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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Film | Film |
| Year | 1977 | 1980 |
| Runtime | 121 min | 124 min |
| TMDB rating | 8.2 / 10 (22256 votes) | 8.4 / 10 (18347 votes) |
| Genres | Adventure, Action, Science Fiction | Adventure, Action, Science Fiction |
| Overview | Princess 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
|
Disney Plus
|
| Free (ads / licence) | — | — |
| Rent |
Rakuten TV
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
Sky Store
YouTube
|
Apple TV Store
Rakuten TV
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
Sky Store
YouTube
|
| Buy |
Apple TV Store
Rakuten TV
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
Sky Store
YouTube
|
Apple TV Store
Rakuten TV
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
Sky Store
YouTube
|
Last verified: .
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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