The tributes and retrospectives have begun to appear in honor of Jedi’s 30th anniversary.  Now being promoted, J.W. Rinzler’s eagerly-awaited The Making of Return of the Jedi will hit book stores this autumn.  Earlier this month, the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles hosted the new (and hopefully annual) CapeTown Film Fest, the brainchild of Entertainment Weekly and former Los Angeles Times’ Hero Complex journalist Geoff Boucher.  The fest included a 30th anniversary screening of Jedi at one of the few surviving theaters where Jedi originally played and even included an appearance by Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, who reminisced in a Q&A about its production and original release.  Also screened with Jedi was Fanboys director Kyle Newman’s amusing and heartfelt new short film The Return of Return of the Jedi: 30 Years and Counting.  And it’s now The Bits’ turn to get in on the anniversary action, and what better way to take you back to the time and place of experiencing Jedi for the first time than by showcasing a list of the theaters in which it opened?

Yes, what follows is a list of the movie theaters in the United States and Canada that opened Return of the Jedi on May 25, 1983.  (There were, of course, hundreds of additional theaters, primarily in smaller cities, that played Jedi later that summer, but this retrospective focuses on the first wave of its release.)  Following the list of original engagements is a collection of box-office data, which places the movie’s performance in context, as well as some reviewer quotes and production & release trivia.

Up to that point in time, Return of the Jedi was arguably the biggest motion picture event ever, with fans in some cities lining up days in advance to be among the first to see the movie.  It may be difficult to comprehend or recall in the Internet/Social Media age, but never before had the industry witnessed this level of frenzy during the launch of a new movie.  News coverage was beyond saturated with the opening making the front page of many a newspaper and even prompting some television news broadcasts to bump “if it bleeds it leads” stories to second place in favor of Star Wars.  George Lucas even made the cover of TIME.

Jedi’s release is noteworthy as it was the first Star Wars movie to get a wide release, at least by 1980s standards, which offered a chance for millions of fans to experience the movie when it was brand new (as is common practice today albeit on a smaller scale).  Jedi launched on just over 1,000 screens in about 800 theaters. In comparison, the opening weekend of the original Star Wars was in a mere 43 theaters.  The Empire Strikes Back’s opening weekend theater tally was 127.  Both movies took several weeks to reach a nationwide saturation level.

Aside from hopefully sparking good memories of seeing Return of the Jedi, this article provides a snapshot of sorts of the movie business in 1980s and offers a striking reminder of how going to the movies has evolved.  So, without further ado… where were you on opening day?

- Michael Coate

ALABAMA

• Birmingham – Cobb VILLAGE EAST TWIN  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Decatur – United BELTLINE 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Dothan – Davis NORTHSIDE MALL CINEMA 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Florence – Martin CAPRI TWIN
• Gadsden – Gadsden GADSDEN TWIN
• Hoover – Cobb HOOVER TWIN
• Huntsville – Martin WESTBURY TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Mobile – Giddens & Rester BEL AIR TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Montgomery – Martin EASTDALE TRIPLE
• Oxford – Litchfield CHEAHA CINEMAS
• Tuscaloosa – Cobb FOX 4

ALASKA

No theaters in Alaska opened “Return of the Jedi” on May 25. 

ALBERTA

• Calgary – Famous Players PALACE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Edmonton – Famous Players WESTMOUNT A & B  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

ARIZONA

• Flagstaff – Nace FLAG EAST
• Mesa – American Multi-Cinema FIESTA VILLAGE 6
• Phoenix – General Cinema METRO CENTER MALL CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Phoenix – General Cinema PARADISE VALLEY MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Phoenix – General Cinema WESTRIDGE MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI
• Phoenix – United Artists CHRIS-TOWN MALL CINEMAS 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Scottsdale – Nace KACHINA  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Tucson – Plitt FOOTHILLS 4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Tucson – TM EL CON 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Yuma – PLAZA 5

ARKANSAS

• Fayetteville – Malco RAZORBACK TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fort Smith – Malco MALL TRIO  (Dolby Stereo)
• Hot Springs – Rand MALL CINEMA 4
• Jonesboro – Malco MALCO 5  (Dolby Stereo)
• Little Rock – United Artists CINEMA 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Little Rock – United Artists CINEMA CITY  (Dolby Stereo)
• North Little Rock – General Cinema McCAIN MALL CINEMA I & II
• Pine Bluff – Commonwealth BROADMOOR 3

BRITISH COLUMBIA

• Vancouver – Odeon VOGUE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Victoria – Odeon HAIDA  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

CALIFORNIA

• Albany – Foster ALBANY 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Anderson – United Artists GATEWAY CINEMAS 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Antioch – Stamm STAMM  (Dolby Stereo)
• Arcadia – General Cinema SANTA ANITA CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Auburn – Redwood STATE TWIN
• Bakersfield – General Cinema VALLEY PLAZA CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Belmont – West Side Valley BELMONT 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Brea – United Artists MOVIES 4
• Campbell – United Artists PRUNEYARD 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Carlsbad – CINEMA PLAZA 5  (Dolby Stereo)
• Cerritos – United Artists CERRITOS MALL TWIN  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Chico – United Artists EL REY  (Dolby Stereo)
• Citrus Heights – United Artists SUNRISE 4
• City of Industry – American Multi-Cinema PUENTE 10  (Dolby Stereo)
• Corte Madera – Marin CINEMA  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Costa Mesa – Edwards TOWN CENTER 4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Davis – West Side Valley CINEMA 2
• Dublin – Enea DUBLIN 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• El Cajon – United Artists PARKWAY PLAZA 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• El Centro – VALLEY CINEMAS 1-6
• Encinitas – American Multi-Cinema WIEGAND PLAZA 6
• Eureka – Redwood STATE 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fairfield – Tegtmeier FAIRFIELD CINEMA 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fremont – Syufy CINEDOME 7 EAST  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fresno – Festival REGENCY CINEMAS
• Fresno – United Artists MOVIES 4
• Grass Valley – United Artists DEL ORO 3
• Hayward – United Artists HAYWARD 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Hemet – HOLIDAY 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• La Mirada – Pacific LA MIRADA 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Lancaster – Great Western MOVIES 7
• Long Beach – United Artists MOVIES 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Los Angeles (Eagle Rock) – Pacific EAGLE ROCK PLAZA 4
• Los Angeles (Hollywood) – United Artists EGYPTIAN I-II-III  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Los Angeles (North Hollywood) – United Artists MOVIES 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Los Angeles (Northridge) – General Cinema FASHION CENTER CINEMA I-II-III
• Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks) – General Cinema SHERMAN OAKS CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (Dolby Stereo)
• Los Angeles (University Park) – UNIVERSITY VILLAGE 3
• Los Angeles (Westwood) – General Cinema AVCO CENTER  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo) (THX)
• Los Angeles (Woodland Hills) – United Artists WARNER CENTER 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Marina del Rey – United Artists CINEMA 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Marysville – United Artists STATE 3
• Merced – United Artists REGENCY 4  <opened May 27>
• Mission Viejo – Edwards MISSION VIEJO MALL 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Modesto – Festival FESTIVAL CINEMAS
• Montclair – United Artists MOVIES 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Monterey – United Artists CINEMA 70  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Monterey Park – Edwards MONTEREY MALL 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Morgan Hill – GRANADA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Mountain View – American Multi-Cinema OLD MILL 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Napa – Syufy CINEDOME 4
• National City – Pacific SWEETWATER 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Newhall – Great Western PLAZA
• Newport Beach – Edwards NEWPORT CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Oakland – Foster PIEDMONT  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Orange – Syufy CINEDOME 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Palm Springs – Metropolitan CAMELOT 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Pleasant Hill – Syufy CENTURY 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Porterville – PORTER CINEMAS I, II & III
• Redondo Beach – General Cinema SOUTH BAY CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Redwood City – United Artists REDWOOD 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Richmond – Plitt HILLTOP MALL 1-2-3-4
• Riverside – United Artists TYLER MALL CINEMA 4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Sacramento – United Artists ARDEN FAIR 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Salinas – Syufy NORTHRIDGE 8  (Dolby Stereo)
• San Bernardino – General Cinema INLAND CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• San Bruno – United Artists TANFORAN  PARK 4
• San Diego – Mann RANCHO BERNARDO 6
• San Diego – Pacific CENTER 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• San Diego – Pacific LA JOLLA VILLAGE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• San Diego – United Artists GLASSHOUSE 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• San Francisco – United Artists CORONET  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• San Luis Obispo – Mann FREMONT
• Santa Barbara – Metropolitan ARLINGTON CENTER  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Santa Clara – United Artists CINEMA 150  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Santa Cruz – United Artists RIO
• Santa Maria – United Artists MOVIES 3
• Santa Rosa – United Artists MOVIES 3
• Simi Valley – Metropolitan LARWIN TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Sonora – West Side Valley PLAZA TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• South Lake Tahoe – Luxury STATELINE  (Dolby Stereo)
• Stockton – Plitt SHERWOOD
• Thousand Oaks – United Artists MOVIES 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Ventura – Metropolitan VENTURA  (Dolby Stereo)
• Victorville – Western Amusements MOVIES 7  (Dolby Stereo)
• West Covina – Sanborn WESCOVE 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Westminster – United Artists WESTMINSTER MALL TWIN  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

