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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

  • 1980
  • U
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
1.4M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
785
102
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
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 info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.7/10
    1.4M
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    785
    102
    • Director
      • Irvin Kershner
    • Writers
      • Leigh Brackett
      • Lawrence Kasdan
      • George Lucas
    • Stars
      • Mark Hamill
      • Harrison Ford
      • Carrie Fisher
    • 1.4KUser reviews
    • 250Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #15
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 26 wins & 20 nominations total

    Videos23

    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
    5 Award-Winning Sci-Fi Films to Stream
    Clip 1:00
    Watch 5 Award-Winning Sci-Fi Films to Stream
    "The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special" History Download
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    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
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    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

    Photos448

    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
    8/10
    One for All & All for One...
    Yavin 4 had been discovered so they fled, three years later and it's Hoth where rebels tread, Luke Skywalker's on patrol, when a Wampa takes control, leaves him hanging in its cave to have with bread. He escapes into the blizzard and the cold, has a vision from a friend where he is told, seek to train from Master Yoda, find him on planet Dagobah, Han arrives, and slips him in a Tauntaun fold. A droid informs the Empire what it's found, leaves the rebels little time to hang around, first protect the energy field, that provides the bases shield, as off to Hoth, Imperial forces bound.

    It's a game of cat and mouse, as the rebels seek to avoid capture and Luke develops his Jedi skills while learning some pertinent family history but becomes a little less dexterous (for the time being).
    helpful•12
    0
    • Xstal
    • Apr 4, 2023

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    FAQ58

    • 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 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Lucasfilm Ltd. (United States)
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
    • 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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