The Empire Strikes Back (1980) poster

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Adventure, Action, Science Fiction • 2h 4m

Director: Irvin Kershner

Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Alec Guinness, Jeremy Bulloch, Jason Wingreen, John Hollis, Jack Purvis, Des Webb, Kathryn Mullen, Marjorie Eaton, Clive Revill, Kenneth Colley, Julian Glover, Michael Sheard, Michael Culver, John Dicks, Milton Johns, Mark Jones, Oliver Maguire, Robin Scobey, Bruce Boa, Christopher Malcolm, Denis Lawson, Richard Oldfield, John Morton, Ian Liston, John Ratzenberger, Jack McKenzie, Jerry Harte, Norman Chancer, Norwich Duff, Ray Hassett, Brigitte Kahn, Burnell Tucker, Bob Anderson, Lightning Bear, Richard Bonehill, John Cannon, Mark Capri, Martin Dew, Peter Diamond, Stuart Fell, Tony Smart, Alan Harris, James Earl Jones, Mac McDonald, Ralph McQuarrie, Ralph G. Morse, Terry Richards, Treat Williams, Shaun Curry, Alan Austen, Jim Dowdall, Tom Egeland, Alan Flyng, Trevor Butterfield, Mercedes Burleigh, Jane Busby, Maurice Bush, Tony Clarkin, Mike Edmonds, Walter Henry, Paul Jerricho, Joe Johnston, Steven Meek, Peter Roy, Stephanie English, Michael Leader, Egbert Sen, Elaine Alexander, Colin Hunt, Ian McDiarmid

Best English-friendly release

OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas. If not, Disney 4K Blu-ray

Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D+97_V" on high seas.

Updated 3 months ago

Best video release

OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas

Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D_97_VI" on the high seas.

UHD Blu-ray

If not, the 4K Blu-rays are generally considered an improvement over the 2011 Blu-rays. (although both restorations are DNR'ed and have issues).

Upcoming

2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed

Best audio release

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes. 70mm six-track mix is included in 4K80 (taken from an actual 70mm print). There are 16mm rips of the mono mix.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

UHD tiers

Disney

About the film

The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.

Featured Lists: Star Wars
Unofficial Releases Over Studio Releases
National Film Registry
Year of Induction: 2010
TSPDT: 2026: #305
2025: #326
2024: #333
2023: #328
2022: #328
Alternative Titles: Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back, The Empire Strikes Back: StarWars II, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back - Despecialized Edition, The Empire Strikes Back (Despecialized Edition), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition, Star Wars 4K80, Star Wars V Despecialized, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V), Star Wars V - The Empire Strikes Back

Part of Star Wars

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Director: George Lucas

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

4K · Disappointing

Best English-Friendly & Video:

High seas for the recreated Theatrical Cut

Video Notes:

Disney 4K Blu-ray is disappointing

Best Audio:

2000 Japan LaserDisc AC3 audio

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

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4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

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4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

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4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Director: Ron Howard

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Director: J.J. Abrams

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

2D version: Disney 4K Blu-ray

3D version: Disney 3D Blu-ray or Disney+/Apple TV Vision Pro Streaming

Star Wars (1977)

Director: George Lucas

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly & Video:

OG: "4K77" or "D+77" on high seas.

Special Edition: "4K97_IV" or "D+97_IV" on high seas.

Upcoming Release:

2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed

Best Audio:

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes (and usually included in fan restorations). There are 16mm/TV rips of the mono mixes.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

Return of the Jedi (1983)

Director: Richard Marquand

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly & Video:

OG: "4K83" or "OTD83" on the high seas

Special Edition: "4K97_VI" or "D+97_VI" on the high seas

Upcoming Release:

2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed

Best Audio:

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes (and usually included in fan restorations). There are 16mm/TV rips of the mono mixes.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

Director: George Lucas

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly & Video:

High seas for recreated Theatrical Cut or HDTV rip

Video Notes:

Disney 4K Blu-ray is a mediocre upscale.

Best Audio:

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Director: George Lucas

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

4K · Disappointing

Best English-Friendly & Video:

High seas for recreated Theatrical Cut or HDTV rip

Video Notes:

Disney 4K Blu-ray is a mediocre upscale.

Best Audio:

Featured in National Film Registry

Blackboard Jungle (1955)

Director: Richard Brooks

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Video Notes:

4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Director: Jonathan Demme

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray > Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Orion LaserDisc vs 2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion Blu-ray has exclusive extras

Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)

Director: George B. Seitz

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Video Notes:

4K restoration from safety preservation elements

A New Leaf (1971)

Director: Elaine May

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Cinématographe 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Cinématographe 4K Blu-ray > MoC > Olive Films. From nicolas:

The master is good but it’s not that big an upgrade from the Olive Films disc and Vinegar Syndrome’ encode has some blocky highlights. A shame that they didn’t hire David Mackenzie here.

Best Audio:

Olive Films Blu-ray / Masters of Cinema Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

Cinématographe has unnecessary noise gating not present on the previous releases.

12 Angry Men (1957)

Director: Sidney Lumet

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber US / Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

1.85:1: Kino Lorber 4K / Capelight 4K

1.66:1: Criterion 4K

Video Notes:

1.85:1: Kino Lorber 4K / Capelight 4K

1.66:1: Criterion 4K but low pass filtered

Comparison between the 4Ks, Criterion on the AR choice

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

Other discs have unnecessary filtering and sound worse, the difference isn't substantial but audible

Easy Rider (1969)

Director: Dennis Hopper

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Sony UK 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Director: F. W. Murnau

Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

MoC OOP Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

Flicker Alley 4K confirmed for 2027 https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=24404584&postcount=1

Audio Notes:

MoC audio is better https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=225532&page=3

Spartacus (1960)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Included in the Complete Kubrick box set with FiM encode of the same master from the Universal release without the filtering.

Audio Notes:

DTS:X mix on Universal 4K Blu-ray most closely approximates original surround mix

Additional Info:

Criterion DVD and Universal 4K Blu-ray has additional features not found on the Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Wild Bunch (1969)

Director: Sam Peckinpah

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Plaion Germany Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

4K Blu-ray said to be coming from Criterion, per Bill Hunt

Video Notes:

Includes Director's Cut and Roadshow Version

Same master as old WB Blu-ray but better encoding

North by Northwest (1959)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

WB 4K

Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

An undeniably significant improvement from the BD yet still severely flawed. See DFIC's review.

Best Audio:

1984 MGM Hi-Fi VHS

More from Irvin Kershner

Never Say Never Again (1983)

Director: Irvin Kershner

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite dated master

Best Audio:

WB 1995 letterbox LaserDisc

RoboCop 2 (1990)

Director: Irvin Kershner

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

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tyyuxvanshadyJojoTheMovieOtterDISKANBGR8Hydra Spectrereubenward895

· last reviewed 3 months ago

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