Empire of the Sun
To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him.
1987 • 153 min • Drama · History · War
Synopsis
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.
Our family guide
Best from age 12- 50 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
- 75 Audience · 2173 · 49%
Separated from his parents during WWII, a privileged English boy navigates life in a Japanese internment camp in Shanghai. He finds resilience and hope amidst harsh conditions, forming unexpected bonds and witnessing the realities of war through a child's eyes.
- Violence & peril
- 5/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 2/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 1/10
- Scary moments
- 6/10
Heads up
- Depiction of war and its effects on children
- Separation from parents
- Some intense scenes in the internment camp
- Brief, mild language
What it models well
- Resilience in hardship
- Compassion and friendship
- Survival instincts
- Maintaining hope
Talk about it after
- The impact of war on civilians, especially children
- Adapting to drastically changed circumstances
- Finding hope and kindness in unexpected places
- The meaning of freedom and captivity
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Empire of the Sun. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Rent
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
- Spectrum On Demand
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On DemandBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.
Top billed cast
Director: Steven Spielberg • Crew: Tom Stoppard
Trailers & clips
Reviewer notes
Not recommendedTrusted family reviewers_**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.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersEmpire 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.…
Fan reviews
Sign in to rate and reviewBe the first fan to review this.
Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 7.5/10 (2,173)
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $35,000,000
- Box office
- $66,700,000
- IMDb
- tt0092965
