The Last Emperor
“1500 slaves. 353,260,000 royal subjects. Warlords. Concubines. And 2 wives. He was the loneliest boy in the world.”
A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.
Where to watch The Last Emperor in United States
HBO Max Amazon Channel
YouTube TV
Criterion Channel
Cinemax Amazon Channel
HBO Max
Cinemax Apple TV Channel
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open The Last Emperor there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Last Emperor streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home |
| United Kingdom | ARROW | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | Apple TV Store |
| Australia | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Beamafilm, Brollie | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Germany | Amazon Arthaus Channel, Arthaus+ Apple TV channel, Arthaus+ | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| France | Molotov TV | Apple TV Store, Canal VOD, Orange VOD |
| Spain | Filmin, Acontra Plus, Acontra Plus Amazon Channel, Runtime | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| Brazil | Looke, NetMovies | — |
| Japan | U-NEXT, Cinefil Wow Plus Amazon Channel | — |
About The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor is a 1987 English-language drama and history film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. The cast is led by John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole. It has a runtime of 2h 43m. Viewers rate it 7.6/10 across 1900 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel.
The Last Emperor was produced by Soprofilms, TAO Film, and Yanco and made in China and France. It was released on October 4, 1987, and carries a PG-13 certification. Made on a budget of about $24 million, it went on to gross $44 million worldwide.
- Director
- Bernardo Bertolucci
- Writers
- Mark Peploe, Bernardo Bertolucci
- Release date
- October 4, 1987
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG-13
- Status
- Released
- Country
- China, France
- Budget
- $24 million
- Box office
- $44 million
- Production
- Soprofilms, TAO Film, Yanco
The Last Emperor cast & crew
The Last Emperor was directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci.
The cast features John Lone as Pu Yi (Adult), Joan Chen as Wan Jung, Peter O'Toole as Reginald Johnston (R.J.), Ruocheng Ying as The Governor, Victor Wong as Chen Pao Shen, and Dennis Dun as Big Li.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, cinematography is by Vittorio Storaro, and it was produced by John Daly and Franco Giovale.
Is The Last Emperor worth watching?
The Last Emperor holds an audience score of 7.6/10 from 1,925 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 2h 43m, it's a full-evening commitment.
If you enjoy drama and history, The Last Emperor is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Last Emperor
In United States, you can stream The Last Emperor on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, and HBO Max, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. Click any service above to open it directly.
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.
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Cast of The Last Emperor
John Lone
Pu Yi (Adult)
Joan Chen
Wan Jung
Peter O'Toole
Reginald Johnston (R.J.)
Ruocheng Ying
The Governor
Victor Wong
Chen Pao Shen
Dennis Dun
Big Li
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Amakasu
Maggie Han
Eastern Jewel
Ric Young
Interrogator
Vivian Wu
Wen Hsiu
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Chang
Jade Go
Ar Mo
The Last Emperor — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Last Emperor in United States?
The Last Emperor is streaming on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel in United States.
▸Is The Last Emperor on HBO Max Amazon Channel?
Yes — The Last Emperor is currently available on HBO Max Amazon Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Last Emperor in?
The Last Emperor is originally in English, with audio tracks including English, Chichewa; Nyanja, Japanese, Mandarin. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Last Emperor?
The Last Emperor runs 2 hours 43 minutes (163 minutes).
▸What is The Last Emperor rated?
The Last Emperor is rated PG-13. It holds a 7.6/10 audience score from 1,925 ratings.
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