Every “I Have A Bad Feeling About This” In Star Wars Movies & TV Shows

Summary

  • Characters across the Star Wars universe frequently share their concerns through the iconic phrase “I have a bad feeling about this.”
  • This phrase appears in not only the movies but also TV shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels, showcasing its enduring popularity.
  • Even with subtle twists on the phrase, like in Solo or The Last Jedi, the line remains a consistent and memorable part of the franchise.

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Star Wars’ now-iconic phrase – “I have a bad feeling about this” – has been a mainstay of almost every project, from TV shows to movies. Although the chronological order of Star Wars movies has since been altered, 1977’s A New Hope was responsible for the origins of many iconic franchise elements. From lightsabers and ships to catchphrases and quotable lines, many elements from A New Hope have stood the test of time, and will likely continue to do so in upcoming Star Wars movies.

Both the best and worst-ranked movies in Star Wars include aspects synonymous with the franchise, with one specific instance appearing in every single movie in some capacity. This even continued into the extensive slate of Star Wars TV shows, with “I have a bad feeling about this” being commonly uttered by people, aliens, droids, heroes, and villains all across the galaxy far, far away. From the unadulterated words to fun twists on the saying, one of Star Wars‘ most iconic phrases has been included in almost every single project in the franchise.

36 Obi-Wan Kenobi Shares His Doubts With Qui-Gon Jinn

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan board the Federation ship in The Phantom Menace and stand side-by-side frowning.

Concerning the first installment in the chronological order of the Skywalker Saga, the opening words of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace house the phrase. As Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn enter the Trade Federation ship, their initial reveal is accompanied by the words. Kenobi tells his master that he has a bad feeling about their mission, prompting Qui-Gon to lecture his Padawan on the Living Force.

Star_Wars_Episode_I_The_Phantom_menace movie poster

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
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The beginning of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace sees young Anakin Skywalker put on his path to discovering his ability to influence the Force. While attempting to thwart the nefarious Trade Federation in their plans for the planet of Naboo, two Jedi discover an exceptionally-gifted slave with the ability to wield the Force. Little do they know, rescuing him is just the beginning of a saga that will span generations of the Skywalker family.  

Director George Lucas Release Date May 19, 1999 Writers George Lucas Cast Ewan McGregor , Liam Neeson , Natalie Portman , Jake Lloyd , Ahmed Best , Ian McDiarmid , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Pernilla August , Frank Oz , Ray Park , Samuel L. Jackson Runtime 133 minutes

35 Anakin Skywalker Doesn’t Care For The Geonosian Arena

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

The second movie in the prequel trilogy also features one instance of the phrase being uttered. In the second act of the film, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padmé are captured and placed in a Geonosian fighting arena. As the giant monsters they are tasked with fighting against lurk towards them, Anakin tells Padmé and Obi-Wan that he has a “bad feeling about this.”

Star Wars Attack of the Clones Movie Poster

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
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Years after the events of The Phantom Menace, the Skywalker Saga continues with Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. When Senator Padme Amidala’s life is threatened, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are tasked with her protection. While Obi-Wan uncovers a clone army made in secret, Anakin falls in love with Padme, marking the beginning of his inevitable fall to the dark side of the Force.

Director George Lucas Release Date May 16, 2002 Writers George Lucas , Jonathan Hales Cast Ewan McGregor , Hayden Christensen , Natalie Portman , Ian McDiarmid , Samuel L. Jackson , Christopher Lee , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Frank Oz , Temuera Morrison , Ahmed Best , Daniel Logan Runtime 142 Minutes

34 Obi-Wan & Anakin’s Rescue Of Palpatine Strikes Worry In The Jedi Master

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

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Revenge of the Sith opens with Anakin and Obi-Wan on a desperate mission to save Palpatine from General Grievous. As the two race their Jedi starfighters towards Grievous’ ship, the blast doors begin to close in front of them. Faced with the possibility of crashing head-on into the giant doors, Obi-Wan tells his Padawan that he has a bad feeling about the maneuver.

Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith Poster

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
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Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is the sixth film in the Star Wars franchise and chronologically the third in the Skywalker Saga. Set three years after the events of Attack of the Clones, Anakin Skywalker is tasked with keeping an eye on Chancellor Palpatine while other Jedi battle across the galaxy. In the background, however, a mysterious Sith lord begins to make their move to destroy the Jedi once and for all.

Director George Lucas Release Date May 19, 2005 Writers George Lucas , John Ostrander , Jan Duursema Cast Ewan McGregor , Natalie Portman , Hayden Christensen , Ian McDiarmid , Samuel L. Jackson , Christopher Lee , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Frank Oz , Ahmed Best , Temuera Morrison Runtime 140 Minutes

33 Young Han Solo Puts A Twist On The Iconic Phrase

Solo: A Star Wars Story

As the phrase became more and more recognizable within Star Wars, various movies and shows began implementing ways of adding a neat twist to the iconic line. One of these is found in Solo: A Star Wars Story. When Alden Ehrenreich’s Han Solo takes command of the Millennium Falcon during a maelstrom, he tells his crew “I’ve got a really good feeling about this.” This twist draws a knowing smile from the audience, all while reflecting Solo’s cocky, confident demeanor and reversing a line by the character from later in the chronological timeline.

Solo A Star Wars Story Movie Poster

Solo: A Star Wars Story
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Solo: A Star Wars Story is a spin-off of the Star Wars franchise that focuses on the early years of Han Solo, with Alden Ehrenreich replacing Harrison Ford as the iconic smuggler. The movie explores how Han met Chewbacca, acquired the Millennium Falcon, and became the roguish smuggler fans know and love. Donald Glover brings back Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson plays Tobias Beckett, Emilia Clarke portrays Qi’ra, and Paul Bettany embodies the crime lord Dryden Vos.

Director Ron Howard Release Date May 10, 2018 Writers Jonathan Kasdan , Lawrence Kasdan Cast Alden Ehrenreich , Emilia Clarke , Donald Glover , Woody Harrelson , Phoebe Waller-Bridge , Thandiwe Newton Runtime 135minutes

32 K-2SO Is Rudely Interrupted By Cassian Andor

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Cassian Andor, Jyn Erso, and K-2SO standing in Imperial uniforms in Rogue One (2016)

As was the case with Solo, Rogue One added a small twist to the Star Wars phrase. As the trio of Jyn, Cassian, and K-2SO are infiltrating the Imperial base on Scarif, the latter voices his discomfort. K-2 begins to tell the others he has a bad feeling about this, but cannot finish the phrase before Cassian and Jyn tell him to be quiet.

Rogue One A Star Wars Story Movie Poster

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
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Set in the weeks leading up to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story provides additional context for the Rebellion’s plan to destroy the Death Star. Rogue One follows Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) as she enlists the help of Rebel Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to locate her father, Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), after the Empire kidnaps him. 

Director Gareth Edwards Release Date December 13, 2016 Writers Tony Gilroy , Chris Weitz Cast Felicity Jones , Diego Luna , Ben Mendelsohn , Donnie Yen , Mads Mikkelsen , Alan Tudyk , Jiang Wen , Forest Whitaker Runtime 134 Minutes

31 Luke Skywalker Feels The Foreboding Nature Of The Death Star

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Harrison Ford as Han Solo inside the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars

The first instance of someone having a bad feeling came from Luke Skywalker himself. As he, Obi-Wan, Han Solo, and Chewbacca approach the Death Star, Luke tells his friends that he has a “very bad feeling about this.” Unbeknownst to George Lucas and co. at the time, this one line catapulted the phrase into Star Wars folklore.

Star Wars Movie Poster

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
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The film that began the Star Wars franchise, Episode IV – A New Hope tells the story of wistful Force-sensitive Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who longs to leave his home planet of Tatooine to fight the evil Empire. After inheriting his Jedi father’s weapon, a lightsaber, Luke sets off under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) with smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to join the Rebellion and face the evil Darth Vader.

