Celebrate 41 Years of Return of the Jedi with These 41 Behind the Scenes Photos

John Summers • Contributor

May 27, 2024 11:00 PM EDT

So, Return of the Jedi was released 41 years ago this week, and that's a bit of a shocker for me because I still vividly remember seeing it in the cinema. Where have the years gone? My parents walked into the cinema with one kid and came out with another—a Star Wars kid. From that moment on, all I could talk about for the next few months were Jedis, Ewoks, spaceships, and the death of Darth Vader.

Well, 41 years have passed and I am still very much a Star Wars kid. Even though I can now admit that "Return of the Jedi" isn't quite on the same level as "The Empire Strikes Back," it was MY movie as a child. It was my obsession, the film that ignited my passion for a galaxy far, far away. The magic of seeing Luke, Leia, and Han on the big screen for the first time is a memory that has stayed with me all these years, cementing "Return of the Jedi" as a pivotal part of my childhood.