The 50 best minor characters in 'Star Wars'
Because not everyone can be the one that saves (or destroys) the galaxy
50. Salacious B. Crumb
"Return of the Jedi"
Possibly one of the strangest creatures in the entire "Star Wars" universe, this weird little guy — described as a monkey-lizard — is Jabba the Hutt’s jester. One the best parts of "Return of the Jedi" is when Jabba’s sand yacht Khetanna explodes, forever silencing that horrible, horrible laugh.
PHOTO: LucasFilm
49. Chairman Papanoida
"Revenge of the Sith"
. Let’s move on.
PHOTO: Disney
48. Yaddle
"The Phantom Menace"
A female of Yoda’s species. This should be a much bigger deal than her appearance in "The Phantom Menace" suggests. Unfortunately we still don’t know the name of Yoda’s species.
PHOTO: Disney
47. Kabe
"A New Hope"
This little bat dude wants that drink so bad.
PHOTO: Lucas Film/Disney
46. Temiri Blagg aka Broom Boy
"The Last Jedi"
Temiri Blagg doesn’t do much but sweep in "The Last Jedi," but it’s how he sweeps that’s the most important thing. In the last scene of the film, Blagg is shown Force-pulling a broom and staring up to the stars. Who knows if we’ll see this kid again — probably not — but it’s a fitting end after watching the passing of a Jedi master who was once much like Blagg himself.
45. Major Bren Derlin
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Sometimes you wanna to go where every Jedi knows your name.
PHOTO: Disney
44. Logray
"Return of the Jedi"
People like Wicket but others were way more into Logray. He’s the Ewok who’s bossing everyone around, and he has a cool hat and staff.
PHOTO: Disney
43. Tion Medon
"Revenge of the Sith"
Tion Medon looks more evil than Darth Maul and Emperor Palpatine put together. But in "Revenge of the Sith," George Lucas pulls a fast one and reveals that Medon — who’s face looks like death itself — is actually a good guy, giving The Republic a heads-up about General Grievous’ whereabouts.
PHOTO: Disney
42. E-3P0
"The Empire Strikes Back"
We only see this C-3P0 lookalike for a brief second, saying, “E chu ta” before disappearing off-screen, but he’s got droid sass, and honey, and we want more of it. Although we know that the phrase is Huttese, we don’t know what it says. But a "Star Wars" phrase book, written by actual sound designer Ben Burtt, says that the phrase is too obscene to translate. We’ll just leave it at that.
41. Dianoga
"A New Hope"
Though Dianogas only exist in the "Star Wars" universe, this creature made some fans nervous to swim in oceans for a bit ... just like the shark in "Jaws."
PHOTO: Disney
40. Yarael Poof
"The Phantom Menace"
That sure is one long neck!
PHOTO: Disney
39. Labria
"A New Hope"
You know that guy in the Mos Eisley Cantina who looks like the devil? Well, his real name is Kardue'sai'Malloc and he’s "The Butcher of Montellian Serat," aka one bad dude. His species is Devaronian, and he might have murdered tons of people when he was an army captain. But 19 years after the Battle of Yavin, Boba Fett eventually captured him and turned him over to the Devarons, leading to his eventual death by being eaten alive. Also, that quick glance at the camera? Super creepy.
PHOTO: Lucas Film
38. MSE-6 Mouse Droid
"A New Hope"
Fans have wondered about the actual use of this Death Star droid for years. Supposedly it can deliver and repair things, though the design of the droid would suggest it’s bad at both. Maybe the most intriguing thing about MSE-6 is that it can feel fear.
37. TT-8L/Y7 gatekeeper droid
"Return of the Jedi"
We don't really know what this gatekeeper is saying to C-3Po and R2-D2, all we know is that it's sassy — and we love it.
PHOTO: Disney
36. Dead Red Five
"Rogue One"
We all know that Luke’s call sign during the attack against the original Death Star is Red 5, which means the Red 5 pilot in "Rogue One," which takes places only moments before the opening scene of "A New Hope," isn’t going to make it out of this scrap alive. But hey, at least his call sign will become famous.
35. GA-97
"The Force Awakens"
We're not sure what it is about this little guy, but when he pops up during "The Force Awakens" it’s hard not to crack a smile. Whether it’s the fact that his mouth is so obviously a Shure microphone or that he’s overall just a walking junkbot, he’s a favorite member of the Resistance.
PHOTO: Lucas Films
34. Jobin
"The Empire Strikes Back"
You never actually see Jobin in any of the "Star Wars" films, but you do hear him. He’s the guy who says, “Imperial troops have entered the base. Imperial troops have en—” (at about 1:01 in the clip above).
Turns out he’s actually the son of Mon Mothma, the leader of the Rebellion. Unfortunately, Vader kills him during the assault on Hoth.
33. Teedo
"The Force Awakens"
Just a weird desert lizard thing scavenging Jakku on his cybernetic pack animal.
PHOTO: Disney
32. Cornelius Evazan and Ponda Baba
"Rogue One/A New Hope"
This murderous duo created the very first time we saw the devastating effects of a lightsaber. Ponda Baba sacrificed his arm for that moment, and we thank him — and his ugly companion — for their service.
PHOTO: Disney
31. Paodok’Draba’Takat Sap’De’Rekti Nik’Linke’Ti’ Ki’Vef’Nik’NeSevef’Li’Kek aka Pao
"Rogue One"
His name might be a mouthful, but this little guy from "Rogue One" is the only non-human on the team that assaults the Imperial base on Scarif. Plus, he looks awesome.
