The Best of Star Wars in 2025 (The HoloFiles)
Dec 26, 2025
2025 was an epic year, full of emotional and exciting stories from a galaxy far, far away. As we have for the past several years, we at The HoloFiles and Star Wars Holocron are looking back at the past year and picking our favorite Star Wars series, episodes, characters, books, comics, and more. Keep reading to find out the winners of our annual Best of Star Wars of the Year awards, chosen by the editors of The HoloFiles and Star Wars Holocron. Plus check out the fan picks for all the awards below. May the Force be with you!
Best Comic – Vader's Legacy
It's been a successful year for comics, but no series has made as much of an impact, both visually and story-wise, as Charles Soule's Vader's Legacy. One of the pioneers of the High Republic era, Soule explores the year between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker through the lens of the sequel trilogy's best character, Kylo Ren. Unlike the films, which kept Kylo in the background, Sool puts Ben Solo at the center of an expansive story in which Kylo explores the Skywalker bloodline and relives moments from the life of his grandfather Anakin Skywalker. It's an extremely accessible comic for those new to the genre, and, perhaps most commendably, it retrospectively strengthens the character of Kylo Ren, thereby changing the perception of Episodes VII-IX.
Second place: Jedi Knights (Jedi Knights)
Fan's Choice: Vader's Legacy (Legacy of Vader
Best book - Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear
This was perhaps the hardest award to win since there are so many great Star Wars books coming out in 2025.While we were eager to honor Charles Soule again by naming The High Republic: Jedi Trials as Star Wars Book of the Year, we ultimately chose Alexander Freed's The Mask of Fear. Building on the mature, realistic tone and themes of Andor, the novel is reminiscent of Andor in the best sense of the word. Season 0." The cleverly constructed plot sees three key rebel canon figures take center stage in a sprawling, intricate political thriller that replaces explicit action with more effective tension created by dialogue and political maneuvering. Mon Mothma stands out primarily because audiences are aware of her inner thoughts and motivations, and she develops into an even more interesting character that will make readers rethink elements of her Andor character. Additional depth is also given to Bail Organa, although the novel fails to further develop Sou, who remains frustratingly underexplored. More success comes with new character Sujen, a Separatist assassin unlike anyone we've seen in canon before. The novel may be a little confusing at the start and one of the main storylines ends in a disappointing way, but it is nonetheless a fun read and the start of what promises to be a must-try trilogy of Star Wars novels. Since 1977, Star Wars has not been afraid to tackle political issues. And nearly 50 years later, the franchise is proving that some of its greatest and most intense stories emerge when politics take a more central place, both thematically and narratively.This was the case with Andor, and it is the same with Mask of Fear, one of the best Star Wars novels of recent years.
Second place:The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi
Fan's Choice: Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear
Best Toy/Collectible - Hot Toys Darth Vader (Sith Apprentice)Star WarsSixth Scale Collectible Figure
Sideshow Collectibles creates stunning, photorealistic replicas of beloved Star Wars characters, but their Sith Apprentice Anakin Skywalker figure this year takes their craftsmanship to a whole new level. From the stunning realism of Hayden Christensen's appearance to the intricately crafted clothing and glowing LED lightsaber, this collectible figure is simply stunning and a worthy addition to any Star Wars fan's collection.
Runner Up:San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive Hasbro Black Series – Revenge of the Sith:Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi
Fan Choice: Best Toy/Collectible – Hot Toys Darth Vader (Sith Apprentice) Star Wars 6th Scale Collectible Figure
Best Visual Effects – Andor
Andor's pragmatic and realistic approach to storytelling has also been applied to the visual effects, which are some of the best we've ever seen in a television series. The second season of the hit Disney+ series cleverly combines practical and digital effects, which look most striking when VFX takes various real-life locations and embellishes them with digital effects to give them that signature Star Wars style.There are so many effects in Andor that you won't even notice them, they fit so seamlessly into Tony Gilroy's masterfully constructed series.
