10 Most Memorable Lines From 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
Image Source: Wallpapersden
As a prequel to A New Hope, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story takes place during an exciting time in the Star Wars galaxy, bringing together legacy characters like Darth Vader with new faces like Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, Orson Krennic, and Saw Gerrera. The movie features one of the best Star Wars battles - the Battle of Scarif, which boasts incredible visuals, but what makes it the best film of the Disney era are iconic lines that are just as popular almost 10 years after its release. Like the Original and Prequel trilogy, many of Rogue One’s lines have become meme staples, frequently quoted and fondly remembered. Here are 10 of the most memorable lines from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
10. Oh, It's Beautiful!
Image Source: Laughing Place
After multiple delays and being taken to the cleaners by Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin, Director Orson Krennic could finally watch his superweapon do what it was designed to. The Death Star was first tested on the city of Jedha, and while watching Jedha get obliterated, Krennic uttered, “Oh, it’s beautiful!” This line has become meme material over the years, which is a sign of how much people loved it.
Ben Mendelsohn’s diabolical portrayal of Krennic made a short expression of appreciation iconic, revealing how far gone he is. He has absolutely no regard for the loss of life on Jedha. He only cares about climbing the Imperial ladder, and his ambition will lead to his downfall. Apart from that, this is one of those lines that can be used in everyday life, for less sinister moments.
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9. Jyn, I'll Be There For You. Cassian Said I Had To
Image Source: Scattered Quotes
What’s your honesty setting, K2? Alan Tudyk recently revealed that a line of dialogue from Rogue One was meant to convey that no one liked Jyn, including him. However, Cassian programmed the droid to protect Jyn so she could be taken safely to Eadu. What makes this line great is that it captures the dynamic between K2, Cassian, and Jyn perfectly. Cassian wants to protect her, and his intentions become purer as the movie goes on. Over the course of the film, K2 also begins to warm up to Jyn, and he’s always there for her. Alan Tudyk delivered this line with his signature dose of sarcasm, honesty, and humor, making this one of K2’s best lines ever. If only he had a few more like it in Andor!
8. I'm Not Used To People Sticking Around When Things Go Bad
Image Source: Phantom Threads on X
Jyn was abandoned several times in her life, including by Galen Erso and Saw Gerrera. Being left behind and left on her own was a pattern that kept repeating in her life until Cassian came along. Not only did he return for her when she was nearly trapped on Jedha, and when she was almost left behind on Eadu, but he believed her when the Rebel Alliance didn’t. After agreeing to go to Scarif with her, Jyn and Cassian shared a moment where she told him, “I’m not used to people sticking around when things go bad.” Cassian responded with, “Welcome home.” Even though Tony Gilroy would disagree, this was definitely a romantic moment that showed their growing closeness and highlighted the excellent chemistry between Felicity Jones and Diego Luna.
7. Save The Rebellion, Save The Dream
Image Source: Star Wars
Despite all the issues Saw had with the Rebel Alliance, and even though they disliked his approach and considered him an extremist, he was hurt when he saw Jyn’s apathy toward the Rebel cause. When they met for the last time on Jedha, before the city was destroyed, he pleaded with her to “Save the Rebellion, save the cause.” Jyn had important information about the Death Star because of Galen Erso’s message, and Saw wanted her to use this information for the good of the galaxy.
Despite his differences with the Alliance, he knew they were all united in their desire to end the Empire, and the information Jyn had could help the Rebels obtain their biggest victory. Saw never lived to see what became of Jyn and how the Empire finally fell, but in his final moments, he was every inch a Rebel.
6. Make Ten Men Feel Like A Hundred
Image Source: Star Wars Holocron
“Make ten men feel like a hundred” isn’t just a line Cassian uses to inspire the small group of Rebel fighters on a suicide mission to Scarif; This line best describes the Rebel Alliance’s inspiration. While it seemed impossible that a scattered alliance that suffered from internal strife could defeat the Empire and its military might, they ultimately did. Just a few volunteers were enough to distract them on Scarif, allowing Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, and K-2SO the cover to steal the Death Star plans and save the galaxy from unimaginable horror. This proves that sometimes willpower is more powerful than manpower.
5. Congratulations, You Are Being Rescued
Image Source: Star Wars
After grabbing and slamming Jyn to the ground, K-2SO sarcastically congratulates her on being “rescued”, and tells her “not to resist.” This comical exchange became a popular political meme that described the force used by militaries to “liberate” people of foreign nations under the guise of “democracy.” But in the context of the film, Jyn was about to be taken by the Rebel Alliance after being freed from Wobani. This funny line shows K-2’s dry and sarcastic personality and shows that even after being reprogrammed, K-2 can still slam anyone to the ground without a problem.
4. Rebellions Are Built On Hope
Image Source: TVLine
It wasn’t easy to convince Jyn Erso to trust in Cassian or his cause. When Cassian says, “Rebellions are built on hope”, Jyn didn’t seem convinced, but she repeated his words later in the film while trying to convince the Rebel Alliance to approve a mission to retrieve the Death Star plans. It may sound idealistic, and even stupid, but ‘hope’ was the key ingredient in the Rebellion’s recipe to topple the Empire.
This line was given more context in Andor, but that wasn’t necessary. The line holds enough weight on its own in Rogue One, especially when it came from a seasoned Rebel fighter like Cassian, who had seen his share of good days and bad. Though she may have appeared unmoved at the time, Jyn came to believe in Cassian’s mantra, which is why they both achieved the impossible on Scarif and helped secure the Rebellion’s biggest victory up till that point.
3. Everything I Did, I Did For The Rebellion
Image Source: Star Wars Holocron
After the Rebel Alliance members shot down Jyn’s idea to retrieve the Death Star plans, she was left alone until Cassian and his friends volunteered to risk their lives to help her. What began with a simple, “We would like to volunteer”, ended in one of the purest and simplest speeches in Star Wars. Cassian revealed why he wants to join Jyn and why they all have a duty to serve the Rebellion to the bitter end. “Everything I did, I did for the Rebellion, and every time I tried to walk away from something I wanted to forget, I told myself that it was for a cause I believed in”, he revealed.
Although Andor gave Cassian a backstory, this speech probably gave him more background than any other moment in the film. This is also one of the most emotional and underrated speeches in Star Wars, and it shows that lengthy and wordy monologues aren’t necessary to make an impact on the audience. Star Wars has never been about that; it’s been about how people come together to make a difference when the odds are stacked against them.
2. Be Careful Not To Choke On Your Aspirations, Director
Image Source: SCREEN THRILL
Darth Vader wasn’t a fan of Krennic’s lofty ambitions, and when Krennic and Vader came face to face, the Sith Lord made sure to give Krennic a lesson on humility. Vader wasn’t too pleased to hear that Krennic wanted an audience with the Emperor, and he tried to put him in his place. While Krennic was behind the creation of the Death Star, individuals didn’t matter to the Empire. The superweapon was more important to them than Krennic himself, who wouldn’t last long if he fell out of favor with Palpatine or Tarkin.
By reminding him of his place, Vader was issuing a warning to Krennic that his ambitions and greed for power could get the best of him, and literally “choke” him. If a meeting with Vader wasn’t enough for Krennic, now he wanted to meet the Emperor himself, something that Vader found hard to digest, so he Force-choked the Director, who was clearly letting his ego get the best of him. This is one of Darth Vader’s best lines ever, and it sounds a lot like something Anakin would say as well. James Earl Jones’s majestic voice makes this one of the most memorable lines by the Sith Lord.
1. Your Father Would Be Proud Of You, Jyn
Image Source: ReactorMag
Jyn Erso’s lived a complicated life, but when it finally mattered, and when she could finally make a difference, she did. After Jyn and Cassian transferred the Death Star plans in hopes that someone out there would be listening, they both knew they would die. They chose to die together on the Scarif beach, in each other’s arms. The last thing Cassian said to Jyn was, “Your father would be proud of you, Jyn.” Her father, Galen, would’ve been proud that she revealed the secret he had died for, and her adoptive father, Saw, could be proud knowing that she saved the Rebellion and the dream, and her sacrifice wouldn’t go in vain.
Both Cassian and Jyn died too young, but their sacrifice led to the Empire’s biggest defeat, one that ensured the safety and futures of billions of people who never knew them. This is the best moment in the film, but equally heartbreaking, because Jyn and Cassian would never get to see the results of their efforts.
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Sources: Wallpapersden, Laughing Place, Scattered Quotes, Phantom Threads on X, Star Wars, Star Wars Holocron [1], [2], TVLine, SCREEN THRILL, ReactorMag.
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