Star Wars vs The Empire Strikes Back — UK streaming

Star Wars is currently on Disney Plus, while The Empire Strikes Back is on Disney Plus in the United Kingdom. Last verified 12 May 2026 by ScreenSearch.

The original 1977 Star Wars vs its 1980 sequel — widely considered the high point of the saga. Compare ratings, runtimes and current UK availability.

Star Wars vs The Empire Strikes Back — at a glance

Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back
TypeFilmFilm
Year19771980
Runtime121 min124 min
TMDB rating8.2 / 10 (22256 votes)8.4 / 10 (18347 votes)
GenresAdventure, Action, Science FictionAdventure, Action, Science Fiction
OverviewPrincess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.

UK streaming options compared

Sourced from The Movie Database, refreshed daily. Tap a title above for the full provider page.

Tier Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back
Stream (subscription) Disney Plus logo Disney Plus Disney Plus logo Disney Plus
Free (ads / licence)
Rent Rakuten TV logo Rakuten TV Amazon Video logo Amazon Video Google Play Movies logo Google Play Movies Sky Store logo Sky Store YouTube logo YouTube Apple TV Store logo Apple TV Store Rakuten TV logo Rakuten TV Amazon Video logo Amazon Video Google Play Movies logo Google Play Movies Sky Store logo Sky Store YouTube logo YouTube
Buy Apple TV Store logo Apple TV Store Rakuten TV logo Rakuten TV Amazon Video logo Amazon Video Google Play Movies logo Google Play Movies Sky Store logo Sky Store YouTube logo YouTube Apple TV Store logo Apple TV Store Rakuten TV logo Rakuten TV Amazon Video logo Amazon Video Google Play Movies logo Google Play Movies Sky Store logo Sky Store YouTube logo YouTube

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Star Wars vs The Empire Strikes Back — FAQ

Can I watch both Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back on the same UK service?

Yes — both Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back are currently included with Disney Plus in the UK.

Which is rated higher on TMDB?

The Empire Strikes Back is rated higher: Star Wars 8.2/10 vs The Empire Strikes Back 8.4/10 on The Movie Database.

How often is this comparison updated?

ScreenSearch refreshes streaming availability daily from The Movie Database, which sources data from JustWatch. Ratings and metadata also update daily. The "last verified" timestamp on this page reflects the most recent fetch.

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