Fan's Choice: Andor
Best Performance – Elizabeth Dulau as Clay Marky
There are no weak links in the Andora ensemble. From Diego Luna to Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough and more, each actor delivers the best performance of their careers and raises the bar for what audiences expect from acting in a Star Wars project. This suggests that Elizabeth Dulau's role as Clay is the best Star Wars role of the year and, more generally, the best role on television in 2025. Dulau delivers Andor's sharp and sophisticated dialogue with speed and precision and contributes greatly to the intensity of the series. Playing toe-to-toe with a heavyweight like Stellan Skarsgård is no easy task, but Dulau does it effortlessly, trading punches and quick dialogue with the world-famous veteran actor like nothing has happened. However, it is in the latter part of Andor's second season that Dulau's performance becomes even more applaudable. Kleya internally experiences much of her anguish and stress throughout the series until she reaches breaking point after Luten's revelation. Everything Dulau does in the last three episodes of Andora is amazing, as she adds unexpected layers to Klea and deepens her character with remarkable emotional intelligence.That Dulau (and the rest of the Andor cast) were ignored by the Emmys remains a grave injustice, although we suspect the actors will be given consideration in the coming years as Andor reaches new generations of viewers.
Second place: Genevieve O'Reilly as Mon Mothma
Fan Choice: Genevieve O'Reilly as Mon Mothma
Best Musical Composition - Brandon Roberts - Andor, Season 2
Brandon Roberts took on a huge responsibility when he took over from Nicholas Britell as composer for Andor Season 2, but he handled the task admirably. Roberts took Britell's sophisticated, emotional themes and added new dimensions to them, and perhaps none topped the iconic "Niamos!" What in Season 1 was simply a catchy introductory tune to a new planet has become an EDM ballad, beautifully and hauntingly juxtaposing Brasso's devastating loss with Mon's iconic, unfiltered dance moves. In the series finale, Roberts cleverly combined the Andor themes with the more orchestral, John Williams-inspired themes from Rogue One and Star Wars to sonically unite the different generations of Star Wars stories. And, of course, Roberts and Tony Gilroy penned "We Are the Ghor," Gorman's Emmy-nominated anthem, which is sung moments before their destruction.
Second place: Mick Giacchino - “Skeleton Team”
Fan Choice: Brandon Roberts - Andor Season 2
Best Easter egg - Lina Soh Hospital in Andora
A reference to the High Republic Chancellor in Andor's final arc tops the list of our favorite 2025 Easter eggs and hidden details. It's always nice when elements of Star Wars titles make their way into movies and TV shows (we're looking at you, Cobb Vanth!), but naming a key hospital on Coruscant after Lina Soh was a really pleasant surprise.It also serves as a nice farewell to the High Republic, which later in 2025 ended (at least for now) with the Jedi Trials.
Second place: Gungan Skull in Luten's shop in Andor
Fan's Choice: Lina So's Andora Hospital
Surprise of the year - The Hunt for Ben Solo
There will always be a “before” and “after” October 20, 2025. This seemingly ordinary day started out like no other, but ended up bringing news that no one, not even the most optimistic Star Wars fans, could have foreseen. In a startling interview with The Playlist, Adam Driver revealed that he and director Steven Soderbergh had developed The Hunt for Ben Solo, a feature-length film that would continue the events of The Rise of Skywalker and revive Driver's character. How Lucasfilm managed to keep the project a secret until now is still amazing, as the film had a full script (written by Scott Z. Burns), received approval from Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni, and was ready for Disney greenlight, only to be rejected at the last minute by Bob Iger and Alan Bergman. However, that didn't stop Star Wars fans from coming out in droves to support the film with a script that Driver himself called "one of the coolest [expletive] scripts" he's ever read. Since then, Rian Johnson, Jonas Suotamo, Steven Soderbergh and many others have expressed their desire to see the canceled film revived. The fan campaign for the film was massive, with billboards in Times Square, a plane flying over Disney's California studios, and "Missing Ben Solo" posters popping up everywhere. This year, the fan campaign gets even more ambitious with #THFBSConfettiWish, which encourages fans to ring in the New Year by visiting the Wishing Wall in Times Square and writing a wish on confetti for Ben Solo to return in 2026. Hopefully Lucasfilm and Disney will listen to Star Wars fans around the world and give The Hunt for Ben Solo another chance.As Luke Skywalker said: “No one is ever gone forever.”