COLORADO

• Boulder – Commonwealth VILLAGE 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Colorado Springs – Commonwealth COOPER 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Colorado Springs – Commonwealth HANCOCK PLAZA 4
• Colorado Springs – Commonwealth MALL OF THE BLUFFS 2
• Denver – Commonwealth CONTINENTAL  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Denver – Commonwealth COOPER  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Durango – Mann KIVA
• Fort Collins – Commonwealth CAMPUS WEST  (Dolby Stereo)
• Grand Junction – Commonwealth COOPER  (Dolby Stereo)
• Greeley – Commonwealth COOPER 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Longmont – Klein PARKWAY
• Loveland – Commonwealth ORCHARDS TWIN
• Pueblo – Commonwealth PUEBLO MALL 3  (Dolby Stereo)

CONNECTICUT

• Bridgeport – RKO Century MERRITT TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Danbury – Trans-Lux CINE I,II,III
• Enfield – Sonderling CINE ENFIELD 6
• Farmington – United Artists THE MOVIES AT WESTFARMS
• Groton – United Artists GROTON 1 & 2
• Hartford – Sonderling CINEMA CITY
• Manchester – United Artists THEATRE EAST 1-2-3
• Meriden – MERIDEN TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Middletown – Sack THE MOVIEHOUSE
• Newington – Showcase NEWINGTON
• Old Saybrook – Interstate SAYBROOK CINEMAS
• Orange – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Stamford – Trans-Lux RIDGEWAY  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Waterbury – General Cinema NAUGATUCK VALEY MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Westport – Nutmeg FINE ARTS I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Willimantic – JILLSON SQUARE CINEMAS

DELAWARE

• Christiana – General Cinema CHRISTIANA MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (Dolby Stereo)
• Dover – Schwartz BLUE HEN MALL

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

• Washington – General Cinema JENIFER CINEMA I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Washington – Washington Circle MacARTHUR III  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

FLORIDA

• Boca Raton – Wometco BOCA RATON TWIN
• Bradenton – United Artists THE MOVIES AT DeSOTO SQUARE  (Dolby Stereo)
• Brandon – Plitt PLITT 1-2-3-4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Clearwater – American Multi-Cinema COUNTRYSIDE 6
• Clearwater – Plitt SUNSHINE MALL 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Coral Gables – Plitt GABLES 1-2-3
• Coral Springs – Loews CORAL SPRINGS 6
• Daytona Beach – American Multi-Cinema BELLAIR 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fort Lauderdale – General Cinema GALLERIA CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Fort Myers – Cobb BELL TOWER 6
• Fort Pierce – Cobb VILLAGE 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Gainesville – Wometco PLAZA 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Hialeah – General Cinema HIALEAH CINEMA I-II-III
• Hollywood – Plitt FLORIDA 1-2
• Homestead – Wometco CAMPBELL SQUARE 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Jacksonville – Plitt REGENCY 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Jupiter – Cobb JUPITER 3
• Kendale Lakes – Wometco MILLER SQUARE 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Kendall – Wometco DADELAND 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Lake Worth – MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH
• Lakeland – General Cinema GROVE PARK CINEMA I & II
• Lauderdale Lakes – American Multi-Cinema LAKES 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Leesburg – American Multi-Cinema LAKE SQUARE 6
• Mary Esther – Ogden-Perry SANTA ROSA CINEMA III  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Merritt Island – American Multi-Cinema MERRITT SQUARE 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Miami Beach – Wometco BYRON CARLYLE  3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Naples – Cobb COASTLAND 2
• North Miami Beach – Wometco 163rd STREET  3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Ocala – Plitt SPRINGS 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Orange Park – American Multi-Cinema ORANGE PARK MALL 5  (Dolby Stereo)
• Orlando – General Cinema FASHION SQUARE CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Palm Beach Gardens – General Cinema PGA CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI  (Dolby Stereo)
• Panama City – Martin FLORIDA TRIPLE
• Pensacola – United Artists UNIVERSITY MALL CINEMAS 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Pinellas Park – General Cinema PINELLAS SQUARE CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Plantation – United Artists THE MOVIES AT PLANTATION  (Dolby Stereo)
• Pompano Beach – United Artists THE MOVIES AT POMPANO  (Dolby Stereo)
• Port Richey – Cobb EMBASSY 6
• St. Petersburg – American Multi-Cinema TYRONE SQUARE 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Sarasota – Plitt PLAZA 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Satellite Beach – Kent SATELLITE 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• South Daytona – Plitt SUNSHINE MALL 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Tallahassee – Litchfield CAPITOL CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Tampa – General Cinema EASTLAKE SQUARE CINEMA I-II-III
• Tampa – General Cinema UNIVERSITY SQUARE CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Tampa – Plitt HILLSBORO 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Titusville – MIRACLE CITY 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Vero Beach – Cobb PLAZA 1 & 2
• Wellington – WELLINGTON TWIN
• West Palm Beach – American Multi-Cinema CROSS COUNTY 8  (Dolby Stereo)
• West Palm Beach – General Cinema CINEMA 70 I-II-III
• Winter Haven – Floyd BOULEVARD 3
• Winter Park – Wometco WINTER PARK 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

GEORGIA

• Albany – Martin MARTIN 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Athens – General Cinema GEORGIA SQUARE CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Atlanta – General Cinema AKERS MILL SQUARE CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Atlanta – Plitt PHIPPS PLAZA 1-2-3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Augusta – Plitt NATIONAL HILLS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Brunswick – Georgia ALTAMA VILLAGE TRIPLE
• College Park – Storey NATIONAL 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Columbus – Martin COLUMBUS SQUARE 8  (Dolby Stereo)
• Decatur – Georgia SOUTH DEKALB MALL QUAD  (Dolby Stereo)
• Gainesville – Litchfield CINEMAS WEST  (Dolby Stereo)
• Macon – Georgia RIVERSIDE 4
• Morrow – General Cinema SOUTHLAKE CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Roswell – Septum BRANNON SQUARE TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Savannah – Weis CINEMA CENTRE  (Dolby Stereo)
• Stone Mountain – Plitt STONEMONT 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Tucker – General Cinema NORTHLAKE CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Valdosta – Martin CINEMA TWIN

HAWAII

No theaters in Hawaii opened “Return of the Jedi” on May 25.

