Return of the Jedi

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 science fiction film directed by Richard Marquand. It was the third film to be released in the Star Wars saga, but it is the sixth part of the series by chronology of events. more...

Among fans, it is commonly referred to as ROTJ.

In this epic conclusion of the saga, Luke Skywalker and friends travel to Tatooine to rescue their friend, Han Solo. The Empire prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, while the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts his father, Darth Vader, in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.

The film debuted on May 25, 1983, and was re-released with changes in 1997 (all cinema), 2000 (VHS), and 2004 (DVD). A 3-D release is planned for 2007.

Plot summary

The opening crawl reveals that the Galactic Empire has been working on the construction of a new armored space station which is to be even more powerful than the first Death Star. Returning from Coruscant, Darth Vader arrives on the station, where he terrorizes the station commander into doubling his efforts. Vader reveals that the Emperor himself will be visiting the station, in order to oversee the station's final construction stages. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker and his friends return to Tatooine in an attempt to rescue Han Solo from the gangster Jabba the Hutt. It is there where Luke constructs his new lightsaber.

R2-D2 and C-3PO arrive at Jabba's palace with a holographic message from Luke that unsuccessfully pleads Jabba the Hutt to release Han Solo, who is held prisoner in carbonite. In the middle of the night, Princess Leia, disguised as a bounty hunter, removes her disguise and frees Solo from the carbonite, only to be overseen and captured by Jabba. The next morning, Luke arrives to make one final plea to Jabba to release Solo, but Jabba orders Luke to be thrown into the pit of the rancor monster. Luke overpowers the Rancor and kills it, and as punishment, Jabba sends Luke and his friends to the Pit of Carkoon to be destroyed by the Sarlacc. With the help of R2-D2, Luke retrieves his lightsaber, and a large battle erupts, in which Jabba is killed. Luke and crew escape just before Jabba's Sail Barge explodes.

Luke returns to Dagobah to complete his Jedi training, but Yoda is ill, and says no further training is required. Before dying, Yoda tells Luke that all that remains to be done is to confront Darth Vader, who Yoda confirms is indeed Luke's father. Later, the spirit form of Obi-Wan Kenobi appears, and confirms that Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, a former Jedi who turned to the Dark Side. It is also revealed that Princess Leia is Luke's twin sister, hidden from Luke at birth to protect them both from the Emperor.

At the rendezvous point, the Rebel Alliance discusses the plan to attack the new Death Star. As part of the plan, Luke and his companions must penetrate the shield generator on the moon of Endor and deactivate the shield that protects the Death Star.

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