Empire of the Sun
“To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him.”
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.
Where to watch Empire of the Sun in United States
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On DemandClick a service to open Empire of the Sun there. Availability last verified on July 11, 2026.
Where is Empire of the Sun streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | Sky Go, Now TV Cinema | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| Canada | Starz Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Canal VOD |
| Spain | — | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Google Play Movies |
| Brazil | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Japan | U-NEXT, HBO Max on U-Next | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About Empire of the Sun
Empire of the Sun is a 1987 English-language drama, history and war film directed by Steven Spielberg. The cast is led by Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson. It has a runtime of 2h 33m. Viewers rate it 7.5/10 across 2100 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
Empire of the Sun was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment and made in United States of America. It was released on December 9, 1987, and carries a PG certification. Made on a budget of about $35 million, it went on to gross $67 million worldwide.
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Writers
- Tom Stoppard
- Release date
- December 9, 1987
- OTT release
- August 11, 2008
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $35 million
- Box office
- $67 million
- Production
- Warner Bros. Pictures, Amblin Entertainment
Empire of the Sun cast & crew
Empire of the Sun was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Tom Stoppard.
The cast features Christian Bale as Jim, John Malkovich as Basie, Miranda Richardson as Mrs. Victor, Nigel Havers as Dr. Rawlins, Joe Pantoliano as Frank Demarest, and Leslie Phillips as Maxton.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by John Williams, cinematography is by Allen Daviau, and it was produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall.
Is Empire of the Sun worth watching?
Empire of the Sun holds an audience score of 7.5/10 from 2,149 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 2h 33m, it's a full-evening commitment.
If you enjoy drama, history, and war, Empire of the Sun is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Empire of the Sun
Empire of the Sun isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.
It first became available to stream digitally on August 11, 2008.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of Empire of the Sun
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
Empire of the Sun — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Empire of the Sun in United States?
Empire of the Sun is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies.
▸What language is Empire of the Sun in?
Empire of the Sun is originally in English, with audio tracks including English, Japanese, Mandarin. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Empire of the Sun?
Empire of the Sun runs 2 hours 33 minutes (153 minutes).
▸What is Empire of the Sun rated?
Empire of the Sun is rated PG. It holds a 7.5/10 audience score from 2,149 ratings.
▸When did Empire of the Sun release on OTT?
Empire of the Sun became available digitally on August 11, 2008.
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