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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

  • 1980
  • G
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
1.3M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
819
114
Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, and Peter Mayhew in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
After the rebels have been brutally overpowered by the Empire on their newly established base, Luke Skywalker takes advanced Jedi training with Master Yoda, while his friends are pursued by Darth Vader as part of his plan to capture Luke.
Play trailer2:07
22 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureFantasy

After the Rebels are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.After the Rebels are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.After the Rebels are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.

  • Director
    • Irvin Kershner
  • Writers
    • Leigh Brackett
    • Lawrence Kasdan
    • George Lucas
  • Stars
    • Mark Hamill
    • Harrison Ford
    • Carrie Fisher
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.7/10
    1.3M
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    819
    114
    • Director
      • Irvin Kershner
    • Writers
      • Leigh Brackett
      • Lawrence Kasdan
      • George Lucas
    • Stars
      • Mark Hamill
      • Harrison Ford
      • Carrie Fisher
    • 1.4KUser reviews
    • 247Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #15
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 26 wins & 20 nominations total

    Videos22

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:07
    Watch Official Trailer
    Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
    Trailer 1:12
    Watch Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
    "The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special" History Download
    Clip 4:48
    Watch "The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special" History Download
    Jaws, Shreks, & Lion Kings: A Summer Blockbuster History
    Clip 7:23
    Watch Jaws, Shreks, & Lion Kings: A Summer Blockbuster History
    'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:48
    Watch 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' | Anniversary Mashup
    'Last Jedi' Director Rian Johnson Pitches His Dream 'Star Wars' Spin-Off
    Clip 1:00
    Watch 'Last Jedi' Director Rian Johnson Pitches His Dream 'Star Wars' Spin-Off
    "The Mandalorian" Takes Star Wars to Wild West of Space
    Clip 4:02
    Watch "The Mandalorian" Takes Star Wars to Wild West of Space
    How Does Emperor Palpatine Fit Into 'The Rise of Skywalker'?
    Clip 4:03
    Watch How Does Emperor Palpatine Fit Into 'The Rise of Skywalker'?
    Gaten Matarazzo Has the Best Interview Ever
    Clip 4:16
    Watch Gaten Matarazzo Has the Best Interview Ever
    '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    Clip 3:41
    Watch '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    The Evolution of Anakin Skywalker
    Clip 3:23
    Watch The Evolution of Anakin Skywalker
    Star Wars
    Clip 0:57
    Watch Star Wars

    Photos460

    Harrison Ford, Jeremy Bulloch, Alan Harris, and Quentin Pierre in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Harrison Ford in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Kenny Baker in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
    Frank Oz and Yoda in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Mark Hamill and Kenny Baker in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Harrison Ford in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, and Peter Mayhew in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, and Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Harrison Ford in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, and Peter Mayhew in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Mark Hamill in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mark Hamill
    Mark Hamill
    • Luke Skywalker
    Harrison Ford
    Harrison Ford
    • Han Solo
    Carrie Fisher
    Carrie Fisher
    • Princess Leia
    Billy Dee Williams
    Billy Dee Williams
    • Lando Calrissian
    Anthony Daniels
    Anthony Daniels
    • C-3PO
    David Prowse
    David Prowse
    • Darth Vader
    Peter Mayhew
    Peter Mayhew
    • Chewbacca
    Kenny Baker
    Kenny Baker
    • R2-D2
    Frank Oz
    Frank Oz
    • Yoda
    • (voice)
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
    Jeremy Bulloch
    Jeremy Bulloch
    • Boba Fett
    John Hollis
    John Hollis
    • Lobot, Lando's Aide
    Jack Purvis
    Jack Purvis
    • Chief Ugnaught
    Des Webb
    • Snow Creature
    Clive Revill
    Clive Revill
    • Emperor
    • (voice)
    Kenneth Colley
    Kenneth Colley
    • Admiral Piett
    Julian Glover
    Julian Glover
    • General Veers
    Michael Sheard
    Michael Sheard
    • Admiral Ozzel
    • Director
      • Irvin Kershner
    • Writers
      • Leigh Brackett
      • Lawrence Kasdan
      • George Lucas
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The shots where Luke uses his Jedi powers to retrieve his lightsaber from a distance were achieved by having Mark Hamill throw the lightsaber away, and then running the film in reverse.
    • Goofs
      Vader kills Captain Needa for losing the Millenium Falcon. When two Imperial soldiers pick up his body to carry away, the corpse steps itself up.
    • Quotes

      Luke: All right, I'll give it a try.

      Yoda: No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.

    • Crazy credits
      In the alternate DVD version, the Emperor is still credited as being voiced by Clive Revill, despite his performance being replaced by Ian McDiarmid.
    • Alternate versions
      The 1995 THX remastered Pan and Scan VHS release of the 1980 theatrical version has one difference from all other pan and scan releases and the 1992 and 1995 widescreen releases of the same. At the end of the film, the scene simply cuts away to the end credits. All other versions use a wipe to cut away to the end credits.
    • Connections
      Edited into SP FX: Special Effects - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

    User reviews1.4K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Best of the best
    I cannot believe some people out there didn't like this film, yet claim to have enjoyed Episode One. No comparison whatsoever. "The Empire Strike Back" is George Lucas' best contribution to human history, and it will be remembered long after most other science fiction films have gone the way of the Do-Do Bird. The optical effects still stand the test of time, and the acting is superb. Harrison Ford, Mark Hamil and Carrie Fisher are all better than they we in the original Star Wars, having fully developed and grown into their characters, and the story just keeps going and going, from asteroid fields to swamp planets to cities in the sky, everything in this film works. So ignore anyone who claims to dislike it, and see it for yourself if you haven't already done so. 20 out of 10!!

    Oh, and Han Solo shot first! =)
    helpful•107
    23
    • Dagobah_Man
    • Nov 20, 2007

    Top picks

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    'Star Wars' Stars In and Out of Costume

    'Star Wars' Stars In and Out of Costume

    Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera in "Ahsoka" plus more stars from a galaxy far, far away.
    See the gallery
    Publicity photo
    Photos

    FAQ57

    • How long is Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back?Powered by Alexa
    • Why did Darth Vader want the Millennium Falcon (eg. "I want that ship, not excuses")?
    • Who shot C-3PO at Bespin and why?
    • Why does the hyperdrive in the Millennium Falcon keep failing?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 21, 1980 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Lucasfilm Ltd. (United States)
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La guerrre des étoiles V: L'empire contre-attaque
    • Filming locations
      • Hardangerjøkulen Glacier, Finse, Norway(exterior Hoth scenes)
    • Production company
      • Lucasfilm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $18,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $292,753,960
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,910,483
      • May 25, 1980
    • Gross worldwide
      • $538,375,067
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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