1980 Hit Film Was Just Ranked 'the Most Universally Beloved Sci-Fi Movie' Ever Made
Throughout the history of cinema, there have been plenty of acclaimed science fiction films that have elicited excitement and the hope for a better tomorrow. The publication Collider recently released a list of the "10 most universally beloved sci-fimovies of all time." The list, published on April 21, included hit films like 1979's Alien, Terminator 2: Judgment Dayfrom 1991, Back to the Futurefrom 1985, and 1982's Blade Runner.
Collider named the second film in the original Star Wars trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back (1980), as the "most universally beloved sci-fi" film ever released. The publication reported that the Irvin Kershner-directed film's popularity partly stems from the introduction of Yoda (Frank Oz), the romance between Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and the big revelation about Darth Vader (James Earl Jones).
George Lucas Shared Behind-the-Scenes Facts About 'The Empire Strikes Back'
In an interview discussing The Empire Strikes Back, written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas, suggested that he didn't believe the 1980 film is the most exciting out of the franchise.
"Empire Strikes back is the middle part of a single film. It's the middle act. And in the middle act of a movie, or a book, or anything else, the middle, not much happens. It sort of evolves the story. Makes the plot more complicated," said Lucas, who came up with the script's story.
He said that the film's main plot device "was the revelation that Darth Vader is Luke's (Mark Hamill) father."
In addition, Lucas explained why he included Yoda in the second Star Wars film. He said that after killing off Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) in the first film, Star Wars: A New Hope, he had to create a Jedi character to train Luke. He also said he decided to make Yoda "a little creature so that he would be interesting to listen to," despite his "philosophical, not very interesting dialogue."
In addition, Lucas said that Yoda's character design "really comes from a tradition in mythological storytelling, fairy tales, of the hero finding a little creature on the side of the road that seems very insignificant and not very important," but is actually "the master wizard or the main guide."
"I wanted him to be a little insignificant character, something like a frog or something that you just didn't pay any attention to. And he turns out to be the most powerful Jedi in the universe," said Lucas in the interview.
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 2:57 PM.