Star Wars: Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (PG, 1983)

common sense media says

Ewok-filled finale less Force-ful than previous.

parents & educators say

38% say violence is an issue
38% say sexual content is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there are two versions of this feature, the original 1983 release (on VHS and Laserdisc) and a later one on DVD to which George Lucas added enhanced special effects -- some of the aliens are obvious puppets, others are obvious CGI. Both feature abundant fantasy violence, from spaceship dogfights and light-saber duels to guerrilla-style war waged with primitive weapons by the cute Ewoks (which is played largely for laughs, though one Ewok is shown dead). Deaths of prominent characters in the series, including a peaceful one in bed for Master Yoda and a more dramatic exit (and funeral pyre) for Anakin Skywalker.

Educational value: Intended to entertain, not educate.

Positive messages: Luke Skywalker successfully resists giving in to the dark side of the Force, and he repeatedly asserts that there is still good remaining in his father, the diabolical Darth Vader. Both the roguish Han Solo and Lando Calrissian end up in heroic leadership roles. The Empire is composed entirely of white males, while the rebels are a blend of genders, races, and species.

Positive role models: Clear line between good and bad. Luke's struggle with negative emotions and his ultimate success at remaining positive and on the side of good is a good example of self discipline.

Violence & scariness: Explosions of spacecraft and ground weapons. Light-saber fighting results in loss of limbs. Speedy airborne craft slam into trees, and soldiers are shot down by blaster fire, and one Ewok dies. Robots and pig-like aliens are dismembered and devoured in Jabba the Hutt's dungeons. Jabba is strangled slowly by a chain.

Sexy stuff: Scantily clad harem girls dance suggestively in the lair of Jabba the Hutt, including Princess Leia.

Language: Not applicable.

Consumerism: There was an Empire of toy tie-ins and cartoon spin-offs.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: None, unless you count the hookah pipes in Jabba's place.

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What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the characters' choices and motivations. Why do you think Hans and Lando both put aside their roguish swaggers to play heroes? Are there any role models in this movie?
Talk about the hype surrounding the Star Wars franchise. Is it deserved? What is the appeal?

What's the story?

EPISODE VI: THE RETURN OF THE JEDI begins with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and the other Rebel Alliance heroes and robots assembling one by one to rescue their friend Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from his frozen state of suspended animation in the palace of a gross, sluglike galactic gangster called Jabba the Hutt. Once again, the terrible galactic Empire has a Death Star under construction and the rebels seek to destroy the monstrous doomsday weapon and the sinister Emperor (Ian McDiarmid). Luke knows that this will be his chance to again confront the Emperor's evil cyborg disciple Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones), who is really Luke's long-lost father Anakin, once a noble Jedi Knight. Luke refuses to believe that his parent has gone over forever to the dark side of the Force. In the action-packed three-battle finale, Luke duels with Darth under the gloating gaze of the Emperor while the Rebel Alliance throws every ship they have against the fleet of the Empire and on the forest moon of Endor, Han and friends strive to blow up a power plant generating a force field that protects the Death Star. To the rescue are the Ewoks, cute little alien primitives who look like teddy-bear monkeys, and who come to our heroes' aid.

Is it any good?

EPISODE VI: THE RETURN OF THE JEDI concluded (so far) the mighty Star Wars saga, conceived by George Lucas, a film series that changed movie history and raised the bar for special effects, science-fiction wonderment, blockbuster earnings, and movie marketing. It's a properly triumphant finale, filled with action -- and yet, coming after the best and emotionally richest chapter, The Empire Strikes Back, a slight disappointment. If only the filmmakers put as much imagination into the main plotline as they did in the film's lengthy opener. Still, making the fight for the souls of the two Skywalkers as important as the Rebels vs. the Empire is a nice bit of dramatics, as is the idea of Luke struggling to avoid feelings of anger and revenge that might lure him to the dark side.

You can see the infatuation with visual gimmickry, cute/silly aliens and robots, plotlines apparently written to be video-game ready, and a disinterest in good acting; a toymaker mentality that continued when Lucas picked up the storyline again in prequels beginning with The Phantom Menace. While each individual stage of the finale is thrilling, cutting back and forth among the scenes disrupts the overall flow of the film.

Movie themes & details

Themes

adventures, robots, space and aliens

Movie Details

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Director: Richard Marquand
Cast: Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill
Genre: Science Fiction
Run time: 135 minutes
Theatrical release: May 25, 1983
DVD release: September 12, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: sci-fi action violence

This review was written by Charles Cassady Jr.

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What parents & educators say

Based on 8 parent & educator reviews:

38% say violence is an issue
38% say sexual content is an issue

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

fangningsheng
teen, 14 years old

Good

This was probably my favorite Star Wars. I especially liked the part with Jabba the Hut. I would rate it PG for sci-fi action violence and some suggestive content.

What other families should know

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Star Wars: Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (PG, 1983)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Star Wars: Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Themes

Movie Details

Review It

Review Star Wars: Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Good

Movie Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Neutral

Weird Sex Stuff Leia and Jabba the Hutt

A very good movie, but not like "A New Hope"

7+

Great movie

Ewok filled fantasy finale for kids

Best of the first 3.

Great movie

Star Wars is great, but maybe not for your family

The finale in the most epic tale ever

Not nearly as violent--or great--as "A New Hope" or "The Empire Strikes Back".

A CLASSIC

NOT for kids!!

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