PHOTO: Disney
30. Garindan Ezz Zavor
"A New Hope"
Also known as Long Snout, this imperial spy always stuck out in our my mind as one of the more sinister-looking creatures in the "Star Wars" universe. In "The Force Awakens," The First Order agent feels like a callback, but you can never forget the original.
PHOTO: Disney
29. Nopetroopers
"The Force Awakens"
In the original trilogy and the sequels, Stormtroopers didn’t appear to have the highest intelligence. Not so in "The Force Awakens." When Kylo Ren rages at his computer console, they go back the way they came. Good thinking.
PHOTO: Disney
28. Ben Quadinaros
"The Phantom Menace"
The pod race is filled with all kinds of crazy characters, but we really identify with Ben Quadinaros. Who hasn’t gotten in their vehicle only to have it refuse to turn over? Maybe you’re late for work and you start pounding the steering wheel in frustration. Luckily, the similarities end there, as Quadinaros’ conundrum ends explosively.
PHOTO: Lucas Film
27. Lobot
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Famously stoic and famously bald, Lobot is a human aided with a cyborg construct attached to his head. He doesn’t say much as Lando’s head of security, but his backstory .
PHOTO: Disney
26. Kit Fisto
"Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith"
Although one of cooler Jedi in the original expanded universe, Kit Fisto doesn’t get too much screen time. But the little he gets is the best.
PHOTO: Disney
25. Lor San Tekka
"The Force Awakens"
We only get one scene with Lor San Tekka before he’s cut down in cold blood by Kylo Ren, but his brief appearance is one of the more intriguing moments of the entire film. Not to mention he’s portrayed by none other than Max von Sydow.
PHOTO: Disney
24. Admiral Conan Antonio Motti
"A New Hope"
His lack of faith was disturbing.
23. Paige Tico
"The Last Jedi"
We learn a lot about Paige Tico through her sister, Rose, in "The Last Jedi," but her story is cut criminally short during the bombing run against The First Order’s Fulminatrix. Her heroic sacrifice sets the tone for the rest of the dark and blood-drenched film.
22. Sidon Ithano
"The Force Awakens"
We hardly see this guy at all, but he looks so cool. Sidon Ithano —also known as the Red Raider, the Blood Buccaneer and the Crimson Corsair — is equally parts Boba Fett and Imperial Guard and 100 percent awesome. Fun fact: His helmet comes from the same race of people as General Grievous (before he became a cyborg) but Sidon is actually a race "Star Wars" fans have yet to see.
PHOTO: Disney
21. Exogorth
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Although a very large presence in "The Empire Strikes Back," you only actually see the Exogorth for just a second. But this massive space worm provides one of the more otherworldly moments in the entire "Star Wars" franchise.
20. Dak Ralter
"The Empire Strikes Back"
“I feel like I can take on the Empire myself.” Oh, Dak, you really can’t. Unfortunately, Luke’s enthusiastic gunner on Hoth wouldn’t live long after saying those words.
PHOTO: Disney
19. Plo Koon
"Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith"
Although he receives a heroes' send-off after being killed in "Revenge of the Sith," Plo Koon could've single-handedly redeemed the entire Jedi Order if wasn’t for that whole ... fostering the emergence of the Empire thing.
PHOTO: Disney
18. Fi'Grin Dan and the Modal Nodes
"A New Hope"
Yes, the "Star Wars" band. Great, now we all have the Cantina song stuck in our heads.
17. Jek Tono Porkins
"A New Hope"
Flying under the call sign "Red 6" during the attack on the first Death Star, Porkins became a fan favorite because of his large frame packed inside such a tiny cockpit. Despite his untimely death during the assault — one of the first sacrifices of the battle — Porkins proves that heroes comes in all shapes and sizes.
PHOTO: Disney
16. EV-9D9
"Return of the Jedi"
Although "Star Wars" fans know this bot as the sadistic taskmasker at Jabba’s Palace (who is perplexingly torturing a robot ... can droids feel pain?), EV-9D9’s story is actually much more complex. Turns out, 9D9 started life as a simple, peace-loving moisture vaporator mechanic, but a programming error gave it a thirst for robot torture.
PHOTO: Disney
15. Admiral Piett
"The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
Admiral Piett watched as his superiors, one by one, fell victim to Vader’s bottomless rage. But Piett — at least until his death during The Battle of Endor — was the first officer smart enough to serve Vader and survive. Although it probably helped that Vader got a bit soft toward the end of the original trilogy after learning of his son’s existence, but we’ll still call it a win for Piett.
PHOTO: Disney
14. Aunt Beru
"Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith," "A New Hope"
We can all admit Uncle Owen is kind of a jerk. Not Aunt Beru — she gets it.
PHOTO: Disney
13. FN-2199 aka TR-8R
"The Force Awakens"
Famously referred to as TR-8R because of his line, “traitor,” in FN-2199, we finally get a Stormtrooper — apart from Finn — who can actually fight. It was a surprising scene and some much-needed depth to a class of characters who’ve served little more than canon fodder for our galaxy-traipsing heroes.
12. GNK Power Droid
"A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
Basically a trash can that says “gonk” all day. Brilliant.
PHOTO: Disney
11. Mamow Nadon aka Hammerhead
"A New Hope"
The Mos Eisley Cantina is responsible for many characters on this list, but Mamow Nadon, also known as Hammerhead, might just be our favorite. Compared to most of the other creatures in this “wretched hive of scum and villainy,” Nadon was so freakishly unlike anything humanoid that he became immediately intriguing despite his short screen time.
Strangely enough, he received , despite playing an almost imperceptibly small role.
