Originally released in 1980, Empire is considered superior to Star Wars by many fans. This is the film that introduced Yoda to the universe, revealed that Luke was Darth's son and saw Han betrayed by sometime-buddy Lando.
The new version of Empire has fewer tweaks than its predecessor. The Wampa--a sort of abominable snow monster--and its ice cave get more screen time; we actually see the beast feasting on another carcass before mangling Luke. Battle scenes on the ice planet Hoth were cleaned up, as were scenes on Bespin, the cloud city. We also get to see additional footage of Darth jetting around in his shuttle.
Empire was already the 15th top grossing film before its reissue, and early Friday returns show the film has staying power. "We're reliving three weeks ago," said Tom Sherak, head of 20th Century Fox domestic film division. "This is the top of the mountain."
But even Sherak knows the studio can't expect a repeat of Star Wars' phenomenal success. "The fever pitch for Star Wars is one thing, but this isn't Star Wars," Sherak said.
While exhibitors don't expect Empire to tally as much as Star Wars--the sequels earned less than their predecessor in their first runs--it could open with $25-$30 million and beat Dante's Peak's $18.1 million opening weekend, the best February debut in cinema history. The special edition of Star Wars raked in $36.2 million for the best January opening ever.
Rival studios are having a hard time keeping up with the Skywalkers. Both installments of George Lucas' trilogy will be playing on more than 2,100 screens each this weekend, meaning competing films, especially independent or lower-profile films, are getting muscled out of megaplexes. Paramount has even bumped back the opening of Val Kilmer's The Saint to April to avoid the Star Wars machine. The only film with any chance of breaking Lucas' chokehold on the box office is Howard Stern's Private Parts, which bows in two weeks on March 7.
But it won't be easy for Howard. Also on March 7, the prayers of many a Star Wars aficionados will be answered when the refurbished Return of the Jedi hits theaters. Many fans are drooling at prospect of spending an entire day at the mall watching all three films in succession.
(Updated 3:20 p.m. PT)