Name: The Empire Strikes Back
Genre: Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
Released: 1980-06-20
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 8.4

Where to Watch

Region

See all 6 options →

Prices last updated April 29, 2026. Pricing and availability may vary by region.

About

The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.

Theatrical

Jun 20, 1980

Box Office

$538.4M

Budget

$18.0M

Return

29.9x

DVD / Blu-ray

Apr 4, 1997

Theaters

Director

Irvin Kershner

Writers

Lawrence Kasdan, Leigh Brackett, George Lucas

Producers

George Lucas, Gary Kurtz, Jim Bloom

Music

John Williams

Studio

Lucasfilm Ltd.

Themes

rebel android asteroid spacecraft space battle snowstorm space colony swamp sequel rebellion space opera nostalgic introspective arctic excited

Latest

Movie News

See all

8 Great Movie Presidents And 1 That Wasn't

Hollywood likes high-stakes stories, so making a movie about a US President immediately fits that bill. We've put toget...

Grae Drake · Feb 14, 2021

Get ready for the 'End' of the Skywalker saga with this 'Rise of Skywalker' TV spot.

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaac star in 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.' In this latest TV spot from L...

Moviefone Staff · Nov 23, 2019

Every Jack Ryan Movie, Ranked

He's just an analyst.

Moviefone Staff · Aug 3, 2019

15 Classic Action Movies That Only Get Better With Age

Thank you, 'Speed' and 'Die Hard.'

Jesse Schedeen · Jul 23, 2019

Harrison Ford's 9 Best Action Movies, Ranked

Ford's punched more bad guys than he's had hot meals.

Drew Taylor · Jul 17, 2019

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mark Hamill, More Set for Live Mueller Report Reading

Multiple A-list actors are involved.

Stephanie Topacio Long · Jun 24, 2019

Quotes

See all →

The Empire Strikes Back - Quotes about The Empire Strikes Back

Quotes about The Empire Strikes Back As for the idea of the Force, it is a mishmash of current cultic fashions without any base in ideas. It doesn't seem to be connected with ethics or a code of decent behavior, either. Shywalker (sic) is never called to account for having behaved unpleasantly to his guru (Yoda) before knowing who he is -- even to the extent of knocking food out of the hungry guru's hand. How many religions of any kind would tolerate a disciples having refused to share his food with his disguised spiritual leader?

Reflections on The Empire Strikes Back

Quotes about The Empire Strikes Back * Irvin Kershner, , Mike Ryan, October 18, 2010.

[http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2010/10/irvin-kershner "In Hindsight, Empire Strikes Back Director Irvin Kershner Would’ve Helmed One of the Prequels"]

Understanding the Structure of The Empire Strikes Back

Quotes about The Empire Strikes Back I knew in the making of Empire that this was to be the second of a trilogy. Therefore I considered it the second act, the second movement—but it wouldn’t have the same climax that an ordinary film would have, where it sets up a premise, moves along, there is a payoff with a grand climax of some kind of action. The action in this film came at the beginning because it is a continuation of the first film.

Impact of The Empire Strikes Back on Audiences

Quotes about The Empire Strikes Back Fans have written over the last 30 years telling me how eagerly they awaited the second film of the trilogy. I hadn’t realized how many young children would be seeing the film, and how it would affect them. I think the kids responded to the movement, the characters, and the fairy tale quality of the film. The humor helped make the film appealing to more mature audiences as well.

An epic space-opera theatrical film series, which depicts the adventures of various characters "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…."

The Empire Strikes Back