PHOTO: Disney
10. The Skull of Bidlo Kwerve
"Return of the Jedi"
Who knew that the skull used to inevitably kill the dreaded Rancor was actually the end of the epic tale of Bidlo Kwerve. With a surprisingly robust backstory, Bidlo jockeyed with Bib Fortuna to become Jabba’s majordomo, but ultimately meeting the grisly fate as the Rancor’s first victim. Years later — in the hands of Luke Skywalker — Bidlo got his revenge.
PHOTO: Lucas Film
9. Head-Bumping Stormtrooper
"A New Hope"
Sometimes being a Stormtrooper is tough.
8. Biggs Darklighter
"A New Hope"
Biggs gets a bit more screen time than most on this list, but we don’t get much time to spend with him — or his sweet mustache — before he becomes a casualty in the war against the Empire. But in "A New Hope" deleted scenes, Darklighter tells his best friend Luke Skywalker of his plan to defect to the Rebellion, making Darklighter a much more important force in Luke’s life than his abrupt end suggests.
7. Willrow Hood
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Maybe one of the biggest cult favorites in the original Star Wars trilogy, Hood is seen for only a second or two during the evacuation of Hoth. It’s in this very short snippet where it appears that Hood is desperately trying to save...an ice cream maker?
PHOTO: Lucas Film
6. IG-88
"The Empire Strikes Back"
The Empire’s entire collection of bounty hunters are great characters and could all be on this list, but besides Boba Fett, none of them get nearly enough screen time. Although we’d be first in line for a Zuckus standalone film, it’s IG-88 that we love even more.
Although eagled-eyed fans can actually spot IG-88's discarded remains in the Ugnaught boiler room on Cloud City (touché Boba Fett), the IG-88 model we see in the films is actually only one of three others who all share the same hive mind. The original creation, IG-88A would live on to cause more havoc.
PHOTO: Disney
5. Nien Nunb
"Return of the Jedi," "The Force Awakens," "The Last Jedi"
Nien Nunb is one of the most beloved minor characters in "Star Wars" history. His appearance in "Return of the Jedi" sort of comes from nowhere but he’s a welcome addition as Lando’s co-pilot.
The coolest thing about Nien Nunb is that he’s still fighting some 30 years later. He helps take out the Starkiller Base and even escapes Crait in "The Last Jedi." Soon his story will by more epic than most of the "Star Wars’" main characters.
PHOTO: Disney
4. R5-D4 aka Skippy
"A New Hope"
Famous for having a bad motivator, R5-D4 is oft-forgotten character who could very well be considered the savior of the galaxy. Without his timely malfunction — which some "Star Wars" tales describe as evidence of Skippy’s force-sensitive nature — R2-D2 and C-3PO would have been forever separated, changing the course of galactic events forever.
PHOTO: Disney
3. Wedge Antilles
"A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
Possibly the most famous pilot in the entire galaxy, Wedge Antilles is the X-Wing pilot who never quits. He’s Luke’s wingman during the first run against the Death Star, he took down an AT-AT at Hoth and fired the first shots that eventually blew up the Second Death Star. That makes him the only pilot to fight both orbiting death weapons — not bad at all.
PHOTO: Disney
2. Malakili
"Return of the Jedi"
Malakili, the Rancor keeper, delivers one of the more unnerving performances in "Return of the Jedi." Up until the Rancor’s death-by-door scene, audiences had no reason to perceive the beast as anything but a bloodthirsty killer. But Malakili’s horror-stricken face and tear-filled eyes make us question whether this gruesome beast was really so gruesome after all.
1. Max Rebo and the Jizz Wailers
"Return of the Jedi"
A blue alien elephant leader of a space band called the Jizz Wailers, Max Rebo was the most colorful monster in Jabba’s Palace of weirdos, and we love him and his weird keyboard to this day.
PHOTO: Disney
50. Salacious B. Crumb
"Return of the Jedi"
Possibly one of the strangest creatures in the entire "Star Wars" universe, this weird little guy — described as a monkey-lizard — is Jabba the Hutt’s jester. One the best parts of "Return of the Jedi" is when Jabba’s sand yacht Khetanna explodes, forever silencing that horrible, horrible laugh.
PHOTO: LucasFilm
49. Chairman Papanoida
"Revenge of the Sith"
. Let’s move on.
PHOTO: Disney
48. Yaddle
"The Phantom Menace"
A female of Yoda’s species. This should be a much bigger deal than her appearance in "The Phantom Menace" suggests. Unfortunately we still don’t know the name of Yoda’s species.
PHOTO: Disney
47. Kabe
"A New Hope"
This little bat dude wants that drink so bad.
PHOTO: Lucas Film/Disney
46. Temiri Blagg aka Broom Boy
"The Last Jedi"
Temiri Blagg doesn’t do much but sweep in "The Last Jedi," but it’s how he sweeps that’s the most important thing. In the last scene of the film, Blagg is shown Force-pulling a broom and staring up to the stars. Who knows if we’ll see this kid again — probably not — but it’s a fitting end after watching the passing of a Jedi master who was once much like Blagg himself.
45. Major Bren Derlin
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Sometimes you wanna to go where every Jedi knows your name.
PHOTO: Disney
44. Logray
"Return of the Jedi"
People like Wicket but others were way more into Logray. He’s the Ewok who’s bossing everyone around, and he has a cool hat and staff.
PHOTO: Disney
43. Tion Medon
"Revenge of the Sith"
Tion Medon looks more evil than Darth Maul and Emperor Palpatine put together. But in "Revenge of the Sith," George Lucas pulls a fast one and reveals that Medon — who’s face looks like death itself — is actually a good guy, giving The Republic a heads-up about General Grievous’ whereabouts.
