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PG| 2 hr. 4 min.

Plot Summary
The adventure continues in this "Star Wars" sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda. Only with the Jedi master's help will Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse).

Cast: Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Billy Dee Williams , Anthony Daniels , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Peter Mayhew

Director: Irvin Kershner

Genres: Science fiction

Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Release Date: May 21st, 1980|2 hr. 4 min.

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critic reviews ( 3 )
fan reviews ( 1 )
  • 100
    Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle

    The balance between action and mysticism in The Empire Strikes Back provides fascinating energy. It's as if the kids are given one set of delights, the bravado of battles and elaborate warships zooming through exotic space, and adults are given another, a layered explanation of what it all means in the grand scheme of things. [Special Edition] show more

  • 100
    Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

    The best of three Star Wars films, and the most thought-provoking. After the space opera cheerfulness of the original film, this one plunges into darkness and even despair, and surrenders more completely to the underlying mystery of the story. It is because of the emotions stirred in Empire that the entire series takes on a mythic quality that resonates back to the first and ahead to the third. This is the heart. show more

  • 100
    Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune

    It balances bloodshed with charm, spectacle with childlike glee. It's a near flawless movie of its kind. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com
  • February 07, 2012 Dry Master
    Report This User

    Yoda is enough said to be the best supporting character. The effects are just amazing for it\'s time and just had a flattering story. I mean the space ships and all these planets are just so realistic and can really be created. That shows that this is a great, well-made sequel.

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Rare 'Empire Strikes Back' Interviews: Prequels, Sequels and the 'Controversial' Ending

Posted by Alex Suskind on December 1, 2011

If you enjoyed our Billy Dee Williams/Harrison Ford photo from earlier this week, then you're going to love this. The Official Star Wars Blog recently posted a press video from 1980, which features ra...

George Lucas's Stupid 'Star Wars' Changes Will Never Affect the Meaning of 'Star Wars'

Posted by Mike Ryan on September 16, 2011

The first movie I ever saw at a theater was 'The Empire Strikes Back.' After months of pleading in the lead-up to the release of 'Empire', my parents -- together -- took my five-year-old self ...

Check Out This Creepy Set Visit From 'Empire Strikes Back'

Posted by Moviefone Staff on September 7, 2011

If you're like us, you've been feeling a bit depressed over the recently announced changes to the Blu-ray edition of 'Star Wars' (in short, George Lucas made a few, um, interesting tweaks to 'Ret...

10 'Star Wars' Scenes We Want to See in 3D (And 5 We Don't)

Posted by Sharon Knolle on September 30, 2010

It was only a matter of time before George Lucas decided to retool the 'Star Wars' saga with the latest technology, to which many fans are yelling (in their best Darth Vader-meets-his-new-suit cry...

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