Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is one of the best science fiction films ever made. It's also 30 years old today, so we give you official permission to feel old. Empire Strikes Back may have had the least input from George Lucas, and the all-too-human characters and dialogue is proof that this was a good move. The film was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on story notes from Lucas. Star Wars is above everything else a grand adventure.