PHOTO: Disney
42. E-3P0
"The Empire Strikes Back"
We only see this C-3P0 lookalike for a brief second, saying, “E chu ta” before disappearing off-screen, but he’s got droid sass, and honey, and we want more of it. Although we know that the phrase is Huttese, we don’t know what it says. But a "Star Wars" phrase book, written by actual sound designer Ben Burtt, says that the phrase is too obscene to translate. We’ll just leave it at that.
41. Dianoga
"A New Hope"
Though Dianogas only exist in the "Star Wars" universe, this creature made some fans nervous to swim in oceans for a bit ... just like the shark in "Jaws."
PHOTO: Disney
40. Yarael Poof
"The Phantom Menace"
That sure is one long neck!
PHOTO: Disney
39. Labria
"A New Hope"
You know that guy in the Mos Eisley Cantina who looks like the devil? Well, his real name is Kardue'sai'Malloc and he’s "The Butcher of Montellian Serat," aka one bad dude. His species is Devaronian, and he might have murdered tons of people when he was an army captain. But 19 years after the Battle of Yavin, Boba Fett eventually captured him and turned him over to the Devarons, leading to his eventual death by being eaten alive. Also, that quick glance at the camera? Super creepy.
PHOTO: Lucas Film
38. MSE-6 Mouse Droid
"A New Hope"
Fans have wondered about the actual use of this Death Star droid for years. Supposedly it can deliver and repair things, though the design of the droid would suggest it’s bad at both. Maybe the most intriguing thing about MSE-6 is that it can feel fear.
37. TT-8L/Y7 gatekeeper droid
"Return of the Jedi"
We don't really know what this gatekeeper is saying to C-3Po and R2-D2, all we know is that it's sassy — and we love it.
PHOTO: Disney
36. Dead Red Five
"Rogue One"
We all know that Luke’s call sign during the attack against the original Death Star is Red 5, which means the Red 5 pilot in "Rogue One," which takes places only moments before the opening scene of "A New Hope," isn’t going to make it out of this scrap alive. But hey, at least his call sign will become famous.
35. GA-97
"The Force Awakens"
We're not sure what it is about this little guy, but when he pops up during "The Force Awakens" it’s hard not to crack a smile. Whether it’s the fact that his mouth is so obviously a Shure microphone or that he’s overall just a walking junkbot, he’s a favorite member of the Resistance.
PHOTO: Lucas Films
34. Jobin
"The Empire Strikes Back"
You never actually see Jobin in any of the "Star Wars" films, but you do hear him. He’s the guy who says, “Imperial troops have entered the base. Imperial troops have en—” (at about 1:01 in the clip above).
Turns out he’s actually the son of Mon Mothma, the leader of the Rebellion. Unfortunately, Vader kills him during the assault on Hoth.
33. Teedo
"The Force Awakens"
Just a weird desert lizard thing scavenging Jakku on his cybernetic pack animal.
PHOTO: Disney
32. Cornelius Evazan and Ponda Baba
"Rogue One/A New Hope"
This murderous duo created the very first time we saw the devastating effects of a lightsaber. Ponda Baba sacrificed his arm for that moment, and we thank him — and his ugly companion — for their service.
PHOTO: Disney
31. Paodok’Draba’Takat Sap’De’Rekti Nik’Linke’Ti’ Ki’Vef’Nik’NeSevef’Li’Kek aka Pao
"Rogue One"
His name might be a mouthful, but this little guy from "Rogue One" is the only non-human on the team that assaults the Imperial base on Scarif. Plus, he looks awesome.
PHOTO: Disney
30. Garindan Ezz Zavor
"A New Hope"
Also known as Long Snout, this imperial spy always stuck out in our my mind as one of the more sinister-looking creatures in the "Star Wars" universe. In "The Force Awakens," The First Order agent feels like a callback, but you can never forget the original.
PHOTO: Disney
29. Nopetroopers
"The Force Awakens"
In the original trilogy and the sequels, Stormtroopers didn’t appear to have the highest intelligence. Not so in "The Force Awakens." When Kylo Ren rages at his computer console, they go back the way they came. Good thinking.
PHOTO: Disney
28. Ben Quadinaros
"The Phantom Menace"
The pod race is filled with all kinds of crazy characters, but we really identify with Ben Quadinaros. Who hasn’t gotten in their vehicle only to have it refuse to turn over? Maybe you’re late for work and you start pounding the steering wheel in frustration. Luckily, the similarities end there, as Quadinaros’ conundrum ends explosively.
PHOTO: Lucas Film
27. Lobot
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Famously stoic and famously bald, Lobot is a human aided with a cyborg construct attached to his head. He doesn’t say much as Lando’s head of security, but his backstory .
PHOTO: Disney
26. Kit Fisto
"Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith"
Although one of cooler Jedi in the original expanded universe, Kit Fisto doesn’t get too much screen time. But the little he gets is the best.
PHOTO: Disney
25. Lor San Tekka
"The Force Awakens"
We only get one scene with Lor San Tekka before he’s cut down in cold blood by Kylo Ren, but his brief appearance is one of the more intriguing moments of the entire film. Not to mention he’s portrayed by none other than Max von Sydow.
PHOTO: Disney
24. Admiral Conan Antonio Motti
"A New Hope"
His lack of faith was disturbing.
23. Paige Tico
"The Last Jedi"
We learn a lot about Paige Tico through her sister, Rose, in "The Last Jedi," but her story is cut criminally short during the bombing run against The First Order’s Fulminatrix. Her heroic sacrifice sets the tone for the rest of the dark and blood-drenched film.
