Lucas FilmThe force is strong with this one. Star Wars fans have named Han Solo the best character of the popular franchise.
The scruffy-looking nerf herder has been voted the most popular character out of the multitude of weird and wonderful monsters, heroes and villains, that make up the galaxy far, far away.
The partner in crime of Princess Leia and father to Kylo-Ren, portrayed by the inimitable Harrison Ford, came top of the poll, beating competition from the beloved Chewbacca and Jedi Master Yoda.
Lucas FilmThe popular bleeping bot R2-D2 and bad guy Darth Vader completed the top five. Jar Jar is, obviously, nowhere to be seen but a lot could change as the dawn of the Porgs rises.
Shockingly Leia is only eighth in the last of all-time great Star Wars warriors.
Because you have to separate good and evil the voters said their top five baddies were Darth Vader, Jabba the Hutt, Darth Maul, Boba Fett then Kylo Ren, Solo’s own son.
Lucas FilmThe top five goodies are, evidently, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, who beat Yoda at fourth, and finally, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It also emerged the average Star Wars fan has spent 63 hours and 48 minutes watching films from the series – the equivalent of more than two days of glorious cinematic escapism.
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back was also named as the most watched film, with the Imperial army’s AT-AT Walkers standing strong in movie-goers’ minds, despite their bandy legs.
Lucas FilmDean Cross, Film Content Manager at Vue, which commissioned the research, said:
Star Wars continues to be a sell-out success as we prepare to welcome hordes of fans through our doors over the coming weeks.
Our research revealed Star Wars is the favourite film for over a third of the public and we’re thrilled to help fans from all generations enjoy the latest instalment.
Lucas FilmThe study of 2,000 Star Wars fans named the iconic moment where Darth Vader reveals his true identity and relationship with Luke Skywalker as the best movie moment.
Rightly, they voted the famous ‘I am your Father’ scene is the greatest moment, probably because that single line changed the franchise forever, though Vader never said: ‘Luke, I am your father’.
Staying on target, second place went to the Death Star attack in A New Hope followed by the Battle of Hoth from The Empire Strikes Back.
Lucas FilmThe pod race in The Phantom Menace and the scene in the Cantina Bar, in A New Hope, where Luke and Obi-Wan first encounter Hans Solo and Chewbacca completed the top five.
When it comes to Star Wars droids, R2-D2, unsurprisingly, grabs the spot for top bot, with C-3PO and BB-8 following close behind.
The Millennium Falcon was voted as the best starship, with the X-Wing Starfighter and Star Destroyer taking a back seat for second and third place.
Lucas FilmThe research, conducted via OnePoll.com, also revealed after The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and A New Hope were the most popular episodes.
And each of the top three film choices have been watched by Star Wars enthusiasts five times, probably to pass the time as we wait for The Last Jedi.
You can watch the trailer below:
[ooyala player_id=”5df2ff5a35d24237905833bd032cd5d8" auto=”true” width=”860" height=”360" autoplay=”true” pcode=”twa2oyOnjiGwU8-cvdRQbrVTiR2l” code=”11ZGh5YzE65g_bKMfmfOxnq2KSFKe3Ya”]
Almost half of film buffs have had a movie ‘binge’, with the average Star Wars splurge lasting four films – with a typical running time of nine hours, and three in ten say the space fantasy films are their favourite of all the movies ever.
One in ten have even watched the films in order all in one sitting, as opposed to the order they were released, and four in ten agree this is the best order to enjoy the films in, over other (incorrect) theories.
It also emerged almost one third have tried to get their kids into the film series, with the majority seeing their first film between the ages of seven and 12.
Lucas FilmBut while they have seen the Star Wars films over and over again, The Breakfast Club, It’s a Wonderful Life and The Goonies are among the cult classics they are least likely to have seen.
The 20 favourite Star Wars characters, from the top are: Han Solo, Chewbacca, Yoda, R2-D2, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in 10th place.
Bringing up the rear are, BB-8, followed by Jabba the Hut, Boba Fett, Wicket the Ewok, Jar Jar Binks (seriously), then Darth Maul, Rey, The Emperor, Admiral Ackbar and finally, Padme Amidala.
Lucas FilmWith the second instalment of the third sequence released this weekend, the tops spots are all to play for, as Rey makes her journey into Jedi-dom.
Watch this space.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.