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IMDbPro

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Original title: The Empire Strikes Back
  • 19801980
  • PGPG
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
1.3M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
633
40
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
20 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureFantasy
After the Rebels are brutally overpowered by the Empire on the ice planet Hoth, Luke Skywalker begins Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader ... Read allAfter the Rebels are brutally overpowered by the Empire on the ice planet Hoth, Luke Skywalker begins Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.After the Rebels are brutally overpowered by the Empire on the ice planet Hoth, Luke Skywalker begins Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
1.3M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
633
40
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Irvin Kershner
    • Writers
      • Leigh Brackett(screenplay by)
      • Lawrence Kasdan(screenplay by)
      • George Lucas(story by)
    • Stars
      • Mark Hamill
      • Harrison Ford
      • Carrie Fisher
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Irvin Kershner
    • Writers
      • Leigh Brackett(screenplay by)
      • Lawrence Kasdan(screenplay by)
      • George Lucas(story by)
    • Stars
      • Mark Hamill
      • Harrison Ford
      • Carrie Fisher
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.4KUser reviews
    • 242Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
    Top rated movie #15
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 25 wins & 20 nominations total

    Videos20

    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
    "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
    'Last Jedi' Director Rian Johnson Pitches His Dream 'Star Wars' Spin-Off
    Clip 1:00
    '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
    "The Mandalorian" Takes Star Wars to Wild West of Space
    How Does Emperor Palpatine Fit Into 'The Rise of Skywalker'?
    Clip 4:03
    How Does Emperor Palpatine Fit Into 'The Rise of Skywalker'?
    '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    Clip 3:41
    '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    The Evolution of Anakin Skywalker
    Clip 3:23
    The Evolution of Anakin Skywalker
    Star Wars
    Clip 0:57
    Star Wars
    The Digital Movie Collection
    Promo 1:26
    The Digital Movie Collection

    Photos448

    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 (1977)
    Frank Oz 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)
    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(screenplay by)
      • Lawrence Kasdan(screenplay by)
      • George Lucas(story by)
    • 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 $18 million production himself, using a combination of his profits from Star Wars (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 reviews1.4K

    Review
    Top 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•105
    24
    • Dagobah_Man
    • Nov 20, 2007

    See 'Star Wars' Stars In and Out of Costume

    See 'Star Wars' Stars In and Out of Costume

    Check out our gallery of stars from the Star Wars saga in character and in real life.
    View image
    Photos

    FAQ35

    • 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
      • June 20, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Lucasfilm Ltd
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
    • Filming locations
      • Hardangerjøkulen Glacier, Finse, Norway
    • 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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