Wednesday, May 21, 1980

The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - The Lucky 13 Vault

The Lucky13 Vault

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back




Directed by Irvin Kershner (1980)


Original Release Date
May 21, 1980
Rotten Tomatoes
95%
Letterboxd Score
4.4/5

Official Synopsis

In what many consider the greatest sequel ever made, the war for the galaxy intensifies. Following the destruction of the Death Star, Imperial forces pursue the Rebels across the ice planet of Hoth. While Han Solo and Princess Leia flee the Imperial fleet, Luke Skywalker travels to the swamp planet Dagobah to train under the Jedi Master Yoda. The saga reaches a shattering climax as Luke confronts Darth Vader and discovers a terrifying truth about his heritage.

The Ensemble

  • Mark Hamill: Luke Skywalker
  • Harrison Ford: Han Solo
  • Carrie Fisher: Princess Leia
  • Billy Dee Williams: Lando Calrissian
  • Frank Oz: Yoda (Voice/Puppeteer)
  • James Earl Jones: Darth Vader (Voice)

The Architects

  • Director: Irvin Kershner
  • Screenplay: Leigh Brackett & Lawrence Kasdan
  • Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky
  • Music: John Williams
  • Producer: George Lucas / Gary Kurtz

The Official Trailer

The Accolades

  • 🏆 Academy Award Winner: Best Sound and a Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects.
  • 📽️ AFI Legacy: Consistently ranked among the top 15 films of all time in American cinema.

Vault Intelligence

  • The "I love you" / "I know" exchange between Leia and Han was an on-set improvisation by Harrison Ford, who felt the scripted response was too flowery.
  • To keep the twist secret, the script given to actors said Vader killed Luke's father; only Hamill was told the truth right before the cameras rolled.

Film Specifications

Financial Backing$18 Million (Self-financed by Lucas)
Theatrical Earnings$538 Million (Global Gross)
Cinematic Format35mm / 2.39:1 Anamorphic

Retrospective Pending

"Ray’s full 2026 Northstar analysis for this operatic sequel is currently being restored from the vault."

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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