The Star Wars universe is populated with characters of all sorts, from noble Jedi heroes such as Luke Skywalker to arch-villains such as Darth Sidious, but it's not just Force users who can be thrilling and compelling characters. There's also the matter of the rogue Han Solo, who has had his fair share of adventures across the galaxy. He's done well for himself, for the most part.
But Han Solo isn't perfect, and he has suffered his fair share of mishaps and accidents, many of which were his own fault. Sometimes, Han failed due to betrayal or unexpected circumstances, and other times, he simply made the wrong call or took a risk that didn't pay off in the end. When were ten particular instances when Han Solo failed to get the job done in the Star Wars movies, ranked in terms of consequences, or how badly Han misjudged the situation?
10 When Han Failed To Deliver Promised Goods To Jabba
This is something that happened behind the scenes in A New Hope. When Han Solo and his friend Chewbacca were introduced in the Mos Eisley cantina, Han was already in trouble, since he had ditched his precious cargo once an Imperial star destroyer got too close. He is a rather cautious smuggler.
Unfortunately, this infuriated Jabba, who sent the Rodian bounty hunter Greedo after him. Han shot Greedo, then sweet-talked Jabba the Hutt into giving him just one more chance to make a proper delivery. That was a close one.
9 When Han Declined To Join The Rebel Alliance Right Away
Han Solo helped save the day aboard the first Death Star, and with the Millennium Falcon, he evacuated Luke and the others and evaded Imperial forces that pursued them. Han arrived at the Rebel Alliance's base on Yavin IV, but Han failed to realize that now was the time to be a part of something larger than himself.
By now, Han is a key figure in the fight against the Galactic Empire, and he erroneously thought that he could just skip away and resume his smuggling career. He proved himself wrong when he joined the battle of the Death Star at the last moment and saved Luke's X-Wing from Darth Vader's wrath.
8 When Han Got Captured By Ewoks & Needed Luke's Help
During Return of the Jedi, Han and his allies began their mission on the forest moon of Endor, only to stumble into a trap. The Ewok tribe had set up a dead animal as bait, and Han was too late to stop Chewbacca from seizing it. The gang ended up in a net and were taken back to the village.
Han got himself trussed up on a wooden rod, and he nearly got roasted alive as dinner. He couldn't possibly talk his way out of this, and he was only saved when Luke levitated C-3PO to dazzle the Ewoks and convince them to listen to that droid's orders to free Han.
7 When Han Lost A Game Of Sabacc To Lando Calrissian
At one point in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Han Solo and his allies needed to raid Kessel to get coaxium, and they needed a good ship for the job. A certain Lando Calrissian had such a ship, the Millennium Falcon, and Han challenged him to a high-stakes game of Sabacc (a card game) to acquire it.
Han was a good sabacc player, but Lando was better, especially since he had a wrist-mounted device to cheat if he needed to. Han lost the game to Lando, and if Lando weren't so generous, Han never would have boarded the Millennium Falcon at all. Luck is on his side after all.
6 When Han Couldn't Talk His Way Out Of Trouble With The Gauvian Death Gang & Kanjiklub
During the events of The Force Awakens, Han Solo was in trouble once again. Jabba may be dead, but Han has made other enemies, including gangs like Kanjiklub and the Gauvian Death Gang, and they are not in the mood for excuses.
By the time the Force-sensitive Rey and Finn met Han, those two gangs had cornered Han aboard his large cargo ship, and Han completely failed to talk his way out of it. He also failed to hide the droid BB-8, and only with Rey's and Finn's help did Han get himself out of this bind.
5 When Han Failed To Help Qi'ra Flee Corellia With Him
Early in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Han and his friend Qi'Ra fled the local crime gangs and aimed to escape Corellia, but they were being pursued in the spaceport, and time was running out. Han barely bribed his way through the gate, and Qi'ra was seized.
Han was desperate to bring Qi'ra with him, but he barely even had time to escape himself, let alone bring Qi'ra with him. He was devastated and had to leave Corellia alone. If Qi'ra had made it with him, things might have turned out much better for Han.
4 When Han Failed To Arrive At Alderaan
By no means was this failure actually Han Solo's fault, but it still counts. Han's main job for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke was to discreetly ferry them to the peaceful world of Alderaan, so they could figure out a way to find and rescue Princess Leia Organa, who needed Obi-Wan's help.
Alas, the planet had already been destroyed, and Han was shocked to see a massive asteroid field where Alderaan had once been. He quickly realized what was happening, but that didn't help him escape the Death Star's tractor beams. The next leg of the adventure was about to begin.
3 When Han Failed To Fix The Millennium Falcon's Hyperdrive To Escape The Hoth System
The Rebel base on Hoth fell when a huge Imperial assault force arrived, and Luke Skywalker escaped with his X-Wing. The Rebel fleet also escaped once it made the jump to hyperspace, but Han Solo fell behind since his own hyperdrive was busted.
Han and Chewbacca had been working hard to fix it in the Hoth base, but the job wasn't done, and an Imperial fleet kept chasing the Falcon all over the place, since Han was still unable to make the jump. Leia was more than a little exasperated when the hyperdrive failed yet again.
2 When Han Failed To Complete The Coaxium Heist On Vandor
Han Solo eventually teamed up with Tobias Beckett and his crew, and the job, on behalf of Crimson Dawn, was to raid a coaxium train and make off with the goods. It was a daring but feasible plan, and up to a point, Han was doing a fine job. Then the Cloud-Riders arrived, and things went south.
Despite Beckett's protests, Han dropped the stolen cargo at the last moment, and the Cloud-Riders had their way with the train. Han had cost Beckett dearly, including the life of his wife Val. Han was in deep trouble, and he was lucky that the crime lord Dryden Vos gave him and Beckett another chance. Very lucky.
1 When Han Solo Failed To Turn Kylo Ren Back To The Light Side On Starkiller Base
Han Solo's final act in life was to confront his wayward son, Kylo Ren/Ben Solo on Starkiller base. Han had arrived with Finn to rescue the captive Rey, and as the party was leaving, they came across Kylo Ren, and Han faced his son alone on a narrow bridge.
Han and Leia were certain that there was still good in the boy, and Han made an emotional appeal for Kylo to leave Starkiller Base with him and return to the Light Side. Tragically, Han failed, and he lost his life when Kylo stabbed him and let him fall into the deep chasm below. Later on, though, Han and Leia would be proved right when Kylo really did return to the light side and helped Rey take down Darth Sidious once and for all.