Plot Script Spoilers: The movie opens with the Empire deploying space probes in order to find the hidden base of the Rebel Alliance. It turns out the Rebels are hiding on an ice world called Hoth. Luke Skywalker is on patrol in the barren wastes of Hoth on a Taun Taun when Luke is suddenly attacked by a Wampa snow monster. The Wampa drags Luke to its lair. After Luke doesn't return to the Rebel base, Han Solo departs on a Taun Taun to find Luke. After waking up, Luke finds himself in the Wampa's cave.

Luke utilizes the Force to bring his light saber to himself and Luke cuts off the arm of the Wampa. Luke then escapes and proceeds into the frigid landscape of Hoth. Luke sees a vision of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who instructs Luke to find Yoda, who is a great Jedi Master hiding on a planet called Dagobah. After seeing this message, Luke becomes unconscious, but Han Solo finds Luke and the two heroes are eventually rescued by a snow speeder which finds their location.

Meanwhile, Darth Vader senses that a probe droid has found the Rebels and Vader orders the Imperial fleet to hyper space to the Hoth star system. The star destroyers enter the Hoth star system and are detected by the Rebels. The Empire then sends Imperial Walkers to the surface of Hoth to capture the Rebel base. A spectacular battle erupts between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. The heroes abandon Hoth. Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO escape Hoth in the Millennium Falcon while Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 escape in an X-Wing star fighter.

The Millennium Falcon is relentlessly pursued by the Empire. Han takes the Millennium Falcon into an asteroid field to avoid detection by the Empire. After a mesmerizing chase sequence, the Millennium Falcon ends up hiding on the exterior hull of a star destroyer. When the star destroyer releases its garbage, the Millennium Falcon drifts away with the garbage. Boba Fett realizes their trick and follows the Millennium Falcon. Han decides to hide out in the Bespin star system, but the Millennium Falcon's hyper drive is damaged so they have to proceed slowly to Cloud City.

Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker arrives on Dagobah and meets Jedi Master Yoda. Luke begins to learn the ways of the Force from Yoda. The heroes arrive at Cloud City and are greeted by Lando Calrissian. However, the Empire arrived at Cloud City before the Millennium Falcon thanks to Boba Fett tracking their movements. The heroes are taken prisoner by the Empire. Darth Vader brutally tortures Han Solo in order to lure Luke Skywalker into a trap at Cloud City. Luke senses his friends are in trouble and Luke leaves Dagobah to save his friends.

Vader realizes that capturing Luke Skywalker will be impossible while Luke is conscious. As a result, Vader decides Luke will be frozen in carbonite. To make sure the freezing process will not kill Luke, Vader tests the process by having Han Solo frozen in carbonite. Han is frozen and remains alive. Vader then gives Han to Boba Fett so that Boba Fett can take Han to Jabba the Hutt to receive the hefty bounty award that Jabba placed on Han. Lando conspires with Lobot to free himself and Princess Leia, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO from the Empire. Eventually Luke arrives on Cloud City and ends up engaging Vader in a thrilling light saber duel.

Vader has beaten Luke in the duel, but Vader can't bring himself to kill Luke. Instead Vader reveals the secret to Luke that Darth Vader is Luke's real biological father. Luke refuses to accept the true nature of reality and chooses to plummet to his death instead of joining the dark side. Lando, Leia, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO are heading away from Cloud City when Leia senses through the Force that Luke is in danger. It turns out Luke managed to survive his fall. He is rescued by the Millennium Falcon. The film ends with the heroes gathered together at the location of the Rebel star fleet. Lando and Chewbacca depart in the Millennium Falcon in order to rescue Han. Luke and Leia watch as the Millennium Falcon speeds away from the Rebel Alliance fleet.