IDAHO

• Boise – Odell PLAZA TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Chubbuck – STARLITE CINEMAS
• Coeur d’Alene – Luxury COEUR D’ALENE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Idaho Falls – Mann PARAMOUNT
• Nampa – Odell KARCHER TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Twin Falls – Interstate TWIN MALL  (Dolby Stereo)

ILLINOIS

• Alton – Bloomer EASTGATE TWIN
• Aurora – Plitt FOX VALLEY 1-2-3-4-5-6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Belleville – Bloomer CINEMA  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Bloomington – General Cinema EASTLAND CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Bolingbrook – Plitt BOLINGBROOK 1-2-3-4
• Calumet City – Plitt RIVER OAKS 1-2-3-4-5-6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Carbondale – Kerasotes VARSITY 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Carpentersville – Plitt SPRING HILL 1-2-3-4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Champaign – General Cinema MARKET PLACE CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Chicago – Essaness PLAZA 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Chicago – General Cinema FORD CITY CINEMA I-II-III  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Chicago – Plitt ESQUIRE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Chicago – Plitt GATEWAY  (Dolby Stereo)
• Chicago – Plitt STATE-LAKE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Forest Park – Essaness FOREST PARK MALL 1-2-3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Forsyth – American Multi-Cinema HICKORY POINT 6
• Joliet – Plitt HILLCREST 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Kankakee – Bachman MEADOWVIEW 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Lombard – General Cinema YORKTOWN CINEMA I-II-III  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Machesney Park – United Artists THE MOVIES AT MACHESNEY PARK
• Moline – Redstone PARKWAY  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Mount Prospect – General Cinema RANDHURST CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Niles – Essaness GOLF MILL 1-2-3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Northbrook – Center EDENS 1-2  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Peoria – Kerasotes BEVERLY  (Dolby Stereo)
• Quincy – Kerasotes SHOWCASE 4
• Rockford – Plitt CHERRYVALE 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• St. Charles – Essaness FOXFIELD 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Schaumburg – Plitt WOODFIELD 1-2-3-4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Springfield – Wehrenberg FOX TOWN & COUNTRY
• Tinley Park – Essaness BREMEN 1-2-3-4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Vernon Hills – Plitt HAWTHORN 1-2-3-4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Waukegan – General Cinema LAKEHURST CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)

INDIANA

• Bloomington – General Cinema COLLEGE MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Columbus – General Cinema COURTHOUSE CENTER CINEMA I & II
• Elkhart – Miller CINEMA 1
• Evansville – Koewler EAST PARK CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Evansville – Stieler NORTH PARK CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fort Wayne – General Cinema SOUTHTOWN MALL CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fort Wayne – Mallers-Spirou HOLIDAY 1-2  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Gary – General Cinema RIDGE PLAZA CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Greenwood – Loews GREENWOOD 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Indianapolis – General Cinema GLENDALE CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI  (Dolby Stereo)
• Indianapolis – General Cinema LAFAYETTE SQUARE CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (Dolby Stereo)
• Indianapolis – Y&W EASTWOOD  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Kokomo – General Cinema KOKOMO MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Michigan City – General Cinema MICHIGAN CITY CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI
• Muncie – General Cinema NORTHWEST PLAZA CINEMA I-II-III
• South Bend – FORUM 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Terre Haute – General Cinema TOWNE SOUTH PLAZA CINEMA I-II-III
• West Lafayette – CINEMA WEST

IOWA

• Cedar Rapids – Dubinsky PLAZA  (Dolby Stereo)
• Davenport – General Cinema NORTHPARK CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Des Moines – Dubinsky RIVER HILLS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Dubuque – Dubuque CINEMA CENTER  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Sioux City – General Cinema SOUTHERN HILLS MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Waterloo – Carisch CROSSROADS 7

KANSAS

• Hutchinson – Commonwealth ALCO PLAZA CINEMA TWIN
• Lawrence – Commonwealth GRANADA
• Manhattan – Commonwealth WAREHAM  (Dolby Stereo)
• Overland Park – Dickinson GLENWOOD I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Topeka – General Cinema TOPEKA BOULEVARD CINEMA I-II-III
• Wichita – Commonwealth TWIN LAKES  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Wichita – Dickinson MALL  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

KENTUCKY

• Ashland – Midstates MIDTOWN CINEMAS 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Bowling Green – Martin PLAZA TWIN
• Florence – Midstates FLORENCE CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Lexington – General Cinema TURFLAND MALL CINEMA I & II
• Lexington – Midstates SOUTHPARK 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Louisville – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Owensboro – Malco PLAZA TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Paducah – American Multi-Cinema PADUCAH CINEMAS 1 & 2

LOUISIANA

• Alexandria – General Cinema ALEXANDRIA MALL CINEMA I & II
• Baton Rouge – General Cinema CORTANA MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Baton Rouge – Gulf States UNIVERSITY 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Houma – Gulf States SOUTHLAND 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Lafayette – Gulf States WESTWOOD  (Dolby Stereo)
• Lake Charles – Ogden-Perry CHARLES CINEMA III  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Metairie – General Cinema LAKESIDE CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Monroe – Plitt PLAZA TWIN
• New Orleans – Gulf States AURORA CINEMA 6
• New Orleans – Gulf States PLAZA CINEMA 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• New Orleans – Joy JOY 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Shreveport – General Cinema SOUTH PARK MALL CINEMA I & II
• Shreveport – Gulf States SHREVE CITY 2  (Dolby Stereo)

MAINE

• Auburn – Cinema Centers AUBURN MALL TWIN
• Augusta – Melrose STATE STREET CINEMAS
• Brewer – Cinema Centers BREWER CINEMA 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Bridgton – MAGIC LANTERN
• Brunswick – Sonderling BRUNSWICK CINEMAS
• Sanford – Spinelli SANFORD TWIN
• South Portland – General Cinema MAINE MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII  (Dolby Stereo)
• Waterville – Sonderling CINEMA CENTER
• Windham – WINDHAM MALL CINEMAS

MANITOBA

• Winnipeg – Odeon GRANT PARK  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

MARYLAND

• Annapolis – Durkee PLAZA 1 & 2
• Baltimore – General Cinema YORK ROAD CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Bel Air – Durkee HARFORD MALL CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Columbia – General Cinema COLUMBIA CITY CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Frederick – HOLIDAY CINEMAS
• Gaithersburg – Roth MONTGOMERY 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Glen Burnie – Durkee GLEN BURNIE MALL
• Hagerstown – Interstate LONG MEADOW CINEMAS
• Laurel – District LAUREL TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Marlow Heights – Neighborhood MARLOW 1 & 2
• New Carrollton – American Multi-Cinema CARROLLTON 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Ocean City – Manos SUN & SURF IV
• Rossville – United Artists THE MOVIES AT GOLDEN RING
• Salisbury – Regal MOVIES 3
• Wheaton – S&H WHEATON PLAZA 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Woodlawn – General Cinema SECURITY MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV

