Adventure · Action · Science Fiction
American
1980 · Directed by Irvin Kershner · 124 min
Some time after the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebel Alliance is hunted across the galaxy by an Empire that has regrouped. Luke, Leia, Han and their companions are scattered by the pursuit, each facing a test of loyalty, skill or nerve. A space adventure with a darker, more intimate tone than its predecessor.
Why it matters in cinema history
A defining film of the post-1977 blockbuster era and of fantasy-tinged science fiction, it set the template for the serialised franchise, with tone, scale and mythology expanding from one instalment to the next.
Watch with intention
Watch it as an adventure film that keeps asking the characters, not the special effects, to carry the drama.
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