Director George Lucas Release Date May 25, 1977 Writers George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Frank Oz , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , Peter Cushing Runtime 121 Minutes

30 Han Solo Feels Dismay In The Trash Compactor

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Luke, Han, and Leia try to stop the trash compactor in Star Wars

Concerning both chronology and release order, A New Hope is the first Star Wars movie to have two separate instances of the iconic line. After Luke, Han, and Leia fall into the Death Star’s trash compactor, Han tells the others that he has a bad feeling about their predicament. As it turns out, Han’s foresight is excellent, as the walls of the compactor begin closing in around them.

Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill burst a blood vessel filming this scene, causing Lucas to shoot only one side of his face until it healed.

29 Princess Leia Foreshadows The Mynock Attack

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Mynocks lair in Star Wars

In The Empire Strikes Back, Han lands the Millennium Falcon in a mysterious place to escape the pursuing Empire. As he and Leia explore their surroundings, the latter states she has a bad feeling about it. This is followed by the MYnock attack, proving Leia – like Han a movie earlier – to have foreshadowed a life-threatening event.

Empire Strikes Back Episode 5 Poster

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
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1980 saw the continuation of the Skywalker Saga with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Although this was the second film in the Star Wars series itself, it would end up being the fifth film chronologically in the Skywalker Saga itself. Created by George Lucas and directed by Irvin Kershner, this sequel sees Darth Vader attempting to locate the Rebel Alliance after they destroyed the Death Star.

Director Irvin Kershner Release Date May 21, 1980 Writers George Lucas , Lawrence Kasdan , Leigh Brackett Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Frank Oz , Billy Dee Williams , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Peter Mayhew , James Earl Jones Runtime 124 minutes

28 C-3PO Doesn’t Trust Luke’s Rescue Attempt

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

C-3PO and R2-D2 standing next to one another on Tatooine

Return of the Jedi opens with the attempt to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt. Two key components of the plan are R2-D2 and C-3PO, though the latter is not keen on their chances. The protocol droid uses the iconic Star Wars phrase to voice his concern to the astromech as they cross the threshold into Jabba’s palace.

Return of the Jedi Poster

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
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The third film released and the sixth film chronologically in the Star Wars Saga, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is a sci-fi epic adventure film that continues the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, and friends as they battle against the Empire. After a narrow escape but crushing defeat at the hands of the empire, the rebel alliance learns that a new Death Star has been constructed above the moon of Endor. With the war reaching its conclusion, the heroes will team with the forest planet’s inhabitants and prepare themselves for one final showdown with Darth Vander and the Galactic Empire.

Director Richard Marquand Release Date May 25, 1983 Writers Lawrence Kasdan , George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , James Earl Jones , Billy Dee Williams , Ian McDiarmid , Peter Mayhew , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Frank Oz , Sebastian Shaw , Alec Guinness Runtime 131 Minutes

27 Han Solo Thinks He Will Become An Ewok Meal

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

Han Solo And Luke Skywalker Surrounded By Ewoks in Star Wars

Han Solo’s line of “I have a really bad feeling about this” when being bound by the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi is interesting for two reasons. For one, it marks another Star Wars movie in which the line is spoken twice. Secondly, it links back to Solo: A Star Wars Story, with the line being reversed by Alden Ehrenreich’s younger version of the character.

Han Solo from the Force Awakens looking angry to the left and Han Solo from the original trilogy looking serious in the center and to the right in a combined image
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Star Wars: Han Solo’s 10 Best Quotes

Han Solo is one of Star Wars’ most iconic characters, and these 10 quotes from the original and sequel trilogies represent his very best.

26 Han Solo Regrets Hauling Rathtars

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

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Han Solo’s introduction in Star Wars: The Force Awakens reveals that he is hauling rathtars on a freighter. Later, the rathtars are set loose, causing many problems for Han, Chewbacca, Finn, and Rey. As the rathtars announce their freedom, Han Solo tells Chewie that he has a bad feeling about this.

