If you had to think of the most loved, most famous movie villain of all time, you would be hard-pressed to look past Star Wars villain Darth Vader. A New Hope introduced him as the meanest, most badass, and most mysterious bad guy ever.
His place in movie history was assured when he became one half of a conversation that was to be one of the biggest plot twists in movie history with the reveal of him being Luke's father. Moreover, by the time Return of the Jedi rolled around he turned out to be the chosen one.
He's right up there with the likes of Ernst Stavro Blofeld from the James Bond franchise, Dracula, Freddy Krueger, and the eponymous Terminator.
Did you ever believe Lord Vader was supposed to be Darth Sidious' apprentice and that they would rule the galaxy together? Betraying your Sith Lord Master must be the ultimate betrayal right? Well, Vader already betrayed the Jedi when he took part in Order 66 so what's one more betrayal? Just add it to the list right? Maybe not…
Palpatine intimates to Anakin during Revenge of the Sith that Darth Sidious killed his master while he slept, so maybe that's what the Sith do to each other – after all, Palpatine also set up Count Dooku as an apprentice only to deliberately set him up so that Anakin Skywalker could behead the poor chap. This was so as to give Anakin a chance to dip his toes into the murky depths of the dark side
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Sure, the prequels introduced Anakin as a screechy, whining idealistic young boy that hates sand, but let's put that aside for now – here are the best Darth Vader quotes – and given he wasn't really one for long inspirational speeches, he sure had a way with words that made him very quotable.
A New Hope
- “I find your lack of faith disturbing” – So said the Dark Lord after appearing to be openly mocked by Officers on board the Death Star. Vader challenges one of them to a force choke competition and, naturally, he went first. It's arguably one of Vader's most famous quotes.
- “When I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the master“ – This was Vader taunting Obi-Wan, his Jedi teacher, and a former friend, just before he killed him in the slowest sword fighter ever.
- “The Force is strong with this one” – Vader was commenting on the skills of an X-Wing pilot that is trying to blow up the Death Star, not realizing he's trying to kill his own son.
Hardly a Sith Lord at the peak of his powers? Surely he could have tapped into the Force on that one? We jest.
The Empire Strikes Back
- “We would be honored if you would join us” – This was Vader mocking Han, Leia, and Chewie when the trap on Cloud City was revealed. It was perhaps the only joke Vader made in the saga other than the one he did as he chokes out Director Krennic in Rogue One.
- “I am altering the deal, pray I do not alter it any further” – Vader told Lando Calrissian exactly how it was from beneath his black helmet. Han was going with Boba Fett and everyone else belonged to Vader.
- “Impressive. Most impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well. You have controlled your fear. Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me” – Vader was praising Luke after he managed to escape his trap with an acrobatic flip.
- “No, I am your father!” – This line revealed one of cinema's greatest plot twists, as it became apparent that Vader was actually Luke Skywalker's old man.
Here's the video:
Here's the full conversation which happened just after the father cut off the son's hand:
Darth Vader: “There is no escape. Don't make me destroy you. Luke, you do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.”
Luke Skywalker: “I'll never join you!”
Vader: “If you only knew the power of the Dark Side. Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.”
Luke: “He told me enough! He told me you killed him!”
Vader: “No. I am your father.”
Luke: “No… no. That's not true. That's impossible!”
Vader: “Search your feelings, you know it to be true!”
Luke: “Noooo! Nooooo!”
Return of the Jedi
- “I hope so for your sake, the Emperor is not as forgiving as I am” – This was the end of Vader's pep talk with the Jerjerrod who has in command of the second Death Star. Was it a slight joke by Vader to encourage the completion of the battle station or merely a statement of fact?
- “Give yourself to the Dark Side. It is the only way you can save your friends. Yes, your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for… sister. So, you have a twin sister. “
- “Your feelings have now betrayed her, too. Obi-Wan was wise to hide her from me. Now his failure is complete. If you will not turn to the Dark Side… then perhaps she will…” – This taunt from the Sith Lord was perhaps not the wisest thing he could have done. While he was trying to enrage Luke enough to open the door to the Dark Side for him, he miscalculated and Luke finally bested him.
