If any franchise has ever mastered the art of the crash out, it’s Star Wars, who’s basically built their entire mythos upon the foundation of Anakin Skywalker having the crash out of a lifetime. To be fair to him, none of us are immune to crash outs in our everyday lives. Whether it’s over something big or something small, it’s bound to happen at any given point.

In the Star Wars universe, however, a lot of these crash outs have actually had huge consequences on the rest of the galaxy. It’s more than just yelling, gesturing, and maybe throwing something. It literally changes the fate of their universe as they know it.

The following crash outs are some of the biggest in Star Wars history so far, but they range wildly in terms of their validity. Listed in no particular order, here are the biggest crash outs we’ve seen yet, along with whether we think they’re actually valid or not.

11

Mon Mothma Drinks & Dances At Her Daughter’s Wedding

Andor Season 2, Episode 3 “Harvest” (2025)

• Valid crash out? Yeah!

Mon Mothma’s crash out in Andor season 2 is one for the ages. From the remix of NIAMOS! (the Chandrilan Club Mix, to be exact) to Mon’s frantic dance moves, everything about this crash out has become a blueprint in the best way. I hope I look this good during my next crash out, too.

For context, and spoilers ahead if you haven’t already seen the best installment of Star Wars television to date (which… come on, go watch it!), Mon’s just been told that her childhood best friend is about to be murdered to protect her and the fledgling Rebel Alliance from his backstabbing. This is all happening at her young daughter’s wedding for her arranged marriage.

So, yeah… this is the definition of a valid crash out. NIAMOS! is exactly the type of song I’d want to have bumping if I’m crashing out like that, too. Let’s have less making the galaxy pay for your emotions and more dancing them away.

10

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader Finds Out Padmé Amidala Is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

• Valid crash out? Actually… yeah, it is.

Anakin Skywalker falling to the dark side to save his wife from something that hadn’t even happened yet was a major crash out in and of itself, so you can imagine how much worse things got when he realized she still died anyway. Even worse, he found out that he had been the one who killed her (from a certain point of view).

I’m surprised the crash out wasn’t worse than an agonized “Nooo!”

I mean, he shouldn’t have fallen to the dark side for her in the first place, although that’s much easier said than done, but I can understand him crashing out after learning that. Everything he did, even selling his soul, wasn’t enough to save his wife. Honestly, I’m surprised the crash out wasn’t worse than an agonized “Nooo!“

9

Kylo Ren Destroys His Helmet… And An Elevator

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

• Valid crash out? Understandable, but not valid.

This is hardly Kylo Ren’s first foray into First Order property damage. It became a habit in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which saw Kylo Ren cutting things up in the midst of crash outs in just about every act of the movie. This one, however, is definitely his most memorable.

In what’s essentially a tantrum after being told he’s no more than “a child in a mask,” Kylo Ren completely destroys both his helmet and this poor elevator. It’s understandable, given the fact he’s clearly being manipulated by Supreme Leader Snoke, but… man, think about who has to clean that up. It’s not you!

Even then, it’s hard for any Kylo Ren crash out to be valid after he literally murdered his own father in cold blood. Sorry you didn’t get your validation for that, Kylo, but unless you’re slipping into your Matt the Radar Technician uniform to clean up this mess, then there’s no reason to throw a tantrum like that.

8

Moff Gideon Tries To Kill Grogu & Himself When Luke Skywalker Shows Up

The Mandalorian Season 2, Episode 8 “Chapter 16: The Rescue” (2020)

• Valid crash out? Honestly? Yeah.

Luke Skywalker’s return in The Mandalorian season 2 finale was an event for the ages, but for Moff Gideon, it was his worst nightmare. The second he overheard that a Jedi had gotten on board, he was absolutely ready to “nope” his way out of there.

Gideon initially aims to kill Grogu first, which is pretty hilarious considering the fact he’s still cuffed and completely surrounded by five skilled fighters. It’s only when that falls through that Gideon aims his blaster at his own chin, though Cara Dune stops him before he can actually do anything.

We’ve never really seen Luke Skywalker as terrifying, and it’s really interesting to see it from this perspective. It’s also a really refreshing take on how terrifying the Jedi really can be to their enemies. I think it’s completely valid that Gideon preferred to go out quickly rather than have to face a Jedi as powerful as Luke.

7

Fives Tries To Tell Anakin & Captain Rex About The Inhibitor Chips

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6, Episode 4 “Orders” (2014)

• Valid crash out? KRIFF YEAH.

Firstly, if you haven’t seen Star Wars: The Clone Wars or any Star Wars animated series, then take this as your sign to go watch all of it right now, because it has some of Star Wars’ best characters and storytelling ever. This story is a prime example of that, as tragic as it is.

The clone trooper Fives has discovered the secret of the inhibitor chips placed inside the minds of every clone, which can force them to obey orders – most notably Order 66, which instructs them to kill all the Jedi. Fives then goes on a desperate mission to tell Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex the truth.

