Empire S1E1 — Pilot

7.8

Empire•Season 1•Episode 1

Pilot

7.8/10 · 1,247 votesJan 7, 201548 min

Ranked #12 of 12 in Season 1•−0.4 vs season avg

Lucious Lyon is the head of a music empire whose reign has been unchallenged for years. But all that changes when he learns he has a disease and must choose one of his three sons to take over: Andre, Jamal or Hakeem. Complicating matters is

Directed byLee Daniels

Written byDanny Strong, Lee Daniels

Next episodeE2 · The Outspoken King

Seasons6

All 1 2 3 4 5 6

Season 1 Episodes12

Pilot still

E1 7.8Now viewing

Pilot

The Outspoken King still

The Outspoken King

The Devil Quotes Scripture still

The Devil Quotes Scripture

False Imposition still

False Imposition

Dangerous Bonds still

Dangerous Bonds

Out, Damned Spot still

Out, Damned Spot

Our Dancing Days still

Our Dancing Days

The Lyon's Roar still

The Lyon's Roar

Unto the Breach still

Unto the Breach

Sins of the Father still

Sins of the Father

Die But Once still

Die But Once

Who I Am still

Who I Am

Cast8

Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard

Lucious Lyon

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson

Cookie Lyon

Bryshere Y. Gray

Bryshere Y. Gray

Hakeem Lyon

Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett

Jamal Lyon

Trai Byers

Trai Byers

Andre Lyon

Grace Byers

Grace Byers

Anika Calhoun

Kaitlin Doubleday

Kaitlin Doubleday

Rhonda Lyon

Malik Yoba

Malik Yoba

Vernon Turner

Crew8

Danny Strong

Danny Strong

Writer

Lee Daniels

Lee Daniels

Director

Andrew Dunn

Andrew Dunn

Director of Photography

Steve Saklad

Steve Saklad

Production Design

K

Kimberly R. McCord-Wilson

Dialogue Editor

H

Harrison Meyle

Dialogue Editor

Lee Daniels

Lee Daniels

Writer

J

Joe Leonard

Editor

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Episode Summary

"Pilot" is episode 1 of Empire season 1. It scored 7.8/10 from 1,247 votes, ranking #12 of 12 episodes this season (season average 8.2). Directed by Lee Daniels and written by Danny Strong, Lee Daniels, it aired on January 7, 2015.

Next: E2 · The Outspoken King Best of Season 1