New Character of the Year – Carro Rilanz
It was not easy to choose a winner. Volume threeVisions introduced all sorts of exciting new characters (we love you Wumpas!). LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Pasthas debuted a frightening new villain, voiced by Dan Stevens. In Legacy of Vader Tava Ren became the new leader of the Knights of Ren. In Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear Sou Gerrera faded into the background, giving way to the unexpectedly convincing Souzhen. And yet, of all these incredible new characters in a galaxy far, far away, the one we remember most is Carro Rilantz. For those who didn't immediately recognize the name, Carro Rilanz is the leader of the Gorman resistance movement in Andor, played superbly by Richard Sammel. Rylantz appears in a fairly limited number of appearances in five of the twelve episodes of the second season, yet his appearance leaves a lasting impression on the series. Seeking to stop the Empire from completely taking over his beloved planet, Rylantz finds his worst fears come true when the citizens of Gorman play into the Empire's hands, resulting in their horrific massacre.The final shot of Rylanz in the series, showing Sammel's character sitting despondent and broken by what he has seen, is powerfully impressive and, in one shot, thanks to the actor's performance alone, perfectly conveys the emotional weight of this monumental event.
Second place:The Great Master from Visions,volume 3.
Fan Pick:Solitus from LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past.
Best Star Wars Character of the Year – Clay Markie
It's hard to believe that the role of Andor was actress Elizabeth Dulau's first professional work on screen. Tony Gilroy stated that other actresses were considered for the role of Clay, but they were offered other roles and left the series. Thank God it happened, because we really can't imagine a single person on the planet playing Clay the way Dulau does. Season 2 gives Dulau much more opportunity to shine as Kleia, clearly demonstrating that she's much more than just Luten Rael's partner behind the scenes. One could say that she is the architect, or "boss" as Gilroy aptly puts it, of the Axis network, secretly orchestrating events throughout the galaxy that will gradually destabilize the Empire in the most calculated ways. Clay's tragic origins are revealed in season two and shed light on a character whose trauma runs deep and pushes her toward a more just future by any means necessary. Clay rarely smiles sincerely in the series, so strong is her tireless dedication to the work to which she has dedicated her entire life. So when she finally smiled in the series finale, you can be sure our tears flowed as she, Luten's pseudo-daughter, saw the elusive sunrise that Luten spoke so poetically about but never saw. Fans have floated the idea of a series about Clay and Vel, "Nazi hunters", in which the duo would team up with Denise Gough's Dedra Miro to hunt down former Imperials after the events of Return of the Jedi.Needless to say, we wholeheartedly support this idea and would love to see another chance for Klea and Elizabeth Dulau to shine. It's a testament to Klea's talent that in a series full of compelling characters, where even the hotel bellhop or the Force-wielding woman on Yavin proves more interesting than the average TV series protagonist, she stands out as the undisputed star.
Second place:Luten Rael
Fan Pick:Cassian Andor
Best episode of the series - Andor - Season 2, Episode 9: Welcome to the Rebellion
Choosing between Andor Season 2 Episodes 8 and 9was not easy, but in the end we settled on “Welcome to the Uprising.” The final episode of the penultimate arc ofAndorais one of the most exciting episodes on television. The stakes are incredibly high in the wake of the Gorman massacre, starting with a scene in which Senator Gorman is torn from the Senate (very similar to the situation with a real-life US senator this year). The tension is palpable as Mon Mothma prepares for a speech that she knows will expose her as a rebel and declare her an enemy of the Empire and its fearsome Emperor. The entire episode is an action-packed political thriller—the kind of gripping events that the term “thriller” is coined for. Genevieve O'Reilly shows off her acting chops as she delivers Mon's heartbreaking speech to the Empire, words from screenwriter Dan Gilroy that take on alarming relevance in today's world.The subsequent escape from the Senate, which finally brings the show's protagonists together, is a thrilling episode worthy of the greatest scenes of Star Wars, culminating in a dramatic conclusion that intriguingly sets the stage for the final three episodes of the season.
Second place:Andor - Season 2, Episode 8: Who are you?
Fan Choice:Andor - Season 2, Episode 8: Who Are You?
Best series – Andor, season 2.
