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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

  • 1980
  • PG
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
1.4M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
207
44
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 FantasyDystopian Sci-FiEpicFantasy EpicQuestSci-Fi EpicSpace Sci-FiSword & Sorcery

After the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins training with Jedi Master Yoda, while Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett pursue his friends across the galaxy.After the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins training with Jedi Master Yoda, while Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett pursue his friends across the galaxy.After the Empire overpowers the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker begins training with Jedi Master Yoda, while 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
    207
    44
    • Director
      • Irvin Kershner
    • Writers
      • Leigh Brackett
      • Lawrence Kasdan
      • George Lucas
    • Stars
      • Mark Hamill
      • Harrison Ford
      • Carrie Fisher
    • 1.5KUser reviews
    • 181Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #15
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 27 wins & 21 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
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    "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

    Photos512

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    + 506
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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

    User reviews1.5K

    8.71443K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Empire Strikes Back' distinguishes itself with a darker tone, deeper character development, and mature storytelling. Key themes include good versus evil, the complexity of the Force, and Luke Skywalker's growth. New characters like Yoda and Lando Calrissian enrich the narrative. The film delves into consequences, betrayal, and redemption, creating an emotionally resonant experience. Darth Vader's true identity revelation significantly impacts the saga. Visual effects, action sequences, and John Williams' score enhance the film, making it a standout sequel.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    10saveliydalmatov

    Darker and better than "New hope"

    So, "The Empire Strikes Back" is a sequel to the previous part. After the release of the first episode, the budget, the fans appeared, and, accordingly, the quality improved!

    The fifth episode is the darkest and even the best in the original trilogy (in my personal opinion), and for many in the entire franchise.

    Here we will hear the famous Imperial March for the first time, learn all the greatness of the Empire under the leadership of Vader, as well as the formation of Luke as a Jedi.

    New characters have added color to the franchise, some have already become iconic and famous among many (the same Boba Fett).

    This fascinating story will feature plot twists (for sure many people understood what I was talking about) and a very addictive atmosphere of horror.

    As a result, this is what the fans needed - a successful sequel. And, of course, you need to look at it, it's a classic after all.

    My Rating : 10/10 (one of the best films)
    10morfunkel

    Greatest Movie Ever

    This film changed the game forever. The people behind the scenes took an exciting science fiction adventure film with a happy tone where the heroes have a happy tone throughout and throwing that on its side. Throughout the film the rebels are in a constant rush and panic, pushing the viewers to the edge of their seat wondering if the heroes would make it to the end okay. This is done brilliantly by splitting up the heroes putting them in a worried state for one another. As well as that the rebels are all tested as they go through their own personal trails and try to find their way through. Even though this might put you on a constant worry for the characters the movie is paced perfectly with breathers and amazing storytelling by the characters to fill in anything we need answers for. That is just the story, the film also has gorgeous cinematography, going from the AT-ATs on Hoth, to the Imperial pursuit of the Falcon through the asteroid field, all the way down to the beautiful shots of the final battle in Cloud city. Even though we as viewers are worried for the rebels, the imagery is jaw dropping. The imagery is further enhanced by the most popular score of all time, John Williams delivers his best work ever as it has stuck with people their entire lives and is recognizable by even those who haven't seen the film. The film was released in 1980 and all of the set design and special effects still hold up to this day as they are just as convincing now as it was apon first watch for everyone in the past 38 years.
    TxMike

    A worthy second (or 5th??) Star Wars installment, might be the best of the bunch.

    My five children were all pre-teens when 'The Empire Strikes Back' came to the theater. While there had been other Sci-Fi movies with a theme of conflict in outer space, the 'Star Wars' trilogy filled our imaginations like no other movies before them. The fantastic, strange worlds were presented almost like we were there too. Aliens sitting around a tavern, enjoying drinks and speaking in all sorts of languages. Nothing before had approached the sheer size of the space ships depicted here, huge cities traveling all over the galaxy. And how about the jump to hyper speed, then disappearing from the screen as the speed exceeds light speed! And the light sabres of the Jedi Knights. The Jedi Knights, a striking parallel to the Japanese Samurai.

    It is fruitless trying to argue 'which is best' in a trilogy, because the first one, in this case 'Star Wars', starts it all and has to be the 'father'. However, an argument can be made that 'The Empire Strikes Back' (now on DVD called Episode V) is overall a better-made movie which has more excitement, and grabs your imagination,than the other two original installments (now called parts IV and VI). The DVDs finally came out last month, and they are near perfect, as we should expect from Lucas Films and THX. The bit rate is high, and the picture is nothing short of superb. As is the Dolby EX surround track.

    My wife and I watched all three of the movies on DVD this week -- Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi -- compliments of our local public library. It was an appropriate reminder how good these movies are, and still ahead of their time. Nothing else has been made to compare to them.
    9Ithaqua1987

    Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

    An excellent sequel to Star Wars, this is easily the darkest and most serious out of all the Star Wars films, at least until Revenge of the Sith comes out. This movie benefits from the introduction of Yoda, a diminutive yet wise Jedi master who helps Luke prepare for his showdown with Darth Vader. It also introduces Lando Calrissian, Han's old gambling and smuggling buddy played very well by Billy Dee Williams. Empire is more character driven than the original and relies more on comic relief to help lighten the mood, but it doesn't go overboard with the humor. The story is more refined and the acting is better as well. Despite all of this I can't really say that I enjoyed Empire more than the original. The original Star Wars has a certain charm to it that none of the sequels (or prequels) have captured. I'd say that it is at least on par with the original though and is a fitting follow up in what is probably the greatest series of movies in the history of cinema.
    10Sleepin_Dragon

    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.

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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)

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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
      • June 18, 1980 (United States)
    • 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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