Empire Strikes Back 1980 70mm Theater Recording with Audience Reaction 

Stunned silence at the famous plot twist, not what I was expecting

The audience did react, they are completely silence and shocked

Finally, the REAL audience reaction to "I am your father".

My mom saw this in the theater with her friend when she was 10, and she told me her friend cried when Han was frozen.

When I first heard this I was disappointed the crowd didn't react to "i am your father", but then I realized they DID react: the crowd isn't just quiet, they are DEAD silent. You could hear a pin drop. They're not going to make any noise to distract from what happens next. The movie has the audience's rapt and undivided attention. They are TRANSFIXED.

My audience back in 1980 gasped or nervously laughed when we saw the Executor, but a cheer did go up for Vader when he appeared.

Meanwhile that one obviously fake audience reaction has over 7 million views 😅

audiences in 1980 after Leia kisses Luke: 1:38 audiences in 1983: oh….

4:38 Love hearing that applause for when the Falcon finally went into light speed. They had it built up throughout the whole movie and it finally paid off!

We gotta spread this around so THIS is the reaction that gets over 10 million views.

Here after seeing HelloGreedo's video which explained the debunking of the fake reaction video. Now I'm here for the real one!

I love how there’s clapping when Darth Vader first appeared even back then he was still beloved by many and iconic as hell

In hindsight, the other "audience reaction" video should've been obvious as a fake from the start. Camera equipment was still in the VHS phase in 1980, who's gonna be able to sneak something that big and bulky into a theater? Plus there were no real signs of age or tape hiss like in this one. Kudos to you for keeping it real, and to HelloGreedo for bringing attention to it.

Perhaps the greatest sequel EVER made! The movies that changed movie making forever! To this day Empire Strikes Back is still my favorite Star Wars movie.

Yep, when we heard the Father revelation our heads were just spinning in confusion. You don't even have time to react for 15mins of jaw dropping shock.

4:58 THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU IRVING KERSHNER for what many of us believe is the greatest STAR WARS film ever made! Thank you and REST IN PEACE!

I just watched the empire strikes back for the re-release and it was the best thing I've seen in ages!

Even for 1980, the Stars Wars trilogy still holds up today to even modern CGI. Just great props and cinematography. That's why everyone can watch this movie over and over until the end of time and people will only watch the modern tribology just once or twice and never see it again.

I’m sure the reaction I am your father was completely visual just this o_O

Just goes to show that audience in 1980s were not as over the top as us viewers of today, they still kept quiet to follow the story and didn't start shouting out and hash tagging like today.

Leia - "I love you..." Han - "I know." HUGE LAUGH and applause. lol so good.

I was 25 in 1980 and saw this movie on opening night, and this is just how I remember it. Everyone was just stunned by what, at the time, was a completely unexpected twist. There have been so many movies with similar "shocking" twists since then that people have come to expect them.

So "I am your father" gets stunned silence. That's how you know it's real.

Well, the audience didn't react at THAT part cause Homer spoiled it outside the theater. Damn, Homer -.-

"No, I am your father." Most iconic line of cinema. EVER.

I remember seeing it in 1980 as a 7 year old. I don't recall any applauding. But I do recall being shocked and amazed and upset and frieghtened by various parts.

You're gonna love their reactions for return of the Jedi when they find out that kiss was accidentally incestuous

Somehow it didn't occur to me that "I know" was a comedic line 'til I heard this. I swear Han's delivery sounds a little different in this, more like he's saying "I already *know*, that's what I've been trying to tell you this whole time!"

A rare piece of cinematic history right here!!! Amazing and also awesome to hear the reactions from the audience here. This is one of those "wish I had been there" moments.

A couple observations if you listen to the full audio (from the link in the description) with headphones: (*) You can tell the kids and moms are IMMEDIATELY charmed by Yoda. (*) When Darth Vader is in his chamber and his helmet is being mechanically put on, a guy remarks: "Nice head."

4:07, you’re welcome.

Yep, 10 years old. Just as I remember it. Same results at the theater I attended. The Mynock jump scare had a huge reaction.

This is history, dude. Great job!

I saw the ESB when I was fourteen when in it was released. Every time a main character appeared on the screen for the first time the audience erupted into applause. And when Luke's had his hand lopped off there was a collective "Oh my God!" Finally, Vader's revelation felt like a punch in the stomach.

