<P> The film is set three years after Star Wars . The Galactic Empire, under the leadership of the villainous Darth Vader and the Emperor, is in pursuit of Luke Skywalker and the rest of the Rebel Alliance . While Vader relentlessly pursues the small band of Luke's friends--Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, and others--across the galaxy, Luke studies the Force under Jedi Master Yoda . When Vader captures Luke's friends, Luke must decide whether to complete his training and become a full Jedi Knight or to confront Vader and save them . Following a difficult production, The Empire Strikes Back was released on May 21, 1980 . It received mixed reviews from critics initially but has since grown in esteem, becoming the most critically acclaimed chapter in the Star Wars saga; it is now widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time . The film ranks #3 on Empire's 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time . It became the highest - grossing film of 1980 and, to date, has earned more than $538 million worldwide from its original run and several re-releases . When adjusted for inflation, it is the second - highest - grossing sequel of all time and the 13th - highest - grossing film in North America . The film was followed by Return of the Jedi, which was released in 1983 . </P> <P> In 2010, the film was selected for preservation in the United States' National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant ." </P> <P> Three years after the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebel Alliance has been driven from their former base on Yavin IV by the Galactic Empire . The rebels, led by Princess Leia, have set up a new base on the ice planet Hoth . The Imperial fleet, led by Darth Vader, continues to hunt for the Rebels' new base by dispatching probe droids across the galaxy . Luke Skywalker is captured by a wampa while investigating one such probe, but he manages to escape from the wampa's cave with his lightsaber . Before Luke succumbs to the freezing temperatures, the Force ghost of his late mentor, Obi - Wan Kenobi, instructs him to go to the Dagobah system to train under Jedi Master Yoda . Luke is found by Han Solo, where they cut open a Tauntaun (that Han rode on) to keep warm inside, and the duo is eventually rescued by a search party . </P> <P> Meanwhile, the probe alerts the Imperial fleet to the rebels' location . The Empire launches a large - scale attack, using AT - AT Walkers to capture the base, which forces the rebels to retreat . Han and Leia escape on the Millennium Falcon with C - 3PO and Chewbacca, but the ship's hyperdrive malfunctions . They hide in an asteroid field, where Han and Leia grow closer and eventually kiss . Vader summons bounty hunters to assist in finding the Falcon . Luke, meanwhile, escapes with R2 - D2 in his X-wing fighter and crash - lands on the swamp planet Dagobah . He meets a diminutive creature who reveals himself to be Yoda; after conferring with Obi - Wan's spirit, Yoda reluctantly accepts Luke as his student . </P>

When does the empire strikes back take place