Every blockbuster has one phrase that is so popular, both fans and even those new to such franchises are familiar with it. “May the Force Be With You” is the popular phrase in Star Wars. If you are new to the series, you may wonder who uttered the phrase.
General Dodonna uttered “May the Force Be With You” in A New Hope, right before the Battle of Yavin. Han Solo, who initially called the Jedi a hokey religion, later says it to Luke Skywalker.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, and Yoda are also notable characters who say the line.
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Who is the First to Say May the Force Be With You?
On May 25th, 1977, A New Hope, then known as Star Wars, hit theaters and quickly enamored fans.
Early in the film, Obi-Wan Kenobi rescues Luke Skywalker from sand people and reveals himself as a former Jedi Knight. It is here that we first learn about the Force and its mysterious properties.
However, Kenobi was not the first one to say “May the Force Be With You” in the films.
Before A New Hope’s climax, General Dodonna informs the Rebels of how to destroy the Death Star. He ends the meeting by saying the phrase, marking the first time a character says the line in the film series.
First to Say May the Force Be With You Chronologically in the Skywalker Saga
The Skywalker Saga comprises nine films and three trilogies. If you intend to watch the Skywalker Saga in chronological order, you want to begin with The Phantom Menace, set in 32 BBY.
Unlike A New Hope, which takes place in 0 BBY, the Jedi’s numbers are strong in The Phantom Menace, and it’s easy to assume characters say the phrase more often.
Qui-Gon Jinn is the first to say it chronologically in the Skywalker Saga, before Anakin Skywalker’s pod race.
How Many Times is May the Force Be With You Said?
A movie phrase can only gain popularity if its characters, main and minor, say it. In the Skywalker Saga, characters say the line 20 times.
“May the Force Be With You” is only said twice in A New Hope, by General Dodonna and Han Solo, and just once in The Empire Strikes Back.
However, we have to wait until the end of the latter flick, when Luke says it as a way of wishing Chewbacca and Lando good luck in the mission to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt. Return of the Jedi is the one film in the Skywalker Saga where we don’t hear the phrase.
The Prequel Trilogy
The Jedi’s presence in The Prequel Trilogy means we hear “May the Force Be With You” far more often. Besides Qui-Gon uttering the phrase to Anakin, Yoda and Mace Windu both say it when Qui-Gon informs the Jedi Council about his duel with Darth Maul on Tatooine.
Yoda says the line a second time in a Jedi Council meeting after forbidding Qui-Gon from training Anakin, giving us a total of four times characters use the phrase in The Phantom Menace.
You will hear it three times in Attack of the Clones. Obi-Wan Kenobi uses it for the first time in the series before Anakin and Padme set off for Naboo and Anakin replies with the adage.
Later in the movie, Obi-Wan embarks to Kamino to explore the potential existence of the Clone Army. Before Obi-Wan journeys to the planet, Mace Windu says it to wish Kenobi good luck.
Despite the crumbling Republic and the Jedi Purge, we hear “May the Force Be With You” five times in Revenge of the Sith.
You may notice a trend that to this point in The Prequel Trilogy, only the Jedi have said the line. Revenge of the Sith is no different, with Mace Windu saying the phrase to end a Jedi Council meeting.
Yoda says the phrase once more before he goes to Kashyyyk. And during the final friendly conversation between Anakin and Obi-Wan, the latter uses it.
Before Yoda confronts Darth Sidious and Obi-Wan confronts Darth Vader, the duo say it to one another. While The Original Trilogy sees characters say “May the Force Be With You” just three times, you hear it 12 times in The Prequel Trilogy.
The Sequel Trilogy
In The Force Awakens, thanks to the fast-rising First Order and belief in the Force once again becoming taboo, you only hear General Leia say it to Rey during the film’s closing moments.
Despite the nominal occurrence of the line in The Force Awakens, characters speak the line three times in The Last Jedi. Admiral Holdo is the first to use the phrase before Finn says it later.
Holdo and Leia stammer, but don’t clearly say it until the former reiterates, giving “May the Force Be With You” its third official use in the film. And to close out the Skywalker Saga, it is used just once during Rey’s climactic battle scene with Darth Sidious in The Rise of Skywalker.
Fittingly, Luke Skywalker’s spirit, amidst a horde of Jedi spirits, says it to give Rey one final dose of inspiration to end Sidious for good. It is also Luke’s last line in the series.
Rogue One and Solo
Rogue One and Solo are two movies that take place between 19 BBY and 0 BBY. However they are anthology films, and not considered part of the Skywalker Saga.
You will hear “May the Force Be With You” twice in the two films combined. Jyn Erso is the first to say it in Rogue One before a mission and Admiral Raddus is the second to use the phrase.
We also know that Han Solo does not believe in the Force in The Original Trilogy. Therefore, you do not hear any of the characters say it in Solo.
Variations
There have been several variations to the phrase throughout the Star Wars films. In the Prequel Trilogy, Mace Windu once said, “May the Force Be With Us All.”
In A New Hope, Obi-Wan’s Force ghost says to Luke, “Remember, the Force will be with you always.” Obi-Wan uses a similar variant earlier in the film.
Since the aforementioned quotes do not 100% match “May the Force Be With You”, they are not considered among the 20 times characters say it during the Skywalker Saga.
What is the Correct Reply to May the Force Be With You?
The short answer, as we saw in Attack of the Clones, is to say “May the Force Be With You” back to the individual who said it. This is again the case when Anakin and Obi-Wan part ways for the final time in Revenge of the Sith before they meet again for their duel on Mustafar.
In The Phantom Menace, however, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon bow after hearing the phrase when they face the Jedi Council when the latter seeks permission to train Anakin. Finally, in A New Hope, Luke gives the briefest nod and walks away when Han Solo says it.
With what we see from the films, there is no right or wrong way to respond to “May the Force Be With You”. Each individual character in Star Wars has their own reply, whether it involves repeating the phrase to the character who said it, bowing, or saying nothing at all.
What Does May the Force Be With You Mean?
The Skywalker Saga leaves us several clues regarding the phrase’s meaning. This is apparent from the first time General Dodonna uses it in A New Hope, minutes before the Battle of Yavin, as a way of wishing good luck or good fortune when parting ways, or before times of challenge.
Diving deeper, it is also a wish that the Force will work for the individual the phrase is said to and that they will be successful in their task.
It can also serve as a greeting between two Jedi. This occurs in the Jedi Council meeting in The Phantom Menace when Mace Windu says it to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.
May the Force Be With You Origins
While in the Skywalker Saga, we hear Qui-Gon first use the phrase in 32 BBY, “May the Force Be With You” traces its origins to ancient times. Per Star Wars Legends, the ancient Je’Daii Order used the phrase, “May the Force Go With You.”
Just as the Je’Daii evolved into the Jedi over time, so did many other aspects of their Order, including lightsabers, and even the phrase itself.