Summary

• The Empire Strikes Back confirmed Han Solo’s transformation into a compassionate Rebel fighter and close friend to Luke.
• Han and Leia’s banter in the original trilogy highlights their distinctive personalities and chemistry.
• Han’s iconic line “Never tell me the odds” showcases his devil-may-care attitude and piloting skills.

Han Solo is one of Star Wars‘ most beloved, iconic characters, and 10 quotes in particular are his very best. Harrison Ford brought Han Solo to life in A New Hope, and Han has since become among the most popular characters in all Star Wars movies and TV shows. Not only did Han Solo play a pivotal role in one of the most important periods of the Star Wars timeline, but he was also a charming, witty character who played opposite Luke’s wide-eyed innocence perfectly.

Even after the original trilogy, however, Han continued to be a fan-favorite figure in Star Wars. In fact, while the sequels are unfortunately still considered some of Star Wars’ worst movies, Harrison Ford’s return as Han Solo (however short-lived) was almost universally celebrated. Throughout Han Solo’s appearances in the Star Wars original and sequel trilogies, these 10 quotes are his very best.

10 “And I Thought They Smelled Bad On The Outside”

The Empire Strikes Back

Although Han began as a seemingly selfish scoundrel when he was introduced in A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back saw him transformed into a true Rebel fighter and a compassionate friend, right from the beginning of the movie. When Luke didn’t return to the Hoth base on time, Han wasted no time going out in the incredibly dangerous, freezing cold weather to find him. In fact, he even referred to Luke as his “friend” in that scene, a far cry from his aloof persona in A New Hope.

However, Han never lost his sarcastic, cheeky attitude, even in the grimmest of moments. This was certainly true when Han cut open a Tauntaun to keep Luke warm. In one of Han’s funniest moments and most memorable quotes, he joked (just to himself, as Luke was delirious at that point), “I thought they smelled bad on the outside.”

9 “Yes, Your Highnessness?”

The Empire Strikes Back

One of the best parts of Han’s character and the original Star Wars trilogy more broadly was the relationship between Han Solo and Princess Leia. While, yes, the two did share touching romantic moments, they were mainly shown getting into hilarious spats full of creative jabs. Many of Han’s pertained to Leia’s status as a princess, and his jokes about this became increasingly ridiculous over time.

In addition to calling her “worshipfulness” at one point, Han went one step further and sarcastically said, “Yes, your highnessness?” While certainly antagonistic, Han and Leia’s banter was one of the most charming aspects of their relationship, as it highlighted their distinctive personalities and why they worked so well together. In truth, the two bickered like an old married couple from the moment they met, providing some of the best original trilogy lines.

Han and Leia’s banter was one of the most charming aspects of their relationship.

8 “Laugh It Up, Fuzzball”

The Empire Strikes Back

Han’s sarcasm certainly wasn’t reserved only for Leia, though. Rather, his friendship with Chewbacca served as yet another source of Han Solo’s best snarky lines. One line in particular, following on the heels of Leia delivering her iconic insult about Han being a “scruffy-looking nerf herder,” was directed at Chewie because he laughed at Leia’s jab.

Rather than a comeback for Leia, Han turned on Chewie and said, “Laugh it up, fuzzball.” Chewbacca and Han Solo are truly one of Star Wars’ best duos, so it’s clear that, despite Han’s harsh words for Chewie at that moment, the two had a lot of love for each other. While it’s difficult to know what Chewbacca was saying to Han throughout Star Wars, it also seems pretty clear that he gave it back to Han in equal measure.

7 “Jeez, I’m Out Of It For A Little While, Everyone Gets Delusions Of Grandeur”

Return of the Jedi

Han Solo being forced into carbonite in The Empire Strikes Back was one of the character’s saddest moments and one of the most stressful plot points in the whole franchise. It wasn’t clear whether Han would survive the carbonite, both because he may never be released from it and because, even if he was, it wasn’t clear at the time what the ramifications of being in carbonite might be. However, when Han was rescued from the carbonite in Return of the Jedi, he quickly reverted to his old ways, joking about the state of things.

After learning that Luke had become a Jedi, Han remarked, “I’m out of it for a little while, everyone gets delusions of grandeur.” This was a great, efficient way for Return of the Jedi to confirm that Han was still his old self while maintaining some levity and humor about the otherwise bleak situation. It was also a poignant reminder of how radically Luke’s character had developed from A New Hope to early in Return of the Jedi, going from a wide-eyed farm boy from Tatooine to a powerful Jedi.