- In reply to Luke's “I'll not leave you here. I've got to save you,” Anakin says “You already have, Luke.”
Having proven that he was indeed the chosen one by killing Emperor Palpatine and restoring balance to the Force, Vader perhaps single-handedly* became the worst Sith and greatest Jedi at the same time.
His conversation with Luke is perhaps the most emotional moment of all the Star Wars movies, given the weight behind it.
Revenge of the Sith
Now we come to Revenge of the Sith in which Anakin Skywalker succumbs to the Dark Side and becomes Lord Darth Vader.
When he awakens from his reconstruction after losing his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi his first thought is for his love, whom he apparently thought he was making his most recent “life choices” for:
“Where is Padme? Is she safe? Is she all right?”
Palpatine's answer doesn't impress him much!
“Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!”
Rogue One
Darth Vader was brought back for the Rogue One prequel movie – and, even though he had minimal screen time, his cameo was awesome!
- “Be careful not to choke on your aspirations, Director.”
This was a simple, yet brilliant line in the film.
Director Orsen Krennic was a vainglorious man, who had stopped at nothing to achieve his goal of building the Death Star and thus currying favor with Emperor Palpatine. He had killed the wife of his best friend (Galen) to do so. He was hell-bent on rising the ranks further in the Empire – and then he ran into Darth Vader and in him found a wall of man/machine that hindered his own Imperial March.
Vader then literally choked him as he said the line and we get the wonderful interplay of the classic Darth Vader Force choking a member of his own team which was obviously crushing the advance of Krennic. This makes Krennic even more desperate at the end of the movie.
The Rise of Skywalker
The Emperor is a cruel master and we learned during this movie that he had been manipulating Ben Solo since day one. Snoke was a puppet clone that he had used to influence Ben and when Darth Vader spoke to him through the mask, it was Palpatine all along.
Here's the line in The Rise of Skywalker where he revealed this knowledge to Kylo Ren:
“At last, my boy. I have been every voice, you've ever heard, inside your head.”
This was superbly delivered in the film – the line begins with Palpatine and then turns into a mix of Darth Vader and Snoke's voices.
What a mind trick to have played on the last Skywalker!
Best Quotes Darth Vader Said to Luke Skywalker
There's nothing like an awkward father-son dynamic on which to base one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time…
- “No, I am your father!”
- “Impressive, most impressive.”
- “That name no longer has any meaning for me.”
- “It is… too late for me, son. The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He is your master now.”
- “You cannot hide forever, Luke.”
- “Sister. So, you have a twin sister.”
- “Tell your sister you were right” (as Anakin Skywalker).
- “You already have, Luke.”
Best Quotes Emperor Palpatine Said to Darth Vader
Darth Vader often used a good chat with his apprentice to outline his plots for the audience…
- “We have a new enemy: the young rebel who destroyed the Death Star. I have no doubt this boy is the offspring of Anakin Skywalker.”
- “The Force is strong with him. The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi.”
- “If he could be turned, he would become a powerful ally.”
- “It seems, in your anger, you killed her.”
Extra for experts: Trivia and Facts about Vader's Character and Inspiration for it
- 7 most tragic things about Darth Vader.
- 11 Urban Myths about Darth Vader.
- Just how did Darth Vader fulfill the Jedi prophecy?
- All you need to know about Darth Vader.
- Vader's costume was inspired by Nazi uniforms.
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
Paul Rose Jr is the Editor in Chief of Wealth of Geeks & manages the Associated Press program for The Insiders network. He has worked as TV News Producer, Forensic Analyst, and Train Conductor, among many other things. He’s the former TV Editor for InfuzeMag and owns more books, DVDs, and comics than most people have seen in their lifetimes. When he’s not writing or editing on Wealth of Geeks, he exercises his creative muscle writing screenplays and acting in film and television in Los Angeles, CA.