'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace' | 1999

( Keith Hamshere / Lucasfilm )

Despite the fanboy outrage at George Lucas' much ballyhooed return to the "Star Wars" universe, Neeson came through relatively unscathed. His Jedi knight mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn, was seen as one of the few bright spots in a film that featured the embarrassing Jar Jar Binks. Not only did Neeson get to participate in the film's show-stopping double lightsaber duel with villain Darth Maul, but Neeson had the fortune of perishing in the prequel, sparing him from having to appear in future installments of the series.