MASSACHUSETTS

• Boston – Sack CHARLES 1-2-3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Braintree – General Cinema BRAINTREE CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Brockton – General Cinema WESTGATE MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (Dolby Stereo)
• Chelmsford – Melrose CHELMSFORD CINEMA 7
• Chestnut Hill – General Cinema CHESTNUT HILL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Danvers – Sack DANVERS 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Dedham – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Framingham – General Cinema SHOPPERS WORLD CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI  (Dolby Stereo)
• Hadley – American Multi-Cinema HAMPSHIRE 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Hanover – General Cinema HANOVER MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Hyannis – Interstate AIRPORT CINEMA 4
• Ipswich – STRAND
• Lawrence – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Leominster – Sack LEOMINSTER CINEMA 7
• Marlborough – Battaglino MARLBORO’S 1-2-3
• Milford – Interstate MILFORD CINEMAS 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• North Dartmouth – General Cinema NORTH DARTMOUTH MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• North Falmouth – Interstate NICKELODEON CINEMAS
• Pittsfield – Melrose PITTSFIELD CINEMA CENTER
• Raynham – Melrose CHALET
• Salisbury – Melrose ROUTE 95 CINEMAS
• Saugus – General Cinema SAUGUS CINEMA I & II
• Seekonk – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Somerville – Sack SOMERVILLE ASSEMBLY SQUARE 8  (Dolby Stereo)
• West Springfield – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Woburn – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Worcester – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)

MICHIGAN

• Ann Arbor – Butterfield CAMPUS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Battle Creek – Goodrich WEST COLUMBIA 3
• Bay City – Butterfield STATE
• Benton Harbor – United Artists FAIRPLAIN PLAZA CINEMA 5
• Bloomfield Hills – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Dearborn – United Artists THE MOVIES AT FAIRLANE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Detroit – Suburban Detroit RENAISSANCE 1-2-3-4
• East Lansing – Butterfield CAMPUS 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Farmington Hills – Suburban Detroit OLD ORCHARD 1-2-3
• Flint – Butterfield FLINT  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Flint – Butterfield GENESEE VALLEY 1-2-3-4
• Jackson – United Artists WESTWOOD CINEMA 1 & 2
• Kalamazoo – United Artists THE MOVIES AT WEST MAIN
• Kentwood – United Artists THE MOVIES AT WOODLAND  (Dolby Stereo)
• Livonia – Nicholas George MAI KAI  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Marysville – Butterfield PLAYHOUSE I & II
• Midland – United Artists STADIUM CINEMAS
• Monroe – Denniston DENNISTON CINEMA 1 & 2
• Mount Pleasant – Butterfield BROADWAY
• Muskegon – Loeks CINEMA 6
• Oxford – Simmons OXFORD TWIN
• Portage – Loeks PLAZA 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Rochester Hills – Nicholas George HAMPTON 3
• Roseville – General Cinema MACOMB MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Saginaw – Goodrich QUAD 8
• Southfield – Nicholas George AMERICANA COMPLEX  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Southgate – Nicholas George SOUTHGATE 4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Sterling Heights – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Traverse City – Butterfield PLAZA CINEMA 1 & 2
• Troy – United Artists THE MOVIES AT OAKLAND  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Warren – General Cinema WARREN CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Wyoming – Loeks STUDIO 28 SIXPLEX  (Dolby Stereo)

MINNESOTA

• Bloomington – General Cinema SOUTHTOWN CINEMA I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Brooklyn Center – General Cinema BROOKDALE EAST CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Duluth – United Artists THE MOVIES AT MILLER HILL MALL
• Mankato – Carisch CINE 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Maplewood – United Artists THE MOVIES AT MAPLEWOOD  (Dolby Stereo)
• Minneapolis – Plitt SKYWAY 1-2-3-4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Minnetonka – Plitt RIDGE SQUARE 1-2-3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Rochester – Plitt CHATEAU
• Roseville – General Cinema HAR-MAR CINEMA XI  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• West St. Paul – Engler SIGNAL HILLS 4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

MISSISSIPPI

• Biloxi – Gulf States SURFSIDE 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Columbus – Malco VARSITY TWIN
• Gautier – Plitt SINGING RIVER MALL CINEMA IV
• Gulfport – Plitt HARDY COURT TWIN 1-2
• Hattiesburg – Gulf States HARDY STREET CINEMAS 2
• Jackson – General Cinema METRO CENTER CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Meridian – Plitt VILLAGE
• Tupelo – Malco TUPELO TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)

MISSOURI

• Cape Girardeau – Kerasotes TOWN PLAZA CINEMA 5
• Chesterfield – General Cinema CHESTERFIELD MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Columbia – Commonwealth CINEMA  (Dolby Stereo)
• Crystal City – Mid-America TWIN CITY  (Dolby Stereo)
• Hazelwood – Mid-America VILLAGE 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Independence – Mid-America BLUE RIDGE EAST 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Kansas City – American Multi-Cinema METRO NORTH 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Kansas City – Commonwealth BANNISTER MALL 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Mehlville – General Cinema SOUTH COUNTY CINEMA I & II
• Richmond Heights – Mid-America ESQUIRE 4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• St. Charles – Wehrenberg CINEMA 4 CENTER  (Dolby Stereo)
• Sikeston – Malco TRIO
• Springfield – General Cinema BATTLEFIELD MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI
• Sunset Hills – General Cinema SUNSET HILLS CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)

MONTANA

• Billings – Theatre Operators BABCOCK
• Bozeman – Theatre Operators CAMPUS SQUARE 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Great Falls – Carisch FOX
• Helena – Theatre Operators CIRCUS TWIN
• Kalispell – Associated LIBERTY  (Dolby Stereo)
• Missoula – Commonwealth VILLAGE TWIN 

NEBRASKA

• Lincoln – Dubinsky STUART  (Dolby Stereo)
• Omaha – Commonwealth INDIAN HILLS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Omaha – Douglas Q CINEMA 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

NEVADA

• Las Vegas – Syufy CINEDOME 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Reno – United Artists GRANADA A & B  (Dolby Stereo)

NEW BRUNSWICK

No theaters in New Brunswick opened “Return of the Jedi” on May 25. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

• Claremont – CLAREMONT TRIPLE  (Dolby Stereo)
• Concord – Sack MERRIMACK 1-4
• Hanover – NUGGET I & II
• Londonderry – O’Neil APPLE TREE MALL CINEMA IV
• Manchester – Canad SOUTH WILLOW STREET CINEMAS I-IV
• Nashua – General Cinema NASHUA MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Portsmouth – Northeast JERRY LEWIS TWIN

NEW JERSEY

• Bricktown – Music Makers MALL CINEMA TRIPLEX  (Dolby Stereo)
• Deptford – General Cinema DEPTFORD MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI  (Dolby Stereo)
• East Brunswick – General Cinema BRUNSWICK SQUARE CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Edison – General Cinema MENLO PARK CINEMA I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Egg Harbor – Frank TOWNE 4
• Flemington – Nathan CINEMA PLAZA
• Fort Lee – Lightstone SHARON
• Freehold – Music Makers FREEHOLD QUAD
• Hanover – General Cinema MORRIS COUNTY MALL CINEMA I & II
• Jersey City – General Cinema HUDSON PLAZA CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Kearny – LINCOLN TRIPLEX
• Lawrenceville – SamEric TWIN LAWRENCEVILLE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Middletown – United Artists THE MOVIES AT MIDDLETOWN
• Moorestown – SamEric TWIN PLAZA MOORESTOWN  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Ocean – General Cinema SEAVIEW SQUARE CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Paramus – RKO Century ROUTE 4 SEVENPLEX  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Rockaway – American Multi-Cinema ROCKAWAY 12  (Dolby Stereo)
• Sayreville – Redstone AMBOY MULTIPLEX CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Toms River – General Cinema OCEAN COUNTY MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Totowa – General Cinema TOTOWA CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Vineland – General Cinema CUMBERLAND MALL CINEMA I & II
• Voorhees – General Cinema ECHELON MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Watchung – General Cinema BLUE STAR CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• West Orange – General Cinema ESSEX GREEN CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)

