Common Sense Media Review
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sometimes funny but crude Empire Strikes Back parody.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 27 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a humorous parody of Star Wars, featuring crude jokes, sexual innuendos, and infrequent strong language that some believe is inappropriate for younger audiences. While many enjoyed the comedic twist on the classic saga, opinions vary widely on its suitability for children, with some deeming it hilarious and others finding it too crude or offensive.
- funny parody
- inappropriate content
- harsh language
- mixed opinions
- adult themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
This sequel to Blue Harvest, the parody of Star Wars by the Family Guy crew, retells The Empire Strikes Back. Darth Vader (played by Stewie) hunts Luke Skywalker (played by Chris), who has gone off on his own to learn from Yoda how to be a Jedi. Meanwhile Han Solo (Peter) and Princess Leia (Lois) try to sort things out in the galaxy and end up saving Luke after his encounter with Darth Vader. Throughout the Empire storyline, the Family Guy characters interject near-constant pop culture references, including brief scenes from Rocky IV and Magnum P.I., and poke slight fun at the original film.
Is It Any Good?
This movie veers from hilarious to stupid and back again in milliseconds. The pop culture references are often very funny, though they sometimes distract from the story itself. Though the filmmakers clearly had fun finding silly ways to retell the Empire story, they take a light hand in making fun of the original's earnestness. The Family Guy series in general is often brave in tackling subjects many would deem off limits, but the result is often more harsh than clever and the intention seems more to shock than to critique.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about over-the-top humor. What is funny in this movie because it seems extreme, and what is disturbing for the same reason? Where do you draw the line with this type of humor?
Families can also talk about parodies. What are your favorites? When do parodies miss the mark?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 22, 2009
- Cast : Alex Borstein , Seth Green , Seth MacFarlane
- Director : Dominic Polcino
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 54 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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