Overview

Three years after the destruction of the Death Star, the Imperial fleet, led by Darth Vader, deploys probe droids across the galaxy to locate Princess Leia's Rebel Alliance. A probe discovers the rebel base on the ice planet Hoth. Luke Skywalker is captured by a wampa but manages to escape using the Force. The spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi instructs him to go to Dagobah to train as a Jedi under Yoda. The Rebels evacuate Hoth due to an Empire attack, and Han Solo, Leia, C-3PO, and Chewbacca escape in the Millennium Falcon, but the hyperdrive malfunctions.

They hide in an asteroid field, and Vader summons bounty hunters, including Boba Fett, to find them. Han's group travels to Cloud City on Bespin, where Vader forces Lando Calrissian to surrender them. Meanwhile, Luke crash-lands on Dagobah and trains with Yoda. Despite premonitions of Han and Leia in pain, he abandons his training to rescue them.

Leia confesses her feelings for Han before Vader freezes him in carbonite. Han survives and is given to Fett. He frees Leia and Chewbacca, but Fett escapes. The group fights back to the Falcon, and Luke arrives for a lightsaber duel with Vader. A mighty battle begins in which Vader reveals a dark secret to Luke.