Best Movies like The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Return of the Jedi continues the Star Wars narrative from The Empire Strikes Back, following many of the same characters as they confront the Galactic Empire. Both films are set in the same universe and share a saga-spanning plot with high-stakes battles, character growth, and themes of rebellion against tyranny.

Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor. Return of the Jedi is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 12m runtime, released in 1983 with an average rating of 7.9 by 17,102 people. The movie made an estimated total of $572,700,000 in the box office.

Dune, like The Empire Strikes Back, is a science fiction adventure that centers on interplanetary struggle and the rise of a young protagonist resisting immense technological and political power. Both films are set amid galaxy-spanning conflicts where fate hinges on familial legacies, resistance movements, and the emergence of unlikely heroes.

Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence - a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential - only those who can conquer their fear will survive. Dune is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 35m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 7.8 by 15,247 people. The movie made an estimated total of $410,668,500 in the box office.

Star Wars introduces the universe, characters, and galactic conflict continued in The Empire Strikes Back. Both center on the Rebel Alliance’s fight against an oppressive empire, following Luke Skywalker's journey and a core ensemble experiencing space battles, betrayals, and stunning revelations.

Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire. Star Wars is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 1977 with an average rating of 8.2 by 22,576 people. The movie made an estimated total of $775,398,007 in the box office.

The Matrix Reloaded and The Empire Strikes Back both depict a group of rebels resisting a powerful force in a futuristic setting. Each film explores escalating consequences and internal struggles among protagonists as they deepen their understanding of themselves and their enemies.

The Resistance builds in numbers as humans are freed from the Matrix and brought to the city of Zion. Neo discovers his superpowers, including the ability to see the code inside the Matrix. With machine sentinels digging to Zion in 72 hours, Neo, Morpheus and Trinity must find the Keymaker to ultimately reach the Source. The Matrix Reloaded is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 18m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.1 by 12,153 people. The movie made an estimated total of $738,599,701 in the box office.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Empire Strikes Back each serve as middle entries in epic trilogies where heroes face increasing danger, split into separate challenges, and must grow through adversity. Both feature ensemble casts, battles, and the ever-present threat of darkness prevailing.

Frodo Baggins and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring--but on separate paths. Their destinies lie at two towers--Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor. Frodo and Sam are trekking to Mordor to destroy the One Ring of Power while Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn search for the orc-captured Merry and Pippin. All along, nefarious wizard Saruman awaits the Fellowship members at the Orthanc Tower in Isengard. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 59m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 8.4 by 24,273 people. The movie made an estimated total of $926,287,400 in the box office.

Guardians of the Galaxy and The Empire Strikes Back both center on a mismatched group of outlaws and heroes navigating dangerous galactic environments, frequently facing capture and betrayal. Space battles, humor, and the bonds between characters are crucial to both films’ adventurous spirit.

Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser. Guardians of the Galaxy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.9 by 30,030 people. The movie made an estimated total of $772,776,600 in the box office.

Akira shares with The Empire Strikes Back a strong focus on a young protagonist drawn into forces much larger than himself in a futuristic world. Both stories grapple with themes of power, resistance, and dramatic shifts triggered by personal and political conflict.

A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only two teenagers and a group of psychics can stop. Akira is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 4m runtime, released in 1988 with an average rating of 7.9 by 4,874 people. The movie made an estimated total of $49,000,000 in the box office.

Battlestar Galactica, like The Empire Strikes Back, is set against a backdrop of interstellar war, exploring the survival of a group of rebels pursued relentlessly across space. Both highlight resourcefulness, unexpected betrayals, and the heroes’ struggle against overwhelming odds.

After the destruction of the Twelve Colonies of Mankind, the last major fighter carrier leads a makeshift fugitive fleet in a desperate search for the legendary planet Earth. Battlestar Galactica is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 1978 with an average rating of 6.9 by 215 people.

Flash Gordon aligns with The Empire Strikes Back through its blend of space-faring adventure, high-stakes conflict, and the struggle of rebels against tyrannical powers. Both feature colorful extraterrestrial settings, daring escapes, and heroic journeys to defeat a larger-than-life antagonist.

