1980 Hit Ranked ‘Best Movie of the 1980s'

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back has been voted the best movie of the 1980s, according to a list compiled by TheTopTens.

The film is a direct sequel to 1977's Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope, which introduced audiences to this now-infamous world of science fiction for the first time.

'Star Wars' Became The Most Recognizable Sci-Fi Property of All Time

Though it's hard to imagine today given how successful the franchise has gone on to become, Star Wars was a massive risk when it was first released. These kinds of huge, self-aggrandising space operas weren't exactly the 'in' genre at the time, and many moviegoers viewed sci-fi as something exclusively for a particular demographic.

Star Wars, however, proved that sci-fi can be just as fun and accessible as other genres in film. Beyond the made-up words and eccentric alien designs, the film is really just a political thriller set in space—and that's exactly what set it apart from the competition.

The original Star Wars was written and directed by George Lucas, but following the film's massive success, he decided to bring new talent on board to expand the franchise. He originally hired Leigh Brackett to write the script, and later brought in Lawrence Kasdan to enhance his first draft following Brackett's death.

He also brought Irvin Kirschner on board to direct the film, so Lucas could spend more time building his production company. Upon its release, The Empire Strikes Back was an enormous success; it ended up being the highest-grossing film of 1980, pulling in $401.5 million at the box office.

Surprisingly, many critics weren't impressed with the film's darker themes, claiming that it had abandoned the lighthearted spirit of its predecessor. Critical assessment has changed massively over the past decades, with The Empire Strikes Back generally considered the strongest Star Wars movie and one of the greatest movies ever made.