22. Sidon Ithano
"The Force Awakens"
We hardly see this guy at all, but he looks so cool. Sidon Ithano —also known as the Red Raider, the Blood Buccaneer and the Crimson Corsair — is equally parts Boba Fett and Imperial Guard and 100 percent awesome. Fun fact: His helmet comes from the same race of people as General Grievous (before he became a cyborg) but Sidon is actually a race "Star Wars" fans have yet to see.
PHOTO: Disney
21. Exogorth
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Although a very large presence in "The Empire Strikes Back," you only actually see the Exogorth for just a second. But this massive space worm provides one of the more otherworldly moments in the entire "Star Wars" franchise.
20. Dak Ralter
"The Empire Strikes Back"
“I feel like I can take on the Empire myself.” Oh, Dak, you really can’t. Unfortunately, Luke’s enthusiastic gunner on Hoth wouldn’t live long after saying those words.
PHOTO: Disney
19. Plo Koon
"Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith"
Although he receives a heroes' send-off after being killed in "Revenge of the Sith," Plo Koon could've single-handedly redeemed the entire Jedi Order if wasn’t for that whole ... fostering the emergence of the Empire thing.
PHOTO: Disney
18. Fi'Grin Dan and the Modal Nodes
"A New Hope"
Yes, the "Star Wars" band. Great, now we all have the Cantina song stuck in our heads.
17. Jek Tono Porkins
"A New Hope"
Flying under the call sign "Red 6" during the attack on the first Death Star, Porkins became a fan favorite because of his large frame packed inside such a tiny cockpit. Despite his untimely death during the assault — one of the first sacrifices of the battle — Porkins proves that heroes comes in all shapes and sizes.
PHOTO: Disney
16. EV-9D9
"Return of the Jedi"
Although "Star Wars" fans know this bot as the sadistic taskmasker at Jabba’s Palace (who is perplexingly torturing a robot ... can droids feel pain?), EV-9D9’s story is actually much more complex. Turns out, 9D9 started life as a simple, peace-loving moisture vaporator mechanic, but a programming error gave it a thirst for robot torture.
PHOTO: Disney
15. Admiral Piett
"The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
Admiral Piett watched as his superiors, one by one, fell victim to Vader’s bottomless rage. But Piett — at least until his death during The Battle of Endor — was the first officer smart enough to serve Vader and survive. Although it probably helped that Vader got a bit soft toward the end of the original trilogy after learning of his son’s existence, but we’ll still call it a win for Piett.
PHOTO: Disney
14. Aunt Beru
"Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith," "A New Hope"
We can all admit Uncle Owen is kind of a jerk. Not Aunt Beru — she gets it.
PHOTO: Disney
13. FN-2199 aka TR-8R
"The Force Awakens"
Famously referred to as TR-8R because of his line, “traitor,” in FN-2199, we finally get a Stormtrooper — apart from Finn — who can actually fight. It was a surprising scene and some much-needed depth to a class of characters who’ve served little more than canon fodder for our galaxy-traipsing heroes.
12. GNK Power Droid
"A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
Basically a trash can that says “gonk” all day. Brilliant.
PHOTO: Disney
11. Mamow Nadon aka Hammerhead
"A New Hope"
The Mos Eisley Cantina is responsible for many characters on this list, but Mamow Nadon, also known as Hammerhead, might just be our favorite. Compared to most of the other creatures in this “wretched hive of scum and villainy,” Nadon was so freakishly unlike anything humanoid that he became immediately intriguing despite his short screen time.
Strangely enough, he received , despite playing an almost imperceptibly small role.
PHOTO: Disney
10. The Skull of Bidlo Kwerve
"Return of the Jedi"
Who knew that the skull used to inevitably kill the dreaded Rancor was actually the end of the epic tale of Bidlo Kwerve. With a surprisingly robust backstory, Bidlo jockeyed with Bib Fortuna to become Jabba’s majordomo, but ultimately meeting the grisly fate as the Rancor’s first victim. Years later — in the hands of Luke Skywalker — Bidlo got his revenge.
PHOTO: Lucas Film
9. Head-Bumping Stormtrooper
"A New Hope"
Sometimes being a Stormtrooper is tough.
8. Biggs Darklighter
"A New Hope"
Biggs gets a bit more screen time than most on this list, but we don’t get much time to spend with him — or his sweet mustache — before he becomes a casualty in the war against the Empire. But in "A New Hope" deleted scenes, Darklighter tells his best friend Luke Skywalker of his plan to defect to the Rebellion, making Darklighter a much more important force in Luke’s life than his abrupt end suggests.
7. Willrow Hood
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Maybe one of the biggest cult favorites in the original Star Wars trilogy, Hood is seen for only a second or two during the evacuation of Hoth. It’s in this very short snippet where it appears that Hood is desperately trying to save...an ice cream maker?
PHOTO: Lucas Film
6. IG-88
"The Empire Strikes Back"
The Empire’s entire collection of bounty hunters are great characters and could all be on this list, but besides Boba Fett, none of them get nearly enough screen time. Although we’d be first in line for a Zuckus standalone film, it’s IG-88 that we love even more.
Although eagled-eyed fans can actually spot IG-88's discarded remains in the Ugnaught boiler room on Cloud City (touché Boba Fett), the IG-88 model we see in the films is actually only one of three others who all share the same hive mind. The original creation, IG-88A would live on to cause more havoc.
PHOTO: Disney
5. Nien Nunb
"Return of the Jedi," "The Force Awakens," "The Last Jedi"
Nien Nunb is one of the most beloved minor characters in "Star Wars" history. His appearance in "Return of the Jedi" sort of comes from nowhere but he’s a welcome addition as Lando’s co-pilot.