A football player and his mates travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth. Flash Gordon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 1980 with an average rating of 6.3 by 1,114 people. The movie made an estimated total of $27,100,000 in the box office.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and The Empire Strikes Back similarly pit beloved ensembles against a formidable villain while facing loss and personal sacrifice. The films deepen series mythology and challenge heroes with strategic battles and emotionally resonant confrontations.

The starship Enterprise and its crew is pulled back into action when old nemesis, Khan, steals a top secret device called Project Genesis. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 7.4 by 2,167 people. The movie made an estimated total of $96,594,943 in the box office.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story connects directly to the Star Wars universe and shares with The Empire Strikes Back the narrative of ordinary rebels risking everything against the Empire. Both focus on the tension of hope amid desperate circumstances and star familiar factions.

A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 13m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.5 by 16,594 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,056,057,273 in the box office.

The Fifth Element and The Empire Strikes Back are both set in imaginative, visually distinct science fiction worlds where a complex group bands together to prevent catastrophe. The films combine action-packed sequences, eccentric characters, and a quest to counter overwhelming evil.

In 2257, a taxi driver is unintentionally given the task of saving a young girl who is part of the key that will ensure the survival of humanity. The Fifth Element is a movie from France in French, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 1997 with an average rating of 7.6 by 11,963 people. The movie made an estimated total of $263,920,180 in the box office.

Edge of Tomorrow and The Empire Strikes Back each thrust their protagonists into a relentless war for survival against seemingly insurmountable forces. Both center on learning and transformation through tough mentorship as the hero evolves into the leader needed to save others.

Major Bill Cage is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously demoted and dropped into combat. Cage is killed within minutes, managing to take an alpha alien down with him. He awakens back at the beginning of the same day and is forced to fight and die again... and again - as physical contact with the alien has thrown him into a time loop. Edge of Tomorrow is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.6 by 15,309 people. The movie made an estimated total of $370,541,256 in the box office.

The Iron Giant mirrors The Empire Strikes Back through its exploration of friendship and standing up to oppression, as a young protagonist bonds with a metal companion amidst dangerous circumstances. Both films balance action with heartfelt character development during a tumultuous time.

In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices. The Iron Giant is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 26m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 8.0 by 6,280 people. The movie made an estimated total of $23,300,000 in the box office.

Children of Men, like The Empire Strikes Back, explores a dystopian future shaped by conflict, despair, and the struggle for hope. Both follow reluctant heroes who must navigate shifting allegiances and dire threats to bring about the possibility of renewal in desperate times.

In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind. Children of Men is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.6 by 7,987 people. The movie made an estimated total of $70,595,464 in the box office.

Serenity features a renegade crew on a starship navigating a hostile universe, echoing the mix of camaraderie and peril in The Empire Strikes Back. Both stories weave ensemble dynamics, betrayals, and a struggle for survival against a dominant persecuting force.

A group of rebels travel the outskirts of space evading the sinister Alliance regime. Their lives of smuggling and cargo-running are interrupted by a psychic passenger who harbours a dangerous secret. Soon, the crew find themselves being pursued by an Alliance agent who will stop at nothing to find them. Serenity is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.4 by 3,936 people. The movie made an estimated total of $38,869,464 in the box office.

Jupiter Ascending shares with The Empire Strikes Back epic battles for control within a sprawling intergalactic empire, a protagonist of hidden potential, and dramatic escapes. Both films combine imaginative world-building and action-packed sequences within a space opera framework.

In a universe where human genetic material is the most precious commodity, an impoverished young Earth woman becomes the key to strategic maneuvers and internal strife within a powerful dynasty… Jupiter Ascending is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 7m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 5.5 by 7,182 people. The movie made an estimated total of $184,000,000 in the box office.

Contact and The Empire Strikes Back each focus on a journey across the stars where protagonists seek answers beyond the limits of their experience. Both use the vast possibilities of science fiction settings to explore personal and philosophical transformation.

A radio astronomer receives the first extraterrestrial radio signal ever picked up on Earth. As the world powers scramble to decipher the message and decide upon a course of action, she must make some difficult decisions between her beliefs, the truth, and reality. Contact is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 30m runtime, released in 1997 with an average rating of 7.4 by 5,091 people. The movie made an estimated total of $171,120,329 in the box office.

