I Have the High Ground

I have the high ground refers to a popular catchphrase, originating from Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, said by Obi-Wan (portrayed by Ewan McGregor).

Online, it is mostly seen in relation to Prequel Memes, appearing on sites like Reddit or Instagram.

via MEME

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith was premiered in the US on May 16^th, 2005.

At the climax of the film, Obi-Wan and Anakin (played by Hayden Christensen) are facing off in a duel on the lava planet Mustafar, when at some point Kenobi jumps on the top of a hill, then telling Anakin “I have the high ground”.

The quote became popular among fans, spawning parodies and jokes online.

Early examples of “I have the high ground” appearing in jokes are a Lego comic as well as a Demotivational Poster, referring to the stand-off.

The quote would be frequently used on 4chan as far back as 2013 and it would appear on Reddit threads in 2017.

Robot Chicken also parodied the scene, with the clip having been uploaded to the YouTube channel of Adult Swim on March 21^st, 2016.

• Esquire.com – A New Star Wars Theory Explains the Real Meaning Behind Obi-Wan’s High Ground Advantage
• TV Tropes – I Have the High Ground
• Cbr.com – Star Wars: 10 I Have The High Ground Memes That Are Too Good