The Empire Strikes Back

“The Empire Strikes Back” is best known as the title of the second released Star Wars film (Episode V), which premiered in 1980. Although George Lucas created the Star Wars universe and served as executive producer and story originator, the film was directed by Irvin Kershner and the screenplay was credited to Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan. As a title, the phrase functions as a marketing and narrative signpost: after the Rebel victory in the first film, the Galactic Empire regroups and retaliates, driving the story into a darker middle chapter. It is not typically cited as a spoken line by Lucas.