Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Play trailer

1:53

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

PG

Released May 21, 1980

2h 4m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

113 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).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Richard Combs

Sight & Sound

That story counts for less than gimmicks, and characters less than both, might be judged from the lack of resonance in the one narrative revelation, concerning Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.

Dec 16, 2019

Full Review

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

The Empire Strikes Back Displays the same soaring imagination that made Star Wars a filmmaking classic; most other space movies seem clunky and earthbound in comparison.

Jul 17, 2019

Full Review

Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

This is a respectable sequel to Star Wars but not as good.

Apr 27, 2018

Full Review

Calum Cooper

Movies We Texted About

Darker, more mature and more character focused than its predecessor, it furthers the original’s themes and maintains the spectacle and excitement that we have come to love from these films.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 14, 2024

Full Review

Abigail Stevens

Screen Rant

The Empire Strikes Back is the dark follow-up that surpassed the original Star Wars with higher stakes, spectacular visuals, and stronger arcs.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 11, 2024

Full Review

Akhil Arora

AkhilArora.com

The second half is where the middle chapter of the original trilogy gets good.

May 31, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Obi-wan K

peak cinema loved it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/14/24

Full Review

Marco L

En esta obra maestra del cine de ciencia ficción, el conflicto entre el bien y el mal alcanza una profundidad y madurez narrativa rara vez vista en el género. La película nos sumerge en un viaje emocional intenso, donde los héroes, como Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa y Han Solo, enfrentan derrotas devastadoras y traiciones dolorosas. La atmósfera oscura y pesimista se ve realzada por una de las bandas sonoras más memorables y emblemáticas de la historia del cine, que acompaña cada giro de la trama con maestría. La historia comienza con un espectáculo visual asombroso: la batalla en Hoth, un paisaje helado que combina tensión, estrategia y acción a gran escala, con la inolvidable presencia de los imponentes AT-AT del Imperio. Este inicio no solo establece el tono épico de la película, sino que marca un contraste con el desarrollo más íntimo que sigue. El arco de Luke Skywalker, guiado por Yoda, un maestro lleno de sabiduría en el aislado y místico planeta Dagobah, aporta un toque espiritual y reflexivo. Aunque este segmento puede percibirse como más pausado en comparación con el resto del filme, proporciona una evolución esencial en la narrativa y en el desarrollo del personaje. Darth Vader brilla con una intensidad magnética, consolidándose como uno de los villanos más icónicos del cine. Su poder, presencia y la revelación de que es el padre de Luke elevan la trama a niveles inolvidables, dejando al espectador con una sensación de asombro y fascinación. Los momentos finales, marcados por la traición de Lando Calrissian a Han Solo y el destino desgarrador de este último, que termina congelado en carbonita, dejan al público en un estado de conmoción y expectación. Es una película que combina espectáculo visual, narración profunda y personajes memorables, consolidando su lugar como un referente intemporal en el cine.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

Full Review

max e

The best star wars movie off all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/10/24

Full Review

Will G

This is the definition of a perfect movie!!! The only Star Wars movie I think is better is Revenge of the Sith but both of them are great.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/05/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Irvin Kershner

Director

Mark Hamill

Luke Skywalker

Harrison Ford

Han Solo

Carrie Fisher

Princess Leia

Billy Dee Williams

Lando Calrissian

Anthony Daniels

C-3PO

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

82%

94%

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

93%

96%

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

52%

59%

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Howard the Duck

13%

38%

Howard the Duck

Watchlist

Superman II

83%

76%

Superman II

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Jacob Tremblay’s Five Favorite Films

12 Movie- and TV-Tied Video Games We Can’t Wait to Play

All Star Wars Movies Ranked Worst to Best By Tomatometer

The Happytime Murders' Five Favorite Films

1:07

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

1:53

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

1:25

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

2:06

View more videos

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now