Star Warsmovies have frequently been major box office successes, with a few exceptions, but shockingly,Star Wars’ best movie didn’t hit number one at the box office for an entire month after it was released.Star Warsmovies and TV showshaven’t always been well-received. Shows likeThe Acolytehave proven to be extremely controversial and have been subject to significant backlash, andThe Acolyte’scancelationmade it clear that this has a tangible effect on the franchise.
Even so,Star Warsmovies tend to draw viewers to the theater, and box office numbers don’t always directly translate to how popular the movie ended up being over time.TheStar Warsmovie box office rankingsreveal thatStar Wars: The Force Awakens, a now highly criticizedStar Warsmovie, was the second highest grossing in the entire franchise. Despite the complexity of box office numbers, though, it’s still shocking that one ofStar Wars’ best movies, if not the single best, took a whole month to hit number one at the box office.
Many Popular Movies Were Released in May 1980
According toBox Office Mojo,in May 1980, whenThe Empire Strikes Backwas first released, it shockingly ranked seventh at the box office. Presumably, this is because theStar Warsmovie was facing significant competition. The top releasing movie that month wasThe Shining, now a horror film cult classic. Yet another horror movie,Friday the 13th, ranked second that month.
Other movies that ranked aboveThe Empire Strikes Backin that first month wereFame,Kramer vs. Kramer,The Long Riders, andThe Nude Bomb.June 1980 sawThe Empire Strikes Backin second place in the box office rankingsaccording toBox Office Mojo, coming in behindThe Blues Brothers. Finally, in July 1980,The Empire Strikes Backtopped the charts. Despite that positive shift, by August 1980, it had dropped again, withSmokey and the Bandit IIin first place andXanaduin second.
Some Of ESB’s Competitors Were True Classics Too
1980 Was A Major Year For Movie Releases
Among the explanations for these numbers is the fact thatThe Empire Strikes Backhad a relatively late start in May, with a July 29, 2025, release date. Even in light of the movie releasing a bit later in May, it’s truly surprising to see thatThe Empire Strikes Backwas beaten out by other movies, given how incredibly beloved the movie has become. Of course,many of the movies released in that four-month span were also classics.
10 Ways The Empire Strikes Back Changed Hollywood Forever
The Empire Strikes Back is generally considered one of the most important movies ever made - and here are ten ways it transformed Hollywood forever.
The ShiningandFriday the 13thhave both become cult classics, andThe Blues Brothersis considered a classic as well. WhileSmokey and the Bandit IImay have been a sequel, the original movie was widely regarded as a major success and no doubt drew audiences to the theaters for number two. It’s clearThe Empire Strikes Backhad some stiff competition, but it’s still difficult to believe thisStar Warsmovie didn’t top the charts when it was first released.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Cast
The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner. Released in 1980, it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda, while Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance face ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader.
