Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Theatrical Release: 12/09/1987(USA)
Release Date: 11/06/2001
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol/Por/Japanese
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: 5.1/2
Run Time: 153 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language
Distributor/Studio: Warner Home Video

Based on J.G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, Empire of the Sun stars Christian Bale as a spoiled young British boy, living with his wealthy family in pre-World War II Shanghai. During the Japanese invasion, Bale is separated from his parents. With the help of soldier-of-fortune John Malkovich, Bale learns to survive without a retinue of servants at his beck and call. By the time Malkovich and Bale are tossed into a Japanese prison camp, the boy has picked up enough street-smarts and developed enough intestinal fortitude to regard his imprisonment as an exciting adventure. The story ends during the 1945 liberation: on the verge of manhood, the 13-year-old Bale will never again be the pampered, privileged brat whom we met in the early scenes.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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Cast:
Christian Bale - Jim Graham
John Malkovich - Basie
Miranda Richardson - Mrs. Victor
Nigel Havers - Dr. Rawlins
Joe Pantoliano - Frank Demerest
Leslie Phillips - Maxton
Masato Ibu - Sgt. Nagata
Emily Richard - Jim's Mother
Rupert Frazer - Jim's Father
Peter Gale - Mr. Victor
Takatoro Kataoka - Kamikaze Boy Pilot
Ben Stiller - Dainty
David Neidorf - Tiptree
Ralph Seymour - Cohen
Robert Stephens - Mr. Lockwood

Production:
Steven Spielberg - Director
Kathleen Kennedy Frank Marshall Steven Spielberg - Producer
John Williams - Composer
Menno Meyjes Tom Stoppard - Screen Writer
Harry Cordwell Michael Ford - Set Designer
Charles Bishop - Art Director
Fred Hole - Art Director
Huang Qia Gui - Art Director
Maurice Fowler - Art Director
Norman Dorme - Art Director
Chris Kenny - Associate Producer
J.G. Ballard - Book Author
Michael Roberts - Camera Operator
Jane Feinberg - Casting
Judy Taylor - Casting
Maggie Cartier - Casting
Mike Fenton - Casting
Yuriko Matsubara - Casting
Allen Daviau - Cinematographer
Bob Ringwood - Costume Designer
Peter Childs - Draftsman
Robert Shapiro - Executive Producer
Eric Maschwitz - Featured Music
Jimmy Kennedy - Featured Music
David Tomblin - First Assistant Director
Kevin Bartnof - Foley Artist
Paul Engelen - Makeup
Gavin Bocquet - Production Designer
Rick Carter - Production Designer
Frank Marshall - Second Unit Director
James Devis - Second Unit Director Of Photography
Harry Link - Songwriter
Jack Strachey - Songwriter
Manning Sherwin - Songwriter
Michael Carr - Songwriter
Colin Charles - Sound/Sound Designer
Tony Dawe - Sound/Sound Designer
Antonio Parra - Special Effects
David Watkin - Special Effects
Dennis Muren - Special Effects
Industrial Light & Magic - Special Effects
Kit West - Special Effects
Michael Pangrazio - Special Effects
Ye Mao Gen - Special Effects
Kit West - Special Effects Supervisor
Vic Armstrong - Stunts
Charles Bishop - Supervising Art Director
Maurice Fowler - Supervising Art Director
Norman Dorme - Supervising Art Director
John Boyde - Sound/Sound Designer

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1987 Directors Guild of America

1987 American Society of Cinematographers

1987 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie

1988 British Academy of Film and Television

1987 Golden Globe

1987 National Board of Review