Does an Arm Get Cut Off in Every Star Wars Movie?

In every Star Wars movie, there seems to be a scene where someone’s arm gets cut off. It has become a running joke among fans of the franchise.

But is it really true that an arm gets cut off in every Star Wars movie? Let’s take a closer look.

A New Hope

In the very first Star Wars movie, released in 1977, we see Obi-Wan Kenobi use his lightsaber to cut off the arm of Ponda Baba in the Mos Eisley Cantina. This is the first instance of an arm getting cut off in a Star Wars movie.

The Empire Strikes Back

The second movie in the original trilogy features one of the most famous scenes in all of Star Wars history: when Luke Skywalker has his hand cut off by Darth Vader during their lightsaber duel on Cloud City. This is perhaps the most iconic example of an arm being severed in a Star Wars movie.

Return of the Jedi

In the third and final movie of the original trilogy, we see Luke Skywalker use his lightsaber to cut off the hand of Jabba’s henchman, Bib Fortuna. This is another example of an arm getting cut off in a Star Wars movie.

The Phantom Menace

Moving on to the prequel trilogy, we see Qui-Gon Jinn use his lightsaber to slice through doors and eventually through Darth Maul himself. However, while there are plenty of limbs lost during this fight scene, none of them are actually arms.

Attack of the Clones

In this installment, we see Anakin Skywalker lose his right forearm when he battles Count Dooku on Geonosis. This is yet another example of an arm being cut off in a Star Wars movie.

Revenge of the Sith

The final movie in the prequel trilogy features not one, but two instances of arms being cut off. First, we see Count Dooku lose both of his hands during a battle with Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Later in the movie, we see Anakin Skywalker himself lose his remaining arm when he battles Obi-Wan on Mustafar.

The Force Awakens

In the first movie of the sequel trilogy, we do not actually see an arm being cut off. However, during a battle between Finn and Kylo Ren, Finn does get a nasty slash across his back that is reminiscent of the many arm-severing scenes that have come before.

The Last Jedi

The eighth installment of the Star Wars franchise features yet another arm-severing scene. During a battle between Rey and Kylo Ren’s Praetorian Guards, we see one of the guards lose both of his arms to Rey’s lightsaber.

Conclusion

So, is it true that an arm gets cut off in every Star Wars movie? No, it’s not true.

However, there are certainly enough instances of arms being severed throughout the franchise to make it seem like a recurring theme. Whether it’s meant to be symbolic or just a cool visual effect is up for debate. But one thing is for sure: if you’re an extra in a Star Wars movie and you value your limbs, you might want to stay away from any characters wielding lightsabers!