

Empire of the Sun
To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him.
Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirit, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.
TMDB
7.5/10
2,232 votes
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Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $35M
- Box office
- $66.7M
- Language
- English
- based on novel or book
- shanghai, china
- atomic bomb
- stadium
- bravery
- peasant
- world war ii
- prisoner of war
- coming of age
- pacific war
- chinese
- japanese army
Top billed cast
















Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereWestwood, California8 Dec 1987
- Theatrical (limited)PG9 Dec 1987
- TheatricalPG25 Dec 1987
- PhysicalPGDVD6 Nov 2001
- Digital / OTTPGAmazon Prime11 Aug 2008
- PhysicalPGBlu-ray (25th Anniversary Edition)13 Nov 2012
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalPG23 Mar 1988
- PhysicalPGDVD6 Mar 2007
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalPG10 Mar 1988
- Digital / OTTPG1 Nov 2020
ArgentinaAR
- Theatrical25 Dec 1987
BrazilBR
- TheatricalL11 Mar 1988
DenmarkDK
- Theatrical159 Dec 1987
FinlandFI
- TheatricalK-169 Dec 1987
FranceFR
- TheatricalTP16 Mar 1988
GermanyDE
- Theatrical129 Mar 1988
GreeceGR
- PhysicalDVD6 Dec 2005
HungaryHU
- Physical12DVD17 Nov 2005
IrelandIE
- TheatricalPG25 Mar 1988
Frequently asked questions
Empire of the Sun was released on 9 December 1987.
Audience reviews
2- T7/10
The Movie Diorama
1/16/2020
Empire of the Sun glaringly shines insight into the impoverished wealthy amidst war-torn China. Spielberg is one of a handful of directors that everyone acknowledges. Whether your interest lies with films or elsewhere, he is known to all for his eclectic filmography that tackles nearly every single genre available. The beauty of his directorial talents, is that he can manipulate any subject matter and transform its c…
- W4/10
Wuchak
8/15/2020
_**Even great people have a dud on occasion**_ A British boy (Christian Bale) living with his wealthy parents in Shanghai is separated from them when Japanese forces invade in the early years of WW2. He then has to survive the war in a POW camp. John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers and Joe Pantoliano play fellow prisoners. Based on J.G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel, “Empire of the Sun” (1…
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