Interstellar and The Empire Strikes Back utilize space as the setting for deeply personal and cosmic journeys. Their heroes push beyond their limits to overcome adversity, make difficult sacrifices, and contend with the fate of entire worlds hanging in the balance.

The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. Interstellar is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 49m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 8.5 by 40,623 people. The movie made an estimated total of $746,606,706 in the box office.

Stalker and The Empire Strikes Back grapple with worlds transformed by forces beyond comprehension. Both feature characters guided by enigmatic mentors through treacherous journeys, facing uncertainty and moral ambiguity in pursuit of mysterious goals.

Near a gray and unnamed city is the Zone, a place guarded by barbed wire and soldiers, and where the normal laws of physics are victim to frequent anomalies. A stalker guides two men into the Zone, specifically to an area in which deep-seated desires are granted. Stalker is a movie from Soviet Union in Russian, with a total 2h 42m runtime, released in 1979 with an average rating of 8.1 by 2,550 people.

Avatar evokes the vast, immersive science fiction world-building seen in The Empire Strikes Back, combining themes of resistance against a technologically superior force and a protagonist integrating into a new culture while confronting dangerous enemies.

In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization. Avatar is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 42m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.6 by 34,379 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,147,483,647 in the box office.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets and The Empire Strikes Back are both interplanetary adventures driven by unconventional heroes navigating complex alien societies. Each highlights inventive world-building, dangerous missions, and the importance of teamwork against overwhelming odds.

In the 28th century, Valerian and Laureline are special operatives charged with keeping order throughout the human territories. On assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two undertake a mission to Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis where species from across the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence, and cultures. At the center of Alpha is a mysterious dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a movie from France in English, with a total 2h 17m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 6.7 by 8,135 people. The movie made an estimated total of $225,973,340 in the box office.

The Chronicles of Riddick and The Empire Strikes Back follow anti-heroic leads thrust into galaxy-spanning conflicts against tyrannical enemies. Both films balance high-stakes action with character-driven opposition to authoritarian regimes in expansive science fiction worlds.

After years of outrunning ruthless bounty hunters, escaped convict Riddick suddenly finds himself caught between opposing forces in a fight for the future of the human race. Now, waging incredible battles on fantastic and deadly worlds, this lone, reluctant hero will emerge as humanity's champion - and the last hope for a universe on the edge of annihilation. The Chronicles of Riddick is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 6.6 by 4,575 people. The movie made an estimated total of $115,772,733 in the box office.

Inception resembles The Empire Strikes Back in its layered narrative structure and focus on a team of specialists undertaking a perilous mission. Both films challenge their protagonists through shifting allegiances, intricate plans, and repercussions that shape the broader conflict.

Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious. Inception is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 28m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 8.4 by 39,766 people. The movie made an estimated total of $839,030,630 in the box office.

Eternals and The Empire Strikes Back both weave large ensemble casts into stories set in universes filled with ancient powers and the fight to protect civilization. Key themes include legacy, the rise of new protectors, and confronting existential threats.

The Eternals are a team of ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. When an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows, they are forced to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants. Eternals is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 36m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.8 by 9,276 people. The movie made an estimated total of $402,064,899 in the box office.

The Dark Crystal and The Empire Strikes Back each use intricate fantasy or science fiction settings to follow young heroes guided by enigmatic mentors confronting ancient evil. Both embrace imaginative worlds, detailed puppetry or effects, and the passage of wisdom across generations.

On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal and restore order to his world, before the grotesque race of Skeksis find and use the crystal for evil. The Dark Crystal is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,283 people. The movie made an estimated total of $44,626,631 in the box office.

2001: A Space Odyssey and The Empire Strikes Back both immerse viewers in epic science fiction universes shaped by advanced technology, space travel, and the struggle for understanding in the face of cosmic mysteries. Both value visual storytelling and ambitious scope.

Humanity finds a mysterious object buried beneath the lunar surface and sets off to find its origins with the help of HAL 9000, the world's most advanced super computer. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 29m runtime, released in 1968 with an average rating of 8.0 by 12,776 people. The movie made an estimated total of $71,923,560 in the box office.

