Empire of the Sun
7.7
“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.
Where to watch
Amazon Video
Rent · Buy
Apple TV Store
Rent · Buy
Google Play Movies
Rent · Buy
YouTube
Rent · Buy
Fandango At Home
Rent · Buy
Spectrum On Demand
Rent
Your rating
Your review
Cast
43 people
Christian Bale
Jim
Known for
The Dark Knight
American Psycho
John Malkovich
Basie
Known for
RED
Bird Box
Miranda Richardson
Mrs. Victor
Known for
Good Omens
Sleepy Hollow
Nigel Havers
Dr. Rawlins
Known for
Coronation Street
Chariots of Fire
Joe Pantoliano
Frank Demarest
Known for
Memento
The Matrix
Leslie Phillips
Maxton
Known for
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
The Longest Day
Masatô Ibu
Sgt. Nagata
Known for
NiNoKuni
Godzilla: Final Wars
Emily Richard
Jim's Mother
Known for
Hansel and Gretel
Rupert Frazer
Jim's Father
Known for
The Bank Job
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
Peter Gale
Mr. Victor
Known for
House of Cards
Incognito
Takatarô Kataoka
Kamikaze Boy Pilot
Known for
Emperor
Ben Stiller
Dainty
Known for
Madagascar
Night at the Museum
Steven Spielberg Director · Tom Stoppard Screenplay J.G. Ballard Author
Worldwide gross $67M · Budget $35M · United States release December 9, 1987
Box office
Budget
$35,000,000
Worldwide gross
$66,700,000
Gross vs. budget
1.9×
Production
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production · Studio
Amblin Entertainment
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
Chinese · English · Japanese
Release dates
United States · December 8, 1987
Premiere · Westwood, California
United States · December 9, 1987
Limited theatrical
United States · November 6, 2001
Physical · DVD
United States
December 25, 1987 · Theatrical
August 11, 2008 · Digital · Amazon Prime
November 13, 2012 · Physical · Blu-ray (25th Anniversary Edition)
Argentina
December 25, 1987 · Theatrical
Australia
March 10, 1988 · Theatrical
November 1, 2020 · Digital
Brazil
March 11, 1988 · Theatrical
Denmark
December 9, 1987 · Theatrical
Finland
December 9, 1987 · Theatrical
France
March 16, 1988 · Theatrical
Germany
March 9, 1988 · Theatrical
Greece
December 6, 2005 · Physical · DVD
Hungary
November 17, 2005 · Physical · DVD
Ireland
March 25, 1988 · Theatrical
Italy
March 25, 1988 · Theatrical
Japan
April 2, 1988 · Theatrical
Mexico
June 3, 1988 · Theatrical
Netherlands
March 17, 1988 · Theatrical
March 30, 2002 · TV · RTL 5
July 22, 2009 · Physical · DVD
November 13, 2013 · Physical · Blu ray
New Zealand
November 1, 2020 · Digital
Philippines
May 1, 1988 · Theatrical
Poland
January 1, 1989 · Theatrical
South Korea
July 8, 1989 · Theatrical
Sweden
February 26, 1988 · Theatrical
October 26, 2005 · Physical · DVD
November 14, 2012 · Physical · Blu-ray
Türkiye
November 2, 1990 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
March 23, 1988 · Theatrical
March 6, 2007 · Physical · DVD
More from Steven Spielberg
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked Empire of the Sun
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.