From the moment that Darth Vader made his appearance in 1977’s A New Hope, it was clear that Star Wars would feature some of the best villains in cinema. And over the decades, the franchise has introduced the like of the tattooed Darth Maul, a pair of Mandalorian bounty hunters and a spiritual successor to Lord Vader himself.
With that said, however, the Star Wars films don’t always treat their antagonists as well as they should. In fact, just about every villain in a galaxy far, far away suffers some kind of on-screen humiliation.
Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace
Darth Maul might be the best-looking villain in the entire Star Wars franchise, but unfortunately for him, he exited the galactic stage just as quickly as he entered. After being set up as a force to be reckoned with, his ambitions were cut short when he was bisected by Obi-Wan in The Phantom Menace after the killing Qui-Gon Jin. But while he was presumed dead. Maul has since made a return in multiple animated series and seen some of his potential come to fruition.
Nute Gunray and Rune Haako in Any of the Star Wars Prequels
Nute Gunray and Rune Haako, two Neimoidian Trade Federation leaders introduced in The Phantom Menace, were hardly worth their weight as villains. They were simple putty in the hands of Darth Sidious, and their humiliation lasted for the majority of the prequels. Any time they were on screen, it seemed like they were sniveling and apologizing for one mistake or another. In truth, it's surprising Sidious didn’t have them killed quicker than he did.
Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones
Jango Fett was an icon in the Star Wars galaxy, being a Mandalorian with a reputation and having of the most successful bounty hunting careers in history. And that's not even touching on how he became the face of the Republic's Clone Army. But even with all of that build-up, Jango met his untimely -- and somewhat laughable -- demise with one swift saber stroke from Master Windu in Attack of the Clones' climactic battle.
Count Dooku in Attack of the Clones
Count Dooku was the polar opposite of Darth Maul. Where the Zabrak was acrobatic and otherworldly, Dooku was reserved and relatable. And while he was ingloriously beheaded by Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith, that isn't Dooku’s worst moment. No, his most embarrassing sequence came when he awkwardly escaped the Geonosian arena in Attack of the Clones on a speeder bike. It wasn't exactly a dignified look.
General Grievous in Revenge of the Sith
While canonical Grievous isn't as formidable as his character in Legends continuity, Revenge of the Sith doesn't do him any favors. After delivering his iconic “General Kenobi” line, the cyborg monstrosity is quickly bested by the Jedi, then attempts to flee, but how he chooses to do so is rather unbecoming. When he has thoroughly given up, the General transforms into his spider-like form and scurries off in obvious embarrassment.
Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story
Dryden Vos was leader of the criminal organization Crimson Dawn during the waning days of the Clone Wars, and allied himself with Maul, making him a formidable force in the galaxy. However, his reign was destined to end, and his most humiliating moment was also his final one, in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Just when he was certain that Q'ira was going to kill Han Solo, she attacked him instead, only to miss. While that gave Vos plenty of time to defend himself, he still failed miserably, and in mere seconds, Q'ira was able to kill him with his own weapons, custom-made Kyuzo petars.
Director Orson Krennic in Rogue One
Rogue One's Director Orson Krennic is the stereotypical overconfident, arrogant bureaucratic villain. He loves to order around people who are below him on the pecking order, but it becomes abundantly clear when he is out of his depth. The most notable occurrence of that was when he's summoned by Darth Vader to his castle on Mustafar. When Krennic arrives, he is quaking in his boots and sweating bullets before he presses his luck by requesting that Vader put in a good word for him with the Emperor. Ignoring the request, Vader gives Krennic a poignant reminder to “not choke on his aspirations” as he Force-chokes the officer charged with delivering Palpatine his new superweapon.
Darth Vader in A New Hope
Vader may be the original Star Wars villain, but he also had his fair share of embarrassing moments, including in A New Hope. Like Anakin Skywalker, Vader was an excellent pilot, and just before Luke destroyed the first Death Star, he was about to gun his son down and permanently finish off the Rebellion. But Han Solo comes to the rescue in the Millennium Falcon, shoots Vader’s Advanced TIE Fighter and sent him careening off into space, leaving the Sith Lord to watch as the Empire's most powerful weapon is destroyed.
Grand Moff Tarkin in A New Hope
Admiral Tarkin was instantly a commanding presence in A New Hope, mostly because even the likes of Vader listened to him. But it's always great when villains eat their words, and just before the Death Star blows up, a subordinate warns Tarkin that the battle station was vulnerable to the Rebel attack. To that, Tarkin responded, "Evacuate, in our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances." Well, it seems like Tarkin actually underestimated the Rebels because, moments later, he was killed when Luke destroyed the Death Star.
Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi
When the mighty Jabba the Hutt attempt to execute Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca fed to the sarlacc in Return of the Jedi, Luke springs his escape plan. In the ensuing chaos, the chained Princess Leia is able to get behind the slug-like Jabba and strangle him to death. Both his strength and his guards fail him.
Boba Fett in Return of the Jedi
Much like his father, Boba Fett was a highly esteemed bounty hunter with a reputation for explosive overkill. However, also like his father, he suffered an ignominious fate. His potential fell short when Boba fell into the Great Pit of Carkoon, to what was presumed to be his death. Boba Fett did survive his stint inside the Sarlacc and has returned to make good on what he couldn’t in Return of the Jedi, but he still may never live this moment down.
Captain Phasma in The Force Awakens
Captain Phasma never lived up to her chrome potential, but her most embarrassing moment was in The Force Awakens when she chose to lower the shields on Starkiller Base. And to make matters worse, Finn was able to have a good time at her expense as he gave his former superior orders at blaster point. This moment with Phasma just goes to shows how unreliable stormtroopers are, even if they're covered in chrome armor.
General Armitage Hux in The Last Jedi
General Hux is being pulled in too many directions for most of the Sequel Trilogy. He's being commanded one thing by Snoke, while Kylo Ren typically gives him separate orders, and all the while, he secretly has his own ideas about defecting. But his most embarrassing moment -- and probably the one that pushed him to commit treason -- was when Snoke literally drags him around on the floor with the Force after losing a ship to the Resistance fleet in The Last Jedi.
Supreme Leader Snoke in The Last Jedi
Snoke seems to fit the bill for most Star Wars villains -- he has a massive build-up, only to be killed unceremoniously by a less powerful Force user. This moment came in The Last Jedi when Kylo Ren outsmarted his master. While Snoke saw Kylo turning a lightsaber to strike down his "true enemy," believing it to be Rey, he was looking at the wrong saber and is impaled by the one sitting right next to him.
Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi
Kylo Ren might be the least villainous villain in Star Wars, just because he just tries so hard. But while he throws numerous temper tantrums in the Sequel Trilogy, his most embarrassing moment is in The Last Jedi. While still on board his starship, he sees Luke Skywalker on Crait, has an absolute moment and orders his subordinates to obliterate his old master. But even after his army commits an extraordinary amount of firepower on the Jedi, Kylo was still not satisfied and decides to go down to face Luke himself.
Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi
Emperor Palpatine had a good run -- he destroyed the Republic, wiped out the Jedi and established himself as the greatest power in the galaxy. However, like every other villain, Palpatine had his moments. A couple of these embarrassing instances were caused because he seemed to have a tough time controlling his Force lighting. In fact, every trilogy in the Skywalker Saga ends with Palpatine electrocuting a Jedi, only to somehow end up shocking himself in the process. It first happened with Mace Windu, then again when Vader picked him up to save Luke and finally when Rey redirected his power right back at him.