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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

  • 1980
  • 12
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
1.4M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
954
59
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
23 Videos
99+ Photos
Action EpicAdventure EpicDark FantasyFantasy EpicQuestSci-Fi EpicSpace Sci-FiSword & SorceryActionAdventure

After the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda. At the same time, Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett pursue his friends across the gal... Read allAfter the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda. At the same time, Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett pursue his friends across the galaxy.After the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda. At the same time, Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett pursue his friends across the galaxy.

  • Director
    • Irvin Kershner
  • Writers
    • Leigh Brackett
    • Lawrence Kasdan
    • George Lucas
  • Stars
    • Mark Hamill
    • Harrison Ford
    • Carrie Fisher
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.7/10
    1.4M
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    954
    59
    • Director
      • Irvin Kershner
    • Writers
      • Leigh Brackett
      • Lawrence Kasdan
      • George Lucas
    • Stars
      • Mark Hamill
      • Harrison Ford
      • Carrie Fisher
    • 1.5KUser reviews
    • 258Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #15
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 27 wins & 20 nominations total

    Videos23

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:07
    Official Trailer
    Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
    Trailer 1:12
    Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
    Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
    Trailer 1:12
    Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
    5 Award-Winning Sci-Fi Films to Stream
    Clip 1:00
    5 Award-Winning Sci-Fi Films to Stream
    "The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special" History Download
    Clip 4:48
    "The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special" History Download
    Jaws, Shreks, & Lion Kings: A Summer Blockbuster History
    Clip 7:23
    Jaws, Shreks, & Lion Kings: A Summer Blockbuster History
    'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:48
    'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos467

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    View Poster
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    + 461
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    Top cast99+

    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

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In order to avoid sharing creative rights, George Lucas decided to avoid using a major studio to finance this movie. Instead, he bankrolled the $30 million production himself, using a combination of his profits from Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) and a bank loan. Although the move was risky, it paid off several times over. Lucas recovered his investment within three months of the movie's release. He then showed gratitude far beyond the Hollywood norm by sharing the profits with his employees (nearly $5 million in bonuses).
    • 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 reviews1.5K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10

    One of the best films ever made.

    Luke Skywalker goes in search of Jedi Master Yoda, to begin his Jedi training, meanwhile his friends and fellow band of rebels are pursued by The Empire's forces.

    How on Earth was it possible to match, if not surpass Episode IV, it seems unfathomable, well that's exactly what they did with this remarkable movie, and whilst I personally rank the films on par with one another, I get why some favour this one. For me, the first came out of nowhere, whereas for this second one, expectations would have been incredibly high.

    A superb storyline, breathtaking visuals, first class acting, and Yoda, what more could anyone possibly want or need from a movie, it's a bold claim, but I would genuinely say this is one of the greatest films of all time.

    The sets are unbelievable, you can really tell that for those involved this was definitely a labour of love, everything was precise and on point.

    It's worth a 10/10 for Yoda alone, I adore his and Luke's scenes together. The wonderful voice of Frank Oz adds a great deal, it really does help to make Yoda such an amazing, funny, smart and curious character.

    Let's be honest, films don't get much better than this, it really is a masterpiece.

    10/10.
    • Sleepin_Dragon
    • Sep 17, 2023
    • Permalink

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    FAQ53

    • How long is Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back?Powered by Alexa
    • How were the Rebels able to destroy one of the AT-ATs with a single shot after Luke discovered that their armor was "too strong for blasters"?
    • What is carbonite? What is the process of carbon-freezing?
    • Who is Boba Fett?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 18, 1980 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Lucasfilm Ltd. (United States)
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Star Wars : Episodio V - El imperio contraataca
    • 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
      • $550,016,086
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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

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