SPECULATION Lets talk about The Empire Strikes Back, how often do you watch it?

Not bad.

 

I don't watch it very often, but whenever asked the question "What is the best movie ever?" or "What is your favorite movie?" my answer has always been without hesitation The Empire Strikes Back. When I was a kid in the 80's, the Star Wars trilogy was my standard "home from school for a sick day" viewing. Empire was always my favorite, even at 7 years old I just loved the look and feel of the thing. Then I didn't watch it for a while until college in the mid-90s, when a few of my buddies were big SW fans. We would watch them in the dorm over and over, breaking down each scene as if we were film students. We were all either history, English, or graphic design majors so we each brought that into our analysis. Empire was all of our favorite and we wore out a few VHS copies. I often joke I learned more about critical thinking watching SW with those guys over that four years of college than I did from any formal classes. The prequels soured me on SW for a time, like a lot of people I know including those college buddies, and I think I maybe watched Empire twice between 2000 and 2015, around the time they were released on DVD (04?).

We recently watched the Star Wars trilogy with my 7, 5, and 3 year old daughters, after a trip to WDW were they loved the Star Tours ride and Jedi Academy show. It was the first time the films had been played in our house since any of them were born - the box was quite dusty. In fact, I had completely forgotten about the DVD change from Sebastian Shaw to Hayden Christiansen at the end of Jedi. I was so happy that, while they loved the Ewoks in Jedi, Empire was their favorite! (At least the older two anyway, the 3 year old wished Elsa and Anna were in it.) They sat riveted to the screen throughout TESB and even asked to watch it again immediately.

I had a smile on my face through the entire film, one because the kids liked it so much, but also because after all these year, the film was still filled with the magic and joy it always had for me.

 

As much as I love A New Hope, I always find myself watching Empire every couple of months, usually followed by Jedi. A New Hope is probably a 'once a year' little treat when I'm feeling really Nostalgic. I think it probably has something to do with it being my entry into the Star Wars universe. My earliest memory is being sat on my Uncle's sofa aged 3 when he used to babysit me, every single week I'd want Empire on and it's definitely the film that has stuck with me the most in the 21 years following that!

 

This summer, I've watched ESB at least once a week (it tends to be my go-to unless I'm introducing someone new to the saga) but when I go to University, I put it on while I'm studying at least 3 times a week. It's my absolute favorite of the six films, and I've been absolutely mesmerized by it as long as I can remember. Honestly, if JJ and crew can put together something that can enthrall viewers half as well as Empire, and repeatedly bring a child-like warmth that makes you feel like all is right in the galaxy(even though everything is definitely NOT right in the galaxy what with Jedi losing hands and scoundrels being subject to carbon freezing) the way ESB does, the Star Wars fandom will forever be in his debt.

 

Seeing the OT movies in the theaters in 77, 80, and 83, we never had a VCR til mid 80's, so the bulk of my SW movie watching was on HBO.

If anyone remembers those days they played the SW movies almost every day, sometimes 2-3 times a day.

SW came to HBO in '83, ESB in '86 and ROTJ in '88, so I honestly never watched them in order til SyFy marathons in the early 90's.

These days I enjoy OOT marathons on DVD on holiday weekends so it stays special. I'll watch them over Presidents Day Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, July 4th weekend, Labor Day Weekend, Thanksgiving Weekend, and Christmas/New Years Weekend.

To answer the OP's question, I watch SW, ESB, and ROTJ evenly now, usually in order, but ESB is still the best.

 

LOL
That's MORE OFTEN then every other day for 33 years. ESB wasn't released on VHS until 1983. I find that a little hard to believe.

 

I was born in 1986 it was 3 years later before I got into this star wars thing read my new member's post on page 10 my ocd was on high level back then it has now returned to normal levels.

 

That comes out to almost once a day every day since you were 3 years old. Sounds like a living hell to me

 

I know that now.

 

Literally watching it right now

 

Empire is the "God Father 2" of the original trilogy. The first was great, and the third helped wrap it all up, but the second was so deep and groundbreaking. Plus it was my first Star Wars movie I had ever seen. My sister took me to it when I was 5. What an impact! To this day I'm still in awe of it. It definitely is the gold standard for rating all other Star Wars movies!

 

At least 3-4 times a year. Before each movie release I have done the whole marathon thing - and my kids and I usually have Star Wars movie nights every once in a while.

 

I only watched in ONCE, last year. I'm the worst SW fan to ever exist! lol

 

Not often. Watching the same film often may be fun at first, but too often and it becomes part of everyday routine life and it loses its specialness. So watch sparingly....

 

I'd say somewhere between every month to every 2-3 months.
Mostly because Star Wars is one of the few agreed upon films with my younger cousins.

 

I usually watch each "Star Wars" movie about once a year or once every two years.

"The Empire Strikes Back" is tied with "Attack of the Clones" as my favorite STAR WARS movies. Mind you, both films have their flaws, but both are also big favorites of mine.