NEW MEXICO

• Albuquerque – General Cinema LOUISIANA BLVD. CINEMA I-II-III  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Farmington – Allen ALLEN
• Las Cruces – Allen RIO GRANDE
• Santa Fe – Commonwealth LENSIC

NEW YORK

• Amherst – General Cinema BOULEVARD MALL CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Babylon – RKO Century BABYLON TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Big Flats – General Cinema CINEMA I & II ON THE MALL
• Carmel – United Artists PUTNAM PLAZA TWIN
• Cheektowaga – General Cinema THRUWAY MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Colonie – RKO Century FOX COLONIE I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Commack – RKO Century COMMACK TWIN
• DeWitt – Carrols SHOPPINGTOWN 1 & 2
• East Meadow – United Artists MEADOWBROOK QUAD  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• East Setauket – RKO Century FOX
• Easthampton – United Artists CINEMAS
• Fishkill – Cinema Centers MOVIES 4 FISHKILL
• Floral Park – RKO Century FLORAL
• Garden City – RKO Century ROOSEVELT FIELD TRIPLEX  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Great Neck – United Artists SQUIRE TRIPLEX
• Greece – Jo-Mor STONERIDGE PLAZA 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Hicksville – RKO Century TWIN SOUTH  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Huntington – RKO Century SHORE QUAD  (Dolby Stereo)
• Ithaca – Cinema Centers PYRAMID MALL CINEMA 4
• Johnson City – CinemaNational OAKDALE MALL CINEMAS
• Kingston – Cinema Centers HUDSON VALLEY MALL CINEMAS
• Lockport – CinemaNational MALL CINEMA 1 & 2
• Massapequa – United Artists PEQUA
• Middletown – Flagship CINEMAS 6
• Mohegan Lake – General Cinema WESTCHESTER MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• New Hartford – CinemaNational SANGERTOWN SQUARE CINEMA 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• New Rochelle – RKO Century PROCTORS FIVEPLEX
• New Windsor – Cinecom SQUIRE I & II
• New York (Bronx) – Itoa-Acorn ALLERTON TRIPLEX
• New York (Bronx) – RKO Century FORDHAM QUAD  (Dolby Stereo)
• New York (Bronx) – United Artists INTERBORO QUAD
• New York (Brooklyn) – Florin-Creative CANARSIE TRIPLEX
• New York (Brooklyn) – Golden BENSON TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• New York (Brooklyn) – Golden FORTWAY FIVEPLEX  (Dolby Stereo)
• New York (Brooklyn) – RKO Century KENMORE QUAD  (Dolby Stereo)
• New York (Brooklyn) – RKO Century KINGSWAY QUAD  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• New York (Manhattan) – Loews 34th STREET SHOWPLACE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• New York (Manhattan) – Loews ASTOR PLAZA  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• New York (Manhattan) – Loews ORPHEUM  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• New York (Queens) – CINEMA CITY FIVEPLEX
• New York (Queens) – JACKSON
• New York (Queens) – RKO Century KEITHS TRIPLEX  (Dolby Stereo)
• New York (Queens) – United Artists MIDWAY QUAD
• New York (Queens) – United Artists THE MOVIES AT BAYSIDE
• New York (Staten Island) – RKO Century FOX PLAZA TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Niagara Falls – General Cinema SUMMIT PARK MALL CINEMA I & II
• Olean – Manos OLEAN CENTER MALL CINEMAS IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Patchogue – United Artists PATCHOGUE ALL-WEATHER INDOOR
• Pittsford – Loews PITTSFORD TRIPLEX  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Plattsburgh – Cinema Centers PLATTSBURGH CINEMA 1 & 2
• Poughkeepsie – JULIET QUAD
• Queensbury – Cinema Centers ROUTE 9 CINEMA 5  (Dolby Stereo)
• Rockville Centre – RKO Century ROCKVILLE CENTRE TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Saratoga Springs – Cinema Centers SARATOGA CINEMA 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Suffern – Venturini LAFAYETTE  (Dolby Stereo)
• Valley Stream – Redstone SUNRISE MULTIPLEX CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Watertown – Cinema Centers STATEWAY PLAZA CINEMA CENTRE
• White Plains – United Artists CINEMA  (Dolby Stereo)
• Williamsville – General Cinema EASTERN HILLS CINEMA I-II-III
• Yonkers – General Cinema CENTRAL PLAZA CINEMA I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

NEWFOUNDLAND

• St. John’s – Famous Players AVALON MALL 4

NORTH CAROLINA

• Asheville – Irvin-Fuller MERRMON TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Burlington – Plitt TERRACE 1-2
• Chapel Hill – Plitt CAROLINA 1-2
• Charlotte – General Cinema EASTLAND MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Charlotte – Plitt PARK TERRACE 1-2-3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Concord – Litchfield CAROLINA MALL 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Durham – Plitt CENTER 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fayetteville – General Cinema CROSS CREEK MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Gastonia – Martin EASTRIDGE 4
• Goldsboro – Stewart & Everett BERKELEY CINEMA 4
• Greensboro – American Multi-Cinema CAROLINA CIRCLE 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Greensboro – General Cinema FOUR SEASONS MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Greenville – Stewart & Everett PLAZA CINEMA 1-2-3
• Hickory – Plitt TERRACE 1-2
• High Point – Martin CAPRI TRIPLE
• Jacksonville – Plitt CARDINAL 1-2-3
• Raleigh – Litchfield MISSION VALLEY CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Salisbury – Plitt TERRACE
• Wilmington – Stewart & Everett OLEANDER CINEMA 1 & 2
• Winston-Salem – Plitt THRUWAY 1-2  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

NORTH DAKOTA

• Bismarck – Midco KIRKWOOD PLAZA 1-2-3
• Grand Forks – Midco PLAZA TWIN
• Minot – Carisch DAKOTA SQUARE CINE 5  (Dolby Stereo)

NOVA SCOTIA

• Halifax – Famous Players SCOTIA SQUARE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

OHIO

• Akron – General Cinema CHAPEL HILL MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Avon Lake – National AVON LAKE 4
• Beavercreek – Midstates BEAVER VALLEY 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Boardman – National SOUTHERN PARK TWIN
• Canton – General Cinema MELLETT MALL CINEMA I & II
• Cincinnati – Midstates NORTHGATE 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Cleveland – Loews RIVERSIDE 1 & 2
• Columbus – General Cinema EASTLAND MALL CINEMA I & II
• Columbus – General Cinema GREAT WESTERN CINEMA I & II
• Columbus – General Cinema NORTHLAND MALL CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Columbus – Loews ARLINGTON 1 & 2
• Dayton – Chakeres DAYTON MALL 8  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Fairlawn – National SUMMIT MALL 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Lima – Frontier EASTGATE TWIN
• Maple Heights – General Cinema SOUTHGATE CINEMA I-II-III
• Mentor – National GREAT LAKES MALL 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Milford – Midstates 275-EAST 4
• Newark – CINEMA FOUR
• Niles – National EASTWOOD 1 & 2
• North Olmsted – National GREAT NORTHERN 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Ontario – General Cinema RICHLAND MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Parma – General Cinema PARAMTOWN CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Richmond Heights – Loews RICHMOND TRIPLEX
• Springdale – Midstates TRI-COUNTY 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Springfield – General Cinema UPPER VALLEY MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Toledo – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Trotwood – Midstates SALEM MALL 4  (Dolby Stereo)

OKLAHOMA

• Lawton – Litchfield CACHE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Midwest City – Commonwealth HERITAGE PARK 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Norman – Video SATELLITE TWIN
• Oklahoma City – Commonwealth ALMONTE 6
• Oklahoma City – Commonwealth NORTH PARK 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Tulsa – General Cinema SOUTHROADS MALL CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Tulsa – General Cinema WOODLAND HILLS CINEMA I-II-III

