The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

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The Empire Strikes Back

2
Global Ranking


Wins 77%
of its Matchups

105203
Total Users
Who've Ranked It

1310429
Total Times Ranked

3839
Have It At #1

33222
Have It In Their Top 20

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Directed By Irvin Kershner Irvin Kershner Starring Mark Hamill Mark Hamill  •  Harrison Ford Harrison Ford  •  Carrie Fisher Carrie Fisher  •  Billy Dee Williams Billy Dee Williams  •  Anthony Daniels Anthony Daniels Genres Action  •  Adventure  •  Cyborg / Android / Robot  •  Sci-Fi Action  •  Science Fiction  •  Space Adventure Studios &
Franchises
Star Wars  •  National Film Registry  •  They Shoot Pictures, Don't They?  •  1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die  •  Academy Award for Best Production Design Nominated  •  Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film Nominated  •  Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film Winning  •  Alamo Drafthouse 100  •  Time Out: London's 100 Best Sci-Fi Movies  •  BBC's 100 Greatest American Films  •  Time Out: New York's 100 Best Movies of All Time  •  Lucasfilm  •  The Skywalker Saga
Other Titles Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back [United States] Release Info 1980-05-21T00:00:00Z May 21, 1980
Color  •  127 minutes PG Rated PG
see more films from 1980 ► see more about this film on our blog ►

Comments (45)

 
Zampa

Zampa on 11/30/2010 Reply  · 

A little trivia: The Empire Strikes Back was one of the reasons Flickchart was built. It was Pulp Fiction vs. The Empire Strikes Back that spurred the first matchup debate. It convinced us a website needed to be built to determine which movie more people think is the better film. (I say Empire.)

6 people liked this  √ 

Danielod

Danielod on 12/1/2013 Reply  · 

It seems you liked Empire better! :) Thanks for the awesome website... you've............. ruined my life :)

3 people liked this  √ 

Showtimebr

Showtimebr on 1/11/2012 Reply  · 

When you look at mine Top #10, remember that Empire stands for the whole Star Wars saga. I'll always have one of the SW highly ranked on my ranks 'till i'm yoda's age.

1 person liked this  √ 

IHelfrich

IHelfrich on 9/8/2012 Reply  · 

One of the best Movie Sequels ever made with a few twists and turns along the way.

1 person liked this  √ 

hsoj

hsoj on 12/6/2012 Reply  · 

SIck film init blud. Da best yoo

Yolo HSOJ out bruv

0 people liked this  √ 

hsoj

hsoj on 12/6/2012 Reply  · 

Yes Jerry blud, wat is hangin'

0 people liked this  √ 

Joshyskater

Joshyskater on 12/6/2012 Reply  · 

Well me no see dis film fam. So badman don't know how sick dis is!

0 people liked this  √ 

robmoviefilms13

robmoviefilms13 on 1/3/2013 Reply  · 

The most perfect science fiction fantasy film. It proudly stands in my top 10.

4 people liked this  √ 

bjonesb18

bjonesb18 on 2/23/2013 Reply  · 

The Empire Strikes Back is my #1 favorite movie of all time.

0 people liked this  √ 

SLionsCricket

SLionsCricket on 3/19/2013 Reply  · 

Every time I saw Empire I really liked it, even loved it but I just finished re-watching this and boy...........I MORE THAN FRICKING LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!! Empire hands down- best Star Wars movie and best Sci Fi!

3 people liked this  √ 

Caesar

Caesar on 3/24/2013 Reply  · 

The greatest sequel ever made. Period.

6 people liked this  √ 

CTR479

CTR479 on 10/10/2013 Reply  · 

Incredible film and the best movie of the entire Star Wars saga. Probably the best movie sequel ever along with The Godfather Part 2.

1 person liked this  √ 

tilite1981

tilite1981 on 10/19/2013 Reply  · 

Even though the prequels have kind of soured me on the writing in Star Wars. I still could watch Empire Strikes Back over and over and over !!!! Best Star Wars movie cheesy dialogue and all

1 person liked this  √ 

Danielod

Danielod on 12/10/2013 Reply  · 

Fantastic movie! Nearly perfect!

3 people liked this  √ 

AverageMovieBuff

AverageMovieBuff on 4/17/2015 Reply  · 

It is perfect

1 person liked this  √ 

cheesydog1

cheesydog1 on 4/13/2014 Reply  · 

The best Star Wars film

1 person liked this  √ 

AverageMovieBuff

AverageMovieBuff on 10/19/2014 Reply  · 

Best of the saga.

1 person liked this  √ 

AverageMovieBuff

AverageMovieBuff on 10/19/2014 Reply  · 

I will give this film a 10 out of 10

1 person liked this  √ 

Danny237

Danny237 on 3/25/2015 Reply  · 

Worst Star Wars

0 people liked this  √ 

LandMiller

LandMiller on 7/25/2017 Reply  · 

Ok, I get it, you're joking.

