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Lucasfilm Ltd.
Star Wars Collection
The Star Wars saga continues.
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.
Joogle83
Jul 20, 2026 · via TMDB
Watched one my favorite sequels, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back . The Cast Was Stellar With Mark Hamill(Corvette Summer) as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford(Indiana Jones and The Raiders Of The Lost Ark) as Han Solo ,The Lovely Carrie Fisher() as Leia Organa, Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Jeremy Bulloch(The Spy Who Loved Me) & Temura Morrison(Spartacus) as Boba Fett, Billy Dee Williams(Colt .45 ) as Lando Calrissian, Anthony Daniels (Bashki's Lord Of The Rings) as C-3PO, Kenny Baker(Willow) as R2- D2 ,Denis Lawson as Wedge Antilles,Bruce Boa(Superman:The Movie) as General Rieekan ,Michael Sheard(The Hiding Place) as Admiral Ozzel, Julian Glover(Anthony and Cleopatra) as General Veers , Kenneth Colley (Life Of Brian) as Admiral Piett ,Frank Oz(The Blues Brothers) as Yoda, , David Prowse(A Clockwork Orange) & James Earl Jones(Root) as Darth Vader ,Ian McDiarmid(Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Emporer Palpatine/Darth Sidious and Sir Alec Guinness(Lawrence Of Arabia) as Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi. Widely and rightfully regarded as the pinnacle of the franchise, The Empire Strikes Back is the brilliant center chapter of my favorite movie trilogy. It is the gold standard for how to construct a middle chapter, transforming the blockbuster sequel into a dark, essential bridge act. The film opens with the jaw-dropping snow warfare of the Battle of Hoth—a sequence that must have completely shocked 1980 audiences by putting the Rebels on a desperate, defensive back foot.This chapter also marks a historic milestone for representation in the galaxy by introducing Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian. His suave, morally grey performance laid the groundwork for future vital Black leads like Mace Windu, Saw Gerrera, and Greef Karga. Narratively, everything tracks beautifully toward Cloud City, delivering the saga's most atmospheric lightsaber duel and its most legendary **** modern standards, the film does suffer from a few narrative loose ends. The split-timeline conundrum almost requires a belief in sci-fi time dilation to make Luke’s training schedule align with the Millennium Falcon’s journey. Additionally, Lucas's clunky handling of the Luke/Leia/Han love triangle—symbolized by that deeply awkward kiss—shows a clear lack of forward planning. However, these minor structural flaws do nothing to diminish the pure, high-octane magic of this undefeated sci-fi classic. Fantastic Cinematography By Peter Suschitzky(Valentino) Production Design By Norman Reynolds(Superman II) ,Amazing Writing By Lawrence Kasdan(Body Heat) ,Direction Irvin Kershner(SPYS), Fantastic Costume design from John Mollo(Alien) and Amazing Score from John Williams(Close Encounters With The Third Kind)A Daring Chapter That Anchors My Favorite Trilogy 8/10
CinemaSerf
Jun 7, 2023 · via TMDB
I have reviewed this film before but I thought that it deserved an extra special mention. Yesterday, this was the first film I saw in a cinema since we were all confined to barracks - and boy what a cracker. Where to start with the superlatives? It's fantastic - right from the opening bars of John Williams' score; on through the three mini-adventures rolled into one, we are treated to a marvellous feast of well-written, snappily directed, entertaining action packed adventure. Picking up from the first film, our rebels are holed up on a frozen planet being relentlessly pursued by Darth Vader. When one of his probes discovers their icebound base, they've got to get the hell out of there. Now sure, the CGI suffers a bit after 40 years; and can someone please tell me what the point of these lumbering Imperial Walkers is? They are like metal polar bears that constantly trip over their own shoelaces, but aside from those most minor of criticisms we have a great story; characters that we care about (personally, I'm an huge Vader fan) and who develop plausible, credible personalities; the detailed animations of "Yoda" are superb to see again on the big screen and it builds excellently to a sword fight the like of which has not been seen since "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938). It is, I think, better then the first film and for my money is the best sci-fi film ever made. Made for the big screen - and brilliantly made at that!
