

The Last Emperor
1500 slaves. 353,260,000 royal subjects. Warlords. Concubines. And 2 wives. He was the loneliest boy in the world.
A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.
TMDB
7.6/10
2,009 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $23.8M
- Box office
- $44M
- Language
- English
- suicide
- experiment
- china
- isolation
- buddhism
- becoming an adult
- war crimes
- suicide attempt
- war on drugs
- revolution
- drug addiction
- opium
Top billed cast











Behind the camera
Director
Produced in
China, France, Italy, United Kingdom
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremierePG-13New York City, New York18 Nov 1987
- PremierePG-13Los Angeles, California19 Nov 1987
- Theatrical (limited)PG-13New York City, New York20 Nov 1987
- TheatricalPG-1315 Apr 1988
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical1526 Feb 1988
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalM26 Nov 1987
BrazilBR
- Theatrical21 Oct 1987
- TheatricalLIMDB8 Jan 1988
DenmarkDK
- Theatrical1518 Dec 1987
FranceFR
- TheatricalTP25 Nov 1987
- PhysicalDVD18 Feb 2003
- PhysicalBlu-Ray5 Oct 2012
- Physical4K UHD3 Oct 2023
GermanyDE
- Theatrical1229 Oct 1987
- TheatricalBest of Cinema1 Jul 2025
GreeceGR
- Theatrical1319 Dec 1987
Hong KongHK
- TheatricalIIB4 Oct 1987
IrelandIE
- Theatrical1527 May 1988
ItalyIT
- PremiereRome22 Oct 1987
- Theatrical23 Oct 1987
JapanJP
- PremiereTokyo International Film Festival4 Oct 1987
- Theatrical23 Jan 1988
Frequently asked questions
The Last Emperor was released on 4 October 1987.
Audience reviews
1- C8/10
CinemaSerf
7/17/2023
This is a glorious film to watch on a big screen. It depicts the end of empire and the birth of new ones - and it does it in a spectacularly colourful and stylish fashion. The death of the Empress Dowager sees the toddler Pu Yi ascend the Dragon Throne of China, and live amidst concubines and eunuchs in the Forbidden City. He grows up believing his is a divine right to rule, and it is only upon the arrival of his tut…
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