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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

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

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 8.6/10
Reviews Counted: 71
Fresh: 69 | Rotten: 2

Dark, sinister, but ultimately even more involving than A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back defies viewer expectations and takes the series to heightened emotional levels.

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Critic Reviews: 18
Fresh: 16 | Rotten: 2

Dark, sinister, but ultimately even more involving than A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back defies viewer expectations and takes the series to heightened emotional levels.

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Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 939,978

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Movie Info

The second entry in George Lucas' Star Wars trilogy finds Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the green-as-grass hero from the first film, now a seasoned space warrior. Luke's Star Wars cohorts Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) are likewise more experienced in the ways and means of battling the insidious Empire, as represented by the brooding Darth Vader (body of David Prowse, voice of James Earl Jones). And, of course, "The Force," personified by the ghost of Luke's mentor

PG, 2 hr. 4 min.

Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Irvin Kershner

Written By: Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan

In Theaters: May 21, 1980 Wide

On DVD: Sep 21, 2004

Twentieth Century Fox

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Trailer & Photos

More Photos (6)

Cast

Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford
Han Solo
Carrie Fisher
Princess Leia
David Prowse
Darth Vader
James Earl Jones
Darth Vader
Billy Dee Williams
Lando Calrissian
Anthony Daniels
C-3PO
Peter Mayhew
Chewbacca
Frank Oz
Yoda
Alec Guinness
Ben "Obi-Wan" Kenobi
Kenny Baker
R2-D2
Jeremy Bulloch
Boba Fett
John Hollis
Lobot Lando's Aide
Jack Purvis
Chief Ugnaught
Des Webb
Wampa Snow Creature
Kathryn Mullen
Performing Asst. for Yo...
Clive Revill
The Emperor
Kenneth Colley
Admiral Piett
Julian Glover
Gen. Veers
Michael Sheard
Admiral Ozzel
Michael Culver
Capt. Needa
John Dicks
Other Imperial Officer
Milton Johns
Other Imperial Officer
Mark Jones
Other Imperial Officer
Oliver Maguire
Other Imperial Officer
Bruce Boa
Gen. Rieekan
Christopher Malcolm
Zev
Denis Lawson
Wedge (Rogue 3)
Richard Oldfield
Hobbie Rogue 4
John Morton
Dak Luke's Gunner
Ian Liston
Janson Wedge's Gunner
John Ratzenberger
Maj. Derlin
Jack McKenzie
Deck Lieutenant
Jerry Harte
Head Controller
Norman Chancer
Other Rebel Officer
Norwich Duff
Other Rebel Officer
Ray Hassett
Other Rebel Officer
Brigitte Kahn
Other Rebel Officer
Burnell Tucker
Revel Officer
Irene Lamb
Ralph McQuarrie
General McQuarrie

Critic Reviews for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

All Critics (71) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (70) | Rotten (3) | DVD (15)

In many ways the new film is a better film than Star Wars, visually more exciting, more artful and meticulous in detail.

August 13, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

| Comment

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

The Empire Strikes Back is a worthy sequel to Star Wars, equal in both technical mastery and characterization, suffering only from the familiarity with the effects generated in the original and imitated too much by others.

March 4, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

James Harwood

Variety

Top Critic

Irvin Kershner directed the actors this time around, and without the benefit of Lucas's personal affection they seem stiffer, more clenched.

May 30, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comments (71)

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The total effect is fast and attractive and occasionally amusing. Like a good hot dog, that's something of an achievement in a field where unpalatable junk is the rule.

January 22, 2002 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Judith Martin

Washington Post

Top Critic

In the glory days of science fiction, critics wrote about the 'sense of wonder.' That's what The Empire Strikes Back creates in us

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Detroit News

| Comment

Susan Stark

Detroit News

Top Critic

It is a visual extravaganza from beginning to end, one of the most visionary and inventive of all films.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

The best of the original series, but the most intense, too.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment (1)

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

Continues to set the standards for sequels to this day...

May 22, 2010 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed

| Comment

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

O melhor de toda a s�rie, este epis�dio abra�a o potencial sombrio do universo concebido por Lucas e consegue equilibrar com efici�ncia os aspectos infantis da narrativa com os momentos de maior densidade.

January 7, 2010 Comment (1)

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

Despite ... an unresolved storyline that paves the way for its dismal sequel, Empire remains in many ways the best (indeed the last good) Star Wars film.

July 13, 2008 Full Review Source: Cinefantastique

| Comments (8)

Steve Biodrowski

Cinefantastique

A more mature instalment than its predecessor, loaded with spectacular special effects and efficiently written, this may well be the pinnacle of the saga.

March 4, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

Each section of the film has a stand-out sequence that inspires hyperbole like 'best ever.'

July 30, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Lucas and his cronies have done absolutely nothing to port this thing over for home theater other than to simply dump it on DVD.

September 12, 2006 Full Review Source: CinemaBlend.com

| Comments (5)

Joshua Tyler

CinemaBlend.com

The most imaginative and emotionally connectable "Star Wars" film and, with the exception of "Revenge of the Sith," also the darkest.

June 23, 2006 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star

| Comment

Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

The second act is very strong, cutting back and forth between Luke training with Yoda and Han, Leia, Chewie and C-3P0 fighting the Empire. And it's paced leisurely enough that you get to know the characters a little bit.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

An extended ricochet from one incendiary set-piece battle to another which still finds time to attend to plot, pace and character.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Time Out

The best of the films.

September 30, 2005 Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs

| Comment

Scott Nash

Three Movie Buffs

Sci-fi cinema at its best.

September 17, 2005 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

| Comment (1)

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Everything you loved about A New Hope and more.

July 5, 2005 Full Review Source: Bullz-Eye.com

| Comment

Jason Zingale

Bullz-Eye.com

The backbone of the Star Wars saga… takes the story and themes of the first film into deeper waters.

May 16, 2005 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide

| Comment

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films Guide

...this is as close to Cloud Nine as we're going to get for a while. [Star Wars Trilogy DVD set]

September 9, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...the deepest, darkest, most mature, and most thoughtful entry in the series.

September 9, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

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A near perfect sci-fi action flick. This is a film in which everything came together: the story, the dialogue the characters, the exotic settings, and the dazzling action sequences. The tone is darker and more serious than the first film, but it still manages to be a enduring and fun flick. Yoda is probably one of

June 11, 2011

Christopher Heim

Super Reviewer

How do you write a worthy review for a movie trilogy that means so much to you, that you keep returning to it year after year for inspiration and joy? The truth is I can't, for no matter how many adjectives of praise I throw at it, it can never do justice to the unparallelled magic found within their frames. Although

June 28, 2007

Mike S

Super Reviewer

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Quotes

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1. Darth Vader: I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.
– Submitted by Sidharth E (16 hours ago)
1. Lando Calrissian: I thought you wanted them to stay here!
– Submitted by Sidharth E (16 hours ago)
1. Darth Vader: Calrissian, take the Princess and the Wookie to my ship.
– Submitted by Sidharth E (16 hours ago)
1. Han Solo: Laugh it up, fuzz-ball!
– Submitted by Zachary W (9 days ago)
1. Yoda: Do or do not... there is no try.
– Submitted by Brian L (17 days ago)

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