ONTARIO

• Hamilton – Famous Players TIVOLI  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Kingston – Famous Players CAPITOL 4
• Kitchener – Premier LYRIC  (Dolby Stereo)
• London – Famous Players PARK  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Oshawa – Famous Players REGENT
• Ottawa – Odeon SOMERSET  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• St. Catharines – Famous Players LINCOLN MALL 3
• Toronto – Famous Players CEDARBRAE 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Toronto – Famous Players CUMBERLAND 4 “LA RESERVE”  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Toronto – Famous Players RUNNYMEDE 1 & 2  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Toronto – Famous Players TOWNE AND COUNTRYE 1 & 2  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Toronto – Famous Players UNIVERSITY  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Windsor – 20th Century VANITY

OREGON

• Beaverton – Luxury WESTGATE TRIPLEX  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Bend – Luxury TOWER TWIN
• Corvallis – Moyer CORVALLIS CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Eugene – Moyer WEST 11th TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Klamath Falls – Redwood TOWER 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Medford – Lippert HOLLY
• Milwaukie – Luxury SOUTHGATE QUAD
• Portland – Moyer ROSE MOYER 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Salem – Luxury ELSINORE  (Dolby Stereo)

PENNSYLVANIA

• Allentown – SamEric ALLENTOWN 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Altoona – Manos LOGAN VALLEY MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Bethel Park – Cinemette VILLAGE 5
• Camp Hill – United Artists CAPITOL CITY MALL CINEMAS
• Concordville – SamEric TWIN CONCORDVILLE
• Connellsville – Manos LAUREL MALL CINEMAS IV
• Easton – SamEric EASTON 4  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Erie – General Cinema MILLCREEK MALL CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fairless Hills – SamEric FAIRLESS HILLS 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Feasterville – American Multi-Cinema BUCKS COLONIAL 2
• Glenolden – SamEric TWIN MacDADE MALL
• Greensburg – General Cinema GREENGATE MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Harrisburg – SamEric TWIN EAST PARK CENTER  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Johnstown – RICHLAND MALL TWIN
• King of Prussia – SamEric KING TWIN
• Lancaster – SamEric PACIFIC 4
• Lebanon – Fox FOX
• Monaca – General Cinema BEAVER VALLEY MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Monroeville – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS EAST  (Dolby Stereo)
• Montgomeryville – SamEric 3 MONTGOMERYVILLE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Philadelphia – General Cinema NORTHEAST CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Philadelphia – SamEric SAMERIC 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Philadelphia – SamEric TWIN CHESTNUT HILL
• Pittsburgh – Cinemette NORTH HILLS
• Reading – SamEric TWIN READING
• Robinson – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS WEST  (Dolby Stereo)
• Scranton – General Cinema VIEWMONT MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (Dolby Stereo)
• Selinsgrove – Fox SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY MALL 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Stroudsburg – Music Makers STROUD MALL 5  (Dolby Stereo)
• West Mifflin – Cinemette CINEMA WORLD
• Wilkes-Barre – General Cinema WYOMING VALLEY MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (Dolby Stereo)
• Wynnewood – SamEric WYNNEWOOD
• York – Budco YORK CINEMA 4

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

No theaters in Prince Edward Island opened “Return of the Jedi” on May 25. 

QUEBEC

• Montreal – United CLAREMONT  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)  <opened May 27>
• Montreal – United IMPERIAL  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Quebec City – United CANADIEN  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

RHODE ISLAND

• Middletown – SSC STARCASE CINEMA I-II-III
• Warwick – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Westerly – UNITED

SASKATCHEWAN

• Regina – Odeon CENTRE
• Saskatoon – Famous Players PARAMOUNT

SOUTH CAROLINA

• Anderson – Plitt ANDERSON MALL
• Charleston – General Cinema CITADEL MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI
• Columbia – General Cinema BUSH RIVER MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV
• Columbia – Plitt RICHLAND MALL 1-2
• Florence – Litchfield CROWN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Greenville – Plitt CAMELOT 1-2
• Myrtle Beach – Stewart & Everett DUNES CINEMA 1-2-3
• North Charleston – Plitt NORTHWOODS
• North Myrtle Beach – Stewart & Everett OCEAN CINEMA 1-2-3
• Spartanburg – Consolidated PINEWOOD TWIN
• Surfside Beach – Plitt PLITT 1-2-3

SOUTH DAKOTA

• Rapid City – Commonwealth ELKS
• Sioux Falls – Midco PLAZA TWIN

TENNESSEE

• Antioch – Consolidated HICKORY HOLLOW 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Chattanooga – Martin NORTHGATE 6
• Chattanooga – Plitt EASTGATE 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Clarksville – Martin MARTIN 4
• Goodlettsville – Consolidated CINEMA 6 NORTH
• Jackson – Malco MALCO TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Johnson City – Plitt JOHNSON CITY MALL 1-2
• Kingsport – Martin MARTIN TWIN
• Knoxville – Plitt WESTOWN 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Memphis – General Cinema MALL OF MEMPHIS CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V  (Dolby Stereo)
• Memphis – General Cinema RALEIGH SPRINGS MALL CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Memphis – Malco HIGHLAND QUARTET  (Dolby Stereo)
• Murfreesboro – CINEMA ONE
• Nashville – Martin BELLE MEADE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Nashville – Consolidated CINEMA 4 SOUTH
• Oliver Springs – TRI-COUNTY TWIN
• Powell – Consolidated POWELL CINEMAS 1 & 2

TEXAS

• Abilene – General Cinema WESTGATE MALL CINEMA I & II
• Addison – United Artists PRESTONWOOD CREEK 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo) (THX)
• Amarillo – United Artists CINEMA 6
• Arlington – American Multi-Cinema FORUM 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Austin – American Multi-Cinema AQUARIUS 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Austin – General Cinema HIGHLAND MALL CINEMA I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Baytown – General Cinema GOOSE CREEK CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI
• Beaumont – General Cinema GATEWAY CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Brownsville – Plitt CINEMA TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Bryan – Schulman MANOR EAST III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Corpus Christi – United Artists CINE 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Dallas – General Cinema NORTHPARK CINEMA I & II  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo) (THX)
• Dallas – General Cinema RED BIRD MALL CINEMA V-VI-VII-VIII-IX-X
• Dallas – United Artists WALNUT HILL 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Denton – Plitt CINEMA 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• El Paso – General Cinema CIELO VISTA MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• El Paso – United Artists UNIVERSITY CINEMA 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fort Worth – United Artists HULEN 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Galveston – General Cinema GALVEZ MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Harlingen – Plitt CINEMA TRIPLE
• Houston – American Multi-Cinema ALMEDA 9  (Dolby Stereo)
• Houston – American Multi-Cinema NORTH OAKS 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Houston – General Cinema GREENSPOINT MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V
• Houston – General Cinema GULFGATE CINEMA I & II
• Houston – General Cinema MEYERLAND PLAZA CINEMA I-II-III  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Houston – General Cinema WESTWOOD MALL CINEMA I-II-III
• Houston – Loews SAKS TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Houston – Plitt WOODLAKE 1-2-3
• Huntsville – CINEMA 1-2-3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Irving – American Multi-Cinema IRVING 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Killeen – United Artists CINEMA 4
• Lake Jackson – LAKE I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Laredo – United Artists CINEMA DEL NORTE 4
• Longview – Martin CARGILL 6
• Lubbock – Video WINCHESTER TWIN  (Dolby Stereo)
• Lufkin – Martin ANGELINA TWIN
• McAllen – Plitt CINEMA TWIN
• Mesquite – General Cinema TOWN EAST CINEMA I & II  (Dolby Stereo)
• Midland – United Artists CINE 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Oak Ridge North – Cineplex OAK RIDGE CINEMA 8  (Dolby Stereo)
• Odessa – GRANDVIEW
• Port Arthur – United Artists CINEMA 6
• Richmond – LAMAR
• San Angelo – United Artists SUNSET 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• San Antonio – Santikos CENTURY SOUTH 8  (Dolby Stereo)
• San Antonio – Santikos GALAXY 10  (Dolby Stereo)
• San Antonio – Santikos NORTHWEST 6  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Sherman – United Artists SHER-DEN MALL CINEMA 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Temple – Texas CINEMA 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Texarkana – Gulf States OAKLAWN
• Tyler – Plitt BERGFELD CENTER CINEMA I & II
• Victoria – Frels PLAYHOUSE 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Waco – Plitt RICHLAND MALL 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Wichita Falls – Plitt PARKER SQUARE CINEMA 1-2

