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, Rovi
- Genre: Drama
- Category Childhood Drama, POW Drama, War Drama
- Theme: Political Unrest, Innocence Lost, Life Under Occupation
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Run Time: 02 hr 32 min
- Language: English, French
- Subtitle Language: English, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, French
- Picture Format: widescreen
- Format: DVD
- Lead Actor: Joe Pantoliano, Nigel Havers, Miranda Richardson, John Malkovich, Christian Bale
- Supporting Actor: Paula Hamilton, Sylvia Marriott, Sybil Maas, Ray Charleson, Barrie Houghton, Yvonne Gilan, Shirley Chantrell, Paul McGann, Marc de Jonge, Lu Ye, Kong Guo-Jun, John Moore, Tom Danaher, Peter Copley, James Greene, Jack Dearlove, Guo Xue Liang, Frank Duncan, Burt Kwouk, Emma Piper, Zhai nai She, Barbara Bolton, Ann Queensbury, Anna Turner, Za Chuan Ce, James Walker, Guts Ishimatsu, Nicholas Dastor, Ge Yan Zhao, Susan Leong, Gary Parker, Simon Harrison, Francesca Longrigg, Ronald Eng, Ralph Michael, Eric Flynn, Keiron Jecchinis, J.G. Ballard, Hiro Arai, Ann Castle, Edith Platten, Robert Stephens, Ralph Seymour, David Neidorf, Ben Stiller, Takatoro Kataoka, Peter Gale, Rupert Frazer, Emily Richard, Masato Ibu, Leslie Phillips, Shi Rui Qing
- Director: Steven Spielberg
awards
- Nominations: Academy Awards (6)
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Editing, 1987, Michael Kahn
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Costume Design, 1987, Bob Ringwood
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Art Direction, 1987, Harry Cordwell, Norman Reynolds
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Sound, 1987, Tony Dawe, Robert Knudson, Don Digirolamo, John Boyde
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Score, 1987, John Williams
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Cinematography, 1987, Allen Daviau
