Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back...today 43 years ago

[Daehawk]

I was there in theaters as my 11 year old self to see it. Maybe not on the exact release day but around there.

[Lassr]

I remember skipping school and waiting in line that Friday morning for the noon opening.

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[McNutt]

I must have been out of school because no way I would have been allowed to skip.

My brother and I saw the first showing in our city. We showed up a few hours early and I remember there were only two people ahead of us in line.

[Lassr]

I must have been out of school because no way I would have been allowed to skip.

My brother and I saw the first showing in our city. We showed up a few hours early and I remember there were only two people ahead of us in line.

We had about 50 people in line ahead of us. I wonder if we were out of school also...I would have been only 14 so we didn't drive there, mom would have had to take us.
I know it was opening day and we were there a few hours early for the first feature. Skip school or school out...either way we were there.

[coopasonic]

Y'all are old.

[Smoove_B]

I remember seeing it in the theater (I was 6) but I don't think I saw the first movie prior. Maybe that's why I'm generally meh about all things Star Wars. Either way, I do clearly remember being in the theater and how insanely awesome the opening was on on Hoth (even if I had no idea what was happening).

[Carpet_pissr]

I remember clearly seeing the first one in a movie theater, but i don’t get the math, considering I turned 50 on Jan 2 of this year.

Now I’m wondering if I saw the first one on VHS, which prompted me to see Empire in the theater.

[Smoove_B]

I also remember trying to go see RotJ right when it opened and the giant line that went around the entire back of the movie theater (Rockaway, outer for locals). It was so busy my friend's dad just gave up and took us to Chuck E Cheese instead - the first (and only) time I've ever been there. I did eventually see it in a theater, but I couldn't tell you how long after it came out that it happened. I do kinda remember the early 1980s being Star Wars everywhere - toys, sheets (I had curtains), glasses from some fast food place (Burger King?) - I had an Ewok glass.

A veritable lifetime ago.

Also, Empire is still the best.

[McNutt]

I remember clearly seeing the first one in a movie theater, but i don’t get the math, considering I turned 50 on Jan 2 of this year.

Now I’m wondering if I saw the first one on VHS, which prompted me to see Empire in the theater.

We're the same age and I know I saw it in the theater three times before Empire. If I remember correctly, it not only stayed in the theater a long time in 1977, but was re-released a year or two later. I think I saw both runs.

[Carpet_pissr]

Ah, a re-release would explain it. Also, knowing my Dad, he waited to take us until it hit the dollar theater, which I vaguely remember.

[Carpet_pissr]

I remember clearly seeing the first one in a movie theater, but i don’t get the math, considering I turned 50 on Jan 2 of this year.

Now I’m wondering if I saw the first one on VHS, which prompted me to see Empire in the theater.

We're the same age and I know I saw it in the theater three times before Empire. If I remember correctly, it not only stayed in the theater a long time in 1977, but was re-released a year or two later. I think I saw both runs.

Wait, you saw it when you were 4?!

[Daehawk]

I remember seeing it in the theater (I was 6) but I don't think I saw the first movie prior. Maybe that's why I'm generally meh about all things Star Wars. Either way, I do clearly remember being in the theater and how insanely awesome the opening was on on Hoth (even if I had no idea what was happening).

I saw Empire first and saw it in theaters. I can remember sitting beside some chubby kid who was there for the showing before me and stayed again. He kept knudging me with his elbow "Oh watch this watch this" and "This part is cool!"...ugh. I saw Star Wars later on VHS.

[McNutt]

I remember clearly seeing the first one in a movie theater, but i don’t get the math, considering I turned 50 on Jan 2 of this year.

Now I’m wondering if I saw the first one on VHS, which prompted me to see Empire in the theater.

We're the same age and I know I saw it in the theater three times before Empire. If I remember correctly, it not only stayed in the theater a long time in 1977, but was re-released a year or two later. I think I saw both runs.

Wait, you saw it when you were 4?!

Between 4-5, depending on the month.
I let my son see it when he turned 4.

[Zarathud]

I remember waiting for Empire at the theatre, and my favorite uncle took me, my brother and his friends kid. We got posters that were ruined by our lightsaber battles in line.

I most remember that winter, we lived on a hill and my uncle had a nearby snow plow contract — so the snow was level to a sheer drop at the street. We dug with dirt shovels to build a defense trench that would have held back the Empire in our neighborhood.

[Max Peck]

You know you're old if you saw Star Wars when it was just Star Wars and not Episode IV - A New Hope.

[dbt1949]

Lines were too long for me. I waiting about a year before I got around to seeing it.

[Daehawk]

You waited in line an entire year!??

[Pyperkub]

I remember reading the book before the movie came out, and being in the back of the car when I got to the stunning reveal!!!

[Jeff V]

Lines were too long for me. I waiting about a year before I got around to seeing it.

Not a Tuesday matinee with the rest of us old folk?

[dbt1949]

There were long lines in those too plus I was actually working back then. That was what....1977?

[gilraen]

There were long lines in those too plus I was actually working back then. That was what....1977?

Yeah, 1977 (if you mean the first Star Wars movie).

I..uhm...wasn't born yet