6 “Never Tell Me The Odds”

The Empire Strikes Back

One of Han Solo’s most quoted lines in larger popular culture came during The Empire Strikes Back when he, Leia, Chewie, and C-3PO were attempting to safely navigate their way out of an asteroid field in the Millennium Falcon. After C-3PO offered up the exact (alarming) statistic regarding their unlikely survival, Han told him, “Never tell me the odds.” This line became extremely popular, and, even with Star Wars’ now extensive history, it remains one of the most quoted lines from the franchise.

This quote is also representative of yet another aspect of Han’s character. While, yes, he was a sarcastic, at times somewhat selfish character, especially early on in the original trilogy, he was also a suave, brave, and incredibly impressive pilot—that’s how he charmed Princess Leia, after all. This line perfectly encapsulates that devil-may-care attitude and his legitimate skill as a pilot who frequently defied the odds.

5 “Hey, Kid”

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

Han Solo was still very suave and charming when he appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. In fact, arguably, his character had the best return of the franchise’s original three heroes, even with his death in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, he also had more emotional, tender moments, which brought a new dimension to his character.

Although his time as a father on screen was short-lived (because Kylo Ren killed him), when Han Solo returned as a memory in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, his love for his son was even clearer than it had been in The Force Awakens. Using the nickname he had once used for Luke—which made it even sweeter—Han Solo said, “Hey, kid.” While this was just a memory, it was still a brilliant moment and one of Han Solo’s best quotes.

4 “That’s Not How The Force Works”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Of course, Han Solo was also still his usual self in the sequels, and his sarcasm came through in the best ways. His attitude was particularly highlighted in tense moments with Finn, the ex-stormtrooper and reluctant Resistance fighter who continuously pushed Han’s buttons. In one of the most quoted lines in The Force Awakens (and one that continues to be used as a popular meme), Han Solo snapped, “That’s not how the Force works” after Finn said they would simply “use the Force.”

It’s really a shame that Han died in The Force Awakens, as he and Finn had excellent chemistry on-screen. While the sequels have gotten significant criticism for a host of reasons, Finn and Han’s scenes together felt reminiscent of the original trilogy in tone and in humor. However, The Force Awakens had positioned Rey, not Finn, as Han’s second-in-command, so perhaps this relationship wouldn’t have been developed either way.

3 “Chewie, We’re Home”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The sequel trilogy also had some incredible moments of nostalgia, and one of the best was Han and Chewie’s return to the Millennium Falcon. After Rey hilariously referred to Star Wars’ most iconic ship as “garbage,” Han Solo and Chewbacca managed to track and board it. After making their thrilling return to the big screen, Han turned to Chewbacca and said, “Chewie, we’re home.”

While many have argued that the original trilogy’s heroes were underused in the sequels, this was a wonderful nod to the legacy Han, Chewie, and the Falcon represented in the larger franchise. Moreover, it was the perfect way for the duo to arrive back on the scene, at once capturing their relationship and Han’s personality. This again supports that Han had the best return of the original trio; compared to Leia and Luke’s first moments on screen in The Force Awakens, this was easily the best.

Han had the best return of the original trio.

2 “I Know”

The Empire Strikes Back

Perhaps Han Solo’s single most iconic line in Star Wars came when he and Leia finally addressed their feelings for one another. As Han was about to be put in carbonite at the end of The Empire Strikes Back, Leia told him she loved him. In response, Han simply said, “I know,” and the two then maintained eye contact until Han had been sealed away.

While it could seem like Han’s response was uncaring or not reciprocating Leia’s affection, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Rather, this was Han’s confirmation that he felt the same way, said in a way that was true to his character. It wouldn’t have fit Han’s characterization for him to suddenly confess his love for her, although he did clearly love her already. Since The Empire Strikes Back, this line has become incredibly popular both in the franchise and outside it.

1 “I’ll See You In Hell”

The Empire Strikes Back

Han’s most memorable line may be “I know,” but his best line was much funnier. In fact, the best line was not only easy to miss but was also extremely odd, as it seemingly connected Star Wars to the real world in a way that contradicted “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” In the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back, when Han was about to set out on his mission to rescue Luke on Hoth, a Rebel fighter warned Han that his Tauntaun would freeze. In response, Han said, “Then I’ll see you in Hell!”

This was a fascinating moment, as it implied that Hell exists in the Star Wars universe, raising a whole host of other questions. While they may never be answered, this is nevertheless Han Solo’s best line in the franchise, reflecting his sarcastic character and capturing his wit and humor. Even with this line being the best overall, though, each of these 10 lines from Star Wars represents Han Solo’s very best.

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