Overview
A young boy's resilience shines through the darkness of war as he navigates a world turned upside down.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- haunting
- adventurous
- melancholic
- historical film night
- serious weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as an ambitious, visually splendid, emotionally intelligent, and underappreciated World War II drama, though some found its child-centered approach uneven or emotionally distancing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jim experiences the Japanese invasion, internment, hunger, and wartime aviation through the confused consciousness of a separated schoolboy.
Jim’s wealthy expatriate life in Shanghai collapses when invasion separates him from his parents and places him in a confinement camp.
The film juxtaposes Shanghai streets, the confinement camp, the captured airfield, aircraft, and the distant atomic-bomb flash in an expansive visual design.
Jim attempts to reconstruct his former life while adapting to sickness, food shortages, captivity, and shifting relationships in the camp.
Films like Empire of the Sun, and why
Hope and Glory
shared child perspective on wartime upheaval, coming of age themes, and bittersweet historical drama
The Thin Red Line
shared World War II setting, civilian vulnerability, moral ambiguity, and emotionally expansive historical drama
The Painted Bird
shared child-centered wartime survival, displacement, and poignant coming of age storytelling
Atonement
shared historical trauma, youth perspective, and visually ambitious war drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Release Date
- 1987-12-09
- Runtime
- 153 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (2213)
Cast
- Christian Bale
- John Malkovich
- Miranda Richardson
- Nigel Havers
- Joe Pantoliano
- Leslie Phillips
- Masatô Ibu
- Emily Richard
- Rupert Frazer
- Peter Gale
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Empire of the Sun about?
- A privileged Shanghai schoolboy is transformed by Japanese invasion and captivity into a resourceful survivor confronting the end of childhood.
- What is Empire of the Sun like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Empire of the Sun as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Empire of the Sun violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Empire of the Sun as moderate.
- What did critics think of Empire of the Sun?
- Critics broadly regard it as an ambitious, visually splendid, emotionally intelligent, and underappreciated World War II drama, though some found its child-centered approach uneven or emotionally distancing.
- Which films are like Empire of the Sun?
- Films with a similar feel include Hope and Glory, The Thin Red Line, The Painted Bird, and Atonement.
- How long is Empire of the Sun?
- Empire of the Sun runs 153 minutes.
- Where can I watch Empire of the Sun?
- In United States, Empire of the Sun is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
