Spoilers · the ending
The Empire Strikes Back: the ending, explained
Irvin Kershner · 1980
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
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Spoilers · the ending
Irvin Kershner · 1980
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
What happens
Luke refuses Vader, who has revealed he is Luke's father, and lets himself fall. Leia and Lando rescue him, but Han is carried off by Boba Fett, frozen in carbonite. The heroes regroup, resolved to find him.
The last image
Luke, fitted with a mechanical hand, stands beside Leia, Lando and the droids, gazing out at the stars.
What it says
The heroes don't win, and the film lets that stand. Luke has lost a hand and his certainty about who he is, and Han is gone. Courage and loyalty bring you through, but not cleanly, and the film trusts you to wait for the answer.