Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Released
1980 · 20th Century
Released on May 21, 1980, The Empire Strikes Back was directed by Irvin Kershner and produced by Gary Kurtz, with George Lucas writing the story. The second film in the original Star Wars trilogy, it was produced for approximately $18 million, rising to $30.5 million with overruns, and earned over $400 million worldwide. The film held the number-one domestic box office position for eight consecutive weeks.
Key Figures
George LucasMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherIrvin Kershner
Locations
Elstree StudiosFinse
Topics
artCold Warscience fictionmoviespopular cultureHollywood
Connected Events — 2 Connections
Empire Strikes Back cliffhanger ending with Han Solo frozen in carbonite led directly to Return of the Jedi, completing the original trilogy Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Released
The 1977 original's unprecedented commercial success ($775M worldwide) greenlit the 1980 sequel, which deepened the mythology and is widely considered the franchise's artistic peak Star Wars: A New Hope Released
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