GenerationofSwine
Jan 14, 2023 · via TMDB
So, I was almost 1 when this movie dropped and, well, it started the opening night tradition. OK, well, how to do this? I guess we will start with the hate. I like to address the hate in movies, especially ones that are well regarded and loved. Now, I'll excuse it for the people that just don't like Star Wars. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But then there are the people that really hate Empire because of...reasons. And those reasons are Revenge of the Sith. I'm sorry, panning Empire because of loyalty to the prequels--misplaced as it is--doesn't make I-III any better. It just makes you petty. Now, why its loved and, I'll admit, I am one of those fanboys that really do love this movie. For starters, Empire went dark. It was the really the episode that the good guys lost and, that made it unique among, well, among just about every movie not made in the 1970s. I guess that is what made the 70s such a wonderful time for movies. We could use a little more of that. We could use a lot more of that. We use a lot more gritty in cinema. And, we could use a lot more "lived in" Everything looks too clean. Empire had that. And then it had that big, legendary, reveal that made all those kisses between Luke and Leia utterly wrong once the second big reveal hit in 1983...which explained that look Han gave Leia when she told him in the next installment. Moving on... We have the Battle of Hoth, which, yeah, nerd awesomeness with kind of a WWI trench warfare v tanks feel and a WWII Evacuation of Dunkirk feel with the rebels on the run and the Empire forcing its way across the galaxy with brute strength. And that prolonged time on the Falcon, well, that was just brilliant for character development and, incest blocking. So, really, honestly, there was way too much to love not to put Empire on the throne.
r96sk
Feb 1, 2021 · via TMDB
Terrific, again. <em>'The Empire Strikes Back'</em> follows up on the greatness of <em>'Star Wars'</em> with a highly enjoyable sequel. This one feels like a big moment in the franchise, at least to someone who doesn't know what's upcoming, as we get sizeable moments alongside some cool character reveals. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher continue to impress in their respective roles, as does James Earl Jones. Elsewhere, Billy Dee Williams and Frank Oz make for strong additions. There are, once again, fun roles for Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker. I'd say its predecessor has aged better - though that's not to say this film looks even the slightest bit bad, as it still looks fantastic throughout. The plot is as great as before, as is everything else really - namely the music, for one. I think I prefer the 1977 film over this, but there's barely anything separating the two in my thoughts to be honest. Both are awesome!
Wuchak
Jul 26, 2020 · via TMDB
_**Fun, imaginative, iconic space adventure with a kick-axx cast**_ "Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) was the anticipated follow-up to the initial mega-hit blockbuster from 1977. It’s an epic, but simplistic space fantasy about an evil empire and the noble souls who dare to fight it. The main cast features Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and the voice work of James Earl Jones (Darth Vader), Frank Oz (Yoda) and Clive Revill (Emperor). This is an amusing, inventive, iconic space adventure with a stellar cast. While I prefer the adult-oriented space science-fiction of Star Trek, I can’t deny that this space fantasy grants you an entertaining two hours with lots of sci-fi action, space ships, a snowy planet, asteroid caves and mysterious swamps. I also appreciate the mind-powers angle. It doesn’t hurt that Fisher is in her prime and easy on the eyes, not to mention Ford and Williams are at their charismatic best. Even the more obscure Hamill shines in his boyish youth. Then there’s RD-D2, C-3PO and Chewbacca. The film runs 2 hours, 7 minutes. GRADE: B
John Chard
Jul 21, 2019 · via TMDB
It's a dark time for the rebellion; and us the audience as well. Luke, Leia and Han are fighting with the rebels in the hope of defeating the Imperial forces. But Luke gets a calling to the planet Dagobah, where under the tutelage of Jedi Master, Yoda, he hopes to become a Jedi himself, but that also brings him closer to his, and Leia's, destiny. Lets tell it as it is, The Empire Strikes Back is a better film than Star Wars, not as impacting of course, but most definitely better. Technically, in story telling and in tone, it holds up well today and certainly warrants the amount of times it crops up in best sequels debates. That it's not actually a sequel is irrelevant, it is of course the filler in a wonderful sci-fi sandwich, because as second instalments go, Empire has few peers. With Empire Strikes Back we get all the whizz bang adventure strewn heart of Star Wars, but George Lucas (stepping aside for Irvin Kershner to direct) has also fleshed the story out with a serious dark tone that oddly becomes a bedfellow to the romantic fun