1 person liked this  √ 

AverageMovieBuff

AverageMovieBuff on 4/18/2015 Reply  · 

This movie could probably pass as the greatest movie ever made. It is perfect.

2 people liked this  √ 

empirosaur

empirosaur on 7/21/2015 Reply  · 

they don't call me empirosaur for nothing. This film is the reason why I joined flickchart.

0 people liked this  √ 

kylorennerolyk

kylorennerolyk on 3/19/2016 Reply  · 

Classic perfection.

0 people liked this  √ 

PFV

PFV on 2/5/2017 Reply  · 

In my top 25, a great movie and sequel.

HOW DO I REMOVE IT FROM MY UNSEEN FILMS LIST?!

0 people liked this  √ 

mcgrathta

mcgrathta on 2/5/2017 Reply  · 

It's hard to say, PFV.

0 people liked this  √ 

Eagleskywalker87

Eagleskywalker87 on 4/3/2017 Reply  · 

Favourite film of all time and has been for years!

2 people liked this  √ 

Eagleskywalker87

Eagleskywalker87 on 8/5/2017 Reply  · 

^^well... Empire has ended its reign as my "favourite film of all time" and has dropped down to 3rd. I'm feel ashamed but Vertigo and 2001 are just a nose better!

1 person liked this  √ 

mcgrathta

mcgrathta on 5/12/2017 Reply  · 

Scary.

0 people liked this  √ 

mcgrathta

mcgrathta on 6/8/2017 Reply  · 

SCARY!!!

0 people liked this  √ 

blairstar93

blairstar93 on 12/21/2017 Reply  · 

Empire told it's story better, with no false moments. TLOTR-ROTK had mores ups and downs and some very odd un-Tolkein moments, plus it didnt' quite know when to end. Empire left you stunned and wanting more

0 people liked this  √ 

eColer005

eColer005 on 8/4/2020 Reply  · 

Monster of a film with the amazing set pieces and character themes. My favorite of the originals will always be Jedi and a New Hope. As a kid I never connected emotionally like I did with the others, but it's fun nevertheless.

1 person liked this  √ 

TheFireRises

TheFireRises on 9/22/2020 Reply  · 

A masterpiece!

4 people liked this  √ 

IloveMovie243

IloveMovie243 on 10/20/2020 Reply  · 

The Best Star Wars movie by Far.

3 people liked this  √ 

thegoatanakin

thegoatanakin on 12/10/2020 Reply  · 

Definitely a top 5 movie of all time, up there with The Godfather and Pulp Fiction.

1 person liked this  √ 

ChrisFilm85

ChrisFilm85 on 10/27/2021 Reply  · 

Practically perfect. Endlessly rewatchable. A timeless classic. The best Star Wars film by Light Years. Hopefully will always remain as one of my favourite films ever. And Yoda is the best character in any film ever made.

0 people liked this  √ 

telugujio

telugujio on 11/1/2021 Reply  · 

amazing movie
https://telugujio.com/

0 people liked this  √ 

Crapbaskets123

Crapbaskets123 on 8/2/2022 Reply  · 

This movie, upon rewatch, is honestly even better. The film is complex, endlessly entertaining, dark yet hopeful, and still philosophical and thematically rich. The duality of the light side and dark side of the force mirrors Carl Jung's theory of shadows. It also uses theories of "the hangman" where characters (specifically Luke) are in states of peril where he's literally upside down, and is forced to use extreme concentration and the force to get out of said situations. It deepened the lore of star wars and introduced new characters as well. I even like the themes of humanity where it introduces the humanity of vader, and the slight hint that Luke could very well join Vader once we seen his cybernetic arm. There's a lot of other interesting stuff in this movie. It's a masterpiece plain and simple

0 people liked this  √ 

JimmyMcGill

JimmyMcGill on 8/27/2022 Reply  · 

Though it deviates from Star Wars and the subsequent films don't quite live up to what it anticipates, The Empire Strikes Back remains the franchise's most character-centric and emotionally involving entry.

0 people liked this  √ 

Crapbaskets123

Crapbaskets123 on 9/9/2022 Reply  · 

The second greatest science fiction movie to ever be made. Complex, dark, visually stunning, and so so iconic, this masterpiece will stand the test of time as a classic battle between light and shadow, between good and evil.

0 people liked this  √ 

stunseedbackward

stunseedbackward on 3/11/2023 Reply  · 

I once told my girlfriend “judge me by my size do you?”

0 people liked this  √ 

airport73

airport73 on Mar 3 Reply  · 

After over 40 years Empire still hits home with stunning visuals that actually have meaning. The fight between Luke and Vader has so much going with the set design its uncanny!

0 people liked this  √ 

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