With nine official 'saga' movies and two spin-off films, there has been plenty of Star Wars content over the years. Throughout those movies, we have been taken around the galaxy, far, far away, and we have seen all manner of different characters.
From Jedi and Sith Lords to aliens and Wookiees, there have been countless different characters. Some have played huge roles in the franchise, whereas others have been easily forgettable, but there have been a select few that appeared in a large number of those films.
That special group has become some of the most beloved and important characters not just in Star Wars, but in the history of cinema.
Updated on May 7th, 2020 by Matthew Wilkinson: Now with Disney+, fans are able to constantly relive these amazing movies and go on each journey with the iconic characters that helped make them successful in the first place.
With Stars Wars: Rise Of Skywalker set to hit Disney+, what better time to take a look at some of the most iconic characters from the franchise. With that in mind, we will be taking a look at which 15 characters make the most movie appearances in the history of this great franchise.
Lando Calrissian (4)
Lando Calrissian is one of Star Wars' most iconic and beloved characters. He's a smuggler, much like Han Solo and the two of them work as both great rivals and great friends, with their relationship really having a fun dynamic throughout his appearances.
Lando plays a big part in fighting against the Empire during both The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, and he also made a fun return cameo within Rise Of Skywalker as well. Lando is also a major part of Solo: A Star Wars Story, only this time played by Donald Glover.
Nien Nunb (4)
Another character who pops up in four different films is Nien Nunb. While he's only a supporting character, often shown in the background or as a pilot, he has a very memorable look that has made him an iconic character that fans love to see.
He plays a big part in many different space battles and as a smuggler by trade, Nunb certainly knows how to get in and out of places quickly. That's why he is often used in the major battles, due to his incredible piloting abilities.
Mon Mothma (4)
Mon Mothma appears in a wide spread of Star Wars movies, having first popped up in Return Of The Jedi as well as being involved in The Clone Wars, Revenge Of The Sith, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. She is a senator and someone who has a huge role in creating the Rebel Alliance.
She's a well-respected character who does a lot of her work in the shadows, in order to not be caught out. She might not be featured as much as other characters within this list, but Mon Mothma is just as important.
Wedge Antilles (5)
Wedge Antilles is one of the most talented pilots within the Star Wars universe and is someone who pops up in some of the biggest battles throughout the franchise. He is part of the attack on the original Death Star and is also involved in battles on Hoth and Endor.
Wedge made a fun return cameo in Rise Of Skywalker, which was greatly appreciated by many hardcore fans. He's a brilliant pilot and someone who is highly trusted by the Rebel Alliance whenever a big battle is required.
Admiral Gial Ackbar (5)
Admiral Gial Ackbar is one of the most iconic characters from the Star Wars universe. With a very memorable look and voice, it's hard not to remember this great character. Ackbar plays a key role in battling against the second Death Star within Return Of The Jedi, and is one of the greatest military men in the franchise.
Ackbar is an incredibly loyal character who is well trusted and respected, and really is a fantastic supporting character. He is sadly killed during The Last Jedi alongside countless other Resistance leaders, which brings his time in the franchise to an end.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (6)
Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the ultimate heroes of the Star Wars franchise. The character is so popular and beloved that he will be getting his own television show on Disney+. But before that happens, fans can enjoy him in six different movies from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace right through to Star Wars: The Return Of The Jedi.
While he is vastly different from the prequel trilogy to the original trilogy, seeing the full arc of his character is a spectacular one. In the prequels, fans get to enjoy Obi-Wan in his prime, while in the original trilogy he is jaded by what he has seen, but believes in hope as he trains Luke Skywalker.
Yoda (6)
The wisest Jedi of them all, Master Yoda is a beloved character from the Star Wars universe. While he might be small, he more than makes up for his size in sheer power, precision, and intelligence. Appearing first in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back to offer Luke Skywalker advice, he has remained a wise sounding board ever since.
In the prequels, he gets his biggest time to shine as we see him wield the lightsaber and duel the likes of Count Dooku. He even gets to make an appearance in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as a force ghost, offering to help Luke one last time. His voices can be heard in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker as well, but he doesn't make an official appearance.
Emperor Palpatine (6)
Most fans of the franchise had presumed Emperor Palpatine would only appear in five movies, as his 'death' at the end of Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi seemed pretty concrete. However, his surprise return in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker as the main villain added another credit to his name.
Emperor Palpatine's rise to power is highlighted incredibly well during the prequels. We learn how he became disfigured at the hands of Mace Windu, and we see exactly how he taught Anakin Skywalker to join the dark side, even though he fails to keep him that way.
Han Solo (6)
Han Solo remains one of the most important characters in the history of Star Wars. Being one of the main characters in the original trilogy, he is the man who brought all of the charm and wit into the story. Not to mention the fact he pilots the most well-known spacecraft in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon.
Solo also plays a key role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and returned for a small part in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. However, the character was so popular that he ended up getting a spin-off movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story, which detailed exactly how he became the character we know and love to this day.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (7)
One of the greatest villains in the history of cinema, Darth Vader is constant throughout the first six movies. While he doesn't officially don the mask and classic outfit until the end of Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith, he does have a huge role in the prequels as Anakin Skywalker.
The whole purpose of the prequel movies is to focus on him as a character and how he came to be the Sith Lord that the world hated. Darth Vader also popped up for an incredible cameo in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which was a scene that arguably stole the entire movie.
Luke Skywalker (7)
Luke Skywalker is the ultimate hero of the entire Star Wars franchise, and he has locked in seven film appearances. However, two of his appearances are very minimal, appearing briefly as a baby in the Star Wars Revenge Of The Sith at the very end, and only making a small appearance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
But, they certainly count and they are easily counterbalanced by just how much of a role he has in the original trilogy. The entire franchise would never have become what it is today without Luke being the pure good guy, and he has become an icon of cinema due to that.
Princess Leia (8)
Princess Leia has her brother beaten by a movie because she makes a brief cameo appearance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. She appears only to accept the plans for the Death Star, which sets up Star Wars: A New Hope.
While she only appears as a baby at the end of Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith, it is in the originals where she shines. Princess Leia became America's sweetheart within those movies, and in the latest trilogy, she nicely transitioned into the well-respected General.
Chewbacca (8)
Chewbacca is one of the most beloved supporting characters in the history of Star Wars and has a pivotal role throughout many of the movies. While his appearance in Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith is limited, he has a big part to play in the original and latest trilogies.
Chewie is Han Solo's right-hand man (or Wookiee), and he even ends up outlasting Solo. Out of the original group, Chewbacca is the only one left standing at the end of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, but that just proves how important he is.
R2-D2 (10)
He might only be a small droid, but R2-D2 has certainly put some miles in throughout the Star Wars franchise, becoming one of the most useful characters in the process. Solo: A Star Wars Story is the only film that he hasn't been part of, proving just how important he is to the series.
Whether he is by the side of Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Rey, or just working things out alone, R2-D2 has proven himself to be beyond loyal. This is one character that is universally beloved as R2-D2 not only brings the laughs, but also the heart. All while being more than capable of looking after himself and helping out in a crisis.
C-3PO (10)
Of course, wherever R2-D2 goes, C-3PO is not going to be far behind, even if it is begrudgingly. Because of that, he also has appeared in 10 of the 11 main Star Wars movies, with Solo: A Star Wars Story being the only one he doesn't appear in.
However, C-3PO is involved a lot more heavily in the latest trilogy, and therefore he takes the top spot of this list. On top of that, Anthony Daniels does have a voice appearance in Solo: A Star Wars Story, as the character Tak. This makes him the only person to have been involved in all 11 of the films.