2026 has been an excellent year for Star Wars fans so far, and it traces back to the launch of the franchise’s first Disney Plus series of the year, Maul — Shadow Lord. The series brought the Sith Lord out of the shadows and into the spotlight, putting him front and center after serving as more of a complimentary piece since his debut in The Phantom Menace. Disney has already picked up the show for a second season, and leading actor Sam Witwer has confirmed that work on Season 2 is underway. For the first time in seven years, Star Wars fans are heading to theaters to watch a movie on the big screen thanks to The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is now playing in theaters everywhere. The film is a continuation of the Star Wars Disney Plus series that ran for three seasons following its premiere in 2019, but writer/director Jon Favreau ensured it’s accessible to all.
Star Wars fans could argue for eons about what is the best movie the franchise has to offer, but the one that stands above the rest in most conversations is The Empire Strikes Back. Earlier this week marked 46 years since The Empire Strikes Back first hit theaters around the world, and it’s still hailed to this day as not only the best Star Wars movie, but one of the best films ever made. George Lucas invested only $18 million into the making of The Empire Strikes Back, and the film grossed a whopping $550 million at the worldwide box office. All these years later, The Empire Strikes Back is still captivating fans around the world as one of the top 10 most-watched titles on Disney Plus in more than 30 countries globally.
What Is the Next Star Wars Movie After ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’?
The next Star Wars movie coming to theaters after The Mandalorian and Grogu is Starfighter, which will be released in theaters worldwide on May 28, 2027. The film was written by Jonathan Tropper (Your Friends & Neighbors) and directed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine), and it stars Ryan Gosling (Project Hail Mary). The only Star Wars project set to be released before Starfighter that’s been announced is Ahsoka Season 2, which was recently delayed to early 2027.
Check out The Empire Strikes Back on Disney Plus and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the Star Wars universe.
- Release Date
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May 20, 1980
- Runtime
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124 minutes
- Director
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Irvin Kershner
- Writers
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Lawrence Kasdan, Leigh Brackett, George Lucas
- Producers
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Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, Howard G. Kazanjian

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