Steven Spielberg's acclaimed account of an English boy's life in a WWII internment camp in... (Learn more)
Starring: John Malkovich, Christian Bale, Miranda Richardson (View All)
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Starring: John Malkovich, Christian Bale, Miranda Richardson
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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US Release Date
12/9/87
MPAA Rating
Rated PG
Running Time
152 mins.
Locations
- Shanghai, China
Language
- English
Box Office Total
$21,998,327
Awards
- Nominated for a Best Picture - Drama award at the 1987 Hollywood Foreign Press Association [F Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Score award at the 1987 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Director award at the 1987 Directors Guild of America [Festival/A Awards.
- Winner of the Best Cinematography award at the 1987 American Society of Cinematographers [ Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Art Direction award at the 1987 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Cinematography award at the 1987 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Costume Design award at the 1987 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Editing award at the 1987 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Sound award at the 1987 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Winner of the Best Picture award at the 1987 National Board of Review [Festival/Awa Awards.
- Winner of the Best Score award at the 1988 British Academy of Film and Television Awards.
- Winner of the Outstanding Juvenile Performance award at the 1987 National Board of Review [Festival/Awa Awards.
- Winner of the Best Director award at the 1987 National Board of Review [Festival/Awa Awards.
Distributor
- Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
- Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
- Warner Brothers
