Empire of the Sun
Seen it?1987 | 153 min | Drama, History, War
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
It collected a shelf of major awards, people are still talking about it, it earned strong reviews (77% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences rate it highly (7.5 out of 10). Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved The Great Escape or The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, start here.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 33 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG: peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- It's long: 2 hr 33 min.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 3 BAFTAs: Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Original Music. Also nominated for 6 Oscars and 2 more BAFTAs. Plus 2 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$67 million worldwide on a $35 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 795K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Rescue Dawn
Sunday Safe BetAlso stars Christian Bale, in another prison war drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
The Great Escape Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed prison war drama.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Saturday SpecialAnother prison historical drama, and a Saturday Special.
The Zone of Interest Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed war historical drama.
Prisoner of War Sunday Safe BetAnother prison war story, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Steven Spielberg
- Christian BaleJim
- John MalkovichBasie
- Miranda RichardsonMrs. Victor
- Nigel HaversDr. Rawlins
- Joe PantolianoFrank Demarest
- Leslie PhillipsMaxton
- Masatô IbuSgt. Nagata
- Emily RichardJim's Mother
- Rupert FrazerJim's Father
- Peter GaleMr. Victor