Empire of the Sun

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Empire of the Sun

PG

Released Dec 9, 1987

2h 32m

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

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64 Reviews

90%

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50,000+ Ratings

Jamie Graham (Christian Bale), 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 named Basie (John Malkovich), 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 spirits, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.

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Critics Consensus

One of Steven Spielberg's most ambitious efforts of the 1980s, Empire of the Sun remains an underrated gem in the director's distinguished filmography.

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

[Stephen Spielberg's] graduation to grown-up film-making.

Aug 18, 2022

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Gilbert Adair

Sight & Sound

What is most remarkable about Empire of the Sun then, is the almost seamless fashion in which a faithful adaptation... has nevertheless contrived to become a proto-Spielbergian affirmation of faith and optimism in the universe.

Jan 28, 2020

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David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

Empire of the Sun is a great, overwrought movie that leaves one wordless and worn out.

Dec 31, 2019

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Jana Monji

Age of the Geek

A boy born in privilege (Christian Bale) scrambles to survive two years in a Japanese concentration camp. The film takes place in China during World War II, but there are no prominent Chinese characters. This is an intriguing example of Asian erasure.

Rated: 2/5

May 3, 2024

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... a perfect marriage of the director’s affinity for a child’s wonder and innocence, his grown-up understanding of the horrors of war, and his impeccable technique.

Sep 9, 2023

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

In the context of Spielberg’s overall output from a quality perspective, “Empire” lands just below the halfway point. Had it been made by a first-time director, it would’ve been considered impressive; instead, it serves as a perfunctory transition piece.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 29, 2023

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judy b

Great movie! Am watching it again for the third time. Saw it in the theater when it first came out. Christian Bale’s first movie. Had no idea he would go on to be such a great actor.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

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geert v

Visually impressive, but rather shallow movie with a bad script and uninteresting characters, except for Bale who is acting great in his first major role. Spielberg represents the life in a Japanese prisoncamp very unrealistically. The first half of the film is the best.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/24/24

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Brett J

This movie transcends time as one of the greats.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

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Axel Andres S

Un de las mejores películas bélicas basadas en la Guerra del Pacífico entre el imperio japonés y EE. UU, sobre la invasión de este a la ciudad de Hong Kong, relatando la vida de los prisioneros en los campos de concentración y una excelente actuacion de Christian Bale en los comienzos de su carrera. Destacar el ambiente y escenografía del momento en que ocurrió este conflicto desde los comienzos de la invasión japonesa hasta el final de la segunda guerra mundial.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

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matthias s

"Empire of the Sun" is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful film that tells the story of a young boy's journey through war-torn China. The performances, particularly that of Christian Bale as the young protagonist, are outstanding. The film's depiction of the harsh realities of war is both brutal and realistic, but it also manages to convey the resilience and hope of the human spirit. The film's pacing can be slow at times, and some of the subplots feel a bit underdeveloped. "Empire of the Sun" is a well-made and impactful film that is definitely worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/23

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Benjamin H

While it is a bit sprawling and doesn't nail the emotional center that it's story provides, Empire of the Sun is a dazzling looking coming-of-age epic that has sentimental, tonal on-point writing and a marvellous performance from Christian Bale ultimalely making this an underrated picture in Spielberg's highly polished filmography.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/05/23

Full Review

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Steven Spielberg

Director

Christian Bale

Jim "Jamie" Graham

John Malkovich

Basie

Miranda Richardson

Mrs. Victor

Nigel Havers

Dr. Rawlins

Joe Pantoliano

Frank Demarest

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Synopsis

Jamie Graham (Christian Bale), 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 named Basie (John Malkovich), 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 spirits, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Tom Stoppard
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 9, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 25, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.0M
Runtime: 2h 32m
Sound Mix: Surround

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