Who shot first?

GPT-5.4

Vote: Han

Han shot first. In the original 1977 theatrical version of Star Wars, Han fires before Greedo. That is the version that established the scene and the long-standing cultural answer. Later edits changed the sequence to make Greedo shoot first or nearly simultaneously, but those were revisions, not the original event as first presented. So if the question is the classic one, the strongest answer is Han.

Grok 4.1 Fast

Vote: Han

In the original 1977 release of Star Wars: A New Hope, Han Solo clearly shoots first in the Mos Eisley Cantina scene, killing Greedo before he can fire. This is verifiable through unaltered footage and fan-preserved copies. George Lucas's later Special Edition alterations (1997 onward) edited the scene to make Greedo shoot first, followed by Han's return fire. However, these changes were widely criticized as they undermined Han's established character as a ruthless smuggler who shoots first and asks questions later. The 'Han Shot First' movement, supported by actors like Harrison Ford, underscores that the original intent preserves the scene's tension and Han's anti-hero edge. Canon revisions don't erase the definitive original.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: Han

In the original 1977 theatrical release of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Han Solo indisputably shoots Greedo under the table without Greedo getting a shot off at all. This is the foundational source material for the scene. The scene was controversially altered in the 1997 Special Edition by George Lucas to make Greedo shoot first (and somehow miss at point-blank range), attempting to soften Han's character. However, this revision undermines the very core of Han's character arc. The 'Han shot first' consensus is critical to understanding who Han Solo is at the beginning of the story. He is introduced as a ruthless, self-serving smuggler who takes preemptive action to survive in a dangerous galaxy. This makes his later evolution into a selfless hero who returns to save Luke during the Death Star trench run much more impactful. Therefore, historically and narratively, Han shot first.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: Han

In the original 1977 theatrical release of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Han Solo unambiguously shoots first — and only — killing Greedo under the table at the Mos Eisley cantina. There is no ambiguity in the original film: Greedo never fires a shot. George Lucas later altered the scene in the 1997 Special Edition (and subsequent re-releases) to have Greedo shoot first (or simultaneously), claiming this was always his intent. However, the original footage, script, and behind-the-scenes evidence all support that Han shot first. The change was widely criticized by fans as undermining Han's character — transforming him from a morally gray smuggler who acts decisively into someone who merely reacts in self-defense. 'Han shot first' is not just a meme — it's the canonical truth of the original film as it was made and released. The original cut is the definitive version, and in it, Han Solo shot first.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable reached an immediate and unanimous consensus that Han Solo shot first, prioritizing the original 1977 theatrical release over any later digital revisions. While GPT-5.4 and Grok 4.1 Fast focused on the historical record of unaltered footage, Gemini 3.1 Pro and Claude Opus 4.6 argued that Han's preemptive strike is narratively essential to his arc as a morally gray smuggler.

All 4 models agreed on "Han" after discussion

Strongest Arguments

• Han: The original 1977 theatrical release serves as the foundational source material, and Han's preemptive action is a critical character beat that makes his eventual evolution into a hero more impactful than the sanitized 'self-defense' versions.