UTAH

• Logan – Westates CAPITOL  (Dolby Stereo)
• Orem – Plitt UNIVERSITY 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Riverdale – Tullis-Hansen CINEDOME 70 TWIN  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Salt Lake City – Plitt CENTRE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• South Salt Lake – Syufy CENTURY 5  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

VERMONT

• Burlington – NICKELODEON CINEMAS
• Rutland – PLAZA CINEMA 1 & 2
• St. Albans – WELDEN I & II

VIRGINIA

• Bristol – American Multi-Cinema BRISTOL MALL 6
• Charlottesville – Roth GREENBRIER 1 & 2
• Chesapeake – Plitt PLITT 4
• Fairfax – Showcase FAIRFAX CIRCLE  (Dolby Stereo)
• Fredericksburg – Regal VIRGINIANS 4
• Hampton – General Cinema COLISEUM MALL CINEMA I & II
• Lynchburg – General Cinema RIVER RIDGE CINEMA I-II-III-IV  (Dolby Stereo)
• Manassas – Showcase MANAPORT
• McLean – Neighborhood TYSONS CENTER 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Petersburg – Neighborhood CRATER CINEMA 4
• Portsmouth – Schoenfeld PLAZA 3  (Dolby Stereo)
• Richmond – Neighborhood RIDGE CINEMAS  (Dolby Stereo)
• Richmond – Plitt CLOVERLEAF MALL 1-2
• Roanoke – Plitt TERRACE
• Springfield – General Cinema SPRINGFIELD MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Virginia Beach – Plitt PEMBROKE 1-2  (Dolby Stereo)

WASHINGTON

• Bellevue – General Cinema OVERLAKE CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Bremerton – Luxury ROXY
• Federal Way – American Multi-Cinema CENTER PLAZA 6  (Dolby Stereo)
• Lacey – Luxury LACEY CINEMAS
• Lakewood – General Cinema VILLA PLAZA CINEMA I-II-III (Dolby Stereo)
• Pullman – CORDOVA  (Dolby Stereo)
• Renton – General Cinema RENTON VILLAGE CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Seattle – General Cinema AURORA CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Seattle – United Artists CINEMA 150  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Spokane – Luxury NORTH DIVISION 6
• Spokane – United Artists CINEMAS
• Vancouver – Luxury CASCADE PARK 4
• Wenatchee – Sterling LIBERTY III  (Dolby Stereo)

WEST VIRGINIA

• Barboursville – General Cinema HUNTINGTON MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV-V-VI
• Charleston – Greater Huntington PARK PLACE CINEMA 7
• Huntington – Greater Huntington KEITH-ALBEE 1-2-3-4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Vienna – General Cinema GRAND CENTRAL MALL CINEMA I & II

WISCONSIN

• Kenosha – Carmichael MARKET SQUARE 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• La Crosse – Plitt HOLLYWOOD
• Madison – Capitol ORPHEUM  (Dolby Stereo)
• Madison – General Cinema EAST TOWNE MALL CINEMA I-II-III  (Dolby Stereo)
• Milwaukee – Marcus NORTHTOWN 4  (Dolby Stereo)
• Milwaukee – United Artists SOUTHGATE  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• Oconomowoc – Scotsland SCOTSLAND 1 & 2  (Dolby Stereo)
• Racine – Marcus MARC 1 & 2
• Wauwatosa – United Artists MAYFAIR  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)
• West Allis – Marcus SOUTHTOWN 3  (70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo)

WYOMING

• Casper – Commonwealth AMERICA
• Cheyenne – Commonwealth COLE SQUARE 3

“JEDI” NUMBER$ AT A GLANCE

• 1 = Rank among top-grossing movies of 1983
• 3 = Consecutive weeks nation’s top-grossing movie (and 6 of first 7)
• 3 = Rank on all-time list of top-grossing movies at close of original run
• 15 = Minimum number of weeks first-wave theaters were contractually required to play the movie
• 15 = Rank on current list of all-time to-grossing movies (adjusted for inflation)
• 23 = Number of days movie took to gross $100 million*
• 25.2 = Percentage of second-week drop-off in box-office gross
• 33 = Number of months between theatrical release and home-video release
• 38 = Rank on current list of all-time top-grossing movies
• 68 = Number of days movie took to gross $200 million*
• 164 = Number of 70mm prints*
• 1,002 = Number of working prints (70mm & 35mm) during opening-weekend
• 1,764 = Peak number of theaters showing the movie (week of Aug 5-11)
• $6.2 million = Opening-day box-office gross*
• $8.4 million = Highest single-day gross (May 29)*
• $11.3 million = Box-office gross of 1985 re-release
• $23.1 million = Opening weekend box-office gross (3-day)*
• $30.5 million = Opening weekend box-office gross (4-day holiday)*
• $32.5 million = Production cost
• $41.1 million = Opening week box-office gross (6-day)*
• $45.5 million = Box-office gross of 1997 re-release
• $75.7 million = Production cost (adjusted for inflation)
• $168.0 million = Box-office rental (% of gross paid to distributor) of original release
• $252.6 million = Box-office gross of original release
• $309.3 million = Cumulative domestic box-office gross (1983+1985+1997)
• $475.1 million = Cumulative worldwide box-office gross
• $746.8 million = Cumulative all-time domestic box-office gross (adjusted for inflation)
• $1.1 billion = Cumulative all-time worldwide box-office gross (adjusted for inflation)
• *Established new industry record
• Figures are domestic except where noted

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“Special effects don’t make the movie, and they are only important to tell the story and to give the characters credibility.  If the characters are not there or the acting isn’t good, the movie will fall apart.  It can’t sustain itself.  People think these are special-effects movies.  I would say the effects contribute maybe 15 to 20 percent to the enjoyability, effectiveness, and popularity of the movie.” — George Lucas

“This is the biggest release of a movie in 70mm ever.” — Producer Howard Kazanjian

“George Lucas is in the mold of Louis B. Mayer, Jack Warner, Adolph Zukor, Darryl F. Zanuck, the great pioneers of the industry.  He’s absolutely one of them.  No one tells George Lucas what to do or how to do it.  He is the epitome of America and the free mind working, and we’re getting better entertainment for it.” — Albert Szabo, Manager, GCC Avco Center Cinema, Los Angeles

A SAMPLING OF MOVIE REVIEWER QUOTES

“With Jedi, George Lucas may have pulled off the first triple crown of motion pictures.” — Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times

 “Return of the Jedi doesn’t really end the trilogy as much as it brings it to a dead stop.  The film is by far the dimmest of the lot. Let’s face it, Luke, the magic’s gone.” — Vincent Canby, The New York Times

“An exciting, technically astounding wrap-up to the Star Wars trilogy.  The probability of success is about as definite as death and taxes.” — Jimmy Summers, Boxoffice

