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Trailer

Empire of the Sun

1987Movie2 h 33 minPG

DramaHistory
74
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.7Metacritic627.7Rotten Tomatoes75%90%

A deeply moving, melancholic drama movie about history and war, with standout direction and cinematography.

Good for friends night · teens · thought-provoking

Where to watch

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Not for laughs, scares or comfort.

Movies with

Story

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.

Feels like

  • Epic Historical Drama
  • Coming-of-Age Story
  • War & Survival
  • Child's Perspective
  • Emotional & Moving
  • Visually Stunning
  • Resilience & Hope
  • Psychological Depth
  • WWII Shanghai

Cast

24 of 30

Crew

Directed by
Steven Spielberg
Written by
Tom Stoppard, J.G. Ballard
Produced by
Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall
Music by
John Williams

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 9, 1987 · 2 h 33 min · PG

Released
December 9, 1987
Runtime
2 h 33 min
Age rating
PG
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, History, War
Original language
English
Also spoken
Japanese, Chinese
Made in
United States
Budget
$35 million
Box office
$67 million
Available in
78 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Cool Car, Reality Has No Subtitles, Character Development +9

  • Cool Car
  • Reality Has No Subtitles
  • Character Development
  • Young Face, Old Eyes
  • Proud Warrior Race
  • Call-Back
  • Adaptational Location Change
  • Big Bad
  • Orchestral Bombing
  • Incurable Cough of Death
  • Bookends
  • Minor Living Alone

12 of 92 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Empire of the Sun?"

Questions about Empire of the Sun

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Empire of the Sun?

In the United States, you can rent or buy Empire of the Sun from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It streams in 6 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Empire of the Sun worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes 75%, and Metacritic 62). Audiences rate it higher (81 out of 100) than critics (69).

Is Empire of the Sun okay for kids?

PGViolenceDisturbing imagery

Not for young kids: it's rated PG in the United States for violence and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Is Empire of the Sun plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does Empire of the Sun use?

Cool CarReality Has No SubtitlesCharacter DevelopmentYoung Face, Old EyesProud Warrior RaceCall-BackAdaptational Location ChangeBig BadOrchestral BombingIncurable Cough of DeathBookendsMinor Living Aloneand 80 more

TV Tropes lists 92 tropes for it, including Cool Car, Reality Has No Subtitles, and Character Development.