The coolest thing about Nien Nunb is that he’s still fighting some 30 years later. He helps take out the Starkiller Base and even escapes Crait in "The Last Jedi." Soon his story will by more epic than most of the "Star Wars’" main characters.
PHOTO: Disney
4. R5-D4 aka Skippy
"A New Hope"
Famous for having a bad motivator, R5-D4 is oft-forgotten character who could very well be considered the savior of the galaxy. Without his timely malfunction — which some "Star Wars" tales describe as evidence of Skippy’s force-sensitive nature — R2-D2 and C-3PO would have been forever separated, changing the course of galactic events forever.
PHOTO: Disney
3. Wedge Antilles
"A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
Possibly the most famous pilot in the entire galaxy, Wedge Antilles is the X-Wing pilot who never quits. He’s Luke’s wingman during the first run against the Death Star, he took down an AT-AT at Hoth and fired the first shots that eventually blew up the Second Death Star. That makes him the only pilot to fight both orbiting death weapons — not bad at all.
PHOTO: Disney
2. Malakili
"Return of the Jedi"
Malakili, the Rancor keeper, delivers one of the more unnerving performances in "Return of the Jedi." Up until the Rancor’s death-by-door scene, audiences had no reason to perceive the beast as anything but a bloodthirsty killer. But Malakili’s horror-stricken face and tear-filled eyes make us question whether this gruesome beast was really so gruesome after all.
1. Max Rebo and the Jizz Wailers
"Return of the Jedi"
A blue alien elephant leader of a space band called the Jizz Wailers, Max Rebo was the most colorful monster in Jabba’s Palace of weirdos, and we love him and his weird keyboard to this day.
PHOTO: Disney
50. Salacious B. Crumb
"Return of the Jedi"
Possibly one of the strangest creatures in the entire "Star Wars" universe, this weird little guy — described as a monkey-lizard — is Jabba the Hutt’s jester. One the best parts of "Return of the Jedi" is when Jabba’s sand yacht Khetanna explodes, forever silencing that horrible, horrible laugh.
PHOTO: LucasFilm
49. Chairman Papanoida
"Revenge of the Sith"
. Let’s move on.
PHOTO: Disney
48. Yaddle
"The Phantom Menace"
A female of Yoda’s species. This should be a much bigger deal than her appearance in "The Phantom Menace" suggests. Unfortunately we still don’t know the name of Yoda’s species.
PHOTO: Disney
47. Kabe
"A New Hope"
This little bat dude wants that drink so bad.
PHOTO: Lucas Film/Disney
46. Temiri Blagg aka Broom Boy
"The Last Jedi"
Temiri Blagg doesn’t do much but sweep in "The Last Jedi," but it’s how he sweeps that’s the most important thing. In the last scene of the film, Blagg is shown Force-pulling a broom and staring up to the stars. Who knows if we’ll see this kid again — probably not — but it’s a fitting end after watching the passing of a Jedi master who was once much like Blagg himself.
45. Major Bren Derlin
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Sometimes you wanna to go where every Jedi knows your name.
PHOTO: Disney
44. Logray
"Return of the Jedi"
People like Wicket but others were way more into Logray. He’s the Ewok who’s bossing everyone around, and he has a cool hat and staff.
PHOTO: Disney
43. Tion Medon
"Revenge of the Sith"
Tion Medon looks more evil than Darth Maul and Emperor Palpatine put together. But in "Revenge of the Sith," George Lucas pulls a fast one and reveals that Medon — who’s face looks like death itself — is actually a good guy, giving The Republic a heads-up about General Grievous’ whereabouts.
PHOTO: Disney
42. E-3P0
"The Empire Strikes Back"
We only see this C-3P0 lookalike for a brief second, saying, “E chu ta” before disappearing off-screen, but he’s got droid sass, and honey, and we want more of it. Although we know that the phrase is Huttese, we don’t know what it says. But a "Star Wars" phrase book, written by actual sound designer Ben Burtt, says that the phrase is too obscene to translate. We’ll just leave it at that.
41. Dianoga
"A New Hope"
Though Dianogas only exist in the "Star Wars" universe, this creature made some fans nervous to swim in oceans for a bit ... just like the shark in "Jaws."
PHOTO: Disney
40. Yarael Poof
"The Phantom Menace"
That sure is one long neck!
PHOTO: Disney
39. Labria
"A New Hope"
You know that guy in the Mos Eisley Cantina who looks like the devil? Well, his real name is Kardue'sai'Malloc and he’s "The Butcher of Montellian Serat," aka one bad dude. His species is Devaronian, and he might have murdered tons of people when he was an army captain. But 19 years after the Battle of Yavin, Boba Fett eventually captured him and turned him over to the Devarons, leading to his eventual death by being eaten alive. Also, that quick glance at the camera? Super creepy.
PHOTO: Lucas Film
38. MSE-6 Mouse Droid
"A New Hope"
Fans have wondered about the actual use of this Death Star droid for years. Supposedly it can deliver and repair things, though the design of the droid would suggest it’s bad at both. Maybe the most intriguing thing about MSE-6 is that it can feel fear.
37. TT-8L/Y7 gatekeeper droid
"Return of the Jedi"
We don't really know what this gatekeeper is saying to C-3Po and R2-D2, all we know is that it's sassy — and we love it.
PHOTO: Disney
36. Dead Red Five
"Rogue One"
We all know that Luke’s call sign during the attack against the original Death Star is Red 5, which means the Red 5 pilot in "Rogue One," which takes places only moments before the opening scene of "A New Hope," isn’t going to make it out of this scrap alive. But hey, at least his call sign will become famous.
