Empire of the Sun
Watch with a parent

Empire of the Sun

Best from age 12 · PG · 1987 · 153 min

Empire of the Sun

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.

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What's in it

0 = none · 10 = intense

Violence & peril

Moderate

5/10

Language

Mild

2/10

Drinking, drugs & smoking

Mild

2/10

Romance & sensuality

Mild

1/10

Scary moments

Strong

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

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
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