On May 25, 1983, “Return of the Jedi” hit multiplexes all over the United States.
The final chapter in the original “Skywalker Saga” — after “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back,” of course — put a bow on the blockbuster three-film series while delivering iconic scenes like Jabba the Hutt’s enslavement of Leia, Han Solo’s liberation from Carbonite and Luke’s climactic and emotional lightsaber duel with his father (spoiler alert!) Darth Vader all culminating in the jubilation of the celebration on Endor…with Ewoks.
“’Return of the Jedi’ is fun, magnificent fun,” Roger Ebert wrote in a glowing four-star review. “The movie is a complete entertainment, a feast for the eyes and a delight for the fancy. It’s a little amazing how Lucas and his associates keep topping themselves.”
And, if you’ve never had the chance to see George Lucas and director Richard Marquand’s critical and commercial smash live, now is your time to pounce (especially since today is “Star Wars Day”).
From June 24-27, the New York Philharmonic is performing John Williams’ legendary score live in unison with “Return of the Jedi” at New York City’s David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center as part of their ongoing ‘Art of the Score’ series.
At the time of publication, tickets are available for all four concerts at the 2,200-seat venue.
Based on our findings, the lowest price we could find on seats for any one screening was $215 including fees on SeatGeek.
Other shows have tickets starting anywhere from $247 to $468 including fees.
In 2017, The New York Philharmonic played John Williams’ “A New Hope” score in tandem with the 1977 classic at the David Geffen Hall and wowed fans.
“To call the resulting event thrilling would be an understatement,” Cinema Retro raved. “…self-described ‘Star Wars’ geeks proudly wore their own costumes to the event, making an interesting contrast to those attired more traditionally for a Lincoln Center concert..even conductor Newman, an esteemed film composer in his own right, got into the action following four– yes, four-encore appearances demanded by the thundering ovations – by wielding a light saber from the podium.”
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about seeing the New York Philharmonic perform the “Return of the Jedi” score live this summer below.
“Return of the Jedi” New York Philharmonic ticket prices 2026
All “Return of the Jedi” New York Philharmonic dates, start times and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here:
| “Return of the Jedi” NY Philharmonic dates | Ticket prices start at |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, June 24 7:30 p.m. | $468 (including fees) |
| Thursday, June 25 7:30 p.m. | $419 (including fees) |
| Friday, June 26 7:30 p.m. | $247 (including fees) |
| Saturday, June 27 7:30 p.m. | $215 (including fees) |
New York Philharmonic ‘Art of the Score’ series
Need even more live orchestras tirelessly playing alongside your favorite films?
You’re in luck.
Here are the four other movies the NY Phil is taking to the David Geffen Hall this year and next:
Other “Star Wars” live events
“Star Wars” live events aren’t taking place in a galaxy far, far away.
On May 22, 2027, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is performing “A New Hope” at Newark’s New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
West Coasters can find the popular burlesque show “The Empire Strips Back” on…the Strip for the foreseeable future as well.
For more, we recommend popping “Star Wars” into SeatGeek’s search engine and finding the show closest to to you.
Stream “Return of the Jedi”
In their comprehensive “How to watch every ‘Star Wars’ film in order’ story, Decider wrote “for over three decades, most people thought that this would be the final word on Luke, Leia, and Han’s stories (outside expanded universe novels and comics). Given that, the film lets itself be audacious, grand, and slightly sentimental in its final moments.”
They also revealed you can find Richard Marquand’s crowd-pleasing blockbuster on Disney+.
Huge family-friendly shows
Looking for even more entertainment that will be fun for the kids and grandparents?
We’ve got you covered.
Here are just five shows you won’t want to miss with the whole family.
• Disney On Ice
• The Price Is Right Live
• Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus
• Monster Jam
• Stars on Ice
Prefer a concert? Check out our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2026 to find the show of your dreams.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.