35. GA-97
"The Force Awakens"
We're not sure what it is about this little guy, but when he pops up during "The Force Awakens" it’s hard not to crack a smile. Whether it’s the fact that his mouth is so obviously a Shure microphone or that he’s overall just a walking junkbot, he’s a favorite member of the Resistance.
PHOTO: Lucas Films
34. Jobin
"The Empire Strikes Back"
You never actually see Jobin in any of the "Star Wars" films, but you do hear him. He’s the guy who says, “Imperial troops have entered the base. Imperial troops have en—” (at about 1:01 in the clip above).
Turns out he’s actually the son of Mon Mothma, the leader of the Rebellion. Unfortunately, Vader kills him during the assault on Hoth.
33. Teedo
"The Force Awakens"
Just a weird desert lizard thing scavenging Jakku on his cybernetic pack animal.
PHOTO: Disney
32. Cornelius Evazan and Ponda Baba
"Rogue One/A New Hope"
This murderous duo created the very first time we saw the devastating effects of a lightsaber. Ponda Baba sacrificed his arm for that moment, and we thank him — and his ugly companion — for their service.
PHOTO: Disney
31. Paodok’Draba’Takat Sap’De’Rekti Nik’Linke’Ti’ Ki’Vef’Nik’NeSevef’Li’Kek aka Pao
"Rogue One"
His name might be a mouthful, but this little guy from "Rogue One" is the only non-human on the team that assaults the Imperial base on Scarif. Plus, he looks awesome.
PHOTO: Disney
30. Garindan Ezz Zavor
"A New Hope"
Also known as Long Snout, this imperial spy always stuck out in our my mind as one of the more sinister-looking creatures in the "Star Wars" universe. In "The Force Awakens," The First Order agent feels like a callback, but you can never forget the original.
PHOTO: Disney
29. Nopetroopers
"The Force Awakens"
In the original trilogy and the sequels, Stormtroopers didn’t appear to have the highest intelligence. Not so in "The Force Awakens." When Kylo Ren rages at his computer console, they go back the way they came. Good thinking.
PHOTO: Disney
28. Ben Quadinaros
"The Phantom Menace"
The pod race is filled with all kinds of crazy characters, but we really identify with Ben Quadinaros. Who hasn’t gotten in their vehicle only to have it refuse to turn over? Maybe you’re late for work and you start pounding the steering wheel in frustration. Luckily, the similarities end there, as Quadinaros’ conundrum ends explosively.
PHOTO: Lucas Film
27. Lobot
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Famously stoic and famously bald, Lobot is a human aided with a cyborg construct attached to his head. He doesn’t say much as Lando’s head of security, but his backstory .
PHOTO: Disney
26. Kit Fisto
"Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith"
Although one of cooler Jedi in the original expanded universe, Kit Fisto doesn’t get too much screen time. But the little he gets is the best.
PHOTO: Disney
25. Lor San Tekka
"The Force Awakens"
We only get one scene with Lor San Tekka before he’s cut down in cold blood by Kylo Ren, but his brief appearance is one of the more intriguing moments of the entire film. Not to mention he’s portrayed by none other than Max von Sydow.
PHOTO: Disney
24. Admiral Conan Antonio Motti
"A New Hope"
His lack of faith was disturbing.
23. Paige Tico
"The Last Jedi"
We learn a lot about Paige Tico through her sister, Rose, in "The Last Jedi," but her story is cut criminally short during the bombing run against The First Order’s Fulminatrix. Her heroic sacrifice sets the tone for the rest of the dark and blood-drenched film.
22. Sidon Ithano
"The Force Awakens"
We hardly see this guy at all, but he looks so cool. Sidon Ithano —also known as the Red Raider, the Blood Buccaneer and the Crimson Corsair — is equally parts Boba Fett and Imperial Guard and 100 percent awesome. Fun fact: His helmet comes from the same race of people as General Grievous (before he became a cyborg) but Sidon is actually a race "Star Wars" fans have yet to see.
PHOTO: Disney
21. Exogorth
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Although a very large presence in "The Empire Strikes Back," you only actually see the Exogorth for just a second. But this massive space worm provides one of the more otherworldly moments in the entire "Star Wars" franchise.
20. Dak Ralter
"The Empire Strikes Back"
“I feel like I can take on the Empire myself.” Oh, Dak, you really can’t. Unfortunately, Luke’s enthusiastic gunner on Hoth wouldn’t live long after saying those words.
PHOTO: Disney
19. Plo Koon
"Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith"
Although he receives a heroes' send-off after being killed in "Revenge of the Sith," Plo Koon could've single-handedly redeemed the entire Jedi Order if wasn’t for that whole ... fostering the emergence of the Empire thing.
PHOTO: Disney
18. Fi'Grin Dan and the Modal Nodes
"A New Hope"
Yes, the "Star Wars" band. Great, now we all have the Cantina song stuck in our heads.
17. Jek Tono Porkins
"A New Hope"
Flying under the call sign "Red 6" during the attack on the first Death Star, Porkins became a fan favorite because of his large frame packed inside such a tiny cockpit. Despite his untimely death during the assault — one of the first sacrifices of the battle — Porkins proves that heroes comes in all shapes and sizes.
PHOTO: Disney
16. EV-9D9
"Return of the Jedi"
Although "Star Wars" fans know this bot as the sadistic taskmasker at Jabba’s Palace (who is perplexingly torturing a robot ... can droids feel pain?), EV-9D9’s story is actually much more complex. Turns out, 9D9 started life as a simple, peace-loving moisture vaporator mechanic, but a programming error gave it a thirst for robot torture.
