Star Wars is a cultural institution, and the Original Trilogy is the main reason for that. It's rare that something is able to capture the imagination of so many and be unequivocally loved even decades after its release. The Original Trilogy succeeded for many reasons, but a main hallmark of it was its pulse-pounding action. Each movie kept audiences on the edge of their seats by throwing the heroes into life-or-death situations.
The heroes of the Original Trilogy were always getting into and out of scrapes that should have killed them. It's easy to forget just how many times in those movies everyone should have been dead, and the Rebellion lost.
10 The Docking Bay 94 Shootout Should Have Ended Badly
The Original Trilogy remains solid throughout, with Episode IV: A New Hope kicking things off with undeniable quality. The movie's action quotient takes an upswing with Luke, Obi-Wan, and the droids arriving at Mos Eisley, where the movie has its first big action set piece. Luke and company come to Docking Bay 94 to board the Millennium Falcon when stormtroopers show up and attack.
The shootout begins when the heroes are out in the open, with no cover whatsoever. Stormtroopers are supposed to be crack shots, as established earlier in the movie, so the fact that they couldn't hit anyone was very lucky for the heroes.
9 Luke Should Have Died More Than Once At The Battle Of Yavin
The Battle of Yavin is the final battle of ANH, as the Red and Gold Squadrons try to take out the Death Star before it can destroy the Rebel base on Yavin IV. Luke gets the kill shot, with assistance from Han and Chewie, but he should have died long before that. Every other X-Wing gets pulped by a few shots, but he survives a direct hit to the engine and R2 getting taken out.
When Vader locks on to his tail, the fact that the greatest starfighter ace of the Clone Wars has to wait to lock on to him is laughable. If anyone could fire a kill shot without targeting help, it's Vader. Han and Chewie save the day, but Luke should have been dust before that.
8 Surviving Jabba's Palace Was A Massive Bit Of Good Luck
Jabba's palace from Episode VI: Return of the Jedi contained so many moments where everyone should have died. For example, why not just execute Leia and Han after she freed the smuggler from carbonite? Jabba is theatrical, and "it's a movie" seems to be the adequate answer, but it would have been the smartest thing to do. The rancor easily could have killed Luke, since he didn't have a weapon.
The execution scene hinged upon Luke catching his lightsaber after R2 launched it, but what if the wind had shifted? Did Luke have the control to pull it to him with the Force? Could he have done it before a guard pushed him into the Sarlacc? Without that one bit of luck, they all would have died there at the Sarlacc pit.
7 The Empire Should Have Just Executed Leia At Some Point
Getting the Death Star plans back and finding the Rebel base was the Empire's mission in ANH. They interrogated Princess Leia, the queen of strong Star Wars women, while she was on the Death Star, using all sorts of methods. She was able to resist the mind probe, but that doesn't mean that she couldn't have accidentally been killed. It happens in interrogations often, especially with fascists like the Empire.
On top of that, the fact that Vader didn't just kill her in a fit of rage at some point was surprising. Vader was known for taking his frustrations out on everyone around him. Leia was a sassy person not giving him what he wanted, so Vader crushing her trachea with the Force was definitely within the realm of possibility.
6 The Emperor Could Have Just Broke Luke's Neck With The Force
The Emperor is the most powerful Star Wars character fans saw onscreen. His presence in ROTJ chilled fans to their core, and his role in the movie as its final boss was perfect. During the Battle of Endor, he pits Luke and Vader against each other, battling it out for who would be his apprentice.
Luke gave up the fight, and the Emperor began to torment him with Force lightning. At this point, the Emperor basically knew Luke never would have turned to the Sith. He could have easily just snapped his neck with the Force and been done with it.
5 The Millennium Falcon Shouldn't Have Escaped The Executor At Bespin
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is full of smart twists. The movie has the Empire win at every turn, subverting what viewers expect. However, the Empire loses in the end. The Millennium Falcon, containing Luke, Leia, Lando, Chewie, and the droids, is escaping Bespin with the Super Star Destroyer Executor in hot pursuit, and the hyperdrive is broken. Then the tide turns.
Vader wasn't trying to destroy the ship, but the Executor has enough firepower and fighters to overwhelm one modified freighter that needed repair time. Use TIEs to slow down its escape and cut off open areas, pulp the engines with turbolasers, and then tractor beam it in. Vader gets Luke, everyone else gets dead.
4 Han And Leia Should Have Been Killed Getting Back Into The Shield Bunker On Endor
ROTJ isn't as highly rated as other Star Wars movies, but it definitely has its share of times everyone should have died. One of those moments comes toward the tail end of the ground portion of the Battle of Endor. Han and Leia are trying to break back into the shield bunker on Endor when Leia is hit by a blaster bolt. Han stops what he's doing to help her, and stormtroopers come up behind them.
However, instead of gunning them down, the stormtroopers tell them to freeze. It's such an asinine moment because those two stormtroopers should have killed them right there, taking out the leaders of the Rebel ground forces.
3 The Battle Of Hoth Should Have Killed Everyone
The Battle Of Hoth is the first big action scene in TESB, and it's easily the most beloved of the original trilogy, having been brought to life in more video games than any other. It also contains multiple moments when everyone should have died. Luke survived his snowspeeder taking a hit and the subsequent crash, then somehow got back to his X-Wing on foot.
However, why didn't the Empire just bomb the place into nothing after the shield went down? They sent in AT-ATs to take it down, controlled the sky, and didn't just bombard the base? That was the entire point of the ground battle.
2 Greedo Could Have Taken Han Before They Got Back To The Table
Greedo shooting first is a controversial Special Edition change, but it never should have gotten that far. Greedo didn't have to sit down with Han, which was his first mistake. He had the element of surprise and had Solo dead to rights. He could have shot him immediately since Jabba still would have paid for him dead.
Even if he did have to sit with Han, he could have just told him to keep his hands on the table. Greedo was holding all the cards and even shot first from basically point-blank range. The fact he didn't kill Han is his own stupid fault.
1 Vader Should Have Just Killed Luke And Been Done With It
Vader's lightsaber was a Jedi killing machine, which made his duel against Luke in TESB so scary for fans. He had the young Jedi beat in every way, but was trying to take him alive. There are multiple scenes where Vader is basically just playing with Luke, testing his skill to see if he's worthy to survive.
However, Luke could have just as easily been killed. He was half-trained and had very little lightsaber combat experience. He could have made a mistake and gotten himself cut down. Vader might not have been trying to kill him, but it still could have happened.