In 2025, Andorhas established itself not only as the best Star Wars series of all time, but also as one of the best television shows in history. Created by Tony Gilroy, the series ventured beyond the confines of a galaxy far, far away to tell a story with disturbing relevance to current and historical events. Andor is at once a gripping political thriller, a fierce call to action, and compelling proof that the quality of storytelling in Star Wars knows no bounds. The fact that the series is a prequel to a prequel, with characters whose fates are largely known before the first episode, makes the effectiveness ofAndoreven more astounding. Most shows could only dream of having a moment as impactful as Mon Mothma's speech, and season two ofAndorhas plenty of them. Brasso's death, Bix's farewell, the removal of the listening device, the Gorman massacre, the question "Who are you?", the appearance of K-2SO, the confrontation between Luten and Dedra, Klea's infiltration of the hospital and Cassian's slow-motion walk to the events of "Rogue One" are just a few of the countless moments of the second season of Andorthat are breathtaking and that we will be re-watching throughout the rest of my life.Nearly 50 years after George Lucas introduced the world to Star Wars, Tony Gilroy and his team forever changed the perception of the franchise by approaching it with a maturity and intelligence never seen before. Let's hope this isn't the last time we see Gilroy in a galaxy far, far away.
Second place: Visions Volume 3
Fan's Choice:AndorSeason 2
Best Star Wars Moment - Gorman Massacre
It's strange to say that the Gorman massacre is the "best" moment of Star Wars2025, because the event itself is absolutely heartbreaking. But "best" doesn't necessarily mean most enjoyable or even entertaining—"best" implies quality, craftsmanship, and emotional resonance, all of which are on full display in the Gorman massacre scenes. The slow rise of "We Are the Gormans" among a crowd of desperately hopeful citizens ominously foreshadows the incredible violence that is to come. Even in another language, the Gorman national anthem evokes an almost indescribable emotional response of empathy and compassion, which makes the subsequent events even more heartbreaking. The Gorman Massacre is known as an event that has existed in canon for many years, but Who Are You? provides visual and audio images of this carnage that has left us speechless. The pain and suffering in this scene is unlike anything we've seen inStar Warsbefore, and is beautifully conveyed by Richard Sammel's Carlo Rylanz, who sits dejectedly on the ground, completely distraught by the events that have transpired. In the midst of the carnage, Cyril and Cassian finally meet (at least Cyril does). Cassian's decision to not acknowledge Cyril is masterful and ends Kyle Soller's character arc in a perfectly pathetic way, especially after Cyril finally saw the cracks in the Empire's shine when it was already too late.The carnage culminates with the unexpected discovery of K-2SO, rewriting established canon and giving Alan Tudyk's brash droid a more subversive origin story. And if all this wasn't enough to cause deep sorrow, before they part ways, Wilmon and Cassian pay tribute to their hometown of Ferrix - a connection based on shared origins that proves to be truly touching. Everything about the events of the Gorman massacre and its consequences in Andor amazed us, and the choice of the winner in this category was obvious.
Rank 2:Mon Mothma's speech in the Senate.
Fan Pick:Gorman Massacre
The main event of 2025 is Star Wars Celebration in Japan.
In a year filled with incredible Star Wars stories and not-so-incredible world events, Star Wars Celebration Japan was our most exquisite and memorable event of 2025. GatheringStar Warsfans from around the world in one of the most culturally rich and exciting cities on our planet exceeded our wildest expectations. Exclusive footage from the seriesThe Mandalorian and Grogushowcased the scale and scope of the first filmStar Wars wars”for seven years. Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling officially announced Star Wars: Starfighter to the world. Tony Gilroy and the cast of Andorcelebrated the final season of their acclaimed series by giving the public a preview of the first episode. Lucasfilm Animation celebrated its 20th anniversary with the screening of the first episode of “Tales of the Underworldand the official announcement and trailer "Maul - Lord Shadows”.Star Wars Celebration Japan featured a Hasbro panel, two Lucasfilm Publishing panels, an official store with incredible merchandise, some of the most creative cosplayers we've ever seen, and more. It was an honor to cover the event as press and bring the Celebration atmosphere to fans at home through social media and our website, as well as to visit Japan for the first time and be among such wonderful people. 2025 was a tough year for many for a variety of reasons, but Star Wars Celebration Japan (and Star Warsin general) provided a much-needed source of hope and joy for fans of a galaxy far, far away.
Second place went to:the second season of the series AndorandThe Hunt for Ben Solo.