PHOTO: Disney
15. Admiral Piett
"The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
Admiral Piett watched as his superiors, one by one, fell victim to Vader’s bottomless rage. But Piett — at least until his death during The Battle of Endor — was the first officer smart enough to serve Vader and survive. Although it probably helped that Vader got a bit soft toward the end of the original trilogy after learning of his son’s existence, but we’ll still call it a win for Piett.
PHOTO: Disney
14. Aunt Beru
"Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith," "A New Hope"
We can all admit Uncle Owen is kind of a jerk. Not Aunt Beru — she gets it.
PHOTO: Disney
13. FN-2199 aka TR-8R
"The Force Awakens"
Famously referred to as TR-8R because of his line, “traitor,” in FN-2199, we finally get a Stormtrooper — apart from Finn — who can actually fight. It was a surprising scene and some much-needed depth to a class of characters who’ve served little more than canon fodder for our galaxy-traipsing heroes.
12. GNK Power Droid
"A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
Basically a trash can that says “gonk” all day. Brilliant.
PHOTO: Disney
11. Mamow Nadon aka Hammerhead
"A New Hope"
The Mos Eisley Cantina is responsible for many characters on this list, but Mamow Nadon, also known as Hammerhead, might just be our favorite. Compared to most of the other creatures in this “wretched hive of scum and villainy,” Nadon was so freakishly unlike anything humanoid that he became immediately intriguing despite his short screen time.
Strangely enough, he received , despite playing an almost imperceptibly small role.
PHOTO: Disney
10. The Skull of Bidlo Kwerve
"Return of the Jedi"
Who knew that the skull used to inevitably kill the dreaded Rancor was actually the end of the epic tale of Bidlo Kwerve. With a surprisingly robust backstory, Bidlo jockeyed with Bib Fortuna to become Jabba’s majordomo, but ultimately meeting the grisly fate as the Rancor’s first victim. Years later — in the hands of Luke Skywalker — Bidlo got his revenge.
PHOTO: Lucas Film
9. Head-Bumping Stormtrooper
"A New Hope"
Sometimes being a Stormtrooper is tough.
8. Biggs Darklighter
"A New Hope"
Biggs gets a bit more screen time than most on this list, but we don’t get much time to spend with him — or his sweet mustache — before he becomes a casualty in the war against the Empire. But in "A New Hope" deleted scenes, Darklighter tells his best friend Luke Skywalker of his plan to defect to the Rebellion, making Darklighter a much more important force in Luke’s life than his abrupt end suggests.
7. Willrow Hood
"The Empire Strikes Back"
Maybe one of the biggest cult favorites in the original Star Wars trilogy, Hood is seen for only a second or two during the evacuation of Hoth. It’s in this very short snippet where it appears that Hood is desperately trying to save...an ice cream maker?
PHOTO: Lucas Film
6. IG-88
"The Empire Strikes Back"
The Empire’s entire collection of bounty hunters are great characters and could all be on this list, but besides Boba Fett, none of them get nearly enough screen time. Although we’d be first in line for a Zuckus standalone film, it’s IG-88 that we love even more.
Although eagled-eyed fans can actually spot IG-88's discarded remains in the Ugnaught boiler room on Cloud City (touché Boba Fett), the IG-88 model we see in the films is actually only one of three others who all share the same hive mind. The original creation, IG-88A would live on to cause more havoc.
PHOTO: Disney
5. Nien Nunb
"Return of the Jedi," "The Force Awakens," "The Last Jedi"
Nien Nunb is one of the most beloved minor characters in "Star Wars" history. His appearance in "Return of the Jedi" sort of comes from nowhere but he’s a welcome addition as Lando’s co-pilot.
The coolest thing about Nien Nunb is that he’s still fighting some 30 years later. He helps take out the Starkiller Base and even escapes Crait in "The Last Jedi." Soon his story will by more epic than most of the "Star Wars’" main characters.
PHOTO: Disney
4. R5-D4 aka Skippy
"A New Hope"
Famous for having a bad motivator, R5-D4 is oft-forgotten character who could very well be considered the savior of the galaxy. Without his timely malfunction — which some "Star Wars" tales describe as evidence of Skippy’s force-sensitive nature — R2-D2 and C-3PO would have been forever separated, changing the course of galactic events forever.
PHOTO: Disney
3. Wedge Antilles
"A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
Possibly the most famous pilot in the entire galaxy, Wedge Antilles is the X-Wing pilot who never quits. He’s Luke’s wingman during the first run against the Death Star, he took down an AT-AT at Hoth and fired the first shots that eventually blew up the Second Death Star. That makes him the only pilot to fight both orbiting death weapons — not bad at all.
PHOTO: Disney
2. Malakili
"Return of the Jedi"
Malakili, the Rancor keeper, delivers one of the more unnerving performances in "Return of the Jedi." Up until the Rancor’s death-by-door scene, audiences had no reason to perceive the beast as anything but a bloodthirsty killer. But Malakili’s horror-stricken face and tear-filled eyes make us question whether this gruesome beast was really so gruesome after all.
1. Max Rebo and the Jizz Wailers
"Return of the Jedi"
A blue alien elephant leader of a space band called the Jizz Wailers, Max Rebo was the most colorful monster in Jabba’s Palace of weirdos, and we love him and his weird keyboard to this day.
PHOTO: Disney
Because not everyone can be the one that saves (or destroys) the galaxy
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Everyone knows Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo and Darth Vader, but what about E-3P0, Ben Quadinaros, GA-87, or Paodok’Draba’Takat Sap’De’Rekti Nik’Linek’Ti’ Ki’Vef’Nik’NeSevef’Li’Kek?
These are 50 cinematic "Star Wars" characters who might have not gotten a lot of screen time, but we still love them anyway.