Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

Luke, Leia, Lando and Chewie rescue Han from Jabba's palace, and Leia strangles Jabba. Luke returns to Dagobah, where a dying Yoda confirms Vader is his father, and Obi-Wan's spirit reveals Leia is Luke's twin sister. The Empire is building a second Death Star over Endor. Han, Leia and Luke land on the moon to knock out the shield with help from the Ewoks, while Lando leads the space attack in the Falcon. Luke surrenders, hoping to turn his father, and faces the Emperor. Watching his son tortured with Force lightning, Vader throws the Emperor down a shaft and dies redeemed as Anakin. The station is destroyed. The rebels celebrate, and Luke sees the spirits of Obi-Wan, Yoda and Anakin.

1. ReferenceKlaatu, Barada and Nikto

   Jabba's guards on the sail barge are named Klaatu and Barada, and their species is Nikto. Together they form the phrase from The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951).

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2. Behind the scenesA sneaker in the space battle

   In the Battle of Endor, one of the ships in the middle of the fleet is the gym sneaker of Ken Ralston, from the ILM effects team. Model maker Charlie Bailey told the story and admits he never managed to find the sneaker on screen.

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3. Behind the scenesThe film was called Blue Harvest

   To throw off fans and vendors, the production shot under the fake name Blue Harvest, pitched as a horror movie. The real title changed too: it was Revenge of the Jedi, until Lucas decided a Jedi doesn't seek revenge.

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4. Behind the scenesWicket was meant for Kenny Baker

   The Ewok Wicket was supposed to be played by Kenny Baker, R2-D2, who fell ill on the day of the shoot. Young Warwick Davis stepped in, with no film experience at all.

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5. Behind the scenesTwo Anakin ghosts

   At the final celebration on Endor, Anakin's spirit was Sebastian Shaw in 1983. Since the 2004 DVD, Hayden Christensen is the one who appears there.

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