Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker: A Jedi in training, a pilot in the Rebel Alliance, and the son of Darth Vader
• Harrison Ford as Han Solo: A Rebel general and captain of the Millennium Falcon
• Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa: A leader of the Rebel Alliance
• Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian: The former administrator of Cloud City, Han’s friend, and a Rebel general
• Anthony Daniels as C-3PO: A humanoid protocol droid
• Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca: Han’s Wookiee friend and co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon
• Kenny Baker as
• R2-D2: An astromech droid
• Paploo: An Ewok who aids the Rebels on Endor
• Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor: The ruler of the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader’s master
• Frank Oz (puppeteer/voice) as Yoda: A centuries-old Jedi Master who trained Luke
• David Prowse / James Earl Jones (voice) as Darth Vader: A former Jedi and Luke’s father as well as the Emperor’s disciple
• Sebastian Shaw as Anakin Skywalker: The unmasked Vader who also appears as a Force spirit
• Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi: The deceased Jedi mentor of Luke who continues to guide him as a Force spirit
• Toby Philpott, Mike Edmonds, David Barclay (puppeteers) and Larry Ward (voice) as Jabba the Hutt: A slug-like alien crime lord who purchased the carbonite-frozen Han from the bounty hunter Boba Fett

Storyline:

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) battles horrible Jabba the Hut and cruel Darth Vader to save his comrades in the Rebel Alliance and triumph over the Galactic Empire. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) reaffirm their love and team with Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), the Ewoks and the androids C-3PO and R2-D2 to aid in the disruption of the Dark Side and the defeat of the evil emperor.

About Movie:

Return of the Jedi (also known as Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi) is an American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand, with a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas. It serves as the sequel to The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and is the third installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as the sixth chronological film in the “Skywalker Saga.” The film follows the ongoing conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, focusing on Luke Skywalker’s efforts to redeem his father, Darth Vader, while the Rebels attempt to destroy the Empire’s second Death Star.

The story begins with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and his friends—Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and droids C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker)—planning to rescue Han from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine. Leia infiltrates Jabba’s palace disguised as a bounty hunter, but after freeing Han from carbonite, they are captured. Luke arrives to confront Jabba, leading to a dramatic escape that results in Jabba’s demise.

Following this, Luke returns to Dagobah to complete his Jedi training with Yoda, who reveals that Darth Vader is Luke’s father and that there is another Skywalker—Leia. The Rebel Alliance learns of the Empire’s construction of a new Death Star, protected by a shield generator on the forest moon of Endor. Han leads a strike team to destroy the generator while Luke confronts Vader and Emperor Palpatine aboard the Death Star.

The film culminates in an epic battle on multiple fronts: on Endor, where Ewoks assist the Rebels against Imperial forces; in space, where Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) leads an assault on the Death Star; and within the Death Star itself, where Luke faces Vader and ultimately redeems him by rejecting the dark side. In a pivotal moment, Vader sacrifices himself to defeat the Emperor, leading to his own death.

Released on May 25, 1983, Return of the Jedi grossed approximately $374 million worldwide during its initial run, becoming the highest-grossing film of that year. It received positive reviews for its performances, special effects, and John Williams’ score. Over time, it has been re-released and revised, increasing its total gross to around $482 million. In 2021, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Return of the Jedi is often regarded as a fitting conclusion to the original trilogy, blending action with emotional depth while introducing memorable characters like the Ewoks. Its legacy continues through various adaptations and merchandise associated with the Star Wars franchise.

Budget & Box Office Collection: