'Return of the Jedi' Is Back in Theaters for Its 40th Anniversary — Details on Screenings
![Katherine Stinson - Author](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NNXIAtPhA/200x200/katherine-stinson-1653434340698.jpg)
Apr. 27 2023, Published 6:39 p.m. ET
![Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in 'Return of the Jedi'](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/n4Mu8QDfA/480x251/how-long-is-return-of-the-jedi-in-theaters-1682625016620.jpg 480w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/n4Mu8QDfA/640x335/how-long-is-return-of-the-jedi-in-theaters-1682625016620.jpg 640w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/n4Mu8QDfA/768x402/how-long-is-return-of-the-jedi-in-theaters-1682625016620.jpg 768w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/n4Mu8QDfA/1024x536/how-long-is-return-of-the-jedi-in-theaters-1682625016620.jpg 1024w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/n4Mu8QDfA/1280x670/how-long-is-return-of-the-jedi-in-theaters-1682625016620.jpg 1280w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/n4Mu8QDfA/1440x753/how-long-is-return-of-the-jedi-in-theaters-1682625016620.jpg 1440w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/n4Mu8QDfA/1600x837/how-long-is-return-of-the-jedi-in-theaters-1682625016620.jpg 1600w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/n4Mu8QDfA/2160x1130/how-long-is-return-of-the-jedi-in-theaters-1682625016620.jpg 2160w)
Name a more iconic line than "I am a Jedi, like my father before me." We'll wait!
OK, Darth Vader might've one-upped his son's line with his iconic Empire Strikes Back moment, but we digress. The point is, Return of the Jedi is back in theaters for a limited time only.
The theatrical re-release is celebrating the iconic Star Wars film's 40th anniversary.
So how long is Return of the Jedi back in participating theaters? Here's what we know.
![luke skywalker and darth vader in emperors chambers](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NnNrwKVOj/480x252/darth-vader-and-luke-skywalker-in-the-emperors-chambers-1682626185706.jpg 480w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NnNrwKVOj/640x335/darth-vader-and-luke-skywalker-in-the-emperors-chambers-1682626185706.jpg 640w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NnNrwKVOj/768x402/darth-vader-and-luke-skywalker-in-the-emperors-chambers-1682626185706.jpg 768w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NnNrwKVOj/1024x536/darth-vader-and-luke-skywalker-in-the-emperors-chambers-1682626185706.jpg 1024w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NnNrwKVOj/1280x670/darth-vader-and-luke-skywalker-in-the-emperors-chambers-1682626185706.jpg 1280w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NnNrwKVOj/1440x754/darth-vader-and-luke-skywalker-in-the-emperors-chambers-1682626185706.jpg 1440w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NnNrwKVOj/1600x838/darth-vader-and-luke-skywalker-in-the-emperors-chambers-1682626185706.jpg 1600w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NnNrwKVOj/2160x1131/darth-vader-and-luke-skywalker-in-the-emperors-chambers-1682626185706.jpg 2160w)
How long is 'Return of the Jedi' in theaters?
According to StarWars.com, the limited theatrical re-release of Return of the Jedi starts on April 28 and ends oh-so appropriately on Star Wars Day (that's May 4, FYI!).
It's a little bit different for Star Wars fans in the U.K. — Return of the Jedi theatrical screenings will officially end across the pond on May 1.
So how do you know if your trusty local theater is participating? The best way is to check Fandango for nearby local participating theaters.
If you happen to be in Hollywood on Return of the Jedi's 40th birthday, you can check out a special screening of the film at the legendary El Capitan Theatre. In addition to enjoying a screening of the film, guests will also get a special Star Wars Funko Pop, popcorn, a drink, and an event credential and lanyard.
![Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) attempts to aid a dying Darth Vader (James Earl Jones/David Prowse)](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/bBQxM74aZ/480x252/luke-skywalker-holds-darth-vader-1682627472279.jpg 480w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/bBQxM74aZ/640x335/luke-skywalker-holds-darth-vader-1682627472279.jpg 640w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/bBQxM74aZ/768x402/luke-skywalker-holds-darth-vader-1682627472279.jpg 768w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/bBQxM74aZ/1024x536/luke-skywalker-holds-darth-vader-1682627472279.jpg 1024w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/bBQxM74aZ/1280x670/luke-skywalker-holds-darth-vader-1682627472279.jpg 1280w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/bBQxM74aZ/1440x754/luke-skywalker-holds-darth-vader-1682627472279.jpg 1440w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/bBQxM74aZ/1600x838/luke-skywalker-holds-darth-vader-1682627472279.jpg 1600w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/bBQxM74aZ/2160x1131/luke-skywalker-holds-darth-vader-1682627472279.jpg 2160w)
......spoiler alert, we guess?
The film is the culmination of the original Star Wars trilogy, with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) finally defeating Star Wars' main villain, Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), thanks to his unwavering belief in his father's inherent goodness.
(Or so we thought, thanks to that Rise of Skywalker twist that still doesn't make any sense. "Somehow Palpatine returned" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "I am a Jedi, like my father before me.")
'Star Wars' commemorated the 40th anniversary of 'Return of the Jedi' with a special poster.
Artist Matt Ferguson, who created a special poster for the 40th anniversary of the Empire Strikes Back in 2020, was tasked with creating another new poster commemorating the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi.
He told the official Star Wars website, "The artwork should tell a story, so for me it only made sense to give over the composition to [Darth Vader and Luke]."
Matt also noted, "For [the Empire Strikes Back poster], a cold mechanical vibe completely takes over the whole composition. But Return of the Jedi is very much the triumph of Luke and the Rebels, so I wanted to have more of the warmer colors coming back into the art, hence pivoting to green with red accents .... Will Luke be turned? Is Vader going to overcome the darkness? It’s all about the pull between good and evil."
Return of the Jedi hits theaters (again) on April 28 to May 4.