Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

This marks the point where “Star Wars” became something more than a tribute to rollicking swashbuckling serials. “The Empire Strikes Back” is dedicated to expanding and challenging both the mythos and the core characters, and the actors are more than game for the task, fleshing out the lovable ragtag gang to a degree the first film never could and making the mindblowing twists of the last third hit that much harder. A film about playing with expectations, this is the gold standard by which all “darkest before the dawn” chapters will ever be measured. Arguably the best “Star Wars” film.

10