Summary

• Anakin Skywalker was 9 years old when he joined the Jedi in The Phantom Menace, unusually old for recruitment.
• Anakin Skywalker was 22 years old in Revenge of the Sith, a crucial moment when he falls to the dark side and becomes Darth Vader.
• Darth Vader was 44 years old when he confronted Luke on Bespin in The Empire Strikes Back, attempting to seduce his son to the dark side.

Anakin Skywalker's age has been a contentious topic when discussing the Star Wars prequels, particularly how old he was in the first two films. First introduced as Darth Vader in George Lucas' first Star Wars movie (later retitled A New Hope), Anakin Skywalker is one of the franchise's most enduring characters. He's a major figure in both the original trilogy and the prequels, and his legacy runs on into the sequel era.

Chronologically, Anakin first appeared in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and last appeared in Return of the Jedi. He lived a long and eventful life, fighting in the Clone Wars, becoming the youngest member ever to join the Jedi Council, and co-ruling the galaxy as a Dark Lord of the Sith. Here's how old Anakin Skywalker is in each Star Wars movie (and also in the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ TV show).

7 Anakin Skywalker Was Nine Years Old In The Phantom Menace

Anakin Skywalker was born in 41 BBY ("Before the Battle of Yavin," the event around which the entire Star Wars timeline is oriented). This means he is 9 years old when he joins the Jedi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, unusually old to be recruited to the Jedi. He immediately became infatuated with Padmé Amidala, sensing through the Force that they would one day marry - even if he didn't know this was forbidden under the Jedi Code at that early an age.

6 Anakin Skywalker Was 19 Years Old In Attack Of The Clones

The prequel trilogy fast-forwards by a decade, meaning Anakin Skywalker was 19 years old in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones - which might help explain why he's so clumsy at romance. Anakin married Padmé at the end of this movie. According to Mike Chen's canon novel Brotherhood, Anakin became a Jedi Knight some weeks later, with the Jedi Council viewing his experiences on Geonosis as sufficient to pass the Jedi Trials.

5 Anakin Skywalker Was 22 Years Old In Revenge Of The Sith

The Clone Wars lasted three years, consuming the entire galaxy, and their story is told in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The movies themselves pick up at the end of the conflict, in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Anakin Skywalker is 22 years old at this point in the timeline, a crucial moment in his life when he falls to the dark side and becomes Darth Vader.

4 Darth Vader Was 32 In The Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ TV Show

The Obi-Wan Kenobi is next in the Star Wars timeline, taking place nine years exactly ten years after Obi-Wan left his former apprentice for dead on the lava fields of Mustafar. This means Darth Vader is 32 in Obi-Wan Kenobi (his master, in contrast, is 48). The age difference didn't work in Darth Vader's favor, though, as he ultimately lost another duel with Obi-Wan.

3 Darth Vader Was 41 Years Old In Rogue One & A New Hope

The Star Wars movies fast-forward again to the end of the Dark Times of the Empire's reign. Both Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and A New Hope are set when Darth Vader is 41 years old, with the Dark Lord of the Sith facing Obi-Wan for the last time. He has no idea the boy he almost shoots down during the Battle of Yavin is his son.

2 Darth Vader Is 44 Years Old In The Empire Strikes Back

When Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star, he fired the shot that started the Galactic Civil War. The Star Wars original trilogy jumps forward again, with the conflict raging for another three years. This means Darth Vader is 44 when he confronts Luke on Bespin in The Empire Strikes Back, attempting to seduce his son to the dark side.

1 Darth Vader Was 45 When He Died In Return Of The Jedi

Return of the Jedi is a year after The Empire Strikes Back, with Darth Vader facing his son for the last time. Luke's faith in his father leads to his redemption, with Anakin turning against Palpatine at last. The greatest hero of Star Wars is redeemed when he is just 45 years old, finding peace in the Force at last.