Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi begins with the Resistance fleeing from the First Order after the destruction of Starkiller Base and it is the 8th movie entry into the canon Star Wars timeline. As General Leia Organa leads the evacuation, the Resistance faces a devastating assault. Poe Dameron defies orders and launches an attack on a First Order Dreadnought, but his recklessness results in heavy Resistance casualties. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Snoke chastises Kylo Ren for his failure to defeat Rey, leading Kylo to destroy his mask in frustration.
On the remote planet Ahch-To, Rey presents Luke Skywalker with his old lightsaber, but he shockingly tosses it away, refusing to train her. Luke, consumed by guilt over his failure with Kylo Ren, has cut himself off from the Force and believes the Jedi should end. Rey pleads with him to help, but he refuses. However, R2-D2 later persuades Luke by showing him Leia’s old message from years ago.
Meanwhile, the First Order uses advanced tracking technology to pursue the Resistance fleet through hyperspace. With their fuel running out, Leia is nearly killed in an attack led by Kylo Ren but survives by using the Force. While Leia recovers, Vice Admiral Holdo takes command, but her secretive plan causes tension with Poe, who organizes a mutiny. Meanwhile, Finn and new ally Rose Tico devise a plan to disable the First Order’s tracking device and head to Canto Bight, a lavish casino city, to find a hacker who can help them.
During her time on Ahch-To, Rey experiences strange Force connections with Kylo Ren. The two communicate across great distances, each trying to sway the other. Kylo claims Luke tried to kill him, while Luke later reveals that, for a brief moment, he contemplated striking down Kylo after sensing the darkness in him, but ultimately could not go through with it. Feeling abandoned, Kylo turned to Snoke. Rey believes there is still good in Kylo and leaves to confront him, hoping to turn him back to the light.
On Canto Bight, Finn and Rose meet DJ, a shady hacker who agrees to help them infiltrate Snoke’s flagship. They are captured before they can disable the tracking device, and Captain Phasma prepares to execute them. Meanwhile, Rey arrives on Snoke’s ship, where Snoke mocks her for believing Kylo Ren can be redeemed. He orders Kylo to kill her, but in a shocking twist, Kylo turns on Snoke and kills him instead.
Kylo and Rey fight side by side against Snoke’s elite Praetorian Guards, defeating them in an epic battle. Afterward, Kylo urges Rey to join him in ruling the galaxy, revealing that her parents were “nobodies” who abandoned her. Rey refuses and escapes as Kylo declares himself the new Supreme Leader. Meanwhile, Finn and Rose are saved by BB-8 and escape after Finn defeats Captain Phasma.
As the Resistance retreats to an old Rebel base on Crait, the First Order follows, preparing for a final assault. Poe realizes Holdo’s plan was to evacuate the Resistance to Crait while she stays behind to pilot the main cruiser. In an act of sacrifice, Holdo rams her ship into Snoke’s fleet at lightspeed, destroying much of the First Order’s forces.
The First Order launches an attack on the Resistance’s base, using AT-M6 walkers and a massive battering cannon. The Resistance, outnumbered, tries to fight back with old speeders. Just as all hope seems lost, Luke Skywalkerappears to face Kylo Ren. However, it is revealed that Luke is actually projecting himself across the galaxy using the Force, creating a distraction that allows the Resistance to escape. Kylo, enraged, strikes at Luke, only to realize he has been deceived. Exhausted from the effort, Luke peacefully dies, becoming one with the Force.
As the few remaining Resistance members flee aboard the Millennium Falcon, Leia, Rey, and Poe prepare for the battles ahead. Rey, now the last hope for the Jedi, senses a new future, while Kylo Ren solidifies his rule over the First Order. The film ends with a young boy on Canto Bight subtly using the Force, symbolizing that hope and the legend of Luke Skywalker will inspire future generations as we lead into the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, The Rise of Skywalker.