The Empire Strikes Back currently beats Star Wars 58–42
Empire leads. The sequel that added stakes edges the one that created them.
The Verdict Franchise Civil War
The critical consensus has favored Empire for decades, and the narrow lead tracks with it — but the gap is smaller than conventional wisdom would predict. Kershner took Lucas's universe and gave it weather: the cold of Hoth, the murk of Dagobah, the artificial warmth of Cloud City. The original's desert sunshine became something more complex, and the complexity is winning. Star Wars holds close because discovery is hard to replicate — the first time anyone saw this universe was in Lucas's version. But Empire's craft advantage is real, and the lead says it's enough.
The Numbers
| Star Wars | The Empire Strikes Back | |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-Head | 42% | 58% |
| Overall Win Rate | 46% | 55% |
| Championships | 8 | 15 |
| Avg Decision | 2.3s | 3.6s |
| Budget | $11M | $18M |
| Box Office | $775M | $538M |
Where This Matchup Sits
Both sit mid-table among 58 Adventure films on BingeBracket — similar genre standing.
When facing other films, both run into the same wall: Aliens beats them both on BingeBracket, regardless of how they perform against each other.
Star Wars earned 70.5x its budget while The Empire Strikes Back returned 29.9x. Despite the ROI gap, The Empire Strikes Back wins the head-to-head on BingeBracket.
Think Star Wars deserves better?
You're in the 42%.
Play the bracket these votes came from. Your pick shifts the result.
Original or Sequel? Classic Sci Fi
Where to Watch
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