Fives has a mᴀssive crash out over this, one that sadly leads to his death, and it’s probably one of Star Wars’ most valid ever. He’s just found out Palpatine is deceiving everyone, his own brothers are now out on the hunt for him, and he has no idea who he can trust. What’s worse is no one actually believes him, and the truth dies with him. It’s always justice for Fives in this house.

6

Anakin Skywalker Gets His Revenge Against The Tuskens

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)

• Valid crash out? *Darth Vader voice* Nooooooo!

Let’s face it: Anakin Skywalker has one of the hardest and most tragic lives ever lived in Star Wars. His mother dying in his arms just before he could save her proves that, and it makes sense why Anakin would want revenge. He, however, is a Jedi, a being with unbridled power that he can’t just use for whatever he wants.

A lower-level crash out would definitely have been valid.

That doesn’t stop him from killing the first Tuskens he sees after his mother dies. In fact, it doesn’t even stop him from killing “every single one of them.” You guessed it! He killed “not just the men, but the women, and the children too.”

Sure, a lower-level crash out would definitely have been valid. He could have kicked some rocks, thrown some things, or maybe even sliced some property up the way Kylo Ren does. Instead, he mows down an entire encampment, including innocent women and children. All it did was march Anakin closer to the dark side.

5

Crosshair Kills Lieutenant Nolan On Barton IV

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2, Episode 12 “The Outpost” (2023)

• Valid crash out? Not only valid, but also justified.

If you didn’t take your first sign to watch Star Wars animation with Fives’ crash out, then let this be the one to convince you. Crosshair, a member of Clone Force 99 – also known as the тιтular Bad Batch – has been a loyal soldier of the Empire, initially because of his inhibitor chip but later on because of his own genuine devotion.

On Barton IV, however, he meets Commander Mayday, who continues to perpetuate Crosshair’s disillusionment with the Empire due to him and his men never getting the resources they need to help the Empire and stay alive. Mayday is about to die after a retrieval mission gone wrong, but Crosshair marches through a blizzard to save him.

The Imperial officer in charge, Lieutenant Nolan (a self-professed hater of clones, mind you), instead reprimands Crosshair and lets Mayday die. Crosshair finally realizes that the Empire isn’t what he thought it was, and he kills Nolan. This crash out is one that will have you cheering, honestly. Nolan had it coming.

4

Ahsoka Tano Runs From The Authorities On Coruscant

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5, Episode 18 “The Jedi Who Knew Too Much” (2013)

• Valid crash out? Maybe the most valid one on this list.

You definitely know Ahsoka Tano by now, even if you’ve never seen Star Wars animation. As the former Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, there always had to be a reason why she wasn’t in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. It was The Clone Wars that showed us why, and it led to her character’s greatest crash out yet.

Ahsoka is framed for bombing the Jedi Temple while she’s in the midst of finding the culprit herself. After initially being detained, Ahsoka frees herself and evades capture once again, refusing to have to take the fall for something she never did.

Ahsoka is more than valid for this, honestly. The fact that she, a child soldier, mind you, has done nothing but prove her dedication to the Jedi and the good of all people in the galaxy and is still even being considered a suspect for such a horrible crime is ridiculous. It’s justice for Ahsoka every day around here!

3

Anakin Skywalker Falls To The Dark Side & Kills The Jedi (& The Younglings)

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

• Valid crash out? NOOOOOOOOOPE.

Here it is, folks: the crash out that birthed the Star Wars saga as we know it today. Anakin, who’s been having nightmares of Padmé dying in childbirth, keeps trying to find ways to save her before it’s even happened. Palpatine takes this opportunity to manipulate him into thinking he’s the only one who can help Anakin.

This is more than just a fall from grace for Anakin.

While, yeah, the ignorance of the Jedi Council in all this really didn’t help, especially the way they kept dismissing Anakin on the whole, nothing excuses the drastic measures Anakin takes to, and I cannot emphasize this enough, prevent something that hasn’t even happened yet. Like… I’m sorry, what?

This is more than just a fall from grace for Anakin. This is him selling his soul and murdering hundreds, thousands even, just to save one singular life. Maybe some of you would fall for that propaganda, but I definitely don’t. You also won’t hear me cheering on his murder of the younglings (seriously… come on).

2

Obi-Wan Kenobi Mourns (& Nearly Kills) Anakin Skywalker On Mustafar

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

• Valid crash out? Undoubtedly.

“You were my brother, Anakin! I loved you!” These are some of the most devastating words to ever be uttered in the Star Wars franchise. They’re also part of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s biggest crash out to date, and it’s definitely one of the most valid that Star Wars has ever depicted.

It’s bad enough that Obi-Wan was sent to kill his former Padawan (thanks a lot, Yoda). He had barely even processed the fact that Anakin had fallen in the first place, much less killed younglings and other Jedi. Ewan McGregor laughing during that line delivery won’t fool me; Obi-Wan was completely shaken.

If this moment doesn’t bring you to tears, then I need to know who hurt you, because this is a crash out that’s meant to be a tearjerker. Obi-Wan becoming a full-time hermit after this makes complete sense. It’s surprising he didn’t do something even more drastic in the midst of such a justified crash out.