Empire of the Sun
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Rotten Tomatoes® Score
77%
90%
In Theaters: December 25, 1987
2h 32m | Drama, War
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.
| Director: | Steven Spielberg |
| Producer(s): | Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg |
| Cast: | Miranda Richardson, Joe Pantoliano, Leslie Phillips, Nigel Havers, John Malkovich, Christian Bale, Ben Stiller, Masatô Ibu, Emily Richard, Rupert Frazer, Robert Stephens, Burt Kwouk |
| Writer(s): | Tom Stoppard |
