Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back (also known as Star Wars: Episode V – 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. The sequel to Star Wars (1977), it is the second film in the Star Wars film series and the fifth chronological chapter of the "Skywalker Saga". Set three years after the events of Star Wars, it follows the battle between the malevolent Galactic Empire, led by the Emperor, and the Rebel Alliance led by Princess Leia. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker trains to master the Force so he can confront the powerful Sith lord, Darth Vader. The ensemble cast includes Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Frank Oz.
Following the success of Star Wars, Lucas hired Brackett to write the sequel. Following her death in 1978, he outlined the Star Wars saga as a whole and wrote the next draft himself, before hiring Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) writer Kasdan to enhance his work. To avoid the stress he faced directing Star Wars, Lucas handed the duty to his acquaintance Kershner, and focused on the expansion of his special effects company Industrial Light & Magic. Filmed from March to September 1979, in Finse, Norway and Elstree Studios, England, The Empire Strikes Back faced a difficult production that included actor injuries, illnesses, fires, and difficulties securing additional financing as costs rose. Initially budgeted at $8 million, costs had risen to $30.5 million by the project's conclusion.
The highly anticipated sequel was released on May 21, 1980, and became the highest-grossing film of the year, earning approximately $401.5 million worldwide. Unlike its predecessor, Empire was met with mixed reviews from critics and fans conflicted over its darker and more mature tone compared to the lighthearted Star Wars. Even so, critics praised the character Yoda, a diminutive puppet that serves as Luke's teacher, for its realistic expressions and characterization. The film was nominated for several awards and, among others, won two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and one BAFTA. Subsequent releases have raised the film's worldwide gross to $538–549 million and, adjusted for inflation, it is the thirteenth highest-grossing film ever in the United States and Canada.
In the years since its release, Empire has been critically reassessed and is now regarded as the best film in the Star Wars series and among the greatest films of all time. It had a significant impact on filmmaking and popular culture, and is considered the rare sequel that is better than its predecessor. The climax, in which Vader reveals that he is Luke's father, is often named as one of the greatest plot twists in cinema. It spawned a variety of merchandise and adaptations, including video games and a radio play. The United States Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2010. There was controversy because Lucas wanted a version of the film, modified for release in 1997, to be preserved instead of the original edition. Empire was followed by Return of the Jedi (1983), concluding the original Star Wars trilogy. It has since been followed by prequel and sequel trilogies that round out the "Skywalker saga".
Category:Films