Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

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Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

PG

Released May 25, 1983

2h 11m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

170 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) battles horrible Jabba the Hut and cruel Darth Vader to save his comrades in the Rebel Alliance and triumph over the Galactic Empire. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) reaffirm their love and team with Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), the Ewoks and the androids C-3PO and R2-D2 to aid in the disruption of the Dark Side and the defeat of the evil emperor.

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Critics Consensus

Though failing to reach the cinematic heights of its predecessors, Return of the Jedi remains an entertaining sci-fi adventure and a fitting end to the classic trilogy.

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Michael Blowen

Boston Globe

Return of the Jedi, the final act of George Lucas' first Star Wars trilogy, is the best one yet.

Apr 25, 2025

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Joseph Gelmis

Newsday

One may carp, gripe, quibble with "Jedi," but Lucasfilm's special effects subsidiary, Industrial Light and Magic, is in a class by itself as creator of screen magic. And when it is good, "Jedi" is peerless escapist fantasy.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 25, 2025

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Return of the Jedi is a childlike delight. It's the best video game around. And for the professional moviegoers, it is particularly enjoyable to watch every facet of filmmaking at its best.

Rated: 4/4

Apr 25, 2025

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

One thing the Star Wars saga has been great at is a terrific balance of action and drama that keeps the audience engaged from beginning to end.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 6, 2025

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Terry Orme

Salt Lake Tribune

There is a sense of sentimentality pervading this film -- not the mushy, maudlin type, but a warm feeling that says, "We have come to know these characters, and this probably is the last film in which they will appear together. It's been a pleasure."

Apr 25, 2025

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David Patrick Stearns

Gannett News Service

Besides being good entertainment, "Jedi" resonates on a deeper, metaphoric level -- the characters are more human, the images more Freudian, and the drama more internal and psychological.

Apr 25, 2025

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Joe A

I haven't seen Return of the Jedi on the big screen since the 80s and this was great fun!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/23

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Sully

Sure Ewoks are annoying but rest of it is amazing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/23

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Joshua

It was so surreal seeing Jedi on the big screen. The Death Star explosion never gets old! Had an absolute blast!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/23

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Skitty

The music hits different in theaters 👌🏻

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/23

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Alex R

What a great movie! George Lucas is a genius!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/28/23

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Audience Member

Where’s Grandma Palpatine??????? 😭 come back Granny!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

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Richard Marquand

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 VI - Return of the Jedi: Trailer 2

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Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi: Trailer 1

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Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi: Teaser Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) battles horrible Jabba the Hut and cruel Darth Vader to save his comrades in the Rebel Alliance and triumph over the Galactic Empire. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) reaffirm their love and team with Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), the Ewoks and the androids C-3PO and R2-D2 to aid in the disruption of the Dark Side and the defeat of the evil emperor.

Director: Richard Marquand
Producer: Howard G. Kazanjian
Screenwriter: George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan
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 25, 1983, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 1985
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $314.3M
Runtime: 2h 11m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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