Star Wars Movies: The Empire Strikes Back’s Surprising Box Office Performance
Star Wars movies have consistently been major box office successes, but shockingly, The Empire Strikes Back, widely regarded as one of the best movies in the franchise, took a whole month to reach number one at the box office. Despite this, the movie went on to become a beloved classic, and its impact on Hollywood is still felt today.
According to Box Office Mojo, when The Empire Strikes Back was first released in May 1980, it ranked seventh at the box office, behind a number of other popular movies. The top-grossing film that month was The Shining, and other movies that outperformed The Empire Strikes Back included Friday the 13th, Fame, and Kramer vs. Kramer. It wasn’t until July 1980 that the movie finally topped the charts.
The competition in 1980 was fierce, with a number of classics being released that year, including The Blues Brothers and Smokey and the Bandit II. Many of these movies have since become cult classics, making it even more surprising that The Empire Strikes Back did not immediately dominate the box office.
The movie’s late start in May 1980 may have contributed to its slow box office performance, but it is still difficult to believe that one of the most beloved movies in the franchise did not top the charts from the start. The Empire Strikes Back’s success in the long run is a testament to its enduring appeal, and its impact on Hollywood is still felt today.
