I always thought Han using lightsaber to sever the Tauntan and put Luke in it in Empire Strikes Back was one of the coolest things as I’ve seen in these movies over the past. It’s the only time, to my knowledge, a lightsaber was used by a non-Jedi. And Han, someone who mocks that stuff, used the weapon of a Jedi. Always got a kick out of that.

spoiler alert -- Finn uses a lightsaber in The Force Awakens

Mine is probably any speeder bike scenes. Love that vehicle.

Luke going ape shit on Vader after Vader mentions Leia in the Emperor’s throne room in RotJ.

Expanding on Old Boy : The entire Hoth opening of Empire is perfection. A complete enthralling story self contained in 30 minutes.

Let's face it : Most of these movies aren't art, but that sequence is pure movie magic and hasn't been improved upon in 40 years of blockbuster moviemaking.

The entire throne room sequence in Return of the Jedi. Specifically after Luke goes too far with Vader and the Emperor is cackling for him to join the Dark Side. Then Luke defiantly telling him he’ll never join the Dark Side.

Also when Luke is captured the scene outside the throne room with Luke trying to plead with Vader one last time.

Do you mean the scene where Luke surrenders on Endor? I think this is the best scene in any of the 9 movies. It's much deeper than two enemies meeting again.

Also, in terms of excitement and just plain cool, the scene where the Millenium Falcon takes off from Tatooine and the banter before the jump to hyperspace.

For one of the best sound experiences, when Obi Wan is fleeing from Jango Fett in Episode II, and Jango shoots those seismic bombs at him. Every speaker goes nuts during that sequence.

Han shooting first.

Yeah, that’s what I meant.

I feel like that is the original of the “blaaaaat” noise that got popular to the point of being mocked in the Inception trailer. And it really is used remarkably in AOTC.

Duel of the fates.... Maul vs Obi-Wan & Qui-gon. I do hate that it has to keep cutting to the Gungan battlefield and the palace raid.

Opening scene instantly made me a fan. What a great way to start a movie.

Yoda lifting Luke's X-Wing out of the swamp - just a great magical moment, capped with the musical crescendo and Luke learning he must "believe" in the force.

Vader attacking the rebels nearing the end in Rogue One was awesome.

x2

I like the second or so of delay between explosion and sound. Say what you will about these movies, the sound design has been outstanding from the very beginning in 1977.

Darth Vader going back and forth between Luke and the Emperor as Luke is being electrocuted. That is when Vader kept his mouth shut that is. My favorite scene in movie history and Lucas has to go and fuck it up with a NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

That’s the exact moment I realized George Lucas was just trolling fans. After Vader’s “Noooo!” That was panned by audiences at the end of Episode III, he adds that bullshit to RotJ?! The only explanation is Lucas is the ultimate Star Wars troll.

Han getting frozen in carbonite in Empire is an incredible sequence. I love how the orange, almost fiery lights give it an atmosphere of doom. Han realizing he's helpless, so there's none of his usual wiseass schtick, for the first time we see him vulnerable. I sometimes tear up a little when Han prevents Chewie from going nuts and likely getting killed too, by telling him he has to take care of the princess now. The way Leia physically recoils from Vader. This scene has drama, is visually compelling, has great music. Not much happens in this scene action-wise, it's just a bunch of people standing around, but because of what's been set-up before all these little moments are so powerful.

Yoda's speech on the nature of the Force in Empire. Sums up everything that sets Star Wars apart from generic science fantasy for me and even helped me reflect and better understand my own religious beliefs. By extension, Rey's meditation in Last Jedi is that scene's spiritual successor (no pun intended).

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter."

"Rey: The island. Life. Death and decay, that feeds new life. Warmth. Cold. Peace. Violence.
Luke: And between it all?
Rey: Balance and energy. A force.
Luke: And inside you?
Rey: Inside me, that same force."

For me it was the Falcon and the whole fight above Endor in Return of the Jedi. It's my favorite ship in any sci-fi movie and it was just awesome to see on the big screen when I was a kid.

Two runners-up: When the Falcon comes whipping in above Finn during the last battle of Rise of Skywalker. Awesome in the theaters. And the Holdo Maneuver in The Last Jedi made my jaw drop. That was the kind of thing they would do in a novelization, not a SW movie. So cool to see.