“If a producer wants backing for a new project, there’d better be a video game in it.  Producers are putting so much action and so little character or point into their movies that there’s nothing for a viewer to latch on to.  The battle between good and evil, which is the theme of just about every big fantasy adventure film, has become a flabby excuse for a lot of dumb tricks and noise.” — Pauline Kael, The New Yorker

“Two thumbs up!” — Siskel & Ebert At The Movies

“Third installment in the Star Wars saga is a sheer delight.  Some routine performances are compensated for by ingenious new characters and special effects.” — Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight

“Let’s not pretend we’re watching art!” — Rex Reed, New York Post

“From the moment that the familiar Star Wars introduction words begin to crawl up the screen, Return of the Jedi is a childlike delight.  It’s the best video game around.  And for the professional moviegoers, it is particularly enjoyable to watch every facet of filmmaking at its best.” — Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune

“John Williams’ music consists almost entirely of themes and variations on themes he composed for the two earlier movies.  This, unfortunately, will be a complaint that many people will make against Return of the Jedi.  They will feel that they have seen and heard it all before.” — Scott Cain, The Atlanta Constitution

"May the force stay with George Lucas and company.  They crank out some of the most exciting films America has ever seen." — Kathy Thomas, The (Vacaville) Reporter

“Return of the Jedi is a triumph of movie wizardry; a snappy, dazzling celluloid comic book, capturing our emotions between its magical pages and holding them within a prison of wonderment.  It’s a virtual toy box of dreams and surprises for children and adults of all ages.” — Steve White, The Worcester Telegram

“The Star Wars films have a mystic allure.  They are clearly designed to appeal to the best in all of us and to exemplify universally admirable virtues—courage, the strength to fight against evil, romance, belief.  They are built around the notion of a magic force in the universe which might be God or might be gravity; this force, in turn, is serviced by a knights’ order that is almost a clergy.  The entire cosmology is rent by a titanic conflict between good and evil.” — Stephen Hunter, The (Baltimore) Sun

TRIVIA AND FACTOIDS

In lieu of a formal premiere for Return of the Jedi, Lucasfilm and Fox chose to hold regional charity previews between May 22-24.  The cities in which these screenings were held included Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Flint, Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, San Francisco, Toronto, and Tucson.  As well, the movie was screened as a part of the Seattle International Film Festival.

The original title was Revenge of the Jedi.  The title was changed a few months before release.  Trailers and other promotional material with the original title had been issued prior to the title change, instantly turning such items into collectibles.

Blue Harvest was the production title used during location filming in California.  The bogus, intentionally misleading title was used to (1) avoid drawing unnecessary attention by Star Wars fans, and (2) to deter production vendors from raising their rates to capitalize on a big-budget, high-profile production.

Disasters and mayhem: One of the Jedi’s seven reels was missing from the print delivered to the Sweetwater 6 in National City, California, causing a riot when the first-show crowd realized twenty minutes of the movie was missing.  A 70mm print of the film valued at $12,000 was stolen at gunpoint from the Glenwood in Overland Park, Kansas.  The print destined for the Bush River Mall Cinema I-II-III-IV in Columbia, South Carolina, mysteriously failed to be delivered in time for its first scheduled showing, prompting the theater to hastily request a replacement print.  The Centre in Salt Lake City, Utah, experienced some weather-related damage, prompting its engagement to be relocated for a two-week period to the Regency.  An engagement at the Continental in Denver, Colorado, was terminated following damage from a fire.

The pilots of the Imperial AT-ST Walker commandeered by Chewie and a couple of Ewoks were played by director Richard Marquand and co-producer Robert Watts.

The Imperial soldier that commanded Han and the rebels to “Freeze!” during the Endor bunker scene was played by sound designer Ben Burtt.  During his fall after being struck by Han, he gives a “Wilhelm”-style scream as a tribute to a famous sound effect.

Among Jabba the Hutt’s henchmen were characters named Klaatu, Barada and Nikto, a nod to the 1951 science-fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.

The THX Sound System and Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) were introduced in conjunction with the release of Return of the Jedi.

At the time of its 1983 release, Return of the Jedi had the largest order of 70-millimeter prints struck for a North American film release.  The expensive and time-consuming-to-manufacture 70mm print run was so large that the lab was unable to deliver every print in time for opening day, leaving some theaters to open their engagement with a 35mm back-up print until their 70mm print arrived over the course of the first few days of the release.

Southern California fans David Maples and Patricia Smith, dressed as Han Solo and Princess Leia, were married while in line at the Egyptian in Los Angeles.  A fan dressed as Yoda presided over the ceremony.

Jedi was screened for Lucasfilm employees and their families on May 7, 1983, at the Coronet in San Francisco.

A music video was produced for the musical number “Lapti Nek” performed by Jabba the Hutt’s palace band.  The video was broadcast during summer 1983 on music video channels such as MTV.  (The song was replaced in the Special Edition version.)

“Celebrate the Love” is the English lyric featured in the Ewokese victory celebration song.  (This music was replaced in the Special Edition with a new composition.)

Despite the intense secrecy surrounding the movie’s plot and relationship between characters, the novelization was released to bookstores two weeks before the movie’s release.  As well, on the day of the movie’s release, hundreds of newspapers across the United States published an Associated Press article which included a paragraph that revealed major plot points and character details.

Two original making-of television documentaries were created.  (Star Wars and Empire each had a single making-of documentary.)  Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi was broadcast on CBS on November 21, 1983.  From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga was broadcast on PBS on December 3, 1983.

In North America, Return of the Jedi was re-released on March 29, 1985.  On March 28, the day before its re-release, nine cinemas in eight markets showed for charity a Star Wars triple feature.  The eight markets chosen for the one-day-only 70mm event were Chicago (Carnegie), Dallas (Northpark), Denver (Continental), Los Angeles (Avco and Egyptian), New York (Warner Twin), San Francisco (Coronet), Seattle (Cinema 150), and Toronto (Uptown).  Jedi was also re-released, as a Special Edition, on March 14, 1997.

In the United States, Return of the Jedi was released to the home video market in February 1986, thirty-three months after its theatrical release.  (A six-month window was the industry norm at the time.)  The first network television broadcast was on NBC on March 19, 1989.  Its first letterboxed release (on LaserDisc) was in 1990.  Its first DVD release (Special Edition) was in 2004. Its first DVD release featuring the original version was issued in 2006.  Its first Blu-ray release was in 2011.

AWARDS

Visual Effects (Special Achievement Oscar), Best Actor (Mark Hamill, Saturn), Best Costumes (Saturn), Best Make-Up (Saturn), Best Science-Fiction Film (Saturn), Best Special Effects (Saturn), Best Special Visual Effects (BAFTA), Best Dramatic Presentation (Hugo), Favorite Motion Picture (People’s Choice Award).  The film was nominated for an Academy Award in the categories of Art Direction, Original Score, Sound, and Sound Effects Editing.  John Williams’ original score was also nominated for a Grammy.

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SPECIAL THANKS: Jim Barg, Paul Bubny, Raymond Caple, Kevin Chatham, Bill Kretzel, Ronald Lee, Mark Lensenmayer, Paul Linfesty, Adam Martin, Scott Neff, Jim Perry, Vince Young, and a huge thank you to all of the librarians who helped with the research for this project.

SOURCES/REFERENCES: Numerous newspaper articles, film reviews and theater advertisements; various articles published in Bantha Tracks, Boxofficemojo, The Hollywood Reporter, Time Magazine, and Variety, and the books George Lucas’s Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success (George Lucas Books/Harper Collins, 2010) and The Making of Return of the Jedi (Ballantine, 1983).