The Empire Strikes Back
“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.
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Part of Star Wars Collection
9 films
Star Wars
Movie · 1977
The Empire Strikes Back
Movie · 1980
Return of the Jedi
Movie · 1983
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Movie · 1999
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Movie · 2002
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Movie · 2005
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Movie · 2015
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Movie · 2017
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Movie · 2019
Cast
79 people
Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker
Known for
Regular Show
INVINCIBLE
Harrison Ford
Han Solo
Known for
Blade Runner
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Carrie Fisher
Princess Leia
Known for
When Harry Met Sally...
Family Guy
Billy Dee Williams
Lando Calrissian
Known for
Batman
The Lego Batman Movie
Anthony Daniels
C-3PO
Known for
Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Lego Movie
David Prowse
Darth Vader
Known for
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
Jabberwocky
Peter Mayhew
Chewbacca
Known for
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger
Kenny Baker
R2-D2
Known for
Time Bandits
Amadeus
Frank Oz
Yoda (Voice)
Known for
Monsters, Inc.
Inside Out
Alec Guinness
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Known for
Lawrence of Arabia
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Jeremy Bulloch
Boba Fett
Known for
Robin of Sherwood
The Lady Vanishes
Jason Wingreen
Boba Fett (voice - uncredited)
Known for
The Dunwich Horror
Captain America
Irvin Kershner Director · Leigh Brackett Screenplay Lawrence Kasdan Screenplay
Worldwide gross $538M · Budget $18M · United States release May 21, 1980
Box office
Budget
$18,000,000
Worldwide gross
$538,400,000
Gross vs. budget
29.9×
Production
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Production
20th Century Studios
Studio · Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United States · May 17, 1980
Premiere · Washington, DC
United States · May 21, 1980
Limited theatrical
United States · April 4, 1997
Physical · Special Edition
United States
June 20, 1980 · Theatrical
November 22, 1987 · TV · NBC
September 12, 2006 · Physical · Widescreen Limited Edition DVD
September 25, 2020 · Limited theatrical · 40th anniversary
Argentina
December 25, 1980
Australia
May 21, 1980 · Theatrical
Austria
December 11, 1980 · Theatrical
Belgium
September 4, 1980 · Gent
Brazil
May 21, 1980 · Theatrical
Bulgaria
December 6, 1985 · Theatrical
Cameroon
August 8, 1980
Canada
May 21, 1980 · Theatrical
Chile
December 25, 1980
China
June 14, 2015 · Shanghai International Film Festival
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
June 6, 1980
Colombia
December 25, 1980
Cook Islands
April 9, 1997 · Special Edition
Czechia
April 10, 1997 · Theatrical
Denmark
August 15, 1980 · Theatrical
Egypt
April 8, 2021 · DVD Release
Estonia
June 13, 1997 · Special Edition
Ethiopia
October 8, 1980
Finland
August 14, 1980 · Theatrical
France
August 20, 1980 · Theatrical
Germany
December 10, 1980 · Theatrical
Greece
December 19, 1980 · Theatrical
Hong Kong SAR China
August 8, 1980 · Theatrical
Hungary
January 28, 1982 · Theatrical
Iceland
April 11, 1997 · Special Edition
India
December 10, 1980
Ireland
June 27, 1980 · Theatrical
Israel
June 28, 1980
Italy
September 19, 1980 · Theatrical
Japan
June 28, 1980 · Theatrical
July 5, 1997 · Theatrical
Kuwait
September 27, 1980
Lesotho
June 20, 1980
Mexico
December 25, 1980 · Theatrical
Netherlands
December 11, 1980 · Theatrical
May 2, 2002 · TV · Yorin
September 13, 2006 · Physical · DVD
September 1, 2011 · Physical · Blu-ray
New Zealand
December 5, 1980 · Theatrical
Niue
August 8, 1980
Norway
August 10, 1980
Peru
February 12, 1981
Philippines
August 8, 1980
Poland
May 20, 1980 · Theatrical
April 4, 1997 · Physical · Odnowiona
Portugal
December 19, 1980 · Theatrical
Russia
February 4, 1988 · Theatrical
December 9, 2010 · Physical · DVD
Singapore
August 8, 1980
South Africa
April 11, 1997 · Special Edition
South Korea
April 26, 1997 · Theatrical
Spain
October 2, 1980 · Theatrical
Sweden
August 15, 1980 · Theatrical
October 25, 1995 · Physical · VHS
April 11, 1997 · Theatrical · Special Edition
September 20, 2004 · Physical · DVD
September 12, 2011 · Physical · Blu-ray
May 4, 2020 · Physical · 4K Ultra HD
Switzerland
April 11, 1997 · Special Edition
Taiwan
February 5, 1981
Thailand
August 8, 1980
Türkiye
January 5, 1983
United Arab Emirates
August 24, 2020 · Blu-ray Release
United Kingdom
May 20, 1980 · Premiere · London
May 21, 1980 · Theatrical
Uruguay
January 15, 1981
XC
December 1, 1992 · Physical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.