Empire of the Sun
“To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Theatrical TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2019-03-16
Top Cast
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Christian Bale
Jim
John Malkovich
Basie
Miranda Richardson
Mrs. Victor
Nigel Havers
Dr. Rawlins
Joe Pantoliano
Frank Demarest
Leslie Phillips
Maxton
Masatô Ibu
Sgt. Nagata
Emily Richard
Jim's Mother
Rupert Frazer
Jim's Father
Peter Gale
Mr. Victor
Takatarô Kataoka
Kamikaze Boy Pilot
Ben Stiller
Dainty
David Neidorf
Tiptree
Ralph Seymour
Cohen
Robert Stephens
Mr. Lockwood
Zhai Naishe
Yang
Guts Ishimatsu
Sgt. Uchida
Emma Piper
Amy Matthews
Release History & Theatrical Window
Westwood, California
Festival / Special Debut
December 9, 1987
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 11, 2008
VOD & Digital Platforms
November 6, 2001
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$35M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$66.7M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.91x
+$31.7M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Screenplay & Story
- Tom Stoppard
- Original Score
- John Williams
- Original Title
- Empire of the Sun
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Japanese, Mandarin
- Runtime
- 2h 33m
- Production Budget
- $35M
- Worldwide Gross
- $66.7M
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures, Amblin Entertainment
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Steven Spielberg
Tom Stoppard, J.G. Ballard
John Williams
Allen Daviau
Michael Kahn
Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg, Robert Shapiro
Department Leadership Roster
Steven Spielberg
Director
Tom Stoppard
Screenplay
Kathleen Kennedy
Producer
Frank Marshall
Producer
Steven Spielberg
Producer
John Williams
Original Music Composer
Allen Daviau
Director of Photography
Michael Kahn
Editor
Bob Ringwood
Costume Design
Vic Armstrong
Stunt Coordinator
Norman Reynolds
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Empire of the Sun.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Empire of the Sun.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Empire of the Sun
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Empire of the Sun about?
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.
Who directed Empire of the Sun?
Empire of the Sun was directed by Steven Spielberg.
Who stars in Empire of the Sun?
The principal cast of Empire of the Sun includes Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers, Joe Pantoliano.
When was Empire of the Sun released and how long is it?
Empire of the Sun was released in 1987 with a total runtime of 2h 33m.
What was the box office and production budget of Empire of the Sun?
Empire of the Sun had a reported production budget of $35M and grossed $66.7M at the worldwide box office (1.91 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Empire of the Sun?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Empire of the Sun was composed by John Williams.
Is Empire of the Sun based on a book or true story?
Empire of the Sun is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "J.G. Ballard".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Empire of the Sun?
Empire of the Sun holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).