V:Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 science fantasy film created by George Lucas and directed by his colleague Irvin Kershner. It was the second film to be released in Lucas' six-film Star Wars saga, but it is the fifth film by chronology of events. more...

Among fans it is sometimes referred to as "TESB" or simply "Empire".

The film is about three valiant heroes of the Rebel Alliance — Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia — as they are pursued by the evil, implacable Darth Vader and the forces of the Galactic Empire. In Han's unreliable starship, the Millennium Falcon, he and Leia are chased across the galaxy by the Empire. Meanwhile, Luke learns about The Force from Yoda, a wise Jedi Master. This leads to a desperate confrontation with Darth Vader, where Luke must face his destiny.

Production

Whether The Empire Strikes Back would even be made depended on the success of the 1977 Star Wars, which did exceed all expectations — in terms of sheer profit, its revolutionary impact on the movie industry, and its unexpected resonance as a cultural phenomenon. This profound triumph was practically an imperative for George Lucas to continue his space saga. But recalling the numerous problems with 20th Century Fox's financing of the first film, Lucas decided that he would finance the sequel himself, securing a bank loan which was reportably twice the budget of the original Star Wars. A great deal was on the line: a successful sequel was by no means a sure thing, and its success would dictate whether the Star Wars trilogy would be completed.

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