on offer, where new and engaging characters (and creatures) add spice to this wonderful fantastical broth. Aided by the considerable writing talent of Leigh Brackett (The Long Goodbye, Rio Bravo, The Big Sleep), Lucas took the bold and ingenious step of giving the bad guys the upper hand, in fact it could be argued that he was taking a considerable risk with his ending. Forcing his viewers to wait for the final chapter (three years later), after tantalisingly setting us up with a corker of plot twist (one which is still to this day as potent as it was back on release), Lucas pulled perhaps one of the cheekiest carrot dangles in cinema history. Though more famed for its dark undertones, Empire is for sure still a very fun movie, C3PO goes into camp overdrive and Han Solo ups his quip quota by some margin. Then of course there is Yoda, in himself a comedic joy. The action sequences beg for repeat viewings, a battle on the ice laden planet Hoth is a marvel and the choreography for Skywalker's fight with Darth Vader is out of the top draw. But ultimately it's with the dark side that the picture excels. Complex and amazingly posing moral quandary's, The Empire Strikes Back is quite an experience, one that will forever hold up to repeat viewings for this particular viewer. 10/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford
Han Solo
Carrie Fisher
Princess Leia
Billy Dee Williams
Lando Calrissian
Anthony Daniels
C-3PO
David Prowse
Darth Vader
Peter Mayhew
Chewbacca
Kenny Baker
R2-D2
Frank Oz
Yoda (Voice)
Alec Guinness
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Jeremy Bulloch
Boba Fett
Jason Wingreen
Boba Fett (voice - uncredited)
John Hollis
Lando's Aide
Jack Purvis
Chief Ugnaught
Kathryn Mullen
Performing Assistant for Yoda
Marjorie Eaton
Emperor (uncredited)
Clive Revill
Emperor (voice)
Kenneth Colley
Admiral Piett
Julian Glover
General Veers
Michael Sheard
Admiral Ozzel
Michael Culver
Captain Needa
Milton Johns
Bewil
Mark Jones
Commander Nemet
Oliver Maguire
Cabbel
Bruce Boa
General Carlist Rieekan
Christopher Malcolm
Zev Senesca
Denis Lawson
Wedge Antilles
Richard Oldfield
Derek "Hobbie" Klivian
John Morton
Dak Ralter
John Ratzenberger
Major Derlin
Norman Chancer
Tamizander Rey
Norwich Duff
Jeroen Webb
Ray Hassett
Tigran Jamiro
Burnell Tucker
Wyron Serper
Bob Anderson
Imperial Officer (uncredited)
Lightning Bear
Stormtrooper (uncredited)
Richard Bonehill
Stormtrooper / Snowtrooper / Rebel Soldier / ... (uncredited)
John Cannon
Holographic Imperial Officer (uncredited)
Mark Capri
Officer M'kae (Captain Needa's Communications Officer) (uncredited)
Martin Dew
Cloud City Guard (uncredited)
Peter Diamond
Snowtrooper Gunner (uncredited)
Doug Robinson
Snowtrooper (uncredited)
Alan Harris
Bossk / Bespin Security Guard (uncredited)
James Earl Jones
Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
Mac McDonald
Rebel Pilot (uncredited)
Ralph McQuarrie
General McQuarrie (uncredited)
Treat Williams
Echo Base Trooper (uncredited)
Alan Austen
Stormtrooper/Snowtrooper
Tom Egeland
Hoth Trooper (uncredited)
Maurice Bush
Dengar (uncredited)
Tony Clarkin
Stormtrooper (uncredited)
Mike Edmonds
Ugnaught (uncredited)
Joe Johnston
Hoth Rebel (uncredited)
Steven Meek
Stormtrooper / Chewbacca / Treva Horme / Solomahal (uncredited)
Stephanie English
Hoth Rebel Technician (uncredited)
Michael Leader
Imperial Crewman (uncredited)
Paul Huston
Camera Operator
Peter Suschitzky
Director of Photography
Graham Churchyard
Costume Assistant
Rick Baker
Makeup Artist
Phil Tippett
Makeup Effects
Bill Hargreaves
Propmaker
Brian Johnson
Special Effects
Alan Harris
Stand In
Deep Roy
Stand In
Peter Diamond
Stunt Coordinator
Colin Skeaping
Stunt Double
Bob Anderson
Stunts
Richard Bonehill
Stunts
George Hull
Visual Effects Art Director
Irvin Kershner
Director
Roy Button
Second Assistant Director
Harley Cokeliss
Second Unit Director
Peter MacDonald
Second Unit Director
Marcia Lucas
Editor
Paul Hirsch
Editor
Jim Bloom
Associate Producer
Robert Watts
Associate Producer
George Lucas
Executive Producer
Gary Kurtz
Producer
Howard G. Kazanjian
Producer
Svend Johansen
Production Manager
John Williams
Original Music Composer
Ben Burtt
Sound Designer
Phil Tippett
Animation
Ralph McQuarrie
Visual Effects
Richard Edlund
Visual Effects
Robert Elswit
Visual Effects Lineup
Lawrence Kasdan
Screenplay
George Lucas
Story
May 17, 1980
Washington, DC
May 21, 1980
Jun 20, 1980
Nov 22, 1987
NBC
Apr 4, 1997
Special Edition
Sep 12, 2006
Widescreen Limited Edition DVD
Sep 25, 2020
40th anniversary
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Happy on the Ground: 8 Days at Grammy Camp
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2021
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
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Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
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2008 · 14 wins
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2000 · 12 wins
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2019 · 11 wins
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