensely. We got to see their relationship develop over three films, and Revenge of the Sith showed their severance with Anakin's journey into the Dark Side.
Simply put, the battle itself is gorgeous. Two of the most powerful Force users of all time locked in combat adrift a world of boiling lava? The backdrop was a perfect representation of their struggle. Every swing is perfect, and the two are almost an even match. Behind the aesthetic, their battle is a major turning point in the films. Anakin's defeat marks the rise of Darth Vader, which ultimately leads to the fulfillment of the original prophecy that he would bring balance to the Force.