Oh wow....being 11 years old and watching this in the theater in 1980, having been hooked on Star Wars since the original in '77...and with all that was revealed in this film I can remember being very upset when it ended with the rebel fleet flying away. I was like, "wait, what...NO, it can't end now!!".

'You're lucky you don't taste very good' Why did they change that?

I have a cassette recording my father made when we went to see Empire Strikes Back in theaters with audience reaction. I can't wait to find it and digitize it.

The reactions are moderate and honest unlike today where it’s just euphoria for the sake of it

It's awesome how nobody reacted to I am ur father bc when u are in shock u dont say anything. What a moment I wish I was alive to see. I saw Rotj but I was 2. I do remember the audienc2 going nuts when Vader threw the emperor. This is awesome & historic thank u I also remember we saw esb when it was re released b4 jedi & my dad carried me out sobbing at the end bc of han solo being put in carbonite & Luke's hand. Its s very somber ending with just a hint of hope in the music. I honestly have these memories at 2 or so & why star wars meant so much is how it connected to our lives. A memory of my dad holding me as I sobbed over a movie scene is something that I cant forget. He was like 27 & in his prime . Love u dad. And I loved jedi bc its awesome but also going with my parents & brother & everyone standing applauding. We went to see my nana & I have a memory of my big brother & I excitedly telking her the whole movie & I remember this smile on her face looking at my uncle like " look at these two they are out of breath excited" she is long passed, & I miss her so much. But this is the magic of star wars great films & how it intertwined with our lives. That's why I guess I could not appreciate the prequels as an 18 year old . But the kids who watched & grew up with them I totally get that. But to me star wars is special bc even adults loved it too. Older people everyone. But I get why being a child makes these special. But the movies have to be at least good bc no kids took to the new ones. My friends & I got our kids pumped up for tfa my son 4 my little one only 1 so , not appropriate. He liked it but today he was taken to the next 2 & they have no impact on him . Not to his peers either. That's the problem with these new films. If they were good as well u care. These ones mean nothing to him or his entire grade. But marvel does. Bc they were well done films. He is like me in telling me about marvel infinity. It's not my thing but it's his. All the kids voted for it as their favorite movie . It's sad bc star wars really could have been this multi generational film. Like me taking my kids to the newest trilogy , I think how cool if they were good would it be that I at their ages saw the og trilogy. TfA I thought was so terrible. If they had one reunion scene of han luke & leia it would have been wonderful closure & passing of the torch . Instead luke shares not one scene with his sister & bff? Why bring them back ? I was so pissed when han died & luke was nowhere to be seen. Not even a line . Wtf

No matter what Disney do to destroy the name of Star Wars, it's important that we continue to remember that there was a time when these movies were still pure and important. Disney can't ever take away how we felt (and should still feel) about the original trilogy.

I remember in 1980 the Vader as Luke's father information was leaked in Starlog, which my brother read at that time. People just sat in awe and respect of what had happened with no cheering.

Vader: No...I am your father! The audience: 👁️👄👁️

As someone who saw this in theaters in 1980 opening weekend, I can confirm we sat there in stunned silence at the twist.

"The Empire Strikes Back was filmed before a live studio audience..."

Proof that Vader never said "Luke, I am your father!" So we can lay to rest that this line was a result of faulty memory and misquoteation.

Thank you for uploading this. I’ve been wanting to see a video like this for a long time.

My dad went to see this in the theater when it came out when he was 11 and he loved it and he was shocked when Darth Vader said I am your father

I'm glad you uploaded this, it deserves to be available on youtube!

That’s awesome. It’s amazing you held onto this for years only to share it in present times. 👍🏼🔥👏🏼👏🏼

Saw this in the cinema as a 4 year old in 1980 with my Dad! Still have memories of watching it then.

Great job buddy. Ty. I loves that lightspeed jump.

it was this clear back then

In 1980, the practice was still in effect of releasing the biggest movies to the biggest theaters in the city and then rolling them out to the suburbs after 2 - 4 weeks. We stood in line for the second night showing for an hour. Luckily, there was no social media and social spoilers. When the plot twist was revealed, the sold out large theater of about 1000+ people fell COMPLETELY silent in their shock. No one reacted until applause when the Falcon finally jumped to hyper speed. GREAT moment! I have to say though, when the credits jumped on the screen, there was a sudden collective groan from half the audience with frustration over Han's fate, knowing they'd just witnessed a cliff hanger and would have to wait THREE years for the next installment.

