Opening

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Coming Soon

78% Kill Your Darlings Oct 16
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—— Paradise Oct 18

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

tomatometer

96

Average Rating: 8.7/10
Reviews Counted: 75
Fresh: 72 | Rotten: 3

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.

89

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.

audience

94

liked it
Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 1,032,004

My Rating

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

Sep 21, 2004

Twentieth Century Fox - Official Site External Icon

Cast

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All Critics (75) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (72) | 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
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop 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 (1)
Variety
Top Critic IconTop 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 (82)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop 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
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop 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
Detroit News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

See it and prepare to be captivated by the most spellbinding sci-fi film of them all.

September 9, 2013 Full Review Source: Lyles' Movie Files
Lyles' Movie Files

Director Irvin Kershner's imaginative supervision of George Lucas's brainchild gives this second part of the first Star Wars trilogy a truly epic dimension, adding a mature, philosophical aspect to the nonstop barrage of brilliant special effects.

August 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Radio Times
Radio Times

It's darker than the original, and perhaps less well structured, but it combines gorgeous visuals and surprisingly deep human emotions.

August 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Total Film
Total Film

It's not up to the original.

August 4, 2013 Full Review Source: People Magazine
People Magazine

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

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment (1)
Common Sense Media

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

May 22, 2010 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed
Cinema Crazed

O melhor de toda a série, este episódio abraça o potencial sombrio do universo concebido por Lucas e consegue equilibrar com eficiência os aspectos infantis da narrativa com os momentos de maior densidade.

January 7, 2010 | Comment (1)
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)
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
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
eFilmCritic.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
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
Combustible Celluloid

The best of the films.

September 30, 2005 Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs
Three Movie Buffs

Sci-fi cinema at its best.

September 17, 2005 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comment (1)
TheMovieReport.com

Everything you loved about A New Hope and more.

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

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

Startling relationships, dark pasts, and high-octane space battles surround this brilliant sequel to the beloved "Star Wars" film, "A New Hope." The first half of this film is more of the same, with a few new characters and a much better screenplay; However, the second half surpasses it's predecessor in every way. Filled with amazing twists and brilliant dialogue, "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" is arguably better than the original, which is almost impossible for me to decide between, because it is part of a saga that doesn't feel distant from the first at all. With great direction, fantastic writing, and visuals, that, for 1980's is spectacular. Fantastic filmmaking all around!
January 13, 2010
KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

five stars!!
March 28, 2007
YodaMasterJedi
MisterYoda ?

Super Reviewer

    1. Yoda: Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!
    – Submitted by Andrew H (7 days ago)
    1. Han Solo: Laugh it up, fuzz ball.
    – Submitted by Matthew D (3 months ago)
    1. Luke Skywalker: I don't believe it.
    2. Yoda: That is why you fail.
    – Submitted by Joe N (4 months ago)
    1. Yoda: Do or do not. There is no try.
    – Submitted by Michael B (5 months ago)
    1. Yoda: I am wondering, why are you here?
    2. Luke Skywalker: I'm looking for someone.
    3. Yoda: Looking? Found someone, you have, I would say, hmmm?
    4. Luke Skywalker: Right...
    5. Yoda: Help you I can. Yes, mmmm.
    6. Luke Skywalker: I don't think so. I'm looking for a great warrior.
    7. Yoda: Ohhh. Great warrior... Wars not make one great.
    – Submitted by Typhon Q (9 months ago)
    1. Ben "Obi-Wan" Kenobi: Luke, don't give in to hate! That leads to the Dark Side!
    2. Yoda: Strong is Vader. Mind what you have learned. Save you it can.
    3. Luke Skywalker: I will, and I'll return. I promise.
    – Submitted by Cody H (9 months ago)
View all quotes (54)

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  • El imperio contraataca (ES)
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