Han Solo utters Star Wars’ iconic phrase more times than any other character in the Skywalker Saga movies.

Star Wars the Force Awakens Poster

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
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Set 30 years after Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the JediStar Wars: The Force Awakens teams new heroes Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), who is now a General in the Rebel Alliance. Together they try to track down Luke Skywalker while battling the First Order, led by the villainous Kylo Ren. The Force Awakens is the first Star Wars film to be produced by Disney and was directed by JJ Abrams.

Director J.J. Abrams Release Date December 17, 2015 Writers Lawrence Kasdan , J.J. Abrams , Michael Arndt Cast Daisy Ridley , John Boyega , Oscar Isaac , Harrison Ford , Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , Adam Driver , Andy Serkis , Lupita Nyong’o , Max Von Sydow , Peter Mayhew , Simon Pegg Runtime 136 Minutes

25 BB-8 Doesn’t Trust Poe’s Plan Of Attack

Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

Like Solo and Rogue One, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is another installment that subverts expectations with “I have a bad feeling about this.” In the film’s opening, Poe Dameron flies his X-Wing to the front of the First Order fleet to delay their attack. BB-8, his trusty droid, emits a few forlorn beeps and whistles, to which Poe replies “Happy beeps buddy, come on.” Rian Johnson, writer-director of The Last Jedi, has since revealed that BB-8 spoke to iconic words in the film in a neat twist on the Star Wars trope.

Star Wars The Last Jedi Poster

Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
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In the second installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, General Leia Organa leads the Resistance forces against the First Order. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker struggles to come to terms with his past failures, while Rey urges him to train her in the Force and join the resistance. Culminating in a massive battle between the two armies, The Last Jedi raises the stakes of this intergalactic war, and sees the final fight of one beloved character.

Director Rian Johnson Release Date December 15, 2017 Writers Rian Johnson Cast Daisy Ridley , Oscar Isaac , Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , John Boyega , Adam Driver , Andy Serkis , Lupita Nyong’o , Anthony Daniels , Gwendoline Christie , Kelly Marie Tran , Laura Dern Runtime 152 Minutes

24 Lando Echoes His Close Friend When The First Order Attack

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

Lando Calrissian in Rise of Skywalker looking surprised

The final bad feeling any character feels in the Skywalker Saga comes from Lando Calrissian. This is fitting, as Lando is close friends with Han, who holds the record for saying the line the most. As the First Order troops land on Pasaana, Lando speaks the words, rounding out the iconic phrase for the 11-movie saga, at least until Rey’s New Jedi Order movie is released.

Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker Poster

Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker
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This is the third installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy and serves as the culmination of the Skywalker saga. The film sees Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe (Oscar Isaac), and Finn (John Boyega) team up to put an end to the First Order after Palpatine mysteriously returns. Jurassic World helmsman Colin Trevorrow was originally named director back in 2015 when the film first entered development, but he parted ways with Lucasfilm due to creative differences over the script. In September 2017, Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams signed on to finish what he started.

Director J.J. Abrams Release Date December 20, 2019 Writers Chris Terrio , J.J. Abrams Cast Carrie Fisher , Oscar Isaac , Anthony Daniels , Joonas Suotamo , Mark Hamill , Adam Driver , Ian McDiarmid , Kelly Marie Tran , Billie Lourd , Keri Russell , Richard E. Grant , Daisy Ridley , Lupita Nyong’o , Dominic Monaghan , John Boyega , Domhnall Gleeson , Billy Dee Williams , Naomi Ackie Runtime 142 minutes

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23 A B-1 Battle Droid Fears For His Safety

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 1, Episode 3, “Shadow of Malevolence”

Independent thinking battle droids in The Clone Wars

It is not only Star Wars movies that feature the phrase, but TV shows too. The first instance of it being spoken in Star Wars: The Clone Wars features a B-1 battle droid. Before a battle for the titular ship, the Malevolence, the droid states he has a bad feeling.

