Home -> Movies -> Empire Strikes Back DVD

Release Date: May 21st, 1980

Running Time: 122 minutes

U.S. Box Office: $290,272,072

Rating: PG for sci-fi action violence.

Directed By: Irvin Kershner, Harley Cokliss, Jonathan Barry

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels

Critics Reviews: 9 out of 10

Chicago Sun Times ``The Empire Strikes Back'' is the best of three Star Wars films, and the most thought-provoking. After the space opera cheerfulness of the original film, this one plunges into darkness and even despair, and surrenders more completely to the underlying mystery of the story. Roger Ebert

Movie Reviews Although it lacks the pioneering "newness" of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back is in many ways a superior motion picture. The storyline is more interesting and ambitious, the characters -- little more than appealing types in the original -- are allowed to grow and develop, the special effects are more mature, and the tone is deliciously dark and downbeat. James Berardinelli

San Francisco Chronicle ``The Empire Strikes Back'' is blazing good fun. Dubbed ``Chapter 5'' in the overall ``Star Wars'' saga, it is a fiercely entertaining war fantasy -- and includes some well-placed, serious smooches by Princess Leia. Peter Stack

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The Empire Strikes Back Official Star Wars site, Episode V.