Oblivion and The Empire Strikes Back feature main characters rediscovering hidden truths while traversing a hostile planetary landscape. Each film deals with betrayal, identity, and the ramifications of a larger conflict on a personal journey through richly imagined science fiction worlds.

Jack Harper is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete. His existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands. Oblivion is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 4m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 6.7 by 11,677 people. The movie made an estimated total of $286,168,572 in the box office.

The Last Starfighter and The Empire Strikes Back spotlight ordinary individuals unexpectedly drawn into intergalactic struggles, learning to become heroes amid space battles and rebellion. Both films engage with the transformative journey from civilian life to defender against an oppressive force.

Video game expert Alex Rogan finds himself transported to another planet after conquering the video game The Last Starfighter, only to find out it was just a test. He was recruited to join the team of best Starfighters to defend their world from the attack. The Last Starfighter is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 6.6 by 782 people. The movie made an estimated total of $28,733,290 in the box office.

Warriors of the Wind and The Empire Strikes Back share a focus on young protagonists who must mature quickly amid revolutionary battles, learning from guides in environments threatened by powerful, destructive forces. Both films embed coming-of-age arcs into high-concept science fiction landscapes.

After a global war, the seaside kingdom known as the Valley of the Wind remains one of the last strongholds on Earth untouched by a poisonous jungle and the powerful insects that guard it. Led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, the people of the Valley engage in an epic struggle to restore the bond between humanity and Earth. Warriors of the Wind is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 7.9 by 4,138 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,016,411 in the box office.

The Black Hole, like The Empire Strikes Back, unfolds in deep space with a group of travelers facing treacherous discoveries and confrontations aboard a vessel. Both explore the unknown, highlighting peril, suspense, and the uncharted danger of futuristic exploration.

The explorer craft USS Palomino is returning to Earth after a fruitless 18-month search for extra-terrestrial life when the crew comes upon a supposedly lost ship, the USS Cygnus, hovering near a black hole. The ship is controlled by Dr. Hans Reinhardt and his monstrous robot companion, but the initial wonderment and awe the Palomino crew feel for the ship and its resistance to the power of the black hole turn to horror as they uncover Reinhardt's plans. The Black Hole is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 1979 with an average rating of 5.8 by 557 people. The movie made an estimated total of $35,841,901 in the box office.

The Road Warrior and The Empire Strikes Back both follow heroes overcoming adversity in a desolate, resource-scarce world, banding together with allies and confronting betrayal. Each narrative is framed around survival, rebellion, and stakes that extend far beyond personal gain.

Two boxers, from opposing worlds become unlikely friends on their journey to becoming World Champions. The only thing standing in their way is each other. The Road Warrior is a movie from South Africa in English, with a total 29m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 5.0 by 2 people.

Prometheus and The Empire Strikes Back feature missions into unfamiliar and hazardous star systems, exploring the consequences of seeking forbidden knowledge. Both films blend science fiction spectacle with existential questions about humanity’s place in a larger, often hostile universe.

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. Prometheus is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 4m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.6 by 13,430 people. The movie made an estimated total of $403,354,469 in the box office.

Enemy Mine parallels The Empire Strikes Back through its depiction of adversaries forced to cooperate for survival in an alien setting. The films underscore character growth and the breaking down of enmity amid greater threats within a science fiction context.

A soldier from Earth crashlands on an alien world after sustaining battle damage. Eventually he encounters another survivor, but from the enemy species he was fighting; they band together to survive on this hostile world. In the end the human finds himself caring for his enemy in a completely unexpected way. Enemy Mine is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 1985 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,100 people. The movie made an estimated total of $12,300,000 in the box office.

Solaris and The Empire Strikes Back both center on characters wrestling with emotional turmoil and reality-bending challenges in isolated, otherworldly environments. Each film uses space as a backdrop for metaphysical questions and the impacts of personal loss or revelation.

A psychologist is sent to a space station orbiting a planet called Solaris to investigate the death of a doctor and the mental problems of cosmonauts on the station. He soon discovers that the water on the planet is a type of brain which brings out repressed memories and obsessions. Solaris is a movie from Soviet Union in Russian, with a total 2h 47m runtime, released in 1972 with an average rating of 7.8 by 1,869 people.