Star Wars The Clone Wars Season 7 Poster

Star Wars: The Clone Wars
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The animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes place between Episodes 2 and 3 of the Star Wars film saga. The fan-favorite series expands the story of the prequel trilogy through characters including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, and more fan-favorite jedi.

Cast Matt Lanter , james arnold taylor , Ashley Eckstein , Dee Bradley Baker , Matthew Wood , Tom Kane , Catherine Taber , Terrence Carson , Corey Burton , Nika Futterman , Katee Sackhoff , Sam Witwer Release Date October 3, 2008 Seasons 7 Network Disney Channel Writers Dave Filoni , George Lucas Directors Dave Filoni Showrunner Dave Filoni

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22 Commander Cody Shares His Worries With Captain Rex

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 1, Episode 5, “Rookiees”

Commander Cody, Kix, Captain Rex, and Jesse greet the Bad Batch in the Clone Wars, edited with yellow and blue coloring Custom Image by Molly Brizzell

Two episodes after the battle droid utters the phrase, a soldier on the opposite side of the war does the same. In the episode “Rookiees,” Commander Cody and Captain Rex are shown walking toward a listening post on a moon. As they do, the former tells the latter that he has a bad feeling about the mission.

21 Anakin’s Ship Gets Damaged In A Clone Wars Battle

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 1, Episode 6, “Downfall of a Droid”

Anakin Skywalker gives his lightsaber to Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1, episode 22 "Hostage Crisis."

This episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars features Anakin Skywalker fighting in the Battle of Bothawui. In this battle, his ship is irreparably damaged. Before this happens, Anakin says he has a bad feeling about this, marking the second time the character of Anakin has said the phrase after Attack of the Clones.

20 Captain Rex Doubts His Mission With General Skywalker

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 1, Episode 7, “Duel of the Droids”

A tear falls down Captain Rex's cheek as he faces Ahsoka Tano with despair

In the episode after Anakin’s ship is destroyed, the Jedi fights off battle droids with Captain Rex. The due find themselves atop Skytop Station, surrounded by legions of the droids. Regretting this dangerous situation, Rex tells his general that he has a bad feeling about their predicament.

Yoda in front of a Clone Wars poster
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From a Yoda adventure to Darth Maul’s history with Mandalore, here are the 10 best Clone Wars episodes, and what they meant to the Star Wars universe.

19 Jar Jar Binks’ Plan To Rescue Padmé Is Not Promising To C-3PO

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 1, Episode 8, “Bombad Jedi”

Onaconda Farr and Padme Amidala in Bombad Jedi The Clone Wars

In Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1, Padmé is the subject of kidnapping by the Trade Federation. The only people left to save her are C-3PO and Jar Jar Binks, prompting the latter to devise a plan to save her. After telling the protocol droid of his plan, Jar Jar Binks is met with the reply that C-3PO has a bad feeling about their rescue attempt.

18 Nute Gunray Puts An Interesting Twist On The Star Wars Phrase

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 1, Episode 9, “Cloak of Darkness”

Commander Gree gives Nute Gunray a dirty look in Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Just as Solo and The Last Jedi subverted expectations of “I have a bad feeling about this,” The Clone Wars season 1, episode 9 does the same. The episode sees Nute Gunray freed from Republic incarceration by a rogue clone captain and Asaaj Ventress. At the end of the episode, Gunray tells both characters “I always had a very good feeling about you…”

17 C-3PO’s Droid Experiences Cause Doubt

Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Season 1, Episode 17, “Blue Shadow Virus”

C-3PO and R2-D2 in a deleted scene from The Empire Strikes Back

In this episode, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka struggle to free Padmé and Jar Jar Binks from a bio-weapons lab and stop the release of a virus. At one point, C-3PO encounters other droids and witnesses one getting its head sawed open. As this happens, 3PO remarks “I’m getting a bad feeling about this.”

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