Other meanings of Star Wars (film)
Film
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (also known as The Empire Strikes Back) is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner and written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story by George Lucas. It is the second film in the original Star Wars trilogy and the fifth episode of the nine-part Skywalker saga. Set three years after the events of A New Hope, the film follows the Rebel Alliance as they are hunted by the Galactic Empire, with Luke Skywalker training to become a Jedi under Yoda while confronting the dark side. The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest sequels and one of the best films ever made, noted for its darker tone, complex character development, and iconic plot twist.
The film opens with the Rebel Alliance evacuating their base on the ice planet Hoth after an Imperial probe droid discovers them. Luke Skywalker is captured by a wampa and escapes, but is rescued by Han Solo. After a brief encounter with the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke and R2-D2 travel to the swamp planet Dagobah to find Jedi Master Yoda, while Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO flee the Empire in the Millennium Falcon.
On Dagobah, Luke begins training under Yoda, learning to use the Force. Meanwhile, Han and Leia hide in an asteroid field and develop a romantic relationship. Eventually, they are captured by Darth Vader on Cloud City, where Vader uses them as bait to lure Luke. Luke abandons his training to rescue his friends, but Vader defeats him in a lightsaber duel and reveals that he is Luke's father. Luke escapes, and the Rebels regroup, with Lando Calrissian helping them escape. The film ends with Luke and Leia looking out at the galaxy, having lost Han to Boba Fett.
George Lucas, overwhelmed by the production of the first film, hired Irvin Kershner to direct, giving him creative freedom. The script was initially drafted by Leigh Brackett, who died before completing it; Lawrence Kasdan then rewrote it. The film was shot at Elstree Studios in England and on location in Norway and on the glacier of Finse, where the Hoth scenes were filmed.
The production faced numerous challenges, including a tight schedule, difficult weather conditions, and a complex special effects process. The visual effects were created by Industrial Light & Magic, which pushed the boundaries of motion-control photography and matte painting. The iconic snowspeeder battle and the asteroid chase were particularly ambitious. The film's budget ballooned to $33 million, making it one of the most expensive films of its time.
Mark Hamill returned as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, and Anthony Daniels as C-3PO. David Prowse physically portrayed Darth Vader, with James Earl Jones providing the voice. Frank Oz operated and voiced Yoda, a breakthrough in puppetry. Billy Dee Williams joined the cast as Lando Calrissian, and Jeremy Bulloch played Boba Fett, who became a fan favorite despite minimal screen time.
The film introduced several characters who would become iconic, including Yoda, Boba Fett, and the Emperor (played by Clive Revill, later replaced by Ian McDiarmid in the 2004 DVD). The casting of Kershner and the performances were praised for adding depth to the characters, particularly the conflicted Luke and the roguish Han.
The Empire Strikes Back is notable for its darker tone and exploration of themes such as failure, temptation, and the nature of evil. The film subverts the traditional hero's journey by having the protagonist fail in his training and lose a hand, while the villain is revealed to be his father. Critics have analyzed the film's Oedipal undertones and its treatment of the father-son relationship.
The film also explores the conflict between emotion and discipline, as Luke's attachment to his friends leads him to abandon his training, resulting in his defeat. The revelation of Vader as Luke's father is considered one of the greatest plot twists in cinema history, and it fundamentally altered the mythology of the saga. The film's ending, with the Rebels defeated but hopeful, is a departure from the triumphant conclusion of the first film.
Upon release, The Empire Strikes Back received critical acclaim and was a box office success, grossing over $538 million worldwide. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Art Direction, winning a Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects. Over the years, it has been consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made, with many critics considering it the best of the Star Wars saga.
The film's influence extends beyond cinema, affecting popular culture, language (the phrase "I am your father" is widely parodied), and the film industry's approach to sequels. It set a standard for darker, more complex sequels and is often cited as a model for how to expand a franchise's mythology. The film's legacy is also seen in the numerous re-releases and the 2019 novelization by Donald Glut, which added depth to the story.
Several lesser-known facts enrich the film's history. The original script by Leigh Brackett was heavily revised; her draft had a different plot, including a confrontation with a creature called the "Giant Space Slug." The wampa scene was originally longer, with Luke using the Force to retrieve his lightsaber. The character of Boba Fett was created for the 1978 Holiday Special, and his armor was inspired by the Mandalorian supercommandos.
The film's production was marked by a fire at Elstree Studios that destroyed sets, and the crew had to rebuild them. The asteroid chase was achieved using a technique called "slit-scan" photography. The Emperor's appearance was originally a hologram with a chimpanzee's face, but was later changed. The film's title was not revealed until the opening crawl, and the marketing campaign kept the twist secret. The line "I am your father" was actually "No, I am your father" in the script, but the delivery was altered in editing.
This article is about the 1980 film. For other uses, see Star Wars (disambiguation).
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