Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

PG

Released May 21, 1980

2h 4m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

93%

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175 Reviews

97%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The adventure continues in this "Star Wars" sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda. Only with the Jedi master's help will Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse).

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Critics Consensus

Dark, sinister, but ultimately even more involving than A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back defies viewer expectations and takes the series to heightened emotional levels.

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David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

A Wagnerian pop movie -- grandiose, thrilling, imperiously generous in scale, and also a bit ponderous... The throwaway wit and the recondite references to old movies have been replaced with solemn reverence.

Apr 24, 2025

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Jack Mathews

Detroit Free Press

The Empire Strikes Back will deserve whatever it earns. Despite the inevitable loss of exhilaration moviegoers will experience from a second installment, it is an extraordinarily broad audience entertainment.

Apr 24, 2025

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Peter Travers

Gannett Westchester Rockland Newspapers

After 10 minutes into The Empire Strikes Back, I realized that I was getting more than I bargained for. This film was not a sequel at all, but a freshly conceived movie marvel.

Apr 24, 2025

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Lane Mills

InSession Film

A New Hope was first but there wouldn’t be a Star Wars as it stands today without The Empire Strikes Back.

Rated: A+

Jun 9, 2025

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Robert A. Masullo

Sacramento Bee

An audio-visual super-duper-spectacle, worth every penny of the $22 million it took to make. The continuation of the Star Wars saga is a cornucopia of treats that move along so briskly you're afraid you'll miss something if you blink.

Apr 24, 2025

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David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

Uncharacteristically for a Star Wars saga, [Luke and Vader's confrontation] is chilling psychologically as well as physically. For the rest, though, The Empire Strikes Back is good-natured hokum.

Apr 24, 2025

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Khris

watching it in a theater proves that a movie thats 40 years old is still better than the sequel trilogy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/25/22

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Suzan L

Nice to be back at the movies with safety measures in place. Classic films being shown, so I got to see Empire Strikes Back in the theatre for the first in years.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/21

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Les W

It's hard to believe this movie exists. Star Wars was so good, that to think they could not only follow it up, but improve on in any way, is almost unimaginable! But, Empire is one of the best times I ever had in a theater! Back in the lost lands of 1980, when movies were simpler and there was no internet, and no means of immediately sharing movie experiences, good or bad, we all had one movie experience that united us! The first movie I ever saw in Dolby 70mm stereo, and on a huge Atlanta screen, this movie remains the best time I ever had watching a movie. It may not be my top favorite, but it was so damn good! Everyone is back, the Falcon is evading asteroids, Imperial Walkers are stomping down on us! Yoda! Luke in training! Han and Leia! Vader! Just that image of the back of his head, looking for Luke and company, large and in charge...no sniveling youth, no Emperor's pet, just DARTH VADER, Man of Mystery! After our hapless heroes like it's nobody's business! "Asteroids do not concern me, Admiral! I want that ship, and not excuses!" Where did this wonderful era of great movies go? Well,at least we can watch this one, and for a short time, remember. Remember the magic of unadulterated awesomeness!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/25

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Joey L

ICONIC! The only Star Wars Movies better than this one are A New Hope, Revenge of The Sith, and The Force Awakens. Great plot and even better characters. Visuals are stunning for 1980.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

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Jordan B.

Inarguably the best original Star Wars movie with inarguably the greatest plot twist in cinematic history at the end. 10/10 one of the greatest experiences you could ever have watching a film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

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Kyle B.

My favorite of the original trilogy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

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Irvin Kershner

Director

Mark Hamill

Luke Skywalker

Harrison Ford

Han Solo

Carrie Fisher

Princess Leia

Billy Dee Williams

Lando Calrissian

Anthony Daniels

C-3PO

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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back: Trailer 2

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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back: Teaser Trailer 1

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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The adventure continues in this "Star Wars" sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda. Only with the Jedi master's help will Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse).

Director: Irvin Kershner
Producer: Gary Kurtz
Screenwriter: George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Leigh Brackett
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Lucasfilm Ltd.
Rating: PG (Sci-Fi Action Violence)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 21, 1980, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 1982
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $291.9M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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