4:33 . . . R2D2, saving everyone's ass since 1977

I recall seeing this in the theater in 1980. Same thing; everyone went dead silent at Vader's reveal. They were stunned and listening carefully for every additional word.

1:27 Sweet Home Alabama

This is awesome!!!

I wish time machines were real just so I could go back in time and watch iconic and groundbreaking films as when they were first released. Seemed fun going to the movies back then. Audiences are so jaded these days

I still remember seeing this in Scotia Square, Halifax NS, when it first was in theatres in the early 80s. I spilled my popcorn near the beginning and that took away some of the joy of seeing a new film :-(

Wow! This is so cool!

I remember as a little kid the biggest laugh at my cinema was when R2-D2 and Yoda were fighting over the chocolate bar.

I remember watching Empire with my Mum and when Darth told Luke that he was his father, we looked at each other stunned

I wish I watched Empire Strikes Back on the big screen. I was born 4 years after it was first released in cinemas.

You about to get a BIG bump in views my guy

IT'S GOLD JERRY, GOLD!!

Priceless!!!

I just want to write that my name is Josh and i want to write that today is Thursday May 4, 2023 and Carrie Fisher is finally getting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on Star Wars Day.. you can tune into their official Hollywood Walk of Fame youtube channel and see Carrie Fisher get her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1:47 the imperial march was born

They clapped for Vader, back then?

Thank you HelloGreedo for sending me here

Lucky's arm is cut off, Darth Vader admits to being Lucky's father, Han Solo is frozen, a lot of heavy things for an 8 year old child, I left the cinema with my body shaking, scared and very sad. For the first time, a film ended without a happy ending and I had no idea there would be a third. For me that was the end. And for a child, 3 years was an eternity until Return of the Jedi.

The way c-3po walks to see what she’s doing makes me laugh

HelloGreedo has sent me here. This was great.

This really is the perfect movie.

2:47 *WHY* George Lucas changed that line for the " *SpEcIaL* *EdItIoN* " I'll never understand. 🤦

This is fascinating. Its not often you get a peek like this during the original release of a truly iconic film like this. Almost can't believe it exists. This is like audio from the first run of a movie like "Jaws" or "Back to the Future" or "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Just fascinating to listen to.

Oh, the days when Star Wars was a beautiful thing

Padme: “So this is how fake reaction videos die?” Padme: “With a thunderous silence from the original reaction”

History in the making

Yeah, I wasn't shocked when Vader reveled himself to Luke because my idiot friend, who had read the novelization prior to the movies release, ran up to me on the school playground yelling "Darth Vader is Luke's father!!!". I still haven't forgiven him.

Great sound

HelloGreedo brought me here

Back when reactions didnt consist of youtubers pausing the video constantly with (woah man, thats crazy)

I remember an audience reaction from when the trology was re released. Some idiot said you've seen it on TV! It's a struggle to sit through

Disney needs to release a version with audience reactions 😂

Anyone rewatching this video because of HelloGreedo?

I love how the audience is audibly unsure how to feel about Han and Leia at the start and by the time of their kiss at the Falcon they've embraced it. That's how you know the writing is solid :)

2:47 My favorite line 😆

I don't think you'll ever catch the magic again of the original 3 movies

I really wish one of these real audio ones existed for Return of the Jedi

Happy Star Wars Day. May the 4th be with you.

I’m 15 and when I first heard this like when I was 5-8 I don’t know how I reacted. My guess, I was as quiet as this audience. Like it’s shocking as hell, but it’s SO shocking that you just shut up.

That's the way it really was in 1980 with the reveal of Vader's secret to Luke. You could hear a pin drop. The audience was stunned and confused.

Great vid dude. Finally someone not posting fake stuff.

What I remember about the im your father scene is... is how quiet it was.

History.

Fun fact: the Leia/Luke kiss was unscripted. Mark Hamill was caught completely by surprise, and his reaction to it is what we see.

i would've like to hear the reaction to the title crawl even the new hope's one

And here's me keeping all knowledge of Star wars from my children until they're old enough to fully comprehend it. 2 more years should be enough!

No other movie franchise starts and ends the way the Star Wars movies do. I’m not talking about the opening crawl. I mean like the main title “STAR WARS” suddenly appearing and the end credits suddenly starting after the circular swipe. (Wasn’t sure what to call it)